Week Ending - 2021/12/19

BADGERS OUT IN FORCE AT … (subs - INSERT LOCATION)

Not for the first time in their impressive ten-year history, Badgers Running Club were very much out in force at a number of locations in the UK and beyond, although mainly at parkruns this week. In Albufeira in Portugal, jet setting Justin Haywood was taking part in the San Silvestre 7K road race and finished in a super time of 29:33. The sun-seeking Simon’s Heroes frontman has shown no signs of easing up since turning 50 and would no doubt have had a handful of age grade club records to his name were it not for Covid massively affecting the racing calendar of the last 18 months. Up in the Lake District, club founder Nivette Chester completed the 38-mile Tour De Helvellyn, a self-navigating Ultra marathon, set on the most beautiful of cold but snow free winter days.

Kingsbury Parkrun was awash with Badgers, who were very much out in force at the popular water park venue. Veteran star Sam Starkey was top ten yet again with his 20:42 while 5K king Chris Davies made a rare foray to parkrun but also came away with a top ten finish as he ended up 9^th in 21:59. A good time on a far from fast course. V50 ace Tim Gould finished a fine 12^th in 22:15 with Mick Bailey, Matt Green, David Craig and Neil Thorne all running solidly. Adrian Parkes made the top 50 with Rob Boland being shown how to pace a 5K to perfection by his young son Jimmy who keeps on going from strength to strength. Paul Wallace, Rachael Shelton, John Restall, Jill Miller and John Devenney all went well as did the two Smiths, Caroline and Andy. Marathon queen Liz Peel was next back ahead of Steph Attenborough, Amanda Gould and Bill Gutheridge.

In Northern Ireland, Jared Karim and Zoe Yeatman took on the iconic Portrush parkrun while over at Coventry, vets marathon club record holder Glyn Broadhurst was the fastest Badger of the weekend with his 18:31 in 3^rd position. Nicki Bowman got round safely in 25:33. More Badgers were out in force at Conkers with Dug Ladkin leading the way in 24:49, Sarah Reynolds and Anne Wells also in attendance there. Steve Perry flew the flag singlehandedly up at Conwy parkrun in 25:14 while Colin Lees and Gail Gunn were at it together in Bedworth.

At Great Denham, Andy Smith, Holly McClay and Anne-Marie Matthews all ensured it was very much a case of Badgers being out in force in yet another particular location, Smith haring home in 26:48. David Grant ran a rapid 22:22 to make the top ten at Henlow Bridge with Yvonne Faulkner trucking home eight minutes later at the same venue. Wayne Repton ran Dallas Burston Polo Club parkrun in 24:35.

At Oaklands parkrun, once again, Badgers were unequivocally out in force as Glen Thomas led a septet of plucky omnivores home in 28:07. Vikki Smith, Sarah O’Donoghue, Dave Bailey, Tez Argyle, Ivana Babicova and Teresa Satchell all representing the club with predominantly black and white colours.

And last but by no means least came the Babbs Mill parkrun near Chelmsley Wood where Ian Orton was in action for his club, dipping under 25 minutes in the process. The Aston Villa fan was not the only Badger here however as another seven colleagues joined him on the start line to ensure yet again that Badgers were well and truly out in force at this particular parkrun. Cameron Barnes got edged out on the line by his more experienced teammate and Adam McElhone used his outstanding race nous to pip fellow veteran Merv Jones by just one second on the stopwatch. Karen Draper, Vicki Fowler and Lisa Barnes also ran as indeed did Jo Hardy who I almost missed out accidentally but not quite, obviously. So, there you have it. Our next report will cover any Christmas parkruns, subject to them still being allowed to continue in the current climate of uncertainty, where all things being equal, Badgers will once again be out in force.