It’s mission complete for Gade Valley Harrier Andy

Andy was joined by fellow Harriers Sam Tucker – who is in training for her 10 marathons in 10 days challenge next year – Peter Tucker, Anita Berwick and Rupert Cavenagh-Mainwaring.

Norton was first back for the Harriers and completed the two-lap course in 3:46:12.

Cavenagh-Mainwaring finished in 3:55:38, while Peter and Sam Tucker both stormed home in 4:12:39 and Berwick clocked 4:37:00.

Also at Stevenage, 10 Harriers entered the half marathon event in the pouring rain.

First home for the club was Michael Birch in a new PB of 1:30:35, followed by Laura Sharma in a new PB of 1:40:39, Deon Percival in 1:43:36 and Kathleen Courtier in a new PB of 1:43:52.

After Courtier came Russ Bailey in 1:53:15, Dean Kidd in his first ever half marathon in 1:53:28, Krim Saidi in 1:55:07, Clare Cavenagh-Mainwaring in 2:05:55, Karis Thomas in 2:08:25 (PB) and Joanna Kidd in 2:09:00 (PB).

Gemma Bitaraf competed at the Lode Half Marathon in Cambridgeshire and – despite delays caused by police clearing an illegal rave in the village and therefore shortening the course to 10.5 miles – she completed the route in an impressive 1:17:40 as fifth female overall.

Thursday saw the Harriers get scary when a large group went for their annual Halloween run in fancy dress. They certainly got lots of shouts and car horn beeps as they wound round the streets of Hemel in the dark.

Elsewhere, a strong team of 10 Harriers travelled to the first Tring parkrun on Saturday, where Gemma Bitaraf and her Hungarian Vizla dog Chester came in first place for the women in a time of 20:27.

Bitaraf was closely followed by Tom North in 21:01, Matt Ashby in 21:23, Vince Ellerby in 21:31, Nick Crowther in 22:24, Russ Bailey in 24:43, Andy Newing in 28:08, Martin Storrie in 28:30, Susie Ivin in 30:31 and Tina Searle in 30:32. A total of 213 runners attended the race.

Also park running at the weekend was Jenny Barnett in Cambridge, who completed the 5K course in 31:27.