Week Ending - 2022/11/27

WARREN AND FOWLER LEAD THE WAY AT BAGWORTH HEATH

BADGERS of the WEEK

Mark Coggan

Brian Pinker

Trudie Cruddas

The second round of the Derby Runner cross-country league took place a week after the season’s opener and two Badgers featured prominently with superb top-five positions. In form Danny Warren led the men’s side home with another terrific run, taking fourth place after his wonderful third at Holly Hayes. Eleanor Fowler donned her Badgers vest for the second race of the campaign and once more emerged with a great finish over treacherous terrain. The veteran star took fourth lady, one place higher than her effort the week previously. Newcomer Kat Wilson was next home for the ladies with a determined run in 34th spot, certainly marking her out as one to watch for the remainder of the season. Megan Griffiths bagged herself a top-fifty finish with her first attempt in the mud for the club and the experienced Emma Masser looked strong as she got back in 72nd place, seven spots clear of fellow veteran Steph White. Ladies vice-captain Sharon Jackson was next through ahead of another promising new signing, Liberty Underhill and last but not least was Clare Whetton who continues her 100% attendance for the season, boosted by rediscovering not only her love for cross country but being reunited with her beloved Dry-Robe, against all the odds.

The somewhat depleted men’s team were boosted by the return of Ryan Preece who took 15th place by virtue of a short head, despite being a metre behind his closest rival. Skipper Mark Cox took a tumble but continued to rumble as he finished in 24th spot while his good friend Adrian Payne proceeded to grumble after failing to finish for the second race in succession, blotting an otherwise immaculate cross-country copybook in autumn 2022. The quality of Eric Fowler continues to shine through, now in his fifties, the veteran Nuneaton star running as second claim here took a marvellous 35th position, fifteen spots ahead of next Badger home, Cameron Barnes. The industrious Chris Tweed ploughed home next in 55th position as he continues to impress this XC season. Fellow veteran Sam Starkey battled home next in 66th with Martin Graham and vice-captain Dave Jenkinson making up the scoring men’s group with hard-fought runs.

Following them home were Jimmy Dewis, Ashley Taylor, Robert Boland, Rob Crow, and Matt Green, back in league action for the first time in over a year. Andy Altoft, Jamie Lawrence, and Eamon Thawley also made it back safely but not before the juniors had run their race with Millie and Maisie Tweed, and Martha Lawrence all trying their best and impressing on a pretty unforgiving and saturated course.

There were two other runners competing outside of the cross-country race, namely Liz Peel at the Woodpecker Challenge half marathon as she continues to clock up events en route to one hundred and Dave Purvis who ran the 10K 9 lock challenge in Stourbridge in 54 minutes.

Parkrun saw plenty of action including a couple of firsts. Firstly, Chris Horton finished first at his first ever Babbs Mill parkrun, winning comprehensively by over two minutes (18:11). Ashley Taylor made his highest ever parkrun placing with fourth place in 21:33 and three other Badgers made the top twenty too as Colin Lees (12th), Adam McElhone (17th) and birthday boy David Craig (20th) all plundered their way over the line to ensure real Badger dominance at the head of the field.

At Perry Hall parkrun, Rachael Shelton was the sole Badger in action, but she once again finished first overall in a very respectable time of 24:15. With Kingsbury called off due to waterlogging, Badgers dispersed around the region. Peter Mann (25:29) led the way at Bedworth with Fiona Reidy, Gail Gunn, Mick Judd, and Kate Rathbone chasing. Tim Gould (22:51) and Dave Jenkinson (30:34) ran at Sutton Park while Sharon Jackson clocked a brisk 26:12 at Long Eaton. Paul Wallace and Katrina Dawson starred at Conkers with Liz Peel going well up the road at Rosliston. Laura Starkey managed a top ten place at Coventry in 22:57 with husband Sam in tow, although both were behind the long-legged Matt Green who sped back in 22:05.

Jo Davies and Jo Hardy were in action at Arrow Valley alongside Kerry Clover. Paul Grubb (28:29) ran along the promenade at Minehead while on a weekend away watching the darts and Steve Perry ran sub-twenty-five at Edgbaston Reservoir. Holly & Andy Smith were joined by Anne-Marie Matthews and Claire Bradford at Bramshall Road with Adrian Parkes (24:47) and Jill Miller (29:43) showing the way for Eileen McElhone, Janet Crumpton, Lees Dennis, Merv Jones, and Karen Draper at Hastings High School in Hinckley.

Oaklands parkrun saw Bill Gutheridge storm to a big new personal best time of 20:46 and a deserved high finish of fifth too. The genial baking boffin Maggi Savin-Baden was ninth lady with a season’s best 27:58 in a race that saw Mick Bailey and Zoe Yeatman also in action. Finally, Megan Griffiths secured a personal best 23:25 at Beacon parkrun in Lichfield, good enough too for second place while marathon man Mark Repton took ninth male in 19:54.