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Stevenage Half Marathon – Easter Monday Easter Monday saw Rhia Botha crowned fastest female at the Stevenage Half Marathon, producing an outstanding time of 1:31:10 despite using the race as a marathon training run. She was joined by several North Herts Road Runners clubmates, all delivering impressive performances: James Denselow finished in 1:27:36, followed by James Smith in 1:28:50 and Isaac Mateu Soler 1:36.02. First Saturday of the Month – Easter Edition, Letchworth Common Saturday brought the Easter edition of the club’s popular First Saturday of the Month (FSOTM) event on Letchworth Common. A total of 44 runners, alongside numerous canine companions, tackled the picturesque two-lap course. Spirits were high, with home‑baked Easter cakes awaiting participants at the finish line. Steven Bennett secured his first win at the event after several near misses, with Phillip Brunton taking second place and Ian Datlen finishing third. Hannah Ridley led the North Herts Road Runners women as first female finisher. A standout moment of the morning came from Archie Dawson, who ran in a full Easter Bunny onesie. Finishing an impressive fifth, he earned the loudest cheers from spectators on a warm and cheerful morning.
Good Friday Results Good Friday also delivered strong results for the club, with Mike Phillips finishing 16th in his age category in a time of 41:43, closely followed by David Edwards in 42:25. Hannah Gardner rounded off the weekend’s performances by placing ninth in her age category, posting a time of 50:36. Parkrun Roundup
In order to appear in the Parkrun roundup - your Parkrun registration should have North Herts Road Runners as your running club. You then appear in the consolodated results for the club. These are picked up from the following link.
https://www.parkrun.com/results/consolidatedclub/?clubNum=867
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Traveling across both the UK and Europe, NHRR were out in force this week, competing in a variety of events and distances. There were lots of amazing performances on display, many of which were in preparation for spring marathons, particularly London in 4 weeks’ time.  Oakley 20 It was a sunny but chilly March morning when 12 squirrelsheaded north to the town of Oakley nr Bedford, to compete in the Oakley 20 miler. Conditions were pretty good for running, with minimal wind and dry roads, but a variety of hills, both long and short, added challenges of their own. However, nothing deterred our intrepid runners from turning in some impressive performances, most notably Matthew Sayers(MV50) and Sue Foot (FV 70+), who finished first in theirrespective categories, and Caroline Thrussell (FV60) and Rhia Botha (FV35) both coming 2nd in their categories. The full results were as follows:
 The Berlin Half Elsewhere, Natalie and Mike Phillips competed in the Berlin Half Marathon, which was also the first race of the super half marathon series. Both turned in outstanding runs, with Nataliefinishing in 01:45:17 and shaving a few seconds off her PB, and Mike crossing the line in 01:35:02. Mike commented that it was the most enjoyable race he had ever done and was well supported throughout. Exeter Trail 10k Heading south on Saturday was Vicki Markham, who run the Exeter Trail 10k, finishing in an excellent 1:02:06. She noted that it was amazing weather for a trail race and was pleased to bump into a fellow squirrel along the way. Yeovil 10k Now a resident of Bridport in Dorset, but still a squirrel, was Linda Aird who took part in the Yeovil 10k, finishing in an impressive time of 58:23. Whilst there, she also bumped into former squirrel Elwyn Howell, which was a welcome surprise.Sadly, Linda commented that it would likely be the last time she would don the North Herts Road Runners vest, as she has now moved to sunny Dorset. Parkrun Round Up
  Squirrels the 10k masters at Thorney There were stunning successes for North Herts Road Runners in a prestigious 10k race at Thorney, Cambridgeshire, with five Squirrels now in the frame to represent England Masters at the Bideford 10k Representative International Race on 10 May. The standout performance came from Caroline Thrussell, who was thrilled to secure first place in her age category with a new lifetime best of 43:13, smashing the club record previously held by ex-Olympic marathoner Yuko Gordon. Caroline thanked Pete Sibbett for his ‘perfect pacing and encouragement during the race’. The sunny and cool conditions were perfect for 10k racing and Ben Sewell duly led the Squirrels contingent home with a superb personal best of 33:17, with Shahab Ahmad hot on his heels in another PB of 33:19 and winning the V45 age category victory. Andrew Leach set another club record in taking the V60 prize with 34:02. Astrid McKeown’s 42:57 saw her take third place in the LV50 group and Tracy Pitcairn was ‘extremely pleased’ with a big new best of 40:33 – inside the England masters standard, placing her fourth in the LV40 category. Thrussell, Ahmad, Leach, McKeown and Pitcairn now await confirmation that they have qualified to represent England Masters at Bideford in May. Dave Edwards joined the PB brigade with an excellent new best of 40:58 and Rhia Botha (41:44) placed fourth in the LV35 category despite a bout of flu during the week. Other North Herts finishers at Thorney were Kris Whitmore (38:32), Steve McKeown (40:29), Mike Phillips (40:38), Mike Over (41:42) and Pete Sibbett (43.20). The NHRR ladies’ team were second and the men third. Twin Lakes 20 Lindsay Cook headed to Milton Keynes for the Twin Lakes 20 as part of her London Marathon preparations. She was happy to find a ‘field big enough that I wasn't alone at the back’ on the two-lap course based on tracks and trails. Lindsay reported a ‘good event’, despite not enjoying the section along a canal path. She ‘crawled over the finish line’ in 04:06:23. Media Elche Isaac Mateu Soler headed home to Elche in Spain to take part in what is claimed to be the oldest half-marathon in the world - the Media Elche, first run in 1968. He finished in 1:31:58, ‘beating my PB by 47 seconds and one step closer to my sub 1:30 goal this year’. Parkrun roundup
 Squirrels Brave the Wind at Milton Keynes Running Festival A small band of Squirrels took on the challenge of the Milton Keynes Running Festival on Sunday, with club runners competing across several of the day’s distances. The popular event offered runners a choice of races including 5k, 10k, half marathon and 20 miles, attracting participants from across the region to the city of Milton Keynes. Despite bright sunshine greeting runners at the start, a brisk wind ensured conditions were cooler and more testing than they first appeared. For many, Milton Keynes is best known as a shopping destination, leading to the assumption that the race might be pancake-flat. However, those expectations were soon challenged once runners left the town centre streets. Taking on the 10k distance, one Squirrel reported that the opening half of the course offered a welcome downhill stretch, allowing runners to settle into a strong pace early on. The second half, however, brought a gradual rise before a tougher hill in the final kilometre, ensuring a challenging finish to the race. The event was widely praised for its organisation, with plenty of parking, enthusiastic marshals, strong spectator support, and a route that made good use of mainly closed roads and pavements. For Mike Phillips and his running companion, the race formed part of a longer training session ahead of a future event. Mike finished the 10k in an impressive 43:49, while Natalie Phillips crossed the line in 50:00. Also representing the club in the 10k was Andrew Wallis. In the half marathon, Squirrel runners Niccolo Bassani, Ian Harvey, and Ellie Frid all completed the distance, battling the blustery conditions along the course. All runners deserve congratulations for taking on the challenge, with the windy conditions making the day that little bit tougher in places. Nevertheless, the festival proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable event and one well worth considering for future races. Parkrun roundup Closer to home, Coach Dave Braybrook was celebrating his 100th Parkrun. He planned to celebrate this milestone at his local course, but a very last minute cancellation due to a tree down meant a mass exodus to the busy Stevenage for this special event! Congratulations Dave! 
A Successful Weekend for North Herts Road Runners It was another lively weekend for the North Herts Road Runners, with squirrels racing across road and trail events both in the UK and abroad. From personal bests and age-group honours to international racing and marathon preparations, the club delivered a wide range of strong performances.  Fast Running and PBs: Squirrels Shine at the Cambridge Half Marathon A large contingent of squirrels headed to the Cambridge Half Marathon, where ideal running conditions helped deliver fast times around the historic city course. Leading the North Herts finishers was Thomas Barclay, who placed an impressive 20th overall in 1:08:53, followed by Michael Roberts (1:10:02) and Benjamin Hadman (1:11:53). Several squirrels reported particularly memorable runs. Shaun Allin celebrated a superb four-minute personal best, finishing in 1:17:21, describing the race as “a well-organised event on a fast course” and saying it was a pleasure to run alongside fellow squirrels. Matt Sayers also enjoyed a strong race, finishing in 1:17:24 to secure 3rd place in the MV50 category. Matt said the conditions were perfect with “no wind or rain”, and that running with what he called “a squadron of squirrels” helped the miles pass quickly as he delivered his best-paced half marathon to date. For Conor O’Hara-Barrett, the race marked a major milestone. He broke the sub-80 barrier for the first time, finishing in 1:18:04, crediting the support of fellow squirrels along the course. Kris Whitmore ran 1:24:11, successfully sticking to his pacing plan and describing the run as “mission accomplished”, before celebrating afterwards with friends in a Cambridge tap room.Running the race as part of his preparation for an April marathon, Oliver Parsons finished in 1:26:11, joking that cancelled trains meant he missed his warm-up — something that might be “best not to tell the coaches.” Oliver also praised the event as an enjoyable return to form after last year’s starting issues. Another standout run came from James Godfrey, who recorded a personal best of 1:33:31. Among the women, Rhia Botha delivered an excellent run of 1:25:58, placing 6th in the FV35 category, while strong performances also came from Sophie Thrussell (1:27:12), Rachel Arnott (1:34:51), Saskia Thompson (1:39:51) and Alice Carty (1:44:53). With large numbers of runners and plenty of club supporters lining the route, Cambridge once again proved a highlight of the spring racing calendar for the squirrels. Full Cambridge Half Results
Trail Podium: Mark Larwood Excels at the Howard-Odell 25km Switching terrain from road to trail, Mark Larwood delivered an outstanding performance at the Thunder Races Howard-Odell 25km trail race. Mark finished 3rd overall, 2nd male and 1st in his age category in 2:01:11, describing the event as “a great course and a good test moving from the road.” He added that he would “recommend Thunder Races to any other squirrels wanting to try a trail race.” International Racing: PB in Lisbon for Georgina Quayle Further afield, Georgina Quayle travelled to Portugal with her mum Carina Quayle to compete in the Lisbon Half Marathon, one of the races in the international SuperHalfs series.Georgina ran a superb personal best of 1:44:53, benefiting from the race’s famously fast route, which she described as “a nice downhill and flat course.” The running weekend began the day before the race with the pair also taking part in Lisbon’s unofficial parkrun, held on the first Saturday of each month. Strong Running at the Kettering Half Marathonfor David Brewer At the Kettering Half Marathon, David Brewer tackled the undulating course and finished in 1:35:19. David was pleased with the result, saying he was “very happy with this time on a somewhat undulating course,” and praised the atmosphere, adding that there was “great support all round.” Hills in Nottingham: Tim Levitt Takes on a Tough 10k
Meanwhile, Tim Levitt travelled to the Run For All Nottingham 10k, a race well known for its challenging hills.Tim completed the course in 40:01, describing himself as “very happy with the time on a tough route.” Last Friday of the Month 5K, Hyde Park Andrew Leach and Tash Pitman took the opportunity to race at the Last Friday of the Month 5k in London's Hyde Park organised by Serpentine Running and Triathlon Club. Tash said the park was showing the first signs of Spring with daffodils in abundance and fresh blossom on the trees. Andrew finished in 11th place overall and first in his age category in 17 minutes and 7 seconds while Tash finished third in her age group in 22 minutes and 1 second!  Jones o Gymru Anglesey Half Marathon Kat Burr, Caroline Thrussell and Adam Wilson travelled to a rain‑free but blustery Anglesey to take on the stunning coastal half marathon. Kat finished in an impressive 1:43:04, closely followed by Caroline in 1:43:29, earning her first place in her age category, just seven days after securing the same achievement at the Baldock Beast Half Marathon. Adam delivered a strong run, completing the course in 2:13:29. RomaOstea Half Marathon Renowned as Italy’s most popular half marathon, the RomaOstia attracts around 13,000 runners each year to its famously fast, flat course. Having sustained an injury only 12 days ago, Daniele Socci still managed to deliver an excellent performance at the event’s 51st edition, completing the race in an impressive 1:38:48. Great Yarmouth Half Marathon Isaac Mateu delivered an outstanding performance at the Great Yarmouth Half Marathon, running a huge three‑minute personal best in challenging, windy conditions on the otherwise flat course. He crossed the line in an excellent 1:32:45 and expressed his thanks to Karen and Dave for their invaluable support throughout his training.  Burghley 7 Hannah Gardner made the trip up the A1 to Stamford to take on the Burghley 7 Miler. A route that begins with a sweeping downhill through the town’s picturesque streets before looping around the perimeter of the Burghley estate and back into its impressive grounds. She delivered a strong run, finishing in 56:59. Parkrun Roundup
Sunday saw the very popular but challenging Baldock Beast Half Marathon take place on the rolling countryside to the east of Baldock. 23 squirrels from North Herts Road Runners were up for the challenge in a field of nearly 300 runners. In excellent running conditions, there were some amazing performances. First home for the local running club was James Deneslow in an excellent 1:23:27, first male vet 40 and 5th overall. First lady home for the squirrels was Katie Harbon in 1:29:06 and 2nd lady overall. Also taking home a prize was Sue Foot who was first vet 70 female in an amazing 2:15:38. However, the Beast is much more than the prizes. For many, it's just about finishing and having the bragging rights to having tamed the Beast. Others take part for a variety of reasons. Many ran the Beast for the first time. Paula Holm was celebrating her birthday and chose to run with her friends, all crossing the finishing line together. Others such as Caroline Thrussell and Lindsay Cook ran the event in the buildup to the London Marathon in April. Both ran excellent times of 1:49:03 and 2:36:08 respectively. All in all, it was another great day for both North Herts Road Runners and the Baldock Beast, where all the monies raised go towards putting on events for the communities of Baldock. Photos courtesy of Dave Braybrook NB:- If you look closely at the First photo. There is a deer in mid air between the runners. They were buzzed by a large herd in Roe Green.
Baldock Beast Results
Parkrun Roundup
Wet Welwyn 10k Tim Levitt ran the Welwyn 10k in 39:37 and achieved broke the 40min barrier for the first time, so an impressive PB of . He also recorded a 5k PB with a time of 19:22 for the back 5k! Some other squirrels also ran with: David Edwards clocking 42:39; Rhia Botha 4th female and first FV35 age group 42:52; Phil Seddon 53:23; Jim Marvell 1:14:03 and Ali Mottram 1:25:08. Cancer Research London Winter 10k Vicki, Judith, Meyrick, Geoff and Nikki headed to the start at Trafalgar Square to run the Cancer Research London Winter 10k which takes in many of London landmarks, before finishing in Whitehall with views of Big Ben! Really great event, however the weather was pretty brutal! Vicki said she was 'Super pleased I managed a PB….53.37 chip time (52.41 on my Garmin). Celebrated (and thawed out) over a pub lunch!' Parkrun: James and Frances reported on their trip to Valentine's parkrun in Ilford on Valentine's Day along with 2,329 others. Normal attendance is around 400, but the marshals were well prepared for the huge number of tourists. The queue into the finish funnel was around 500m and took around 10 minutes to get through. Very enjoyable and good atmosphere amongst the runners!
To appear in the Parkrun roundup - your Parkrun registration should have North Herts Road Runners as your running club. You then appear in the consolodated results for the club. These are picked up from the following link.
https://www.parkrun.com/results/consolidatedclub/?clubNum=867   North Herts Road Runners saw their efforts in this winter’s Three Counties Cross-country League rewarded with a host of individual awards after the last fixture of the season. Lucy O’Connor , Astrid McKeown and Matt Sayers all won gold medals by topping their age categories over the five races. The prizes were awarded after a muddy 5.4-mile race at Wing in Buckinghamshire, on what NHRR Cross-country Secretary John Auld described as ‘a brilliant course that is very challenging - proper cross-country’. Other NHRR medal-winners were James Warner-Smith (silver) and Brian Judkins and Vince Wright (both bronze). Auld paid tribute to the 70 Squirrels who participated across the season., with seven completing every race. He highlighted Astrid Mckeown and Matt Sayers as ‘absolute legends’ for being part of the NHRR scoring team at each fixture. He also thanked all the club members who had contributed across the season: ‘Thank you very much to all that took part this season - runners, supporters, photographers and drivers.’ The North Herts club finished second behind Bedford Harriers in the final league standings. The NHRR ladies were also second and the men third.
NHRR finishers and positions at Wing Cross-country Ben Hadman (3), Wayne Bell (7), Matt Sayers (17), Vince Wright (20), Kris Whitmore (25), James Warner-Smith (31), Craig Cartier (33), Mike Banister (36), Ian Datlen (42), Steve Mckeown (43), David Edwards (65), Rhia Botha (73), Michael Over (93), Astrid Mckeown (103), Mile Phillips (112), Hannah Ridley (114), Daniele Socci (116), Andrew Wallis (144), Laura Fairbanks (146), Natalie Philips (148), Hannah Gardner (173), Lucy O’Connor (200), Victoria Markham (206), Dawn Power (226), John Auld (228), Clair Power (248) Parkrun roundup
Through Snow and Darkness: Anna Gibson Conquers 108 Miles at the Spine Challenger South An absolutely outstanding achievement from Anna Gibson, who completed the Montane Spine Challenger South in an astonishing 51 hours and 5 minutes, spending two full nights out on the trail in some of the most demanding winter conditions the race has seen. The race covered 108 miles along the Pennine Way, from Edale to Hawes, and was entirely self-supported, meaning competitors had to carry and manage all their own kit, food, navigation, and safety equipment. With deep snow, ice underfoot, and prolonged exposure to cold and darkness, this was a true test not only of physical endurance but of resilience, decision-making, and mental strength. The difficulty of the conditions is reflected in the statistics: just 82 of the 152 starters completed the race, giving a finish rate of 53.9%. The Spine Challenger is widely regarded as one of the toughest endurance races in the UK, demanding sustained effort, self-sufficiency, and exceptional mental strength, and completing it in such harsh winter conditions makes this an extraordinary performance and one of the most impressive endurance achievements the club has seen. For those familiar with the ultra-running world, the scale of this achievement is underlined by the fact that even John Kelly, famous for completing the notoriously difficult Barkley Marathons, was forced to withdraw due to the conditions. Huge congratulations to Anna on an exceptional and truly inspiring achievement that reflects the very best of endurance, courage, and determination. Flying the Squirrel Flag Abroad: Vanessa Rolfe storms Santa Pola Half Marathon Vanessa Rolfe took on the Santa Pola Half Marathon in Spain and finished in 2:41:39, placing a fantastic 4th in the FV70 category. Racing overseas always brings its own challenges, from travel and climate to unfamiliar courses, making this an especially impressive achievement. A wonderful example of age-group excellence and consistency on the international stage, this result reflects both dedication and strength of performance, and is a proud moment for the club. Fred Hughes Fever: Squirrels shine at January’s Run of the Month A small but mighty crew headed to St Albans for the Fred Hughes 10 Mile, run this year on closed roads and a flood-friendly alternative course – which many declared even better than the original! Conditions were perfect, spirits were high, and the squirrels delivered:
A special shout-out to Richard Barker, who combined racing with coaching – helping his friend Tony take over 5 minutes off his 10-mile PB. That’s squirrel spirit right there!  Birthday Hills and Finishers’ Vests: Lucy O’Connor celebrates in style at Folksworth 15 Marking her final day in the F60–64 category, Lucy O’Connor chose the Folksworth 15, a scenic but demanding double-loop course on country lanes, featuring long hill climbs and a particularly cruel ascent at mile 14. It was a fittingly bold way to celebrate a milestone, taking on a race that tested both stamina and determination right to the finish. Lucy recorded a chip time of 2:25:32, a strong and well-earned result on such a testing course. As a finishing reward, runners received a running vest instead of the usual T-shirt, a very welcome and much-appreciated upgrade that added an extra touch of celebration to the day. A lovely blend of challenge, celebration, and resilience, this was a memorable way to close out an age category and a strong performance to carry forward into the next one. Parkrun Round-Up: From Sub-19s to Strong First Timers: Our squirrels were out in force across the country:
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April 2026
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