There was a great turnout of squirrels at the Baldock Beast as well as some excellent performances. Katie Harbon won the ladies race in a time of 1:32:25 and, along with Kat Burr (116th, 1:47:29) and Chloe Lucas (117th, 1:47:47) won the ladies team race. The men’s team of Ed Price (2nd, 1:18:41), Jim Mcconnel (5th, 1:20:46), John Auld (6th, 1:22:13) and Dan Hills (12th, 1:25:55) won the men’s team prize. Also taking part were Stewart Overton 01:27:55, Vincent Wright 01:29:18, Dan Martin 01:29:45, Simon Poole 01:35:13, Daniel Williams 01:36:13, Ollie Garbas 01:36:38, James Drew 1.42.05, Jason Davis 1.53.03, Claire O'Sullivan 1.56.21, Georgina Quayle 1.57.18, Alan Hazelhurst 01:58:51, Carina Quayle 02:15:33 and Jeni Spurr-Jones 02:18:59.

Elsewhere on Sunday were Jo Summers who ran the Cambridge Boundary marathon in a course PB of 4.02 and Michelle Grudzinski who took part in the half marathon version of the event.

Also in action at the weekend were Andrew Leech and Mark Vaughan who took part in the National Cross Country championships at Wollaton Park in Nottingham on Saturday. In true Cross Country style, the 12km course was extremely muddy but in a field of over 1000 men, Andrew finished 193rd in 44:48 and Mark was 368th in 47:21.

In parkrun action on Saturday were John Auld who won the Bedford parkrun in a new parkrun personal best of 17:39, Joe Sherry (a new best of 22:20), Yuko Gordon (22:26),  Ellie Scott (23:30) and  Lucy Hurley (26:09) at the Stevenage parkrun, Jennifer Naisbitt (32:16) in St Albans, and Chris Poole (23:19) in Bexley.

Thanks to our social secretaries Ashley and Verity for last night’s superb awards evening. A chance to dress up and celebrate all the successes of the last year.

Congratulations to all our winners, for those of you that weren't able to make the dinner here is the list of winners for 2016: 

Club Runners of the Year: Linda Aird and Mark Vaughan

Most Improved: Jo Summers and Darren Matussa

Short Course Champions: Yuko Gordon and David Annetts

Long Course Champions: Caroline Thrussell and Nick Mapeli

Overall best Runners: Yuko Gordon and Mark Vaughan

Coaches' Awards:
Yellow Group: Helen Govey
Green Group: John Cooper
Blue Group: James Keogh

Club Personality of the Year: James Walsh
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101% Award: Richard Harbon

Only four squirrels travelled to Middlesex to contest the vets version of the County Cross-Country Champs this weekend. The race was run over an undulating course at Berkeley Fields where the V55 ladies team of Linda Aird, Sue Foot and Miranda Morgan won gold. Brian Judkins also took on the course in the V60 category having run a parkrun the previous day.

Saturday saw Richard Harbon head to the Lake District to take on the King of the Castle race in Borrowdale.  At just 1.45 miles this race goes straight up a vertical climb to the top of Castle Crag. Harbon completed the lung busting course in 16:46.
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​There were plenty of squirrels out and about at Parkruns on Saturday. Most took the short trip to Stevenage where North Herts Road Runners took top honours with John Rayner winning in a time of 17:45 closely followed by Adam Bowler in 2nd place in 17:47. Oliver Garbas finished in 21:11 while Chloe Lucas was 1st lady finisher in a time of 22:15 with Bob Davis finishing in 26:06. Other Parkrun results included Hyde Park, Chris Poole 24:19, Luton Parkrun, Darren Matussa 2nd in 17:57 and Lindsay Cook 29:26, Gadebridge saw Steve Lummis finishing in 24:17 while Joseph Sherry ran at Harrow in 23:38. Brain Judkins was at Wimpole Estate finishing in 35:15 and Ellie Scott ran Blickling parkrun in 24:24.

North Herts Road Runners’ outstanding V50, Andrew Leach, showed younger runners a clean pair of heels on Sunday as he sped round the Love Welwyn 10km to win the race outright.  Team mate Steve Tracy, currently training for a spring a marathon, finished in 40.39 whilst Nicky Kemp was delighted to clock her fastest time for a couple of years with a 48.58 finish.

Another V50 in sparkling form was Nick Malpeli, whose 1.21 30 clocking in the Wokingham Half Marathon sees him placed 9th in the national rankings.

Linda Aird took on the challenge of the Harrow Hill 10k which as the name suggests is a hilly course.  Linda was delighted to finish in 54.04 and winning her age category.
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Several members took part in Park Runs on Saturday with Chris Priestley running 27.34 in the heat in Hobart, Tasmania.  Closer to home Simon Poole finished 4th in the Stevenage Park Run followed by Oliver Garbas 20.27, Chloe Lucas 22.43, Bob Davies 26.22 and Ellie Scott 37.22.

NHRR First Saturday of the Month 5K saw 117 runners turn out at the free event round Norton Common in Letchworth. It was a lovely morning with clear skies and no wind – although the terrain was a little muddy. First home for the club and race winner was NHRR own John Auld in 18:42. James Keogh was 4th in 19:37. Other squirrels running were James Drew finishing in 21:39, Ellie Scott in 24:37, Ian Sutcliffe in 27:33, Andee Price in 29:10, Dawn Power in 29:11, Jeni Spurr-Jones in 29:51, Sheila Leavey in 30:4, Lindsay Cook in 32:05 and Carina Quayle ran round with young Grace Robinson in 40:08.

Four Squirrels ran the undulating course of the Watford Half Marathon. Adrian Sherwood was first home for the club in 1:25:18 finishing 2nd M50. Stuart Overton finished with a new PB of 1:27:33. Yuko Gordon finished in 1:39:12 and 1st W65. Barbara Sayers finished in 1:46:52.
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Several squirrels ran park runs this week. Most were at Bedford where Oli Garbas equalled his PB, finishing in 19:15. Pete Sibbett finished a few seconds quicker than last week with an improved time of 20:14. Bob Davis finished in 25:35 and coach Karen Dodsworth finished in 27:15. Simon Poole ran 21:08 at Luton Wardown. Chris Poole ran 23:16 at Rugby. Finally Joseph Sherry ran at Ellenbrooke Fields in 25:00.   

North Herts Road Runners were delighted to gain public recognition for a series of achievements during the club's 30th anniversary year with a strong showing at the Comet Sports Awards.

The awards recognise sporting excellent across Letchworth, Hitchin, Baldock and Stevenage and are hotly contested by local sports clubs. NHRR triumphed in three categories:

Brian Bailey won 'Coach of the Year' - a fine tribute to his hard work with Yellow Group.

NHRR President Richard Harbon won the accolade for 'Service to Sport' - recognising over 20 years of leadership and commitment with NHRR.

Finally, the 16-strong NHRR contingent at the awards ceremony carried off the 'Club of the Year' prize.

Club members Helen Giffin, Yuko Gordon and Mark Vaughan were also shortlisted for individual awards. Congratulations to all!