The fog lifted just in time for the Fairlands Valley Spartans to win two medals in St Albans at Sunday s Fred Hughes 10-mile road race. The 23 Spartans had almost perfect conditions by the start with their first runner, Martin Wood, home in a magnificent

The fog lifted just in time for the Fairlands Valley Spartans to win two medals in St Albans at Sunday's Fred Hughes 10-mile road race.

The 23 Spartans had almost perfect conditions by the start with their first runner, Martin Wood, home in a magnificent 60:13. He was 20th overall.

And the event incorporated the Herts county championships for seniors (18 and over).

The men's team of Mark Collins, Jim Brown, Kevin Smyth and Mick Connell won the silver medal behind Barnet and District but ahead of St Albans Striders.

The club's women were also in the medals with Sharon Crowley, Carol Paul, Sue Connell and Michaela Norton-Lay taking bronze. Gold and silver were won by St Albans Striders and Ware Joggers.

Times: Martin Wood 1-00:13, Mark Collins 1-06:13 pb, Jim Brown 1-08:41, Kevin Smyth 1-11:22, Mick Connell 1-13:51, Rob Shaw 1-14:02 pb, Roger Biggs 1-14:30, Frances Ridgway 1-16:16 pb, Tony Osborne 1-17:37, Steve Green 1-19:40, Paul Holgate 1-19:49, Sharon Crowley 1-20:03, Rob Hardy 1-20:14, Dave Paul 1-22:30, Roger Hardman 1-23:10 pb, Tony Willson 1-23:42, Carol Paul 1-25:00, Sue Connell 1-29:13, Christine Hardman 1-29:56 pb, Michaela Norton-Lay 1-30:25, Alison Suckling 1-32:38, Mark Sanders 1-35:28, Pauline Hardy 1-51:25.

On a challenging course, Chris King finished Sunday's Folksworth 15-mile road race in 1-48:31. She was 120th out of the 442 finishers.

FVS TRI's Simon Hall was an excellent fifth in the Folksworth 15-mile race finishing in a time of 1-26:57.

His result was even more remarkable as he was acting as a guide to North Herts Road Runners' partially sighted international athlete Paul Pearce.

Pearce finished a superb sixth, just seconds behind his super guide.

Gerry Corrance performed well on his road race debut for FVS TRI with 1-47:12 to finish 106th from the 442 finishers. Sam Tophill was 131st in 1-49:30.

Mark Simpson ran another superb personal best to finish 12th, breaking the hour for the first time at the Fred Hughes 10-mile event in St Albans. His time of 58:37 was a personal best by more than five minutes.

Chris Suckling was also racing and finished 124th from the 470 finishers in a time of 1-11:24.

With spring marathons in London, Paris, Rome and Zurich, members of North Herts Road Runners began preparing over longer distances.

There was a cold and early start for a dozen Squirrels at the popular Fred Hughes 10-mile road race at St Albans on Sunday.

Over a fairly flat course, Johnny Spinks was the first club member home in 68:12 and there was joy for veteran Jane Chappell, who dipped under the 70-minute mark for the first time with a superb run to finish in 69:36.

Paul Bowal (77:08) and Sally Harkins (88:50) also lowered their personal bests.

There were debut runs for the club by Bev Evison and Marie Shonk, who both finished in 89:09, and by Natalie Simmonds who was pleased to complete her first race of this distance in 91:25.

Mike Mello (70:16), Dave Ross (76:25), Rachel Lancaster (82:50), Christine Sharp (90:52) and Becky Kelly (98:56) were also among the field of 500 runners.

Going the extra five miles, 16 members tackled the Folksworth 15-mile road race near Peterborough the same day.

Paralympian Paul Pearce produced a fantastic performance to finish second veteran and sixth overall with a time of 1-26:58 out of more than 400 runners.

Another veteran from the club, Pete Sibbett, was the next Squirrel home with a time of 1-36:21 closely followed by Gary Cook (1-36:59). The leading female runner from the club was Suzy Crowe who finished in 1-48:00.

Other times: Steve Taplin (1-41:25), Mark Young (1-45:02), John Franklin (1-45:26), Duncan Hooker (1-45:43), Martyn Annetts (1-48:07), Clive Adams (1-48:36), Claire Messenger (1-54:34), Chris Priestley (1-54:38), Gerald Rolfe (1-59:44), Karen Dodsworth (2-01:44), Lindsay Cook (2-18:18) and Vanessa Rolfe (2-33:06).