Dacourm & Tring ladies run the show at Dashers Relays

The event was held at Home Park, Windsor, in the shadow of Windsor Castle and involved a 10k race for teams of two runners, with each team member running 5 x 1km laps – alternating at the end of each lap.

The two-person team of Samantha Fawcett and Kelly Du Buisson took top spot in the ladies’ relay category, finishing 14th overall out of 80 men’s, women’s, mixed and junior teams, in a combined time of 38.02 minutes.

Also on the podium were the junior team of Indira Patel and Maddie Perry, who finished second to a strong team from Woking. Indira and Maddie, both 13, finished in a combined time of 40.22 for 30th team overall.

Stephen Shaw and Catherine Davies were the sixth mixed team across the line, in 20th position overall in a time of 38.49, only 54 seconds off the podium, while Becky Fawcett and Casper Du Buisson combined to finish as 11th mixed team in 41.21.

The ladies’ teams formed Samantha Hawkridge and Manon Pagniez, and Clare Hunt and Kayleigh Halvey, crossing the line as 13th and 21st ladies’ teams overall.

The Dacorum & Tring ladies’ team has gone from strength to strength over the year, winning a dozen team prizes in recent months, including the top spot at last week’s Spitfire Scramble 24-hour relay race in London, and, earlier in August, the team trophy for the Bearbrook 10k race in Aylesbury.

Elsewhere, a large contingent of Road Runners were on hand at the South Oxhey parkrun to celebrate Michelle Ashwell and Victoria Thornley’s 50th parkruns, and Rob Wright’s 25th time as a volunteer.

All three are run directors at the South Oxhey parkrun, with Ashwell having been instrumental in the creation and launching of the event.

The D&T team didn’t disappoint on the day: The two ladies both achieved new South Oxhey PBs at their 50th run, with Thornley posting a time of 24.31 (second SW30-34) and Ashwell finishing in 28.26 (second VF40-44).

As for the rest of the club, D&T runners swept the top-three spots. First across the line was Duncan Hamilton in 19.52, a fraction of a second ahead of Jamie Marlow, with Steve Russell coming back into form, finishing third in 20.16 (first VM45-49).

Richard Brawn was next, seventh overall in 20.59 (2nd SM30-34), while Kelly Du Buisson was 12th in 22.22, fast enough for second lady. 11-year old Thomas Ashton was next, in 15th (23.29 – 2nd JM11-14), followed by Samantha Sullivan, 17th (23.55 - 1st VF40-44); Charlotte Ashton, 27th (25.47 - 1st VW35-39); Chris Kitchener, 28th (26.05); his son Elliot, 30th (26.10 - 4th JM11-14) and Erica Klein, 37th (27.36 - 3rd SW30-34).

Also running were Denise Burford (28.46); Kirsty Russell (30.13); Samantha Hawkridge (30.31 - 2nd VF35-39); Alexis Bunce in a new PB of 31.22; Tara Kitchener (33.05); Matthew Poynter (33.15) and Ant Gomm (46.29).

In addition to Rob Wright being recognised for his 25th stint as a parkrun volunteer, Rob Deane was also helping to make it happen at South Oxhey.

At Gadebridge, Indira Patel finished third overall and first lady (1st JW11-14) in 21.55. Not far behind was Michael Lamb, eighth overall (2nd VM40-44) in 23.15, while his daughter Star finished in 32.30 (3rd JW11-14), while John Cooper (1st VM65-69) crossed the line in 38.36. John Jales and Richard Belsey were on hand as volunteers.

At the St Albans parkrun, Joshua van Heiningen finished third overall in a speedy 17.42 (1st JM15-17). Alastair Hinchliff was next for the club in 22.48 followed by Jan Briggs in 31.38.

Rhys Rowlands was in action at Black Park parkrun, finishing third overall in 18.41, while Dave Stears tested his mettle at the Poole parkrun, crossing the line in 24.31.

Jess Tanner was in Northern Ireland for her parkrun, and finished as 11th lady overall in 24.45, while in Wimbledon, Carolyn Heeps ran her first ever parkrun, finishing first in her 55-59 age group and 13th woman in a time of 23.59.