Powell powers to bronze

North Herts Road Runners’ Don Powell won the V70 bronze medal at the Southern Masters Cross Country Championships held at Shutleworth last Saturday.  This event attracted all the top runners from across the South of England and races were keenly contested.  The race consisted of 3 laps of an undulating course including a steep uphill and downhill section.  Using all his experience Don paced the race perfectly moving in to the bronze medal position on the 2^nd lap and continuing to pull away from the 4^th placed athlete, John Steed of Herts Phoenix, who eventually finished 2.06mins behind him.  Don finished in 29.54 just 37secons behind the silver medalist.  The race was won by Keith Spacie from Thames Hare and Hounds, the current British 5 mile V70 record holder, in an incredible 26.54.

 

North Herts  Road Runners’ excellent form continued with the lady V45s scoring the highest team finish of the day for the club in 7^th beating local rivals Fairlands Valley Spartans, Barnet and Trent Park.  First finisher for the club was Karen Dodsworth in 28^th, 29.46, followed by Rachel Annetts 36^th, 31.12, Christine Sharp 60^th, 37.26, and Ann Kirby 66^th, 41.33.

 

The V60 men were delighted to record the 2^nd top 10 finish of the day in the team competition with 9^th place overall.  Robert Riggall lead the team home in 49^th, 48.30, closely followed by Ian Sutcliffe, 56^th 51.17 and Brian bailey, 58^th 53.32.

 

In the V50s Stewart Bryant enjoyed an excellent run to finish 50^th in 40.04 with Chris Priestley recording 42.40 in 76^th whilst in the lady V35s Jo Harbon was 50th in 30.37 with Angela Piumi finishing in 54th, 32.33.

 

Finally the men V40s braved near Arctic conditions with their race starting at 2.10pm. and raced a grueling 6miles. Mark Young was first home for the club in 55^th, 37.46, followed by John Russell, 70th - 39.10, Johnny Spinks, 79th - 40.08, Martyn Annetts, 102nd - 43.05 and Tim Blenkin 118th - 50.06. In a highly competitive race the team finished 17th with Biggleswade 18th and Garden City Runners 21st.

 

For 2 members this was their 2nd race in 2 days as both Martyn Annetts and Chris Priestley ran in the Serpentine Last Friday of the Month 5km.  Martyn recorded 20mins for the 3.1 miles whilst Chris finished 3^rd V55 in 20.32.  For Chris this was not the end of his weekend races as he was 1 of 5 North Herts Road Runners who competed in the Watford Half Marathon on Sunday.  First home for the club was Dave Frampton finishing 6^th V50 in 1.26.35 followed by Johnny Spinks in 1.33.11, Howard Davies 1.33.55 PB, Jo Summers 1.39.49, Chris Priestley 1.44.33 and Roger Bamberough, 1.57.34.  Johnny, Jo, Chris and Roger are all preparing for Spring marathons and used the race as an opportunity to practice their marathon pace. 

 

At the Alsager 5 new member Luke Humphreys ran a storming 26.45 just 39seconds behind Pete Sibbett’s club record set in 1999.  Given that the cold conditions were not favourable towards quick times Luke will be looking forward to challenging the record in the summer.

 

North Herts Road Runners meet every Tuesday and Thursday, 7.15pm, at Letchworth Corner Sports Club on Whitethorn Lane.  Runners of all abilities over 16 are welcome to come along to run with us and you can try us out for a few weeks before joining.