Hat-trick for Harbon at Watford Cross-country

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Katie Harbon notched her third Sunday League cross-country win of the winter for North Herts Road Runners by finishing as first lady across the line in the latest fixture at Watford.
 
‘That was a tough course’, Harbon said after tackling the six miles of hills and muddy woodland trails around Cassiobury Park.  ‘I couldn’t get any grip at all and my mind was telling me it was all uphill’.
 
Harbon was one of what NHRR Cross-country Rep John Auld described as a ‘superb scurry of 15 squirrels’, with the ‘brutal’ course featuring ‘ups and downs on some sharp descents as well as steep climbs – quite a bit of mud about as well’. 
 
Auld was delighted with his ‘best run so far this season’, but said ‘It was tough. I’d made a note of the steep descent as we ran to the main loop. But with all the ups and downs in the woods, I’d forgotten all about this hill for the way back... when I turned to leave the loop and head back home it was there – right in front of me! It was very disheartening. But I pushed on. I started to hear Mark and Pete with the cowbells and that got me to the top’.
 
NHRR finishers at Watford:
 8, Andrew Leach
21, Rob Harris
25, Katie Harbon
41, Vince Wright
46, John Auld
75, James Keogh
77, Darren Matussa
82, Tash Pitman
83, Ian Datlen
105, James Walsh
172, Paula Adams
192, Helen Ankers
292, Lucy O’Connor
326, Karen Dodsworth
355, Lindsay Cook
 
Mike Roberts recorded a superb new personal best of 1 hour 12 mins 41 in the Brass Monkey Half Marathon at York. According to Roberts, the ‘incredibly flat’ course starting and finishing at York Racecourse makes the event ‘so popular that when the 1,600 entries opened back in October they sold out instantly!’. Roberts finished an impressive 34th in ‘a strong field with big groups forming from the start’.
 
Letchworth Parkrun
Matthew Ronanye 19:53; James Dalton 21:54; Steve Brenton 25:28; Philip Flack 41:31
 Leamington Parkrun
Steve Williamson 24:39
 Norwich Parkrun
Ellie Scott 31:18
 Royal Tunbridge Wells Parkrun
Mike Bullock 43:08
 Stevenage Parkrun
Dan Martin 21:51; Russ Hagan 27:49; Jane Clarke 38:50
 Gunpowder Parkrun
Darren Matussa 23:16
 Wimpole Estate Parkrun
Andrew Coates 25:31; Ian Datlen 26:56; Kat Hinitt 25:56; Matt Roberts 23:08; Paula Holm 25:50; Tim Banting 26:26
 Mersea Island Parkrun
William Harrison 19:47
 Pocket Parkrun
Joe Sherry 29:49
 Clarens Parkrun
Rhia Botha 25:59
 Henlow Bridge Lakes Parkrun
Jillian Boys 25:54; Stuart Cocks 26:13; Rachel Annetts 29:28; Hayley Cocks 40:47
 Sandringham Parkrun
Carl Haskell 24:17; Vicky Haskell 37:38

Written by James Walsh.