Mid Summer Running Madness

​Midweek League Mob Match
Wednesday saw the final event in the 2025 Midweek League series concluding with the ‘Mob Match’, which brings together all the participating clubs across all divisions for a closing 10k event in Welwyn.  Ben Sewell led the team home and first lady for NHRR was Rhia Botha.  26 Squirrels in total ran the Mob Match. The ladies finished 3rd/22 and the men’s team finished 6th resulting in an impressive overall 3rd placing.  Results are as follows: 

Men
14. Ben Sewell (S)
27. Conor O'Hara-Barrett* (S)
31.  Abdullah Athar (S)
55. Stewart Overton (V40)
57. Kris Whitmore (V50)
76. Thom Buzzard ((S)
100. Mike Banister (V50)
129. David Edwards (V40)
136. Mike Phillips (V40)
137. Adam Fisher (S)
165. Pete Sibbett (V60)
217. Daniele Socci (S)
232. Neill Jefferson* (V50)
249. Ian Datlen (V50)
294. John Auld (V40)
359. Andrew Robson (V60)

Women
​7. Rhia Botha (V35)
19. Tracey Pitcairn (V35)
33. Paula Holm (V45)
46. Katrina Slisane (V35)
48. Natalie Phillips (V35)
67. Georgina Quayle (S)
107. Lucy O'Connor (V55)
108. Dawn Power (V45)
157. Nikki Wright (V35)
202. Carina Quayle (V65)

​The evening continued with the end-of-season awards presentation, celebrating both team and individual achievements from the 4-race series across the three divisions.  Six North Herts Road Runners were awarded individual trophies for their excellent performances:

Rhia Botha claimed 1st place in the V35 category, with Tracey Pitcairn securing 3rd. Rachel Arnott earned 3rd place in the V45 category. On the men's side, Sam Whitmore won the Under 20 category, Shahab Ahmad took 3rd in V40 category, and Matt Sayers was 3rd in V50 category.

Ultra 5k Box End - 5 x 5K races, on the hour, every hour, for 5 hours!
Rhia Botha and Ian Datlen returned to Box End for the third year to take part in the Ultra 5 x 5k race.  Rhia was first lady home and crowned female champion for the third year and improved her time by over 3 minutes from 2024.  Her cumulative time was 1:49:51. 

​Described by Ian Datlen as “roasting hot, lumpy grass and a total game of self-control and strategy” Ian was 9th overall and won his V50-59 age category. Ian’s cumulative time was 1:48:21.  Rhia commented that it was “great to see the year-on-year progress”. She “loved the event, loved the challenge and loved running in the sun”.

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Xterra Marathon trail running event Eryri National Park (Snowdonia)
Georgia and Richard Barker went up to Snowdonia for their annual pilgrimage to the Xterra marathon trail running event. Georgia was completing her first 10k since returning from injury and Richard the half marathon having not trained for 5 weeks due to injury.  It was going be hard and made even more brutal by the 30-degree heat. Both Richard and Georgia finished their respective races but soon after Richard finished his, all races were cancelled for safety reasons due to the extreme heat and a number of competitors falling ill.  Despite this, Richard described it as “a great event, well organised and supported”.  Richard and Georgia have booked in for next year and are hoping for rain!

Parkrun Action

​California Country
John Hunt 24:33

Great Denham
Andrew Coates 25:24

Harleston Magpies
Chris Stokes 21:10

Henlow Bridge Lakes
Richard Harbon 24:40
Matt Ankers 29:53
Natasha Pitman 30:24
Jane Clarke 30:24
Philippa Hardcastle 41:23
Emily Yossarian 1:04:34

Jubilee
Thomas Buzzard 20:27

Letchworth
James Dalton 24:04
Steve Brenton 24:56
Laura Fairbanks 25:25

Long Eaton
Tracey Palmer 35:38

Longrun Meadow
Jim McConnell 18:40

Luton Wardown
Ian HARVEY 27:28

Norwich
Ellie Scott 27:59

Oaklands College
Daniel Wrigley 23:47

Peel
Greg Bowie 32:50

Penrith
Dawn Power 29:44

Sandringham
Chris Button 21:17
​
South Oxhey
Barbara Sayers 33:07

Stevenage
Sharon French 35:42

Storeys Field
Georgina Quayle 28:53

Westmill
Anna Greetham 29:29
Matt Roberts 29:29

Wimpole Estate
Annette England 41:30
Bev Rimmer 32:04

Wisbech
Joseph Barker-Sherry 26:43

Wormwood Scrubs
Kris Whitmore 19:23