Week Ending - 2025/07/26

TOP JOB FOR BASSFORD IN ITALY

Erica Bassford is no stranger to running abroad; it was only last week on her holidaying tour with her partner Joe that she ran in Zuiderpark Parkrun in the Netherlands, but it was this time around that she achieved a very personal milestone as she bagged first female across the line in the beautiful surroundings of Farfalle Parkrun in Italy. Her time of 24:36 was only 20 seconds off her PB, and this being on mixed terrain shows what a gutsy performance this was. Since joining the club, the 23-year-old has gone from strength to strength, excelling in all distances from 10k to the marathon, mostly achieving her recent PBs in 2026 with stunning performances at the Watermead 10k and Bosworth Half Marathon back in May, and getting under 4 hours for the Marathon, with her 3:57:41 at Manchester back in April. It leaves a good note for Bassford and the ladies' team for the rest of the year as more strong performances loom. Her partner Joe Jenkinson was along to support, and also featured running 31:11 in the event.  

Elsewhere abroad, we had Mia Cox showcase once again at Les Debinski Parkrun in Poland, running a superb 22:13, a course best and easily returned as first female back on the day. 

Over at Walsall Parkrun we had a stunning performance from Michael Garrett who set a new Parkrun PB of 20:51, to easily come in the top 30 and first back in his category, quite a stunning performance on a very fast course. 

At Marine Parade Parkrun in Weston-Super-Mare, we had Carl Ford in action, a course renowned for its tough sandy terrain taking in the beach; Ford put in a gutsy windswept showing of 29:38. 

We had a few Badgers take on Bedworth Parkrun; first back was Emma Masser who ran an incredible time of 23:26, a Course PB and coming over the line as first back in her age category. More success followed when Anne Marie Matthews also grabbed a course PB to run 32:08. Club Treasurer Andy Altoft ran the exact same time to come home next, before Gail Gunn was our final Badger back in 49:50. 

Our Regular Parkrunners were also in action closer to home; firstly at Kingsbury Parkrun, we had popular run leader Colin Lees first back for the club in 24:36, only last week celebrating clocking up 400 career parkruns; this once again was a solid showing. Kat Wilson was our first female Badger back in 25:59, and not far behind her was Suzy Farrell in 26:04. Lilly Wilson was next back in 27:01, while Mark Reynolds came home in 27:14. Dave Jenkinson came back alongside Reynolds in the same time, and not far behind was Chris Young in 27:44. Hannah Burgess was our next lady back in 28:13, whilst Janey Barrett & Jill Miller were next in 28:32 & 28:33 respectively. Alice Belcher completed the strong Kingsbury round-up, running 33:11. 

Over at Tamworth, we saw eleven Badgers take on the twisty 2-lapped course; first back was ever-popular member Adrian Payne in 19:51 and finished in 11th Place. Mark Repton continues to rack up the appearances on this course and he was next back in 21:28. Jim Cottom ran well to cross in 23:12, as did Wayne Repton in 24:15, Stuart Bachelor was not far behind and he was next back in 24:21. Racheal Browne was our first lady back in 25:25, and celebrating a new course PB on the day was Vicki Brunsdon who ran well to come back in 29:48. Paul Restall was a click behind in 29:49, whilst Vicky Jennings came home next in 35:24. Anne Marie Dittman was next in 35:56. Michael Moulton completed the round up of Tamworth as he ran 42:20.