Several race organisers took full advantage of the extended Bank Holiday weekend for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Hatfield Broad Oak 10K was one of those events. Usually held on the late May Bank Holiday Monday, this year's race lined up for its 35th running on Friday 3 June.

Locally known as the Big 'O', this special Jubilee edition 10K was enjoyed by 989 finishers in 1:46:20 with 617 home inside an hour on the fully closed road course from the medieval village of Hatfield Broad Oak, near Bishop's Stortford. 

This is a race that is still arranged by a local organisation – Hatfield Broad Oak School PTA – which has been awarded the British Association of Road Races Gold Standard for outstanding race management.

The race route is a gently undulating, fully marshalled figure-eight circuit on quiet roads, starting in the High Street and finishing on the grass on the Village Green.

First to test the going in the final few furlongs was Darren Southcott (Woodford Green with Essex Ladies, 32:28) who had seen off the challenge of Peter Coates (Witham RC, 32;48) and Conor Culham (Braintree & District, 33:08).

The top three women were among the 49 finishers within the high-quality threshold of 40 minutes. First home was Springfield Striders' Jackie Stretton (37:58) followed by W40 Helen Buller (Riverside Runners St Neots, 39:43) and Kate Natkiel (39:56).

Local clubs were out in force, including Bishops Stortford Running Club (pictured) with 65 participants led by Sam Pedley (34:18) in seventh place and first W50 Vicky Simpson (41:40) who was the fifth female finisher.

With family-owned sponsors like Broad Oak Farm Sausage Company; Gates Ford; First Stop IT; Wright & Co Estate Agents and Beard Brothers Builders, plus a volunteer army of villagers as movers and shakers behind the scenes, this is very much a local event that helps raise funds for St Marys Primary School at the heart of Hatfield Broad Oak.

Full race information at the Hatfield Broad Oak 10K website

Results available via runABC South's comprehensive race listing here 

Image courtesy Hatfield Broad Oak 10K on Facebook