Week Ending - 2021/12/12

BADGERS BAG WORTHY POINTS AT THE HEATH

Badgers sent over a large squad for the final league event of 2021, the second cross country race of the season, this time held at Bagworth Heath, scene of the infamous Ryan Bennett toilet debacle many moons ago. After winning the first race of the season, Matt Scarsbrook continued his excellent form with a hard fought second place in the race behind Barrow Runners star Tim Don, and Danny Warren made it back-to-back top ten finishes with an excellent 9^th place for his side. Adrian Payne was next back with a high-class performance in 15^th spot with Aaron Chetwynd making a long awaited and welcome return to action with a very respectable 27^th place. With eight runners to count and at least two veterans, it was no surprise to see key man Glyn Broadhurst scoring heavily once again, selflessly pacing young pretender Ryan Preece round to finish in 42^nd and 44^th places respectively. Nuneaton Harriers legend Eric Fowler was next back running as second claim for Badgers in 65^th spot and Jimmy Dewis stepping up to the plate as second key man on the day in 73^rd place with young Cameron Barnes rounding up the scoring for the second race in succession.

From here it was a procession of Badger finishers making their way through the 9K course of hills and muddy mud. Skipper Carl Savage again made the top 100. Vets Stefan Martin, Colin Lees, Dave Jenkinson, Mick Bailey and Martin Graham all finished within close proximity of each other with Ashley Taylor deep in amongst them. V50 8-mile club record holder Rob Crow was right behind this group with Pete Greenfield, Andy Altoft and Adrian Parkes all pouring through with pace. 75-year-old John Shade made a welcome return to cross country action with a quality performance with Russell Lomas, Ross Kilburn and the experienced Eamon Thawley all getting round safely.

For the second race in a row Eleanor Fowler was comfortably first back in a Badgers vest, the Nuneaton star finishing fourth overall with a terrific display of running. Cheryl Dewis was next home with a typically belligerent run, earning her 25^th place in the field with Monika Lampart once again steadfastly refusing to give up in 36^th and ladies vice-captain Nicki Bowman making her presence felt in 53^rd. Newcomer Emma Woolrich was next back with seasoned campaigner Pip Weston and top local hair stylist Clare Whetton both going well. Jill Miller, Mandi Stain, the steady Ann-Marie Currier and Karen Draper all performed heroically with Ivana Babicova and veteran Gail Gunn rounding off a super morning for the ladies’ team. Lil Souter, still injured from the preceding round was on hand to round up and motivate the troops who must now wait until 16^th January, regulations permitting, to for the next instalment of the five-race league campaign.

Away from the cut and thrust of cross country, there were a handful of other Badgers participating in events around the midlands. At Telford in the speedy Telford 10K, Dave Hill finished well down the field such was the high quality of athletes in action, but the Polesworth man found the super-fast conditions much to his liking as he earned himself a well-deserved new PB of 35:25. This was a tremendous achievement after another heavy mileage week in training and took over a minute off his previous best, a remarkable effort. Tim Gould performed well at the Sneyd Striders 10-mile Pudding Run, getting back in an excellent 1:15:47. Wayne Repton also featured in 1:22:46 while Amanda Gould (56:06), John Devenney and Anne Devenney all ran the 5-mile event. Stephanie Attenborough was marathon running again, this time at the Milton Keynes based Tie Fighters marathon, finishing in a new personal best time of 4:52:25.

There was plenty of parkrun action too over the weekend. At the Stratford based Dallas Burston Polo Club event, Yvonne Faulkner clocked up her 50^th different course while fiancé Dave Grant ran 22:42 to take 12^th. Mark Repton went sub 20 at the home of it all, Bushy in Hertfordshire and his brother Wayne ran 23:00 at Brueton park. Matt Green enjoyed a career high placing of 4^th at Kingsbury Water Park with friend and teammate Sam Starkey two places behind in 6^th. Andy Altoft recorded a new PB despite less than favourable conditions with a number of other teammates slipping round behind. Babbs Mill saw Colin Lees tearing it up yet again, this time in a superb 8^th place with Andy Smith also going well. He wasn’t the only Andy Smith from Badgers in action either as over in Watermead park, Andy Smith, Holly Smith and Anne-Marie Matthews were all in action. Merv Jones trotted out a decent 25:42 at Markeaton Park with the Reynolds family turning out at Conkers. Adrian Parkes continues to run well, this week he managed 24:27 at Perry Hall while Rachael Shelton finished 7^th female down the road at Sutton Park with Lee Talbot in support. Finally, Bill Gutheridge made the podium with his 3^rd place at Oaklands. The keen fisherman clocked 21:33 in his sterling effort there.