Week Ending - 2025/11/09

BADGERS CELEBRATE THEIR SUCCESS

It was all smiles on Friday evening as Badgers celebrated one of their best seasons ever at Baddesley Ensor Social Club for their Annual Presentation Ceremony.

In a year that has defied all expectations with him breaking 21 club records and setting nine new personal bests, all while turning 50, Chris Horton was named Badger of the Year as well as Runner’s Badger. His annual total of 2,324 miles was enough to secure him the Mile Master trophy, and he concluded the evening by accepting the Chairperson’s Special Recognition Award for over a decade’s work behind the scenes, as well as his outstanding athletic achievements of the previous twelve months, which include 

• now holding every club record at both V40 and V50 levels concurrently

• being ranked in the top thirty V50 athletes in the UK

• winning the Burton 10K 

• achieving a WAVA rating in excess of 90% (world-class level)

• winning the LRRL V50 category with the seventh-best score of all ages

• raising £4,500 for Pancreatic Cancer UK by completing the London Marathon 

• winning the BDSL individual rankings (albeit in a Tamworth AC vest)

Matt Scarsbrook, who now also runs for Tamworth as well as Badgers, was re-presented with his historic LRRL individual trophy after he came out on top in a highly competitive season, helping his team secure a sixth straight title in the process. 

Sharon Jackson collected three awards to cap a fine year for her, the ladies’ vice-captain winning Spirit of the Badger, Role Model and best training attendance awards. Jill Miller picked up gongs for both Run Leader of the Year and Unsung Hero, a great achievement given her being relatively new to her run-leading role.

Thirteen-year-old Mia Cox was voted Junior Badger as well as Newcomer of the Year. Her incredible run at the Mid Cheshire 5K in August saw her nominated for a third award in the prestigious Performance of the Year, but hopes of a hat-trick were dashed by her dad as he scooped that trophy after his epic ninth-place finish in the brutal Lakeland 100-mile Ultra marathon in July. 

There appears to be a theme of runners improving past the age of forty within the club, as both male and female Most Improved Badgers went to long-serving athletes experiencing a new lease of life in the veteran division. Rapid Rachael Browne deservedly won, as did Matt Green, who has been reeling off personal bests all season despite approaching fifty. 

Ever-present Green also collected the captain's award for outstanding performances over the cross-country season, with the effervescent Rachel Crump doing similarly for the ladies. On the road, Janey Barrett’s endeavours over the course of the year rightly earned her the captain’s award; her efforts proved to be integral to the ladies winning their league and the vet ladies’ team (of which she was also a part) gaining promotion to the top flight after a few seasons in division two. Adrian Payne was unfortunate to miss out on a prize in the LRRL, missing out by just one place, yet had a brilliant season all the same, with personal bests galore helping to underpin a sixth successive title for the men’s team in the league. He was a worthy (and surprised) winner of the outstanding road performance award, as it was he who was hosting the ceremony, and captains had to work smartly and surreptitiously to ensure Payne did not know of his win in advance!

Alicia Gutheridge won Supporter of the Year, and Stevie-Lea King was voted Beginner Badger of the Year. Club founder Nivette Chester won Mile Mistress award with 1581 miles accumulated, and Ashley “T-Dogg” Taylor had the best attendance on club social runs with 38 from a maximum of 51. There was a surprise impromptu presentation to club Chair Danny Warren to appreciate all of his hard work, leadership and creative input over this and many other seasons. And it’s only right to mention Bryany Sherwood here as she ran her first London Marathon in 2025, raising over £10,000 for the British Heart Foundation, a staggering sum of money. 

Nineteen Badgers completed and submitted their club Standard Times, with David Grant’s Gold Merit one of the standout results from what has been a remarkable year. 

Copper Merit 

Kate Rathbone
Bryany Sherwood

Bronze Merit 

Alice Belcher
Paul Cooper
Steph Nickless

Bronze+ Merit

Yvonne Faulkner-Grant
Dave Purvis

Silver Merit

Liz Peel
Susie Stringer

Silver Distinction

Wayne Repton

Silver+ Merit

Megan Griffiths
Mark Repton

Silver+ Distinction

Matt Green
Maggi Savin-Baden

Gold Merit

David Grant
Chris Tweed

Gold+ Merit

Pip Weston

Platinum Merit

Adrian Payne

Platinum+ Distinction

Chris Horton

Running-wise, there was some action over the weekend with Dave Jackson running well at the Centurion Grand Prix opener in Chelmsley Wood, clocking a super time of 30:59 to place highly in the men’s competition. They say ‘never meet your heroes’ but that’s exactly what YouTube sensation Tim Stent, aka MARM, did when he bumped into future Badgers Hall of Famer Jackson at Babbs Mill, ultimately beating him off by twenty seconds or so to scupper any hopes of a V45 age cat win for the resurgent Jackal of Jean. Vicky Brunsdon ran her longest distance ever in the 38-mile Beautifully Brutal Events - Winter Coast to Coast, in Wales. Her time of 11 hours 13 minutes was significant too in terms of time on foot. 

Parkrun saw some action too, and at Bedworth, one-to-watch Kat Wilson ran a sizzling personal best with a fabulous run of 25:12 to finish fifth female, just ahead of rising star daughter Lilly, who took sixth. Stacey Horner was top of the tree at Tamworth, as she sped round faster than any other female on the day in a marvellous 21:01. The only other winner was Chris Horton who took first overall at a sparsely populated Brunswick Park in 18:03. One-time overseas winner Maggi Savin-Baden was the furthest travelled as she took part in the Nibe parkrun in Denmark, finishing fourth female overall, an excellent effort. 

Mark Cox ran well to place fifth at Market Bosworth, and the well-travelled Sam Starkey also made the top ten with his effort at Perry Hall. Closer to home, Megan Griffiths was second lady at Kingsbury while youngster Dan Ash broke 22 minutes to make the top ten for the first time in his career to date, finishing ninth overall, a terrific achievement.