Simply outstanding squirrels!

North Herts Road Runners were finally able to award their 2021 trophies at a wonderful summer garden party on Sunday.  Mark Vaughan and Tom Webb were jointly awarded Best Male Club Runner with ladies’ team captain Natasha Pitman scooping the female award. 

After battling injuries for a number of years Natasha Pitman enjoyed a stunning 2021 setting 2 club records at Parkrun and 5 miles and winning the Short Course, Long Course and Run of the Month championships.  V55 Andrew Leach retained his short course title with a stunning 16.21 5k clocking whilst V50 Mark Vaughan’s 2.39.28 London Marathon debut topped the Long Course championship. Men’s team captain John Auld also retained his Run of the Month Championship trophy taking part in all 13 races in this series.

Matt Roberts ad Anna Greetham both showed great commitment to their running through lockdown and were rewarded with Most Improved trophies. 

Two awards are voted for by cub members with Cara Sutton winning NHRR Personality 2021 for being a true superstar and motivating coach whilst the 101% Award was presented to Lead Coach Karen Dodsworth, who organised online strength and conditioning sessions and quizzes throughout the year to keep the club together.

The Coaches also award trophies to runners in each group who have regularly attended training, shown determination in training and been supportive to others in the group.  The purple group winner was Clare Hooley, Richard Webber and Helen Cromack scooped the yellow group award, Green group trophy was awarded to Tracy Pitcairn and Michael Over with John Auld and Katie Harbon receiving the blue group award.

Coach David Annetts was honoured with an Outstanding Achievement Award for race walking following his British Masters V55 10k record set in May and his individual 5km silver and 20k team gold at the recent World Masters Track and Field Championships in Finland.

An amazing number of members set club records in 2021 from U19 to V75! 7 ladies ran superbly to set the following new figures: U19 Parkrun Eva McCabe 21.28, V40 Parkrun Paula Holm 21.46,V45 Parkrun Natasha Pitman 20.35, 5M 32.4 and 10M 67.40, V60 Parkrun Lucy O'Connor 25.08 and V65 Parkrun Anna Priestley 30.13. 9 new male records were set by: V35 Parkrun Tom Webb 16.14, V40 Marathon Darren Sunter 2,33.24, V40 5k Stewart Overton 16.25, V45 Marathon Matt Sayers 2.39.24, V50 Parkrun Mark Vaughan 16.56 and Marathon 2.39.28, V55 5M Andrew Leach 27.04 and Parkrun 16.59, V55 Marathon Nick Malpeli 2.55.33, V60 Parkrun Elwyn Howell 21.14, V75 5M Ian Sutcliffe 48.25 and 10k  59.28.
 
To start a busy weekend several squirrels ran a Parkrun on Saturday.  Tom Webb set a new course record of 17.23 when winning at Henlow Bridge Lakes with Stewart Overton 2nd in 17.37. Ian Datlen ran 20.36, Matt Roberts 26.03, Anna Greetham 26.20, Jillian Tooley-Boys 26.27, Andrea Weisi-Shaw 27.40 PB and Natalie Philips 29.31.  Local course Letchworth was also a popular venue with 9 squirrel finishers: James Dalton 21.28, Andrew Grudzinski 26.42 PN, Tim Banting 26.45, Kat Gourd 27.14, James Poulton 27.14, Linda Aird 29.33, Geoff Pettengell 33.49 PB, Philip Flack 34.15 and Mike Bullock 37.49.  Sue Vaughan raced Stevenage in 29.13 and Richard Harbon recorded 23.48 at St Albans.