More than 300 entries have already been received for the Stevenage Half Marathon in early November. The race is organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans and the number of entries is far more than at the same time in previous years. This popular 13.1 mile ru

More than 300 entries have already been received for the Stevenage Half Marathon in early November.

The race is organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans and the number of entries is far more than at the same time in previous years.

This popular 13.1 mile run around the town, which finishes on Ridlins athletics track, is on Sunday, November 2.

Entry forms are available from the Fairlands Valley Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk.

The entry fee is £13 for members of affiliated running clubs, and £15 for everyone else. More information is available from half@fvspartans.org.uk

Half marathon runners must be at least 17 years of age. There will also be a two-mile fun run.

Spartans teams won gold, silver and bronze medals at the Herts county 10-mile championships in Welwyn Garden City on Sunday.

Two of the club's women's teams won gold and silver. Alison Hopwood, Sharon Crowley and Christine McCullough won the women's race, and Bev Aitken, Nikki Nation and Sally Beasley were second.

Mark Beasley led Todd Gray, Jim Brown and Les Betts to bronze medals in the men's championship.

Times: Mark Beasley 67:42, Todd Gray 67:46, Jim Brown 68:53, Les Betts 71:40, Alan Donald 73:08, Steve Mayfield 75:51, Rob Shaw 77:29, Mark Goodwin 80:32, Alison Hopwood 82:42, Paul Holgate 84:56, Kevin Lawlor 85:50, Sharon Crowley 86:37, Chris McCullough 88:48, Bev Aitken 90:02, Nikki Nation 92:41, Sally Beasley 92:56, Ron Cohen 93:13.

The race incorporated the Herts county championships for senior runners - those aged 18 and above. Men's teams consisted of four runners, and women's of three. There were 377 finishers.

Simon Bell ran the Honington 10k in 34:45 last Wednesday and he finished 15th overall and was second veteran.

Four Spartans were in Elgin, Scotland, for the Moray Marathon. Conditions were windy but there was no rain.

Times: Carol Paul 4-17, Dave Paul 4-26, Mark Sanders 4-44, and Michaela Sanders 5-04.

On Saturday, at Pauillac near Bordeaux, Roger Biggs ran 5-33:40 in the Medoc marathon. There were 23 stations serving water and food, plus 25 serving wine in a tour of the chateaux.

North Herts Road Runners achieved an impressive one-two at the Swineshead five-mile race on Sunday.

The wet weather held off for long enough for James Atkins to take first place for the Squirrels in 29:17.

Oliver Saville put in a strong performance to come home second in 30:43, exactly equalling his fastest time over the distance and secured North Herts the top two places on the rostrum.

Karen Dodsworth was the sole competitor in the ladies' five-mile race. She finished the course in 40:33.

The North Beds village also hosted a 10-mile race on the same day and several North Herts members took part.

Flash flooding meant that the route was extended to around 10 and a quarter miles, so runners got slightly more of a challenge than they signed up for!

Peter Scrowther was the first club member across the line in 1-07:00 and finished well up the large field.

Gary Cook, Mike Mello, Ian Sutcliffe and Lindsay Cook were the remaining club members to finish.

The Garden City 10 in Welwyn GC also took place on Sunday. Chris Walby was involved and came 201st from a field of around 400 in 1-22:08.