Tackling a Thorney Issue....

Squirrels the 10k masters at Thorney
There were stunning successes for North Herts Road Runners in a prestigious 10k race at Thorney, Cambridgeshire, with five Squirrels now in the frame to represent England Masters at the Bideford 10k Representative International Race on 10 May.
 
The standout performance came from Caroline Thrussell, who was thrilled to secure first place in her age category with a new lifetime best of 43:13, smashing the club record previously held by ex-Olympic marathoner Yuko Gordon. Caroline thanked Pete Sibbett for his ‘perfect pacing and encouragement during the race’.
 
The sunny and cool conditions were perfect for 10k racing and Ben Sewell duly led the Squirrels contingent home with a superb personal best of 33:17, with Shahab  Ahmad hot on his heels in another PB of 33:19 and winning the V45 age category victory.
 
Andrew Leach set another club record in taking the V60 prize with 34:02. Astrid McKeown’s 42:57 saw her take third place in the LV50 group and Tracy Pitcairn was ‘extremely pleased’ with a big new best of 40:33 – inside the England masters standard, placing her fourth in the LV40 category.
 
Thrussell, Ahmad, Leach, McKeown and Pitcairn now await confirmation that they have qualified to represent England Masters at Bideford in May.
 
Dave Edwards joined the PB brigade with an excellent new best of 40:58 and Rhia Botha (41:44) placed fourth in the LV35 category despite a bout of flu during the week.
 
Other North Herts finishers at Thorney were Kris Whitmore (38:32), Steve McKeown (40:29), Mike Phillips (40:38), Mike Over (41:42) and Pete Sibbett (43.20). 
 
The NHRR ladies’ team were second and the men third.  

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Twin Lakes 20
Lindsay Cook headed to Milton Keynes for the Twin Lakes 20 as part of her London Marathon preparations. She was happy to find a ‘field big enough that I wasn't alone at the back’ on the two-lap course based on tracks and trails.
 
Lindsay reported a ‘good event’, despite not enjoying the section along a canal path. She ‘crawled over the finish line’ in 04:06:23.

Media Elche
Isaac Mateu Soler headed home to Elche in Spain to take part in what is claimed to be the oldest half-marathon in the world - the Media Elche, first run in 1968.
 
He finished in 1:31:58, ‘beating my PB by 47 seconds and one step closer to my sub 1:30 goal this year’. 

​Parkrun roundup

Beccles Quay: Jon Hunt (23:52)

Brook Leys: Richard Harbon (26:04), Joe Barker-Sherry (27:34)

Central Parkrun, Plymouth: Danielle Lister (28:04)

Congleton: Sam Coxon (35:14)

Fire Service College: Nick Walker (27:15)

Great Denham: Lucy O’Connor (25:28), Brian Judkins (35:26)

Gunpowder: Darren Matussa (21:57)

Henlow Bridge Lakes: Natalie Lawrence (19:35), Chris Stokes (22:00), Martin Jackson (22:37), Paula Holm (25:17), Andrew Coates (26:31), Jane Clarke (28:16), Bob Davis (29:48), Rachel Annetts (33:20), Annette England (40:27), Philip Flack (46:30)

Hereford: Danny Alden (24:15)

Holywell King George V Playing Fields: Kris Whitmore (19:22)

Kettering: Simon Hawes (27:05)

Leamington: John Russell (25:28)

Letchworth: Matthew Ronayne (20:40), James Dalton (22:48), Verity Hague (24:53), Steve Brenton (26:58), Viv Lucas (27:19), Jo Harbon (29:58), James Poulton (35:29)

Luton Wardown: Helen Giffin (33:17)
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Sheringham: Richard Barker (24:02), Georgia Barker (34:44)

South Beach Recreation Reserve: Oliver Babik (21:47)

South Oxhey: Daniel Wrigley (23:39)

Stevenage: James Godfrey (20:58), Mike Phillips (21:48), Mike Over (21.49), Natalie Phillips (24:15), Craig Snowden (24:57), Ben Snowden (24:58), Frances Stanton (27:09), Ellie Scott (29:47), Vanessa Rolfe (38:56), Emily Yossarian (51:27)

Stanborough: David Brewer (21:50), Tracey Palmer (49:57)

Wimpole Estate: Philippa Hardcastle (27:17)

Zamek w Malborku: Vicky Haskell (38:27)
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