The annual mob match brought the curtain down on the 2023 Midweek Road Race League - with North Herts Road Runners taking the local bragging rights.

The event brings all of the teams from across the three divisions together for a final round on the streets of Welwyn Garden City.

And the Squirrels did enough to finish fifth overall, off the back of a superb third-place for their women's team.

They were spearheaded by the superb run of Katie Harbon who won the 10k race, her third over the distance in six days.

The Comet: Rhia Botha, Katie Harbon and Astrid McKeown of North Herts Road Runners were award winners in the Midweek League. Picture: NHRRRhia Botha, Katie Harbon and Astrid McKeown of North Herts Road Runners were award winners in the Midweek League. Picture: NHRR (Image: North Herts Road Runners)

She was crowned league champion in the women's event while Ben Hadman was second in the men's competition.

Others to pick up prizes at the league presentation event immediately after the run were

Rhia Botha, second FV35, and Astrid McKeown, third FV45.

Stewart Overton was the leading male from NHRR on the night, placing 14th.

Fairlands Valley Spartans finished ninth overall on the night, Sam Pretty-Connors leading the women to a seventh-placed finish by coming home in 11th.

The leading man was Andrew Patterson who was fourth.

Spartans, who were promoted to the flight from Division Two, also had individual prize winners in the league.

Pretty-Connors and Christine Lathwell were second and third women in the open competition while Ashley Johnson was second FV35.

For the men, Patterson won the MV40 group with Richard Bate in third, the same position Simon Fraser managed in the open competition.

Hitchin Running Club were 11th in the mob match, Anna Bruce (32nd) and Peter Males (39th) their first finishers.

The Comet: Some of the Striders squad at the mob match in Welwyn Garden City. Picture: STEVENAGE STRIDERSSome of the Striders squad at the mob match in Welwyn Garden City. Picture: STEVENAGE STRIDERS (Image: Stevenage Striders)

Stevenage Striders were 15th but did have an individual success in the league as a whole, Phil Deaves awarded second prize in the MV60 group.

Lucy Crocker (63rd) and Athar Abdullah (49th) were their first finishers in Welwyn.

Stevenage & North Herts AC also had teams in the mob match, placing 17th overall with top runners being Abigail Manson (29th) and Andrew Robson (72nd).

In total there were 541 runners at WGC with Division One champions St Albans Striders taking the win on the night ahead of the host club, Garden City Runners.

The other big event of the week was the self-guided Fairlands Valley Challenge, organised by FVS, in which nearly 200 people ran, jogged or walked one of the five trail distances on offer.

They were 10k, a half marathon, 18 miles, a marathon or an ultra 50k.

Sue Foot of NHRR ran the 27.5-mile option in a time of six hours 19 minutes, impressive considering illness in the last two months had severely limited her distances.

The Comet: Striders at the Fairlands Valley Challenge. Picture: STEVENAGE STRIDERSStriders at the Fairlands Valley Challenge. Picture: STEVENAGE STRIDERS (Image: Stevenage Striders)

Stevenage Striders had a good squad there with three running the marathon and another 12 over half that distance.

Peter Moye (4:46:00), Glenn Cuzner and Martin Scales (both 5:11:45) were the marathon runners while Chris Rowlands led in the half-marathon group in 2:01:29, a course PB for him.

Matthew Robinson (2:33:10), Marc Hagland (2:33:25), Peter Monk (2:33:53), Clarence Phillips (2:34:35), Sarah Kinsella (2:36:26), Chrissie Thomas (2:36:46), Kirsten Jarvis (2:36:46), Stacey Pallister (2:36:50), Fiona Davis (2:37:00); Mike Astley (2:37:00) and Helen Cal-Fernandez (3:21:00) were the others.

The Comet: The half marathon team of Phoenix five miles in - Mark Legate, Simon Burton, Gavin Cooper, Chris Leigh, Andrew Liddle, Phil Gover, Scott Crawford. Picture: STEVENAGE PHOENIXThe half marathon team of Phoenix five miles in - Mark Legate, Simon Burton, Gavin Cooper, Chris Leigh, Andrew Liddle, Phil Gover, Scott Crawford. Picture: STEVENAGE PHOENIX (Image: Stevenage Phoenix)

Stevenage Phoenix were out in force too.

In the half marathon, the club had seven runners who all enjoy the good conditions and views of Aston, Watton and Datchworth before dropping back into the south end of Stevenage to the finish.

Phil Gover, Gavin Cooper, Andrew Liddle and Simon Burton finished in 2:30 with Chris Leigh, Scott Crawford and Mark Legate two minutes behind.

The Comet: The Phoenix ultra marathon and 19 mile team - Ashley Bates, Jodie Kantas, Russ Wingfield, Jay Papa, Peter Tungate, Emma Mead, Lisa Liversidge. Picture: STEVENAGE PHOENIXThe Phoenix ultra marathon and 19 mile team - Ashley Bates, Jodie Kantas, Russ Wingfield, Jay Papa, Peter Tungate, Emma Mead, Lisa Liversidge. Picture: STEVENAGE PHOENIX (Image: Stevenage Phoenix)

On the 19 mile route Jodie Kantas and Jay Papa completed the longest route either have attempted, 18 miles, finishing in a strong time of 3:24.

The ultra marathon saw five Phoenicians take on the challenge - Russ Wingfield, Emma Mead, Lisa Liversidge, Peter Tungate and Ashley Bates.

The additional loop around Datchworth and Burnham Green was tough but they stuck to it, clocking up just over 33 miles in a time of 8:20.