This week not only brought the sunshine back, but also the return on Sunday of the annual Peel Road Runners event, the ‘Gate Gallop’. The event helps raise much needed funds for the local St Giles Hospice and this year was also supported by the fantastic ‘Simon’s Heroes’ charity and all their amazing volunteers, due to their own event unfortunately being cancelled. The ‘Gate Gallop’ has been running for over 25 years and over that period has raised an amazing £100,000.
Over 240 runners took part in the 10k race on Sunday, alongside a children’s race and a 5k fun run. The race starts and finishes at Anker Valley Sports Complex in Tamworth and takes runners onto the fields and footpaths around the beautiful River Anker and the Warwickshire Moor. The route consists of both track, grass fields and concrete paths to give runners a bit of everything. The runners were also welcomed back to Anker Valley to the sound of live music and there were many stalls set up, with the cake stand being a firm favourite.
Lee Rickards was the first Peeler home in (40:05) followed by Tom King (47:31), Allen King (50:43), Mark Boffey (53:49), Lisa Stretton (55:30), Katie Stretton (56:36), Sarah Boffey (1:09:34), Dave Fern (1:12:25), Sandra Ingram (1:14:32), Stephanie Attenborough (1:17:59) and Joanne Sharman (1:17:59).
5 runners also took part having recently completed the Peel Road Runners recent Bridge to 10k course. Many congratulations to Amy, Hannah and Richard for completing the 10k race and Alison and Emma for completing the 5k race, you were all amazing.
Parkrun events
The Peelers also took full advantage of the lovely weather, attending many of the local Parkrun events too. Many runners attended the local Tamworth Castle Grounds Parkrun. Chris Bennett was the first Peeler back in an impressive (24:06) followed by Tony Bryan (24:30), Simon Gordon (25:22), George Hope (27:20), Darren Truman (27:22), Andrew Gilman (28:18) and Alison Dolphin (38:53).
There was also a strong attendance at Kingsbury Waterpark Parkrun too. With Mike Shelton the first Peeler to cross the line in a fantastic (21:44); followed by Roger Lloyd (25:13), Tim Clark (25:25), Sarah Boffey (30:58), and Alison Perry (49:42). Many Peelers travelled further afield too with Ben Dorkins finishing in (23:10) at Rosliston, and at Worcester Michael Hughes came in at (58.38). Michael Stevenson ventured to Thorp Perrow and finished in (37:51), Ian Cooper ventured to Babbs Mill and finished in (26:27). Emma Pick attended Conkers and finished in an amazing (19:44). Jacqueline Tierney attended South Oxhey and finished in (29:27) and Tim Mudd attended Third Creek Greenway and came in at (24:54). Athena Mansell completed Cheltenham in (48:10), Garth Cox finished Beacon in (23:35) and visiting Y Promenad were Joanne Sharman in (29:53) and Stephanie Attenborough in (31:51).
