The first of the Hatfield Series 5k races proved a happy hunting ground for North Herts Road Runners and Fairlands Valley Spartans.

The event, held around the town's business park, also doubled as the Hertfordshire Senior Championships and the Squirrels cleaned up.

Katie Harbon and Ben Hadman were the individual winners on the night, the former beating her own club record with 17 minutes seven seconds.

And there was a team win for the NHRR men, Hadman joined by Matt Sayers, Tom Webb and Shahab Ahmad to claim gold.

The women also collected a team silver with Rhia Botha and Sophie Thrussell making up the successful trio.

The Comet: Eight of the Fairlands Valley squad before the Hatfield Series 5k. Picture: NICK KLEANTHOUSEight of the Fairlands Valley squad before the Hatfield Series 5k. Picture: NICK KLEANTHOUS (Image: Nick Kleanthous)

Spartans men followed the NHRR squad home in the team event, winning silver.

Their squad was led by Andrew Patterson with Jonathan Parr, Kirk Ndugu and Nick Gill the others.

Gill's time of 17:46 was a PB as was the 18:02 for Mike Jeffs and the 24:37 for Matt Tutton.

The Comet: North Herts Road Runners at the Baldock Rat Run. Picture: JAMES WALSHNorth Herts Road Runners at the Baldock Rat Run. Picture: JAMES WALSH (Image: James Walsh)

Another big local event this week was the Baldock Rat Run 5k, an off-road event raising funds for Garden House Hospice.

Again North Herts Road Runners had the individual winners in David Edwards and Botha while James Dalton was third overall.

Astrid McKeown won her age group.

Tim Robinson took part for FVS, meaning he has run in all five editions, coming home in 29:21.

The Comet: Mel Tanti of Stevenage Phoenix at the Baldock Rat Run. Picture: STEVENAGE PHOENIXMel Tanti of Stevenage Phoenix at the Baldock Rat Run. Picture: STEVENAGE PHOENIX (Image: Stevenage Phoenix)

Mel Tanti of Stevenage Phoenix clocked 25:29.

A lot of her club-mates were over at the Bedford Festival of Running.

With various distances on offer, the Phoenicians had plenty to choose from over very flat courses.

It meant very fast times and brought a PB of Emma Mead in the twilight 10k, her time being 51:20.

The Comet: Phil Gover and Jay Papa of Stevenage Phoenix at Bedford. Picture: STEVENAGE PHOENIXPhil Gover and Jay Papa of Stevenage Phoenix at Bedford. Picture: STEVENAGE PHOENIX (Image: Stevenage Phoenix)

In the half marathon, Jay Papa and Phil Gover ran the course together and their finishing time of 2:11:20 was a new PB for Gover.

Ashley Bates completed it in 2:19:37.

The result of the day came in the 20-mile race where Gemma Holloway not only ran a personal best but also set a club age group record of 3:36:30.

Fairlands Valley Spartans were also at the event.

David Harris-Cherguit was ninth in the 20-mile race in 2:08:13 while Jim Brown was 307th out of the 684 finishers in the half marathon, with a time of 2:01:34.