Squirrels storm around Stevenage

On Sunday, five North Herts Road Runners completed the Stevenage Half Marathon, which also hosted the Herts Senior County Championship. After a few days of stormy wet and windy weather, the runners were rewarded with a lovely crisp and sunny autumn morning for the race. Rhia Botha was first home for the club, second female overall, and first female in the Herts Half Marathon County Champion in a superb 1:31:33. James Dalton ran alongside her for the first of the two lap course and finished just behind her in 1:34:54. Rhia said “It was an unexpectedly hilly two-lap course, and we really felt those hills on the second lap”, adding “It was so well organised by the most lovely people.” Other squirrels who completed the race were Ian Harvey in 1:37:38, Alice Carty in 1:52:34 and Farzana Bhatti in 3:13:01,

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​Resolution 5k results
A few days prior to this, on Wednesday 11 squirrels were also in action in Stevenage, this time at Ridlins track for the October Resolution 5k. The conditions were rather less favourable, described by John Auld as “very wet! And there was a bit of wind”, although he added that he really enjoyed the race. In the first race, Sam Coxon took the win in an amazing 16:57. He was followed by a pack of four squirrels (John Auld 18:55, Kris Whitmore 19:04, Ian Datlen 19:11 and Andrew Wallis 21:01. Completing the squirrels contigent were Lee Varley (21:40), Lucy O’Connor (24:40 and first in her age category FV55), Mel Flynn (25:11), Linda Aird (27:42), Karen Dodsworth (28:04), and Sheila Leavy (39:49 and first FV65). The squirrels notched up a superb team performance overall, with Sam, John, Kris and Lucy winning the team competition with a combined time of 1:19:46, and Ian, Andrew, Lee and Mel coming third behind the Fairlands Valley Spartans.

​Dashing at Duxford
A little further afield, Hannah Ridley ran the Duxford Dash 5k on Sunday, which is a fast and flat out and back race that takes runners up and down the runway at the Imperial War Museum Duxford. She was delighted to cross the line in a fantastic 20:40.

Parkrun roundup
Lots of squirrels took part in parkruns near and far on Saturday. Notably, Elwyn Howell broke the club record for the V60 category, completing Teignmouth parkrun in 20:51. Other NHRR parkrun results are below:

Bedford: Dave Braybrook (22:48)

Cassiobury: Richard Harbon (21:15), Jon Hunt (22:06)

Hafan Pwllheli : Michael Over (21:48)
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Heartlands: Ben Sewell (17:55), Tom Barclay (18:09), Sophie Thrussell (21:02), Emma Sandham (24:09)

Henlow Bridge Lakes: Daniel Mallett (23:00), Rob Milburn (25:02)

Letchworth: Stewart Overton (19:32), James Dalton (22:46), Chloe Lucas (24:15), Jennie Fraser (26:33), Ian Harvey (27:11), Alice Noakes (28:01), Viv Lucas (28:51), Jo Harbon (30:48)

Oakhill: Kris Whitmore (19:56)

Peel: Ian Datlen (27:14)

​Stevenage: Vincent Wright (19:14), Chris Stokes (20:29), Paula Holm (21:52), Oliver Babik (22:37), Mike Phillips (24:15), Natalie Phillips (24:15), Christian Allen (25:42), Andreea Weisl-shaw (28:31), Laura Fairbanks (28:32), Georgia Barker (29:42), Richard Barker (29:42), Helen Giffin (32:26)

Teignmouth Promenade: Elwyn Howell (20:51)