Mark Vaughan and John Auld made the short trip to Biggleswade to compete in the open 10,000 on the track. The race was also the Herts County and EVAC Championship. Vaughan won the race in 34:02 with John Auld in his first track 10k finishing 3rd in 36:40. Vaughan’s win secured him a clean sweep of golds as County Champion in both Open and Vets competition and EVAC champion. Auld took the silver in the Open County competition.

On Sunday 13 squirrels hit the streets of Hitchin to race the town centre 5k. Katie Harbon was the 2nd lady to finish in a time of 18:16. Andrew Green was 5th in a time of 17:54 followed by 18th David Weston 20:39, 27th Richard Harbon 19:43, 67th Claire O’Sullivan 23:06, 70 Naomi Parkinson 23:30, 81 Richard Fox 23:59, 82 Helen Harbon 24:02, 85 Jo Harbon 24:26, 93 Matt Ankers 24:41, 173 Lindsay Cook 28:31, 203 Geoff Pettengell 31:28, 231 Shani Fielding 36:27 and 232 Hayley Cocks in 36:39.

David Annetts took part in the Enfield League 1 hour Badge Race Walk, completing 11.243km on the track for 3rd place.

Michelle Grudzinski ran the Berlin Marathon completing the 26.2 miles in 4 hours 47 minutes while Patrick Norris tackled Kings Forest Trial Marathon in 7 hours and 26 minutes.
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Enjoying Parkruns at Stevenage finishing in 3rd was Simon Poole in 18:32 (PB), 10th John Cooper 20:36, 22nd Oliver Garbas 21:22, 86th Paul Bowal 26:03, 203rd Patrick Norris 33:20. At Heartwood Forest Stephen Lummis was 28th in 22:19 and Chris Poole finished 51st in 24:26. Helen Giffin finished 111th in 27:33 at Luton Wardown.

q
How many runners does it take to run around Norfolk?

​17 if they were taking part in this weekend’s Round Norfolk Relay along with the North Herts squirrels of support crew who helped transport, feed and accompany the runners.

Each runner ran one leg of 17 leg race with the 198 mile route starting in Kings Lynn through Hunstanton to Cromer, great Yarmouth, Breckland and Feltwell, before making its way back to Kings Lynn.

Katie Harbon was the first Lady home on Stage 9 in a new Category Record Time! And with the total time of 26 Hours, 48 minutes and 3 seconds the team came in 30th out of 61 teams in something less than ideal running conditions.

Sticking with the relay theme, the Annetts Family took part in the Hercules Sprint Triathlon Relay.  Rachel completed the 400M swim in around 7 min 40 secs followed by a run to transition to hand over to David for the bike ride. The 20K route took him to Redbourn and back with a long run at each end at the transition areas. David’s time was 38:40. Martyn took over for the last leg; a 5K run through the park at Verulamium, finishing in 20:58.  The total time was 1:11:26 giving them first place in the Team Relay event. 

In the HSV Triathlon on his own Simon Poole was 9th but 1st in his category

Jane Clarke was further afield starting the Copenhagen Half Marathon is blazing sunshine and ending in thunder, forked lightning, and from two miles out rain when the heavens opened and let loose with everything including hail stones the size of golf balls.  It’s a race she is unlikely to forget and wants to do again.

Phil Hunt was quelling his demons in the Richmond Marathon by breaking the 4 hour barrier at his 5th attempt finishing in 3:56:06, taking nearly 9 minutes off his personal best.

We were also out in numbers for the Hatfield 5K series on the 13th of September :
Pos. No. Name Cat. Chip time
3. 245 Mark VAUGHAN MV40 0:16:27
10. 192 John RAYNER MS 0:17:15
12. 16 John AULD MS 0:17:23
13. 216 Matthew SAYERS MV40 0:17:26
17. 177 Stewart OVERTON MS 0:17:45
20. 107 Katie HARBON FS 0:17:51
30. 95 Andrew GREEN MS 0:18:22
31. 184 Simon POOLE MS 0:18:25
36. 151 Darren MATUSSA MV40 0:18:32
53. 250 James WALSH MV40 0:19:10
68. 221 Peter SIBBETT MV50 0:19:38
69. 8 Martyn ANNETTS MV50 0:19:41
76. 108 Richard HARBON MV50 0:19:52
93. 48 Jane CLARKE FV35 0:20:57
121. 41 Katherine BURR FV35 0:22:34
127. 178 Naomi PARKINSON FS 0:23:01
128. 174 Claire O'SULLIVAN FV35 0:23:00
148. 85 Richard FOX MS 0:24:20
153. 3 Linda AIRD FV55 0:24:35
159. 232 Ian SUTCLIFFE MV70 0:25:12
163. 9 Rachel ANNETTS FV55 0:25:28
185. 246 Sue VAUGHAN FV45 0:27:06

A number of individual awards went our way with the vet men's team of Mark Vaughan, Matthew Sayers, Darren Matussa and James Walsh winning silver in the county vets champs. Mark Vaughan was 3rd man overall, and 2nd MV40. Katie Harbon was first lady. County medals went to Mark Vaughan for 2nd MV40, Ian Sutcliffe for second MV70 and Linda Aird for 3rd FV55.  There were also Personal Bests for Naomi Parkinson and Claire O’Sullivan.
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Keeping up the Clubs ‘End’ at Parkruns this week:
Bedford: John Auld 2nd in 00:17:52, Chester: Chris Poole 136th in 00:30:04, Stevenage Oliver Brady 5th in 18:43, Bob Davis 93rd in 26:21, Helen Giffin 111th in 27:13, Sarah Millhouse 131st in 27:57 and Patrick Norris 207th in 32:44, Gladebridge Stephen Lummis 20th in 24:44, Wimpole Estate John Cooper 46th in 22:52 and in Kings Lynn Richard Harbon 6th in 19:45 and Darren Matussa 8th in 19:54 (not bad for two people also taking part in the round Norfolk relay!) and Brian Judkins 185th in 30:38

Two NHRR members, John Auld and Simon Poole, travelled to Newcastle to compete in the Great North Run.  Both ran at a blistering pace in blustery weather and finished in 127th and 611th positions respectively.  Auld had set himself a target of 79 minutes and had achieved it with 8 seconds to spare in a fantastic 1:18:52 with Poole close behind in a brilliant 1:27:57.

A little closer to home Sue Foot took on the Thetford Iceni Marathon, a self guided trail route running on various surfaces.  Despite the lack of recent training and a trip only a few miles in, the resilient Foot clocked an amazing total of 26.5 miles in 5:15.

Darren Sunter took on the Swineshead 10 Mile race and finished in second place with a superb time of  00:58:02.

Earlier in the week Darren Matussa and David Annetts went to Woodford for the Open Meet.  Matussa ran in the 1 mile (00:05.12.89) and 3K (00:11:04.51) races.  Annetts took part in the 3K walk and finished in second place in 00:15:26.   The next day Matussa raced in the Watford Open Meet and took part in one of the 800m races (00:02:25.09) and also a 3K race (00:10:22:01).

Several squirrels ran Parkruns at the weekend.  At Stevenage were Richard Harbon 20:21, John Cooper 20:52, David Weston 22:09, Lewis Green 23:27, Sheila Leavy 29:17 and Patrick Norris 33:04.  Wimpole Hall: Vince Wright 22:03, Matthew Davies 26:10 and Lucy O'Connor 27:25.  Chris Poole ran the Queen Elizabeth Parkrun in 26:03 and finally in Jersey James Keogh and Claire Hooley ran the 5K course in 19:41 and 35:08 respectively.

In the first race in the 3-race Hatfield 5k series the Squirrels were in impressive form. The men’s team of Mark Vaughan, Adam Bowller, John Auld and John Rayner were crowned Herts Champions, a title the club has won for the last 3 years. The ladies also ran superbly with Astrid McKeown, Jane Clarke and Yuko Gordon also on the podium winning county bronze. Full results were: In 2nd place Mark Vaughan (16:20 - a new club record), 5th Adam Bowller (16:33); 9th John Auld (17:00)l 14th John Rayner(17:26); 20th Matthew Sayers (17:48); 23rd Nick Malpeli (17:51); 32nd Simon Poole (18:30); 39th Andrew Green (18:53);44th Astrid McKeown (19:06); 50th Darren Matussa (19:17); 55th James Walsh (19:25); 61st Peter Sibbett (19:48); 62nd Martyn Annetts (19:53); 82nd Jane Clarke (21:30); 96th Yuko Gordon (22:43); 105th Naomi Parkinson (23:18); 109th Claire O’Sullivan (23:23);110th Matt Ankers (23:26);120th Linda Aird (24:22);129th Richard Fox (24:53);137th Ian Sutcliffe (25:27);141st Karen Dodsworth (25:47);145th Rachel Annetts (26:05)

In half-marathons Nick Malpelli finished 24th (3rd MV50) (1:22:10), picking up Bronze Medal in the British Masters Athletics Federation Championships. Helen Nuttall was first lady over the line at the Bedford half-marathon (1:28:11). At the same race, Steve Lummis (1:46:00, just shy of his PB) and Claire O’Sullivan (1:48:00) also ran well.

At the St. Albans Stampede, a 12-hour endurance event, a team of Lindsay Cook, Linda Aird, Jo Harbon, Jo Summers, Sue Foot, Paul Bowal, Gary Cook and Miranda Summers-Prithcard ran twenty laps of a 4 mile course, storming to victory for teams of 8, which included a thrilling final lap where they secured the victory.

Katie Harbon finished 1st in her age category at the final St Neots Triathlon. She competed in the Sprint Triathlon, her result including a PB in the 5k run of 17:42.
Mark Vaughan ran the Wilne 10K, finishing 18th overall (33:57), which placed him 2nd in his age category. At the Letchworth Duck n Dash, where competitors swim 400m and run 5k. NHRR results were; 9th - James Keogh (29:18); 24th- Richard Harbon (31.56); 51st - Jo Harbon (37.21); 70th - Petra Grosse-Hull (40.03); 95th - Lindsay Cook (44.08).

In Parkruns Darren Matussa finished in 6th position (21:22) at Roding Valley; Brian Judkins ran in Cambridge and finished 529th (34:59); Patrick Norris finished 189th (34:02) at Stevenage; At Wimpole Estate, Vincent Wright finished 54th (22:45) with Joe Sherry 137th (26:06); At the Barclay race, Ollie Garbas finished 2nd (21:36).
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Saturday saw the club’s First Saturday of the Month race around Norton Common in Letchworth, while there were many impressive results from club members, it was also the end of the club’s current couch to 5k beginners’ programme, and 20 of the beginners completed the race. There were tears of elation and applause all round for these amazing individuals, many of whom did not think they could run, let alone complete a 5k race just 10 weeks previously. The group received completion certificates and NHRR key rings to mark their achievement and celebrated with cake and fizz. Around half of the group have joined the club on a permanent basis following this programme. Congratulations to all concerned! 

A few squirrels made the journey to Watford on Wednesday evening for the penultimate Open track Meet of the year hosted by Watford Harriers. With a few supporters to cheer them on Darren Matussa and John Auld were running. Darren raced in the earlier 1500m race 3 of 15 and finished first in a winning time of 4:56.50. Later on in the evening, both John and Darren raced in the 3000m race 1 of 2. John Auld finished his first race as a V35 in under 10mins having had his birthday the day before - finishing in 2nd with a new PB of 9:52.12. Darren Matussa finished 10th in 10:37.50.


​After recently joining 2nd claim for the London based Vets AC, David Annetts competed in the Battersea Park VAC 5 mile race walk where he finished 1st with a new PB of 43:15.

The bank holiday seemed to get the Squirrels out on tour at Parkrun. Linda Aird ran 26:49 at Guildford. Ellie Scott (23:48) at Norwich. Darren Matussa 22:51 at King's Lynn. Brian Judkins (33:58) at Sedgefield. Vincent Wright (21:13) at Ganavan Sands. Jo Sherry (24:19) at Weymouth. Closer to home, in Stevenage. Richard Harbon was first squirrel home in 20:18 followed by Steve Lummus (22:53), Oli Garbas (23:37), Matthew Davies (25:22), Sheila Leavy (28:17) and Pat Norris (34:37).

North Herts Road Runners ‘ Andrew Leach confirmed his status as one of the country’s leading veteran athletes  with second place in a superb time of 1:13:30 at the Kimbolton Half-marathon. Leach’s scorching performance places him second in the national rankings for the 50-55 age-group. 

Adam Wilson and Alan Hazelhurst used the same event as part of their marathon training and enjoyed the route around quiet Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire lanes, finishing in 2:01:00 and 2:01:04 respectively. Both are planning to return to this well-organised event next year.
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Matt Davies chose Reykjavik for his debut marathon and found the cool Icelandic conditions, impressive coastal scenery and absence of major hills to his liking as he clocked an excellent 3:44:34 for 289th place. 

Steve Lummis was delighted to record a new 5k personal best with 21:58 at the St Albans Parkrun.

​Jo Summers tackled the 27-mile Leila’s Run in Welwyn Garden City, completing the four-lap course in 4 hrs 41 minutes.

Sunday saw three North Herts Road Runners test out the new Stopsley 10 mile off road race which took the runners over a lovely rural course, with some challenging hills.  The squirrels were successful in tackling the off road terrain with Chloe Lucas winning the open women’s race and Linda Aird first FV55 with Miranda Morgan 2nd FV55.

A break in the weather meant there was a scurry of squirrels enjoying parkrun’s at the weekend with most heading to Stevenage where James Keogh lead them home in 19:20, Richard Harbon 20:30, Vincent Wright 22:52, Joseph Sherry 24:04, Claire O’Sullivan 24:31, Lucy O’Connor 25:42, Helen Giffin 27:43, Carina Quayle 30:23, Geoff Pettengell 33:21, Clare Hooley 35:21 and Naomi Parkinson 36:15. Wimple Estate parkrun Matthew Davies 24:43, Norwich Ellie Scott in 23:48 and Rodding Valley Darren Matussa 20.40, Cleethorpes Lucy Sinclair 27:18, Ellenbrook Fields Chris Poole 24:10. Adam Bowller clocked up the fastest time of the day at Burnham and Highbridge parkrun finishing 2nd in 17:08.
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David Annett’s took part in Centurions Bury 20 Race Walk on Saturday 5th August. He finished the 20 mile course in 4th place with a time of 3:32:17 and was 3rd in the men’s race.

This last Saturday was of course the first Saturday of the month so it saw 137 runners competing in the ‘First Saturday of the Month’ 5k NHRR race around Norton Common, Letchworth.  The race was won by Peter Males of Hitchin running club in 17min 59 seconds, with his Club Mate Anna Fake coming home as the first listed female in 39th place in a time of 22:30.

23 NHRR Squirrels took part (only possible once all the marshalling posts are covered) with Stuart Overton finishing as the first NHRR man in 18:14, Andy Mutton18:31, Nick Malpeli 19:06, James Keogh 19:26, John Cooper 20:49, Vincent Pasturel 20:59, Manvir Parmer 22:08, Lewis Green 23:15, David Baker 24:12, Naomi Parkinson finishing as the first NHRR female in 25:01, Lucy O'Connor 25:21, Paul Phasey Paul 25:34, Nicole Barker 26:05, Lucy Hurley 26:08, Paul Bowal 26:23, Ian Sutcliffe 26:42, Adam Wilson 27:30, Helen Giffin fresh from Transplant Games successes in 27:34, Allison Blunt 28:15, Lucy Sinclair 29:09, Shiela Leavy 29:15, and Ali Mottram 33:35.

The final places were taken by Alison Parker and Ruth deNoojer who both posted a time of 43:30.  That might be some minutes behind the first place but it’s a ‘race for everyone’ and they were clapped and cheered home having made it around the course.  Everyone starts somewhere and the only really hard part about running is getting to the start line in the first place, We hope to see them again.

Elsewhere Chris Poole finished the York Parkrun in 23:26,  Oliver Garbas finished the Westmill Parkrun in 21:14, in Kettering Steve Williamson finished in 21:24, Richard Fox ran Stevenage Parkrun in 26:01 and Linda Aird in Hereford ran 26:14 with Stephen Lummis running the very hilly Tring Parkrun in 24:19.  Dickie and Jo Harbon took Part in a Loch Lomond Park Run and both finished first in their agegroup classifications with  Dickie finishing in 21:22 with his wife Jo chasing him home in 24:24.

Jo Summers set herself a personal best time of 4 hours 54 minutes in her 7th entry to the 26 mile circular route of the Dovedale Dipper and finished as the second lady and the first female Vet home.  With some big hills in there its some great running.

​North Herts Road Runners’ Helen Giffin had an incredible weekend, winning five medals at the British Transplant Games in North Lanarkshire. On the track Helen took Gold in the 3km run as well as Bronze in both the 800m and 1500m. Not content with three medals, Helen got into the pool and took Silver in the 50m Backstroke and then got out of the pool to take a third Bronze in Table Tennis.

Elsewhere at the Doug Anderson Memorial 5k two Squirrels were in action, with Darren Matussa finishing 26th in a spritely 18:55 and Michelle Grudzinski clocking a huge personal best time of 24:55.

At the Fairlands Valley Relays in Stevenage, the Squirrels fielded 5 women's teams and 5 men’s teams. The Women’s A team (Astrid McKeown, Katie Harbon and Chloe Lucas) finished 2nd and were crowned Herts County Champions, while the men’s team (Mark Vaughan, Adam Bowler, Stewart Overton, John Auld and Darren Sunter) finished in 7th place and were second in the County Championship.

Squirrels were out in force in Parkruns. At Bedford Darren Sunter won the race in a speedy time of 16:51. At the inaugural Heartwood Forest Parkrun Ollie Garbas was 16th in a time of 20:06 while Matthew Davies was 40th in 23:23. In Cambridge James Keogh finished 22nd in 19:18, Ellie Scott was 84th lady in 29:18 and Clare Hooley 159th in 36:45. Chris Poole continued his travels, running at Westmill Parkrun finishing in 33rd place in 25:23. At the Kettering run Steve Williamson finished 23rd in 22:24 and at the Stevenage Parkrun a pack of Squirrels finished: Vincent Pasturel was 26th in 21:06, Stephen Lummis 43rd in 22:14, Chloe Lucas 4th lady in 22:48, Paul Phasey 79th in 24:34, Joseph Sherry was 81st in 24:37, Sheila Leavy was 40th lady in 29:31 and Patrick Norris 258th in 37:39. 

​Wednesday evening was the Panshanger 5M, a race in the NHRR Grand Prix. A dray of Squirrels were in attendance. Darren Matussa was first home for the club in 34:12. Other Squirrels running were Steve Tracey (35:58), Phil Hunt (38:08), Chloe Lucas (39:34), Chris Poole (41:42), Naomi Parkinson (41:49), Adam Wilson (42:36), Jo Harbon (42:41), Miranda Morgan (46:37). 

Friday evening saw a scurry of Squirrels in the Bedford 10k. A great night for a run around a flat course and off road organised by Beds AAA. Darren Sunter was first home for the club, finishing with a new PB of 34.55, Adam Bowler was close behind with a new PB just over the 35 min mark with 35.01. Stewart Overton also managed a new PB with 37.24. Astrid McKeown was the 2nd lady in the race, just dipping under 40 mins with 39.52. Pete Sibbett helped Astrid round and managed a time of 40.01. Other Squirrels running were Claire O'Sullivan (50.04), Ian Sutcliffe (52.34) who was the 1st MV70 and Joy Stroud (1.05.47). 

Once again, colony of Squirrels were parkrunning. At Stevenage Chloe Lucas was 2nd lady with a time of 22:23, also running was Ellie Scott (23:42) and Patrick Norris (35:33). Brian Judkins ran Edinburgh finishing in 32:00. Helen Griffin ran Bedford 29:51. Ollie Garbas ran Westmill in 21:32. Chris Poole ran 23:05 at Croxteth.