​Three Counties XC

Sunday was North Herts Road Runners home race in the Three Counties XC league. The weather was kind to the event with a beautiful sunny morning with minimal wind and stunning scenary. The event HQ used gazebos in a local field. The course was challenging with some steep hills and plenty of wet thick mud. 
 
Trailing overall after the first race, the team had an good opportunity to take the lead going into the festive period. 
 
45 squirrels ran in total including some first time cross country runners as well as some well grounded veterans of the sport. 
 
On the day, NHRR’s men won the race emphatically - beating close rivals Bedford Harriers and Amptill and Flitwick Flyers who were second and third respectively. 
 
NHRR’s women were third behind Rugby and Northampton AC and Bedford Harriers. This was a very close race with only 4 scoring points between these clubs. 
 
The combined team result was that NHRR won the race - beating Bedford Harriers and Amptill and Flitwick Flyers who completed the podium.
 
Scoring for the women’s team was Hannah Ridley, Tracey Pitcairn, Astrid Mckeown and Caroline Thrussell. Scoring for the men was Sam Coxon, Rob Jowett, Andrew Leach, Travis Kruger, Ben Sewell, Shahab Ahmad, Matt Sayers and Vince Wright. 
 
This means that after two events, NHRR lead the league overall in the combined team competition. The men’s team are second overall, 1 point behind Bedford Harriers. The women are also second behind Rugby and Northampton AC, equal on points, but trail by a very close 2 scoring points.
 
John Auld, the clubs mens team captain and cross country representative, thanked everybody for their contributions to the event as a whole - adding that the team victory and overall league placings was a lovely cherry on top. Its brilliant to have NHRR top of the league for Christmas and starting the new year leading the league overall. 

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Tour Eiffel
Rhia Botha completed the 10k Tour Eiffel in 41 minutes. Rhia described it as a strange experience not being able to understand the race instructions from the French emails or the French announcements at the start line but she managed. Rhia got to meet Sonic the hedgehog when she picked up her race number and the race medal was also in the shape of sonic. 

Telford 10k
Mike Roberts ran at the Telford 10k. He ran a seasons best finishing in 33:02.

Plymouth Reindeer 5k 
Elwyn Howell completed the Plymouth Reindeer 5k in Central Park in 23:57 finishing in 8th place. This is a new event that will raise money for local charities. Elwyn described it as a nice event with a mince pie and a reindeer medal at the end. 

Parkrun Roundup

Aldenham: Christian Allen (25:07)

Castle Park: Dawn Power (30:46)

Coldhams Common: Richard Harbon (24:21)

Gunpowder: Darren Matussa (22:12)

Henlow Bridge Lakes: Brian Judkins (41:45)

Letchworth: Laura Fairbanks (29:07), Jennie Fraser (30:45)

Luton Wardown: Kris Whitmore (20:43), Ian Harvey (23:44)

Peel: Ian Datlen (26:33)

Stevenage: Daniel Wrigley (22:50), Chris Stokes (23:09), Jon Hunt (23:43), Andrew Coates (26:00), Barbara Sayers (26:44), Adrian Barnett (30:14), Sharon French (33:16)

Storeys Field: Joseph Barker-sherry (27:10)

Wimpole Estate: Lucy Hurley (29:46)
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Yarborough Leisure Centre: Anna Greetham (25:40), Matt Roberts (25:41)