Dacorum & Tring Road Runners show their mettle on a busy bank holiday

At the London Bupa 10,000, the club had six members taking part, with five of them running for Team Macy – a charity that raises valuable funds for The Royal Brompton Hospital and its research into congenital heart disease.

The team is named after Macy Cruickshanks, the daughter of Helen and Paul, who sadly passed away when she was only six weeks old, as a result of a congenital heart defect.

The D&T runners included Kirsty Russell (58:14), Duncan Hamilton (39:52), Danielle Kerr (58:11), Chris Kitchener (time n/a) and Jason Hawkridge (56:57). Benjamin McGuinness, one of the club’s middle-distance track runners, ran in memory of a friend who passed away last year.

Elsewhere, Clare Hunt finished the challenging Royal Windsor Half Marathon – River Trail Run in 1:52:13, crossing the line as 38th woman overall out of 303.

John Slack travelled further afield to put in his miles: he ran the Keszthely Half Marathon in the lakeside town of Keszthely in Hungary, crossing the line in 2:00:48 – fast enough for fourth in the 60+ age group.

In triathlon news, Rob Wright successfully completed his second ever triathlon and his first one in open water at the Herts Triathlon Championships. He swam 400m in 17:14, cycled 10k in 54:56 and ran 5k in 27:41 for a total time of 1.42.53.

Team-mate Matty Earles completed his first standard distance triathlon in style, finishing 13th overall at the Herts Triathlon at Stanborough Lakes, and coming second in the M40-44 age group. He did the 1,500m swim in 31:36; the 40k bike in 1:14:38; and the 10k run in 44:01 for a total time of 2:32:15.

D&T also had a fabulous day of park running on Saturday as the club’s representatives earned a total of 11 new PBs, nine age group winners and two top-three finishes – with Rachel Lewis second lady overall in Cassiobury and Steve Shaw third male in Aylesbury.

At South Oxhey, Rob Wright finished 21st overall in a new PB of 27:10 , as he warmed up for his first open-water triathlon the next day. On hand as volunteers were Tim Churchill, Rob Deane and Vicky Thornley.

Over at St Albans, Richard Slack was 20th overall in 18:57 and Alison Richardson got a huge new PB of 22:19 for ninth lady overall and first in the VW40-44 age group.

At Gadebridge, Daniel Macey was first across the line for the club, in eighth overall and first in the JM15-17 age group. Right on his heels in ninth was Richard Bentley, in a new PB of 21:24 (first VM50-54), while Chris Kitchener finished 13th in 22:13 (2nd VM45-49).

Michael Lamb, in 15th, got a new PB of 22:42 (1st VM40-44), as did Richard Belsey, finishing 18th in 23:33. David Stears posted a new PB of 25:27 (3rd VM55-59), Jim Mason cruised in in 27.35, while Calypso Phillips scored a new PB of 28:46 (1st JW15-17) and her sister Star ran for the first time at Gadebridge, finishing in 30:27 (1st JW11-14).

Helping to make it happen in Gadebridge were volunteers Rachel, Daniel and Anna Belsey, Meg Brooks, John Jales, Jamie and Erin Marlow, Helen Reardon, Kirsty Russell and Jess Tanner.

In Tring, Sam Burnell ran a new PB of 22.58 to finish 19th and first JM11-14, while Anya Higgins also got a new PB of 31.22.

At Cassiobury, Rachel Lewis and Duncan Hamilton started their taper for next week’s Edinburgh Marathon in style, finishing in 22:54 and 22:55 – with Rachel second lady overall and first in the SW25-29 age group. Esther Hamilton got a new PB of 25.53 and husband Douglas finished with her in 25:57. Michelle Ashwell ran Cassiobury for the first time, cruising in in 27:28.

Last but certainly not least, Steve Shaw showed his mettle in Aylesbury, finishing third overall in a PB of 19:23 and first in the M50-54 age group.