Local athletes were out in force for what has become a major event in the running calendar – Sunday morning s Fred Hughes 10 mile race in St Albans. FVS TRI s Simon Hall won a Herts county bronze at St Albans. He was sixth overall in a time of 56:24 with

Local athletes were out in force for what has become a major event in the running calendar - Sunday morning's Fred Hughes 10 mile race in St Albans.

FVS TRI's Simon Hall won a Herts county bronze at St Albans.

He was sixth overall in a time of 56:24 with Brian White finishing second MV50 in a time of 59:42 and 26th overall.

Samantha Tophill was the first woman home for FVS TRI in a time of 70:22 and was 167th overall from a field of 770 finishers.

Chris Yuill won the race for second woman home from Lesley Dutton and Jackie Perry with all three finishing within 45 seconds of each other.

Times: Simon Hall 56:24, Brian White 59:42, Mike Russell 1-05:43, Samantha Tophill 1-10:22, Christopher Suckling 1-10:54, Chris Yuill 1-13:06, Lesley Dutton 1-13:26, Jackie Perry 1-13:52, Paul Dutton 1-26:10.

Astrid McKeown broke the North Herts Road Runners' club record for 10 miles for the second time in three weeks.

She bettered her previous best time by nearly a minute to complete the St Albans event in 61:24.

McKeown finished as third female overall but she was the highest placed runner from Hertfordshire and was declared the county champion for the distance.

The Squirrels had 21 competitors with Nick Beresford the club's leading finisher in 12th position with a personal best time of 57:53.

There were further personal bests from veterans John Russell (62:05), Jane Chappell (67:46), Mike Mello (68:38), Alan Jones (71:59), Roger Bamberough (80:15), Allison Cook (80:50) and Christine Sharp (85:12).

Other finishers were Pete Northover (61:50), Stewart Bryant (66:20), Richard Thackeray (67:35), Duncan Hooker (68:53), Johnny Spinks (73:08), Norman Leslie (75:56), Dave Ross (78:05), Robert Riggall (79:25), Lisa Nash (79:45), Graham Thompson (84:51), Bev Evison (94:07) and Marie Shonk (94:07).

On the same day, seven club members journeyed to Peterborough to compete at the Folksworth 15 mile road race.

Over a seldom run distance but ideal for marathon preparations, Gary Cook led the team home in 1-38:19.

He was followed by Adrian Sherwood (1-43:52), Melissa Winters (1-46:45), Martyn Annetts (1-47:09), Claire Messenger (1-56:16), Neil Ward (1-57:54) and Lindsay Cook (2-45:20) who all ran well over a tough, wind affected, hilly course.

Simon Bell was the first of 37 Fairlands Valley Spartans at St Albans.

He won the award for third veteran, only 16 seconds behind the category winner, and was 11th overall in the race out of 770 finishers in 57:47.

The Spartan men's team of Bell, Martin Wood (61:42), Declan Clynes (63:41) and Andrew Garrett (65:18) were fourth.

The race was on a new course - fairly flat but spoilt by delays crossing the start line, a congested first couple of miles and lots of twists and turns.

Chris Newbitt ran a new personal best of 1-14:02. Three other Spartans ran their first ever 10 mile race - Andrew Patterson, Elisa Dunbar and Liz Morgan.

Fastest woman for the Spartans was Annette Bell in 1-10:28.

Times: Simon Bell 57:47, Martin Wood 1-01:42, Declan Clynes 1-03:41, Andrew Garrett 1-05:18, Graham Blackburn 1-05:33, Andrew Patterson 1-05:58, Jim Brown 1-06:49, Paul Maguire 1-07:13, Annette Bell 1-10:28, Mark Beasley 1-11:00, Chris King 1-11:12, Chris Newbitt 1-14:02 pb, Roger Biggs 1-14:21, Mick Connell 1-15:12, Kevin Smyth 1-15:52, Andrew Hull 1-15:54, Rob Shaw 1-16:40, Amanda Brook 1-17:47, Richard Sidlin 1-19:03, Mark Glading 1-19:10, Rob Hardy 1-21:22, Steve Green 1-21:48, Paul Holgate 1-26:11, Sue Connell 1-26:57, Kevin Williams 1-28:05, Carol Paul 1-28:14, Sharon Crowley 1-27:57, Dave Snowden 1-29:30, Lorraine Thomas 1-31:26, Craig Snowden 1-31:38, Bev Harlow 1-31:37, Alison Suckling 1-33:03, Elisa Dunbar 1-35:27, Dave Paul 1-37:29, Isabel Green 1-42:10, Keith Blaxill 1-43:35, Liz Morgan 1-55:56.