Week Ending - 2019/12/22

BADGERS of the WEEK

Group A

Hannah Merry

Group B

Paul Baggott

Sarah Baggott

DING-DONG MERRILY - DAVE’S ON A HIGH

THRILL FOR HILL AT THE MILL

As the festive season drew towards its climax, Badgers ace Dave Hill was celebrating early by posting back to back first places at Babbs Mill parkrun on Saturday. After coming so close on a number of occasions, Hill finally managed his first win last week and incredibly did not have to wait long to follow it up. He sped round ahead of all comers in a rapid time of 18:19 with team-mate Neil Clemons haring round to bag third spot with his brisk 19:53. Brave Colin Lees is a man who is prepared to go where few others have been before and he along with battling Jake Bradford were the other Badgers runners in the field which saw members spread all around the Midlands.

At Conkers, Badgers sought to recreate the nativity and it was once again Karen Thompson who was the Star. With Kingsbury Inn-keeper Hannah Burgess forced to turn the runners away due to heavy flooding, the popular club chairperson guided her colleagues through the muddy disused railway track to the comfort of the Lakeside Bistro. Dug Ladkin (20:30), Lee Millership (22:46) and Paul Wallace (23:08) acted as staunch Shepherds, ensuring their flock were able to get round safely. Amongst their group were none other than three wise men in the form of Alan Argyle, Dave Bailey and John Devenney, who swapped their traditional gifts of gold frankincense and myrrh for more running themed items of a high viz top, some flapjack and a bottle of Aldi Explosade. The birthing party soon followed with Leesa Dennis cast in the role of the virgin Mary, accompanied every step of the way by her watchful carpenter husband Merv “Joseph” Jones. The hugely respected Liz Peel, who very nearly shares her birthday with the Lord our saviour, was a modern-day Jesus Christ as she was led to the finish line by an assortment of donkeys and mules. They won’t be named here for fear of causing unintentional offence but suffice to say other runners included John & Mandy Hanson, Nicola Stanley, Kerry Clover, Sarah Vine, Anne Devenney and Vikki Smith.

Over at Bedworth, Emma Masser placed 4th female in a feisty affair, her time of 24:00 enabling her to take the credit of first Badger back. Gavin Crockwell was next home on what is a fertile hunting ground for him, professionally at least. Paul Hadland battled hard with Jenna Davies, Carl Savage and Bedworth parkrun doyen Richard Hamblett all going well. In form Paul Cooper is edging towards his 50th parkrun and was another who made the 5K look easy as he strode back in 37:53.

Sutton Park saw Matt Jackson help himself to another fine top ten finish. The young Badger of the Year ran 20:05 to take 7th place with experienced teammate and birthday boy Sam Starkey 14 seconds behind in 10th. Veterans Tim Gould and Matt Green keep on churning out the quality as they both made good time and Sharon Jackson bagged 7th female in a speedy 25:30, eight seconds and a place ahead of the spritely Rachael Shelton. Lil Souter and Amanda Gould were also in action here.

At the fledgling Oaklands event, Mark Repton came oh so close to winning, only being denied by two other runners in what would have been his debut title. The 35-year-old took third in a rapid 19:00 with the reliable Bill Gutheridge getting back in a respectable 21:46 ahead of Wayne Repton, Mick Bailey, Jared Karim, Richard Hill and Eamon Thawley. Elsewhere, Lesley Palmer was the sole representative at Minehead in Somerset as she made her way thrice along the promenade. Karen Missen ran 33:25 at Cannock Chase and Andy Smith and Holly McClay paid a pilgrimage to Bushy parkrun, marking the event with times of 55:11 apiece.