Week Ending - 2025/04/05

DOUBLE DELIGHT AT DORNEY LAKE HALF

Badgers captaincy duo Glyn Broadhurst and Megan Griffiths enjoyed a fabulous Easter weekend by producing exceptional performances at the Dorney Lake half-marathon on Saturday. The fast, flat course offered plenty of assistance to those pursuing a quick time, and with next to no elevation, the stage was set for fireworks. Setting off solidly, men’s captain Broadhurst maintained a decent tempo and hit the 10-mile split in under 62 minutes. With 5K to go, the Tamworth-based chip-swayer left everything out there, and when he crossed the line in 81:21, he became the first veteran athlete back in the whole race. His time was not quite a PB but not far off, and at the age of 50, that is no mean feat, let me tell you!

Megan Griffiths has more youth on her side but a bit less experience; nonetheless, she settled in well and was soon making her presence felt ahead in the wave at the mixer. Crossing halfway in 48 minutes, the focused deputy headmistress ploughed on, eventually getting to the line in 98:00, a huge personal best and one of the fastest half marathons recorded in Badgers club history. Both Liberty Underhill and Becky Harris have gone quicker in the past, but this was a performance for the ages from Griffiths, who once again underlined her status as a solid operator across a range of different distances.

Aside from these halves, there was only parkrun to report on over the bank holiday period. The most impressive run was that of Erica Bassford, who took a career high 8th place finish at Sutton Park in 23:48, which itself was a big new personal best – a real confidence booster ahead of her upcoming attempt at the Manchester marathon in Manchester, Greater Manchester. Manchester was also the scene of 100-marathon club member Karen Thompson’s marathon best nine years ago when she ran a brilliant 3:40 to qualify for London. This weekend, she was the furthest flung Badger at parkrun as she ran 28 minutes in Kyoto, Japan, finishing just outside the top ten females. 

Jill Miller and Rachael Browne finished 8th lady at Kingsbury and Stockley Country Park, respectively. The fastest Badger was Chris Horton, who ran 17:56 to finish first at a well-attended Market Bosworth parkrun, with Badgers teammates gathering to support young Mia Cox, who was assistant Race Director for the morning as part of her Duke of Edinburgh Award.