NHRR Report

Astrid McKeown has been back in dazzling form this week for the North Herts Road Runners recording victories at the St Neots Half Marathon at the weekend and the first race of Fairlands Valley Spartan’s Stevenage 5k Series during the week.

Astrid finished the 13.2 mile St Neots course in 1:20.22 to scoop first prize and the only Squirrel who beat her across the line was husband Steve who came home in 19^th place overall and a time of 1:18.57. NHRR were out in force at the event and the ladies also took home first prize in the team event. Astrid was joined by Melissa Winters (1:29.10) and Paula Adams (1:30.23) in the successful trio.

Claire Messenger also had an excellent race finishing in 1:35.47, a new personal best time, a feat also attained by Helen Cairns who crossed the line in 1.55.22 alongside fellow Squirrel Linda Aird (1:55.21). There were also some fantastic performances by the men with Adrian Sherwood the second man to finish for NHRR. His time of 1:24.42 was also a new personal best. Jon Hunt had a splendid run to come in below his target time of 1:40.00 by some way, finishing in 1:38.44 and club coach and multiple record holder Peter Sibbett made a welcome return to long distance racing after injury posting a time of 1:28.17. Another coach, Karen Dodsworth, also enjoyed a good run finishing in 1:47.40, her best half-marathon time since 2004. Whilts Stewart Bryant posted a time of 1:28.55 and Johnny Spinks also ducked under the one and half hour mark finishing in 1:29.00. Stewart Smither also ran well completing the course in 1.32.58.

The Squirrels were also out in numbers on Wednesday night for the first of the Fairlands Valley Spartans’ Stevenage 5k series. The race was also the senior and vets 5k County Championship and NHRR were once again amongst the medals. The men’s veterans team took County gold, with scoring performances from Peter Scrowther (17.53), Adrian Sherwood (18.36), Peter Sibbett (19.17) and Martyn Annetts (19.50). Peter Scrowther finished fifth overall in the County vets race with Adrian in ninth.

The men’s senior team took home bronze medals. James Atkins was the first Squirrel over the line in 17.35 with Oliver Saville and Gary Cook following in 17.41. Adrian Sherwood and Peter Scrowther added to their veterans' gold medals with senior silvers.

In the ladies’ race Astrid McKeown once again raced to victory. She won the race for the second year running and took first place in the ladies’ County Championship. She also helped the senior and vets teams to medals. The senior team of Astrid, Melissa Winters (19.17) and Anna Priestley (23.40) went home with silver in the County race while the veterans took bronze, represented by Astrid, Anna and Karen Dodsworth (23.46). There were also a number of PBs for other NHRR runners throughout the field and all those that took part will be looking to the second race to improve their times over the new, tougher course.

Peter Scrowther of the North Herts Road Runners was also in 10k action at the weekend. He made a trip to Chelmsford for the 10k on the edge of town. Pete has been bringing down his best time for the distance over the last few years and he didn’t disappoint himself on Sunday. In pleasant conditions he came home in 37.15.

Catherine Marsden-Jenkins and Howard Davies were admitted to the RAF base at Henlow last week for the Henlow 10. The race takes in a number of scenic villages in Bedfordshire before returning to the base to finish. Catherine posted an excellent time of 1.28.10 with Howard a little further forward in the field following an impressive run of 1.10.38.