Well done everyone who raced over the weekend. I’ll add in Halstead official times if/when I get them….
Gade Valley Harriers were in action up and down the country once again for another busy weekend of racing, with Saturday’s cool showers and sunny spells giving way to hot sunny conditions on Sunday. It started with a 50km ultra-marathon around some of Hertfordshire’s most challenging countryside for Chris Dowling and Rob Humphreys as they took part in the Chiltern Ridge Ultra Marathon. The route started in Wendover Woods and then wound it’s way through rugged woodland paths onto the historic Ridgeway National Trail up to Ivinghoe Beacon, before descending back down towards Tring to pick up the Chiltern Way and return to Wendover. Dowling finished in tenth place, despite a few wrong turns, in 5:05:02 with Humphreys just behind in 5:49:09.
The Wheathampstead 10k took place on Sunday and seven Harriers took on the challenging off-road course around nearby beautiful countryside to enjoy some outstanding scenery. David Goodman led the team to the finish line, clocking in at 42:31. Teresa Reason was third female to complete the course, in a time of 44:35, ahead of Trevor Normoyle(47:10), Tracey Cotton (49:52), Kirstie Hardiman (55:22), Helen Heathcote (1:03:01) and Lisa Pinder (1:09:20).
Joanna Kidd, Helen Terry and Victoria Crawley Wise all competed in the Halstead and Essex Marathon which sends athletes on an undulating course around country lanes and picturesque villages near Braintree. Kidd endured the 26.2 miles of hills and clocked a time of 4:42 and Terry had to fight through the pain after suffering from a hip injury but still managed a commendable time of just under five hours.
Thomas North was competing in multiple challenges near Market Harborough in Leicestershire over the weekend. On Saturday he started with the Trail Mix Challenge – a different 5km course on the hour every hour for five hours – and ended with the Headlight Hop 10k which snakes along multi-terrain tracks across farm land, over rolling hills and through forests. He followed all that up on Sunday with the Thump Half, a challenging 13.1 mile two lap trail run. The three events combine to make up the Run Rabbit Trail Festival.
Peter Tucker was the third Vet 65+ at the Loseley Breakfast Run. He completed the hilly 11.4 km road race which starts and finishes in the gardens of the scenic Loseley House in Guildford in 1:23:03.
Meanwhile in south Buckinghamshire Paula Cook and Tina Searle were participating in the town based Marlow 5 mile race. Cook clocked a time of 46:16 with Searle finishing in 47:34.