Auld sees red as he reaches masters milestone

North Herts Road Runners’ men’s team Captain John Auld showed that a new age category is no barrier to impressive performance as he tackled two races in a week to mark joining the 40-45 ‘masters’ group.
 
His first outing was over the steep terrain of the Silkstone Shuffle 7.5 km off-road race in Barnsley, where he finished 9th in what he described as ‘one of my favourite races’. The course involves ‘3 km up a stony trail hill followed by 4.5 km down’ and Auld said he ‘knew I had to go over the top of the hill in the lead’ if he was to keep first spot in what is an unofficial series of races. Auld achieved his first objective, but ‘had gone too deep into the red up the hill and struggled coming back down’. Despite being passed by a few rivals on the run-in, he was able to ‘enjoy the course a bit more than usual – it is fantastic’.
 
Our intrepid hero was in action again two days later, with yet more hills and off-road terrain to tackle at the Nostell Priory Parkrun. Auld finished as first V40 and second in the race overall and has now clocked up 21 Parkruns, so he is ‘looking forward to getting towards a milestone of 25’.
 
Darren Sunter was also in sparkling Parkrun form as he set a new North Herts club record for the 40-plus age group with a rapid 16:21 at University Parks Parkrun in Oxford. Sunter finished third after ‘a decent battle with two other lads’, whom he credited for ‘dragging me round’ as he sliced a second off the previous mark.
 
Ian Datlen also indulged in ‘Parkrun tourism’ as he clocked 19:32 at Godalming Parkrun  - a ‘flattish but very technical three-lapper with lots of stop-start corners’. Datlen’s performance was good enough for first in his 50-plus age category.
 
Other Parkrun results
 
Letchworth
Rob Harris 18:32, James Dalton 21:22, Chloe Lucas 23:09, Kat Hinitt 25:05, James Godfrey 26:06, Phil Flack 29:30, Aimee Flack 35:35, Steve Brenton 54:54
 
Hampstead Heath
Andrew Coates 25:21
 
Roosevelt Island DC
John Russell, 26:06
 
Stevenage
Richard Barker 24:53, Andreea Weisl-Shaw 28:36, Georgia Barker 30:39
 
Wimpole Estate
Mike Phillips 22:53, Matt Roberts 26:06, Natalie Phillips 29:55
 
Clacton Seafront
Dave Braybrook 21:17
 
Fountains Abbey
Branka Moss 54:28

Wollaton Hall
Paul Jackson 18:30
 
Henlow Bridge Lakes
Jane Clarke 25:24, Amy Murch 27:28, Bob Davis 27:44, Jillian Boys 28:03, Sarah MItcherson 30:10, Sue Vaughan 30:30, Jane Robson 32:33, Brian Judkins 34:24