The annual Herbert's Hole Challenge was last Sunday 19th November. More than 250 runners assembled for the start at 11:00am in Lowndes Park. This is a very scenic course that was looking quite spectacular this time of year with the leaves still in full gold. The course was as steep, testing and muddy as usual, but the weather was perfect. Clear blue skies and a bright sun had melted the early frost and the air was still. The race is just over ten kilometres long, taking the runner up Herbert's Hole and back down again, via Pednor Manor.
The winner this year, for the first time, was Chiltern Harriers' Eddie O'Gorman, finishing in just under 41 mins. Behind him was the talented local young runner, Matt Bennett in 41m:03s. Belgrave Harrier Mark Humphry was 3rd in 41m:09s. Carey Gray from Bingley Harriers in Yorkshire was in 4th place and took the Men's Vet 40 prize. Elliot Mocharrafie, 17th over-all in 43m:54s, took the Junior prize. (Matt Bennett is still a Junior but accepted 2nd place prize instead.)
Local runner and Chiltern Harrier Laura Butt is running in great form at the moment and proved it by winning the women's race, in a time of 46m:45s. Jessica Leitch of Oxford University was second woman, 30secs behind Laura.
It was not surprising, given the strong local presence, that Chiltern Harriers won both Men's and Women's team events. The winning men's team was Eddie O'Gorman, Matt Bennett, Patrick Wallace and John Morton. The winning women's team was Laura Butt, Debbie Wenman, Cath Holloway and Sarah Quantrill.
As usual, each finisher received a tee-shirt, sponsored by Ink-Link printers of Chesham. Prize-giving was held at Chesham United FC bar, with prizes donated by Fox's Outdoor Shop of Amersham.