Mud, glorious Mud

3 Counties Cross Country Race #2
​27 squirrels ran the 2nd event in the three counties cross country league in Delapre Park, Northampton. The weather was kind - with no rain and mild temperatures. The recent rain did make the technical section in the woods quite interesting. There was plenty of mud about - just the way we like it!

On the day - NHRR were 3rd all round. The combined team were 3rd behind Wellingborough and District AC and Bedford Harriers. The women’s team were 3rd behind Wellingborough and District AC and Bedford Harriers. The men’s team were also 3rd behind Wootton Road Runners and Bedford Harriers.

Scoring for the women were Astrid Mckeown, Sarah Hartley, Helen Nutall and Laura Fairbanks. Scoring for the men was Shahab Ahmad, James Warner-smith, Matt Sayers, Nick Malpeli, Craig Cartier, Alberto Angurel, Steve Mckeown and Ian Datlen.

The league standings after two events are that NHRR men are 5th. The women are 2nd behind Bedford Harriers and level on points with Stopsley Striders. The combined team is 4th behind Wellingborough and District AC, Rugby and Northampton AC and Bedford Harriers.

Others finishing were Mike Phillips, Ben Snowden, Chris Button, Mark Larwood, Richard Weber, Andrew Coates, Natalie Phillips, Joanne Hoare, Lucy O’Connor, John Auld, Victoria Markham, Dawn Power, Linda Aird, Lindsay Cook and Brian Judkins.

On a personal note… This was my 100th league race for the club including 48 Midweek leagues and 47 3cxc and 5 Sunday League XC races. I haven’t missed a single XC since I joined the club. I love it. Running with team mates is the best. I really enjoy racing for the club in both leagues because there is always fabulous camaraderie amongst all clubs and team spirit from North Herts Road Runners. I love travelling with team mates and sharing stories on the way home. I have finished in all sorts of positions including the top end in the scoring team, back up team pushing back and also just trying to make it round - aka today. Everybody matters - that’s all the matters. I enjoyed them all because of the team mates I run with. Sharing the same mud, and everybody works hard for the club - because we love it. Squirrels run best when they run for each other. I also enjoy the competitive edge - so let’s all try and make the next race and try to win our home race.

#BELIEVE
#TeamNHRR

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St Neots Half Marathon
On Sunday the 16th, we had the popular St. Neots Half Marathon, with ten North Herts runners participating. Known for its PB potential, it did not disappoint, with some outstanding performances from our dedicated athletes.
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Coming 3rd overall in an outstanding time of 1:14:43 was Ben Sewell, closely followed by Sophie Thrussell in an amazing 1:29:07, Adrian Sherwood in 1:32:43, Rachel Arnott 1:36:32, Katherine Burr 1:51:38, Gregor Bowie 1:52:50, Nikki Wright 2:02:17, Niamh Madigan 2:06:09, Geoff Davis 2:11:10 and Carina Quayle in 2:30:34.

Verona Marathon 
Also on Sunday morning, Rhia Botha took part in the Verona Marathon in Italy, and finished in an outstanding 3:08:47.Rhia had been on track for a finishing time 3:05 until the last 5km, when the heavy rain combined with numb feet and stiff calves made for a gruelling final stretch. Rhia was delighted to be 11th female overall and was awarded a huge box of pasta and a bundle of official marathon merchandise as a prize.
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Also running in Verona but opting for the half marathon was Tash Pitman, finishing in an impressive 1:44:1. Tash was relieved to have selected the shorter option given that the combination of rain, cobblestones and marble paving had made conditions underfoot somewhat dicey.

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Sundon Saunter
At 8am Sunday morning, Anna Gibson took on the Sundon Saunter challenge event. Starting at Barton-le-Clay Village Hall, the route takes in the lovely countryside around Eversholt, Woburn, Toddington before finishing back in Barton-le-Clay. The event is organised by the Beds Bucks and Northants LDA group and takes place every 3 years with a variety of distances available - 27 and 18 miles (for walkers and runners) and 13 miles (for walkers only). Anna completed the 27-mile route in an excellent 5:44:55, which was especially impressive given the 612-meter elevation.

Parkrun Roundup

​Southampton
Tom Barclay​​(16:18)
Emma Sandham​​(24:52)
 
Oxford
David Brewer​​(20:53)
 
Norwich
Ellie Scott​​(25:06)
 
Bedford
Kris Whitmore​​(19:16)
Thomas Buzzard​​(20:30)
 
Stevenage
Chris Cope​​(27:30)
Helen Giffin​​(34:20)
Sheila Leavy​​(38:17)
Vanessa Rolfe​​(40:32)
 
Wimpole Estate
Vincent Wright​​(21:38)
Michael Over​​(23:22)
Paula Holm​​(23:29)
 
Clacton Seafront
John Russell​​(24:51)
 

Letchworth
Ben Snowden​​(22:45)
William Harrison​​(23:05)
James Dalton​​(23:43)
Verity Hague​​(25:41)
Steve Brenton​​(25:57)
Phil Hunt​​(27:25)
Gregor Bowie​​(30:52)
Jo Harbon​​(31:51)
Philip Flack​​(33:15)
Bev Rimmer​​(36:40)
 
Great Denham
Andrew Coates​​(23:37)
Anna Priestley​​(28:38)
Georgia Barker​​(30:50)
Richard Barker​​(30:59)
 
Holyrood
Craig Snowden​​(24:39)
 
Brook Leys
James Godfrey​​(21:05)
Joseph Barker-Sherry​(26:43)
Frances Stanton​​(33:54)
 
Frank’s Farm
Daniel Wrigley​​(23:26)