Club Of The Year 2024

Month: July 2025

  • Weekly Round up – 28th July 2025

    Weekly Round up – 28th July 2025

    With the schools closed and holiday season starting most peelers concentrate on parkrun at the weekends if not heading off on their hol’s, but not for Steph Attenborough and Jo Sharman who on Saturday 26th July 2025 ran the LDWA (Long Distance Walkers Association) Golden 50 race. Taking a 50-mile figure of 8 loop which covers paths, bridleways and green lanes through both Hertfordshire and Essex with 2854ft of elevation gain on a very warm day, they both finished in a respectable time of 19 hours 28 minutes.

    In parkrun news, George Hope wins this week’s tourism award, taking part at Albert Melbourne in Australia. A single lap course comprising a concrete path, gravel paths and sand George finished in a time of 28:16.

    There was plenty of other parkrun tourism occurring this weekend.

    At Cardiff, Ian Orton ran a new PB with a fantastic time of 21:26. Also joining the 21 club this weekend was Matt Salisbury at Clitheroe Castle with a superb time of 21:17.

    A small group of peelers had an early start travelling to Ifield Mill Pond parkrun. Mike Hughes was first back with a time of 22:51. Closely followed by Mark Boffey (25:40), Sarah Boffey (30:06) and Jackie Tierney (48:41).

    Simon Gordon ran Exmouth parkrun along the sea front in a time of 25:57. Michael Stevenson ran at Northallterton  in 39:16 and Tim Mudd ran at Thonock Lane Farm parkrun in 28:53.

    In closer to home parkruns Kingsbury Water Park and Tamworth Castle grounds were both well attended. At Kingsbury, Katie Stretton was first home in 25:23. Followed by Lisa Stretton (25:26), Carolyne Browne (28:38), Alison Upton (33:01), Alison Dolphin (44:57), Stephen Andrews (52:06), Roger Eastaff (52:09), and Phil Neale (01:04:43).

    At Tamworth, Allen King was first home in 24:13, followed by Billy King (24:44), Sophie Galloway (24:49), Gemma Pritchard (26:51), Lydia Trenfield (27:53), Helen Manton (29:42) and Lisa Barnes (30:21).

    At Babbs Mill, Garth Cox ran 25:10. At Beacon parkrun, Lichfield, Mike Shelton ran 20:52 followed by Tracy Ford in 25:36.

    Lastly, at Rosliston, Emma Pick ran 22:16.

     Peel Road Runners meet every Tuesday and Thursday at the Castle Grounds Skate Park car park at 6.45pm for a 7.00pm start. We also have our walking group meeting on Tuesdays, same time and same meeting place. New members always welcome.

  • Weekly Round up – 21st July 2025

    The report this week begins with a very inspirational person.  The running world was saddened to learn of the death of Fauja Singh this week; the world’s ‘oldest’ marathon runner at 114 years old.  Singh, a global icon, set records by running marathons across multiple age categories, including when he was over 100.  He began running at 80 and ran nine full marathons between 2000 and 2013, when he retired.  Singh was a torchbearer for the 2012 London Olympics.  However, his claim of being the world’s oldest marathon runner was not recognised by Guinness World Records as he could not show a birth certificate from 1911.Birth certificates were not produced in India at the time Singh was born.  However, his British passport showed his date of birth as being 1st April, 1911, and that he had a letter from the Queen congratulating him on his 100th birthday.  World Records can only accept official birth documents created in the year of the birth. 

    As a young boy growing up in Punjab, Singh was teased by people in the village as his legs were weak and he could not walk properly until the age of five.  After the death of his wife, Singh moved to London to live with his eldest son.  Here he met a group of elderly men who would go on runs together with the man who would become his coach, Harmander Singh.  Singh shot to fame when Adidas signed him up for their 2004 Impossible is Nothing advertising campaign, which also featured legends such as Mohammed Ali. Singh credited his health and longevity to a simple lifestyle and disciplined diet.  “Eating less, running more, and staying happy – that is the secret behind my longevity.  This is my message to everyone,” he said in June. 

    Parkrun was the only opportunity last weekend for runners to stretch their legs.  Ian Orton chose to run at Arrow Valley, crossing the finishing line in 23:16. .  Beacon Park, Lichfield was the choice of Garth Cox, 24:01 and Roger Lloyd 24:59.  George Hope completed Bunbury, Cheshire in 26:38.  Joanne Sharman and Stephanie Attenborough once again dedicated their weekend to parkrun.  Their parkrun of choice was Eastville, Jo finishing in 49:06 and Steph 49:07.  Jo and Steph then volunteered at junior parkrun,Yatton Rec, Bristol.  Kingsbury waterpark is always a popular choice – Mike Shelton led the pack in 21:13; followed by Sophie Galloway 24:47; Tracy Ford 25:53; Darren Truman 27:52; Sarah Boffey 29:55; Jo Insley 30:46; Alison Upton 34:17; Jacqueline Tierney 53:18 and Stephen Andrews 57:07.  Michael Hughes completed the course at Nostell, nr Wakefield in 49:38.  Lee Rickards was first over the line at Tamworth in 18:27; Chris Bennett 23:29; Samantha Futrill 23:38 and Allen King 49:28;  The Plens, Desborough. saw Tim Mudd achieve a time of 28:52.  Ben Dorkins ran at Trentham Gardens in 24:55.  Michael Stevenson ran Warwick Racecourse in 39:33 and finally Emma Pick completed Woolacombe Dunes in 22:52.

    The club continues to grow its members, particularly after the completion of the C25k course.  Those that completed the course have now progressed to the Bridge to 10k.  This is still open to non-members who wish to progress their running ability.  Please refer to our social media for more information. 

    Although it was a quiet race weekend, several members were out pounding the streets training for marathons later this year.  There will always be a Peeler out running somewhere!

  • Weekly Round up – 14th July 2025

    Weekly Round up – 14th July 2025

    On a beautiful (if slightly warm!) summer’s evening, a large group of Peel Road Runners took part in the Worthington 6 mile road race (a counting race for the Burton & District Summer League).  The race was an out and back course along the Cloud trail (previously an old railway line but now a well surfaced bridleway) finishing at the Malt Shovel pub in the village.

    First back for the Peelers was Wayne King in a time 37:03, followed by Mike Shelton (41:53), Adrian Jelley (42:38), Allen King (44:15), Ian Orton (personal best time of 44:56), Phil Neale (45:14), Georgie Mead (46:12), Lorna Carlin (46:38), Chris Bennett (course PB 46:45), Samie Futrill (47:09), Ben Dorkins (47:40), Roger Lloyd (48:43), Garth Cox (48:53), Sophie Galloway (49:15), Darren Truman (52:34), George Hope (54:17), Tracy Ford (54:30), Tim Mudd (54:46), Gillian Jelley (55:03), Carolyne Browne (57:23), Lisa Barnes (59:17), Helen Manton (59:39), Jackie Tierney (1:00:19), Dave Fern (1:04:13) and Val Lawson (1:04:40).

    Continuing the theme of BDSL evening races run in very hot conditions, Friday saw the Derby Runner Tara Kinder 10k race at Elvaston Castle in Derby.  Three laps of a fast and flat course saw runners protected a little from the elements by some tree cover, but conditions were not conducive to fast times.   However, Michael Hughes and Ian Orton ran personal bests in times of 48:35 and 50:08 respectively.  Close on Hughes’ heals, Phil Neale crossed the line in 48:43, followed by Mark Boffey (52:56), Tracy Ford (54:30), Roger Lloyd (55:57), Darren Truman (60:01), Sarah Boffey (66:47) and Alison Upton (74:50).

    In a week of personal bests for the Peelers, Wayne King was not going to let the side down and ran an impressive personal best time of 29:44 at the Wellingborough 5 mile road race on Sunday.

    At the weekend’s parkruns the hot weather was still affecting runners, particularly on those courses with limited shade.

    At Kingsbury Water parkrun, Ben Dorkins was first home for the club in a time of 25:02, closely followed by Lisa Stretton (26:12), Katie Stretton (26:12), Darren O’Leary (26:47), Emma Whorwood (34:21), Roger Eastaff (37:34), Alison Dolphin (49:25), Stephen Andrews (49:26), Ann Hill (58:51) and Wendy Bowyer (59:01).

    Meanwhile, many Peelers were on tour visiting parkrun locations across the country with Mick Stevenson enjoying the scenery in Skipton and finishing in 43:22, whilst Joanne Sharman and Steph Attenborough travelled to Delamere Forest in Cheshire to take on the (hopefully shady!) trails finishing in times of 57:54 and 57:55 respectively. Running at Whinlatter Forest in Cumbria (renowned as one of the hardest parkrun courses), Peel Superstar Emma Pick finished in an impressive time of 22:04, only three minutes behind Ricky Lightfoot (world champion trail runner and a medallist in the World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge)!  Taking on a fast and flat course at the Fire Service College near Moreton in the Marsh, Chris Bennett was first to finish in 25:16, with Garth Cox (completing his 50th parkrun in a different location) close behind in 26:05, Tracy Ford (27:29), Allen King (27:39), Darren Truman (27:58), Mark Boffey (28:03), Sarah Boffey (34:09) and Jackie Tierney (53:50) carrying the Lanterne Rouge, having been knocked off her bicycle earlier in the week and being restricted to walking.  At Jubilee Park Bedford Ian Orton crossed the line in 24:22, whilst closer to home at Beacon Park, Lichfield Lee Rickards finished in 18:07, followed by Mike Shelton in 21:38

    Finally, flying the Peel flag at Tamworth Castle parkrun, Judith Matthews finished in 25:58, with Simon Gordon (27:14) and Tim Mudd (28:06) not far behind.

  • Weekly Round up – 7th July 2025

    Weekly Round up – 7th July 2025

    A quieter week on the race front this week with just two Peelers in action in events away from Park Run.

    Ben Dorkins represented Peel at the Birmingham and Black Country half marathon on Sunday 6th July. The event is a unique point to point race along the canal towpaths between Wolverhampton city centra and Brindley Place Birmingham taking in the famous 360m long Coseley Tunnel. With a varied terrain of gravel tracks, unkept trails and smooth tarmac, Ben finished the course in a time of 1:56:00.

    Lydia Knight took part in the Sutton Coldfield Race for Life 10k. A two lap undulating course ran in Sutton Park, Lydia completed the event in 55:12.

    At the local park runs Kingsbury paid host to 12 members with Phil Neale crossing the line first from the club in 23:09. Katie Stretton was next home in 26:01, followed by Allen King (28:18), Billy King (28:18), Chris Bennett (28:19), Jo Insley (30:49), Roger Eastaff (34:29), Lee Guffick (39:16), Sarah Boffey (48:19), Sarah French (52:29), Alison Dolphin (52:29) and Ann Hill (52:30).  Running at Tamworth were Lee Rickards (18:41), Sophie Galloway who achieved a park run PB of 24:11, Tracy Ford (25:44), Judith Matthews (26:02), Mark Boffey (26:09), Lydia Knight (27:34) and Dave Fern (31:53) whilst at Rosliston Emma Pick finished in 20:12 and Roger Lloyd in 25:00. Elsewhere across the country, Garth Cox ran at Worcester (24:22), Jackie Tierney at Chester (31:44), Walsall saw a visit from Lisa Barnes who also achieved a PB of 29:29, Tim Mudd and Carolyne Browne were at Ross on Wye finishing in 27:37 and 28:28 respectively,  Bramshall Road hosted Ian Orton (23:48) and Jubilee Park Run Bedford accommodated Joanne Sharman (50:19), Steph Attenborough (50:20).

    The Peel team will be out in force on Tuesday this week, competing in the BDSL Worthing 6 race and again on Friday at Tara Kinder 10k. All the very best of luck to everyone running!