Month: May 2023

Advertised as the second largest marathon in the UK after London and a ‘fast and flat course with PB potential’ by Runner’s World magazine, the Edinburgh marathon was the place to be for Peel Road Runner Tim Mudd. Living up to its billing, Mudd ran a personal best time of 4:13:45 knocking 9 minutes of his previous marathon best time.

Meanwhile, Catherine Tieley travelled north of the border to take on the Edinburgh half marathon, another race route renowned for its potential for personal best times! Tieley did not disappoint and crossed the finish line in a personal best time of 1:54:29, another great result for Peel!

At the Buxton half marathon, Steph Attenborough ran the definitely not fast and flat course and finished in 2:31:02. The scenic road route with 1549 ft of ascent over its 13.1 miles would prove a challenge for any runner, let alone one who had run as a ‘sweep runner’ at the Wuthering Heights Wander trail half marathon in Yorkshire the previous day! 

Continuing his season of impressive running, Wayne King took on the midweek Beeston AC Trent 5 road race in Nottingham, finishing in 29:56, 13^th place overall and 7^th in MV40 age category in a very competitive field.

At Saturday’s parkruns, Kingsbury drew a good number of Peelers. James Stretton was first home for the club in a time of 19:39, followed by Darren O’Leary in 23:45; Lisa Stretton (24:14); Judith Matthews (25:03); Claire Guffick (29:40); Roger Eastaff (31:44); Joy Sykes (32:29); Lee Guffick (35:24); Alison Perry (35:48); Ann Hill (36:10); Wendy Bowyer (36:11); Laura Bowyer (39:58) and Alison Dolphin (43:14).

Parkrun tourists included: Emma Pick (21:12) at Rosliston; Michael Hughes (36:07) at Valentines, Redbridge; Tony Bryan (25:26) at Conkers; Allen King (21:22 personal best); Mark Boffey (23:02); Chris Bennett (23:40); Darren Truman (25:18); Sarah Boffey (27:35) and Jackie Tierney (28:59) at Shrewsbury; Mick Stevenson (33:16) at Northallerton; Tim Clark (22:45) at Warwick Racecourse; Steph Attenborough (49:44) at Cliffe Castle, Keighley; Tim Mudd (28:19) and Carolyne Browne (28:45) at Oriam, Edinburgh and Garth Cox (24:37) at Dallas Burston Polo Club, Southam.

Running a marathon is a major aspiration for many runners, but Peel Road Runners seem to be breeding ultra runners at the moment! Seasoned veteran Martin Hollamby chalked up another great result at the Maverick Peak District Ultra 54 km race. The circular, undulating route started in Bakewell and visited Grindleford, Burbage Edge and Froggatt Edge before returning to Bakewell. Hollamby finished in an impressive 11^th place overall with a finish time of 5:07:34.

Ticking off another couple of marathons with apparent ease, Steph Attenborough completed the Saturn Chasing Numbers Run at Runnymede on Friday finishing in a time of 5:53:43, followed by the IGUN Bluebell Dash at Temple Newsam, Leeds on Saturday in a time of 6:40:57!

At the weekend’s parkruns, Claire Guffick was the first Peeler home at Kingsbury parkrun in a personal best time of 27:26, followed by Jackie Tierney (39:39); Emma Whorwood (32:13); Roger Eastaff (32:29); Lee Guffick (34:33); Ann Hill (34:44); Wendy Bowyer (34:45); Alison Perry (36:52); Sandra Ingram (45:15) and Caroline Evans (64:56). Parkrun tourists included Mark Boffey (23:20); Chris Bennett (23:40); Allen King (24:56); Darren Truman (25:58) and Sarah Boffey (27:41) at Rugby; Garth Cox (23:02) at Walsall Arboretum; Tony Bryan (25:22) at Conkers; Joy Sykes (33:43) at Tyne Green; Ian Orton (23:16) at Alvaston; Mick Stevenson (33:22) at Warwick Racecourse; Tim Mudd (24:38) at Henlow Bridge Lakes and Michael Hughes (38:59) at Wolford Wood, Moreton-in-Marsh.

Peelers Martin Hollamby, Alison Dolphin and Emma Whorwood have been back to school at Flax Hill Junior Academy and Ankermoor Primary last week to enjoy some running games and exercises. Accompanied by Trev the Bear (who recently completed the London marathon!), the children were also invited to take part in the children’s run at the Gate Gallop on Sunday 26th June with the promise of a shiny medal on completion. 

A month after completing the Manchester Marathon, Mark Boffey and Michael Hughes took part in
their first ultra marathon at the Goring Gap 50km in Berkshire. The circular route is ideal for ultra
newbies with just 700ft of elevation and no navigation required. The pair were less happy with the
sun finally showing its May heat but dug in to complete the course together in 7hrs 42 mins.

On the south coast Luke Collins took part in the much more bumpy ‘First Half’ challenge from Corfe
Castle to Weymouth. With 1700 metres of climbs (which most us wouldn’t even like to walk!) this
stunning but somewhat brutal tour of the Jurassic Coast provided a huge physical and mental test.
Luke toughed it out to finish in a superb 11 th place in 7hrs 35 mins.

Steph Attenborough continued her quest to complete 100 marathons with another epic 3 marathons
challenges in 3 days in Lancashire. On Friday, Steph completed the Brockholes Bimble in 6hrs 15
mins, on Saturday the Cottam Canter in 6hr 6 and on Sunday the Avenham Amble in 5 hours 55
mins.

At Kingsbury Parkrun on Saturday, Peel Road Runners staged a takeover even to publicise the
upcoming Gate Gallop event. The club provided all the volunteers from timekeepers to marshals and
scanners and also provided pacers (Martin Hollamby, Ben Dorkins, Phil Neale, Lisa Stretton, Garth
Cox, Simon Gordon, Dave Fern) for those hoping to grab a pb.
Anyone interested in taking part in the Gate Gallop on Sunday 25 June with all proceeds going to St
Giles Hospice, can sign up via the website. www.avtiming.com/gategallop

At the Great Birmingham Run half marathon on Sunday, Peelers Donna Reid and Judith Matthews were the sole club representatives. Both ran strongly to finish well under two hours with Donna finishing in 1:53:00 and Judith in 1:54:18.

Meanwhile, Ian Orton was the sole club representative at the Coronation 5k Fun Run in the Castle Grounds crossing the line in 23:53 and 6^th place overall.

At the weekend’s parkruns, Kingsbury drew the greatest number of Peelers with Ben Dorkins first to finish in 21:54, followed by Darren O’Leary (23:21); Phil Neale (23:22); Simon Gordon (24:16); Garth Cox (25:59); Claire Guffick (28:33); Jackie Tierney (30:49); Emma Whorwood (31:29); Joy Sykes (32:04); Roger Eastaff (33:45); Lee Guffick (35:38); Martyn Candy (35:43); Ann Hill (36:23) and Wendy Bowyer (36:24). Parkrun tourists included: Tim Mudd (25:53) at Endcliff, Sheffield; Dave Fern (28:46) at Conkers; Mick Stevenson (33:43) at Fountains Abbey; Chris Bennett (24:15); Sarah Boffey (27:48); Mark Boffey (27:50) and Darren Truman (27:50) at the Wammy, Newcastle Under Lyme (Mark Boffey was celebrating his 150^th parkrun at this event!); Ian Orton (23:36) at Edgbaston Reservoir and Michael Hughes (39:05) at Abbey Park, Leicester.

Entries are now open for the Gate Gallop 10k and 4.5k Fun Run on Sunday, 25^th June in aid of St Giles Hospice. For more information see www.avtiming.com/gategallop or look on St Giles website.

The May Day Bank Holiday weekend traditionally sees the Uttoxeter half marathon kick off the second race in the Burton & District Summer League race series. The undulating, but scenic course is a favourite amongst the Peelers and with much cooler weather this year than last, racing conditions were good. First across the finish line for the Club was Wayne King running strongly after his recent Manchester marathon and finishing in a time of 1:22:51. Next to finish for the club and first Peel lady back was Emma Pick in 1:35:27 and 10^th lady overall, then Luke Collins (1:37:55 – a 3 minute personal best); Allen King (1:43:32 – a 3 minute personal best); Natalie Walker (1:55:15); Catherine Tieley (1:56:41 – a 4 minute personal best); Chris Bennett (2:00:50); Gemma Pritchard (2:06:32) and Caroline Evans (2:22:22). Running in the 10k race, Billy King ran a great personal best time of 53:19.

At the weekend’s parkruns, Kingsbury drew the largest number of Peelers, with the following results: Ben Dorkins (21:48); Tim Clark (23:00); Garth Cox (24:20); Vici Richardson (24:24); Mike Shelton (24:24); Paul Scholte (26:02); Stella Taylor (28:09); Claire Guffick (28:13); Jackie Tierney (29:33); Helen Manton (30:09); Joy Sykes (30:52); Lee Guffick (36:02); Ann Hill (36:39); Wendy Bowyer (36:41); Sarah French (59:44); Chris Norris (63:40); Stephen Andrews (66:47); Alison Dolphin (66:52) and Alison Perry (66:55). 

Parkrun tourists included: Ian Grigg (36:16) at Torbay Velopark; Steph Attenborough (67:51) at Brueton; Ian Orton (24:57) at Forest Rec, Nottingham; Allen King (26:01) and Darren Truman (26:59) at Beeston, Nottinham; Sarah Boffey (30:04) and Mark Boffey (32:48) at Leicester Victoria; Michael Hughes (36:19) at Monsal Trail; Tim Mudd (23:50) at Alvaston and Simon Gordon (25:42) at Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge.

Entries are now open for the Gate Gallop 10k and 5k races on Sunday, 25^th June in aid of St Giles hospice. For more information see https:/www.avtiming.com/gategallop or St Giles hospice website.