North Herts Road Runners maintained a high position in the table despite missing several key personnel for the second fixture of the Midweek Road Race League. An injury-hit men s team meant that the Squirrels travelled to Welwyn Garden City for the 10k ra

North Herts Road Runners maintained a high position in the table despite missing several key personnel for the second fixture of the Midweek Road Race League.

An injury-hit men's team meant that the Squirrels travelled to Welwyn Garden City for the 10k race with a considerably weakened squad.

There were still 64 members who turned out for the club and packed well enough to leave the club in a strong position.

Astrid McKeown won the women's section with fine support from Paula Adams, Melissa Winters, Jane Chappell, Jo Summers and Jo Harbon.

Although not as strong, the men managed to get all the 12 scoring runners well inside 80th position.

With the next race being their home fixture, North Herts hope to consolidate their position at the top end of the league.

Several veterans from the club were at Birmingham at the weekend for the British Masters Road Relay Races.

The club were able to field three teams in the event in which each runner had to run a three-mile leg.

Cross-country champions Christine Sharp, Rachel Lancaster and Karen Dodsworth entered the women's Vet 45 category and finished in 1-12:12.

And a men's Vet 50 team of Stewart Bryant (18:43), Roger Witherick (19:37), Dave Howitt (21:05), Alan Jones (21:34) and Chris Priestley (21:26) finished in 2-00:39.

A men's Vet 40 team of Pete Sibbett (17:03), John Franklin (18:27), Richard Harbon (17:53), John Russell (17:55), Richard Thackeray (18:11), Martyn Annetts (18:59), Adrian Sherwood (18:48) and Duncan Hooker (19:19) completed the race, which featured many international athletes, in 2-26:35.

Three members of the club took part in the Paul Pearce Memorial 10,000m at the British Blind Sports Athletics Championships at Nuneaton. A rare track outing saw Norman Leslie finish in 41m followed by Jo Summers (45m) and Colin Calcutt (46m).

In other events, Jaime Gavira-Valez (42:30) and Mike Mello (45:16) ran the multi-terrain Wheathampstead 10k. Jane Chappell entered the Bushey Park 5k near Hampton Court and finished in 20:36 and Johnny Spinks travelled even further afield to Sweden where he achieved a personal best of 1-29:39 at the Gothenburg Half-Marathon.

Fairlands Valley Spartans' Chris King was a dazzling second woman overall in the East Cambs Half Marathon at Soham on Sunday.

Chris stormed round the course in a new personal best of 1-34:56 and was 47th out of everyone taking part.

Jim Brown was the first Spartan finisher in 1-28:44 and was 23rd overall.

Times: Jim Brown 1-28:44, Chris King 1-34:56 pb, Kevin Smyth 1-37:21, Ron Church 1-41:02, Doug Hall 2-10:13.

The Isle of Wight Marathon was run for the 50th time on Sunday.

Two Spartans helped celebrate the Golden Jubilee by competing over the hilly course which included 1,505 feet of climbing. Graham Blackburn finished in 3-12:39 and Roger Biggs in 3-37:44.

The Spartans trio of Paul Maguire, Gary Mulhern and Alison Suckling were in Wheathampstead for a 10k multi-terrain race.

The wet, windy and muddy yet invigorating event saw Paul finish in 42:19, Gary 46:36 and Alison 58:51.