Squirrels ‘elated’ after county cross-country success

Jane Clarke and Jim McConnel (photo by Karen Dodsworth)

Jane Clarke and Jim McConnel both won selection to represent Hertfordshire with impressive performances in the County Cross-country Championships.

The pair were the stand-out performers for North Herts Road Runners on an undulating course at Cassiobury Park, Watford and both received letters from the Hertfordshire selectors at the finish line, inviting them to race at the Inter-counties Cross-country Championships at Loughborough in March.

Clarke admitted to being ‘emotional’ at securing her first opportunity to wear a Hertfordshire vest. ‘I thought I was going to shed a tear’, she said after a superb 14th place finish. McConnel took eighth place in the men’s race and said he was ‘elated to be selected to run for the county’.

Other finishers for the Squirrels in the County Championships: Ladies (8k) Linda Aird, 53rd; Jo Harbon, 57th, Christine Sharp, 86th. Men (12k) Darren Sunter, 16th; Matt Sayers, 37th; John Auld, 43rd; Dan Hills, 47th; Dan Martin, 68th; James Walsh, 77th; James Keogh, 91st; Johnny Spinks, 124th.

Lewis Cromack finished 21st in the under-11s race and Charlotte Spinks was 13th in the under-17s .
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The NHRR men’s team took bronze medals for placing third in the team competition. 

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