Full house for Harbon

​This week, Katie Harbon of the North Herts Road Runners secured another victory in the final race of the Sunday cross-country league, giving her four victories in total out of the four races, and an unbeatable score.
A team of 22 squirrels made the short trip up to Royston Heath for the final round of the league. Stewart Overton was the first runner home for the North Herts Road Runners, finishing 13th overall. Katie Harbon ran brilliantly, finishing in 21st place and took the first lady prize for the fourth time.
The club’s cross-country rep John Auld said “Apart from the wind, the weather was actually not bad. It could have been loads worse. However, it was windy! And combined with the hills, it made it tough going! The course was brilliantly designed to hit every hill on the heath. And as soon as you reached the top of a hill, they sent you back down only to send you right back up again. It was full of short sharp hills from start to finish - a real strength-sapping course.’
Ladies’ team captain Tash Pitman agreed: “The Sunday League saved the toughest race until last, with two laps taking in three steep ascents up and then straight back down the imposing Therfield Heath. The rain held off and we just had to contend with a strong wind, best suited to flying kites!”
After surviving these tough conditions, the club thanked everyone who came to Royston Heath to run, cheer, support, and help. They had a fantastic support crew, including Linda and Jo who recorded the runners’ scores. The official results of the final race and of the league overall are still awaited.

Elsewhere, Dave Braybrook and Cara Sutton headed up the A1 to run the Stamford 30k race. This undulating course was described by Cara as “character building”. The wind and rain were relentless and the last 10k along a windy ridge was brutally tough. Dave finished in 2:41:15 and Cara in 3:05:38.
Meanwhile, just down the A1, Mel Flynn did the Love Welwyn Garden City 10k. The cold and windy conditions didn’t hold Mel back as she brought home a nice new PB of 55:45.
Elwyn Howell’s good form continues with another PB. He travelled down to London for the London Winter 10K and finished with a time of 45:55.
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Apologies to Mike Banister, whose report was missed off last week. Mike completed the Watford Half Marathon on Sunday 6th February and secured a nice PB of 1:21:48. Mike said “I enjoyed the run and was pleased with my time, especially given the challenging route and conditions".
 
This week’s parkrun results:
Stevenage parkrun
Julie Toland 25:34, Sue Vaughan 29:52
Gunpowder parkrun
Darren Matussa 24:21
Letchworth parkrun
James Dalton 21:32 (2nd), Steve Brenton 23:58, Daniel Martin 24:15, Ian Harvey 24:22, Daniel Mallett 24:25, John Russell 25:56, Phillip Flack 30:19.
Great Denham parkrun
Richard Harbon 21:57, Dave Braybrook 22:30.
Pocket parkrun
Andrew Coates 23:51, Tim Banting 24:49
Henlow Bridge Lakes parkrun
Tracy Pitcairn 21:40 (1st lady), Rachel Annetts 28:47, Andrew Robson 32:22. 

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