Week Ending - 2023/01/29

RYAN’S PREECE OF HISTORY

BADGERS of the WEEK

Beth Woodward

Peter Mann

Sarah Vine

Walsall Arboretum parkrun was again the place to be for quick times, pb’s, and once again on this occasion club records. Hoping to improve on his performance from November Ryan Preece was again in magnificent form not only taking almost half a minute off his own club parkrun pb but in doing so ducking under the magical 16:00 minute barrier in a breath-taking 15:58. Joining him at the venue Megan Griffiths 22:24, Jill Miller 26:43 and Ross Kilburn 27:14 all grabbed themselves pb’s ably supported by mother and son team of Rachael and Brad Shelton and Ryan’s brother Dylan Tallis with both boys running their 1st parkruns. Future Badgers?

However, it wasn’t just at Walsall where pb’s were to be had. Yarborough Leisure Centre’s inaugural event course obviously suited the ever-improving Eilleen McElhone who grabbed herself a 27:33 pb. Anne-Marie Ditman managed a course pb at Kingsbury 33:28 and Beacon saw the continued return to form of Eamon ‘Lord’ Thawley with a best time for over three years of 24:32.

Away from parkrun club stalwarts Nivette Mullan, Danny Warren and Steph White alongside Paul Grubb, Emma Masser, Mark Cox and Charlotte Oliver ventured over to Leicestershire to tackle the tough 14 miles of the Charnwood hills race. This event now in its 35th year attracts a sell-out field of 350 runners many of whom are specialist fell runners so completing the course is to be applauded, but to finish inside the top ten, Danny Warren 1:37: 11, outstanding, or even to make the top 10%, Mark Cox 1:45:29, brilliant, well done all.

Badgers were also represented at the Warwick half marathon with mother and daughter Maggie and Anna Savin-Baden managing a very respectable 2:25:49 over this undulating course. Anne-Marie Matthews and the Vickies Brunswick and Jennings also completed with the former doing so having completed another h/m four days earlier. Dave Purvis managed 51:00 dead for the cancer research 10k with an unscheduled pitstop putting paid to a sub 50 time. 

Over the pond the 8 mile Uwharrie Trail run saw another of the overseas contingent Angela Stallings complete in just over 2:02 with no mishaps which according to the race brief was more of a challenge than completing the course itself.