Flat Wales the Sun and an Ocean

This weekend saw Richard Springall venture west to Newport, Wales to take part in the Newport marathon. The Newport marathon is a firm favourite in the Welsh running calendar and is said to be one of the flattest marathon courses in Europe. Richard certainly agreed with this, describing it as an amazing, pan flat course, and with the beautiful weather and great support, made for a brilliant day. Richard completed the course in a superb time, and PB, of 2:55:08. 

​Elsewhere, two Squirrels took the opportunity to compete in Chase the Sun Battersea Park 5k and 10k on Tuesday evening in an event organised by RunThrough, which puts on well organised inclusive events all over the country. Perfect running conditions saw over 550 runners compete. Sam Coxon ran a personal best time of 15:56 to finish 4th in the 5k and Tash Pitman ran a season’s best time of 41:11 to finish 2nd female in the 10km.

​Elwyn Howell completed the ocean city half marathon in a time of 1:42:20 to break the V65 club record by over 4 minutes which has been held for over 11 years. Elwyn commented “before I joined NHRR in 2018 I did this race a year earlier in 2017 my first race in over 45 minutes longer. The advantage of joining a brilliant running club.”

​The weekend also saw Monica Cullin celebrate her 80th birthday in typical runners style with a NHRR trip to Great Denham parkrun. Over 40 NHRR’s took part in the flat, 2 lap course. Happy Birthday Monica!

​Great Denham: Michael Over (19:08), Oliver Babik (19:10), Darren Matussa (19:11), James Keogh (19:44), Steve Mckeown (20:49), John Auld (21:19), Astrid Mckeown (21:48), Caroline Thrussell (21:57), Natalie Phillips (21:58), Jon Hunt (22:25), Hannah Ridley (22:27), Richard Weber (23:23), Barbara Sayers (24:21), Jennie Fraser (25:00), Richard Harbon (26:19), Helen Harbon (26:24), Andrew Robson (26:25), Linda Aird (26:53), Andrew Coates (27:09), Rachel Arnott (27:52), Jo Harbon (27:52), Natasha Pitman (27:53), Philip Flack (29:09), Helen Giffin (29:28), Georgia Barker (29:30), Richard Barker (29:31), Amanda Greig (31:10), Tracey Mccreath (31:42), Vanessa Rolfe (35:12), Sheila Leavy (38:40), Joanne Sopala (40:32), Sue Boys (41:57), Clare Hooley (42:18), Monica Cullin (54:34), Shaun Allin (18:25), Kris Whitmore (20:48), Georgia Head (23:35), Gregor Bowie (27:14), Geoff Davis (28:56), Miranda Morgan (32:13), Caroline Nobbs (34:42), Claire Gambrell (40:30), Jon Boys (54:37)

Henlow Bridge Lakes: Rob Milburn (27:15)

Letchworth: Katie Harbon (20:44), Chris Stokes (20:59), James Dalton (22:06), Georgina Quayle (24:50), Nick Walker (27:26), Mel Flynn (28:37), Katie Palmer (28:47), Michelle Grudzinski (29:49), Andrew Grudzinski (29:50), Carina Quayle (37:28)

Stevenage: Sophie Thrussell (19:57), Tom Barclay (19:57), Emma Sandham (28:33)

Storeys Field: Matthew Ronayne (18:22), Joseph Barker-sherry (28:58)

Teignmouth Promenade: Elwyn Howell (21:28)