Month: June 2022

A busy weekend for the Peel Road Runners with a club Presentation Evening and a 10k race, a fun run and a children’s race to organise!

On Friday evening, the Peel Road Runners were able to celebrate the achievements of club members at their first Presentation Evening at Bolehall Manor for three years due to Covid restrictions. Club Chairman, Lee Rickards and President, Ray Rogers presented the Standards Awards first (these are presented to runners who have achieved a specific distance/time result relating to their age and gender). The following Peelers achieved standards of:  Malcolm Bembridge – silver 10K, gold 20 mile, bronze marathon; Chris Bennett – bronze 5K; Mark Boffey – silver 5K, bronze 5 mile; Carolyne Browne – Silver 5K, silver 10 mile, silver half marathon; Lorna Carlin – bronze 5 mile, bronze 10 mile; Luke Collins – bronze 5K, bronze 10 mile; Garth Cox – bronze 5 mile; Bob Donovan – bronze 10K; Ben Dorkins – bronze 5K; Martin Hollamby – gold marathon; Allen King – bronze 5K; Wayne King – gold 5K, gold 10K, silver 5mile, gold 10 mile, gold half marathon, DIAMOND 20 mile; Rob Mace – silver 5K, bronze 5 mile, silver 10 mile; Stella Martin – bronze 5K, bronze 10K; Judith Matthews – bronze 5 mile, bronze 10 mile, silver half marathon; Donna Reid – bronze 10 mile, bronze half marathon; Lee Rickards – gold 20 mile; Rachael Rickards – silver 5K, silver 5 mile, silver 10 mile, silver half marathon; Richard Satchwell – bronze 5K, bronze 10 mile, bronze half marathon; Mike Shelton – bronze 20 mile; Lisa Stretton – silver 5K, silver 5 mile, silver 10 mile; Darren Truman – bronze 10K, bronze 10 mile and Natalie Walker – bronze 10 mile.

In the main awards, the following Peelers achievements’ were recognised:  Most Promising Female Runner – Lorna Carlin; Most Promising Male Runner – Allen King; Most Improved Female Runner – Claire Guffick; Most Improved Male Runner – Mark Boffey; Female Veteran 35-45 – Rachael Rickards; Male Veteran 40-50 – Wayne King; Female Veteran Over 45 – Lisa Stretton; Male Veteran Over 50 – Malcolm Bembridge; Cross-Country Full Series – Sophie Galloway; Best Female Runner – Emma Pick; Best Male Runner – Martin Hollamby; Marathon Award – George Hope; Club Person of the Year (female) – Christine Norris; Club Person of the Year (male) – Mike Shelton; President’s Award – Sandra Ingram.

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With thanks to Andy at Bolehall Manor for providing a great venue and the The Livin’ Tones for an amazing live performance. The evening was best summed up by Club President, Ray Rogers who said, “I felt the biggest winner was the family Peel. We’ve not only got through a very difficult period of time that has affected the whole world, but have come out as strong, if not stronger than before!”.

Following on from the successes of Friday night, the Peel Road Runners then put on their annual running event in support of St Giles Hospice on Sunday. Starting at the Anker Valley Sports Complex, the day started with the children’s races with over 50 speedy sprinters running two laps of the sports fields and enthusiastically showing the adults how it should be done! This race was followed by the 4.5k Fun Run before the finale of the 10k Gate Gallop race. Both the Fun Run and the Gate Gallop followed a scenic off-road route around the fields and trails from the Anker Valley, with approximately 250 runners of all abilities taking part in the two events. 

In the Fun Run, Adam Lightfoot (of Stafford Harriers) crossed the finish line first in an impressive time of 19:46, followed less than a minute later by M16 Thomas Quinn in 20:34 and George Haddock (M16) of Tamworth AC in third place in 21:28. First lady home was Lily Quinn in a time of 21:45, just beating her mum in second place in 21:52. Third lady was Rachel Robins in 22:39.

In the Gate Gallop 10k race, the competition at the front of the field was very hard fought with the first five runners finishing within 18 seconds of each other! Daniel Maskew of Wolverhampton & Bilston AC was first to finish in 36:23, closely followed by Liam Harrold of Aldridge RC in 36:25 with Tom Potter (Ivanhoe Runners – 36:30), Mark Parker (Ivanhoe Runners – 36:37) and Finlay Cross (unattached – 36:41) close on his heels. First lady across the line was Amy Lowe of Washlands Women Runners in an impressive time of 42:23, nearly two minutes ahead of the second lady, Eleanor Fowler (Badgers RC – 44:21) and third lady, Emma Pick (Peel Road Runners – 44:36). The men’s team prize went to Tamworth AC (Gordy Smith, Ash Baldwin and Robert Dyjak) with the ladies’ team prize going to South Derbyshire Road Runners (Sara Insley, Katie Dennis and Tracey Glover). In total, 217 runners completed the race, with Christine Norris (F70+) receiving a special reception from her club (Peel RR) as they cheered her over the line at the end of her ‘last’ Gate Gallop race. 

In other events, new club member Ian Horton ran the rather warm and undulating two lap Torbay half marathon in a time of 1:57:48. The scenic course started in Paignton before following a ‘closed to traffic’ route to Torquay and back taking in Torre Abbey along the way, a route which is then repeated! 

Meanwhile at the Race to the Tower event along the Cotswold Way, ultra runner Neal Dempsey completed the testing 52 mile route (which included 5948 ft of climb!) in a time of 15:35:40.

After a week of very hot weather, Peel Road Runners were making the most of the cooler and damper weather at Saturday’s parkruns. At Kingsbury, new club member James Stretton ran a brilliant personal best time, completing the 5k course in a time of 19:18 and a finishing place of 5th overall. He was followed by Mike Shelton who finished 3rd in the 40-45 age bracket and 10th overall in a time of 20:22. Parkrun regular, Chris Bennett was next Peeler to finish in 23:15, followed by Lisa Stretton (24:09); Garth Cox (25:45); Caroline Evans (27:19); Clara Walton (30:49); Jackie Tierney (31:41); Ann Hill (32:48); Alison Upton (32:49); Ian Grigg (35:38) and Lee Guffick (39:06). Claire Guffick and Sarah French helped to run the event by volunteering as marshals.

Meanwhile, at Braunstone parkrun in Leicester, Rob Mace finished in 20:45, whilst further north at Tyne Green in Hexham, Joy Sykes crossed the line in 30:25. Closer to home, at Beacon parkrun in Lichfield, Sophie Galloway finished in 27:26 and at Ashbourne, Tim Mudd finished in 26:55.

The cooler weather on Saturday evening was definitely welcomed (though maybe not the rain!) by those Peelers who took on the Solstice 10k walk for St Giles. Relishing the opportunity to don their unicorn costumes again and party in style, Claire and Lee Guffick, Ann Hill, Wendy Bowyer and Sarah French had a magical and enchanting time at the Lichfield event.

With an evening of relay racing against other local running clubs, the Washlands Relays are always a popular draw for the Peel Road Runners. The Relays are the third race in the Burton & District Summer Race League and are organised by the Washlands Women’s Running Club in Burton Upon Trent. Runners (in teams of three or four) each run a two mile lap alongside the River Trent and around the Washlands parklands, providing for some very hard fought racing conditions. Peel Road Runners were able to put out nine teams with their mixed team of Wayne King, Emma Pick, Lee Rickards and Martin Hollamby finishing first in the mixed team category. Next to finish for Peel in 19^th place overall were Team Peel 2 comprising of Rob Mace, Rachael Rickards, Zac Gibbons and James Stretton. Following them were Team Peel 5 (Luke Collins, Ben Dorkins, Joanne Harvey and Chris Bennett) in 33^rd place; Team Peel 7 (Simon Gordon, Dave Fern, Natalie Walker and Wayne King) in 35^thplace; Team Peel 3 (Mark Boffey, Phil Neale, Sophie Galloway and Allen King) in 41^st place; Team Peel 8 (Emma Livingstone, Jo Insley and Lisa Stretton) in 18^th place (ladies’ teams); Team Peel 6 (Clara Walton, Lorna Carlin and Carolyne Browne) in 21^stplace (ladies’ teams) and Team Peel 9 (Sarah Boffey, Caroline Evans and Helen Manton) in 28^th place (ladies’ teams). 

Another Peel favourite over the years has been the Aldridge 10k race, held this year on Sunday 12^th June. Three Peelers represented the club on the undulating course, renowned for its long uphill drag at 9k! Helen Manton finished in 1:01:50; Claire Guffick in 1:02:53 and Lee Guffick in 1:20:23.

At the Two Castles Run, a linear race from Warwick Castle to Kenilworth Castle via Leek Wooton (a distance of 10k) Peelers Alison Upton and Emma Whorwood ran well in hot conditions to finish in 1:10:56 and 1:12:14 respectively.

At the Swansea half marathon (starting in the centre of Swansea before following closed roads out to the Mumbles then back along the coastal path) one of Wales’ largest half marathons, Peeler Helen Dempsey was the sole club representative and crossed the finish line in 2:37:00.

Meanwhile, the lure of a Saturday morning parkrun tempted a good group of Peelers out early on Saturday morning. Whether for chasing personal bests or just out for a social run, all agree that parkrun is a great way to start the weekend! At Kingsbury, Garth Cox was first back for the club in 23:48 followed by Chris Bennett (24:43); Dave Fern (25:11); Claire Guffick (29:31); Jackie Tierney (30:02); Roger Eastaff (32:24); Alison Perry (32:48); Joy Sykes (33:03); Ann Hill (36:11); Sarah French (36:16); Alison Dolphin (38:05); Stephen Andrews (43:17); Nicola Bannister (48:51) and Chris Norris (48:52).  Parkrun tourists this week included: Tim Mudd (26:17) at Wolverhampton and Mark Boffey (26:51) and Sarah Boffey (29:04).

Continuing their work liaising with local schools to promote running as a sport to KS2 children, Peelers Alison Dolphin, Dave Fern and Martin Hollamby (accompanied by Trev the bear!) visited Millfield School in Fazeley this week. They reported that they had a fantastic morning working with the very enthusiastic and talented children at the school. Next week, the Peelers will be visiting Lakeside School in Glascote.

Although running is, of course, the Peelers’ main interest our members do get up to all sorts of challenges as well. Celebrating a ‘big number’ birthday might be met by running a marathon or a series of runs, but for Peeler Sandra Ingram it meant doing a tandem skydive to raise money for St Giles Hospice (where she also works). Sandra was accompanied by another Peeler, Joanne Harvey, and with near perfect weather conditions on Friday, they both had a fantastic day and raised several thousand pounds for the Peelers’ favourite charity, St Giles Hospice.

With their feet firmly placed on the ground, many Peelers celebrated the Jubilee weekend at local parkruns with some excellent times being run. At Kingsbury, Mike Shelton was first to finish for the club in a time of 20:28 and 7^th place. Luke Collins was next to finish in a time of 21:34 followed by Phil Neale (22:00); Trevor Thompson (22:08); Ben Dorkins (22:51); Chris Bennett (23:45); Darren O’Leary (24:02); Simon Gordon (24:38); Dave Fern (24:51); Claire Guffick (29:58); Alison Perry (32:11); Sarah French (37:37); Alison Dolphin (38:38) and Chris Norris (48:12). At Tamar Lakes near Bude, Joy Sykes completed the 5k course in 33:02, whilst Mark Boffey took part in the new Bramshall Park run at Uttoxeter finishing in 25:57.

Peel Road Runners welcome new members of all abilities.