Category: Weekly round up

This weekend saw the last Cross Country race of the season take place on Sunday 10^th March at Sinai Park, Burton on Trent, hosted by Hatton Darts running club. The day started off well with no rain but halfway through the race the heavens opened to add extra mud to a tough hilly 5.5 mile course. The course started on a steep uphill and finished on a slippery steep downhill. First home for the Peel Road Runners men was Lee Rickards in 10^th place, followed by Ben Dorkins (48^th), Tim Mudd (64^th), Mark Boffey (74^th), Billy King (91^st), Allen King (92^nd), Darren Truman (95^th), Ian Orton (96^th), Michael Hughes (99^th) and Lee Guffick (146^th). For the Peel women, Jackie Tierney was first home in 47^th place, followed by Sarah Boffey (58^th) and Claire Guffick (78^th).

The 2023/24 category report for the end of the Cross Country season, which takes into account the first 5 races, saw Billy King finish in 2^nd place in the U20 category. For the senior men category Michael Hughes finished the season in 12^th place. In the VM40 category Lee Rickards finished in 2^nd place, with Luke Collins 3^rd, Allen King 7^th and Ian Orton in 8^th place. In the VM45 category Wayne King finished in 2^nd place, with Michael Shelton in 8^th and Ben Dorkins in 9^th place. In the VM50 category, Mark Boffey finished in 6^th place, with Tim Mudd in 7^th and Lee Guffick in 11^th place. For the ladies, Sarah Boffey and Claire Guffick both finished in 6^th place in the VL45 and VL50 categories respectively and Jackie Tierney finished 5^th place in the VL55 category.

In other races on Sunday, on a hilly, cold, wet and windy course, Wayne King continued his current good running form setting a new PB at the Oundle 20 mile road race with a impressive time of 2 hours and 6 mins.

A few peelers travelled to Chester for the 10k race. Caroline Evans finished the race in 1 hour dead whilst Helen and Neal Dempsey, who have this race as the first leg of the Chester triple, finished close behind, both finishing in 01.12.25.

Parkrun on Saturday saw a large number peelers at Kingsbury Water Park. First back for the club was Phil Neale in 22.45. Followed by Chris Bennett 23.38, Roger Eastaff 34.32, Ann Hill 36.13, Stella Taylor 36.29, Claire Guffick 36.51, Lee Guffick 36.57, Emma Whorwood 38.10, Nicola Bannister 53.19, Wendy Bowyer 58.27, Alison Perry 58.32, Alison Dolphin 58.37 and Sarah French 58.38.

Parkrun tourists saw a group of peelers head to Wotton (just North of Bristol) to celebrate Jackie Tierney’s 300^th parkrun, coinciding with Wotton’s 300^th event. Mark Boffey was first home with 26.03, followed by Micheal Hughes 30.02, Jackie Tierney 31.17 and Sarah Boffey 32.08.

Other parkrun tourists included, Garth Cox at Beacon parkrun 23.55, Rob Mace at Bedworth 22.03, Ian Orton at Holbrooks 25.35, Tim Mudd at Market Harborough 24.07, Joy Sykes at Roberts Park 35.12, Emma Pick at Rosliston 22.03, Allen King 24.21 and Wendy Roe 32.08 at Tamworth Castle Grounds and Steph Attenborough at University of Northampton 47.42.

“A few peelers took the opportunity to volunteer at Beacon Junior parkrun Sunday morning before taking part in the Cross Country race with Mark Boffey achieving his 25^th Parkrun Volunteer.”

Peel Road Runners Couch to 5K sessions are into the third week and take place on Tuesdays at 6.15pm. If you’re interested please contact a member of the club via the beginners Facebook page. Search Peel Road Runners beginners.

With the weather being a bit of a wash out for the local Tamworth Castle grounds and Kingsbury water park Parkruns Peel Road runner members found themselves venturing further afield last Saturday 24^th February and pulling in some great results

Dudley Parkrun -Garth Cox – 26:33,Northampton Parkrun -Mark Boffey 23:54Sarah Boffey 28:45

Conkers Parkrun -Emma Pick 21:14

Newark Parkrun -Philip Neale 23:10

The Whammy Parkrun -Michael Hughes 27:12

Sutton Parkrun -Jackie Tierney 30:16

Chasewater Parkrun -Claire Guffick 29:24,Roger Eastaff 37:04,Lee Guffick 38:18,Nicola Bannister 50:41,Alison Dolphin 51:15,Sarah French 51:17,Stephen Andrews 51:18,Beacon Parkrun -Mike Shelton 21:59,Wendy Roe 36:16

Roberts Parkrun -Joy Sykes 54:55

Yarborough Leisure Parkrun -Stephanie Attenborough 31:03

Aston Hall Parkrun -Ben Dorkins 23:59

The C25K sessions start this coming Tuesday 27^th February at 6.15pm , if youre interested please contact a member of the club via our beginners Facebook page- search Peel road runners beginners

On Sunday 11^th February the 5^th race in the Derby/Staffs cross country league took place at Shipley Park, Heanor, hosted by Smalley Running club. This was a two lap slightly revised course, with more grass and mud than ever before. Lee Rickards was first to finish for team Peel in 13^th place, closely followed by Wayne King in 14^th place, carrying Rob Dyjak’s shoes which had fallen off in the mud (now that’s real team comradery). Rob still managed to finish in 15^th place after battling through the muddy fields and a concrete path in his socks. Next to finish was Luke Collins in 24^th place, Scott Chapman in 63^rd place, Mike Shelton in 68^th, Allen King in 75^th, Ben Dorkins in 77^th, Billy King in 97^th, Mark Boffey in 103^rd, Tim Mudd in 104^th, Ian Orton in 120^th , Michael Hughes in 141^st, Darren Trueman in 142^nd and Lee Guffick in 147^th.

First home for the Peel ladies was Claire Guffick in 58^th place, Jackie Tierney in 65^th place and Sarah Boffey in 71^st. The next race in the cross country league takes place on 10^th March.

This weekend, with a definite feeling of Spring in the air, Wayne King and Lee Rickards represented the club at the Village Bakery half marathon in Wrexham. Known to be a fast course, both Wayne and Lee were able to secure personal bests coming in at a fantastic 1:19 and 1:23 respectively.

Ian Orton and Michael Hughes achieved the incredible feat of completing their second park run alphabets, with Ian taking in the sights in Jablonna Poland (24:12) whilst Michael headed north to Jesmond Dene (30:08).

Closer to home the floods stayed away long enough for Tamworth Park Run to take place. Rob Mace was the first home for the club (22:45) followed by Ben Dorkins (23:23), Tim Clark (24:08), Stuart Hatton (28:29) and Laura Bowyer (32:58). Kingsbury saw the greatest number of Peelers running with Mike Shelton finishing at the head of the Peeler pack in 21:24 followed by Darren O’Leary (24:36), Chris Bennett (25:43), Neal Dempsey (28:38), Claire Guffick (31:33), Roger Eastaff (34:45), Stella Taylor (36:53), Helen Dempsey (39:57), Ann Hill (43:25), Alison Dolphin (43:29), Lee Guffick (43:31), Sarah French (56:29) and Nicola Bannister (56:27). Elsewhere Tim Mudd ran at Sence Valley Forest Park in 25:28, Joy Sykes ran at Robert Park in 33:41, Garth Cox ran at Beacon Park 23:14, Emma Pick ran at Babbs Mill in 21:09, Jackie Tierney ran at Buckingham in 28:31 and Stephanie Attenborough ran at Fairview in 33:12

There’s nothing quite like setting yourself a challenge for the weekend and then going out and achieving that goal. For five Peel Road Runners that challenge was to tick off the letter ‘Z’ on their ‘alphabet of parkruns’, which meant a trip to Poland to run the Zamek w Malborku parkrun! Ian Orton crossed the line first for the club in 23:28, closely followed by Mark Boffey (23:58); Sarah Boffey (32:09); Jackie Tierney (34:14) and Michael Hughes (35:20).

Closer to home, Emma Pick ran the Rosliston parkrun in a time of 21:23; Caroline Evans ran at the Isobel trail, Stafford in 30:22 and Mike Shelton ran at Beacon Park, Lichfield (22:54). Kingsbury parkrun had a good turnout of Peelers with Phil Neale finishing in 24:00, followed by Darren O’Leary (25:26); Ben Dorkins (30:25); Claire Guffick (31:05); Lee Guffick (37:37); Roger Eastaff (37:41) and Wendy Bowyer (44:37). Finally, Tim Mudd crossed the line at the University of Northampton parkrun in 24:35; Garth Cox ran at Holbrooks, Coventry in 25:53, whilst Sophie Galloway (28:11) and Wendy Roe (31:14) represented the club at Tamworth Castle parkrun.

Canicross runner, Rob Mace, took part in the Canicross Midlands event at Solihull Riding Club over the weekend coming first in the two dog category, running the 5k course in 17 minutes on both days. Helen and Neal Dempsey also had good runs with podium finishes in their categories. Peel Road Runners welcome runners of all abilities and meet in the Skate Park car park every Tuesday at 6.45 pm (see website for further details).

With the festive season in full flow (and the local rivers too!), there haven’t been too many events to tempt Peel Road Runners into their trainers. However, at the fast and very competitive Wheaton Aston 10k road race in December, Wayne King finished his brilliant year of racing with a personal best performance, crossing the finishing line in an impressive 36:44.

After flooding had negatively affected local parkruns over Christmas and New Year, it was with some relief that the weekly running events could be held this week. Running on a slightly revised course to take into account the ground conditions in Tamworth Castle Grounds, Allen King was first home for the club in 22:46 followed by Rob Mace (23:04); Phil Neale (23:35); Chris Bennett (25:00); Ian Orton (25:15); Tim Clark (25:41) and Sophie Galloway (34:21). Emma Pick was the sole Peeler at Conkers stopping the clock on 21:58. At Kingsbury Water Park, Wayne King was first finisher in a time of 19:15, followed by Luke Collins (20:27); Mike Shelton (22:07); Darren O’Leary (24:24); Claire Guffick (29:28); Stella Taylor (29:40); Joy Sykes (32:20); Emma Whorwood (33:24); Ann Hill (43:48); Sarah French (43:50); Alison Dolphin (43:52) and Lee Guffick (45:04). At Sutton Park Simon Gordon finished in 25:27 and Jackie Tierney in 28:42. Meanwhile, Garth Cox ran at Chasewater in 25:40; Michael Hughes ran at Severn Valley in 43:00; Tim Mudd ran at Babbs Mill in 24:54; Mick Stevenson ran at Warwick Racecourse in 35:43; Steph Attenborough ran at Oaklands in 29:51 and Wendy Roe ran at Beacon Park in 33:03.

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.