Race Report 26 - 27 October: 24 Hour World Championships, Bedford Autodrome Running Grand Prix, Ricky Road Run and more

It’s spoooookkkyyyy how well Harriers have been running this weekend, Race Report fans! (And shameful how bad the puns are going to get.)
 
But Let’s Do The Time Warp Again, because I managed to forget (“how?!” I hear you cry) the Tring Ridgeway Run on Sunday 13 October.  There were two Harriers in action on the hilly course, David ‘Dastardly’ Saul and Mark ‘Fearsome’ Fry, who finished in 1.22.24 and 1.30.43, respectively. (I blame the Chiltern League on 12 October, and Angela Hughes’ birthday Prosecco, for befuddling my brain.)

Moving on to this weekend, and parkrun, at Rickmansworth there was a 1st placed finish yesterday for Lean ‘Nightmare’ Ni Chiobhain (equaling her PB time of 21.47), plus a parkrun debut for Simon ‘Doomsday’ Dent (31.43). Bex ‘Bony’ Nkoane earned herself a new course PB of 20.41 at Northala Fields. Susan ‘Alarmin’ Jarman was back ankle deep in gloop at the Mud Nation Obstacle Course, finishing 2nd in her age category in a time of 1.34.44.
 
Several Harriers decided to take the Time Warp to extremes, however, choosing to spend the weekend running round and around in circles. Not least of those was Ali ‘Yikes’ Young who finished a staggering 33rd in the world at the 24 hour championships in Albi, France. A huge well done to Ali, who remains an absolute inspiration to many of us. Meanwhile, during the Bedford Autodrome Running Grand Prix, Tom ‘Putrid’ Powell loop-de-looped his way to a marathon in 3.24.11; whilst Miriam ‘Midnight’ Kempson earned herself a half marathon PB, and age category 1st, in 1.51.14; Harriet ‘Bobbing For’ Lemon(s) took 2nd in her age category for 10k in 52.02; Tamsin ‘Filthy’ Finch earned a 10k PB of 52.37; and Abi ‘Chilling’ Chapman came home in 57.08.

Ali Young joins Team GB en la France. Ali comes home in 33rd, Team GB in 5th!

Plenty of PBs at the Bedford Autodrome Running Grand Prix

In sunny Essex Neil ‘Boo’ Bates completed the Stort 30 today, a 30-mile ultra marathon and the Trail Running Association’s ‘medium distance’ championship race. Neil was 8th in his age category, in a time of 4.46.22.
 
And finally, there was a veritable zombie-apocalypse-worth of Harriers in action during the Ricky Road Run, the next of the Club’s Senior Championship events. First home was Andy ‘Wizarding’ Wiseall in 1.05.39. He was joined swiftly by: Jonny ‘Stupefying’ Stoddern (1.06.58); Pablo ‘Freaky’ Fuentes (1.07.03); Mike ‘Wormtail’ Worsfold (1.10.54); Hywel ‘Terrifying’ Thomas (1.16.03); Geoffrey ‘Nuisance’ Nunn (1.17.26); Sk-Helen-ton Cholawo (1.21.14); and Rash ‘Worry-some’ Wanninayake (1.27.49). There were category prizes for: Alan ‘Horrible’ Hornibrook (1st MV60 – 1.11.00); Sue Sp-Elliott (2nd FV45 – 1.13.40); Sandra ‘Ruthless’ Reynolds (3rd FV45 – 1.15.20); and Trevor ‘Brains and’ Brawn (3rd MV70+ - 1.28.56).
 
Huge congratulation to everyone. Enjoy plenty of treats (and as few tricks as possible) in celebration.
 
COMING UP LOCALLY: Marlow Half, match two of the Chiltern Cross Country League, Herbert’s Hole and the Bedford Harriers Half Marathon. Check out the Club Calendar for more. 

Neil Bates comes home at the Stort 30

Out in force at the Ricky Road Run