Week Ending - 2020/03/15

McGOWAN SHINES IN EPIC GLOUCESTER 20 RACE

Badgers rising star Dave McGowan dropped into the Gloucester 20 race at the weekend after a slew of cancelled races left the sporting world decimated by the coronavirus outbreak. The Baddesley based dad-to-be took a significant chunk of time off his PB set at Ashby last year to storm home in 10th place overall in a superb 2:02:25. He wasn’t the only Badger in action there too as Dave Hill cashed in on his current good form with a searing 2:03:17, less than a minute behind in 15th place while brothers Mark and Wayne Repton both completed the course in PB times, Mark in a stunning 2:07:59 in 25th place with older sibling Wayne crossing the line in a fine 2:58:09. Neil Clemons was the other Badger in race action at the event and in his first crack at the distance he came away with a magnificent 2:21:23.

Elsewhere, Gordy Smith rolled back the years with a super effort at the British Masters XC Championships in Wales, finishing 32nd overall and 8th V45 man in a high-class field. At the Milton Keynes half marathon, Justin Haywood turned in a vintage display of distance running to finish in a quality 96:46 while Nicki Bowman showed her class with a brave 55:33 in the Sutton 7 Pools race which also featured long-serving Richard Chester. Vicki Fowler took on the Fission 20/20 race, a 20K affair and emerged back in a time of 2:51:59. Alan Argyle ran another marathon too, this time with Karen Thompson and Liz Peel for company at the Weak At The Knees event in Milton Keynes. Sam Starkey took on the Hampton Court Palace half marathon in a speedy 89:13, proving there is still life in the old dog yet as he steadily makes his way back to form following his broken foot at the tail end of the 2019 season.

At parkrun, there was another good turnout at Kingsbury Water Park. Mark Repton was first back for the club in 6th overall thanks to his time of 20:41. The reliable Bill Gutheridge strode home next in 21:54 with new signing Neil Thorne again impressing in 22:00. Colin Lees, Mike Wyant, Matt Jackson, Gavin Crockwell and Merv Jones all ran well. Jack Reynolds showed a good turn of speed for his 23:24 while Steve Perry, Mick Bailey, Wayne Repton, David Craig and Mark Reynolds all finished the 5K course in good time. For the ladies, Sharon Jackson was first back 4th overall in 24:02. Rachael Shelton was next home in 27:36 closely followed by Zoe Cope eleven seconds later. Sarah Reynolds gave it a good go in 28:31 while Darryl Johnson, Leesa Dennis, Stephanie Attenborough, Teresa Satchell, Nicola Orton and Vicky Jennings also ran.

Graham Engley was the sole sub-20 runner of the weekend as he ran Coventry in 19:57, just ahead of Cameron Barnes (20:13), Paul Restall (26:19) and Lisa Barnes (31:16). Paul Wallace put in a good effort at Conkers in 22:29 with Alan Argyle also in attendance. Sam Starkey, Yvonne Faulkner and Jared Karim all turned out at Bushy Park while Gail Gunn was first Badger back at Bedworth. Nivette Chester clocked a respectable 22:42 and Steph White 24:01 to take 5th and 6th lady positions each at Lichfield based Beacon parkrun where the star of the day from a Badgers perspective was Richard Chester who finally took his PB down below 25 minutes with an inspired performance of 24:33. Andy Smith and Holly McClay both got round the course at Wollaton Hall. Dean Bowd ploughed a lone furrow at Warwick parkrun with Adam McElhone taking the plaudits for being first Badger back at Babbs Mill near Chelmsley Wood.