One-Two-Three for North Herts

John Auld turned in a personal best performance to win September’s First Saturday of the Month 5k race on Norton Common. His time of 18.15 was 30 seconds faster than his previous best and an impressive performance on the undulating two-lap course.
 
James Keogh and Simon Poole made it a clean sweep of the podium places for North Herts Road Runners in their monthly event on home turf, finishing in 19.29 and 19.47 respectively. Gina Joseph was first lady for the Squirrels in 28.01.
 
Other NHRR finishers: James Drew (21.10), Chris Stokes (21.12), John Cooper (21:57), Adrian Addala (24.30), Jon Hunt (26.18), Ian Sutcliffe (27.37), Gina Joseph (28.01), Lindsay Cook (29:36), Dawn Power (29.40), Beki Finch (29.44), Helen Giffin (29.46) and Sheila Leavy (30.01) NHRR


The First Saturday run is free to enter. First-timers should register by the outdoor pool car park at Norton Common by 8.45.
 
Naomi Parkinson shrugged off a virus to knock a huge chunk off her previous best for the half-marathon distance. Running in the Race for Life at Lee Valley, she finished the 13.11 miles in 2.23.46.
 
Spencer Bevan turned in a superb performance at the Spartan Super Elite race in Peterborough, finishing 5th overall and first in his age category in 1.28.28. Bevan’s result over the 13k course was good enough to secure qualification for the professional wave in the world finals in Canada.
 
Despite traffic diversions and a late start, Jo Summers paced her way steadily through the field at the Dunstable Downs Challenge, finishing in 5.11.
 
Ollie Garbas topped the NHRR Parkrun charts this week by winning the event in Barclay Park Hoddesdon – his second Parkrun victory in 68 attempts. Stopping the clock in 20.47, Garbas celebrated in style with a ‘roly poly’ across the finish line.
 
Martyn Annetts finished 5th in the Bedford Parkrun in 19.13, with 12 year-old grandson James Lancaster not far behind in an impressive 21.42. Nicky Kemp finished in 25.16. David Annetts was second in the Cassiobury Park event in Watford in 16.58.
 

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