Squirrels Reap Rewards of Staying in Beds

Mark and Sue Vaughan at Bedfordshire AAA 10k

North Herts Road Runners were celebrating on Friday night with success at the Bedfordshire AAA 10k. In unseasonably damp conditions, nine Squirrels made their way to Bedford. It looked like the evening was going to turn sour as the rain started pouring down at the start of the race. Nevertheless, the Squirrels’ spirits were still high from a successful Midweek League race series, and the conditions didn’t put a stop to some decent performances all round. In fact, the men's team scooped up the team award, narrowly beating Bedford & County on their own patch. 

Mark Vaughan, who had spent the day celebrating his 49th birthday, was first home for NHRR, and ran a season’s best time of 33:44 to finish in an impressive 3rd place overall (fastest V45). Sue Vaughan also ran, and the husband and wife team were first man and first lady home for the Letchworth-based club, with Sue finishing in a time of 54:21 – what a way to celebrate a birthday! 

Andrew Leach was second home for NHRR in 5th (fastest V55). Matthew Sayers (9th) and Stewart Overton (10th) were both happy to get in under 35 minutes. John Rayner and Wayne Bell were not far behind and men's team captain Peter Sibbett was in good form. Also representing the ladies was head coach Karen Dodsworth. (See below for all Beds AAA results.)

Three Squirrels travelled north to run the 40th Northumberland Coastal Run. Linda Aird, Lucy O’Connor and Andrew Porter described the event as “fabulous, with stunningly beautiful coastal scenery”. It starts in Beadnell, and heads south to eventually finish on the beach at Alnmouth. “We started on the beach and almost immediately our shoes were soaked as we had to run through the retreating tide.” said Linda. “When we eventually left the first beach section we found we had to clamber over slippery rocks and seaweed to get up onto the coast path. We were rewarded by spectacular views of the very impressive - and very ruined - Dunstanburgh castle, before hitting the half-way point in the lovely little harbour at Craster. Another climb up, and some more beach sections with added seawater for our shoes, then a few miles on roads and tracks before eventually descending to the beach again at Alnmouth for a 1.5 mile run across more sand, rocks and seawater to cross the finish line at Alnmouth.” The weather was in the trio’s favour (unlike last year's event, apparently) with sunny intervals and a pleasant breeze - which turned into a bit of a headwind on the final push across the beach in Alnmouth, making for a tough finish to a challenging event. Linda was very happy with to knock four minutes off her previous time there ten years ago, and finished in 2:15:41. Lucy O’Connor’s time was 2:17:00, and Andrew Porter was was awarded the prize for 2nd V70, and finished in 2:19:22.

Closer to home, Jo Summers, Sue Foot, Alan Hazlehurst and Lucy Hurley were among a number of Squirrels to take part in the FVS Challenge at the weekend. “Perfect running conditions - warm and sunny” was Jo Summer’s verdict after she completed the marathon in 4.35 (first lady). Also running the marathon was Sue Foot, who was going along nicely when she tripped in mile 10 and somehow scraped her nose. “One very helpful runner patched me up with a plaster,” said Sue. “It caused me to walk for a while but with no other damage apart from a bloody nose and swelling i was soon back running if a bit slowly and finished in 5.56.”

Alan and Lucy took part in the half marathon, and  finished in 2:25. Alan described it as “a lovely self guided run around the countryside near Stevenage. Lucy's navigation was impeccable,” he added, “as was her encouragement for me in the last few miles as I slowed badly after. A really enjoyable friendly event with great company!”

Stuart Cocks ran the London Asics 10k in 43.41, beating last year's time by five minutes.  He was joined by Hayley Cocks, who finished in 1.08.50, which although not a PB was still 21 minutes quicker than the previous year. Hayley had decided to run it with her sister Shani Briers (“my partner in crime” says Hayley) and just enjoy it. The plan was to run steady and both were very consistent which meant they were able to produce a sprint finish at the end.

Helen Harbon (50:58) and Matt Ankers (52:17) ran the Run Norwich a 10k race in the centre of Norwich. “It was a lovely run through some of the great sites of Norwich,’ said Matt after the race. “It was incredibly hot but lovely.”

Vanessa Rolfe ran the inaugural Ilkley Half Marathon on Sunday 14th July, after gaining permission to run from her husband (it was their wedding anniversary!). She described the event as “a definite recommendation for a running weekend away” and finished in 2:24:58.


Beds AAA Results
Mark Vaughan 3rd 33:44 (V45 winner) 
Andrew Leach 5th 34:02 (V55 winner) 
Matthew Sayers 9th 34:57 (PB) 
Stewart Overton 10th 34:59 
John Rayner 18th 35:41 
Wayne Bell 20th 35:53 
Peter Sibbett 63rd 41:24 
Sue Vaughan 160th 54:21 
Karen Dodsworth 162nd 54:40

NHRR parkrun results 20/07/2019

Stevenage parkrun
210 Helen GIFFIN 00:30:10
251 Sarah MILLHOUSE 00:32:35
346 Jane CLARKE 00:38:57

Wimpole Estate parkrun
20 Ian DATLEN 00:21:07
54 Rhiannon BOTHA 00:23:48
84 Jillian BOYS 00:25:09

Letchworth parkrun
5 James DALTON 00:21:29
19 Andrew ROBSON 00:24:04
24 Steve BRENTON 00:24:35
28 Damon CLEVELEY 00:25:01
42 Adam WILSON 00:26:18
59 Lucy HURLEY 00:27:39
71 Paul BOWAL 00:29:29
74 Philip FLACK 00:29:46
96 Helen WILSON 00:32:05

Pocket parkrun
22 Glyn BLAKEY 00:22:20
32 Andrew COATES 00:22:53 (PB)
38 Katherine GOURD 00:23:21 (PB)
249 Sheila LEAVY 00:43:14
Rosliston parkrun
67 Chris POOLE 00:25:55