Month: August 2023

At Sunday’s Spitfire 10k at the RAF Cosford Air Museum near Albrighton, a well organised and flat course lured a good number of runners to take on the race including Peelers Neal Dempsey and Helen Dempsey who ran together to finish in 1:11:00 and Alison Upton, who finished in 1:16:55.

With the temptation of a Bank Holiday weekend away camping by the sea, Peel parkrun tourists took on the notorious Woolacombe Dunes parkrun course in Devon. Renowned for its course that includes sand dunes to sap the energy of even the strongest runner, Mark Boffey was first back for the club in 26:56, followed by Ian Orton (27:32); Michael Hughes (33:30) and Sarah Boffey (38:01). 

Closer to home, there was a good turnout of Peelers at Kingsbury parkrun with Emma Pick both home first for the club and first lady overall. She finished in a time of 20:22, followed by Simon Gordon (24:35); Darren O’Leary (25:32); Jackie Tierney (28:14); Dave Fern (30:01); Sandra Ingram (31:08); Roger Eastaff (31:40); Joy Sykes (31:54); Jo Insley (34:38); Martyn Candy (35:02); Alison Perry (36:20); Alison Dolphin (40:00); Stella Taylor (51:37); Chris Taylor (51:39); Chris Norris (66:44); Stephen Andrews (66:46) and Ann Hill (68:30). 

Other parkrun tourists included Mike Shelton (22:07) at Cannock Chase; Ben Dorkins (23:23) at Rosliston; Garth Cox (23:40) at Walsall Arboretum; Sophie Galloway (29:31) at Netley Abbey, Southampton; Allen King (22:52); Chris Bennett (24:15) and Darren Truman (26:30) at Beeston, Nottingham; Mick Stevenson (34:21) at Northallerton; Tony Bryan (24:46) at Exmouth and Tim Mudd (31:31) at Abbey Park, Leicester.

Never ones to miss an opportunity, going on holiday for some Peelers opens up opportunities to run a parkrun in a different location and this was exactly what Caroline Evans did!  Running at the Whinlatter Forest (Lake District) parkrun meant taking on one of the hardest and hilliest routes in the country but Caroline crossed the line in 33:57, finishing first in her age category.

Closer to home, Tim Clark was first Peeler to finish at Kingsbury parkrun in a time of 22:24, followed by Phil Neale (23:19); Ben Dorkins (23:32); Darren O’Leary (24:06); Simon Gordon (26:03); Sophie Galloway (27:56); Dave Fern (29:23); Emma Livingstone (29:41); Neal Dempsey (29:53); Claire Guffick (31:35); Sandra Ingram (32:27); Roger Eastaff (32:56); Martyn Candy (36:12); Helen Dempsey (36:50); Lee Guffick (37:30); Jo Insley (44:43); Stephen Andrews (50:31); Sarah French (58:05); Wendy Bowyer (58:53); Chris Norris (62:04) and Alison Dolphin (62:37).

Parkrun tourists included: Joy Sykes (35:01) at Conkers; Mark Boffey (24:57) and Sarah Boffey (31:27) at Pontypool; Mick Stevenson (34:12) at Warwick Racecourse; Emma Pick (19:44); Mike Shelton (21:28) and Roger Lloyd (25:56) at Beacon Park, Lichfield; Allen King (21:56); Chris Bennett (25:14) and Jackie Tierney (28:45) at Abbey Park, Leicester and Mike Hughes (37:36) at Holbrooks, Coventry.

Peel Road Runners meet at 6.45 pm every Tuesday in the Skate Park car park in the Castle Grounds. New members always welcome. See website for further details.

Like buses, after a quieter few weeks for the Peel Road Runners it would seem that races all come at once!

The Burton 10k race hosted by Hatton Darts is the seventh race in the Burton & District Summer League race. It is an undulating road route starting near Queen’s Hospital in Burton before following country lanes out to Anslow then returning to Burton Athletics Club for a finishing lap of the track. The race winner was unattached Lloyd Biddell in a time of 32:42, but first Peel Road Runner home was Wayne King in a personal best time of 37:27 and claiming first prize in the M40 category. Emma Pick was first Peeler home for the ladies’ team in a time of 41:03 and 2^nd in FSen age category. Michael Shelton was next home for the club in a time of 44:29 followed by Allen King (46:41); Mark Boffey (48:05); Ian Orton (49:29); Darren O’Leary (49:49); Lorna Carlin (50:30); Lisa Stretton (50:36); Simon Gordon (50:47 – personal best); Tim Mudd (51:36); Roger Lloyd (53:58); Billy King (54:26); Michael Hughes (55:40); Caroline Evans (58:07 – personal best); Steph Attenborough (59:26) and Helen Manton (62:06). 

Meanwhile, Sarah Boffey (3:34:23.) and Val Lawson (3:54:37) took on the challenge of the Belper Rover 30k trail race over a very scenic and, at times, hilly course. 

Several Peelers took on half marathon challenges this weekend with Donna Reid (1:50:25); Judith Matthews (1:53:49) and George Hope (1:57:28) racing at the Solihull half marathon, whilst Phil Neale had a very good result (1:40:12) and Maisie Griffiths (1:59:46) at the Newark half marathon.

Joy Sykes took on the Gateshead Trail 10k, a two lap route on relatively flat and mainly hard-packed trails, finishing in a time of 1:12:08.

Peelers were out in force at Saturday’s parkruns: at Kingsbury, Garth Cox was first home for the club in 27:40, followed by Neal Dempsey (28:50); Dave Fern (29:34); Claire Guffick (29:54); Ann Hill (33:41); Lee Guffick (35:38); Helen Dempsey (36:04) and Martyn Candy (36:52). Parkrun tourists included: Tim Mudd (25:44) at Brueton; Chris Bennett (24:59) and Darren Truman (27:09) at Conkers; Mick Stevenson (34:17) at Northallerton; Billy King (26:12 – personal best) at Gorleston Cliffs; Steph Attenborough (30:42) at Babbs Mill; Sophie Galloway (38:48) at Great Yarmouth North Beach (literally run on the beach!).

Finally, a determined group of Peelers helped Jackie Tierney celebrate running her 100^th parkrun each run at a different venue, so that she could claim membership of the Cowell Club (named after Chris Cowell, the first parkrunner to run 100 parkruns at 100 different locations). Mark Boffey (23:13); Ian Orton (23:32); Sarah Boffey (28:26); Jackie Tierney (29:05) and Michael Hughes (34:58) ran at the Somerdale Pavilion parkrun, Bristol (famously known as the Curly Wurly run due to its unique twisting course!).

Last week, Peeler Steph Attenborough completed the Great Barrow Challenge Ultra (a distance of 32.73 miles with 873 ft of ascent) in a time of 7:22:08, averaging 13.30 miles/hour over the distance. Her second fastest time over the distance! This, in itself, was a great result but not content with this, Attenborough then completed two more marathons over the weekend .. the Saturn Running Hawaii 5-0 at Runnymede, which she finished in 6:29:03 and the Enigma Gameboy marathon, which she completed in 5:52:01.

At the weekend’s parkruns, Mike Shelton was first home for the Peelers at Kingsbury in a time of 23:06, followed by Phil Neale (23:38); Garth Cox (25:52); Claire Guffick (32:49); Ann Hill (34:31); Lee Guffick (35:33); Alison Perry (54:21); Stephen Andrews (54:21); Alison Dolphin (55:16) and Sarah French (55:17). Parkrun tourists included: Darren O’Leary (24:55) at Burgess, London; Allen King (22:44) and Chris Bennett (24:05) at Loughborough; Tim Mudd (29:15) at Woolacombe Dunes; Steph Attenborough (34:07) at Chasewater; Mick Stevenson (33:02) at Warwick Racecourse; Ian Orton (22:45), Mark Boffey (23:40) and Sarah Boffey (28:06) at East Park, Wolverhampton; Michael Hughes (37:32) at Trentham Gardens, Stoke and Jackie Tierney (28:45) at Yarborough, Lincoln.

Ever since the Peel Road Runners were established as a running club for Tamworth runners over 35 years ago, the club has welcomed runners of all abilities. For some of the club’s members, parkruns are the highlight of their week whilst for others, it is all about pushing the boundaries to see what they are capable of doing. Two such Peelers are Martin Hollamby and Steph Attenborough. 

At the weekend, Martin Hollamby completed the Lakeland 100 mile trail race. This iconic race follows a circular trail route emcompassing the whole of the Lakeland fells, including around 6300 m (21000 ft) of ascent. The route starts and finishes in Coniston and heads south before completing a clockwise loop taking in the Dunnerdale fells, Eskdale, Wasdale, Buttermere, Keswick, Matterdale, Haweswater, Kentmere, Ambleside and Elterwater before finishing in Coniston. Completing the route in 31.5 hours, Hollamby stated that he had had a great adventure, but that fatigue set in in the last 10 miles which caused him to lose some time there.

Meanwhile, ticking off more marathons in her 100 marathon challenge, Steph Attenborough completed 12 marathons in 12 days with Zig Zag Running with an average time of just over 6 hours, taking her marathon total to 84!

In Sunderland, Joy Sykes took part in the World Triathlon Championship Series Sprint distance triathlon completing the 0.75 km swim in 22:28; the 16.9 km cycle ride in 44:15 and the 5 km run in 33:49 finishing 12^th in the F55-59 age category.

At the weekend’s parkruns, Phil Neale was first home for the Peelers in 22:06 followed by Ben Dorkins (22:57); Simon Gordon (24:18); Tim Mudd (25:40); Dave Fern (29:41); Darren O’Leary (30:36); Claire Guffick (31:40); Laura Bowyer (32: 59); Lee Guffick (33:57); Helen Dempsey (36:05); Neal Dempsey (36:14); Roger Eastaff (36:27); Wendy Bowyer (39:40); Chris Norris (63:08) and Sarah French (63:39). Parkrun tourists included: Mark Boffey (23:46) and Michael Hughes (27:32) at South Manchester; Samantha Harris (36:30) at Brueton; Jackie Tierney (30:12) at Merthyr; Emma Pick (20:47) at Conkers; Garth Cox (28:10) at Sutton Park; Mick Stevenson (36:07) at Warwick Racecourse and Ian Orton (23:36) at Chipping Norton School.