With summer drawing to a close, the Tamworth 5 mile race provides the final competition in the Burton & District Summer League. Hosted by Tamworth Athletics Club, the course follows cycle paths and footpaths through Stonydelph, Green Lane (Birchmoor) and Wilnecote before returning to a rewarding finish on the athletics’ track. The race was won by Peter Hackett of Tamworth AC in a time of 26:41. The first Peeler back was Martin Hollamby in 31:12 followed by Emma Pick, who finished second lady in a time of 32:57 and first in age category (FSEN). Next home for the club was James Stretton (35:00); Michael Shelton (35:36); Phil Neale (36:39); Allen King (36:50); Mark Boffey (37:20); Ian Orton (38:56 – personal best); Darren O’Leary (39:11); Chris Bennett (39:34); Simon Gordon (40:16 – personal best); Lisa Stretton (40:27); Billy King (41:28); Roger Lloyd (42:41); George Hope (44:54); Sophie Galloway (45:30) and Sarah Boffey (45:44).
Meanwhile, disappointed not to have been able to run the Thunder Run 24 this year as the event was cancelled, an intrepid group of Peelers took on the equally infamous challenge of the Equinox 24 race at Belvoir Castle. Stephen Andrews, Alison Dolphin, Sarah French, Kelly Porter, Wendy Bowyer, Lee Guffick, Roger Eastaff, Ann Hill and Claire Guffick took part in the 10k Day and 10k Night Runs, supported by Peelers Chris and John Norris. Ben Dorkins also represented the club in a different team at the race, completing 4 x 10k laps.
Another Peeler taking on a challenge this weekend was marathon addict Steph Attenborough, who completed her 100thmarathon with Phoenix Running enabling her to join the prestigious ‘100 Marathon Club’, an achievement that many runners aspire to. After running her 100th event she stated that she had run “100 full marathons which had been completed in 714 days between 3/10/21 and today, with 61 in the last year l believe.. apparently 1 in every 4.25 days”. She celebrated by completing her 101st marathon on Sunday by running laps of Chasewater with Yabba Dabba Doo events.
Peel ultra runner Luke Collins had a very strong run at the Ultra X 50 km Peak District race on Sunday. The 31.4 mile course with 6604 ft of ascent started and finished in Edale, taking in iconic hills such as Back Tor, Lord’s Seat and Lose Hill. Luke finished in a time of 6:17:58 and 3rd in age category.
On Sunday Val Lawson ran the Charnwood Challenge 10.5 mile trail race, an event organised by Nanpanton Scouts and taking in the scenic and undulating countryside around Windmill Hill, Beacon Hill and Jubilee Wood near Loughborough. She crossed the finish line in 2:20:42.
At Saturday’s parkruns, Darren O’Leary was first home for the club at Kingsbury in 23:46, followed by Garth Cox (24:50); Mike Shelton (25:30); Chris Bennett (25:50); Emma Pick (25:45); Sophie Galloway (27:49); Jackie Tierney (28:52) and Dave Fern (30:41). Parkrun tourists included: Ian Orton (23:47) at Valentines; Mick Stevenson (35:35) at Warwick Racecourse; Claire Guffick (31:54), Ben Dorkins (32:33) and Lee Guffick (45:09) at Belvoir Castle. Claire also celebrated her 100th parkrun at this event! Mike Hughes took on the Thames Path parkrun at Woolwich, crossing the line in 26:42, while Mark Boffey (23:27) and Sarah Boffey (30:25) ticked off another of their alphabet challenge parkruns at Quakers Walk, Devizes.
