Month: March 2025

It’s been a busy weekend for the Peel Road Runners with a variety of well-established and new races of different distances to tempt club members!

As spring marathon season approaches, the sell out Ashby 20 race attracts runners from all over the country to test themselves over a longer distance before taking on the 26.2 miles of the marathon. Considering the calibre of runners who enter this race, it was brilliant to see Peel Road Runner Emma Pick take first place in the ladies’ race and 19^th position overall out of a field of 1307 runners. Emma crossed the line in a time of 2:03:15, knocking 29 minutes of her previous personal best over the distance and only 35 seconds slower than the ladies’ course record!  An amazing achievement!

Seven other Peelers took on the challenge of the Ashby 20 with Georgie Mead running a personal best time of 2:46:52, followed by Darren Truman in 3:33:29, Claire Guffick (3:38:06 – personal best), Helen Manton (3:43:58), Helen Dempsey (4:34:35 – personal best), Neal Dempsey (4:34:35) and Lee Guffick (4:45:12).   

Advertised as a fast and very flat course, the Fradley 10k is another very popular sell out road race.  Five Peelers took on the challenge on Sunday with Luke Collins first back for the club in 38:58 followed by Emma Whorwood (1:04:52), Alison Upton (1:11:43), Sarah Boffey (1:16:31) and Roger Eastaff (1:16:31).

On Saturday, Val Lawson took on the inaugural First Light Adventure’s Trails of Mena half marathon starting in Sutton Scarsdale near Chesterfield.  The race was named in memory of the Race Director’s spaniel and was raising money for a spaniel rescue charity.  Val completed the 13.72 mile undulating trail route in 2:46:49.

Also on Saturday, Steph Attenborough and Jo Sharman ran the LDWA BB Charnwood trail marathon taking in some beautiful and surprisingly hilly countryside. They finished the 27.11 mile route (with 2844 ft of ascent) in 8:32:00.

There were some spectacular achievements at the weekend’s parkruns as a group of Peelers travelled to London to run the Battersea parkrun whilst celebrating Jackie Tierney’s 350^th parkrun, Chris Bennett’s 300^th parkrun and Allen King’s 50^th run at a different parkrun venue!  Phil Neale was first home for the club in 22:14, followed by Allen King (25:29), Chris Bennett (25:30), Mark Boffey (25:48), Billy King (26:38), Tracy Ford (29:01), Jackie Tierney (29:27) and Michael Hughes (32:38).

In other parkruns, Emma Pick finished first lady and second overall in a time of 20:13 at Rosliston parkrun, while Ian Orton finished in 25:45 at Telford.  Running at Kingsbury, Ben Dorkins finished in 24:38, followed by Lisa Stretton (25:05), Katie Stretton (25:05), Darren O’Leary (28:31), Simon Gordon (28:42), Jo Insley (32:16) and Nicola Bannister (43:04).  At Warwick Racecourse, Mick Stevenson finished in 40:11, whilst at Beacon Park, Lichfield Club Chairman Mike Shelton crossed the line in 20:42, followed by Garth Cox (23:16).  Closer to home at Tamworth Castle Grounds, Rob Mace was first home for the club in 21:17, followed by Sophie Galloway (27:35) and Christie Rosser (29:07) and at Battlestead Croft, Tatenhill Tim Mudd stopped the clock on 28:11.

It was a quiet week on the racing front, but the performances of the Peelers who competed more than made up for it.

First, sacrificing her Saturday evening and supported via a live stream by many Peel members, Emma Pick participated in the Podium Festival II in Leicester. All Podium events are graded, creating a great race experience with similar standard competition to give athletes the perfect opportunity to achieve personal bests. Emma was set to run in the Elite Women’s A race, competing alongside some of the fastest women in the UK and top international athletes. She seized the opportunity, beating her previous 5k personal best by 15 seconds, finishing in an outstanding time of 16:23.

On Sunday, Wayne King travelled to Milton Keynes for the MK Festival of Running. Among four event options, he chose the longest distance available—the 20-mile route—as part of his training for the upcoming London Marathon. The conditions were favorable: cool but dry. Wayne took full advantage of the fast course, crossing the finish line in an incredible time of 2:07:22.

31 Peelers were in action at Parkruns this weekend. In alphabetical order we start with Tim Mudd who this week favoured Battlestead Croft in Burton, finishing in a time of 27:59. Beacon Park was the choice of Jamies Abbiss taking 2^nd place overall in 18:53, followed by Garth Cox (23:16), Mike Shelton (26:20), Tony Bryan (26:21) and Roger Lloyd (26:30). Birchall Playing Fields hosted Ian Orton (24:08) and Michael Hughes (39:49), Jackie Tierney selected Corby (29:08) while Mark and Sarah Boffey headed north to Jubilee parkrun finishing in 25:20 and 57:10. Kingsbury continued to be a popular location with Darren Truman bringing the Peeler name home first in 28:14 followed by Jo Insley (32:50), Roger Eastaff (35:52), Emma Whorwood (37:38), Wendy Bowyer (37:39), Nicola Bannister (43:42), Sarah French (48:58), Claire Guffick (1:02:38) and Lee Guffick (1:02:39). It was a trip to the beautiful Newborough Forest Anglesey for Stuart Hatton (30:55), Emma Pick was the first lady back at Rosliston in 23:45 and Stella Taylor finished Sence Valley in 32:59. At home in Tamworth Sophie Galloway ran a time of 26:06 with George Hope and Sandra Ingram finishing in 27:45  and 30:51 respectively, whilst at Watermead Country Park Chris Bennett led the Peel pack home in 23:41, chase down by Billy King (24:30) and Allen King (24:35).

Meanwhile the jet setting duo of Joanne Sharman and Steph Attenborough this week graced Vilnius Lithuania with their presence and completed the Vingis parkrun, both finishing in a time of 57:25.

Peel Road Runners meet every Tuesday at the Castle Grounds skate park car park, at 18:45 for a 19:00 start. We are a friendly, accommodating club with runners of all abilities and even a walking group. Anyone is welcome to come along and give us a try.

It certainly felt like Spring had sprung this weekend, with the sunshine out and the temperature hitting highs of 16 degrees.  The Peelers were therefore out in force making hay whilst the sun shone.  A group of Peelers headed to Chester for the annual 10k.  The event boasts a lively city centre start and finish, with a route that passes many of Chester’s iconic landmarks.  First Peeler home was Allen King in a amazing time of 46:34, followed by Lorna Carlin in a fantastic time of 48:57.  Next home was Mark Boffey in 55:35, followed by Darren Truman 57:11, Neal Dempsey 1:09:00, Helen Dempsey 1:09:01 (Which was a 4 minute improvement of last year) and Sarah Boffey 1:15:26.  Well done all!

Also representing Peel Road Runners this week were Stephanie Attenborough and Joanne Sharman who were bog trotting on the Lancashire Moors at the LDWA Two Crosses Challenge Event.  Both ladies said that this was possibly the toughest marathon either of them had completed and they have completed a lot of marathons!  They both finished in an amazing 8 hours 45 minutes through really challenging conditions of peat bogs, hills, wading through grass and ankle-deep mud.  They both finished with a huge smile on their faces though and did an amazing job considering how hot it was too.

Parkrun events 

The Peelers also took full advantage of the local Parkrun events this weekend too, where Emma Pick keeps smashing PB’s for fun.  Emma headed to West Park Long Eaton this weekend where she finished in an incredible 16:38, which was not only a PB for Emma, but she was also the first runner back and the fastest in the UK!  Amazing job Emma!!   

Runners also attended the local Tamworth Castle Grounds Parkrun with Rob Mace the first Peeler back in an impressive (21:23) followed by Lee Rickards (21:50), Christie Rosser (27:48), Tim Mudd (29:06), and George Hope (30:41).

There was also a strong attendance at Kingsbury Waterpark Parkrun too.  With Mike Shelton the first Peeler to cross the line in a fantastic (21:33); followed by Ben Dorkins (23:31), Philip Neale (23:34), Lisa Stretton (26.00), Simon Gordon (26:02), Katie Stretton (27:10), Claire Guffick (29.43), Sarah Boffey (35:47), Roger Eastaff (36:18), Wendy Bowyer (37:23), Lee Guffick (42:05), Ann Hill (45:48), Nicola Bannister (45:48), Alison Dolphin (56:06) and Stephen Andrews (56:08)

Many Peelers travelled further afield too with Ian Cooper finishing Arrow Valley (29:32), and at Beacon Park Jamie Abbiss came in at (18:26), followed by Garth Cox in (22:59).  Ian Orton ventured to Beeston and finished in (25:03), Jacqueline Tierney ventured to Linford Wood and finished in (29:52).  Attending Markeaton Allen King finished in (23:08), followed by Chris Bennett in (24:22).  Chris Taylor attended Market Bosworth and finished in (35:12) followed by Stella Taylor in (35:13).  At Melton Mowbray Stephanie Attenborough finished in (50:03) and Joanne Sharman came in at (50:04).  At Newbury Michael Hughes finished in (29:55) and at Warwick Racecourse Michael Stevenson finished in (37:52).

 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.

A beautiful morning of unbroken sunshine and blue sky saw the final race of the cross country season at the picturesque Foremark Reservoir in South Derbyshire. Teams of five men and four women tackled the challenging two lap course with stunning views of the water and slippery, muddy climbs being the main features. The event was also marshalled by the Peelers with 14 members and family coming to provide support for the race. First Peeler to finish for the men’s team was Wayne King, followed by Mike Shelton, Chris Bennett, Simon Gordon and Lee Guffick. First woman to finish for the club was Claire Guffick, followed by Lisa Barnes, Jackie Tierney and Val Lawson. This season’s cross country has been well attended once again, with a significant increase in the number of women members taking part. The camaraderie as always has been magnificent, the cakes even more so and the introduction of the tea, coffee and hot chocolate has been well received.

For the cross country season as a whole, the men’s team finished in 4th place, the women’s in 9th, and the club overall in 4^th place, with four Peelers qualifying for prizes at the end of season awards. The winners were Wayne King 2nd Place VM45, Luke Collins 3rd place VM45, Martin Hollamby 3rd place VM40, and Jackie Tierney 3rd place VW60. Special mention to other Peelers who finished in the top 10 positions with Lee Rickards 4^th place VM40, Mark Boffey 5th place VM50, Sam Cart 10th Senior Ladies, Emma Petricia 8^th place VL45, Sarah Boffey 10th VL45 and Claire Guffick 9th VL50. Well done to the winners and to everyone who ran and supported at cross country this season.

Peel Road Runners were out in force across multiple parkruns, putting in strong performances. At Leamington parkrun, Mark Boffey finished in 27:23, while Sarah Boffey crossed the line in 35:39. Over in Norwich, Ben Dorkins completed his run in 23:30.

At Worcester, Tim Mudd finished in 29:14, while at Conkers, Emma Pick had a fantastic run, finishing in 20:00 as the first woman. At Queen’s parkrun in Belfast, Ian Orton completed his run in 24:32 whilst also claiming his 4^th alphabet challenge.

Kingsbury Water parkrun saw several strong finishes, with Katie Stretton leading the club in 27:45. Darren Truman and Philip Neale both finished in 28:30, while Jacqueline Tierney crossed the line in 30:07. Claire Guffick completed in 33:19, and Roger Eastaff in 37:25. Wendy Bowyer and Emma Whorwood ran 38:47 and 39:26, while Lee Guffick finished in 39:34. Sarah French wrapped things up with a time of 51:41.

At Lytham Hall, Steph Attenborough finished in 1:00:28. Beacon parkrun saw Mike Shelton complete in 24:12, while at Edgbaston Reservoir, Allen King ran 22:28, with Chris Bennett close behind in 23:40.

Bramshall Road parkrun featured Garth Cox, who finished in 25:10. Tamworth Castle Grounds saw Lee Rickards take first finisher in 18:37. Lorna Carlin finished in 24:18, while Simon Gordon and Sophie Galloway ran 26:15 and 26:23. George Hope completed in 28:45, Roger Lloyd in 29:06, and Lisa Barnes running strongly with a new PB in 30:08. Alison Perry rounded things off with a time of 38:34.

At The Plens parkrun, Mike Hughes completed in 30:59. The Peelers meet every Tuesday evening at the skate park car park at 6.45pm for a 7pm start with