Week Ending - 2020/10/25
HANNAH’S FLYING HIGH IN SUPER DUPER LEAGUE
The most recent instalment of the much talked about Badgers Super League 2020 took place last week and produced a number of stunning individual results but there was no change at the top of the table as early leaders Cool Runnings, captained by Hannah Craig, extended their lead over the seven chasing sides. The captain herself was in fine form. After going well in the Badgers World Cup during the summer, she was forced to withdraw midway through the event, but if anything, this has spurred her on to new heights in this tournament. The relatively recent recruit to the North Warwickshire club posted a superb time of 26:13, a new best time over the distance and she was backed up by the improving team mate Dave Buck who followed suit in 25:16. As a result, her side now have a seven point cushion over the closely grouped chasing pack led by Rob Boland’s team of Giant Striders.
The race itself was won by Lesley Palmer, who benefitted from some time in peaceful Somerset to get her 5K done. Her time of 29:17 was a massive step forward for the hardworking veteran lady. In second place was Chris Davies who is now edging closer to his target of running 5K a day for each day in 2020 as he weighed in with a new best of his own. Vicki Fowler took third. Followers of the league will understand that the race is won by the runner’s performance in relation to their handicap, which meant that Aaron Chetwynd, who was the fastest overall in absolute terms, had to settle for a top twenty spot with his blistering 16:51. Becky Harris did similarly in the ladies division with a brisk 21:22.
Arguably one of the stars of the tournament so far has been Karen Draper who achieved her third PB in as many weeks thanks to her time of 30:45. A magical sub 30 time could be a possibility in the coming rounds. Dug Ladkin proved his debut sub 20 last week was no fluke as he backed it up with a great run of 19:45 while Cameron Barnes also broke his way into the sub 20 club. Kerry and Jason Clover are husband and wife but run in different teams. However, they each managed personal bests in the week as their excellent form continues.
New mum Charlene Dunn is flying back into action – a top performer last week, she backed it up with yet another rapid run, this time of 25:01 to record a season’s best. Matt Green dug deep to churn out his quality 20:41, the fastest time for him this year and Stuart Batchelor managed a superb 26:05, his quickest time since 2018. Janet Crumpton is another in a rich vein of form as she powered her way to a season’s best 27:28 and the popular Anne Devenney clocked a magnificent 30:12 in her effort, her fastest time for several years.
Team captain Dave Jackson is one of the top characters in the club (v40) and he has driven his side, which includes vital cogs such as Hannah Coogan and Mark Darby, to some exceptional new heights and milestones. The hard-drinking former pool player, who made his name north of the border, bagged his second quickest 5K of the year in a rousing 18:02 down near the 3M. Rachael Shelton has rapidly emerged as one to watch in recent weeks as she put in yet another rip-roaring run, her fastest of 2020 to date. The athletic mum of two ran a wonderful 23:52 to help her side pull clear of the lower reaches of the ever-developing table. Next week sees runners take on a slightly longer distance, that of five miles, as the competition begins to really heat up. Stars such as Jo Hardy and Paul Restall are expected to feature prominently while there is always the potential for a surprise package to make their way onto the honours board.
Away from the cut and thrust of the inter-club competition, the Tissington Trail half marathon took place at the weekend with Anna Savin Baden beating her best time over the distance as she pipped mum Maggi on the line in 2:14:04. Former Badgers chairperson Karen Thompson chalked up her 82nd marathon of all time at the Cannock Chase based Birch Challenge which also saw Liz Peel complete the double putting her two ahead of team-mate Thompson in the race to the century. Between them, the self-styled Queen of Quickness and the Professor of Pace have now amassed an incredible 166 marathons, the equivalent of running to Cameroon.