North Herts Road Runners were out in force at various events this week

Couch to 5k success at FSOM 5k

In the first race in the 3-race Hatfield 5k series the Squirrels were in impressive form. The men’s team of Mark Vaughan, Adam Bowller, John Auld and John Rayner were crowned Herts Champions, a title the club has won for the last 3 years. The ladies also ran superbly with Astrid McKeown, Jane Clarke and Yuko Gordon also on the podium winning county bronze. Full results were: In 2nd place Mark Vaughan (16:20 - a new club record), 5th Adam Bowller (16:33); 9th John Auld (17:00)l 14th John Rayner(17:26); 20th Matthew Sayers (17:48); 23rd Nick Malpeli (17:51); 32nd Simon Poole (18:30); 39th Andrew Green (18:53);44th Astrid McKeown (19:06); 50th Darren Matussa (19:17); 55th James Walsh (19:25); 61st Peter Sibbett (19:48); 62nd Martyn Annetts (19:53); 82nd Jane Clarke (21:30); 96th Yuko Gordon (22:43); 105th Naomi Parkinson (23:18); 109th Claire O’Sullivan (23:23);110th Matt Ankers (23:26);120th Linda Aird (24:22);129th Richard Fox (24:53);137th Ian Sutcliffe (25:27);141st Karen Dodsworth (25:47);145th Rachel Annetts (26:05)

In half-marathons Nick Malpelli finished 24th (3rd MV50) (1:22:10), picking up Bronze Medal in the British Masters Athletics Federation Championships. Helen Nuttall was first lady over the line at the Bedford half-marathon (1:28:11). At the same race, Steve Lummis (1:46:00, just shy of his PB) and Claire O’Sullivan (1:48:00) also ran well.

At the St. Albans Stampede, a 12-hour endurance event, a team of Lindsay Cook, Linda Aird, Jo Harbon, Jo Summers, Sue Foot, Paul Bowal, Gary Cook and Miranda Summers-Prithcard ran twenty laps of a 4 mile course, storming to victory for teams of 8, which included a thrilling final lap where they secured the victory.

Katie Harbon finished 1st in her age category at the final St Neots Triathlon. She competed in the Sprint Triathlon, her result including a PB in the 5k run of 17:42.
Mark Vaughan ran the Wilne 10K, finishing 18th overall (33:57), which placed him 2nd in his age category. At the Letchworth Duck n Dash, where competitors swim 400m and run 5k. NHRR results were; 9th - James Keogh (29:18); 24th- Richard Harbon (31.56); 51st - Jo Harbon (37.21); 70th - Petra Grosse-Hull (40.03); 95th - Lindsay Cook (44.08).

In Parkruns Darren Matussa finished in 6th position (21:22) at Roding Valley; Brian Judkins ran in Cambridge and finished 529th (34:59); Patrick Norris finished 189th (34:02) at Stevenage; At Wimpole Estate, Vincent Wright finished 54th (22:45) with Joe Sherry 137th (26:06); At the Barclay race, Ollie Garbas finished 2nd (21:36).
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Saturday saw the club’s First Saturday of the Month race around Norton Common in Letchworth, while there were many impressive results from club members, it was also the end of the club’s current couch to 5k beginners’ programme, and 20 of the beginners completed the race. There were tears of elation and applause all round for these amazing individuals, many of whom did not think they could run, let alone complete a 5k race just 10 weeks previously. The group received completion certificates and NHRR key rings to mark their achievement and celebrated with cake and fizz. Around half of the group have joined the club on a permanent basis following this programme. Congratulations to all concerned!