Hitchin isn’t hard for Townsend

 Several squirrels ran in the Hitchin Hard Half and 5k races. With the pleasant vibe and good weather - it made for a lovely morning. There were lots of familiar faces both spectating and taking part. 
 Karen Townsend won the 5km race on a lovely route up the Gosmore hills - she came home first, finishing the race in 21:06 ahead of the rest of the field. 
 Running the half were Rachel Arnott, Rhia Botha, Grace Cleary, James Dalton and David Weston.
 Rhia commented afterwards - as the name suggests, it wasn’t an easy race. Rhia finished 5th lady and 1st in her age category with 1:41:33 and enjoyed seeing many squirrels supporting along the route and finish line.
Grace Cleary finished in 1:54 and described the course as picturesque - adding she’ll definitely be entering again. 
 
Springfield Striders Friday Night 5 mile
 
Vincent Wright and his son ran the race near Colchester in Essex. The race included the Essex county championships for the distance. The course was advertised as flat, but that’s not how Vince would describe it. George completed the race in 40:26 setting an under 17 club record. Vince finished in 29:37 setting himself a new personal best time for the distance. 
 
Welwyn 10k
 
Richard and Georgina Barker continued their weekend of hills. After first running park run at Hamstead Heath, they ran the undulating course at Welwyn. With legs that hadn’t recovered yet and the conditions were warm and sunny and there were two significant hills. The more forgiving one being 1 in 9 gradient and lasted an age. Richard completed the run in 47 mins 54 seconds - followed by Georgina in 1 hour 5 mins, 56 seconds.  
 
Parkrun
 
Elwyn Howell finished first in his age category at Stevenage, equalling his fastest run at the event and achieving his highest ever finishing place with 21:54 in 19th.
 
Andreea Weisl-Shaw was also there completing her 6th park run event. Proclaiming it was a great way to kick off the weekend and wearing her NHRR vest for the first time at park run. Considering Andreea wasn’t feeling her strongest, she was pleased to finish close to her personal best in 29:23. 
 
Four squirrels travelled to Gunpowder for 'a brilliant morning of park run tourism’ to join Charlie at her local. Ran as a park run sandwich in their long run with a warm up along the canal path. Ian Datlen continued his strong steak with a time of 19:35 in 8th place. Matt Roberts ran well - as did Shaun Allin. Anna Greetham and Charlie Jones ran together.
 ​Other results as follows…
 
Hamstead Heath: Georgina Barker (32:47), Richard Barker (32:51)
Leamington: John Russell (27:49)
York: Jo Sherry (22:46)
Stevenage: Elwyn Howell (21:54), Barbara Sayers (26:12), Andreea Weisl-shaw (29:23)
Gunpowder: Ian Datlen (19:35), Matt Roberts (21:55), Shaun Allin (23:20), Anna Greetham (24:58), Charlie Jones (24:58)
Stratford-upon-Avon: Ed Price (17:26)
Letchworth: Tracy Pitcairn, 1st (21:36), James Dalton (22:39), Dermal Downing (24:28), Steve Brenton (24:56), Tim Banting (26:22), Andy Grudzinski (28:30), Bob Davis (28:35), Geoff Pettengell (34:01), Philip Flack (36:07)
Great Denham: James Poulton (22:27)
Amsterdamse Bos: Karen Shaw (31:16)
Henlow Bridge Lakes: Stewart Overton (17:57), Jane Clarke (23:54), Rachel Annetts (28:21), Lucy O’Connor (29:40), Anna Gibson (29:40), Brian Judkins (34:35)