Astrid and Steve McKeown from North Herts Road Runners starred after flying all the way to Dubai. The pair competed in the Standard Chartered Dubai 10k. Astrid put in a splendid performance to win the race outright in 36:42. Although significantly slower

Astrid and Steve McKeown from North Herts Road Runners starred after flying all the way to Dubai.

The pair competed in the Standard Chartered Dubai 10k.

Astrid put in a splendid performance to win the race outright in 36:42.

Although significantly slower than her personal best - not surprising considering the extremely hot conditions under which the race took place - was around 90 seconds quicker than her nearest rival.

Astrid came home with a large glass trophy, and prize money of $1000, which just about covered the cost of the extra seat on the plane required for the trophy!

Husband Steve finished just outside the top ten in 12th overall in a time of 34:52 but was first Briton, third European and first veteran 40 plus.

Closer to home, many members of the club were in action at the Fred Hughes 10-mile race in St Albans on?Sunday.

The men's veteran team took the gold medal in the county vets competition.

The winning team and their times were: John Russell 1-05:34, Stewart Bryant 1-07:10, Pete Scrowther 1-07:24 and Adrian Sherwood 1-08:26.

Stewart Bryant also won individual bronze in the Vet 50 competition.

First woman home for the club was Natasha Pitman in 1-09:42.

Times: Gary Cook 1-02:03, David Frampton 1-05:37, Richard Thackeray 1-10:33, Johnny Spinks 1-10:47, Steve Williamson 1-11:05, Chris Priestley 1-12:30, Alan Jones 1-13:16, Howard Davis 1-14:12, Finlay Simpson 1-18:13, Jo Summers 1-18:24, Anna Priestley 1-23:17, Brian Bailey 1-22:56, Ian Sutcliffe 1-25:40, Catherine Marsden-Jones 1-25:19, Suzy Trott 1-26:10, Michael Mello 1-25:16, Neil Ward 1-25:38, Karen Dodsworth 1-27:16, Roger Bamberough 1-27:32, Linda Aird 1-28:16, Lisa Thackeray 1-29:18, Marie Shonk 1-31:35, Helen Cairns 1-32:29, Pam Dewhurst 1-34:51, Bev Evison 1-34:52, Vanessa Rolfe 1-36:40, Lindsay Cook 1-44:45, Lorraine Hewitt 1-43:54.

A small band of Squirrels were also continuing their spring marathon training by running in the Folksworth 15 near Peterborough.

Melissa Winters finished in a new personal best at this distance of 1-43:57. Also taking part in this race were Mark Young 1-45:18 and Colin Calcutt 2-11:08.

FVS TRI put out its best men's team for the St Albans race.

They were rewarded with two county vet golds and a top three team finish on Sunday.

Steve Harrison was second overall in a time of 55:53 despite being sent the wrong way along with the top 28 finishers.

Simon Hall won the Herts county vet V40 gold and was second overall in the V40 category and 15th in the race with a time of 58:40.

Gavin May was third home for the club and 28th overall in 1-01:12, just ahead of Brian White who won Herts V50 gold and second V50 in the race.

Mark Robertson ran his first 10-mile event and was the fifth scorer for the men in a time of 1-03:25.

The five-man team were third overall and best local team, finishing only behind two strong London Serpentine teams.

Gemma Sargent continued to improve and finished first female for FVS TRI in 1-11:55.

Times: Stephen Harrison 55:53, Simon Hall 58:44, Gavin May 1-01:12, Brian White 1-01:33, Mark Robertson 1-03:25, Gemma Sargent 1-11:55, Samantha Tophill 1-13:23, Stephen Hughes 1-26:54, Lynn Allen 1-28:49, Richard Allen 1-28:49.

There were 23 Fairlands Valley Spartans racing round the same course in St Albans.

Simon Jackson was 27th overall out of the 911 finishers in an excellent time of 61:14.

Times: Simon Jackson 61:14, Ben Harris 66:49, Graham Blackburn 66:16, Jim Brown 69:08, Roger Biggs 73:03, Mick Connell 73:58, Richard Sidlin 73:49, Steve Mills 73:54 pb, Mark Glading 76:01, Steve Green 79:08, Chris Newbitt 80:11, Rob Shaw 82:02, Paul Holgate 82:59, Roger Hardman 83:10, Chris Leigh 83:39, Sara O'Callaghan 84:19, Tony Osborne 86:14, Sharon Crowley 87:25, Dave Farthing 90:42, Sam Smeeton 93:17 pb, Sue Leigh 93:28, Bev Harlow 94:11, Peter O'Reilly 95:38.

A couple of Spartans opted for more mud and hills in the Wendover Woods five-mile race. Paul Maguire finished in 37:46 and Dennis Cannon in 45:43.