There were high fives all round as running clubs headed down the A1 for another county championship.

The latest was for the five mile distance and came at the Hatfield 5.

Starting and finishing at the Forum at the University of Hertfordshire, it utilises the Alban Way before looping back round through Sleapshyde and it is known for fast times.

The Comet: Vicky Archer of Fairlands Valley Spartans set a PB at the Hatfield 5. Picture: KEITH FENWICKVicky Archer of Fairlands Valley Spartans set a PB at the Hatfield 5. Picture: KEITH FENWICK (Image: Keith Fenwick)

Fairlands Valley Spartans had two county medalists, Grant Ramsay taking silver in the MV50 group while Yuko Gordon won gold in FV70 category, winning by 29 seconds.

The quick course helped Vicky Archer to a PB of 40 minutes 32 seconds, a full five minutes quicker than previously.

There was also a PB for Nichola Durent, who finished with Sharon Crowley in 1:09:35.

The Comet: Sharon Crowley and Nichola Durent of FVS at the Hatfield Five. Picture: KEITH FENWICKSharon Crowley and Nichola Durent of FVS at the Hatfield Five. Picture: KEITH FENWICK (Image: Keith Fenwick)

Stevenage Phoenix also have a county champion with Ken Hall winning the MV70 group.

He was part of 28 athletes from the club and there were seven club age group records set.

Jay Papa set a new best for seniors with a time of 31:28 while Lewis Green's 34:28 also put him top of his group's rankings.

First lady home was Jodie Kantas in a new ladies' record of 37:25 while other records to fall came from Wayne Simmons (39:12), Katka Laughton (39:29), Ken Hall (40:19) and Caitlin Evans (43:14).

The Comet: Stevenage Striders were at the Hatfield 5 too. Picture: STEVENAGE STRIDERSStevenage Striders were at the Hatfield 5 too. Picture: STEVENAGE STRIDERS (Image: Stevenage Striders)

Stevenage Striders had a big squad in attendance and there were club records and PBs for them too.

Matthew Robinson not only led the team home but he did it quicker than before, his new PB set at 31:27.

Ben Barker (32:41) and Glenn Cuzner (32:59) were the next two men to cross the line.

The first female was Lucy Crocker and she did it in a new PB and club record  of 36:01.

Joining her on the PB step was Fiona Davies with 44:50 and Paula Heyes in 54:31.

The Comet: Stevenage Phoenix with their medals from the Hatfield 5. Picture: STEVENAGE PHOENIXStevenage Phoenix with their medals from the Hatfield 5. Picture: STEVENAGE PHOENIX (Image: Stevenage Phoenix)

North Herts Road Runners had 12 involved and they too were filling their boots with PBs.

Kris Whitmore (30:45), James Keogh (31:24) and Georgia Barker (48:05) all went quicker than before while Sheila Leavy's PB of 1:02:29 came from race walking.

Dave Edwards was the third male from the club to finish in 32:56 while Rachel Arnott was the first female with a time of 33:21.

The Comet: Claire Hooley of North Herts Road Runners at the Hatfield 5. Picture: NHRRClaire Hooley of North Herts Road Runners at the Hatfield 5. Picture: NHRR (Image: North Herts Road Runners)

The club also had 47 involved at Wooton in Northamptonshire for the second race of the Three Counties Cross-country League.

The weather was cold, but the sun was still shining making for great running conditions.

Katie Harbon won the ladies' race with Hannah Ridley in eighth, Rhia Botha in 12th and Tash Pitman in 15th, good enough to hand NHRR the team victory too.

The men were second in the team competition with Sam Coxon leading them home in seventh, just ahead of Mike Roberts in eighth and Darren Sunter in ninth.

It means that after two rounds, the Squirrels are first overall in the women's competition and second in the men's.

Round three is the NHRR home race on December 17.

Tom Barclay meanwhile added to the club's PBs with 33:52, " a 42-second best", achieved at the Doncaster 10K.

The Comet: Penny Schenkel and Jim Brown of Fairlands Valley Spartans at Portobello Parkrun. Picture: FVSPenny Schenkel and Jim Brown of Fairlands Valley Spartans at Portobello Parkrun. Picture: FVS (Image: Fairlands Valley Spartans)

Fairlands Valley Spartans had some parkrun tourism going on with Jim Brown and Penny Schenkel at the Portobello Parkrun in Edinburgh.

It wasn't the furthest a club member travelled though, that belonged comfortably to John Nelms who ran at the Cambridge Parkrun on New Zealand's North Island.

Grant Ramsay was third at the club's home run at Stevenage while Harriet Smith was the fastest FVS female.

That race had a group from NHRR there in fancy dress to celebrate Jon Hunt’s 50th event.

And Mike and Natalie Phillips both achieved parkrun PBs of 19:36 and 23:01.