Halfs, 5s and Ducks

Duck and Dash 
The Annual Duck and Dash race featured many squirrels, competing both as individuals and relay teams.  As always it celebrates the local Lido and this year was blessed with beautiful sunshine, which really showed it at its best.  The race consists of 400m swimming followed by a 5k run around Norton Common.
 
In the individual event NHRR was represented by Andrew Robson (43:38), Elizabeth Robson (45:18), Lucy Robertson (<37mins), and James Keogh (32:46). Whilst in the team event NHRR took 1st, 2nd and 3rd place - with Katie and Jo Harbon winning in 29:39, 2nd place Jon Hunt and Grant Cameron in 32:30, and Amanda Greig and Andrew Coates came 3rd with a time of 32:34

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Bedford Running Festival
The annual Bedford Running Festival over the hot weekend provided plenty of options covering 5km to 20 mile races all starting and finishing by Bedford's beautiful embankment. The half marathon option attracted 6 squirrels with Ian Datlen first home in 1:35:04, followed by Chris Stokes 1:42:15; Rachel Arnott fourth in her age category 1:42:19, Tash Pitman also fourth in her age group 1:45:32, Andrew Wallis 2:11:03; Brian Judkins 3:04:16. 
 
Richard Webber took part in the 20 miler as part of his training for the Loch Ness Marathon and finishing in a time of 2:53:55, Richard was joined by Rhia Botha who clocked in at 2:26:35, Lucy O’Conner (3:30:25) and Mel Flyn (3:48:35).  Elsewhere Conor O'Hara-Barrett did the Bedford Twilight 10k in a time of 36:45.
 
The festival was a brilliantly organised event and a real family atmosphere in the park with face painting and rides to entertain all the children. It was a hot day so it is was great to see so many squirrels have such great races, as quite a few other runners did not finish in the 26c heat.

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Half Marathons Elsewhere
There were several other great half marathon performances over the weekend, starting in London with the Big Half where Chris Button ran with non squirrel wife and daughter. He clocked 1:36:25 which was 90 seconds from a PB, but he was very pleased with this considering the hot conditions.
 
Tom Barclay won the MNDA Jersey Half Marathon in a time of 1:14, a great event organised by Jersey Spartan AC.

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Finally Vanessa Rolf completed the Northstowe Half Marathon in a time of 2:53:42, which made her 3rd in her age category. ​

5k Racing 
The Vets County Championships took place on wednesday at The Hatfield 5k, and NHRR had some great results both in the individual and team categories.  In the women’s race Rhia Botha was 1st in FV35 with Tracy Pitcairn coming in 2nd.  In the men's race Matt Sayers was 3rd in his age category.  Whilst in the Vets team events the ladies team of Rhia Botha, Tracy Pitcairn and Rachel Arnott finished 1st, and the Men came in 3rd with Matt Sayers, Kris Whitmore, Mike Phillips and Mike Bannister making up the team.
 
Outside of the Vet’s Championships Ben Hadman also won the open race.

​FSOTM - Results
1: Mike Phillips (21:18)
2: James Dalton (22:47)
4: Ian Harvey (23:49)
7: Ian Datlen (24:50)
8: Adrian Sherwood (25:2)
9: Natalie Phillips (25:58)
13: Joanne Hoare (27:15)
14: Caroline Thrussell (27:43)
15: Niamh Madigan (27:57)

16: Andrew Robson (28:26)
17: Paula Holm (28:31)
18: Lisa Cuthbert (28:50)
19: John Auld (29:7)
24: Andrew Coates (30:50)
25: Laurie Scott (30:51)
32: Eugene Concannon (33:22)
37: Caroline Nobbs (34:32)
38: Philip Flack (34:32)
41: Vanessa Rolfe (41:57)

​Parkrun action this week

​Bonn, Germany: Steve McKeown (20:07)

Bournemouth: Tracy Pitcairn (24:29)

Cassiobury: Matthew Sayers (19:27), Barbara Sayers (26:26)

Cirencester: Thomas Buzzard (22:21)

Darlington South Park: Brian Judkins (38:31)

Great Denham: Daniel Wrigley (21:44)

Greenock: Georgina Quayle (23:21)

Henlow Bridge Lakes: Ben Snowden (22:06), Jane Clarke (25:16), Andrew Coates (25:36), Andrew Robson (26:01), Dave Braybrook (27:10), Bob Davis (33:39), Carina Quayle (36:07)

Hove Promenade: David Brewer (21:09)

Letchworth: James Dalton (24:03), Steve Brenton (25:43), Ian Datlen (27:01), John Russell (27:39), Lucy Hurley (29:00), Gregor Bowie (29:18), Jon Hunt (36:55)

Huntingdon: Phil Hunt (25:00)

Longrun Meadow: Jim Mcconnel (19:59)

​Penrose: Sam Coxon (16:25)

Rheinaue: Steve Mckeown (20:07)

Rickmansworth: Joseph Barker-sherry (25:22)

Sloughbottom: Chloe Lucas (22:18)

Stevenage: Rhiannon Botha (19:57), Mike Phillips (20:33), Chris Stokes (21:45), Linda Aird (31:10), Emily Yossarian (54:28)

Storeys Field: Kris Whitmore (18:18), Sam Whitmore (20:59)

Tooting Common: Ravina Siddall (39:08)

Upton house: Philip Flack (31:46)

Valentines: Darren Matussa (20:36)