Race Report 31 July - 1 August

The golden Nkoane girls were in top form this weekend: first and second female for Lesedi and Marlie at Cassiobury Park parkrun yesterday, in times of 20.23 and 21.36, respectively (an all-time PB for Marlie); and first female for Bex at the Box End Triathlon over the Middle Distance - 4.52.17 for 2250m swim, 85k bike and 20k run. Not a bad weekend’s work!

Also making it a family affair, Nick and Maddie Hughes were first male and female at the East Grinstead parkrun, in times of 18.14 and 20.48 yesterday, Saturday 31 July. Charlie Wood also brought home a first-place finish at Rickmansworth, in a PB time of 17.26, having made his parkrun debut last weekend. It was a great weekend for all-time PBs for Harriers: Mark Fry (24.19 at Brighton & Hove); Chris Lower (19.38 at Rickmansworth); Lizzie Barraclough (19.55 at Lymington Woodside); Jerry Anderson (18.58 at Wycombe Rye); Olivia Clark (22.01 at Cassiobury Park); and my fellow Race Reporter, Katie Royals (21.32 at Tooting Common). Mark Ellis-Jones got a course PB at Wendover (25.18), as did Stuart Real-Slavicky at Ricky (21.21), which was also the location for Patrick Ahern’s very first ever parkrun (20.58 - a great debut time).

Hannah Wardley took on 5k on the track yesterday, at the Hertfordshire County Champs, and was rewarded with a 'soggy silver' for her speedy 18.52 (strava time).​

Moving on to today, Sunday 1 August, Tessa Passey was also in triathlon action at Box End, completing the Middle Distance event in 5.54.53. Closer to home, there was success for Harriers at the Bearbrook 10k. Mike ‘Tiny’ Turney and Katie Repper were both first in their age categories (and second female for Katie) in times of 37.35 and 41.30, respectively. Jonny Stoodern was 3rd in his category in 38.20. There were also awesome runs by: Chris Gloster (38.22); Tamsin Finch (52.44); and James Repper (41.31). 

On the track at Lee Valley, Ian Lawson clocked a strong 4.49.17 in the 1500m during a British Masters Athletics Federation event,

And finally, Jennifer Webb was rewarded with a 4-minute PB in the London Landmarks Half, in an awesome time of 1.53.26. Well done to all our weekend racers. Great work!

COMING UP LOCALLY: Gade Valley Marathon Training Runs, the next match of the Southern Athletics League in Oxford, Burnham Beeches 10k & Half, the Coombe Hill Fell Race, Bedford Run Fest, Youth Development League Lower Age Group at Bracknell, Bovingdon 10k, Hillingdon 20 and the Maidenhead Half Marathon. Check out the Club Calendar for more info and further events.

AND: Book your tickets now for the Club Social on 24 September. They are an absolute bargain at just £13 for seniors and £8 for juniors, including BBQ. Go on!

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