Month: May 2022

For many local runners, the Sutton Fun Run is an annual “must do” event with its mixed surface course of tarmac and trails and the infamous “Cardiac Hill” to contend with. At this year’s run, the fortieth anniversary for the Fun Run, the weather was much cooler than has been the case in other years, which made for near ideal running conditions. Although the Fun Run is advertised as “not a race”, most Peelers were keen to run a good time and first back for the club was Robert Dyjak in an impressive 47:40. Also making light work of the undulating course was Scott Chapman who finished in 58:00. Next across the line was George Hope in 1:08:15, closely followed by Garth Cox in 1:08:26 (a personal best time for the route). Training partners, Jo Harvey and Helen Chyla, paced each other to finish in a solid 1:13:59. Other Peelers putting on good performances included Jackie Tierney (1:25:00); Claire Guffick (1:27:03); Roger Eastaff (1:33:32); Alison Upton (1:42:12) and Lee Guffick (1:50:15). 

Having transferred from the full marathon to the half marathon at Edinburgh due to his training being compromised by an injury, Mike Shelton’s decision was vindicated as he ran a well paced race to finish in 1:36:26.

At Saturday’s parkruns, Kingsbury again drew the most Peelers to its scenic course. First to finish the 5k run was new club member James Stretton in an impressive time of 20:11 and 6^th place overall. He was followed by: Phil Neale (21:34); Kathryn Adams (21:56); Mark Boffey in a personal best time of 21:57; Darren Truman (22:15); Allen King (22:18); Ben Dorkins (23:16); Chris Bennett (23:24); Lisa Stretton (24:00); Tim Mudd (24:48); Stella Taylor (27:40); Claire Guffick (29:00); Jackie Tierney (30:19); Alison Perry (32:52); Roger Eastaff (33:07); Joy Sykes (37:53) and Alison Dolphin (38:32). Meanwhile at Warwick Racecourse, Mick Stevenson crossed the line in 34:20.

At Conkers parkrun, Sarah French and Ann Hill were hi-vis heroes volunteering to marshal the parkrun, whilst also promoting the Peelers’ Gate Gallop 10k trail race in June. Entries are still available for the 10k race and the 5k fun run at https://www.stgileshospice.com/how-you-can-help-us/fundraise-with-us/our-events/tamworth-gate-gallop/ Children’s races can be entered on the day.

This week Peel Road runners visited Flax Hill Primary School. Qualified running coach Michael Shelton was accompanied by Club Secretary Alison Dolphin and club mascot Trev the bear. The duo led sessions with 12 classes ranging from year 3 to year 6. The sessions involved a variety of running themed games where children were invited to take part in walking, jogging or running. Topics covered how to pace, and the health benefits of running including the benefits to mental health. The children were enthusiastic about their learning and were invited to enter the Tamworth Gate Gallop Children’s run.

Peel Road Runners organise the annual Tamworth Gate Gallop in aid of St Giles Hospice, a race that has been run for over 25 years and has raised over £100,00 for the charity. The Gate Gallop is an enjoyable event comprising of a 10km off road run, a 4.4km fun run and a 600m children’s run. Entries are invited for this year’s event which is due to take place on Sunday 26th June 2022 at Anker Valley Sports Complex. There will be family entertainment and refreshments with proceeds going to St Giles Hospice.
On Saturday morning at Kingsbury Water Parkrun Roger Eastaff celebrated completing his 50th parkrun in 43:11. Roger Lloyd, who finished in 42:46 was accompanied by his Flaxhill student daughter Fran after being inspired by the Peel Road Runners school visit.

Fellow Peelers also running at Kingsbury Water included Mike Shelton (20:41), Allen King (22:21), Rachael Rickards (22:26), Ben Dorkins (22:33), Philip Neale (23:04), Chris Bennett (22:38), Lisa Stretton (24:02), Dave Fern (24:57), Stuart Hatton (25:17), Jacqueline Tierney (28:32), Ian Grigg (38:54), Claire Guffick (43:13), Alison Dolphin (43:14), Emma Whorwood (43:14), Stephen Andrews (43:15), Ann Hill (43:16), Alison Perry (43:17), Lee Guffick (43:18), Wendy Bowyer (43:19), Sarah French (43:20), and Clara Walton (53:40).

Nearby at Chasewater parkrun, Garth Cox completed in 23:33 and at Babbs Mill, Mark Boffey finished in 28:57. Over at Warwick Racecourse Michael Stevenson made a time of 31:26 and Tim Mudd ran 25:51 at Rugby.

Saturday saw the Peel Road Runners ‘take over’ at Kingsbury Water parkrun with the Peelers out in force running the scenic 5km course and taking up the vital volunteer roles on the day.

The first Peeler to cross the line was Allen King (21:40) followed closely by Martin Hollamby (21:57) who was also volunteering as a pacer for other runners. Rachael Rickards was next (21:57) followed by Lisa Stretton (23:40), Garth Cox, also running as a pacer (25:39), Ashley Goodman (26:06), Carl Brittain (26:52), Stuart Hatton (27:57 as a pacer), Sophie Galloway (29:47 as a pacer), Dave Fern (33:19 as a pacer), Lee Rickards (34:11), Kelly Porter (36:03), Stephen Andrews (53:13). Nicola Bannister (54:23) and Wendy Bowyer (54:27) brought up the rear as the tail walkers on the day.

Off the course, Event Director Mike Shelton was supported by Richard Benham (volunteer co-ordinator), Ben Dorkins (Communications), Allen King and Donna Lancaster (pre-event set-up). Sarah Barber, Claire Guffick, Lee Guffick, Alison Upton stepped in as barcode scanners at the finish, Mark Boffey and Roger Eastaff were time keepers. Sandra Ingram and Helen Manton managed the finishing funnel, Stella Taylor was number checker, and Ann Hill and Philip Neale handed out the finish tokens. Ian Grigg welcomed the first timers, Darren O’leary took on the lead bike duties and Penny Randell was the photographer. Finally, the all-important course marshals were Chris Bennett, Lisa Fletcher, Sarah French, Jacob Harris, Ken Jordan, Emma Whorwood, Darren Truman and Margaret Jordan.

Elsewhere at Sizewell parkrun, Jacqueline Tierney was the 7th lady to complete in a time of 29:04. Henley Wood saw Tim Mudd complete in 26:06. Whilst at Babbs Mill Ian P Cooper completed in 26:18 and Tanya Murphy in 36:00. At Warwick Racecourse Michael Stevenson ran in 31:02.

Down south in Oxfordshire, Clara Walton completed the 7.4k route around Blenheim Fun Run, set at the World Heritage site of Blenheim Palace. Clara ran with her beautiful dog Nanook completing in 54:08, Clara’s son Dylan at just 6 years old completed the 1-mile Fun Run in 11:18.

At Coombe Abbey Park in Warwickshire, Robert Donovan took part in the Big Bear Swan Challenge; an event where you choose to run as many 3.3-mile laps as you like. Robert ran an impressive 8 laps which is the equivalent of just over the marathon distance.

Last Saturday (7th May) in the stunning Heartlands of Wales, Luke Collins made his ultramarathon debut in the HOWUM 2022, a challenging hilly 30 mile race that meanders through the scenic areas of the Sarn, Glyndwr’s Way, Severn Way and Wye Walk. Luke finished in 22nd place with a time of 5 hours 30 minutes.

Peel Road Runners organise the annual Tamworth Gate Gallop in aid of St Giles Hospice, a race that has been run for over 25 years and has raised over £100,00 for such a worthy cause. The Gate Gallop is an enjoyable event comprising of a 10km off road run, a 4.4km fun run and a children’s run. Entries are invited for this year’s event which is due to take place on Sunday 26th June 2022 at Anker Valley Sports Complex. There will be family entertainment and refreshments with proceeds going to St Giles Hospice.

A quieter week as far as racing is concerned, so the Peelers concentrated their efforts on the weekend’s parkruns with a couple of personal bests to show for it.

At Kingsbury, on form Wayne King finished second overall in a personal best time of 18:34. He was followed by Rob Mace in fifth place overall and a finishing time of 19:47. Crossing the line in fifteenth place and in a personal best time of 22:05 was Allen King, who is showing great form since joining the club. First lady home for the club (and third female) was Rachael Rickards in a time of 22:18. Other Peelers taking on the course at Kingsbury included: Ben Dorkins (23:14); Zoe Schnepp (23:45); Lisa Stretton (24:04); Chris Bennett (24:05); Darren O’Leary (25:48); Stella Taylor (27:06); Jackie Tierney (27:38); Carl Brittain (27:54); Jo Insley (28:56); Sophie Galloway (29:00); Clara Walton (29:07); Claire Guffick (29:54); Emma Whorwood (30:29); Roger Eastaff (32:11); Phil Neale (33:15); Darren Truman (33:16); Lee Rickards + mini Peeler (33:59); Sarah French (34:10); Alison Upton (34:43); Lee Guffick (36:39) and Wendy Bowyer (39:33).

Parkrun tourists included: Michael Stevenson (32:35) at Leamington; Tim Mudd (27:23) at Shipley Country Park; Tanya Murphy (38:38) at Babb’s Mill and Mark Boffey (26:54) at Ashbourne Recreation Ground.

Next week (on Saturday 14^th May) sees the Peel Road Runners “takeover” at Kingsbury parkrun, when club members will be taking on many of the volunteer and pacing roles for the event.

What’s not to love about a road or trail race and the extra day’s holiday this Bank Holiday weekend certainly provided the Peelers with plenty of opportunities to test their racing legs at events all over the country. 

The Uttoxeter half marathon acts as a counting race in the Burton & District Summer League and is organised by Uttoxeter Road Runners. It’s always a favourite race with the Peelers, starting at Uttoxeter racecourse and following an undulating and scenic route around the lanes south of Uttoxeter before finishing with a cramp-inducing downhill gallop back onto the racecourse. Unfortunately, several key members of the team were unable to run due to injury or illness, but the club was well represented with Club Chairman Lee Rickards first to cross the finish line in a time of 1:32:00. Emma Pick continued her impressive return to form and had a very strong race finishing as 5^th female and 3^rd in age category (FSen) and a time of 1:35:25. Next home was Rachael Rickards as 10^th female, 3^rd in age category (F40) and a time of 1:42:13. She was followed by Zac Gibbons in 1:43:22; Allen King (first time at Uttoxeter and a huge personal best time of 6 minutes and 43 seconds!) in 1:46:55 and Carolyne Browne in 2:00:32 and 3^rd in age category (F55).

Meanwhile, over at the Great Birmingham Run half marathon, Emma Livingstone was also knocking out a personal best time of 2:12:00, taking 8 minutes off her previous personal best! Michael Shelton also took on the Birmingham half marathon for St Giles Hospice and finished in a time of 1:37:04, whilst Jude Matthews and Donna Reid ran the course together and finished in 1:52:14. Finally Jo Insley, making a welcome return after some time out from racing, finished in 2:02:16.

Peelers like a challenge and Clara Walton, not content with one race this week, took on the Big Bear Bluebell Challenge at Hartshill Hayes on Tuesday and completed 17.7 miles in a time of 4:45:52 on the undulating trail route. Following up on this success, she then went on to run the Great Birmingham Run 10k on Sunday in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust and finished in a very creditable 59:45.

On Bank Holiday Monday, Milton Keynes was the destination for the Dempsey Duo! Helen Dempsey completed the MK half marathon in a time of 2:28:33, a course personal best by 3 minutes, whilst husband Neal Dempsey ran a personal best time in the marathon finishing in 4:40:28. 

Taking on Mo Farah in the London Vitality 10k was the challenge for many runners on Monday, which saw Peeler Jackie Tierney (F55) continuing her current run of good form to cross the line in an impressive 56:29. 

Joy Sykes travelled to Yorkshire to take part in the Tadcaster Sprint Triathlon (pool swim 400m, cycle 13km, 6km run) which she finished in 1:36:31.

Also on Monday, Martin Hollamby competed in the undulating and testing course of the “Big Way Round” 50k, an ultramarathon trail run around the spectacular Winchester countryside taking in parts of the South Downs Way and the Itchen Way. Having run a well-paced race, he finished in a time of 4:16:48 and 6^th place overall.

Crossing into Leicestershire, on Saturday Garth Cox took on the Wymeswold Waddle 5 mile road race on an out and back course famous for its uphill “out”, which he completed in a strong time of 39:07.

The weekend parkruns also saw a good turnout of Peelers with Kingsbury once again the biggest draw. First to complete the 5k course in a time of 19:24 and in 3^rd place was Rob Mace. He was followed by: Mike Shelton (20:42); Ben Dorkins (22:38); Lisa Stretton (23:47); Simon Gordon (24:34); Chris Bennett (24:49); Tim Mudd (24:59); Martin Hemming (25:56); Garth Cox (27:41); Jackie Tierney (27:43); Mark Boffey (27:43); Darren Truman (27:44); Claire Guffick (28:36); Roger Eastaff (30:34); Joy Sykes (31:42); Alison Perry (32:52) and Chris Norris (46:18). Sarah French volunteered at Kingsbury parkrun to help with the event (as all parkruns are run by volunteers).

Parkrun tourists included: Tanya Murphy (39:13) at Brueton, Solihull and Mick Stevenson (30:30) at Northallerton.