Week Ending - 2021/11/14

SCARSBROOK BAGS FIRST PLACE AT CHAOTIC XC OPENER

Badgers flying machine Matt Scarsbrook took a superb first place in the first cross country league race of the season held at Holly Hayes Woods near Whitwick on Sunday becoming the only second Badger, after Ryan Bennett, to triumph in a league event. He led from the start and imposed his pace on the race early in his first cross country race since his schooldays. However, the race was not short of incident though as there were wrong turns and tumbles aplenty, far more than usual despite relatively dry and flat conditions. The course was particularly technical and Scarsbrook was one who fell foul of poor direction as well as a fall and with the finish line approaching, lead runner the former world champion triathlete Tim Don, guesting for Barrow Runners on the day, was set to narrowly win the race but in a wonderful act of sportsmanship, he allowed Scarsbrook to take a deserved win as the Baddesley man had been the dominant runner up until the fall towards the end.

Danny Warren filled the podium with a magnificent run in third, his best effort for some time. Dave Hill was set for a high finish, but an ankle injury sustained in the second half of the race forced his early withdrawal. A succession of wrong turns then created mayhem in the woods with a host of runners all grouped together unsure of where they were and worse still, where to go. With many athletes losing their heads in the chaos, Adrian Payne, who was progressing very nicely at that stage, kept his cool and used his navigational nous to get back on track. Chris Horton followed him after lying in seventh place before the mishaps and the pair got back in 7^th and 8^th respectively just ahead of Simon Mayes of West End Runners, another club displaying top level sportsmanship during the course of the chaotic race.

With XC specialist Neil Russell an absentee, key man Glyn Broadhurst was a bag of nerves immediately ahead of the event. Broadhurst knew he had to perform, so much so that he vomited just before the start. In typical fashion, he made light of his unease, toughing it out in 25^th place with new recruit Ryan Preece failing to sustain his blistering start but hanging on bravely to take 32^nd, one spot ahead of former vice captain Mark Repton. Cameron Barnes has improved enormously in the last two seasons and proof, were it needed, was here as he finished in the top sixty to become the final scorer for his club. Veteran ace Jimmy Dewis ran well in 75^th with new captain Carl Savage going well in 85^th and Harvey Allen also making the top one hundred.

Colin Lees edged out a plucky sprint challenge from vice skipper Dave Jenkinson and with Ashley Taylor, Andy Altoft, Rob Crow, Leon Millership and Adrian Parkes all getting round the twisty 5-mile course with aplomb, it was just left to Russell Lomas, Paul Grubb, Chris Young, Eamon Thawley, Warren Clamp and Ross Kilburn to round things up for the men.

The ladies were led home by new signing Eleanor Fowler, the long-time Nuneaton Harriers star joining as a second claim athlete to finish a superb fifth place despite racing the day before for her primary club! Cheryl Dewis gave everything, dragging herself over the line in 16^th position with Monika Lampart sprinting to the line in 32^nd. Vice-captain Nicki Bowman provided another finish of pure power as she and the returning Katy Clemons made the top fifty. Pip Weston excels in these events and the veteran star took 52^nd place with Jo Hardy and captain Lil Souter also going well, the latter battling bravely with a particularly nasty looking toe injury sustained mid-race.

Suzy Farrell, Leesa Dennis, Kerry Clover, Clare Whetton and Karen Draper all gave a great account of themselves with Jill Miller and Mandi Stain also battling hard. Stephanie Attenborough got round safely with Jo Davies, the steady Ann-Marie Currier and the intellectual Maggi Savin-Baden all making it back ahead of Ivana Babicova, Gail Gunn, Lisa Barnes and Teresa Satchell.

Elsewhere, Chris Tweed, fresh from his marathon heroics, helped himself to a PB at the Draycote Water 10K running a marvellous 40:25 at the scenic course, noteworthy for its numerous little ups and downs. Wayne Repton clocked 80:22 in the Derby 10-mile race while John and Anne Devenney both successfully completed the Cannock Chase based Forest Runner 10K event. At parkrun, Badgers were spread far and wide yet managed some prominent placings with Glyn Broadhurst coming out on top at Babbs Mill with his run of 19:05. Chris Horton (18:08) finished second at Bedworth and Sam Starkey (18:43) also took second, this time at Kingsbury Water Park with a cracking run. Dave Hill was the fastest of all over the morning, the Polesworth man running at the speedy Long Eaton course, taking third spot with a PB time of 17:13. There was a fourth with Mark Repton managing 19:48 at Kingsbury where Ashley Taylor made the top ten and Bill Gutheridge notched up his 100^th parkrun, a great achievement. Sharon Jackson was the highest placed Badger female in 12^th. Colin Lees had a solid run at Bedworth in 21:45 while husband and wife duo Andy and Caroline Smith each finished ninth over at Oaklands in 22:18 and 27:48 respectively. Last but by no means least, Atherstone’s resident authority on poor parking and dog excrement debates, Adam McElhone ran a PB at Babbs Mill, in a magnificent 24:28, no doubt buoyed by the extra fitness gained from all his hard London Marathon training.