Month: April 2026

Sunday, for many Peelers, was all about the bling.  Months of early morning training were over; the big event lay ahead.  From Greenwich to The Mall – the sights, sounds and colours of London on Marathon Day make the 26.2 mile route one of the world’s best.  Roaring crowd support, dozens of cheer zones, live bands and DJs turn the city into one big marathon party.  Throw in famous landmarks and a picture-perfect finish, and it’s easy to see why this is the bucket-list marathon. 

This year saw a record-breaking participation with approximately 59,000 runners taking part.

Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe stunned spectators to become the first marathon runner ever to officially log a sub-two-hour finish at 01:59:30.  In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa improved her own world record in a thrilling finish to retain her title in 2:15:41. 

Wayne King led the pack for the Peelers.  This was Wayne’s third London Marathon, done and dusted in an awesome time of 2:54:11, a London best time for Wayne.   Danny Beardsmore, who won the club place in the ballot, wasn’t far behind,  completing the course in 3:20:27.  Next to complete was Samie Futrill in an impressive 4:22:15.  This was very much a bucket list tick for Samie; there will be another challenge pending!   Tracy Ford was the next Peeler to cross the line in 4:29:05, swiftly followed by Chris Bennett.  Chris achieved a PB, completing the course four minutes quicker than last year in 4:42:12.  Emma Whorwood, whose time is yet to be officially confirmed, achieved another awesome race in 5:20:00 and possibly had the biggest grin on her face at the finish. 

London wasn’t the only marathon taking place on Sunday.  The Shakespeare Marathon and Half Marathon was the choice of three Peelers.  The route is flat and fast, the majority of the route follows closed roads, with the remainder on the Stratford Greenway footpath, a hard, compact footpath, ideal for PB racing!  This was James Payne’s first marathon, achieving the 26.2 miles in 4:46:13, a great result.  Stephanie Attenborough took on the rewarding role of ensuring everyone got to the finish line, completing the marathon in 6:56:46.   Joanne Sharman completed the same role for the half-marathon with a time of  3:03:49. 

A big shout-out must go to Luke Collins.  Luke had planned to run the Coventry Way 40-miler, but was unable to because his son was playing in a football final, which he didn’t want to miss.  Instead, Luke ran the whole 40 miles solo on Saturday morning.  That’s Peeler’s commitment. 

The variety of locations Peelers run on a Saturday morning is rapidly growing – Parkruns are everywhere! Emma Pick chose to run at Alderford Lake, achieving first female over the line in 20:02.  Beacon was the choice of Graham Lane, completing the course in 27:05.  Carolyne Brown ran Bolberry Down, Marlborough, finishing in 28:08.  Across the pond was the parkrun of choice for Michael Hughes – completing Brooklyn Bridge parkrun in 25:07.  Ian Orton ran at Cannon Hill in 23:37.  A warm-up 5k at Grovelands, Enfield,  was the choice of Sammie Futrill 28:37; Tracy Ford 28:42 and Chris Bennett in 45:33.  Closer to home, Mike Shelton completed Kingsbury in 20:11; Ashley Goodman 22:57; Katie Stretton 24:13; Lisa Stretton 25:06; Anne Whitby-Smith 25:09; Simon Gordon 25:20; Roger Lloyd 27:26; Darren O’Leary 28:18; Claire Guffick 29:53; Roger Eastaff 30:19; Alison Upton 33:16; Steve Andrews 33:33  (pb) and Lee Guffick 24:42.  Prior to their half/marathon, Steph Attenborough completed Ludlow in 55:33 and Joanne Sharman in 55:34.  Tim Mudd ran at Market Bosworth Country Park in 26:35; Jacqueline Tierney at Millhouses in 31:12.  Chris Taylor achieved a time of 31:31 at Penallta parkrun, Caerphilly.  Tamworth Castle Grounds is always a popular parkrun.  First over the line was Wayne Richardson 21:56; Trevor Thompson 23:55; Sophie Galloway 26:03; Cheryl Flint 26:47, and Jo Bovington in 43:41.  And finally, Victoria Embankment was the choice of Mark Boffey 25:10; Darren Truman 28:44 and Sarah Boffey 57:38. 

It’s fair to say that the spring season of road racing is fully with us with Peel Road Runners taking on challenges of different distances across the country this weekend.

A brilliant group of 25 Peelers took on the local challenge of the Cathedral to Castle 10-mile multi-terrain race running from Lichfield to Tamworth via Hopwas Woods on Sunday.  A beautiful sunny morning made for great running conditions, and the club was led home by Wayne King (on his birthday!) in a time of 1:03:52, 3^rd in age group and 15^th overall.  Next over the line was Jamie Abbiss in a time of 1:06:25 followed by Phil Neale (1:14:27 and 2^nd in M60 age category); Tom King (1:16:04), Phil Busby (1:17:18), Anne Whitby-Smith (1:26:33), Tracy Ford (1:26:33), Natalie Walker (1:27:31), Helen Chyla (1:30:35), Gemma Pritchard (1:32:06), Lydia Trenfield (1:32:08), Graham Lane (1:36:46), Cheryl Flint (1:37:19), Stuart Hatton (1:40:03), Sandra Ingram (1:43:40), Amy Davis (1:55:56), Kelly Sippitts (1:59:03), Wendy Roe (2:01:49), Roger Eastaff (2:04:33), Wendy Bowyer (2:04:34), Lisa Barnes (2:04:53), Helen Dempsey (2:07:32), Neal Dempsey (2:07:33), Ann Hill (2:16:23) and Nicola Bannister (2:23:57).

Running a marathon seems to be an unofficial rite of passage for many Peelers, and on Sunday, Emma La Planche (5:54:25) and Alison Upton (5:57:24) ran their first marathon at Newport in South Wales.  They were led home by Claire Guffick, who completed her third fastest marathon in 5:15:10. Running the Newport 10k on the same day, Emma Whorwood crossed the line in 1:03:05, followed by Lee Guffick in 1:13:01.

Charlotte Fielding was the sole Peeler running at the Manchester marathon on Sunday, stopping the clock in an impressive time of 4:49:14.  Meanwhile, taking on the very scenic Guernsey marathon, Steph Attenborough and Jo Sharman finished together in 5:41:00, easily beating the 6-hour cut-off for the event!

With the Burton & District Summer League now in full swing, the Uttoxeter half marathon (renowned for its undulating course!) was supported by three Peelers with Matt Salisbury first home for the club in a time of 1:38:46 (knocking 4 minutes 27 seconds off his previous half marathon best!), followed by Adrian Jelley (1:42:55) and Dave Fern (2:54:14).  Running the Uttoxeter 10k, Gillian Jelley crossed the line in 1:00:07 followed by Val Lawson (1:07:22 and 1^st F65).

Taking on the Shropshire Way Festival 26-mile trail run, Lorna Al-Ani completed the very challenging course with over 4000 ft of altitude around Wenlock Edge and the Stiperstones in just over 5 hours.  A great achievement!  Meanwhile, mum and daughter team Lisa and Katie Stretton ran the SSART Trawsfynydd multi-terrain 8.6-mile race around Trawsfynydd lake in Wales, finishing in 1:13:54 and 1:13:59 respectively. 

Finally, as if all this racing wasn’t enough, lots of Peelers also took part in Saturday’s parkruns! Running at Beacon Park in Lichfield, Lee Rickards crossed the line in 20:19 followed by Mike Shelton (20:22) and Graham Lane (26:52).  At Kingsbury Water Park, Luke Collins was first back for the club in 22:27, followed by Ben Dorkins (24:48), Tracy Ford (25:00), Darren Truman (29:14), Jo Insley (33:09), Jackie Tierney (33:10), Sophie Galloway (33:11), Stephen Andrews (34:52), Lee Guffick (35:37) and Alison Dolphin (42:31). At Ashbourne, Jonathan Allen ran 35:22 while a back on form Emma Pick stopped the clock on 18:57 at Markeaton Park.  Winning the prize for ‘parkrun tourist of the week’ this week was Michael Hughes, who ran the Roosevelt Island, Arlington, USA parkrun in 26:05!  Closer to home at the Victoria Embankment, Nottingham parkrun, Allen King ran 25:16, followed by Chris Bennett (25:20) and Samie Futrill (25:31). With their first run back after last week’s marathon, Tim Mudd and Carolyne Browne ran the Market Bosworth parkrun, finishing in 27:05 and 27:14 respectively.  Running at Brunswick Park, Wednesbury, Sarah Boffey finished in 48:21, whilst at Guernsey parkrun, Jo Sharman (36:08) and Steph Attenborough (36:13) crossed the line together.  Crossing the border into Wales, Ian Orton ran at Flint parkrun in a time of 34:41, and Roger Lloyd celebrated running his 100^th parkrun at the Isobel Trail in Stafford in a personal best time of 22:45!

Peel Road Runners made an excellent start to the Burton & District Summer League (BDSL) season at the opening race, Run in the Forest, held at the popular Conkers venue. The well‑supported 5‑mile event attracted a strong field and provided a scenic but testing course to kick off the league campaign.

Leading the Peel Road Runners home was Matt Salisbury, who finished strongly in 40th place overall with a time of 32:54. He was followed by an impressive run from Lorna Al‑Ani, who finished 65th overall, placing 3rd in the Female Vet 45 category with a time of 35:38.

Veteran performances were a feature of the day, with Phil Neale finishing in 36:10 to secure 5th place in the Male Vet 60 category, while Dave Fern completed the course in 51:56, placing 5th in the Male Vet 70 category. Adrian Jelley (38:04) and Roger Lloyd (38:52) both recorded solid runs in the Male Vet 50 category, while Wayne Richardson and Stuart Hatton finished in 38:21 and 45:53 respectively.

In the senior ranks, Tom King (36:28), Ash Goodman (36:56), Daniel Bird (37:20) and George Hope (42:24) all put in strong performances on the challenging course.

There were plenty of notable performances from the women’s contingent, with Katie Stretton (39:35) and Lisa Stretton (39:47) finishing close together, while Lorna Carlin crossed the line in 40:33. Tracy Ford continued her consistent form, finishing in 41:06 to place 3rd in the Female Vet 55 category.

Further down the field, Jo Bovington (45:11), Cheryl Flint (45:42), Sandra Ingram (46:47), Val Lawson (52:13) and Helen Manton (53:40) all completed the course, contributing to a strong club turnout. With runners represented across multiple age categories, Peel Road Runners enjoyed a positive and encouraging start to the BDSL season.

Away from league action, Peel Road Runners were in action at several major road races over the weekend. At the Brighton Marathon, Carolyne Browne completed the iconic coastal course in 4:59:53, with Tim Mudd also tackling the marathon distance and finishing in 5:08:14. In London, Samie Futrill took on the hugely popular London Landmarks Half Marathon, finishing the scenic city-centre route in 2:24:02. The club was also well represented at the Boston Marathon (UK), where Sam Cart was the first Peeler across the line in 4:05:31, followed by Sophie Galloway in 4:29:22 and Simon Gordon in 4:43:34, all completing the flat but often wind‑affected Lincolnshire course.

Despite a packed race calendar, members also turned out in force at parkruns locally and further afield.
At Tamworth Castle Grounds parkrun, with 351 runners taking part, Tracy Ford led the Peel Road Runners home, finishing 73rd overall and 5th female in 24:45. She was followed by Wayne Richardson (25:28), Chris Bennett and Allen King (both 25:57), with further strong runs from Tony Bryan (29:36), Owen Slater (30:16), Jo Insley (34:00), Jo Bovington (34:42), John Vann (35:20), Cheryl Flint (41:34), Dan Bird (42:43), Sophie Galloway (52:52) and Sarah Boffey (52:56).

Elsewhere, Emma Pick continued her excellent form at Haughmond Hill parkrun, finishing third overall and first female in 19:36. At the smaller but scenic Lukens parkrun, Michael Hughes placed 4th in 25:38.

A number of Peelers chose Kingsbury Water parkrun, where Ben Dorkins led the club home in 24:38, followed by Mike Shelton (26:22), Claire Guffick (30:48), Lee Guffick (34:56), Stephen Andrews (35:02), Wendy Bowyer (35:06), Ann Hill (41:16) and Nicola Bannister (42:17).

At Lichfield Graham Lane (28:59) and Garth Cox (1:00:02) completed Beacon parkrun, while Ian Orton enjoyed a standout run at Withernsea Promenade parkrun, finishing third overall in 22:08. In Nottingham, Joanne Sharman and Stephanie Attenborough ran side‑by‑side at Victoria Embankment parkrun, finishing in 44:21 and 44:22 respectively, while Jacqueline Tierney represented the club at Jubilee parkrun in Bedford, completing the course in 30:55. With runners competing across league races, marathons, half marathons and parkruns, it was another excellent week showcasing the depth, commitment and friendly spirit of Peel Road Runners.

This Easter Bank Holiday weekend marked the season finale of the Canicross Midlands competition for Peelers Neal Dempsey, Helen Dempsey and Rob Mace. To complete the full series, competitors must run seven races in the same class, no small feat.

Held at the beautiful Catton Park, the team delivered fantastic performances alongside their four-legged partners. Neal Dempsey secured 2nd place in the two dog long course with Elvis and Lilian, and another 2nd place in the short course with Banana and Pine. After an incredible ten seasons, Banana has now officially hung up her trainers for a well-earned retirement.

Rob Mace also impressed, taking 3rd place in the masters short course with Murphy, an outstanding achievement in his debut Canicross season.

Helen Dempsey successfully completed the full series in both the short and long courses with Patch and Sydney, rounding off a brilliant season for the Peelers team.

Parkrun Events

Peel Road Runners were out in force on Saturday morning, with members taking part in 16 different Parkrun events across the country.

• Black Swan Lake: Athena Mansell finished in 25:22.
• Bournemouth: Mike Shelton crossed the line in 20:55.
• Brighton & Hove: Jacqueline Tierney completed her run in 35:51.
• Crewe: Graham Lane finished in 27:10.
• Eden Project: Danny Beardmore ran an impressive 19:45.
• Exmouth: Tony Bryan finished in 29:33.
• Keswick: Michael Hughes completed his run in 25:25.
• Ormskirk: Joanne Sharman finished in 31:27, followed by Stephanie Attenborough in 34:52.
• Rogiet: Ian Orton crossed the line in 23:51.
• Rutland Water: Tracy Ford finished strongly in 24:24.
• Sence Valley Forest Park: Tim Mudd ran 26:15, followed by Carolyne Browne in 26:54.
• Y Promenad, Llandrillo-yn-Rhos: Mark Boffey finished in 25:03, with Sarah Boffey completing her run in 43:03.

Closer to home:

Kingsbury Water Park

Ben Dorkins was the first Peeler back in 23:52, followed by: Darren Truman (30:38), Roger Eastaff (32:14), Chris Taylor (33:10), Emma Whorwood (34:57), Claire Guffick (34:57), Alison Upton (35:00), Stephen Andrews (35:56), Ann Hill (41:53), Nicola Bannister (42:16), Alison Dolphin (43:04), Jo Insley (47:49) and Christine Norris (67:19).

Tamworth Castle Grounds

Wayne Richardson led the Peelers home in 23:07, followed by: Dan Bird (23:49), Sophie Galloway (26:46), Jo Bovington (27:10), Marcus Fairburn (28:23), Owen Slater (30:02), Lee Guffick (36:34) and Cheryl Flint (40:38).

Beacon Park

First Peeler back was Lee Rickards in a rapid 18:07, followed by: Tom King (21:53), Billy King (22:44), Allen King (26:20), Sam Futrill (26:30) and Chris Bennett (26:55).

Market Bosworth

Emma Pick delivered a standout performance, finishing in an excellent 19:38.

Cannock Chase

Roger Lloyd travelled over and completed his run in 23:15.

Peel Road Runners meet every Tuesday evening at Tamworth Castle Grounds Skate Park at 6.45 pm.  Come along and give it a try, details can be found at: www.peelroadrunners.co.uk

Peel Road Runners were once again out in force across the UK and beyond, with members taking part in a wide range of parkrun events on Saturday morning. From local favourites to more far-flung locations, including Glasgow, Gibraltar and Abermaw, the club’s presence was felt across multiple venues.

At Kingsbury Water, Ben Dorkins led the Peel contingent with a time of 23:17. Lisa Stretton and Katie Stretton followed closely in 26:01 and 26:02, while Claire Guffick completed the course in 30:00. Roger Eastaff finished in 34:00, with Lee Guffick and Wendy Bowyer recording times of 35:25 and 35:42. Stephen Andrews crossed the line in 39:56, while Nicola Bannister and Ann Hill both finished in 42:27, with Christine Norris completing a parkwalk in 1:08:11.

At Tamworth Castle Grounds, Charlotte Fielding finished in 27:40, with Allen King finishing in 55:58. At Market Bosworth Country Park, Iain Downie recorded a time of 25:08. Over in Scotland at Queen’s parkrun, Glasgow, Jonathan Allen completed his run in 30:02.

A standout performance came at Y Promenâd, Abermaw, where Emma Pick ran an excellent time of 19:21. Further afield, Michael Hughes took part at Gibraltar Botanical Gardens, finishing in 28:14. At Millom, Tim Mudd finished in 25:39, while Carolyne Browne recorded a time of 28:06.

At Beacon Hill Country Park, Garth Cox volunteered as tailwalker to finish in 54:30. At Sale Water, Joanne Sharman and Stephanie Attenborough ran together, finishing in 52:15 and 52:16 respectively.

At Graves, Jacqueline Tierney completed her run in 33:31, whilst at Victoria Embankment, Nottingham, Ian Orton ran a strong time of 22:10. At Markeaton, Roger Lloyd finished in 24:25 and at Beacon, Graham Lane completed the course in 26:52. Finally, at Rosliston, Wayne Richardson recorded a time of 24:24, followed by Cheryl Flint in 29:13 and Jo Bovington in 44:37.

On Sunday, the Peelers took part in the final cross-country race of the season at Sinai Park in Burton upon Trent. 6 women and 8 men represented the club on the challenging and hilly course, which benefited from a rare downhill finish. First of the men’s team to finish was Wayne King in a fantastic 6^th place. Matt Salisbury was next to finish in 26^th place, followed by Luke Collins in 35^th, Tom King 41^st, Wayne Richardson 63^rd, Ben Dorkins 73^rd, Mark Boffey in 78^th and Lee Guffick completing the scoring in 92^nd place.

First woman home for the club was Katie Stretton in an impressive 13^th place, closely followed by Lisa Stretton in 14^th, with Lorna Carlin completing in 21^st place and Tracy Ford in 23^rd. Jo Bovington, making her cross country debut, finished in 27^th place with cross country captain Sandra Ingram crossing the line in 41^st place. The race was followed by the end-of-season presentation at The Albion in Burton upon Trent, where Peel men Wayne King and Lee Rickards picked up prizes in the Vet 45 category, finishing overall in 2^nd and 3^rd place respectively. Congratulations to them both for a fantastic achievement.

The club would like to thank team captains Sandra Ingram and Simon Gordon for their support and all the other volunteers, supporters and cake bakers who have helped the club achieve another successful season. The Peelers meet every Tuesday evening at the skate park car park at 6.45pm for a 7pm start, with a choice of different-paced running groups and a walking group