Week Ending - 2025/10/04

BADGERS END SEASON ON A HILLY HIGH AT ROTHERBY

As has been common in many years now, the final Leicestershire Road Running League Race came to its conclusion at the very challenging Rotherby 8 in Gaddesby. An all-round Badgers team were all looking to end their 2026 season on a high note, albeit on a tough course with plenty of tough hilly climbs. Nevertheless, the team steamrolled ahead and produced a thrilling climax. Ultra Marathon specialist Ryan Preece was first back for the club in a stunning 5th Place, coming off the back of his success in Slovenia. He was well trained for the tricky elevation that was to come, and stuck to the task solidly to come away with 45:01, taking over one and a half minutes off his PB from last year at the same venue. A Superb showing and a testament to the training he has been putting in. Next back in 8th Place was Chris Horton, who bettered his own V50 Club Record from a year ago, once again at the same venue in 45:44. This was enough to confirm him as the V50 Winner overall in the league for a second year running, and incredibly this performance was only two seconds off, equaling his 8 mile PB which he achieved here in 2024. Club Chairperson Danny Warren was next back in 15th Place in 47:26, another solid performance by the Baddesley man who has been another key scorer for the men's team once again. Will Pickering ran solidly to come in the top 40 with a time of 49:48; the Hyrox star has been a key performer for the club since rejoining from Hinckley RC. The ever-popular Adrian Payne was back next for the club, finishing just inside the top 50 with 51:28. Luke Neal also returned with a lot to smile about, and he came away with a solid time of 52:39. Sam Starkey ran very well in 55:29 to come within the top 100 on the day for the club. Dave Jenkinson has had a superb few weeks; a week after running a new 10k PB at the last league race at Markfield, he carried his form on here by gaining a new 8 Mile PB of 56:56, bettering his time by 28 seconds. A 5th-place age category finish was also achieved by Jenkinson on the day, a quite magnificent showing. 

Three Badgers then flew in next simultaneously. First, Dave Purvis smashed his own time from last year to grab a PB of more than five minutes. Last year's time being 62:26, he ran 57:25 this time around for an outright stunning showing. Matt Green was next in 57:34, followed closely by our first lady back, Megan Griffiths, who not only improved her 8 Mile PB, but also set a new V40 ladies Club Record of 57:35, taking over two Minutes off her PB from last year at the same venue. She improved the V40 club record by four minutes, previously held by another fantastic role model to the club, Susie Stringer. Jim Cottom was next in 59:22, and not too far behind was indeed Susie Stringer, our second lady home in a PB of her own in 59:29, taking over a minute off her time last year. It is a testament to both Griffiths & Stringer that they both went under the Club record set last year, and to just what a great season both of them have had in the league this year. Wayne Repton was next back for the club in 62:21, coming within the top 200 in the race, and Bill Gutheridge came through next in 62:36. Both very solid runs from the Badgers men. Janey Barrett was our third lady back on the day, and she ran a stunning PB time of 63:58, over a minute and a half better than last year. Die-hard Birmingham City fan Rob Crow was next back on the day in 64:12. Adrian Parkes continues to defy the odds when it comes to league racing with the club, and he ran a superb PB of 66:18, A minute better than last year, and a 7th-placed category position to boot. Joanne Crow was next in for the club in a new fabulous PB of 66:52. New recruit Mark Brown ran a very good time in 67:20, followed in closely by Erica Bassford, who made a three-minute improvement from her course time of last year in 67:31. It was wonderful to see Rachael Browne back racing with the team again. She finished next in an inspiring 67:47. Kat Wilson ran solidly to dip under 70 minutes in 69:42. Canicross specialist Alice Belcher gained herself a new 8 mile PB by 12 seconds as she ran in 70:47. Marc Corbett came in next in 71:18, and Judy Parkes took over three and a half minutes off her 8 mile PB by running a wonderful 74:20, a quite incredible run. Last but not least for the club was Matt Smith, who was next over the line in 79:07. 

A quite superb season for the club, with the Men's team confirming themselves as Runners-up for 2026 after yesterday's results, along with VET men & VET ladies coming on the podium in 3rd. The Ladies team will have to battle for promotion back to Division One next season, after suffering an unfortunate relegation.  Matt Scarsbrook has confirmed himself as Men's Individual League Champion for a second year running following on his success from 2025, as has Chris Horton, who is V50 Champion for a second year in a row. 

Elsewhere, there was race day action at the Cardiff Half Marathon. Known for its flat profile and stacked field, we had two of our athletes in action. Firstly, Mark Repton came within the top 2000 in the race by running 1:28:56. Bryany Sherwood has been showing great character in her training and determination as of late, and here she performed very well to run 2:15:54- a show of real tenacity from the 30-year-old, who continues her fabulous running journey with plenty more to come in the future for sure. 

Our Parkrun action begins at Kingsbury, where we had twelve Badgers in action. First back in 3rd place was Glyn Broadhurst in 19:40. Rachael Browne & Megan Griffiths ran together, and both came back in 25:33. Leon Millership was next home in 26:23, whilst Michael Bailey defys the odds and ran superbly in 26:32. Paul Wallace was next in 27:01, and Jill Miller who's preparing for her comedy roadshow soon, ran 27:20. Jim Cottom was next in 27:27. Sharon Jackson was next in 29:09, and Stefan Martin was next home in 29:10. Liz Peel and Vicki Brunsdon were the final Badgers back in 30:52 & 33:03. 

Over at Tamworth Parkrun, the young talent of Dan Ash came just within the top 20 in 22:05, showing more promise as a rising talent. Bill Gutheridge ran 25:23 to come in next, and Colin Lees was just behind in 25:25. Thomas Ash was the next Badger back in 28:23, followed in a couple of minutes behind by Adrian Parkes in 30:06. A double header of Badgers came in next with Rhys Hopwood running 30:08, and Joanne Davies running 30:09. Judy Parkes ran 30:19, whilst Paul Restall ran 30:33. David Ash ran a solid 32:14, and Martin Graham ran 33:51. Sara Hawkins ran 35:08, followed in by Neil Rose a minute later in 36:17. Michael Moulton came in 47:25 to complete the round up here. 

Over at Nottingham Pierrepont Parkrun, we had the Starkeys in action. Firstly, Laura Starkey ran 21:47 to gain herself a new PB; she also finished 3rd female overall on the day, a quite fabulous achievement. Sam Starkey also ran and came away with 23:47. Finally, over in Germany at Aachener Weiher Parkrun, we had the wonderful Maggi Savin-Baden run 32:25 to get her first ever first Badger Back title.