Month: January 2025

Another week of typically British winter weather (a named storm, freezing temperatures, fog!) failed to deter the Peelers from training for upcoming races and parkruns.

Taking on the challenge of the Tissington trail half marathon (an interesting traffic free out and back course, with the ‘out’ section being net uphill making for a potential quicker second half), Natalie Walker crossed the line in 1:54:04, closely followed by Lorna Carlin in 1:55:09 and Lizzie Walker (personal best) in 2:09:43.  Running the Tissington trail 10k race, Roger Lloyd finished in a time of 54:14.

Completing a slightly longer trail challenge, Steph Attenborough and Joanne Sharman ran the Wilmot Wander following a route that started and finished at the 27^th Derby Scout Headquarters in Chaddesden and circled Derby taking in strenuous hill sections, field paths, parkland and canal tow paths.  They finished the 32 mile route in 10 hours 30 minutes. 

At Tamworth parkrun, Lee Rickards crossed the line first for the club in third place overall and a time of 19:03 followed by Phil Neale (23:02), Stuart Hatton (28:16), George Hope (28:42), Emma Livingstone (30:36) and Chris Bennett (46:20). 

At Walsall Arboretum, Garth Cox stopped the clock on 23:16, whilst at Kingsbury parkrun a larger contingent of Peelers were headed home by Ben Dorkins (27:16) followed by Darren O’Leary (28:28), Jacqui Tierney (29:59), Claire Guffick (31:10), Sarah Boffey (33:32), Lee Guffick (36:39), Roger Eastaff (35:56), Wendy Bowyer (39:14), Nicola Bannister (50:58), Ann Hill (50:58) and Sarah French (51:03).

At Great Denham, Bedford Michael Hughes finished in 28:48 and at The Wammy, Newcastle-Under-Lyme Joanne Sharman finished in 37:18 and Steph Attenborough (37:21).

Simon Gordon ran at Babbs Mill, Kingshurst in 27:41 and at Chipping Norton Christie Rosser ran the 5k course in 29:51.  Meanwhile, Club Chairman Mike Shelton ran closer to home at Beacon Park, Lichfield finishing in 24:16 and at the new parkrun venue of Vicar Water Country Park, Mansfield, Ian Orton finished in 27:09.

However, star of the ‘parkrun show’ this week has to go to Emma Pick who finished first female at Conkers parkrun in a time of 17:50 and achieved the sixth fastest time of all female parkrunners running in the UK on 25^th January!  Emma commented that she thought that “everyone else must have been having an easy week!” but knowing that Conkers parkrun is not an easy or flat course, the Peelers think that she is being very modest!

This week was an extremely cold and icy one, with many Parkrun events cancelled.  The freezing conditions didn’t deter 3 Peel Road Runner members along with their amazing four-legged friends though.  Rob Mace along with Helen and Neal Dempsey travelled to Eland lodge to compete in the Canicross weekend, which is renowned for being a challenging course.  Team Peel put in an amazing effort with Rob Mace, along with Drama and Mystery (Miss) finishing in a fantastic 1st place in the 2-dog long course.  Neal Dempsey, along with Paddington and Elvis, completed both the long and short course and came in a fantastic 3^rd place in the 2-dog short course.  Helen Dempsey, along with Minstrel and Sydney completed the long course, and along with new Boy Patch, Helen completed the short course female finishing 4^th, which was amazingly Patch’s first full race weekend.  Great job patch!

Parkrun Events

With so many of the local Parkrun events cancelled due to the icy weather, Peelers had to travel further afield.

Several Peelers travelled to Conkers with Emma Pick finishing in an amazing 2^nd place and the 1^st lady back in (18.47), which was also a new course PB.  Alan King was second back for Peel in (26.57) and Roger Lloyd in (27.26).   

Travelling to Beacon Park were Mike Shelton, who was first back for Peel in (22.47), Tim Mudd followed in (27.38), with Claire Guffick (34.00) and Lee Guffick (36.37).

Travelling slightly further a field to Abbey Park was Ian Orton (26.35).  Garth Cox travelled to Babbs Mill and finished in (26.13).  Jacqueline Tierney finished Hackney Marshes in (30.07).  Joanne Sharman and Stephanie Attenborough finished Illaunmanagh in (31.59) and (32.33) respectively and finally Michael Hughes finished Marlay in (47.54).

Peelers walking group Peel Road Runners walking group meets on a Tuesday evening in the carpark by the Tamworth Castle skate park at 6.50pm.  The group walks various routes for around 1 hour each week.  Come along and give it a try.

Val Lawson took on a new challenge at the end of the year, taking part in the Black Moon Rising trail half marathon on 30^th December. Hosted by First Light Adventure Ltd, the race took place at Sutton Scarsdale, Derbyshire starting in daylight and ending in darkness illuminated by headtorches for the rising of the Black Moon, the second new moon of the month. Running through Sutton Spring Wood before climbing to the Five Pits Trail, Val completed the undulating course in 2:36:59, finishing 67^th out of a field of 79 runners and the 22^nd woman out of 32.

Many Peelers were up early on New Year’s Day to bring in the new year on a high. At Leamington parkrun, Joanne Sharman and Stephanie Attenborough ran together, finishing in 51:06 and 51:07, respectively. At Oxford parkrun, Emma Pick delivered an impressive performance, finishing as the second woman overall in 19:48.

Kingsbury Water parkrun saw Mike Shelton finish as first Peeler in 22:02, followed by Ben Dorkins at 25:42. Jacqueline Tierney and Claire Guffick completed in 31:08 and 31:21. Sarah Boffey finished in 33:57, while Helen and Neal Dempsey crossed the line together in 36:27 and 36:28. Lee Guffick completed in 37:58, with Wendy Bowyer wrapping up in 50:28.

At Fountains Abbey parkrun, Michael Stevenson finished in 38:21, while at Jubilee parkrun, Ian Orton recorded a time of 30:25. Michael Hughes completed the course in 54:47. Tamworth Castle Grounds parkrun saw Lee Rickards finish in 25:15, just ahead of Chris Bennett at 25:16. Sophie Galloway completed her run in 28:10, with Darren Truman finishing in 32:16. Mark Boffey volunteered as tail walker to complete the event in 1:00:59.

Peel Road Runners braved the icy conditions across multiple parkrun events on Saturday 4^th January. At Conkers parkrun, Allen King finished in 24:58, followed by Chris Bennett in 27:32 and Darren Truman in 29:48. Ian Orton represented the club at Malahide parkrun with a time of 26:18.

Kingsbury Water parkrun saw a large turnout from the club. Luke Collins completed the course in 20:58, with Mike Shelton close behind in 21:29 and Philip Neale in 22:45. Garth Cox finished in 26:35, while Katie and Lisa Stretton crossed the line in 26:40 and 26:43 respectively. Roger Lloyd ran in 27:29, and Simon Gordon and Tim Mudd finished in 30:28 and 30:29. Claire Guffick ran in 31:27 and Lisa Barnes in 33:22. Lee Guffick completed the run in 35:39, just ahead of Emma Whorwood at 35:55. Wendy Bowyer completed in 45:57, Nicola Bannister in 48:02, and Ann Hill in 48:03.

Further afield, Michael Hughes ran in 48:21 at Hereford parkrun. At Evesham parkrun, Ben Dorkins finished in 24:23. At Rutland Water parkrun, Mark Boffey clocked 23:58, with Jacqueline Tierney finishing in 29:48 and Sarah Boffey in 32:21. Stephanie Attenborough and Joanne Sharman crossed the line together at Doddington Hall parkrun with times of 31:32 and 31:33. Meanwhile at Belvoir Castle parkrun, Emma Pick achieved an outstanding result, achieving first finisher with a time of 20:21.

As we reach Christmas week the events are winding down for the year but Steph Attenborough and Joanne Sharman still managed to fit in two this weekend! One as participants and one as volunteers.

The duo firstly tackled a very windy 19 miles across The Long Mynd with the Long Distance Walking Association. The Long Mynd forms part of the Shropshire hills and has 1693ft elevation. They then gave their time on Sunday and volunteered at the Birmingham Running festivals event which took place in Sutton Park raising funds for Birmingham Hospice . The event features a 5k,10k, half marathon and juniors race option.

Park run was well attended despite local storms and flooding ….

Battlestead Croft

Mark Boffey 32:47 Sarah Boffey 36:06

Brueton

Ian P Cooper 32:29

Chasewater

Wayne King 18:26 finishing 2^nd overall ),Emma Pick 18:38 (finishing 4^th overall),Garth Cox 24:23

Leamington

Billy King 25:51,Chris Bennett 28:17,Allwn King 28:50

Pavillion Gardens

Ian Orton 25:27

Sutton Park

Mike Shelton 22:34,Stella Taylor 33:32

Tamworth Castle grounds

Ben Dorkins 24:24 ,Sophie Galloway 27:14,Jackie Tierney 31:21,Helen Manton 32:23

Sandra Ingram 32:38, Claire Guffick 34:57,Emma Whorwood 35:19,Wendy Roe 35:27

Whilst many were unwrapping presents or getting the turkey in the oven, it was an extra busy week of running with the Christmas Day parkrun events taking place at 9am. There is always a great atmosphere at these with many festive outfits & santa hats on display.

Garth Cox was at Babbs Mill (24:53), Sandra Ingram further afield at Bolberry Down (31:58). Michael Hughes at Cheltenham (51:36), Ian Orton at Conkers (26:31), Michael Stevenson at Northallerton (37:51), Joanne Sharman (54:13) and Steph Attenborough (54:56) at Northwich and Emma Pick 1^st female at Rosliston (19:49). 

The most popular event was Tamworth Castle Grounds : Ben Dorkins (23:26), Billy King (24:04), Allen King (24:09), Mark Boffey (24:58), George Hope (26:32), Rich Satchwell (27:05), Sophie Galloway (27:34), Jackie Tierney (30:37), Christie Rosser (30:48), Claire Guffick (30:54) and Sarah Boffey (44L14).

There are very few events held between Christmas and New Year, however, over 400 runners took on the Wheaton Aston 10k. Wayne King finished in an impressive 13^th position and in addition a new PB at 36:10.

And on Saturday, everyone was out again to run off those extra Christmas treats. The popular events were again Tamworth and Kingsbury Water Park. At Tamworth, there were some impressive times as three of the club ran under 20 minutes as well as Emma picking up the Female course record coming in 4^th overall in 18:14. She was followed by Wayne King (18:46), Lee Rickards (19:30), Matt Salisbury (22:12), Allen King (22:27), Ben Dorkins (23:48), Rich Satchwell (24:46), Simon Gordon (25:57), Luke Collins (26:52), Roger Lloyd (27:46), Tim Mudd (30:02), Helen Manton (30:46) and Emma Livingston (32:05). 

At Kingsbury first home was Darren O’ Leary (27:52) then Darren Truman (29:57). Claire Guffick (33:25), Alison Upton (37:54), Roger Eastaff (38:04), Lee Guffick (39:04), Alison Dolphin (58:54), Sarah French (58:57), Stephen Andrews (58:59), Christine Norris (65:42) and Alison Perry (65:44). 

Around and about we had runners at Quakers Walk, Joanne Sharman (36:09) and Steph Attenborough (36:11), Jackie Tierney at Melton Mowbray (30:08), Mark & Sarah Boffey (25:35 & 34:53) at Itchen Valley Country, Michael Stevenson at Fountains Abbey (36:36), Ian Orton (25:42) and Michael Hughes (46:37) at Forest of Dean, Wendy Roe (34:45) at Conkers, Garth Cox at Cannon Hill (24:23) and Mike Shelton at Beacon Lichfield (21:01). 

And to end the year there was pacing of a different nature going on as the annual Beer run took place. The run took in seven local pubs with more focus on PB’s (Pints of Beer) than Personal Best running times!