Author: PeelRR

The Sneyd Striders Christmas Pudding Run is a classic road race organised by a local running club, so guaranteed to be runner-friendly and good value for money. The 10 mile two lap course (slightly over distance this year due to an unforeseen police incident) is seen as fast and so it proved today for several Peelers who achieved personal bests over the distance. Wayne King was first across the line for the club in a personal best time of 1:00:54 and 4^th in M45-49 age category. Club Chairman, Lee Rickards, was next to finish also in a personal best time of 1:03:25 and 6^th in the M40-45 age category, followed by Allen King (1:17:35); Chris Bennett (1:24:11); Lorna Carlin (1:31:08); Helen Chyla (1:33:26) and Natalie Walker (1:33:27).

At the Night at the Museum indoor marathon at Bovington Tank Museum in Dorset, Steph Attenborough completed the 46 lapped event in a time of 5:47:43.

Running at Druridge Bay in Northumberland, Joy Sykes took on the traildog 6.5 km race with Charlie and Bob finishing in a time of 44:57.

With Tamworth parkrun cancelled due to course flooding, Peelers had to travel further afield for their Saturday parkrun challenges. Running at Brueton, Chris Bennett completed his 250^th parkrun in a time of 24:21; Sarah Boffey (29:27) ran at Graves, Sheffield and Joy Sykes (31:43) at Blyth Links. Running at Kingsbury, Mike Shelton finished in 21:55 followed by Luke Collins (23:57); Darren O’Leary (25:34); Sophie Galloway (28:05); Jackie Tierney (29:50); Claire Guffick (30:08); Lee Guffick (41:26); Roger Eastaff (41:27); Alison Dolphin (57:40); Sarah French (57:41) and Wendy Bowyer (57:41). Meanwhile Emma Pick (22:40); Garth Cox (26:24) and Mark Boffey (39:53) ran at Sutton Park; Mick Stevenson (34:30) at Warwick Racecourse; Ian Orton (23:45) ran at Peel, Salford; Tim Mudd (27:22) at Beacon Hill and Steph Attenborough (39:32) and Michael Hughes (47:11) at Sense Valley, Ibstock.

Forecasts of freezing weather, snow and icy ground conditions did nothing to deter a hardy bunch of Peel Road Runners from taking part in the third cross country race of the Derby/Staffs XC League at Anslow, Burton on Trent on Sunday. The two lap course, including the notorious water splash, was made more difficult by the slow thaw on previously hard-frozen ground making plenty of opportunities for slips and stumbles. Due to the weather and clashing events, the ladies’ team was smaller than usual but Jackie Tierney ran well to finish first lady back for the club, followed by Claire Guffick and Sarah Boffey. The men’s teams were better represented with Martin Hollamby first Peeler over the line in 6^th place overall, closely followed by Club Chairman Lee Rickards in 7^th place overall. Ultrarunner Luke Collins was next to finish in 14^thplace overall, followed by Mike Shelton, Ben Dorkins, Mark Boffey, Chris Bennett, Tim Mudd, Billy King, Allen King, Ian Orton, Simon Gordon, Michael Hughes and Lee Guffick.

Running in slightly warmer but none-the-less challenging conditions, Steph Attenborough took on the Lanzarote International marathon on Saturday. The race was run on an undulating out and back coastline course, which Attenborough completed in 5:46:04.

At the weekend’s parkruns, Tamworth Castle parkrun drew the largest number of Peelers on a chilly but sunny Saturday morning. First to stop the clock for the club was Luke Collins, running his 5k in 21:38 followed by Ben Dorkins (23:14); Simon Gordon (24:33); Stuart Hatton (25:42); Judith Matthews (26:01); Roger Lloyd (26:27); Garth Cox (26:54); Sophie Galloway (28:02); Clara Walton (28:18); Roger Eastaff (33:02); Joy Sykes (35:39); Ann Hill (55:32); Alison Dolphin (55:34); Sarah French (55:36); Wendy Bowyer (55:37); Chris Norris (66:43) and Stephen Andrews (66:44). Mark Boffey and Sandra Ingram volunteered at Tamworth.

Parkrun tourists included: Ian Orton (24:38) and Michael Hughes (37:44) at Lincoln; Allen King (22:28) and Chris Bennett (25:25) at Sandwell Valley; Jackie Tierney (28:23) at Kingsbury Water Park; Claire Guffick (31:22) and Lee Guffick (42:18) at Sutton Park; Mick Stevenson (33:24) at Warwick Racecourse; Emma Pick (21:53) at Market Bosworth Country Park and Tim Mudd (26:06) at Holbrooks, Coventry.

At their monthly structured training session at Tamworth Athletics Club, the Peelers were joined by Olympic athlete and middle-distance runner Amy-Eloise Markovc. Amy-Eloise won the gold medal at the 3000m event at the 2021 European Indoor Championships; ran at the Tokyo Olympics; last year’s World and European Championships and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and is a great inspiration to all the Peelers, but especially her proud uncle Peeler Phil Neale!

Although not a race, parkrun is a useful guide for runners to assess their performance and to see the improvements that a consistent training programme can bring. This was very evident for Peel Road Runner Luke Collins who, since joining the club, has made great progress and benefitted from both the club’s social runs and the structured training sessions. On Saturday, at the Tamworth Castle parkrun he ran 5k in a time of 19:07 achieving an age grading score of 73.58% and second in age group. 

Also running at Tamworth, Rob Mace crossed the line in 21:46 followed by Tim Clark (23:35); Simon Gordon (25:00); Judith Matthews (26:38); Natalie Walker (26:38); Stuart Hatton (27:43); Michael Hughes (33:32) and Emma Whorwood (33:54). 

Parkrun tourists this week included: Emma Pick (24:24) at Rosliston; Garth Cox (27:24); Ben Dorkins (29:41); Roger Eastaff (32:43); Wendy Bowyer (43:30) and Joy Sykes (53:10) at Kingsbury; Ian Orton (24:14) at Daventry; Tim Mudd (25:27) at Melton Mowbray; Sarah Boffey (29:37) at Clifton, Nottingham; Jackie Tierney (30:14) at Dallas Burston Polo Club, Southam and Allen King (23:10); Chris Bennett (25:20) and Darren Truman (26:25) at Belvoir Castle.

Ticking off more races, Steph Attenborough had a busy week running the Running Miles Rickmansworth half marathon in 2:54:00, the Maravan marathon at Cleethorpes in 6:33:12 and the GP Oulton half marathon in 2:35:50.

The Clowne half marathon near Chesterfield is a perennial favourite with the Peel Road Runners, tempted by an undulating and quite scenic course and the lure of a quality sweatshirt and cake as a reward for crossing the finish line! Wayne King continued to build on his impressive season of results by finishing in 11^th place in a time of 1:22:46 and second in M45 age category. Emma Pick went one place better to finish her race in a time of 1:33:42 and 1^st in the FSEN age category! Allen King was next over the line for the club in a personal best time of 1:40:26, followed by Phil Neale (1:45:13); Simon Gordon (1:51:51 – personal best time); Lorna Carlin (1:52:49); Mark Boffey (1:52:57); Sarah Boffey (1:52:57); Billy King (1:56:27 – personal best time); Tim Mudd (1:56:29); Chris Bennett (1:57:23 course personal best time); Gemma Pritchard (2:04:09); Helen Chyla (2:09:34) and Darren Truman (2:26:12).

Representing the Peelers at the fast and flat Derby 10 mile road race, Val Lawson ran a steady and well paced race to finish in 1:43:03.

Meanwhile running in the Trail Betws Canicross 10k at Betws-y-Coed in Snowdonia, Helen and Neal Dempsey (aka Team Dempsey) took their hounds around the very muddy and hilly trail course to finish in a creditable 90 minutes. Also making his mark on the canicross scene, Rob Mace ran the very muddy Canicross Midlands event at Alcester running 2k on Saturday and Sunday in the two dog category (with Miss and Drama) finishing in first place.

At the weekend’s parkruns, Peelers were out and about representing their club at events all over the Midlands. At Tamworth Castle parkrun, Mark Boffey finished first for the club in 25:28 followed by Wendy Roe (32:43); Laura Bowyer (32:44 – personal best); Dave Fern (32:45) and Sophie Galloway (55:00). Meanwhile at Cannock Chase, Caroline Evans crossed the line in 29:11 and at Kettering, Ian Orton finished in 24:19 followed by Michael Hughes in 38:17. At Kingsbury Water parkrun, Tim Clark was first home for the club in a time of 25:13 followed by Chris Bennett (26:51); Tim Mudd (27:00); Roger Eastaff (31:49); Claire Guffick (31:50); Lee Guffick (39:02) and Alison Dolphin (43:09). Representing the club on the south coast, Mick Stevenson ran at Hove to finish in 35:45, whilst at the Wammy, Newcastle-under-Lyme parkrun Martin Hollamby finished in 18:59. At Chasewater, Garth Cox stopped the clock on 26:35 with Jackie Tierney running at Aston Hall in a time of 29:48.

A bright and sunny Sunday saw the second race in the Derby/Staffs Cross Country League for Peel Road Runners. Taking on a revised course of 10k of undulating and (in places) waterlogged parkland at Allestree in Derby, the course was both testing and challenging. First home for the club was second claim runner Rob Dyjak in 6^th place overall (but not eligible for team points), followed by Martin Hollamby as first counter for Peel making light work of the course and crossing the finish line in 11^th place overall. Wayne King was close on his heels in 13^th place, followed by Lee Rickards (20^th); Luke Collins (31^st); James Stretton (53^rd); Scott Chapman (65^th); Michael Shelton (90^th); Allen King (94^th); Ben Dorkins (101^st); Darren O’Leary (138^th); Billy King (140^th); Tim Mudd (145^th); Simon Gordon (146^th); Mark Boffey (150^th); Ian Orton (153^rd); Michael Hughes (172^nd) with Lee Guffick bringing the team home.

In the ladies race, Lisa Stretton was first home for the club in 26^th place, followed by Sophie Galloway (61^st); Claire Guffick (68^th), Jackie Tierney (76^th) and Sarah Boffey (77^th).

Earning her third major marathon medal, Steph Attenborough held her own at the undulating TCS New York City marathon on Sunday crossing the finish line in 5:51:23.

With Saturday’s Tamworth parkrun cancelled due to the preparations for the Fireworks in the Castle Grounds, Peel parkrunners had to travel far and wide to get their weekly 5k fix this week. Running at Braunstone, Leicester Tim Mudd crossed the line in 27:08, whilst at Kingsbury James Stretton was first home in a time of 20:13, followed by Tim Clark (24:37); Lisa Stretton (25:10); Phil Neale (25:46); Darren O’Leary (26:00); Clara Walton (27:43); Claire Guffick (30:12) and Lee Guffick (40:08). At Sutton Park Garth Cox (tailrunner) finished in 55:47, whilst at Delaware and Raritan Canal, New Jersey parkrun, Steph Attenborough stopped the clock on 30:52 and at Alvaston, Allen King clocked 22:43; Chris Bennett (24:05) and Darren Truman (25:41). Travelling a little further to Irchester at Wellingborough, Ian Orton finished in 24:51, Jackie Tierney (30:47) and Michael Hughes (37:17). Mike Shelton stayed closer to home finishing in 24:14 at Beacon, Lichfield whilst Ben Dorkins braved the weather to run at Great Yarmouth North Beach in a time of 27:24. Finally, Mark Boffey (28:57) and Sarah Boffey (28:58) ran at Aston Hall, Birmingham.

After so many events were cancelled last weekend due to flooding, this weekend has been the opposite with many different events to tempt the Peel Road Runners to lace up their running shoes and get running.

Having worked hard to regain fitness after a long period of injury, Club Chairman Lee Rickards had a fantastic run at Saturday’s Eryri marathon in Llanberis. The race is renowned for its scenic but testing course taking in the Llanberis Pass, Beddgelert, Waunfawr and the infamous last mile down a track from Bwlch-y-Groes, but this didn’t stop Rickards running a course personal best time of 3:26:45, nearly 30 minutes faster than his last best at this race! Also running at Eryri (Snowdon marathon), Neal Dempsey ran well over the testing course to finish in 5:09:55.

The clocks going back on Saturday night could only signal one thing … the start of the cross country racing season! The first race for the Peelers running in the Derby/Staffs XC League was held at Anslow near Burton on Trent on a challenging and undulating course of 5.5 miles complete with water feature! First home for the club in 6^th place overall was Wayne King followed by Luke Collins (23^rd), Scott Chapman (41^st), Ben Dorkins (63^rd), Allen King (72^nd), Chris Bennett (108^th), Mark Boffey (110^th), Darren O’Leary (111^th), Billy King (115^th), Simon Gordon (116^th), Ian Orton (121^st), Tim Mudd (129^th), Michael Hughes (150^th) and Lee Guffick (156^th). In the ladies race, Lisa Stretton was first home for the club in 16^th place, followed by Lorna D’Sylva (29^th), Sophie Galloway (56^th), Claire Guffick (61^st), Caroline Evans (67^th), Sarah Boffey (77^th), Jackie Tierney (78^th) and Helen Manton (82^nd). 

At the Coventry half marathon on Sunday, Mike Shelton ran a well paced race to finish in a season’s best time of 1:37:32. Building on her recent good form, Emma Pick raced well at the second running of the Brewers 10k road race in Burton finishing in second place in a time of 41:04.

Meanwhile at the Tamworth 10k, Anthony Trueman ran a strong race to cross the line in 48:51 as did Clara Walton finishing in 56:49. At last week’s Big Bear Events Headtorch 10k at Cannock Chase, Val Lawson ran the night time trail run in very wet conditions to finish in 1:09:30.

At the weekend’s parkruns, four Peelers took their “alphabet challenge” to new levels by flying out to Poland to collect their letter Z at the Zalew Zyrardowski parkrun to complete their challenge! (They even returned in time to run cross country for the club on Sunday!). Ian Orton was first to finish this international challenge in a time of 22:46, followed by Mark Boffey (23:08); Michael Hughes (25:54) and Sarah Boffey (27:04). 

Closer to home at the Tamworth Castle parkrun, Ben Dorkins was first home for the club in 22:19 followed by Sophie Galloway (27:20); Jackie Tierney (29:04); Claire Guffick (29:28); Roger Eastaff (31:36); Joy Sykes (31:59); Wendy Roe (32:00); Emma Whorwood (33:01); Lee Guffick (36:58) and Steph Attenborough (53:12).

Other parkrun tourists included: Mike Shelton celebrating his 250^th parkrun at Kingsbury in a time of 23:27, followed by Phil Neale (23:45); Tim Clark (23:58); Darren O’Leary (24:57); Lisa Stretton (25:09); Emma Pick (25:59) and Stella Taylor (30:25). Tim Mudd (25:52) ran at Snowden Field, Lincolnshire; Allen King (23:36), Chris Bennett (25:59) and Darren Truman (28:03) at Beacon Hill Country Park and Martin Hollamby (28:24) at Blaise Castle, Bristol.

The 2023 Burton & District Summer League culminated in the Presentation Evening on Friday and several Peel Road Runners were able to celebrate their successes.  Emma Pick finished a superb season of racing winning the SL category, having run every race in the series with distances from 2 mile relays through to half marathon! Wayne King finished first in the highly competitive M40 category, a prize he has had in his sights for several years.  James Stretton came second in U25 category, with Billy King third in the same age group, showing the strength of talent among the younger Peelers.

At Sunday’s Carsington Water trail half marathon, Peeler Billy King ran a strong and well paced race to finish his first half marathon in 1:56:47, just behind Allen King who finished in 1:55:17.

Over the weekend, Steph Attenborough ran the Enigma Death Star half marathon (2:44:48) and the Southend Pier marathon (consisting of 11 out and backs along the world’s longest pier) in 5:56:29, which completed her 100 marathons in 100 weeks challenge!

Taking on a different challenge, Luke Collins ran the North Arden Heritage Trail in a time of 4:21:15, which if verified, will give him the fastest known time for this run taking 00:04:43 off the previous record! (The North Arden Heritage Trail covers canal towpaths and public footpaths and trails around Atherstone, Mancetter, Arley, Fillongley, Shustoke, Nether Whitacre, Hurley, Baddesley and Merevale).

After years of planning, Tamworth Castle parkrun held its inaugural run on Saturday. As is normal with inaugural parkruns, the event was not advertised but still managed to entice over 200 runners to try out the new course (possibly aided by Kingsbury’s parkrun being cancelled due to flooding). Representing the Peelers, Emma Pick was first across the line in 19:55 followed by Ben Dorkins (22:17); Garth Cox (23:59); Chris Bennett (24:39); Darren Truman (25:55); Allen King (26:01); Sarah Boffey (28:01) and Jackie Tierney (28:58).

At the weekend, Neal and Helen Dempsey took part in the Thoresby Leafkick 10k canicross race running with dogs Banana, Elvis, Minstrel and Sydney. They crossed the line together in 1:13:01.

Parkrun tourists included Ian Orton (23:09) and Michael Hughes (34:34) at Northampton; Sarah French (51:56) and Ann Hill (51:56) at Conkers; Steph Attenborough (parkwalker – 51:13) at Rushborough; Mike Shelton (22:53) at Sutton Park; Tim Mudd (25:37) at Babb’s Mill; Michael Stevenson (34:22) at Warwick Racecourse and Sophie Galloway (27:12); Dave Fern (30:29) and Joy Sykes (31:49) at Beacon Park, Lichfield.

The Chester Triple is a series of races of different distances over the summer culminating in the Chester marathon. Peel Road Runner Malcolm Bembridge (M55) was the sole Peeler to achieve the ‘triple’ starting with the Chester 10k on 12^thMarch, which he finished in 48:44; the Chester half marathon on 21^st May, which he finished in 1:53:35 and the Chester marathon on 8^th October, which he finished in 3:51:00. He was joined at the marathon this weekend by Wayne King, who ran a very well paced race to cross the line in an impressive 2:52:00 and by Trevor Thompson, who finished in 3:54:00.

In other events, Joy Sykes completed the Kielder Gravel Duathlon in 4:41:17 and Rob Mace, Neal Dempsey and Helen Dempsey took part in the Canicross Midlands event at Box End Water Park, Bedford last weekend with results showing good promise for the upcoming season.

With Kingsbury’s parkrun cancelled due to a hornets’ nest on the course (!), all Peelers were parkrun tourists this week. Running at Sixfields, Upton Tim Mudd crossed the line in 25:35, whilst at Sutton Park Garth Cox was first Peeler to finish in 26:14 followed by Claire Guffick (29:14); Jackie Tierney (30:26) and Lee Guffick (45:25). Other results included: Ben Dorkins (22:14) at Chasewater; Emma Whorwood (32:06) at Babb’s Mill; Sophie Galloway (28:00); Dave Fern (30:21); Sarah French (63:37) and Chris Norris (63:42) at Beacon Park, Lichfield; Simon Gordon (24:46) at Roberts Park, Baildon; Darren O’Leary (23:59) at Pavilion Gardens, Buxton; Chris Bennett (25:48) and Darren Truman (28:19) at Beacon Hill, Loughborough; Mike Shelton (22:16) and Ian Orton (24:38) at Sence Valley, Ibstock.

Peel Road Runners welcome runners of all abilities.

Several Peelers took on the iconic challenge of the Baxters Loch Ness marathon on Sunday. The race followed a linear route with competitors taken by bus to the start at Knockie Lodge before running back along the loch side to the finish in Inverness. Tim Mudd was first home in a time of 4:39:03 followed by Claire Guffick, who ran a personal best time of 5:12:04 (taking over 6 minutes off her previous best time) and Lee Guffick (6:20:38).

Over the weekend, Steph Attenborough completed her first ever 100 mile race at the Hootiful 100 at Samphire Hoe, Dover. The multi-lap course was made up of a mix of very high quality gently rolling trail, bike paths and a flat sea wall all within the shadow of the White Cliffs of Dover. She completed this immense challenge in 33:35:00.

Closer to home, Ben Dorkins took part in the Dovedale Dash on Sunday. This very popular trail race attracts up to 1400 runners who run an often muddy and technical 4.5 mile cross country course taking in a crossing of the River Dove (either using, or not using, the stepping stones!). Dorkins ran strongly to finish in 42:51.

Whilst not a running event, the fitness earned from running helped Peelers Craig Smith and Natalie Walker to an amazing achievement of conquering Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania on Friday. At a height of 19,341 feet (5859 metres) many hikers who start this walk fail to reach the summit due to the effects of altitude, which can be very debilitating. Wearing their Peeler bobble hats with pride and raising money for the Wooden Spoon charity they said that it was “Without doubt the most challenging thing we’ve ever done … left camp at 00:01 Friday (Kili time) and summited at 07:04am. It took every ounce of strength and determination on summit day but was well worth it”.

Following on from last week’s result of finishing first lady at the inaugural Sence Valley parkrun, Emma Pick was first home for the Peel Road Runners at Kingsbury parkrun on Saturday. She finished in a time of 20:39 and came in as second lady. Tim Clark was the next Peeler over the line in a time of 23:33, followed by Simon Gordon (23:50); Sophie Galloway (26:52); Jackie Tierney (27:50); Dave Fern (30:33); Roger Eastaff (30:45); Laura Bowyer (31:44); Joy Sykes (34:09); Martyn Candy (36:02); Ben Dorkins (36:11) and Ann Hill (61:20).

Parkrun tourists included: Mark Boffey (22:57) and Sarah Boffey (31:58) at Coventry; Garth Cox (23:55) at East Park, Wolverhampton; Roger Lloyd (24:41) at Beacon Park, Lichfield; Tim Mudd (28:38) at Torvean, Inverness; Ian Orton (23:01) and Michael Hughes (33:08) at University of Northampton and Allen King (22:52) and Chris Bennett (24:50) at Sence Valley, Ibstock.

A beer mile? Who knew there was such a thing or that it would be contested at Tamworth Athletics Club on Thursday, 21st September? Well there is, and it was! Described by Beermile.com as ‘in equal parts gastric challenge and athletic endeavour, competitors are required to drink a 355 ml beer (5% minimum ABV) before every quarter of a mile of the track, totalling four beers in the one mile course’. Peeler Wayne King brought home the winners’ trophy for the Peel Road Runners in a time of 7:44, beating his nearest Tamworth AC rival by just 4 seconds!

Peel Road Runners had a good turnout of runners at the Tissington Trail half marathon on Saturday and Sunday. Running Saturday’s event in beautiful sunshine, Claire Guffick was first home for the club in a personal best time of 2:10:36, followed by Ann Hill (2:31:17 PB), Roger Eastaff (2:31:26 PB); Lee Guffick (2:58:07) and Wendy Bowyer (3:12:52). At Sunday’s event on the same course but with cloudier and overcast conditions, Sarah Boffey ran a personal best time of 2:08:40.

On Sunday, George Hope ran the second of his marathon ‘Majors’ at the Berlin marathon, having completed New York last year. He ran a solid first half but he reported that he “couldn’t keep it up in the second half as my hips, quads and hamstrings all gave up on me at about 34km”. However, he still crossed the line in 4:30:24, which was a great run under the circumstances and he could say that he had run the race on the same day as the women’s marathon world record was broken at Berlin (Tigst Assefa from Ethiopia finished in 2:11:53, taking 2:11 off the previous record!)!

At the weekend’s parkruns, Darren O’Leary was first home for the club at Kingsbury in a time of 22:52. He was followed by Chris Bennett (23:31); Simon Gordon (24:05); Lisa Stretton (25:17); Roger Lloyd (25:26); Jackie Tierney (28:17); Wendy Roe (31:21 – Personal Best); Dave Fern (31:22) and Emma Whorwood (34:22). Parkrun tourists included: Tim Mudd (27:24) at Severn Valley, Bridgnorth; Mark Boffey (28:44) and Sarah Boffey (31:35) at Irchester, Wellingborough; Mike Shelton (21:32) and Sophie Galloway (26:34) at Beacon Park, Lichfield; Ian Orton (22:51) and Michael Hughes (30:40) at Quakers Walk, Devizes; Steph Attenborough (33:15) at the inaugural parkrun at Clarence, Bury and Allen King (23:35) at the inaugural parkrun at Sense Valley Country Park, Ibstock. Steph Attenborough also volunteered at the Queen’s Park junior parkrun in Bolton on Sunday.