Summer Midweek Madness

The final Midweek League Race took place this week, with 44 runners finishing a hilly course on a hot evening in Berkhamsted. It was a challenging course, with the terrain constantly either up or down. With alterations to the course shortening it to 7km rather than 10, due to the high heat.  
 
Leading the women home was our MWL captain Rhia Botha in 7th and in the men's race Ben Hadman was first squirrel home in 8th. North Herts Road Runners finish the season in 3rd place in division 1. Overall after 4 races - the men were 4th and the women were 2nd.

Men
8, Ben Hadman (389) S
16, Ben Sewell (410) S
17, Sam Coxon (386) S
21 Conor O'Hara-Barrett* (2093) S
37, Matthew Sayers (404) V 50
40, Shahab Ahmed (381) V 40
49, Kris Whitmore (326) V 50
54, Stewart Overton (412) V 40
78, James Ma (373) S
80, David Edwards (350) V 40
88, Mike Phillips (324) V 40
90, Vincent Wright (400) V 50
92, David Brewer (362) V 50
93, Craig Cartier (392) V 40
98, Darren Matussa (406) V 40
107, Peter Sibbett (341) V 60
116, Chris Button (358) V 50
128, Daniele Socci (332) S
134, Baljeet Sandher (405) V 40
141, John Auld (330) V 40
150, Neill Jefferson* (357) V 50
184, Andrew Wallis* (2094) S
190, Andrew Coates (370) V 40
192, Sam Whitmore (327) U 20
194, Paul Bowal (413) V 60
207, Rob Clarke (366) V 40

Women
7, Rhia Botha (321) V 35
17, Tracey Pitcairn (338) V 35
23, Rachel Arnott (394) V 45
30, Sarah Hartley (343) S
31, Paula Holm (403) V 45
35, Jane Clarke (365) V 45
50, Natalie Phillips (323) V 35
51, Georgina Quayle (399) S
54, Caroline Thrussell (322) V 55
67, Grace Cleary (374) V 35
69, Joanne Hoare (345) V 45
75, Lucy O'Connor (363) V 55
81, Lucy Robertson (371) U 20
82, Ellie Frid (2004) S
112, Lindsay Cook (384) V 45
121, Carina Quayle (383) V 65
123, Vanessa Rolfe (359) V 65
124, Farzana Bhatti (397) V 45

Great North 10k
Rhia Botha headed to Newcastle to represent England Masters in the Great North 10k on Sunday. She had a fantastic race with everything going to plan and executing her first official sub 40min in the distance, coming home in 39:51. 

​She was ably supported by Ian Datlen who took on the pacing duties for the early running, a fantastic clubmate showing that we succeed as squirrels together.  Rhia also wanted to send her thanks to Peter Sibbett, her coach, who has shown belief in her and challenged her to qualify for this event.  

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Holkham 10k
Over in North Norfolk, five squirrels headed to the Holkham 10k event.  The course was a hot, windy and hilly route around the Holkham Estate, and as if that wasn’t enough the start was delayed by the discovery of a wasp nest on the course.  This delayed the start and led to a re-routing which meant it measured at just over 10k.  
 
Paula Adams, Lucy O’Connor, Linda Aird, Tracey McCreath and Nessa Rolfe were the squirrels in question with Paula and Lucy 2nd in their respective age categories.

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Wroxham 5k
Peter Sibbett had a fantastic result at the Wroxham 5k this week, finishing in a time of 20:09 and coming in 365th place in the race.  Coming the day after the hot and hilly MWL race, it was even more impressive.  Peter was full of praise for the raise as well “This is a fast, flat lollipop 5k course on roads closed to traffic. This is a top quality race and there were pacers for 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 mins and then every 2 mins up to 28mins. I would definitely recommend this race but you have to be on it when it opens as this year the 1000 places sold out in 19 mins!”.  Sounds like one for a scurry of squirrels to target their PBs next year. 

Jersey Night of the 5,000m PBs
Tom Barclay headed to the Jersey Night of the 5,000m PBs, on Friday.

​Organised by Jersey Spartan Athletic Club and Rock n Road Runners Jersey, it was a first time wearing spikes for the distance for Tom and he didn’t disappoint, “ I really enjoyed it, winning convincingly and securing a PB quicker than my road 5K time in 15:52.” 

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Ware Ten Mile Race
Over in the Ware Ten Mile Race Kris Whitmore came home in a very creditable 5th place, in less than ideal conditions as the thunderstorms struck. 

​Coming home in a time of 63:55 which was “identical to fourth place who I thought I had beaten in a sprint finish only to discover the finish line was some ten meters before the finish arch (with finish written on it in huge letters!) that I had been aiming for. Not that I'm bitter”

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Hitchin Triathlon
Andrew Robson raced the Hitchin Triathlon (Sprint distance) on Sunday morning, with a very early start; in the water at 6:45am. Andrew was pleased to report “I finished 16 minutes quicker than 2024, in just over 1hr 30min, with a comfortable 400m swim, a fabulous 20km ride and held on for the final 5km run. Organisation of the event was, as always, excellent with a great friendly atmosphere throughout, and many first timers.”

Parkrun Roundup ​

Doddington Hall: Anna Greetham (27:48), Matt Roberts (27:48)

Henlow Bridge Lakes: Grant Barnes (23:33), Georgia Barker (34:36), Richard Barker (34:37)
Houghton Hall: Kris Whitmore (18:34), Sam Whitmore (23:56)

Jersey: Tom Barclay (24:11)

Letchworth: John Russell (24:47)

Longrun Meadow: Jim Mcconnel (17:27)

Oaklands college: Chris Stokes (21:19)

Panshanger: Joseph Barker-sherry (29:18), Matthew Sayers (35:12)

Pocket: Frances Stanton (29:09)

Portsmouth lakeside: Ravina Siddall (38:53)

​Sheringham: Katie Harbon (21:44), Barbara Sayers (28:33), Jane Clarke (30:25), Natasha Pitman (30:26), Helen Cairns (30:26), Jo Harbon (33:20), Allison Blunt (34:13), Sharon French (38:10)

Sizewell: Jon Hunt (24:38)

Stevenage: Ellie Scott (28:25), Emily Yossarian (55:09)

Valentines: Darren Matussa (23:22)

Whitley Bay: Thomas Buzzard (20:00)
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Wormwood scrubs: David Brewer (21:10)
Park Run Tolka Valley Park,

Dublin: Grace Cleary (23.23)