North Herts Road Runners would not have known what to celebrate first - another successful running of their Standalone 10k or the amount of success they had in the run itself.

Standalone Farm in Letchworth Garden City once again provided the backdrop to the start and finish of the popular event which attracted a capacity 1,200 runners.

The race also served as the Hertfordshire 10k county championship and while the majority of NHRR were involved in the organisation and delivery of the race, there were still enough athletes selected to run superbly for the Squirrells.

The Comet: Standalone 10k 2023 female winner Katie Harbon of North Herts Road Runners. Picture: JAMES WALSHStandalone 10k 2023 female winner Katie Harbon of North Herts Road Runners. Picture: JAMES WALSH (Image: James Walsh)

In the ladies event Katie Harbon was crowned county champion thanks to a run completed in 36 minutes 25 seconds.

Rhia Botha got a PB of 41:03 to finish third in the race but second in the county while Sophie Thrussell completed the county podium clean sweep in a time of 41:27, fourth in the race.

Rachel Arnott was sixth in 43:05 and first FV45 while Jane Clarke finished seventh in 44:01 ad third FV35.

Across in the men's race Ben Hadman was crowned county champion in 32:41, winning after a closely fought race with Tom Webb (33:10).

Those two plus Shabab Ahmad, who ran a PB of 35:02, and Ben Sewell (35:13) were part of the successful men's team too.  

Harbon said: "It’s the marshalls, race committee and event support who make the race what it is and the success it continues to be.

"I’ll forever be appreciative of the opportunity to represent North Herts Road Runners but must thank everyone else behind the scenes for a fab weekend."

A spokeswoman for the club added: "Yet again the Standalone 10k brought together the running community and delivered a fantastic race."

The Comet: Some of the Fairlands Valley Spartans squad at the Standalone 10k. Picture: JANE WADEYSome of the Fairlands Valley Spartans squad at the Standalone 10k. Picture: JANE WADEY (Image: Jane Wadey)

Fairlands Valley Spartans' women’s team of Georgie Hooper, Suzy Hawkins and Claire Pullen won silver in the county event.

In the open race they were third as they were joined by Marie Colucci.

Pullen was also first FV55.

In total the club had 23 involved with Simon Fraser the first of them to finish in a time of 35:27, good enough for ninth.

The Comet: Stevenage Phoenix at the Standalone 10k. Picture: STEVENAGE PHOENIXStevenage Phoenix at the Standalone 10k. Picture: STEVENAGE PHOENIX (Image: Stevenage Phoenix)

Stevenage Phoenix had three more taking part and a whole host of them claimed PBs with three snatching club age records.

Ian Harvey ran 43:24 in the MV50 group, Kath Phoenix 47:16 in the senior females and Ken Hall managed 51:40 for an MV70 record.

The others claiming a PB were Jay Papa (45:00); Ian Young (47:21), Gavin Cooper (47:53), Conor O'Neill (49:46), Colette Cooper (50:34), Graham Eden (51:35), Phil Gover (51:38), Mark Legate (51:48), Neil Homewood (1:00:13), Kat Fausset (1:03:42), Stella Toresse (1:06:59) and Amy Whitby (1:14:08).

The Stevenage Half Marathon is the next big local event on October 22, an open race which will include the county championships for seniors.

Hosted by FVS, entry is available at either racesonline.uk or fvspartans.org.uk and costs £30.

The Comet: Ollie Garbas had an epic weekend at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia. Picture: STEVENAGE STRIDERSOllie Garbas had an epic weekend at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia. Picture: STEVENAGE STRIDERS (Image: Stevenage Striders)

Stevenage Striders had plenty of people elsewhere.

At parkrun this weekend, Tony Randfield reached his 250 volunteering milestone while Vicky Phillips celebrated her 100th parkrun.

Kirsten Jarvis ventured up to Scotland for the Loch Ness Marathon and finished in 5:01:59.  

Ollie Garbas had an epic weekend at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia.

He finished the 5k in 20:36 and the half marathon in 1:39:24, all on the same day and especially impressive considering he had leg surgery only two months ago.

Spartans had 23 running at parkruns on Saturday morning.

Kirk Ndugu was second at Stevenage and David Riddell fifth where 360 ran in total with FVS the volunteers on this occasion.

Two Phoenicians travelled to the Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday.

Greg Bradbury’s training had been up and down over the last few months so he was vey pleased with his 1:44:16.

New member Caitlin Evans said that running the half was one of the toughest things she has done but she stuck to the task, finishing in 2:32:48 in her first attempt over 13.1 miles.