Week Ending - 2024/02/25

WALSALL OR BUST

Wet weather put paid to a number of running events over the weekend but the tenacity of many Badgers to find an outlet for their passion prevailed with parkrun being the biggest beneficiary. Only Liz Peel, who ran an excellent 1:58:20 at the Leicestershire Half Marathon at Prestwold racing circuit and London marathon bound Krystal Knight who clocked a super new personal best time of 2:13:36 at the same event ran outside of parkrun, along with Dave Purvis who ran the London Winter 10K in 46:49. 

Dave Hill was busy smashing it out of the park yet again, this time adding the Dudley course to his ever-growing list of venues where he has won, his time of 17:58 being simply untouchable in a field that included teammates Glyn “Gee” Broadhurst who took 8th place in 19:41, and Meg Griffiths who finished an excellent third lady in 24:33. Veteran Broadhurst did however record a slightly higher wava rating than the younger and speedier Hill.

For a handful of brave Badgers, it was very much a case of Walsall or Bust as they often say. The lightning-quick three-lap course around the arboretum has yielded many a PB and club record for Badgers through the years and here, in form trio Adrian Payne, Chris Tweed and David “Dee” Jackson all toed the line with high hopes of eclipsing their very bests. Sadly, a combination of factors conspired against them with all three trundling home in relatively modest times given their usual sublime abilities. Payne was first back, braving icy winds and frosty footpaths to take 17th place in 19:26, exercising his customary caution ahead of an upcoming ski trip. Tweed, already 80 miles into a 120-mile week, had to dodge some errant ducks and navigate a never-seen-before hill en route to his 19th place 19:40 while the selfless Jackson sacrificed a more than probable race win by offering directions to a discombobulated tourist half way round the second circuit, eventually rolling home in a mild 21:32. One Badger who had hoped to be there but did not quite make it was Ashley T-Dogg Taylor, who had the better of his key rival Jackson in previous meetings. Opting to stay at home in order to boost the morale of his teammates shows just why Taylor has the biggest heart in the club, although let it be known that is not his largest organ.

V60 club record holder Pip Weston was in action at Fell Foot parkrun in Cumbria and Neil Thorner was first back from a trio inclusive of Paul Grubb and Eamon Thawley at Conkers. Nick Miles went back down memory lane with his 28:28 at Market Rasen. Sutton Park saw the friendship group of Matt Green, Sam & Laura Starkey, Rachael Browne, and the up-and-coming Adrian Parkes descend upon their hilly turf. Ross Kilburn led the club home at Bedworth, the three-lap route one of the few local events to avoid severe flooding. He was followed back by the likes of Clare Whetton, Janet Crumpton, Leesa Dennes, Merv Jones, Karen Draper, and Eileen McCarry. Paul Cooper, Anne-Marie Matthews, and Holly & Andy Smith ran at Abbey Park, Leicester, with GB ace Gemma Steel for company.

At Aston Hall, Dave Jenkinson and Dave Grant were both at full throttle. Peter Mann was in action at the University of Northampton along with Fiona Reidy, Juliette Trollope, Kate Rathbone, Sara Hawkins, Gail Gunn, and Claire Bradford. Babbs Mill saw Mark Repton leading the club home in 21:39 for 13th place, just ahead of Cameron Barnes. Alice Belcher and Jo Hardy took 7th and 8th place respectively and there were solid runs from David Craig, Wayne Repton, Kerry Clover, and Joanne Crow. 

In New Zealand, Charlotte Oliver returned to competitive action after a little break and was delighted with her time of 28:16. Last but not least, at Market Bosworth, four Badgers braved the mud with ultra-running ace Mark Cox showing his running range with a high class 19:20 for second place. Liz Peel was also in the top ten with her ninth-place finish, Colin Lees and Hannah Coogan also making the trip.