Parliament Hill Heroes

Ladies Team at Southern Counties X Country Champs

Paula Adams

Vince Wright 4999 and Richard Harbon 4989

After a successful evening at The Comet Sports Awards it was back to business again the very next day for North Herts Road Runners.

Travelling the short distance to Hampstead Heath to take part in the Southern Counties Cross Country Championships, several squirrels took part in what is regarded to be the most famous and most testing cross country course in the country.  First to finish for the club in the energy sapping mud and hills of the senior mens 15K race was Andrew Leach in 00:53.24, next up was Veteran of the Year nominee Mark Vaughan in 00:58.39; Darren Sunter 00:59.30; Dan Hills 00:59.50; Darren Matussa 1:06:04;Vince Wright 1:07:08; Dan Martin 1:07:45; Richard Harbon, winner of the Services to Sport Award, in 1:08:45; Greg Pounder 1:14:48 and Jonny Spinks 1:25:26.  The senior ladies ran a shorter but just as testing 8K course and the first squirrel to finish was Katie Harbon in 00:34:00.  She was followed by Paula Adams 00:38:52; Jo Harbon 00:45:21; Georgina Quayle 00:45:33; Rachel Pounder 00:53:17; Lindsay Cook 00:54:37 and Carina Quayle 00:55:16.  The mens' team placed 31st out of 69 teams and the ladies placed 44th of 63 teams.

Several squirrels also travelled for various Parkruns.  Furthest to travel was Chris Priestley who ran in Melbourne, Australia in a time of 24:41.  Pete Sibbett was in Bedford to record the impressive time of 20:22; Chris Poole ran at Colchester Castle in 22:52 and Kettering saw Steve Williamson finish in 23:45.  8 club members ran at Stevenage.  Darren Matussa finished in third place in 18:42, Chris Poole 19:37; Ollie Garbas 19:42, Chloe Lucas was second lady to finish which she did in the time of 22:47.  Also running were Joe Sherry 24:11, Bob Davis 26:05 and Sheila Leavy 30:08.
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Sunday 22 January saw the Santa Pola Half Marathon take place in Spain.  Miranda Morgan set a superb new personal best with 2.01.48 and was followed by Joy Stroud (2.21.14), Jane Tyler (2.22.50) and Coach of the Year winner Brian Bailey overcame a list of injuries to finish in 2.23.28.