The hopes of Stevenage & North Herts Athletics Club retaining their Eastern Young Athletes League crown ended in a heartbreaking final.
The squad, bolstered by Hertford & Ware Combines, had lifted the 2023 title in a home final.
But their 2024 defence was hit by a flurry of mishaps, including arriving late to Thurrock and picking up injuries in the warm-up.
The closure of the M25 did not affect the team bus but did catch out those travelling by car, meaning some missed their initial events and needed replacing at the last moment.
SNHAC did, however, perform stoutly, with the overall lead changing hands throughout the day and the final outcome coming down to the relays at the end.
In the end hosts Thurrock won the plate final with 585.5 points, 27 clear of SNHAC with Basildon in third.
Stevenage did win the U17 girls' and U15 boys' sections, and were second in three other age groups.
Among the stand-out individual performances from the squad of 82
There were wins in the girls' races from Jasmine Styles (U13 discus), Jessica Radcliffe (U13 high jump), Sarena So and Neve Sayers (both U15 1500m) and Ellie Picton and Edythe Oughton (both U15 75m hurdles).
Emily Rapley won the U17 200m and long jump, Esme Searle the U17 1500m and Enid Whitten the U17 hammer.
Other U17 athletes to triumph were Fran Hart (800m), Hazel Spitzer (1500m), Florence Fausset (triple jump) and Khadija Eyitayo (shot put).
For the U13 boys victories belonged to Stanley Wilkinson in the 100m, Luke Frostick (75m hurdles), Cameron Chivers (long jump) and Elijah Ragoobar (shot put).
Alastair Gall-Gray and Alfie Kenlin (both 300m), Thomas Chivers and Monty Norwood (both high jump), Lucas Robinson (pole vault) and Noah Clark and Thomas (both long jump) all took wins in the U15 group, with the latter also winning the 100m B final in a PB of 12.43.
And at U17 level, Edward Turner won the pole vault, Murray Heal the 100m hurdles and Horatio De Voytt the triple jump.
It was a "phenomenal week" for North Herts Road Runners, led by a stellar performance in the 200-mile Round Norfolk Relay.
Seventeen Squirrels took on the challenge, with Katie Harbon, Adam Wilson, Mike Bannister, Caroline Thrussell, Kat Burr, and Helen Ankers kicking off the first multi-terrain stages along the Norfolk coastline.
As the course moved inland, Georgia Head, Paul Bowal, and Vince Wright handed over to the stars of night-running - Ian Datlen, Mike Over, Nick Malpeli, and Alice Carty - who powered through 62 miles in total darkness.
This effort was made possible thanks to exceptional support from Thrussell, Bowal, Head, Burr, and Richard Harbon, who cycled alongside them for over 55 miles.
The final legs were completed by Hannah Ridley, Lucy O’Connor, Jo Harbon, and Jennie Fraser, bringing the team home ahead of schedule, capping off a brilliant all-round effort.
Further south, Laura Fairbanks and Anna Gibson completed the tough Suffolk Coastal Ultra 50k in just under six hours, while Fiona Baker conquered The Lap in the Lake District, a gruelling 47-mile race with 2,500m of elevation gain, in 15:31:34.
Five from NHRR also did the Stevenage 10k with Dervla Downing placing first in the V45 age category.
The third and final round of the Hatfield 5k Series saw Tom Barclay break the 16-minute barrier with a fantastic PB of 15:56, guiding the men's team to second overall.
The ladies meanwhile placed third.
Fairlands Valley Spartans had two series winner at Hatfield.
Ashley Johnson was the quickest FV35 with a total time of 57:00, the final race bringing a 5k PB of 18:48, while Alison Wood won the FV55 in a combined 1:03:29.
There were 21 Spartans ran in the third race with three more getting PBs, Mike Jeffs in 17:34, Andrea Westcott with 25:43 and 26:42 from Megan Sutton.
Andrew Patterson was the fastest Spartan in the race with 16:18 placing him sixth overall.
The club had 11 at the Stevenage 10k, Mike Jeffs finishing fourth and winning the MV40 group. Jay Papa was 16th.
Ciaran and Su McAneny were the FVS taking part in the Suffolk Coastal 50k and two Spartans reached parkrun milestones at Stevenage, Penny Schenkel clocking up 100 and Darren Emmerson 200.
Stevenage Phoenix were at the Stevenage 10k in good numbers
Starting and finishing in Hampson Park, first home for the club was Ian Harvey in 42:32, finishing 22nd overall.
Ken Hall was next over the line in 51:07, securing first place in the MV70 group, while Vicky Lang was the third Phoenician home in 58:24.
Emma Wick was delighted to finish her first 10k race in 1:11:42 with Charlie Day completing the squad in 1:17:03.
Phoenix also had Lewis Green at the Hatfield 5k, running a PB of 21:03.
The Ultra X England saw Ashley Bates in attendance.
Held in the Peak District National Park, he had set his sights on the longest of the three distances on offer, the 110k but after a brutal 68k on day one, run in 15:16 and featuring 2,565m of elevation, and with his participation in Ultra X Jordan just two weeks away, he decided not to take on day two
Conor O’Neill and Nick West tried their hand at a standard distance triathlon at Grafham Water.
The 1500m swim took place in the reservoir with a flat 38k bike ride through the nearby villages.
They finished with a 10k run.
O'Neill clocked 42:24, 1:29:34 and 50:20 while West managed 46:23, 1:28:50 and 1:02:19.
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