Dacorum & Tring Road Runners flock to Leverstock Green 10k

Held in Bunkers Park, the event was organised by club member Andy Trevillion – director of Shape Up Fitness, a St Albans-based personal training centre that focuses on improvement fitness and developing strength in women.

A total of 18 club members lined up for the off-road race, which in the words of eventual men’s winner Jamie Marlow, was a ‘tough but good’ course. Marlow crossed the line in 36.01, with team-mate Jamie Saunders second overall in 37.47.

Thanks to strong runs from Daniel Griggs (44.42), Michael Lamb (44.51) and Martin Kerr (45.00) in seventh, eighth and ninth place, respectively, Dacorum & Tring was easily the top men’s team on the day.

Four other Dacorum & Tring runners finished inside the top-30 in the men’s race: Keith Wishart was 11th in 46.19, Ken Perry was 15th in 50.37, Richard Stevens finished 22nd in 54.09 and Peter Dollman was 30th in 62.21.

On the women’s side, Carly Dollman took the win in a convincing 46.19, with Tina Le third overall in 47.44.

Together with Karen Wishart (49.20) in fourth and Victoria Thornley (49.55) in fifth, the ladies had enough over the line to finish as top team.

Also running strongly for the club were Clare Hunt, ninth overall in 53.03, Erica Klein, 13th in 56.30, Kodie Mitchell, 23rd in 63.12, Janice Flowers, 24th in 65.44 and Alexis Bunce, 25th in 66.40.

In other news, Wendy Pearson and Keith Wishart took on The Hospice of St Francis Mud Pack Challenge – a muddy obstacle course 5m or 10m jaunt through the grounds of Ashridge House, with Kirsty Russell and Danielle Kerr on hand as volunteers.

The club also had 23 runners out at various parkruns and they put in some great runs, with eight of them posting new PBs and a number of top-three age group placings, including the unstoppable Belsey twins.

Starting in Gadebridge, John Hopper was 12th overall in 22.30, for second VM45-49, with Samantha Sullivan just behind in a new PB of 23.14, fast enough for first woman and of course first in her VW40-44 age group.

Next up were the Belseys, with Daniel first JM10 in 25.24, Rachel first JW10 in a new PB of 25.48 and dad Richard crossing in the same time.

Daniel Hopper finished next, in 27.41 (second JM15-17), with Louise Flower in a big new PB of 28.17, giving her first place in the SW25-29 age group. Calypso Phillips was first JW15-17 in 28.55, while John Cooper was first VM65-69 in 30.35, and Helen Reardon scored herself a new post-baby Gadebridge PB of 37.27.

In Aylesbury, Stephen Shaw ran a speedy 19.37 to finish third overall, and first in his VM50-54 age group -– only 14 seconds off his PB.

Matt Salt was back home to run in Tring, cruising home in 25.10 as he recovers from injury, but still managed to finish second in the SM20-24 age group, while his dad Rob was a bit further ahead, finishing in 24.30.

In Cassiobury, Duncan Hamilton cruised through to finish in 21.57, while Jess Tanner and Rachel Lewis pushed each other to second and third in the SW25-29 age group in 24.19 – a new PB for Jess. Kirsty Russell also got a fantastic new PB of 26.36.

Over at St Albans, D&T had just one runner, Chris Kitchener, who finished 21st overall out of 322 for a new PB of 19.25 – fast enough for third VM45-49.

Tim Churchill had a fabulous outing in South Oxhey, finishing second overall in a new PB of 22.01, which of course gave him first in his SM30-34 age group. Tim’s partner Emma Donovan was first in the SW25-29 age group in 27.50 – a new PB for her.

Leah Sill and Jan Briggs were in action at the Panshanger parkrun: Jan finished in 29.06, only 15 seconds off her PB, while Leah ran there for the first time, finishing in 29.17.

Anya Higgins, meanwhile, was back home in Belfast, and ran at Ormeau parkrun, finishing in 30.09.

John Jales was volunteering in Gadebridge, while Rob Deane and Rob Wright were on hand at South Oxhey