This week saw the return of the winter track sessions at Tamworth Athletics Club. A large contingent of Peelers took part in a structured session with vigorous warm-up drills followed by a pyramid session, expertly coached by Derek Bolton from Tamworth AC.
Cross country also made a return this week with the first race of the season at Shipley Park in Derby hosted by Smalley Road Runners. A loud cheer greeted the announcement that the course had been reduced slightly to 4.5 miles, but there were still plenty of challenges across the grassy, undulating course with some testing muddy sections. 18 courageous Peelers earned their post-race cake, with five Peelers making their cross-country debuts.
For the women’s team, Lorna Carlin was the first Peeler to complete in 28th place, followed by Sophie Galloway (47th), debutant Gemma Pritchard (60th), another debutant Tracy Ford (80th), Jackie Tierney (90th), also making her debut Lisa Barnes (97th), Val Lawson (94th) and Sarah Boffey (106th).
In the men’s team, Wayne King returned refreshed from his holiday to finish as the first Peeler back in 9th position, followed by debutant Chris Samsom (19th), also making his debut was Jamie Abbiss finishing in 23rd place, with Lee Rickards (26th), Luke Collins (28th), Martin Hollamby (35th), Mike Shelton (74th), Mark Boffey (113th), Simon Gordon (127th) and Lee Guffick completed in 155th place. The 2nd cross-country race of the season takes place on 1st December at Anslow, Burton-on-Trent.
It was Peeler Cell Block H for Steph Attenborough and Jo Sharma, who ran round former jail HMP Dorchester, completing 55 laps over four floors and covering around 8800 steps both up and down. The following day, the pair also completed a junior parkrun alphabet challenge by tail walking at Yeovil Rec.
Peel Road Runners were out in force across various parkrun events this weekend, showing dedication and impressive times. At Leamington parkrun, Ian Orton represented the club with a time of 24:38. In Delamere, Emma Pick completed the course in 21:02. The Kingsbury Water parkrun saw many Peel Road Runners on the course. Allen King finished in 22:34, followed by Billy King at 24:12. Neal Dempsey completed in 29:18, Helen Dempsey in 35:58, and Claire Guffick in 36:24. Lee Guffick crossed the line in 36:44, Darren O’Leary in 39:31, with Christine Norris at 1:05:22, Stephen Andrews at 1:05:23, Sarah French at 1:05:47, and Alison Dolphin at 1:05:50.
At Watermeadows parkrun, Jacqueline Tierney ran 29:20, whilst in Babbs Mill, Garth Cox finished in 23:58, while Simon Gordon clocked in at 25:05. At Warwick Racecourse parkrun, Michael Stevenson completed the course in 37:24. In Beacon parkrun, Mike Shelton ran with a time of 21:36, Roger Lloyd finished at 24:33, and Dave Fern completed his run in 30:08.
At parkrun Zielony Jar in Krakow, Poland, Ben Dorkins gained a Z for the alphabet challenge with a time of 23:19. Holbrooks parkrun saw Mark Boffey clock in at 24:11, while Sarah Boffey finished in 33:15. In Battlestead Croft parkrun, Tim Mudd made a return to parkrun after 9 weeks out injured, crossing the line in 28:21. Finally, at Veterans Park parkrun, Michael Hughes represented the club with a finish time of 41:15 as a warm up for the New York Marathon the following day.
The Peelers meet every Tuesday evening at the skate park car park at 6.45pm for a 7pm start with a choice of different paced running groups and a walking group.
