Month: January 2013

News Release                                                                                                 27^th January 2013

CHAMPIONS NIGHT FOR SPARTANS

Spartans In Italy

GRANT RAMSAY is Fairlands Valley Spartans’ overall champion for 2012.  He won the long and short distance championships for men.

Nearly one hundred members of the club enjoyed their Presentation Evening and Disco at Knebworth Barns on Friday.

The award winners were:

IRIS HORNSEY won the women’s short distance age related championship; JULIE SIMMONS was second and club chair BEVERLEY HARLOW third.  All runners in short distance championships had to run three out of 1500 metres, 5 kilometres, 5 miles and 10 kilometres.

BARRY OSBORNE was delighted to win the men’s short distance age related championship; ANDY NEATHAM was second and DAVID BOWKER third.

In the female long distance age graded championship KERRY JAMES won with Beverley Harlow second and Sharon Crowley third.  In all long distance championships runners had to run three out of 10 miles; half marathon; 20 miles and full marathon.

The male age graded championship was won by SIMON BELL with GRAHAM BLACKBURN second and PETE SMITH third.

ANN TRYSSESOONE was surprised and really delighted to win the award for most improved female in 2012.  ANDY PRIOR was the most improved male.

RHIANNON GRIFFIN was the Starter of the Year AND came second in the female open short distance championship.  JO LAING won that championship and KERRY JAMES came third.  In the open championship it’s simply the case that the fastest runners win.

Jo Laing also won the long distance open championship for women.  In this case NIKKI ANDREWS was second and PAULETTE ELDRIDGE third.

Grant Ramsay won the men’s open short distance championship with SIMON JACKSON second and RICHARD BATE third.  Grant also won the long distance championship with ANDREW PATTERSON second and CHRISTOPHER WESTCOTT third.

STEVE SMITHSON won the Chairman’s Award for services to the club.

The contest for the prestigious Spartan of the Year was so close that there were two winners — Steve Smithson and CHRIS LEIGH.

Having won both open categories Jo Laing was the overall female champion.  Grant Ramsay won both male categories with fantastic scores making him the male champion and overall club champion.

Sharon Crowley and Mark Cheadle won the Captains’ Awards which were presented by Tracy Pez and Nick Witcombe.

In addition Simon Harris was congratulated for winning the Paul Pearce Disability Award; as were David Bowker who won gold in the British Masters Athletics Federation Championships; Iris Hornsey who won gold and silver at the British Masters Indoor Track and Field Championships and three golds at the British Masters Athletics Championships; Monica Brown who won silver at the British Masters heptathlon, silver in the pentathlon and bronze in the British Masters Athletics Federation outdoor pentathlon; and Grant Ramsay who represented Team GB in the European Veterans Marathon Championships

Lots of pictures of the presentation evening are available from the gallery on www.fvspartans.org.uk or direct from Jim Brown (0793 968 7509).

Spartans In  Italy

Two Spartans were in Naples, Italy for a marathon & half marathon on Sunday.  It was a lovely sunny day and after a coolish start almost perfect running weather.  The course took in much of Central Naples including its cobbled streets, which were rather wearing.  Roger Biggs completed the marathon in 4:19:44 and Barbara Wilson the half marathon in 2:16:49.

Cheadle in Canterbury

On Sunday the sun came out to thaw the roads of Canterbury which meant the 10 miles road race could go ahead after several local races had been cancelled recently.  The sun was bright, the wind strong and hills steep!  MARK CHEADLE ran the undulating 10 mile course in a new personal best of 1:22:27 taking nearly 10 minutes of his old PB.

Coming Events

Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks including the:

• Spartans Handicap 5 and  10 mile races on Sunday 10^th February (new date).
• Cross Country League in Watford on Sunday 17^th February.
• County Veterans Cross Country Championships on Sunday 17^th March 2013.
• Virgin London Marathon on Sunday 21^st April.
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3^rd November.

News Release  20^th January 2013

PRESENTATION EVENING THIS FRIDAY

No Races In Snow But Spartans Still Run

Fairlands Valley Spartans Annual Presentation Evening and Disco will be on Friday 25th January at Knebworth Barns.  Tickets are £25.00 which includes a hot buffet and disco. The evening starts at 7.30p.m.  The fun will continue until midnight.

Presentations will be made to Club Champions and of course to the Spartan of the Year. Awards will be made for leading positions in, for example, the women and men’s long and short distance championships both the fastest and age related.  Book now to be sure of a place, particularly if you think you might be in the top three in any category and even if you don’t as your company will be welcome.

Spartans and their friends will be warmly welcomed to help make this a great celebration of ‘The UK’s Best Running Club.  More details on www.fvspartans.org.uk

Spartans Move Up In Cross Country League

The huge turnout of 41 Spartans in the recent Cross Country race on Therfield Heath, Royston dramatically improved the club’s position in the league.  The men were hovering around tenth but came third out of the seventeen teams and the women are seventh with their “B” team first in that competition.

The next league cross country league race will be in Watford on Sunday 17^th February.

Snow Go For County Championships

Many Spartans had entered Sunday’s Fred Hughes 10 at St. Albans which was to include the Hertfordshire ten mile road race championships.  Unfortunately the snow and ice meant it was not safe for a competitive event for 800 runners to go ahead.  However several Spartans enjoyed some fun runs in the snow.  Pictures are available.

The championships may be included in another event later in the year.

Coming Events

Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks including the:

• Spartans Presentation Evening and Dance on Friday 25^th January.
• Spartans Handicap 5 and 10 mile races on Sunday 27^th January.
• Cross Country League in Watford on Sunday 17^th February.
• County Veterans Cross Country Championships on Sunday 17^th March 2013.
• Virgin London Marathon on Sunday 21^st April.
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3^rd November.

News Release                                                                                                 13^th January 2013

PRESENTATIONS ON THE 25^th

Great Turnout for Cross Country

Fairlands Valley Spartans Annual Presentation Evening and Disco will be on Friday 25th January at Knebworth Barns.  Tickets are £25.00 which includes a hot buffet and disco.  The evening starts at 7.30a.m. and continues until midnight.

Presentations will be made to Club Champions and of course to the Spartan of the Year.  Book as soon as possible to be sure of a place.

Spartans and their friends will be warmly welcomed to help make this a great celebration of ‘The UK’s Best Running Club.’  More details on www.fvspartans.org.uk

Huge Turnout for Cross Country League

Fairlands Valley Spartans fielded three women’s teams and two men’s teams, a total of 41 runners, in Sunday’s Cross Country league race on Therfield Heath, Royston.

It was cold, hard and hilly but there were many excellent Spartan performances.  Six men finished in the top 50 — SIMON JACKSON was sixth in 34 minutes 16 seconds; ANDREW PATTERSON 17^th in 35:45; CRAIG HALSEY 26^th in 36:38; LEE REYNOLDS 37^th in 37:55; LIAM HERBERT 39^th in 38:09 and TODD GRAY 46^th in 39:02.

For the women the first six were RHIANNON GRIFFIN, 123^rd overall in 43 minutes 4 seconds; KATY JINKS 173^rd in 46:51; NIKKI ANDREWS 179^th in 47:06; TRACY PEZ 192^nd in 48:10; JULIE SIMMONDS 206^th in 49:45 and ROSIE CANHAM 212^th in 49:45.

Results for all 41 Spartans follow.

Men:

Women:

The next and final cross country league race will be in Watford on 17^th February.  The County Cross Country Championships for veterans are on 17^th March.

Mystery MK 10K

On Sunday STEPHEN BLOCK ran in the Race Timing Systems ‘Mystery’ 10K around Willen Lake in Milton Keynes.  The mystery was that the course was a secret until the day before the race!   He achieved a new personal best with his first sub-50 minute 10K with a time of 49:45.

Half Marathon Update

This year’s Stevenage Half Marathon will be on Sunday 3^rd November.

Coming Events

Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks including the:  

• Fred Hughes Ten, including County Championships, on Sunday 20^th January.
• Spartans Presentation Evening and Dance on Friday 25^th January.
• Spartans Handicap 5 and 10 mile races on Sunday 27^th January.
• Cross Country League in Watford on Sunday 17^th February.
• County Veterans Cross Country Championships on Sunday 17^th March 2013.
• Virgin London Marathon on Sunday 21^st April.
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3^rd November.

Here is this week’s Whats On newsletter.  Please take a look and start to plan next week’s training and social activities with the club!

REMEMBER – 25th January sees the club’s presentation evening at Knebworth Barns.  Don’t forget to buy your tickets and also vote for Spartan of the Year.  Go to the club website home page for details.

209 12th January 2013

News Release                                                                                                 6^th January 2013

LADIES SHOW THE WAY IN CROSS COUNTRY

Lisa Wins 5K * Grant Wins Again

Fairlands Valley Spartans ladies showed the men the way in Sunday’s Hertfordshire Cross Country Championships which were held on a hard, hilly and very muddy course at Haileybury College, Hertford.

The women’s race was very competitive and over eight kilometres.

The Spartan team was eighth with RHIANNON GRIFFIN 21^st in 39 minutes 49 seconds; Julie Simmons 38^th in 43.42; Karen Ellis 47^th in 47.47; Karen Liddle 48^th in 48.25; Sharon Crowley 52^nd in 50.07; Tricia Hopper 54^th in 51.19 and Maria Thorne 57^th in 53.25.

In the men’s race over 11 kilometres SIMON JACKSON was 21^st in 44 minutes 55 seconds and GRAHAM BLACKBURN 84^th in 58 minutes 8 seconds.

The next cross country race is on Sunday 13^th January at Royston.

Lisa and Martin Win Handicap

32 Spartans got 2013 off and running at the club’s Handicap 5k on Thursday. The first 5 finishers were all running their first 5K with the club, with the winning time recorded by LISA LIVERSIDGE in 24:45, 3½ minutes ahead of handicap, followed by RUTH REILLY in 26:38 and SARAH HEADLAND 28:28, both 2½ minutes better than handicap.

The winning man was newcomer MARTIN OLIVANT (5^th overall) in 27 minutes exactly, 2:15 ahead of handicap, with DEAN CARPENTER 2^nd man, 4:37 quicker than his previous handicap 5K, to finish in less than 20 minutes for the first time, and MARK CHEADLE 3^rd in a new PB of his own of 23:07, 36 seconds faster than before.

Fastest runner on the night was LIAM HERBERT, 1½ minutes ahead of handicap, in 18:44, with CRAIG HALSEY back from a long lay-off with injury, 2^nd quickest in a new PB time of 18:50, and TODD GRAY third fastest in 19:33, with ADRIAN DONNELLY in a new season’s best (19:44) and CRAIG HALSEY (19:57) also both quicker than 20 minutes.

Fastest female was RHIANNON GRIFFIN who overtook 15 runners to finish 12^th overall in 21 minutes 4 seconds, 12 seconds faster than in November, with newcomer SUZY HAWKINS second quickest in 23:34, 2:18 better than handicap.  JENNIFER ROBERTSON was third fastest, in 24:02, 1:43 ahead of handicap.

VISHAL SHAH 22:33, SELVAN NAICKER 23:21 and LORRAINE WYATT 27:59 also recorded new personal bests.  There were also a season’s  best for PETE SMITH 21:41.

The next Handicap 5K date soon now that the new access arrangements to Marriotts have opened.

Flying Start To New Year

GRANT RAMSAY got 2013 off to a flying start by running the Edinburgh Portobello Promenade 4 mile race in a new personal best of 21 minutes 57 seconds.  He was happy to sneak below 22 minutes, in windy conditions.  Grant was twelfth

NIKKI COLLINS and JIM BROWN both ran in the Serpentine New Year’s Day 10K.  Nikki was happy with her time of 51 minutes 57 seconds.  She was 292^nd out of the 567 runners.  Jim was 151^st in 46 minutes 15 seconds.  It was cool but there was bright sunshine and a light wind.

Eve Ely

Other Spartans got a character building end to 2012 at the extremely windy Ely 10K.

SIMON JACKSON was ninth out of the 539 finishers in 35 minutes 46 seconds; RICHARD BATE 19^th in 37:08; LIAM HERBERT 49^th in 40 minutes exactly; RHIANNON GRIFFIN 115^th, and 15^th female, in 44 minutes 49 seconds; ANDY PRIOR 255^th in a new personal best of 49 minutes 51 seconds and PAUL HOLGATE 444^th in 59:23.

Mountain Ash

Even later in 2012 HELEN and LEE MORRIS completed the Nos Galan race in Mountain Ash, on the evening of New Year’s Eve.  Lee finished in 26 minutes 46 seconds and Helen in 32 minutes 11 seconds.

The race always features a mystery runner to commemorate the local personality in whose memory the race is held.  This year it was the Olympian Dai Green.

Krakow 10K

ANDY NEATHAM ran in the Krakow New Year’s Eve 10K.  There was a 5K and 10K, starting together with the courses separating at 2.5k.  Over 1250 runners toed the start line, many in fancy dress, for which prizes were awarded.  Andy ran the 10k, finishing 29th, and 3^rd veteran (40 plus), out of 754 finishers in 39 minutes 26 seconds.  It was his slowest ever 10k, but as it was Andy’s first race since his worst ever injury back in August, he was reasonably happy.

First Saturday 5K

ANDREW PATTERSON won the North Herts First Saturday 5K on Norton Common on Saturday morning.  The weather was good, the Common, however, was very boggy.

He finished in 19 minutes 5 seconds.  He says that at some points it felt like he was sinking in the mud and in the up hill mud trails thought he was going backwards.  A strong first lap was enough to kill off the opposition and he won by well over one minute.

Although not exactly PB (personal best) friendly, he’d recommend this race as a good alternative to the free local park runs in Bedford and St Albans.

Fastest UK Marathon This Year As Grant Wins Enigma

Spartans’ GRANT RAMSAY won the fastest UK marathon so far this year when he won Saturday’s Enigma Winter Marathon, Bletchley in 2 hours 47 minutes 43 seconds.  This was a course record by three minutes.

The course consisted of 7.5 laps round the outside of Caldecote Lake.

ROGER BIGGS was 30^th in 4 hours 2 minutes 24 seconds.  CAROL PAUL finished in 4 hours 49 minutes 18 seconds.  There were 63 finishers.

Hilly Buntingford

As always Sunday’s Buntingford Ten was hilly but this year it was crisp and sunny rather than dull and icy.  Thirty Spartans competed in the ten miles event.

ADRIAN DONNELLY (65^th in 1 hour 8 minutes 43 seconds); JOHN HARRIS (67^th in 1:08:53); DEAN CARPENTER (70^th in 1:09:07) and GRAHAM BLACKBURN (79^th in 1:10:26) were all in the top 100 finishers.

MARK GOODWIN (131^st in 1:14:44); ANN TRYSSESOONE (233^rd with a 12 minutes 36 seconds improvement to 1:21:49); BARRY KING (298^th in 1:25:59); TRICIA HOPPER (331^st in 1:28:48) and KAREN LIDDLE (332^nd in 1:28:55) all ran new personal bests.

SARAH PRICE (221^st in 1:20:50) was the fastest Spartan woman.  TRACY PEZ was a few seconds behind (224^th in 1:21:08).  Ann Tryssesoone was 233^rd (see above) and KAREN ELLIS 295^th in 1:26:19.

474 finishers.

Portsmouth Coastal

ROGER BIGGS ran one of the most popular trail marathons in England recently.  It was the Portsmouth Coastal Trail Marathon.  The course hugged the coastline from Southsea round Hayling Island and back again on a mixture of tarmac, paths & trails.  On a dull and windy day, rather wet underfoot, but without the expected rain, Roger Biggs completed the 26.2 miles in 4 hours 45 minutes 8 seconds.

Half Marathon Update

Following the successful Stevenage Half Marathon on 4th November, the organisations listed below who helped with marshalling, car parking and water stations, have all been given donations: Stevenage Scout groups, Stevenage Sea Cadets, The Rotary Club of Stevenage and The Rotary Club of Stevenage Grange.

In addition, the following charities have also been given donations towards their work:  Shine; Herts. Society for the Blind; Lister Hospital Children’s Ward; Greenside School; and the Herts Air Ambulance.

Thanks everyone who helped make this a very worthwhile event in spite of the weather!

Fairlands Valley Spartans’ Presentation Evening and Dance will be on Friday 25^th January.  The email address for voting for Spartan of the Year is soty@fvspartans.org.uk

Coming Events

Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks including the:

• Cross  Country League on Therfield Heath, Royston on Sunday 13^th January.
• Fred Hughes Ten, including County Championships, on Sunday 20^th  January.
• Spartans Presentation Evening and Dance on Friday 25^th January.
• Cross Country League in Watford on Sunday 17^th February.
• County Cross Country Championships for Veterans on Sunday 17^th March.
• Virgin London Marathon on 21^st April.

News Release                                                                                                 30^th December 2012

As always Sunday’s Buntingford Ten was hilly but this year it was crisp and sunny rather than dull and icy.  Thirty Spartans competed in the ten miles event.

ADRIAN DONNELLY (65^th in 1 hour 8 minutes 43 seconds); JOHN HARRIS (67^th in 1:08:53); DEAN CARPENTER (70^th in 1:09:07) and GRAHAM BLACKBURN (79^th in 1:10:26) were all in the top 100 finishers.

MARK GOODWIN (131^st in 1:14:44); ANN TRYSSESOONE (233^rd with a 12 minutes 36 seconds improvement to 1:21:49); and BARRY KING (298^th in 1:25:59) all ran new personal bests.

SARAH PRICE (221^st in 1:20:50) was the fastest Spartan woman.  TRACY PEZ was a few seconds behind (224^th in 1:21:08).  Ann Tryssesoone was 233^rd (see above) and KAREN ELLIS 295^th in 1:26:19. 

There was 474 finishers.

Boxing Day Win

GRANT RAMSAY ran off Christmas with the very wet and muddy Pirton 2.5 mile Boxing Day race.  He won by a large margin in 14 minutes 42 seconds.  Another victory for Fairlands Valley Spartans, the UK’s best running club.

JOHN HARRIS ran the later 3.2 miles race at Pirton.  He was 12^th overall and third veteran (50 plus) in 22 minutes 20 seconds.

Portsmouth Coastal

ROGER BIGGS ran one of the most popular trail marathons in England recently.  It was the Portsmouth Coastal Trail Marathon.  The course hugged the coastline from Southsea round Hayling Island and back again on a mixture of tarmac, paths & trails.  On a dull and windy day, rather wet underfoot, but without the expected rain, Roger Biggs completed the 26.2 miles in 4 hours 45 minutes 8 seconds.

Glynneath

Helen and Lee Morris ran a very wet and windy Glynneath 5 mile race on Boxing Day.  Lee finished in 43 minutes 17 seconds and Helen in 52 minutes 56 seconds.

Krakow 10K

ANDY NEETHAM ran in the Krakow New Year’s Eve 10K.  There was a 5k and 10k, starting together with the courses separating at 2.5k.  Over 1250 runners toed the start line, many in fancy dress, for which prizes were awarded.  Andy ran the 10k, finishing 29th, and 3^rd veteran (40 plus), out of 754 finishers in 39 minutes 26 seconds.  It was his slowest ever 10k, but as it was Andy’s first race since his worst ever injury back in August, he was reasonably happy.

Half Marathon Update

Following the successful Stevenage Half Marathon on 4th November, the organisations listed below who helped with marshalling, car parking and water stations, have all been given donations: Stevenage Scout groups, Stevenage Sea Cadets, The Rotary Club of Stevenage and The Rotary Club of Stevenage Grange.

In addition, the following charities have also been given donations towards their work:  Shine; Herts. Society for the Blind; Lister Hospital Children’s Ward; Greenside School; and the Herts Air Ambulance.

Thanks everyone who helped make this a very worthwhile event in spite of the weather!

Fairlands Valley Spartans’ Presentation Evening and Dance will be on Friday 25^th January.  The email address for voting for Spartan of the Year is soty@fvspartans.org.uk? 

Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks including the:  

• Handicap 5K on Thursday  evening 3^rd January 2013.
• County Cross  Country Championships at Haileybury  College on Sunday 6^th  January.
• Cross Country League on  Therfield Heath, Royston on Sunday 13^th January.
• Fred Hughes Ten, including County Championships, on Sunday 20^th January.
• Spartans Presentation  Evening and Dance on Friday 25^th January.
• Cross Country League in Watford on Sunday 17^th February.
• Virgin London Marathon on 21^st April.

• Handicap 5K on Thursday evening 3^rd January 2013.
• County Cross  Country Championships at Haileybury College on Sunday 6^th January.
• Cross Country League on  Therfield Heath, Royston on Sunday 13^th January.
• Fred Hughes Ten, including County Championships, on Sunday 20^th January.
• Spartans Presentation Evening and Dance on Friday 25^th January.
• Cross Country League in Watford on Sunday 17^th February.
• Virgin London Marathon on 21^st April.