Week Ending - 2025/09/27

BADGERS MAKE THEIR MARK AT PENULTIMATE RACE

In the Penultimate League Race of the Season, Badgers made the short journey over to the South Charnwood to take on the undulating Markfield 10k. The team were far greater in numbers this time around after many other races and events clashed with the last league race at Hose 10, and with a few of the club's big hitters back, it was interesting to see how strongly the team would finish with the season drawing to a climax. The course is known for its sharp, fast downhill start, which gave the runners a swift advantage, and along the run, with its mix of undulations, this would have a difference on impacting times. First back for the club in 8th Place was the awe-inspiring Chris Horton with a time of 34:53, gaining his Rhodium standard for the distance. It's been quite a year for the V50 talent who shows no signs of slowing down; only this weekend he ran his 250th Parkrun at Kingsbury, and since 2013 has finished in the top ten in every parkrun he has taken part in, a quite incredible achievement. Also adding winning the Individual Burton District Summer League Title with his second claim club, Tamworth AC, for a second year running, making him the oldest winner in the history of the league. Another overall cracking season for the Badgers talisman. Next back for the club was ever-present Danny Warren in 36:23, who celebrated running his 100th Leicestershire League Race for the Club. Danny has been a prime example for many in the club over the years, and has been a vital scorer this season. Will Pickering was next home in 37:38 to earn a top 40 place. It's been a solid comeback for the Hyrox star, who has been in good form since returning to the club. Adrian Payne came in next with a time of 38:23, another gritty performance by the popular Bagders man, who has also been a main scorer for the team once again this season. Club Captain Glyn Broadhurst was next in 38:52, to complete a solid top set of finishing for the Club. Fresh back from the Mountains of Slovenia for the club was Dave Jenkinson, who certainly showed no signs of post-race fatigue by running a new 10k PB of 42:47, taking nearly two minutes off his previous best. A quite sensational run, leaving room for thought on a flatter course about how much faster he could go. 

It was the turn of the ladies next, and one of the most sensational performances of the day belonged to Megan Griffiths, who flew round the course, setting herself not only a PB of 43:09, but taking the V40 Club Record, which stood for over 10 years. It's a testament to the season Griffiths has had, being a major scorer for the ladies team amongst setting records here, there and everywhere. Matt Green was in next in 43:40, another solid performance from the tenacious Badgers talisman who always impresses when competing for the club. Next home was Dave Purvis, who ran 44:57, setting a course best of over two minutes from his effort last time around. Second Lady home for the club on the day was Susie Stringer, who ran a superb time of 45:35 to come within just over 20 seconds of her Overall PB, which she set at Tamworth 10k last year. She's been another big contributor to the ladies' team, and only two weeks ago competed in the Great North Run. A sign of faster times to come for sure on a much flatter course. A minute behind was the strength of Emma Masser, who ran 46:36 to set an astonishing six-minute PB from her previous best, ironically that effort coming at the Badgers 10k. Sam Starkey came in solidly for the club next in 46:52, whilst Wayne Repton wasn't far behind in 47:07. Bill Gutheridge came in next for the club in 48:17, whose comeback is showing good signs. Rob Crow is always an inspiration, and he put on a gritty performance to run 49:01. Neil Rose was not too far behind Crow in 49:11 Janey Barrett was next lady home for the club in a solid 49:42. Russell Briggs ran his first league race for the club, and came away with a solid effort of 50:20. Joanne Crow set a new PB and came in next with a time of 51:10, bettering her time by 20 seconds from Watermead 10k back in May. Erica Bassford recovered heroically from her Equinox mission to run 52:19. Marc Corbett was amongst the PB getters on Sunday, and he ran a new best 53:25. Mark Brown ran another strong show to run 54:18, and Yvonne Faulkner-Grant ran 55:27. Ever popular Sharon Jackson ran 60:04, and Martin Graham gallantly race walked round in 62:13. 

Matt Scarsbrook is already confirmed as League Champion despite not running; however, with one more race to go, there are still many individual positions to be decided. The Men's & Mixed team should now finish as runners-up in the league and would need to drop a lot of points in order for anything to change. However, despite wonderful showings from the Ladies overall, Sunday's positions confirmed their relegation to Division 2. With a lot of individual honours still up for grabs, Sunday's Last Race at Rotherby will be an interesting conclusion. 

Away from League racing, we had plenty of Parkrun action. Starting at Kingsbury, where we had thirty of the club in action. Fresh off from his success in Slovenia was Ryan Preece, who won outright in 17:00. Next back was Chris Horton who celebrated his 250th career parkrun by finishing in third place in 18:37. The promising young talent of Dan Ash came next in the top 20 with 22:44. Club Captain Glyn Broadhurst was next home in 23:04, whilst Meg Griffiths ran 23:06, whilst Matt Green ran 23:16. Dave Jenkinson ran 23:30, whilst Paul Wallace wasn't far behind in 23:43. Luke Bennett came in next in 23:51, whilst Sean White ran 24:36. David Craig ran 25:07 for a solid run, whilst Rachael Browne continues her amazing comeback with 25:13. Thomas Ash is another of the club's young talent and he ran a new Parkrun PB of 25:22. Popular club person Adrian Payne ran 25:23, whilst Leon Millership ran 26:15. Chris Young ran a solid 26:47, whilst Jill Miller wasnt too far behind in 26:57. Adrian Parkes ran well in 27:07, with Mark Reynolds only a few seconds behind in 27:11. Mick Bailey continues his impressive form with 27:15. Judy Parkes ran 28:05 to run very well, whilst Danni Gunn ran 28:42, whilst Andy & Holly Smith ran 30:45 and 30:46 respectively. Ann Meads-Tallis ran 31:03, whilst Liz Peel came in in 31:41. David Ash ran 31:50, with Serena Baker & Martin Graham in last in 33:54 and 34:03. Over at Tamworth Castle Grounds we had just Six Badgers, Mark Repton finished just outside the top 10 with a time of 20:21. Colin lees was next back in 24:29, whilst Wayne Repton ran 25:03. Rhys Hopwood came in next in 27:05. Lastly it was Vikki Smith and Ivana Babicova who ran 39:16 and 39:17. Over at the fast and flat Long Eaton parkrun we had Maggi Savin-Baden set a new course PB of 27:13, grabbing her Gold Plus standard time for the year, a quite incredible effort from the well loved and respected individual who is an avid participant in parkruns across the country. Over at Cofton Parkrun, Dave Purvis ran 23:12 to come in the top 30. Over at Market Bosworth Parkrun, we had Cameron Barnes storm to first place in 20:09, setting a course best over what is a tough, hilly course. Pete Boardman ran well to take a top-20 place in 24:06, whilst Joanne and Kier Hardy ran 28:25. Anne Marie Matthews ran a new course PB of 31:44, whilst Rachael & Carla Boardman ran 31:54 and 32:05 respectively. Nicola Bowman ran 33:13, and Janet Crumpton came in last but not least in 33:14 in a new course best. 

In other news, we had Alice Belcher compete in her canicross races, and she finished a strong 2nd in her category, whilst Sara Hawkins and Kate Rathbone completed their first sprint triathlon at Dorney Lakes. Lastly, Ebony Key finished 6th in the East Leake Sprint Triathlon.