The Cambridge Half Marathon topped the list of events for running clubs across north Herts although there was plenty of choice elsewhere too.

The Cambridge run, which starts and finishes on Midsummer Common by the River Cam and passes by many of the university's colleges, saw 11,402 cross the finish line.

Among that number was a squad of 44 from North Herts Road Runners with one of them rewriting the club's record book for the distance.

Katie Harbon was the first of the ladies to finish in a time of one hour 16 minutes 21 seconds, 161st overall and seventh in the women's race.

Other female Squirrels to set a PB were Anna Klucinka (1:21:20), Rhia Botha (1:31:14), Laura Fairbanks (1:41:20) and Lucy O’Connor (1:47:25), breaking her best time set in 2018, while Mel Flynn recorded a "significant" 1:51:35.

Andreea Weisl-Shaw completed her second ever half marathon in a PB of 2:02:51 and Jenna Manggos, Nicola Withington, Tracey McCreath and Claire Hooley were all racing the distance for the first time.

The men too were showing a clean pair of heels.

Mike Roberts was first home in 1:10:56, 44th overall, while Ed Price, Ian Datlen, Oliver Parsons, Mike Over, James Godfrey, Matt Roberts, Ben Ryan and Elwyn Howell all set PBs.

Shahab Ahmad was a first-timer over 13.1 miles but recorded an incredible 1:16:38, coming 168th, and Richard Weber was a debutant at the event, narrowly missing a PB with a time of 1:45:44.

The Comet: Nick Gill, Matthew Newton and Mike Jeffs of Fairlands Valley Spartans with their 2023 Cambridge Half Marathon medals. Picture: FVSNick Gill, Matthew Newton and Mike Jeffs of Fairlands Valley Spartans with their 2023 Cambridge Half Marathon medals. Picture: FVS (Image: Fairlands Valley Spartans)

Fairlands Valley Spartans had 17 at the event with eight recording PBs.

Nick Gill, Mike Jeffs and Matthew Norton ran together for the most part and all three destroyed their previous fastest times.

Gill and Jeffs both improved by almost four minutes but Newton's 1:27:27 took a mammoth 38 minutes off his time.

Sam Simmons, Steven Dobner, Chris Watling, Mo Warrilow and Carolyn Linsell were the others to go quicker.

 

Simon Jackson was 83rd overall in a time of 1:13:42 and Carole Sheldrick ran her first half for three years, clocking 1:59:47.

Six of the seven from Stevenage Phoenix broke PBs while the other won an award.

Paul Smith was the first of the PBs in 1:37:05 while Lewis Green managed 1:41:15, Jodie Kantas 1:47:59 and Isobel MacDougall 1:58:04.

Andrew Liddle (1:56:08) and Scott Crawford (2:08:30) completed the set.

Eleanor Williams won a club personal achievement award by finishing in a time of 2:31:36.

Four from Stevenage Striders also took part.

Abdullah Athar finished in 1:22:09 with Julie Gibbons (2:01:10), Allan Sharman Garcia (2:06:45) and Soman Mohapatra in (3:19:09) the others.

The Oundle 20-mile was another popular choice of venue.

Stewart Overton, Paula Holm and Rachel Arnott of NHRR ran, Overton coming fifth overall, while there were PBs for Sue Bryson and Dawn Loynes of Phoenix.

 

 

Eight Striders took part with Kirsten Jarvis the first Diamond across the line.

Chrissie Thomas, Ian McClements, Lianne Loosley, Stacie Whitelaw, Sarah Bolger, Chris Newton and Anne Rogers were the others.

Four from FVS opted to leave the UK and head east, running in the Tokyo Marathon.

For Jackie Downes and Stuart Haycroft this completed the set of the big six - Boston, New York, Chicago, Berlin and London being the others - a big feat.

Todd Gray and Ross Gallagher were the others, the latter clocking 2:59:26 for a nine-minute PB.