Week Ending - 2025/08/16

BADGERS BUST OUT THE MILES ON 15th BIRTHDAY

On this Weekend 15 years ago, a small group of people came together through the strong love of running in North Warwickshire; that group was formed as the BADGERS. A group that, some 15 years later, has over 200 active Members and continues to grow rapidly in every area. Notably, in the Leicestershire  Road Running League where the Club have dominated, last year being the Club's Sixth  League Victory in a row, something 15  years ago the club would only have dreamt of, with both the Men's & Ladies Teams continuing to inspire and thrive across the board. To celebrate this quite Amazing and Dedicated Club, their 15th Birthday brought up giving it's Members a challenge: to run 1,500 kilometres in 24 Hours. This could be done anywhere on any surface, and the Club had truly many gutsy kilometres covered, with a total of  1,389km registered. A quite sensational achievement by everybody who participated.  

On our Parkrun round-up, we firstly begin at  Kingsbury where we had over 40 of the club turn out. Our very own Chris Horton took 1st, with 17:36, a true domination from Start to finish. We had a group of four more that finished in the top 20, next back being the ever popular Adrian Payne in 4th  Place in 18:50. Men's Club Captain Glyn  Broadhurst came home in 7th in 19:29,  whilst Cameron Barnes ran superbly to take 11th in 20:16. Marathon man Mark  Repton was only just behind and he came in 12th place in 20:31, whilst Bill Gutheridge ran well in 23:20. Our Ladies Club Captain Megan Griffiths was first lady back in 23:24 as she made the top 40, as did Matt Green who was just a click behind in 23:25. Michael Garrett has been in great form as of late and he ran solidly to post a 23:36. Wayne Repton ran 24:02, meanwhile Lilly Wilson ran a  new Parkrun PB of 24:06, as she continues her brilliant rise. Adrian Parkes ran terrifically in 24:14, and he was followed in by a trio of Badgers, including Stefan  Martin in 24:24 and David Craig in 24:28.  Ashley 'T-Dogg' Taylor continues his comeback with a solid 24:49, his 250th  Career parkrun appearance. Young talent  Dan Ash was next back in 25:04; the youngster was pivotal over the weekend in helping the club in their 24-hour challenge, running over 32km in one period. It was a  double for Chris Young this weekend, as he ran 25:08, setting him up nicely for the Birmingham Unity Games 5k, which he ran in 23:34. A very good performance on a tricky course through the city centre, and to boot was his fastest performance over the distance this year. Kat Wilson was next through at Kingsbury in 25:22, and not far behind was Club Treasurer Andy Altoft in  25:34. Paul Wallace was a click behind in  25:35. Colin Lees ran solid in 26:20, and  Michael Bailey came in well to run 26:36.  Suzy Farrell was our next lady back in  27:05, and Nick Miles was not too far behind in 27:08. Leon Millership came through in 27:43, meanwhile Judy Parkes ran well to finish in 29:22. Erica Bassford ran 29:27, and Tom Ash was not too far behind in 29:42. A trio of the ladies came in next as Sharon Jackson & Emma  Masser ran 30:22, and 30:25 respectively.  Bryany Sherwood, who is in deep training for her next half marathon in Cardiff, was next back in 30:38. Kieran Coopey was next back from the Club in 32:15, whilst Liz  Peel ran 33:25. Vicky Jennings ran well in  34:11, whilst Karen Thompson ran 34:28 to come back next. David Ash & Kate  Rathbone ran 40:28 & 40:36, whilst Sara  Hawkins was a click behind in 40:37. Last but not least, we had Alice Belcher & Sara  Wilson who both virtually equalled each other to run 60:27 & 60:29.  

Over at Tamworth, numbers were low due to the invasion of Kingsbury; nevertheless, we had 2 Badgers running. First back was Ian Cooper, who ran 29:19, whilst Tanya  Murphy completed the course in 42:25.  

Over at Perry Hall Parkrun, we had a new recruit in action as Mark Brown ran 23:59.  

The 50km distance is a Grueling one to say the least, and we had 2 Badgers featuring in the Foxton Hound 50k, which takes in some of Leicestershire's most beautiful countryside views. Vicki Brunsdon set an incredible 19-minute PB by completing the course in 8 Hours 33 Minutes. A quite incredible feat on such mixed terrain.  Anne Marie Matthews was also in action,  and she too was rewarded with a PB of the same time, running virtually alongside  Brunsdon for the entirety of the course.  

Jimmy Dewis was in action representing  Great Britain at the Aquathlon Games at  Blithfield Reservoir. The Badgers Ace earned a wonderful Bronze Medal for his age group, to top off a wonderful weekend of running for the club.