Penn 7, St. Albans Half Marathon, Coombe Hill race

A busy fortnight of racing has seen some strong performances from Chiltern Harriers senior and veteran athletes.

Penn 7 Road Race

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The Penn 7 road race around the lanes of Tyler's Green and Penn was as popular as ever. Claire Pusey of Burnham Joggers was the individual winner but Chiltern had second and third places in Debbie Wenman and Sandra Reynolds respectively. Winner of the ladies' vet 40 prize was Isabelle Winter, completing a hectic couple of weeks for her.

Men's race winner was Andy Gardiner of Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow and the team prize went this year to Wycombe Phoenix. For Chiltern, Michael Turney and Adrian Dale finished well up the field.

St. Albans Half Marathon

Warm conditions attracted a field of over 1300 to the St Albans Half Marathon with a dozen Chiltern Harriers taking part. The heat prevented fast times but there were several age category top twenty placings in this high quality field.

Neil Thubron was first Harrier home in 1:28:44 (11th vet 40), soon followed by Michael Turney in 1:30:19 (15th vet 40). In the ladies race Sandra Reynolds was 3rd vet 35 in 1:31:57; Kate Loach was 4th vet 45 in 1:42:58; and in her first half marathon, Jane Peel was 11th vet 45 in 1:54:13. Isabelle Winter won the power walking event linked to the race.

position		time	cat position
44	Neil Thubron	1:28:44	11th vet 40
64	Michael Turney	1:30:19	15th vet 40
81	Sandra Reynolds	1:31:57	3rd vet 35
159	Patrick McKenna	1:38:06	43rd vet 40
245	Doug King	1:41:33	22nd vet 50
266	Kate Loach	1:42:09	4th vet 45
525	Rik Edwards	1:51:33	48th vet 50
574	Jane Peel	1:53:40	11th vet 45
681	David Holmes	1:57:07	59th vet 50
709	Robert Armstrong	1:56:33	201st vet 40
1120	Annelle Whitfield	2:14:11	39th vet 45
1162	Frank Harris	2:18:03	96th vet 50

Coombe Hill Race

Laura Butt was the first lady home in the annual Coombe Hill race. In hot conditions, the hilly, challenging course had many competitors walking the steepest sections.

Laura's time was 30.08 and fellow Chiltern Harriers Isabelle Winter (5th) and Brenda King (20th) also conquered the gradients in 33.56 and 42.18 respectively.

On the men's side, local athlete Owain Jones won in 22.33, running for Chiltern Sparrows, with Harriers Gary Walford 19th in 28.35 and Trevor Brawn 67th in 34.00.

Steve Perkin