Race Report: the Shardeloes Edition

The 2026 Shardeloes Trail 10k delivered exactly what you’d expect from this course: fast starts, tough hills, and a whole lot of grit from runners from across Bucks and beyond. With 164 finishers, the field was competitive from the gun, and the front end wasted no time in stringing things out. Chiltern Harriers had an impressive 34 finishers, along with huge numbers of helpers on the day and in advance. Well done to everyone!

Overall Podiums
The men’s race was dominated early by James Davis (Dacorum AC), who stormed home in 35:33 to take the win — a full minute clear of the field. Second place went to Daniel Wolff (Belgrave Harriers) in 36:43, with our very own Tom Dixon (Chiltern Harriers AC) claiming third in 37:40, also securing the M40 prize and the Tony Watts prize for the first male Harrier. 

In the women’s race, Rachel Dench (Black Trail Runners) took a commanding win in 42:58, followed by Hannah Calderwood (Thame Runners) in 43:20. Third place went to Grace Gartlan (Dacorum AC) in 46:28. 

Age Category Winners
The age‑group battles were just as lively, and CHAC were pretty dominant:
Junior Male (U20): Max Baxter (Chiltern Harriers AC), 38:23
Junior Female (U20): Rebecca Lawson (Chiltern Harriers AC), 53:23
M40: James Turner (Chiltern Harriers AC), 38:40
F40: Anna Housley (Chiltern Harriers AC), 48:03
M50: Alistair Melville‑Smith (Chiltern Harriers AC), 42:19
F50: Catherine Holloway (Chiltern Harriers AC), 47:59 and recipient of the Janet Cartwright prize for the first female Harrier.
M60: Philip King, 48:40
F60: Celia Findlay (Dacorum AC), 55:42
M70: Rik Edwards (Chiltern Harriers AC), 61:17
F70: Avril Riddell (Serpentine RC), 69:29

Team Results
Chiltern Harriers AC swept the board, taking both team titles. Behind them, Vale of Aylesbury and Dacorum AC rounded out the men’s podium, while Dacorum AC and Tring RC completed the women’s.

Full results are here. Photos from Martyn Loach to come.

Elsewhere
There was a strong showing by the Club at the Vitality London 10k today (a very different kind of event to Shardeloes!) James Henderson led the Club home in a rapid 36:00, joined by Ben Reeder (36:24), Lydia Cross (49:03) and Simac Konkader (a PB of 50:48). 
David de Sousa took on the famous Windsor Half Marathon, finishing in 1:54:05.

Results from the Last Friday of the Month 5k are not yet available.

On Saturday 19 September Mark Nicholas did the gruelling High Peak 40 – a 40 miler in the Peak District. Mark did fabulously to finish in a brilliant time of 7:24:44, 11th overall.
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COMING UP LOCALLY: the first Chiltern Cross Country league of the season, Second Sunday 5, Tring Ridgeway Run, the SEAA Cross Country relays and the Hardwick X-Stream. Check out these events and more on the Club Calendar.

RACE REPORT NEEDS YOU: firstly, it needs you to report your results (and those of your buddies). Secondly, it needs you to put forward any local events which should be in the Calendar. Do both by emailing [email protected]