Week Ending - 2021/04/25

IN FORM JACKSON LEADS THE WAY IN 5K COMPETITION

Badgers ace Dave Jackson threw down yet another marker in his quest to become Badger of the Year in 2021 with a dominant performance in the penultimate Leicestershire based 5K tournament. Clubs from across the county have been invited to join the series which rewards participation as well as pace and Badgers have been turning out healthy numbers after a slow start. The self-proclaimed Jackal of Jean was one of 42 members giving it a go on Saturday, bravely taking time out from his hectic marathon training schedule to help out the team. The hard drinking former pool player is in the best form of his comeback career right now, approaching the giddy heights of his pre-ankle surgery halcyon days which saw him run the Silverstone half marathon in 80 minutes as well as an epic first place finish at Kingsbury parkrun. The two time vice-captain and dad of two smoshed his team mates out of the park with his efforst of 18:11, enough for a wava rating far in excess of any of his team mates around the mean streets of Pinwall.

Fellow veteran star Chris Horton is back running after a lengthy lay off. The one time indie guitarist chipped in with a tempo run of 19:51 to help the team average while Dug Ladkin posted a respectable 20:53. Danny Warren managed a buggy run with his young daughter to help the club out in 21:08 while 5K king Chris Davies gave everything in his attempt narrowly missing out on his 5K best by a handful of seconds as he clocked a superb 21:38. The ever reliable Bill Gutheridge ran 21:52 and Roland Bulgington a brisk 22:00. Competing from the sunny Algarve, Justin Haywood managed a healthy 22:10 pipping his much younger team mate Ashley T-Dogg Taylor in the overall standings by a mere three seconds. Fellow sun-lover Martyn Barrett was next home in 22:20, another smooth operation from one of the club’s most smooth operators.

When it comes to solid operators, you will have to go a long way to find one as solid as the hard hitting Mark Cox. Unfortunately, he was not involved this week but young Foxes fan Cameron Barnes was in action and he gave a good account of himself, like Newcastle United, leaving it very late in the day. Newcomer Adrian Parkes ran an excellent 23:48 with Matt Heap, Lee Millership, Paul Wallace and Ian Orton all coming through. Carl Savage took one for the team before Adam McElhone sped back in 25:25, a top performance.

The Badgers ladies were in action too with Judy Parkes the first of some 20 females to finish. The hugely popular veteran ace ran 26:06 to finish ahead of Elizabeth Peel and Lil Souter. Serena Baker was next back, the Grendon based mum of three with Welsh roots ran 26:25 before Russell Lomas and Jill Miller both finished in fractionally under 27 minutes apiece. Fantasy football guru Andy Smith stormed home in 27:08 with the hardworking Leesa Dennis next through in 28:01, a good effort. Steve Perry was sandwiched in between the club’s membership secretary and rising star Karen Draper who not so long ago was dreaming of breaking 30 minutes, never mind running 28:08! Katrina Dawson dipped under 30 minutes in her run.

Birthday boy Eamon Thawley was the final male finisher in a brave 30:49. Anne Devenney, Caroline Smith, Teresa Satchell and Lisa Barnes all ran well. Ann-Marie Currier, Nicola Bowman and Vicky Jennings all got round safely with Holly McClay hobbling home for her team. Other runners included Nicola Orton, Helen Morgan and Mandy Hanson.

Full results and league positions were unavailable at the time of writing, Badgers will be looking to consolidate their status in the top ten teams ahead of the final race in a few weeks time.