Week Ending - 2023/04/02

NEW BEGINNINGS

The first crop of 2023 beginners completed their 5K runs at Kingsbury parkrun this weekend as no fewer than fourteen graduates, including a couple of returnees, made the journey from January to a successful parkrun. Under the calm tutelage of Clare Whetton, Leesa Dennis and Jo Davies amongst others, the group were treated to a slippy mudfest at a rain-soaked water park on Saturday morning but that did not dampen the celebrations one iota. 

As is usually the case at Badgers, there was bountiful support along the way as another forty fine fellows from the club popped along to run, encourage and cheer along the new recruits. Those who completed the course included Leanne Baker, Sue Wilson, Jamie Harper, Grace Barsby, Susan Bradley, Elliot Deakin, Niki Evans, Luanne Gibbs, Joanne Horton, Lydia Pattinson, Richard Reilly, Laura Robinson, Lauren Smith and Hannah Watford. 

The parkrun itself boasted a rare Badgers double win as both the first female and first male were representatives of the club. Beating off all comers was former Badgers poster boy and pin-up, Adrian Payne who dominated proceedings ahead of his upcoming tilt at the London marathon. The sub-three merchant was in fine form, making his way through the mud smoother than David Craig at a networking event and his time of 18:49 was well clear of second place. Megan Griffiths is no stranger to being top of the pile at Kingsbury and for the fifth time in her career, she took the honour of being first with barcode-less team-mate Liberty Underhill tucking in alongside her in 24:21. Mark Repton (20:30) and Ashley Taylor (21:27) also made the top ten.

Elsewhere key man Glyn Broadhurst became the second fastest Badger of all time at the Aberystwyth parkrun when he stormed home emphatically in 19:36 to make the top five overall. Sharon Jackson took third female at Shipley parkrun in 27:39, her top ten streak continuing apace. 

Dave Hill was the fastest of them all with a super show at the speedy Long Eaton course. Only Danny Warren has won here before and Hill not only matched the achievement but took one second off the Badgers course record set by Chris Horton in 16:43 last year. Newcomer Anne Whitby-Smith continued her good form in 2023 with a sixth-place finish at Beacon parkrun in Lichfield clocking 25:01. 

Other runners in action included Cameron Barnes and Colin Lees at Beacon Hill, Holly and Andy Smith at Victoria Park Leicester as well as Sarah Reynolds at Conkers. Adrian Parkes showed his pace at Oaklands in 24:03 ahead of Vicki Jennings and Vicki Brunsdon and Mr. & Mrs Starkey (Sam & Laura) continued their fervent tourism, this time at Northampton where they cobbled together good performances, each on the fringe of the top ten. Jo Hardy and Kerry Clover were tackling Babbs Mill parkrun, Anne-Marie Matthews was in Dudley. 

Dave Purvis was the only racer outside of parkrun as he ran the London Landmarks Half Marathon in 1:51:29, a personal best performance by one minute for him, an excellent effort. Last but not least, spare a thought for the club’s unsung hero David Craig, who travelled all the way down to the south coast to a race that was ultimately cancelled. Six and a half hours of his life he won’t be getting back.