Week Ending - 2020/09/06
NEW FACES FOR NEW SEASON AS BADGERS AGM FINALLY TAKES PLACE
After months of postponed training, no races (at least in the traditional format) and a host of other cancelled shenanigans, Badgers eventually managed to get round to hosting their long-awaited AGM, having being forced to delay from its original May timeslot. A number of roles were up for grabs this year and the meeting went even more smoothly than David Craig at a networking event. After over five long years in the role, original committee member Karen Thompson decided to step down from her role as Chairperson. The mum of two had overseen a period of phenomenal growth and change within the club and handled her voluntary responsibilities admirably, often in the face of adversity. She will continue in her role as the club’s mental health ambassador and run-leader co-ordinator, further roles which she has held for some time and carried out with professionalism and dedication. Her departure will be a tough act to follow but step forward another long-serving Badgers committee member. Danny Warren is often in the headlines mainly as a result of his running prowess, picking up numerous awards and titles along the way including his home town race the Badgers Atherstone 10K in 2018. What many do not know is just how hard he works behind the scenes, not just setting up the club’s fantastic website, the envy of many other clubs in the Midlands, as well as designs, artwork, meeting attendance, coaching, data analysis and so much more. Recently he and former ladies captain wife Rachael, became parents for the first time and he has the challenging task of filling Karen’s impressive boots.
His role as website administrator has been filled by one of his neighbours and another former captain of the club, Adrian Payne. His tenure as skipper saw unprecedented success for the men’s side a role he handed over to Simon Currier who remains in post with Mark Repton as his more than capable deputy. It was all change in the ladies team with Lil Souter being voted in as captain after Sarah Jane Chetwynd stepped down following the birth of her second child and the experienced Nicki Bowman will be her deputy. No woman has represented the club in league races more than the pacy 44-year-old who is a popular figure within Badgers.
One time men’s vice-captain Rob Boland takes over as treasurer from Jared Karim, who steps down after several years in post and Judy Parkes takes on the responsibility of club secretary following the departure of Jenna Davies. Leesa Dennis joined the club through the beginners’ programme many moons ago now but has not only qualified as a run leader in that time, she has run the London Marathon and now has the task of becoming Membership Secretary. Ian and Nicola Orton take over as kit managers following years of sterling work from the indefatigable Dave Bailey.
In other news, the league tables were finalised for the LRRL lockdown league this week, with Badgers finishing third in their group. Individually, Chris Horton was pipped at the post in the V45 age group, settling for a hard-fought second while his younger team-mate Sam Starkey emerged with a superb result of 5th place in the competitive V40 age bracket, a superb return for the Tamworth based speedster who did so even after missing the first race of the campaign. Liz Peel was in action at the Shires and Spires multi-terrain marathon as she edges her way towards her target of 100, the published academic and one-time club secretary was accompanied by ex-Badger and now a member of the 100 Marathon Club, Olivia Stacey.