Week Ending - 2021/06/20

BADGERS GIVING IT A TRI

A week ahead of the long awaited road league restart at the Prestwold 10K, a trio of Badgers were involved in triathlons at the weekend, registering some impressive performances. Dave Hill starred at Nottingham in the Outlaw Half Ironman and put in a superb display, with not only a top quartile finish but a big new personal best in the process. He managed his 1.2 mile swim in 42:35 before gaining over 200 places with a quality 56 mile bike ride, which took just over two and a half hours to complete. There was finally the small matter of a half marathon to complete on tired legs but super fit Hill got stuck in with relish gaining yet more places as he finished in an incredible 94:03. With his transitions, he ended up clocking a time of 5:04:15 a great effort from a man in top form, especially given the logistical challenges of exceptionally long transitions put in place to ensure a Covid safe event.

The Sprint distance triathlon at Alderford saw the steady Judy Parkes take on only her second ever Tri, this time alongside the genial baking boffin Maggi Savin-Baden. Now in her 60’s Savin-Baden continues to cut an inspirational figure at the club with a sterling time of 1:53:36 for the race, which consisted of a 750m swim, a 20K cycle and a 5K run. This earned her 3^rd place in her age category, a feat matched by the impressive Parkes who finished in an amazing 1:31:34, a superb performance given her limited experience.

Elsewhere, Ian Orton ran 48:17 at the Colshaw Hall 10K in Cheshire, a good marker ahead of the upcoming league race over the same distance for one half of the Badgers club kit operation. Last but by no means least, Liz Peel completed the 95^th marathon of her career to date, the ‘Red Kite Challenge’ in Fermyn Woods Country Park