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Holidays and work commitments meant it was a small SNHAC team who made the trip to Royston for round 3 of the midweek 10k road league. Last year this race saw a massive thunder storm as runners warmed up but on another glorious evening there were no such issues this year!

Amelie Hobbs maintained her strong start in the women's race coming 3rd in the under 20s in a time of 45 minutes 41 seconds. In the men's race Isaac Whitten again won the under 20s category and was 15th overall in 38.44. Also running were Andy Robson (43.04 to come 30th overall), Phil Turner (55.41, 94th) and Bob Whitten (68.42, 112th).

The next race is in Trent Park in 2 weeks time.

10 SNHAC athletes made the short trip to Harpenden on Tuesday evening to run in the second Midweek 10k road running league race. This is a beautiful course which starts and finishes at the rugby club and the weather conditions were ideal. It was also a course that was far from flat and incorporated a number of trails!

Leading the way again was Isaac Whitten who maintained his top spot in the U20 men's category coming 8th overal in 37 minutes 34 seconds. He was followed home by Adam Searle (25th, 39.54). Despite saying he was taking it easy having run the Stockholm Marathon just 72 hours earlier, Paul Murray was next back in 44.09 (55th). The other SNHAC runners in the men's race were Trevor Mason (48.35, 94th), Phil Turner (54.06, 128th) and Bob Whitten (65.54, 151).

Amelie Hobbs led the women home in a time of 45.22 (12th) with Alex Gates 16th in 45.22. Rebecca Pickard and Jenny Cotter matched each other stride for stride around the course with Rebecca just edging it in the end to come 40th in 51.55, 4 seconds and 1 place ahead of Jenny.

Overall, the team came 7th and are looking forward to an equally scenic race 3 next week near Royston.

Middle distance coach Paul Murray flew out to Sweden this weekend to take part in the Stockholm Marathon. He completed the course around the city in 3 hours 31 minutes 28 seconds.

The second YDL Match of the season saw 21 athletes, supporting parents and a full team of officials travel to Kingston upon Thames on Bank Holiday Sunday.
The coach left Hertfordshire at 8.30am which proved a wise move. An easy journey saw the team arrive just after 10 with the first events starting at 11. Those travelling independently for later events saw the M25 live up to it’s nickname, ‘the largest car park in the world’, taking 2-3 hours for the journey and arriving after their first events had happened.
A warm day with a very stiff breeze saw some fine performances but personal bests were hard to come by, hampered by a strong cross wind, particularly evident in the Javelin.
The U17 and U20 men recorded 14 A string wins and 5 B. U20 Isaac Whitten gained 2 A and 1B 2000m SC, HJ and 400m, Jamie Joseph 1 A and 2B 100m, 200m and LJ, Jacob Kinchin Smith won the 200m and U17 Edward Turner stepped up an age group to win the A Javelin. U17 wins came from Jamie Timms 2 A wins in the 400H and JT, Ben Lewis 400m and TJ, Bobby Pitman 1 A and 1 B win in the discus and Javelin, Edward Turner in the A Hammer and 1 B wins from Kyle Gall Gray in the 200m. The U20 team won the 4x100m relay. In the girl’s competition there were wins for U17’s Abigail Manson 1500m and Lily Cotter Hammer and Shot.
Making up the team were U17’s Daniel Kanu 100m and Harrison Lund 800m and HJ, Tommy Cropley 1500, Esme Starkey 100m and LJ, Bailey Norton 100m, Kirsten Morley 300m, U20 Luka Rogers-Ezewuike in his first competition in Club colours, Annabel Howells 200m and Kachi Dike.
In the girl’s competition there were wins for U17’s Abigail Manson 1500m and Lily Cotter Hammer and Shot.
Team Manager Tallulah Taylor was delighted with the team’s performance and those athletes who competed in additional events to gain the team extra points.
SNHAC/HAWCS were the only Club with a full set of Officials gaining the team maximum Officials points (56). The team finished in second place behind host club Kingston with Guildford, Walton, Highgate Heathside and Holland Sports in third, fourth, fifth and sixth.
Full results on the Club’s website.

This year's Midweek 10k road running league got underway with a race from starting and finishing from our track at Ridlins. Over 500 runners took part with the course heading out along Broadhall Way to the foorball ground and then through the showground before a loop at the lakes allowed runners to sweep round and head for home. 16 SNHAC runners took park, the largest number for some years.

The club filled all 3 top places in the U20 men's category with Isaac Whitten first in 35 minutes 43 seconds (also 5th overall in division 3). Harrison Lund was second in 46.43 (87th overall) and Alex Pickard 3rd (50 minutes , 104th overall). In the U20 women Amelie Hobbs won in 44.03 (7th overall).

Isaac led the men's team home overall, followed by Chris Westcott who was also the winner in the V50 category (8th overall, 36.05). Next in was Adam Searle (39 minutes, 24th overall). Then it was Paul Spicer (41.31, 44th), Andy Robson (42.29, 52nd), Paul Murphy (44.29, 61st), Trevor Mason (47.53, 93rd), Phil Turner (52.54, 121st), Paul Pickard (54.05, 128th) and Bob Whitten (65.44, 140th).

For the women Amelie was joined by Alex Gates (45.55, 16th), Rebecca Pickard (51.00, 40th) and Colette Law (65.44, 74th). Overall the combined team came 7th.

As we were co-hosting the race a special thank you must go to those who gave up their evening to help marshal or manage the finish tunnel. These events just wouldn't be possible without you.

The next race is in Harpenden on Tuesday 6th June and we hope to see a good number of SNHAC runners in action again!