Month: September 2026

On Sunday, James O’Connell took on the impressive challenge of the Loch Ness Marathon. Described as ‘quite possibly one of the most stunning marathons in the world ’, the route follows a spectacular point-to-point route alongside world-famous Loch Ness. Entrants are first ferried to the atmospheric moorland start point from where the run continues through stunning Highland scenery, taking participants along the south-eastern shores of Loch Ness, across the River Ness, to finish in Inverness. With spectacular scenery, fantastic atmosphere and a truly memorable experience, the event is a bucket list for many runners. James’ hard work and training for the event paid off, and he achieved a fantastic time of 4:21:58.

Meanwhile, long-standing club member George Hope added another medal to his collection at the Robin Hood half marathon. The single lap event, starting and finishing on the Victoria Embankment, has several inclines to challenge those fresh legs in the first half of the race and continues to bite with an undulating second half. George dug deep and completed the race in 2:06:42.

Also on Sunday Danny Beardmore and Lisa Barnes took the short jaunt out to the Shenstone 10K, a popular, fast and relatively flat course that starts and finishes at Shenstone Playing Fields near Lichfield. Organised by the Greysbrooke Primary School PTA, the event brings runners together for a 10K through Shenstone and the surrounding Staffordshire countryside, whilst raising funds for the school, local children’s charities and community groups. Danny finished third in his age group in a lung-busting 39:50, and Lisa crossed the line in 1:09:32.

Peel Road Runners enjoyed another busy weekend on the parkrun circuit, with members turning out at venues across England, Wales and Ireland. Conditions were generally favourable for running, and several members recorded strong finishes, including top-five and top-ten placings.

The largest club turnout was at Tamworth Castle Grounds parkrun, where 341 runners took part. Wayne Richardson led the Peel contingent home, finishing 48th in 24:13, closely followed by Billy King in 24:15. Jo Bovington was the club’s leading female, finishing 65th overall and 4th female in 25:06. Other Peel finishers were Roger Lloyd (25:42), Sophie Galloway (26:27), Richard Satchwell (26:45), Graham Lane (27:33), Chris Bennett (27:39), Tony Bryan (28:54), Jonathan Allen (29:46), Dan Bird (39:12), Cheryl Flint (42:40) and Samantha Futrill (58:46).

At Kingsbury Waterpark parkrun, which attracted 292 participants, Iain Downie and Ben Dorkins produced excellent runs to finish in 23:40 and 23:45 respectively. Lisa Stretton was the club’s first female finisher and 8th woman overall in 24:28, while Simon Gordon followed close behind in 24:32. Also representing Peel were Owen Slater (26:49), Claire Guffick (31:18), Emma Whorwood (37:14), Alison Upton (37:33), Nicola Bannister (38:08), Lee Guffick (38:24), Wendy Bowyer (40:28) and Stephen Andrews (40:29).

There were standout individual performances elsewhere. At Illaunmanagh parkrun in Ireland, Ian Orton secured an excellent 4th-place finish in 21:22, while Jacqueline Tierney completed the course in 34:22 and Mark Boffey in 54:52. At Dishley parkrun in Loughborough, Emma Pick continued her impressive form, finishing 4th female in 22:12.

At Beacon parkrun, Mike Shelton ran strongly to finish 24th overall in 21:24, while Katherine Bradley was 7th female at Conkers parkrun with a time of 24:11. Tracy Ford was another runner to finish in the top 20 females, placing 18th female at Chasewater parkrun in 26:39.

Further afield, Garth Cox recorded 24:21 at Walsall Arboretum parkrun whilst Stephanie Attenborough and Joanne Sharman tackled the challenging hills of Lyme Park parkrun, finishing in 57:45 and 57:49 respectively

There was even a ‘Peeler at Peel’, with Sandra Ingram clocking 28:13 at Peel parkrun in Salford.

Peel Road Runners meet every Tuesday and Thursday, 18:45, at the skate park car park in the Castle Grounds. New members are always welcome.

Members of Peel Road Runners travelled to the Equinox24 endurance festival at Belvoir Castle on 19-20 September, joining hundreds of runners from across the country in one of the UK’s most popular 24-hour running events. The challenge sees competitors complete as many laps as possible of a demanding 10km mixed-terrain course, running through the day, the night and into the following morning, starting with a ‘Beer Run’ fancy dress on the Friday evening.

The club enjoyed a superb weekend, with runners taking on the challenge in the true Peel Road spirit, demonstrating determination, resilience and plenty of teamwork around the clock.  Leading the way for the club were Sophie Galloway, Tracy Ford, Martin Holloway, Mark Boffey and Lisa Barnes, who each completed an impressive 10 laps, covering a remarkable 100 kilometres over the course of the event.  Gemma Pritchard and Billy King also delivered a fantastic performance, completing 8 laps and accumulating 80 kilometres on the challenging route.  Completing 6 laps apiece were Helen Dempsey, Neal Dempsey, and Allen King, each covering approximately 60 kilometres during the event.  Helen and Neal were entered as a pair, coming 20^th out of 35 in the mixed pairs.  Strong performances also came from Carolyne Browne, Chris Bennett and Tim Mudd, who each completed 5 laps.  Meanwhile, Roger Longstaff, Claire Guffick and Lee Guffick each completed 4 laps, while Wendy Bowyer finished 3 laps, with all runners showing tremendous determination to keep going on the demanding course.

Tamworth BDSL 5 mile run

Peel Road Runners were also out in force and produced a series of strong performances at the Tamworth BDSL 5-Mile Race on Sunday 19^th September, with club members enjoying success across the field in the popular road race.  On a day that provided excellent racing conditions, runners from across the region gathered to test themselves over the five-mile BDSL distance hosted by Tamworth Athletics Club.

Leading the club home was Ian Orton, who clocked an excellent 35 minutes 44 seconds. Close behind was Wayne Richardson, with a time of 37:43.  Katie Stretton crossing the line in 39:15, narrowly ahead of Lisa Stretton, who recorded 39:35. Followed by Lorna Carlin finished in 40:01, closely followed by Simon Gordon in 40:59.  Sandra Ingram completed the course in 50:18, while Helen Manton finished in 51:29, Dave Fern rounded off the club’s contingent with a time of 54:18.

Tissington Trail Half Marathon

A group of Peel Road Runners headed to Derbyshire on Sunday 20 September to take part in the popular Tissington Trail Half Marathon, enjoying a day of trail running through some of the Peak District’s most picturesque countryside.  The event, which follows the former railway line along the Tissington Trail, provided runners with a rewarding 13.1-mile challenge and saw Peel Road members deliver a series of determined performances.

Leading the club home was Sam Cart, who produced an outstanding run to finish in 1 hour 52 minutes 27 seconds, securing a well-deserved personal best. Next across the line for Peel Road Runners was Emma Whorwood, who completed the course in 2:18:25, followed closely by Emma Petricca in 2:21:44. There was another excellent performance from Kelly Sippitts, who crossed the finish line in 2:29:05, followed by Alison Upton in 2:32:15.

Copenhagen Super Half Marathon

Travelling further afield, Peel Road Runners, Joanne Sharman and Stephanie Attenborough were among thousands of runners from around the globe who took to the streets of Denmark’s capital for the Copenhagen Half Marathon on Sunday, 20 September.

The 2026 event was particularly special, forming part of the World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen 26, which welcomed elite athletes and recreational runners alike to compete on one of the world’s fastest and most prestigious half marathon courses. More than 65,000 runners were expected to take part in the championship weekend across the various race distances.

Renowned for its flat, fast route and incredible spectator support, the half marathon takes runners through Copenhagen’s historic streets and vibrant neighbourhoods before finishing in the heart of the Danish capital. The race has established itself as one of Europe’s premier road running events and regularly attracts runners seeking personal best performances.

Jo completed the course in 2:22:14, followed by Steph in 2:55:37.

Parkrun Events

Members of Peel Road Runners were also in action across the country and beyond on Saturday 19 September, with club runners taking part in no fewer than 15 different parkrun events.

The standout performance of the weekend came from Emma Pick, who produced a superb run at Melton Mowbray parkrun, finishing 3rd overall and claiming the accolade of first female finisher in an impressive time of 20:46.

Another strong performance came from Ian Orton, who finished 24th overall at Beacon parkrun in 22:01, while Wayne Richardson was the club’s next fastest runner of the day, clocking 24:04 at Rosliston parkrun to secure 40th position.

At Conkers parkrun, Katherine Bradley finished in 24:44, finishing 54th overall and fourth female, while Roger Lloyd completed the course in 26:25.

The club had a particularly strong presence at Kingsbury Water parkrun, where Samantha Futrill led Peel Road home in 26:04. Close behind, Katie Stretton and Lisa Stretton crossed the finish line together in 26:16. Also representing the club were Alison Perry in 36:48 and Nicola Bannister in 37:14.

Elsewhere, Garth Cox recorded 26:20 at Ashbourne Recreation Ground parkrun, while Graham Lane completed the challenging Eden Project parkrun course in 27:12.

At Tamworth Castle Grounds parkrun, Peel Road runners were again well represented. Lydia Trenfield led the club contingent with 27:05, followed by Darren Truman in 27:29, Cheryl Flint in 29:04 and Robert Donovan in 36:23.

Further afield, Ben Dorkins completed Great Yarmouth North Beach parkrun in 28:13, while Owen Slater ran 28:58 at Cannock Chase parkrun. Chris Taylor finished University of Northampton parkrun in 33:20, and Jacqueline Tierney recorded 34:30 at Perton Playing Fields parkrun.

Two Peel Road members were among the large field at Amager Fælled parkrun in Copenhagen, with Joanne Sharman finishing in 31:58 and Stephanie Attenborough completing the course in 59:37.

Meanwhile, Tim Mudd and Tracy Ford took on the scenic Belvoir Castle parkrun, recording times of 38:19 and 54:22 respectively, while Athena Mansell represented the club at Cheltenham parkrun, finishing in 50:21.

Rounding off the weekend’s performances was Jo Bovington, who completed Rosliston parkrun in a commendable 28:15.

Peel Road Runners

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

Peel Road Runners enjoyed another busy weekend of parkrun action, with runners representing the club at venues across the country. At Kingsbury Water, Emma Pick led the way with an excellent 20:56, followed by Philip Neale in 23:16 and Darren O’Leary in 25:00. Ann Hill completed the course in 34:26, with Neal Dempsey just two seconds behind in 34:28. Helen Dempsey recorded 35:57, followed by Roger Eastaff in 37:02, Nicola Bannister and Claire Guffick both in 37:04, and Lee Guffick in 38:59.

At Tamworth Castle Grounds, Chris Bennett finished in 23:53, with Sophie Galloway close behind in 24:01. Mark Boffey recorded 25:22, Tracy Ford 26:30 and Cheryl Flint 27:43. Michael Stevenson travelled to Warwick Racecourse, completing his parkrun in 41:45, while Katherine Bradley ran 24:58 at Rosliston, while Beacon parkrun saw Garth Cox finish in 25:08 and Roger Lloyd in 27:38.

There were also Peel runners further afield, with Joanne Sharman completing Fire Service College parkrun in 31:35 and Stephanie Attenborough in 57:36. Jacqueline Tierney recorded 34:10 at Harleston Magpies, while Ian Orton took on Town Moor in 50:45. Graham Lane again tackled Severn Bridge, finishing in 26:47, while Wayne Richardson and Jo Bovington completed Coronation Park parkrun in 23:24 and 29:07 respectively.

Last weekend, Lorna Al-Ani represented the Peelers at the Bedford Half Marathon, producing an excellent performance to complete the 13.1-mile course in a net time of 1:42:55. The race takes runners through the historic Bedford area and surrounding countryside, offering a scenic and varied route. Lorna’s strong run saw her finish fourth in the Female 40–49 category, making it another impressive performance for the Peelers.

On Sunday, Wayne King represented the Peelers at the Cheshire Half Marathon at the stunning Capesthorne Hall. Running on a fast and flat scenic course around the historic estate, Wayne produced an excellent performance to complete the half marathon in an impressive 1:20:55. His superb run saw him finish sixth in the V45 category, continuing his strong form over the distance.

Peel Road Runners were represented at the Lichfield 10K, with five athletes taking on the popular but hilly and challenging local race. Lorna Al-Ani led the way with an excellent 46:55, finishing an impressive fourth in the F40 category, while Wayne Richardson was just one second behind in 46:56. Michael Shelton also produced a strong run, completing the course in 48:56, with Joanne Bovington recording 55:02. Cheryl Flint rounded off the Peelers’ results in 1:00:18, an excellent performance which saw her finish sixth in the F60 category.

Up in the North East, Ian Orton and Luke Collins took on the iconic Great North Run, with both Peelers putting in strong performances over the challenging half marathon course. Ian crossed the finish line in an excellent 1:43:00, followed by Luke in 1:46:48, making it a great day of racing for the pair at one of the UK’s most famous road races. The Peelers meet every Tuesday evening at the skate park car park at 6.45 pm for a 7 pm start with a choice of different-paced running groups and a walking group.

It was a special weekend for Peel Road Runners both on and off the course, as club members represented the yellow-and-black across 11 different parkrun events.

The highlight of the morning came at Kingsbury Water, where Mike Shelton marked a remarkable milestone by completing his 250th volunteering stint. It was an emotional occasion as it also marked his final outing as Run Director at Kingsbury, stepping down after dedicated service of over six years on the core team.

On the course at Kingsbury, Katie Stretton delivered a brilliant performance to finish as 4th female in 23m 37s (22nd overall). She was supported by strong runs from Ashley Goodman (24m 48s), Lisa Stretton (24m 56s, 9th female), Ben Dorkins (25m 09s), Owen Slater (30m 41s), Ann Hill (34m 45s), Nicola Bannister (40m 39s), Alison Dolphin (44m 09s), and Lee Guffick (63m 25s).

Leading the way performance-wise elsewhere, Emma Pick put in a standout run at Rosliston, crossing the line in 21m 30s to finish as 2nd female overall and 11th overall.

Over at Beacon, a strong group was led home by Wayne Richardson in 21m 28s (39th overall), followed by Katherine Bradley (24m 37s, 13th female), Jo Bovington (25m 00s), Cheryl Flint (27m 03s) and George Hope (27m 37s).

There was plenty of tourism too, with two pairs taking on Bittesby Country Park—Allen King (23m 14s) and Chris Bennett (26m 12s)—and Jeskyns Community Woodland, where Ian Orton clocked 21m 51s alongside Mark Boffey in 25m 42s.

Completing the weekend’s impressive solo performances across the UK, Lisa Barnes ran 29m 27s at Monsal Trail, while Tim Mudd crossed in 27m 47s at Jubilee, and Garth Cox clocked 27m 21s at Cofton Park. Graham Lane completed Cannon Hill in 28m 16s, Jacqueline Tierney ran 34m 21s at Brackenhurst Campus, and closer to home at Tamworth Castle Grounds, Roger Lloyd (31m 18s) and Robert Donovan (38m 24s) flew the flag for the Peelers.

Peel Road Runners meet every Tuesday and Thursday evening. New members of all abilities are always welcome. Visit peelroadrunners.co.uk for details.

Fortunately, the Peelers stayed dry as there were no races in the calendar this weekend and the storms were dodged at Parkruns. Local park runs, as always, were well supported,

Tamworth Castle Grounds parkrun

Wayne Richardson 22:02

Jo Bovington 25:48

Mark Boffey 26:12

Simon Gordon 28:21

Anne Whitby-Smith    33:29

Dan Bird 39:58

Cheryl Flint 43:17

Robert Donovan 45:18

Kingsbury Water parkrun

Ashley Goodman 23:29

Ben Dorkins 26:24

Darren O’Leary 26:41

Claire Guffick 36:30 ( celebrating her 200^th parkrun! Congratulations Claire)

Stephen Andrews 36:32

Roger Eastaff 36:34

Nicola Bannister 38:02

Lee Guffick 51:33

There were also quite a few tourist park runs attended , including Cumbria , Southampton and the outskirts of Liverpool. Full results below

Warwick Racecourse parkrun

Michael Stevenson 40:18

Watermead Country Park parkrun

Emma Pick 19:54

Gedling parkrun

Allen King:25:09

Chris Bennett 27:33

Lisa Barnes 31:59 ( Celebrating her 25^th Parkrun- Congratulations Lisa)

Sence Valley Forest Park parkrun

Carolyne Browne         29:53

Wyre Forest parkrun

Garth Cox 29:25

Rushcliffe parkrun

Stephanie Attenborough 1:06:39

Joanne Sharman 1:06:40

Cofton Park parkrun

Jacqueline Tierney 37:23

Itchen Valley Country parkrun

Sophie Galloway 25:31

Ushaw Historic House parkrun

Ian Orton 22:47

Crosby parkrun

Graham Lane 27:36

There’s only a couple of Summer club routes left on the calendar this year, and the light nights and canal routes will soon be swapped for hi-vis, head torches and road routes,

If youre looking for company during your winter routes, why not look to join the Peel road runners. Please check out our website peelroadrunners.co.uk or our public Facebook page for further information. We look forward to welcoming you