With cooler conditions and a traffic free route, the Nice Work RAF Cosford 10k road race proved to be a popular event last weekend. The race started in the shadow of the Spitfire in Hangar One before taking runners outside and onto the RAF Cosford airfield. Runners then took on a gently undulating course up and down the runway, round the museum grounds and past iconic aircraft. Neal Dempsey was first to return to base landing in a time of 57:33, followed by Helen Dempsey in 65:03. Clara Walton also finished in 65:00, closely followed by Alison Upton in 69:52.
At the weekend’s parkruns, Tim Clark was first back for the club at Kingsbury in 22:53 with Chris Bennett (24:25) next home, closely followed by Run Director Mike Shelton (24:51). Simon Gordon ran well to cross the line in 25:05 with Dave Fern finishing in 26:12. Claire Guffick was first lady back for the Peelers in 28:53. Other runners included Sophie Galloway (30:35); Jo Insley (30:38); Stella Taylor (36:12); Ann Hill (38:57); Sarah French (39:01); Alison Dolphin (39:06); Lee Guffick (39:24); Alison Perry (40:35) and Chris Norris (49:07).
Parkrun tourists this week included: Ben Dorkins at Trelissick, Truro in 24:57; Garth Cox (22:55) at Walsall Arboretum; Darren O’Leary (25:16) at Burgess, London; Joy Sykes (31:27) at Blyth Links, Northumberland; Tim Mudd (26:32) at Babbs Mill, Solihull and Jackie Tierney (28:57) at Beacon, Lichfield.
Last weekend, Joy Sykes took part in the Try on the Tyne duathlon, which included a 5 km run followed by a 20 km bike ride and a 2.5 km run. The duathlon started on the Quayside in Newcastle, with transition at Baltic Square in Gateshead, and took in a selection of the Tyne’s famous bridges, all on closed roads. She completed the course in 1:47:35, a great achievement in the very warm conditions last weekend.
On Sunday, Zoe Schnepp took part in the LPS Events Cotswold 10k lake swim at Ashton Keynes in Wiltshire. The event required swimmers to swim 10 anti-clockwise laps of the gravel filtered lake to complete the 10k distance. Schnepp completed the course in 3:27:00 coming first in the Female Vet 40 category.
The Peelers were well represented at Kingsbury parkrun on Saturday, with new member Tim Clark first across the line for the club in a time of 23:02, followed by Mark Boffey in 23:46. Next to finish the 5k run was Chris Bennett in 23:49, then Garth Cox (23:54); Darren O’Leary (24:12); Judith Matthews (27:03); Stella Taylor (28:30); Claire Guffick (29:22); Roger Eastaff (30:01); Joy Sykes (31:34); Sandra Ingram (32:09); Jackie Tierney (32:38); Sarah French (39:40); Alison Dolphin (39:40) and Stephen Andrews (41:11).
Parkrun tourists included Ian Orton at Tamar Trails, Tavistock in 25:41; Ben Dorkins at Woolacombe Dunes (reckoned to be one of the toughest parkrun courses in the country, as runners have to try to run up the “Dune of Doom”!) in 26:26; Mick Stevenson at Warwick Racecourse in 32:22 and Tim Mudd at Bramshall Road, Uttoxeter in 27:02.
At the Run Through Events Solihull half marathon on Sunday, the race followed an undulating route on closed roads and paths starting in Solihull town centre before going out to Knowle, the villages of Barston and Eastcote and then returning to the town centre. Local Kingsbury parkrun directors, Mike Shelton, Matt Green and Tim Gould representing both Peel Road Runners and Badgers (who are good friends off the course but very competitive against each other out on the road!) ran strongly considering the hot and humid conditions. Shelton was first over the line for the trio in 1:39:40, with the others close on his heels. A Peel win! Neal and Helen Dempsey also took part in the half marathon, finishing together in 2:55:54.
The Burton 10k on Sunday was the sixth race in the Burton & District Summer League. It is a very competitive 10k race fielding runners from most of the local running clubs. The race starts at Shobnall, then gradually climbs on quiet country lanes to Anslow before runners are rewarded with a swift downhill section back to finish and a “lap of honour” around the athletics track at Burton Athletics Club. In form Peeler, Wayne King, ran another strong race to finish 14th overall in a time of 38:35. Next over the line for the club was Mark Boffey, who finished in a personal best time of 49:10, followed by George Hope (54:40); Gemma Pritchard (59:59); Emma Livingstone (1:01:38) who beat her personal best by over 3 minutes and Sarah Boffey (1:05:07).
A 9.00 am start for parkrun in the depths of winter might be an incentive to stay in bed a bit longer, but during a heatwave such as we are seeing at the moment, 9.00 am is actually a lovely time to run! Taking advantage of the slightly cooler early morning condtions, the Peelers were out once more at our local parkruns. At Kingsbury, Tim Clark was first home for the club in a time of 22:59 followed by Lisa Stretton in 24:50; Roger Eastaff (32:09); Jo Insley (39:37); Alison Dolphin (42:50) and Nicola Bannister (42:51). Meanwhile, Tim Mudd took on the shady but undulating course at Rosliston, finishing in 27:23 whilst Mark Boffey ran at Arrow Valley, Redditch finishing in 30:50. Running at Babb’s Mill in Solihull, Garth Cox finished in 24:07 whilst Mick Stevenson headed west to Hastings High School in Burbage to cross the line in 32:56 and Jacqui Tierney headed north to Uttoxeter to take on the Bramshall Road parkrun, finishing in 31:55.
After a few hectic weeks, this week has been a very quiet week for the Peel Road Runners with many members on holiday and few local races.
Peelers Sarah French and Lee Guffick took part in the Swim Rutland 2 km event at Rutland Water. In this race, swimmers are taken to the start point at Normanton Church by boat on the Rutland Belle after which they then swim the 2 km across the reservoir to finish at Whitwell. Sarah completed the course in 50:03 and Lee in 66:44.
At the weekend’s parkruns, Tony Bryan ran at the scenic and undulating Conkers 5 km course, crossing the line in 26:17. At Kingsbury, Mike Shelton was first in the club to finish in a time of 21:04, followed by Allen King (21:41); Chris Bennett (23:46); Mark Boffey (25:34); Garth Cox (25:40); Claire Guffick (28:48); Joy Sykes (31:07); Alison Perry (31:34) and Roger Eastaff (31:40). Tim Mudd was the sole club representative at Sutton Park finishing in 27:27, whilst Sophie Galloway (31:21) and Jackie Tierney (56:15) ran at Beacon Park, Lichfield.
Peel Road Runners have been established in Tamworth for over 30 years and always welcome new members of all abilities.
Peel Road Runners club members enjoy running in its many forms whether that’s road or trail, parkrun or ultra distance. Club Chairman, Lee Rickards, travelled to France this week to take part in both the Alpe d’Huez Duathlon and Triathon. The Alpe d’Huez road section is renowned for the steepness of its gradients and the 21 hairpin bends to reach the summit at the ski station and is regularly included in the Tour de France. Rickards took part in the Duathlon earlier in the week, which included a 6 km run followed by a 15 km bike ride up the Alpe d’Huez climb and then a 5 km run to finish. He completed this in 2 hours 37 minutes. He then took part in the Triathlon later in the week, which included a 1200 m open water swim, followed by a 29 km cycle again with the Alpe d’Huez climb and then a 6.5 km run. He finished this in 3 hours 16 minutes. Speaking about the event afterwards he said, “I’d been waiting over 2 years to do them because of covid. They are ‘bucket list’ events with amazing scenery and brilliant support on the climb, which makes you feel like you’re a Tour de France cyclist – despite only going half as fast!”
The Peelers were pleased to be able to support Tamworth Council at the 5k Fun Run in the Castle Grounds on Saturday morning. Many Peelers gave up their own parkrun to marshal the course and encourage runners on the free event promoted by the Council as part of the Commonwealth Games festivities. The Fun Run was a great event for runners of all abilities, but especially for Peeler Donna Reid who took part in the event and flew the flag for the club by winning the women’s race!
With a brilliantly organised trail race on our doorstep, how could the Peel Road Runners not have taken part in the Abbott Trail 10k race in Hopwas Woods this weekend? The race, which was organised by Simon’s Heroes, took runners on a two lap 10k course around the trails and paths in the woods, including the ascent of “cardiac hill” twice (if you know, you know!). The race was brilliantly organised with cheery marshals, folk singers and music en route to encourage runners, as well as having the fabulous location of Hopwas Woods to raise runners’ spirits.
First across the finish line for the Peelers was Martin Hollamby in an impressive time of 41:46 and 5th place overall. He was followed by Phil Neale in 50:46 (22nd place overall) and Mark Boffey (51:26); Ian Orton (54:46); Donna Reid (55:49); Chris Bennett (59:57); Darren Truman (59:59); Caroline Browne (1:00:57); Gemma Pritchard (1:03:09); Sarah Boffey (1:08:13); Sandra Ingram (1:09:02); Clara Walton (1:13:08) and Val Lawson (1:15:13).
With so many Peelers involved with the Tamworth Fun Run, only a few from the club ran at parkrun on Saturday. At Kingsbury James Stretton finished in 20:56 followed by Mike Shelton (21:46); Richard Satchwell (26:47); Darren Truman (26:48) and Jackie Tierney (35:57). Tim Mudd was the sole parkrun tourist this week, running at Long Eaton (26:24).
