​Katie Harbon won the ladies race for the second week running and Tom Webb finished 2nd overall in a close battle.
The fog seriously impaired visibility at this morning’s cross country race at Fairlands Valley Park. Ladies team captain said ‘It added to the experience as you couldn’t get a good view of who was in front of you, or indeed where you were going!’ It didn’t seem to hold the squirrels back, particularly Rhia Botha who toed the line just weeks after giving birth to baby Kaia. She absolutely flew round and was an impressive third scorer for NHRR ladies team and said it was great to be back racing!
The ladies Scoring team was Katie Harbon, Natasha Pitman, Rhia Botha, Helen Ankers and Laura Fairbanks. The men's team was Tom Webb, Adam Bowller, Stewart Overton, Matt Sayers and Rob Harris.
Thank you and well done to the 33 super star squirrels ran at Stevenage today in the Sunday XC League and the fabulous support crew.
 
Last weeks result from Trent Park Sunday league Cross Country. The men's team finished 6th, Ladies 8th and 5th in the combined table. 

​Seventeen squirrels raced at the beautiful Trent Park in North London for the second fixture in the Cross Country League. Men’s Captain John Auld described the course as “really tough, a proper cross country. Recent rain ensured the fields were very muddy and it was hard going”. Ladies Club Captain Natasha Pitman commented on how incredibly slippery it was and entertained the spectators with a fall on a muddy bend! Both Club Captains praised the turnout, the performances of their teams and the wonderful support crew.
North Herts Road Runners were top of both the ladies’ and men’s podiums with Katie Harbon and James Fox taking the respective victories for the Squirrels.
Scoring for the Ladies were Katie HARBON (1), Natasha PITMAN (157), Chloe LUCAS (239), Helen ANKERS (259) and Lindsay COOK (336). Scoring for the Men were mostly James’, with James FOX (1), Andrew Leach (7), Mike ROBERTS (14), Vince WRIGHT (58), John AULD (65), James KEOGH (80), Ian DATLEN (111) and James WALSH (146).
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Full results will be available later in the week.

Six squirrels sped up the M1 to race in the top quality Telford 10k on Sunday. Coach Karen described it as perfect weather conditions and a fast, slightly undulating course which saw some stunning performances from the squirrels.
Racing in wave 2 Tom Webb ran strongly throughout to finish an outstanding 3rd in a PB 32.02. Webb out sprinted GB international Samantha Harrison, who won the ladies elite race in a new course record of 32.05; in the final 100m. Also in wave 2 Stewart Overton finished within 10s of his lifetime PB clocking 34.29 whilst Matt Sayers set a new PB of 34.56. Returning from injury Rob Harris was delighted to record 36.42. Running in wave 3 Pete Sibbett smashed his 43 minute target stopping the clock at 40.56 whilst Karen Dodsworth ran 56.25.

Dervla Downing, Michelle and Andy Grudzinski headed to Milton Keynes for the Winter Half Marathon. Dervla, in her first race post injury, described it as a lovely, flat course and very well organised and was delighted to be back out running and appreciated it after a long absence. She finished the course in a superb 1:52:11, Michelle 2:11:27 and Andy in 2:15:09.  
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Despite many of our members racing on Sunday, North Herts Road Runners were still represented at a number of local Parkruns;
LETCHWORTH – James DALTON 21:48, Ian HARVEY 24:24, Dan MALLETT 24:47, Steve BRENTON  25:48 Hayley COCKS 39:29, HENLOW BRIDGE LAKES – Rob MILBURN 25:36, WIMPOLE ESTATE – Jillian BOYS 24:48, PANSHANGER Matt ROBERTS 22:35, Andrew COATES 26:15, Mike BULLOCK 28:15, JUBILEE – Brian JUDKINS 35:54

​Written by Paula Holme 

​Saturday 4th December saw the return of the sparkling Santa Canta on Norton Common. It is held annually on the first Saturday in December and is in aid of North Herts Road Runners club charity of the year which in 2021 is the Garden House Hospice. With slippy conditions and cold temperatures, it was fabulous to see nearly every single runner turn out in their best fancy dress, from Father Christmas and Elves to Crackers and Presents.
2021 was also the first year of the Children’s Santa Canta which saw over 60 children take part. Following the main event they took on the, even-muddier-than-before, 1km course with true determination, and all completed the course with a fabulous festive spirit!
Both before and after tackling the two lap course people filled donation tins and very generously gave what they could to this amazing charity, with over £1200 donated and counting. Mince Pies and hot drinks made for a welcomed finish to the tough course, and it was fantastic to see local people coming together to support The Garden House Hospice who provide free, compassionate end of life care and support patients and their families in Letchworth and surrounding areas through incredibly difficult times. 
Event Organiser Richard Harbon said: ‘A really big thank you to you all. The Santa Canta was just brilliant.’
Paula Holm who took part dressed as an elf with friends exclaimed that the event was, ‘The most amount of fun. Friends, Fancy dress for a FANTASTIC cause!’. This is exactly what the event is about.
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Elsewhere, Sophie Thrussell and Ben Sewell headed to London for the RunThroughUK 10k and half marathon through Victoria Park. The 10k consisted of 2 laps whilst the half marathon saw Ben complete just over 4 laps. Sophie beat the 41 minute mark and came away with a smashing PB of 40 minutes 49 seconds, and Ben finished in 1hr 18minutes, beating his aim of finishing under 1hr 20 minutes.

Hinchingbrooke also had their own Christmas Canter which saw five squirrels take part. The idea of this race is to complete as many laps of the 5k course as you can between 9am and 4pm. Lucy O’Connor explained that the course is slightly undulating and scenic but very muddy in places which made it quite hard going. The sun did make appearance a few times but luckily the weather seemed to hold up nicely throughout the day. Brian Judkins completed two laps, Sue Foot did six laps and Anna Gibson, Richard Weber and Lucy completed 8 laps which resulted in them completing a full marathon.
Park Run was quieter this week with most of North Herts Road Runners busy at the Santa Canta, but we did have a few squirrels out and about representing the club. Julie Toland headed to Stevenage where she completed the course in 23:48. Lindsey Lucas was in lovely Norfolk where she took on the Holkham park run and finished in 36 minutes. And, Tom Webb took on the notoriously flat course of Great Denham where he finished in 16:14.  

​Written by Katie Harbon.