Run Around the Garden a huge success for Squirrels

North Herts Road Runners turned out in huge numbers at the Run Around Garden event, held on their doorstep in the centre of Letchworth Garden City on Sunday. An amazing 62 Squirrels tackled the 5k race and a further 21 took on the one mile challenge, with some doubling up and doing both races before joining their families in the follow-up Fun Run.
 
The festival of running was organised by Love Letchworth and supported by local businesses, with NHRR providing many of the marshals and helpers.  Andreea Weisl-Shaw spoke for many when she said she said ‘ It was a lovely experience on a crisp sunny morning - fantastic to spend time with our club mates and to see so many of them get personal bests and generally do a brilliant job. I felt very proud to wear the club vest for sure!’
 
Tom Webb stormed to victory in the 5k, his 16:10 finish putting him more than two minutes clear of the 231-strong field. Ian Datlen was third in an excellent 19:08.
 
Hannah Ridley made it a North Herts double by taking the ladies’ title in 19:36. Rhia Botha and Sophie Thrussell ensured an all-NHRR female podium with 19:39 and 19:43 respectively.
 
Shahab Ahmad clocked a superb 5:17 to take gold in the mile race, with Michael Over and Ian Datlen close behind in 5:39 and 5:41. Rhia Botha went one better in her second race of the day; finishing as first lady this time in 6:00, with Tracy Pitcairn second in 6:19.

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Other NHRR finishers:
5k:
Michael Over, 19:23; Nathaniel Rosa, 19:33; Mike Phillips, 19:36; Ian Harvey, 19:52; Pete Sibbett, 20:02; Oliver White, 20:05, David Edwards, 20:12; James Dalton, 20:10; Will Harrison, 20:14; Alex Robinson, 20:24; Andrew Wallis, 21:11; Tracy Pitcairn, 21:35; Aaron Gillich, 21:49; Simon Clapham, 21:55; David Weston, 22:24; Laura Fairbanks, 22:28; Dan Mallett, 22:42; Stuart Cocks, 23:05; Natalie Phillips, 23:21; Andrew Coates, 23:36: Matt Ankers, 23:44; Nicola Withington, 24:11; Phil Hunt, 24:06; Barbara Sayers, 24:10; Eve Surridge, 24:10; Georgina Quayle, 24:41; Laurie Scott, 24:51; Ellie Frid, 25:13; Lucy O’Connor, 25:24; Anna Gibson, 25:32; Tim Banting, 26:17; Stuart Braid, 26:15; Jane Molloy, 26:40; Andreea Weisl-Shaw, 27:02; Grace Cleary, 26:53; Linda Aird, 27:31; Jillian Tooley-Boys, 27:47; Natalie Fiddy, 27:56; Andrew Robson, 28:18; Alan Hazelhurst, 28:54; Lucia Perez-Alonso, 29:13; Victoria Markham, 29:26; Geoff Davis, 29:56; Aimee Flack, 29:56; Philip Flack, 30:20; Neill Withington, 30:37; Anna Priestley, 30:49; Julie Taylor, 30:52; Amanda Greig, 31:08; Helen Giffin, 31:14; Carina Quayle, 33:01; Brian Judkins, 33:59; Caroline Nobbs, 34:05; Farzana Bhatti, 34:31; Eleanor Hill, 34:35; Hayley Cocks, 39:18
 
1 mile:
David Edwards, 5:53; Nathaniel Rosa, 5:57; Simon Clapham, 6:12; Stuart Cocks, 6:30; Phil Hunt, 7.03; Laurie Scott, 7.12; Andrew Coates, 7,17; Natalie Phillips, 7,24; Georgina Quayle, 7:29; Andrew Robson, 8:32; Alan Hazelhurst, 8:45; Andreea Weisl-Shaw, 9:56; Farzana Bhatti, 10:43; Sheila Leavy, 12:21

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First Saturday of the Month 5k
There were 43 finishers on a very wet and muddy Norton Common in the November First Saturday of the Month 5k. Matt Sayers was first across the line in 20:09 and Astrid McKeown was first lady in 23:48.
 
Other NHRR finishers:
John Auld, 21:05, Steve McKeown, 21:17; Mike Phillips, 23:04; Dave Braybrook, 23:13, Richard Harbon, 23:54; Ian Datlen, 23:56; Andrew Coates, 26:24; Matt Roberts, 26:27; Jillian Tooley-Boys, 26:30; James Dalton, 26:53; Anna Greetham, 27:04; James Walsh, 27:06; Ian Harvey, 27:47; Rhia Botha, 28:39; Natalie Phillips, 28:40; Michael Over, 28:41, Alan Hazelhurst, 30:45; Amanda Greig, 33:40; Helen Harbon, 35:10; Farzana Bhatti, 41:57

Hertfordshire Half-marathon
Yet more Squirrels headed to Knebworth for the Hertfordshire Half Marathon. Georgia Head made her 13.1-mile debut in fine style, clocking 1:53:55, despite having to stop for a herd of deer crossing the course at mile nine!
 
Caroline Thrussell was first in her age category with 1:47:36 and Dervla Downing recorded her best time on this course with 1:47:26 in what Georgia described as ‘perfect weather for the race, if a bit of a headwind in places’.  Adam Wilson finished in 1:58:37.

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Bonfire Burn 10k
Clare Hooley and James Keogh took on the Bonfire Burn 10k north of Cambridge. Clare described it as ‘a great community 10k’ and was pleased finish in 1.21.33, while James clocked 41:03.

Wistow 10k
Tom Barclay ran the Wistow 10K in North Yorkshire and managed a PB and fourth place overall with a time of 35:13. Tom reported ‘a flat and fast course, with just a bit of puddle dodging this year!’

Parkrun round-up Saturday 4 November

Delamere: Rob Jowett, 18:42
Henlow Bridge Lakes: Bob Davis; 29:37
Luton Wardown: Kris Whitmore, 19:38
Stevenage: Jon Hunt, 23:12; Helen Cairns; 25:11; Lucy Hurley, 29:21

Skipton: Paula Holm, 22:07
Torbay Velopark: Elwyn Howell, 20:53
University of Northampton: James Godfrey, 29:06; Frances Stanton. 29:09