Squirrels fly round the Greenway Challenge

NHRR's very own Greenway challenge was on Sunday and race director Lindsay Cook "thanked everyone who made the event so successful with an amazing team effort from all those who helped organise, marshalled, and ran".  The greenway is home to many black squirrels and 17 of the clubs members participated round the self-guided event in perfect conditions, although Saturday's rain made it muddy underfoot in places.   Squirrels claimed victories in both the female and male categories with Dervla Downing completing the course in an impressive 1 hour and 47 minutes and Stewart Overton finished in great form just 2 weeks after his London Marathon race in 1 hour and 21 minutes.
Vanessa Rolfe ran her 2nd event since September 2021, and was "over the moon to just simply complete the course as I’ve only been running for 8 weeks & no longer than 6 miles".  She dipped well under 3 hours mark finishing in 2:52:31.  Hayley Cocks finished in 2 hours 54 minutes and her summary was "it was very humid,forgot how hilly it is and that I've not done any distance for over a year and was super pleased to over-take a few people and to stay in front!".
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Full results: Stewart Overton 01:21:23, Ian Datlen 01:32:40, James Keogh 01:34:07, James Dalton 01:34:44, Lee Varley 01:39:12, James Johnston 01:41:44, Simon Clapham, 01:44:07, Dervla Downing 01:47:19, Stuart Cocks 01:47:59, Joanne Hoare 02:05:51, James Humphrys 02:06:02, Jillian Tooley-Boys 02:07:16, Grace Cleary 02:12:21, Nicola Withington 02:12:46, Vanessa Rolfe 02:52:32,  Tracey Mccreath  03:01:03, Farzana Bhatti 03:01:04,  Hayley Cocks 02:56:41

In Marathon and Half Marathon action
We had Rachel Arnott at the Milton Keynes marathon on the Early May Bank Holiday Monday in an impressive time of 03:20:46, to finish 10th lady and 2nd in her age category, gaining qualification for the English Masters Representative Marathon in October.  Then across the pond Laurie Scott completed the Toronto Marathon in 4:18:48 which he described as a "nice marathon, well organised and the world's biggest heaviest medal".

Frances Stanton returned close to her home town with James Godfrey to run The Richmond Ranlegh Harriers Half Marathon.  James still heavy legged from his marathon debut agreed to pace Frances round who said "It was a picturesque flat course round Hampton court and Thames River path and due to solid pacing I finished in a time of 1:58:36 achieving my goal to finish in under 2 hours for the first time in 4 years!"

Run to the Sea
On Saturday while most were at FSOTM and then watching The Coronation, a trio of squirrels including Coach and Co-Chair Cara Sutton, Anna Gibson and Helen Cromack headed to the South Coast to take part in the ultra 50km point-to-point course from Horsham through varied and hilly terrain to Brighton seafront promenade.  Cara reported they "battled awful conditions of side-wind and rain throughout, but were rewarded with the best hot chips" at the end. 
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Results:  Cara Sutton 6:28:19, Anna Gibson 6:56:13, , Helen Cromack 7:05:52.

Coronation Special First Saturday of the Month
We were lucky with dry conditions and a total of 85 runners took part with many in fancy dress outfits to have some fun before the Kings Coronation.  The going was slightly slippy underfoot in places, but all 83 runners completing the 5km managed to stay upright to be rewarded with drinks and sweet treats organised by Richard Harbon as a special coronation offering.
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Full results: 
​Steve McKeown 20:34, Katie Harbon 20:43, John Auld 21:19, James Dalton 21:31, Astrid McKeown 22:13, Hannah Ridley 22:28, James Godfrey 22:29, Richard Barker 24:32, Matt Ankers 24:34, Richard Harbon 25:27, Caroline Thrussell 25:38, Viv Lucas 26:52, Stuart Cocks 27:13, Mke Phillips 27:14, Tim Banting 27:23, Dawn Power 28:09, Andy Grudzinski 28:13, Joanne Hoare 28:29, Jo Harbon        28:31, Geoff Davis 28:41, Andrew Coates 28:42, Helen Cairns 28:50, Jane Clarke 28:50, Kat Gourd 28:58, Tash Pitman 28:58, Natalie Phillips 29:39, Sue Vaughan 29:41, Philip Flack 29:46, Emily Yossarian 29:55, Georgia Barker 30:10, Victoria Markham 30:23, Andrew Robson 31:10, Aimee Flack 31:45, Jo Sopala 34:40, Geoff Pettengell 35:21, Tracey Pitcairn 36:03, Clare Hooley 42:38, James Keogh 42:38

Completing Parkruns this week, NHRR squirrels appeared at 8 different parkruns:

Stevenage: 
Ian Datlen 19:55, Chris Stokes 00:21:11, Ian Harvey 22:38, Elwyn Howell 22:47, Christian Allen 24:32, Mike Bullock 29:16, Andreea Weisl-Shaw 30:06

Mile End:
Kris Whitmore 19:08

Wimpole Estate:
Vincent Wright 20:00,  Anna Priestley 31:14

Longrun Meadow parkrun: 
​Jim Mcconnel 18:19
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Lowestoft parkrun: 
Chloe Lucas  22:33

Bushy parkrun, Dublin: 
Jennie Fraser 25:39

Letchworth parkrun: 
Steve Brenton 24:51, Karen Shaw 34:00

Henlow Bridge Lakes parkrun: 
​Dave Braybrook 23:17; Bob Davis 28:29