Week Ending - 2024/01/21

HILL STORMS TO NEW CLUB RECORD IN YORK

When Matt Scarsbrook signed for Birchfield Harriers, many at the club thought that his records would stand longer than any others, yet one by one, men’s co-captain Dave Hill is picking them off. A late entry into the Brass Monkeys Half Marathon in York at the weekend, Polesworth-based Hill made light of the weather conditions caused by Storm Isha and stormed to a mighty 11th place finish in the fast and furious event in a new personal best time of 69:08. 

The course is lightning quick, out from the city centre, past the racecourse, through the village of Bishopthorpe, home to the Archbishop of York before returning back to the city. Hill took over three minutes off his previous best, set in Coventry in the autumn and came within three seconds of the brilliant Scarsbrook’s current PB, running a massive negative split in the process. So long as he stays fit and retains his gargantuan work ethic, there is no reason to believe he won’t top the individual standings in this year’s cross-country league before going on to improve on his club marathon record of 2:33 at London in April. 

A slightly slower but no less worthy time of 2:03:44 was achieved by Liz Peel at the Essar 4 villages half in Helsby, Cheshire. Well on her way to 100 completed events at the distance, the popular professor continues to impress all at the club. 

With many at Badgers knee-deep in marathon training, there was only the usual parkrun action to supplement these two half-marathon exploits at the weekend. Highlights included Dave Hill winning well at Worcester, albeit in second gear, with Glyn Broadhurst and Megan Griffiths also bagging top-ten finishes. Sharon Jackson took 5th place at Clifton parkrun while Dave Jackson rolled back the years with a gutsy effort at Kingsbury Water Park. The nine times former winner helped himself to a top-ten finish in 21:02 on his 210th parkrun appearance. 

At Tamworth Castle, Sarah O’Donoghue made a welcome return to action and in doing so notched up her 50th milestone, a cracking achievement from her, while Mark Repton took 9th place in the field overall with a brisk 20:11.

This week should see three more Badgers make it to landmark totals. At Wolverhampton, Peter Mann and Fiona Reidy aim to hit 50 while the experienced Paul Restall will be signing autographs in Tamworth ahead of his 250th event, excellent work all round.