This weekend saw the last Cross Country race of the season take place on Sunday 10th 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 10th place, followed by Ben Dorkins (48th), Tim Mudd (64th), Mark Boffey (74th), Billy King (91st), Allen King (92nd), Darren Truman (95th), Ian Orton (96th), Michael Hughes (99th) and Lee Guffick (146th). For the Peel women, Jackie Tierney was first home in 47th place, followed by Sarah Boffey (58th) and Claire Guffick (78th).
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 2nd place in the U20 category. For the senior men category Michael Hughes finished the season in 12th place. In the VM40 category Lee Rickards finished in 2nd place, with Luke Collins 3rd, Allen King 7th and Ian Orton in 8th place. In the VM45 category Wayne King finished in 2nd place, with Michael Shelton in 8th and Ben Dorkins in 9th place. In the VM50 category, Mark Boffey finished in 6th place, with Tim Mudd in 7th and Lee Guffick in 11th place. For the ladies, Sarah Boffey and Claire Guffick both finished in 6th place in the VL45 and VL50 categories respectively and Jackie Tierney finished 5th 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 300th parkrun, coinciding with Wotton’s 300th 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 25th 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.
