Medals and lollies galore at the FVS Relays

‘A fantastic event to finish the summer racing’ was John Auld’s verdict on the FVS Relays in Fairlands Valley Park.
 
North Herts Road Runners turned out 68 athletes on a humid evening for the annual event, which brings the curtain down on busy summer season dominated by the Midweek League.  ‘The team spirit was fabulous’ said Auld.
 
The relay format involves teams of four, each running a 3k leg, and the Squirrels came away with what Club Chair Tash Pitman hailed as ‘an impressive medal haul’.
 
Leading the way were the female team of Katie Harbon, Tracy Pitcairn, Alice Carty and Rhia Botha, who took gold medals in the overall event and the Herts County Championship. The men’s team of Ben Hadman, Abdullah Athar, Sam Coxon and Conor O’Hara-Barrett placed third overall.
 
NHRR took silver overall and county gold in the veteran female category, courtesy of Paula Holm, Tash Pitman, Helen Nuttall and Natalie Phillips. The male veteran squad of Shahab Ahmad, Wayne Bell, Matt Sayers and Kris Whitmore were second in both the overall standings and the Herts championship.
 
NHRR had success in the mixed category too, with the combination of Adam Fisher, Frances Stanton, Verity Stow and Daniel Wrigley taking bronze in the County competition.
 
The evening was rounded off with a very welcome supply of ice lollies, brilliantly organised by Midweek League Rep Rhia Botha - ‘a perfect end to a hot evening’, according to Club Chair Tash.

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​NHRR teams at the FVS Relays:

Pine Squirrel (39.07):
Ben Hadman (9:17), Abdullah Athar (10:02), Sam Coxon (9.26), Conor O’Hara-Barrett (10.20)
 
Funambulus Squirrel (41:40)
Shahab Ahmad (10:03), Wayne Bell (10:07), Kris Whitmore (10:56), Matt Sayers (10:32)
 
Rock Squirrel (44:57)
David Edwards (11:14), Mike Banister (11:08), Oliver Parsons (11:32), Mike Phillips (11:02)
 
Prevosts Squirrel (45:58)
Ian Datlen (11:28), Craig Cartier (11:06), Darren Matussa (11:41), Vince Wright (11:41)
 
Fox Squirrel (46:31)
Katie Harbon (10:22), Tracey Pitcairn (11:57), Alice Carty (12:53), Rhia Botha (11:17)

Red Squirrel (46:45)
Thom Buzzard (10:48), Helen Nuttall (12:48), Hannah Ridley (12:20), Shaun Allin (10:47)
 
Siberian Squirrel (51:00)
Pete Sibbett (12:15), James Dalton (12:38), Baljeet Sadher (12:13), Andrew Wallis (13:52)
 
Japanese Dwarf Squirrel (51:32)
Chris Button (12:31), Adrian Sherwood (12:15), Richard Harbon (14:01), James Godfrey (12:43)

Black Squirrel (53:28)
Adam Fisher (11:37), Frances Stanton (14:42), Verity Stow (14:04), Daniel Wrigley (13:04)

Ground Squirrel (53:52)
Paula Holm (13:10), Natalie Phillips (13:45), Tash Pitman (13:14), Helen Nuttall (13:42)

Malabar Squirrel (55:44)
James Walsh (13:03), Lucy O’Connor (14:48), Caroline Thrussell (13:45), John Auld (14:06)
 
Sciudae Squirrel (56:15)
Grant Barnes (13:37), Damian Christou (13:59), Dave Braybrook (13:46), Harry Nugent (14:52)
 
Grey Squirrel (57:21)
Sue Foot (17:10), Dawn Power (15:08), Mike Over (13:15), David Edwards (11:47)
 
Giant Squirrel (1:04:32)
Zoe Nuttall (17:26); Laurie Scott (15:12), Jo Harbon (17:30), Paul Bowal (14:22)
 
Tree Squirrel (1:11:27)
Linda Aird (17:43), Nicola Withington (16:01), Meyrick Jenkins (17:06), Geoff Murray-Rochard (20:35)
 
Marmot Squirrel (1:16:18)
Georgia Barker (19:11), Lindsay Cook (17:37), Tracey McCreath (19:44), Carina Quayle (19:44)
 
Chickaree Squirrel (1:19:22)
Gill Hughes (22:48), Sheila Leavy (23:23), Lorraine Nugent (16:52), Anna Priestley (16:17)

Sewell supreme in St Albans
Ben Sewell conquered ‘grim conditions’ to win the St Albans 10k, despite a downpour that lasted until mid-way through the race.
 
Sewell ‘settled in for the first 4k’ before gapping his third and fourth-placed rivals by midway. From 5.5k onwards he reported it was ‘very much a time-trial, running much of the second half solo and chasing the lead bike’. He crossed a ‘damp finish line’ in an impressive 34.40 to take the win.

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Fairlands Valley Challenge
Sue Foot completed the 27-mile Fairlands Valley Challenge - her ninth outing at this annual self-guided event, which starts and finishes in Stevenage via Watton at Stone, Waterford, Tewin and Datchworth.
 
Long-distance expert Foot said ‘It doesn’t get any easier, but it is a very sociable and enjoyable run with plenty of checkpoints  and – of course – their delicious bread pudding to keep us going!’ She finished in 6 hrs 33.
 
Brian Judkins completed the half-marathon version of the Challenge in just over 3 hours, finding the ‘light rain initially refreshing’ and he ‘only got slightly lost this time’.