Month: January 2026

With Storm Goretti creating havoc over the Midlands with heavy snow and icy conditions many races were cancelled, including the next instalment of cross-country fun and games which was due to take place at Allestree park.

Also, affected was Parkrun on Saturday with the majority in the Midlands being cancelled due to icy conditions and low temperatures. However, not so much in Poland. Ian Orton and Mike Hughes decided the weather in the Midlands wasn’t cold or snowy enough so they travelled to Poland and braved minus 11-degree temperatures to take part in Zalew Leg parkrun. Mike Hughes finished in a time of 26:22 with Ian close behind with a time of 27:17.

Back home in the UK, the parkrun choices in the Midlands was extremely limited with Battlestead Croft being one of a few still taking place. Average attendance for this event is around 60 runners/walkers but this weeks attendance soared to over 400 with six peelers braving the weather to take part. First back for the club was Ash Goodman in a time of 26:50. Closely followed by Janathan Allen (28:24), Tim Mudd (28:36), Mark Boffey (31:46), Darren Truman (31:47) and Sarah Boffey (31:52).

Other parkrun results, Emma Pick ran at Forest Rec in 45:58 and Jackie Tierney ran at King George V Playing Field in 32:23. 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.

The Peel Road Runners have been running on the roads, paths and tracks around Tamworth since the club was founded in 1991.  The club prides itself on being a social running and walking group, catering for all abilities.  Achieving Regional Club of the Year in 2024 confirmed the Peelers are a club with their members at the heart of everything they do.  The benefits of running/walking with like-minded people to help with any of life’s issues, have a laugh; all help with one’s well-being. 

Raymond Rogers, our Club President, was one of those who helped launch the Peelers.  He continues to be a very active member of the club and is also a member of the Tamworth FC supporters club.  Ray recently linked up with Simon’s Heroes charity and decided to take on a personal challenge.  On Boxing Day, Ray set off from Tamworth football ground and walked the 18 miles to Solihull Moors ground, a distance he hadn’t covered in many a year.  Ray’s motivation…” to see a simple smile on the children’s faces”.  The money Ray raised was used to support local children with life-limiting illnesses over the festive season.  Just over £2,000 was raised. 

On a personal note, Ray says it has given him a more positive attitude toward himself and his health after eighteen months of health issues. “All the Peelers have given me so much help when I’ve been feeling down, it’s been, as they say, ‘life changing”  With the walking group being the catalyst for change.  Ray walks with the walking group on a regular basis; they meet at the same time as the Peel runners and enjoy an hour social walk.

Despite the weather disrupting many events, Wayne King was able to compete in the Staffordshire County Cross Country Championships held at Betley Court Farm in Stoke.  Wayne came 38th and 3rd in his age category (Masters 45-54), completing the course in 38:24 mins.  A great achievement to start the year. 

Many Parkruns were cancelled last Saturday due to weather conditions.  A few hardy souls however, managed to track down a course which was on.  Tim Mudd took on the 5k course at Battlestead Croft, Burton.  The course is run entirely on grass, so trail shoes would be the footwear of choice.  Tim completed the course in  27:12.  Conkers was the choice of Roger Lloyd, who ran the 5k in an impressive 24:01.  Three Peelers chose somewhere slightly further afield – Ludlow.  This course is a mixture of pretty forest trail paths, together with hardcore paths.  Darren Truman ran the course in 31:05 swiftly followed by Mark Boffey in 31:22 and Sarah Boffey in 34:36.  Michael Hughes completed the 5k trail run at Queenswood Country Park in 46:47; Jacqueline Tierney ran Rother Valley parkrun, in Sheffield in 29:17; Ash Goodman completed Sence Valley Forest Park, two laps on gravel paths which go alongside lakes and through woods, in 23:30 and finally but not least Ian Orton ran the parkrun at University of Stirling in 27:42. 

To conclude, the Peelers are well known as a sociable group of runners. One run that did not have any timings against it over Christmas was the annual Beer Run.  The Peelers like to support the local community, so a run took them around the town via a few watering holes. It is an opportunity to run with someone new and have time to enjoy each other’s company. If you’re interested in joining the Peelers for a run/walk, please visit our website for more information.  www.peelroadrunners.co.uk

Over the festive period this year, Peelers were spoilt for choice with their parkrun choices.  Not only were there the usual Saturday runs, but there were also runs on Christmas Day to tempt everyone!

Results from Thursday, 25^th December

The Christmas Day parkruns drew a lot of Peelers away from cooking the Christmas dinner with a great turnout at Tamworth Castle Grounds.  Jamie Abbiss led the Peelers home in 19:23 followed by Lee Rickards (22:04), Allen King (22:18), Garth Cox (23:25), Billy King (24:37), George Hope (26:08), Chris Bennett (27:15), Sophie Galloway (27:16), Samie Futrill (27:17), Tim Mudd (27:39), Claire Guffick (29:11), Jackie Tierney (31:03), Tracy Ford (31:04), Alison Upton (32:04), Wendy Bowyer (33:56), Roger Eastaff (33:58), Sarah Boffey (57:20), and Mark Boffey (57:26).  Meanwhile at Ashton Court in Bristol, Michael Hughes finished in 43:48 and at Beacon Park in Lichfield, Mike Shelton finished in 20:50, followed by Katie Stretton (24:51), James Stretton (24:54) and Lisa Stretton (24:56).  At Beeston, Jo Sharman crossed the line in 31:58 followed by Steph Attenborough in 33:18 and at Conkers, Wendy Roe finished in 39:40 whilst at Exeter Riverside, Martin Hollamby stopped the clock on 20:39.  At Rosliston, Ian Orton finished in 39:43 and Emma Pick in 56:59 but maybe the loudest shout out should go to Club President, Ray Rogers, who ran/walked his first parkrun since 2017 at Worcester in a time of 40:22.

Results from Saturday, 27^th December

Only two days after the Christmas Day parkruns, Peelers were running at different events around the country with Emma Pick at Colwick, Nottingham walking round in 45:10, whilst Ian Orton ran at Oldham parkrun in a time of 24:58.  At Congleton, Jo Sharman and Steph Attenborough finished in 57:01 and 57:03 respectively.  At Rotherham, Mark Boffey crossed the line in 29:50 followed by Jackie Tierney in 31:57 and Sarah Boffey in 33:23.  At Kingsbury parkrun, Ben Dorkins led the Peeler contingent home in 23:00 followed by Ash Goodwin (23:21), Katie Stretton (25:29), Lisa Stretton (25:57), Claire Guffick (30:30), Emma La Planche (31:01), Alison Upton (32:53) on her 100^th parkrun, Roger Eastaff (35:50) and Wendy Bowyer (34:51).  At Poolsbrook, Chesterfield Tim Mudd finished in 28:06 and at Sutton Park, Roger Lloyd finished in 25:59, whilst at Beacon parkrun Lichfield, Mike Shelton (20:59) and Garth Cox (22:51) represented the club.  Finally, at Tamworth Castle Grounds, Danny Beardmore was first back for the club in 19:51, followed by Allen King (21:24), Sophie Galloway (24:54), Tracy Ford (25:01) and George Hope (27:41).

Away from parkruns, several Peelers took on the challenge of racing over the festive period.  On Boxing Day, Jo Sharman took on the Circuit Running 6 hour challenge at Runnymede, Surrey completing her 85^th marathon in 6:38:32.  Before Christmas, Lydia Knight ran a personal best time of 01:54:05 at the ATW Nottingham Holme Run half marathon.  Meanwhile, Lee Rickards ran in the Sneyd Christmas Pudding 10 mile race (having not been held for several years, the race was back for 2025 with the course being run anti-clockwise) and finished in 1:03:07 and 2^nd in the M40-45 age category.