Lucy, Linda and Lorna tackle 10k at the Silsoe Stride

Linda, Lorna and Lucy

Three North Herts Road Runners went to Wrest Park in Bedfordshire for the Silsoe Stride, a 10k race over fields and farm tracks. Linda Aird, who finished 1st in her age category (55:23), said “This was a really nice local event, raising money for the local school. The course was very nice but quite challenging - rough underfoot in many places, undulating and with uneven surfaces and lots of fallen branches on the tracks, so you really had to watch your step.” Finishing just in front of Linda was Lucy O’Connor, also 1st in her age category (54:47), and 3rd home for the club was current Squirrel of the Month Lorna Chambers, in 66 minutes. All three ladies were very happy with their outing, but it may have been more than the race itself. Linda continued, “The home-made cake stall at the end was absolutely epic, as was the size of the cake slices … “

Covering the same distance, Jillian Boys took on the Run Orwell 10k. She reported “On this beautiful sunny and breezy day, the course was a wonderful off-road route which passed the wonderful Greenwich Meridian marker globe which was the theme of the finishers medal, quoting the words “everyone crosses the line”. I completed the race in 50.35 and finished 2nd lady, proudly wearing my squirrels vest!”

Stewart Overton and Nathan Pask took part in the Finsbury Park 5000’s on Friday evening. Stuart commented “Organised by London Heathside, it proved to be a good event with packed races and plenty of spectators on a sunny London evening. Races organised in time order give a good chance to run in competitive races with similar standard runners.” Stewart ran 16:36 in race 6 of 7 and Nathan ran 16:12 in the final race of the evening. 

Tackling a much longer distance, Sue Foot ran the Herts Hobble on Sunday. The veteran marathon runner said “The whole route was just over 27 miles starting in Buntingford and out to Great Holmead, Little Chishill, Reed, Chipping and back to Buntingford. The terrain varied from grass trails, to stony tracks, woods and farmland. It was a complicated route, but there was plenty of food and drink at the 3 checkpoints and overall a very enjoyable event.”
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 As usual there were plenty of parkruns. At Westmill Glyn Blakey finished 12th in 23:23. At Stevenage there were four Squirrels. Helen Giffin was first home for the club in 31:09 followed by Gina Joseph (31:33), Pat Norris (34:29) and Ruth Hicks (35:56). At Wimpole Estate Jillian Boys finished 6th lady in 25:23, while Angeliki Shearstone-Strathopoulou finished 5th lady in 24:23 at Ellenbrook Fields. Brian Judkins completed Castle Parkrun in Bishops Stortford in 37:09. At Letchworth parkrun there were 8 Squirrels. James Dalton was first home for the club in 22:19, followed by Ian Datlen (22:23), Rhia Botha (25:03), Daniel Mallett (25:16), Jegan Simon (26:46), Steve Brenton (27:07), Jennie Fraser (29:06) and Paul Bowal (29:33). Finally, and much further afield, Naomi Parkinson travelled to Hamburg, where she finished the Alstervorland parkrun as 3rd lady (24:25).