Categories
News

THIS WEEK’S PRESS RELEASE

News Release                                                                                                 24th February 2013

 

BARRY & RHIANNON WIN HANDICAP 5K

Gold For Monica

 

BARRY KING was first out of the twenty competitors who braved the bitterly cold temperatures for Fairlands Valley Spartans Handicap 5K race on Thursday evening.

He ran a new personal best of 21 minutes 46 seconds, 1:22 quicker than he has ever run before.

NICK WITCOMBE was close behind in a new PB of his own of 25:06.  GRANT RAMSAY overtook 17 runners to finish third in an excellent 17 minutes 11 seconds.

Grant was also the fastest runner on the night, with DEAN CARPENTER second quickest in 20:01 and GRAHAM BLACKBURN third fastest in 20:23.

The winning and fastest female was RHIANNON GRIFFIN in 21:30, who was the only woman racing – it was the fourth consecutive handicap 5k in which Rhiannon has run the fastest female time.

There were also personal bests (PBs) for DAVE SMITH +0:43 to 21:47, in fourth position overall, VISHAL SHAH +0:22 to 22:11 (6th), MATTHEW PALACIO +0:14 to 22:46 (7th).  MATT GILL ran a season’s best 21:18.  JAMES KILROY ran his first 5K in 25 minutes 39 seconds.

Helpers included Karen Liddle, Bev Harlow, Sara O’Callaghan, Suzy Hawkins, Liam Herbert, Simon Harris, Todd Gray and Paul Holgate.

Event Position Name Time Time Position Comments
1 BARRY KING 21:46 8 PB (1:22)
2 NICK WITCOMBE 25:06 14 PB (0:07)
3 GRANT RAMSAY 17:11 1  
4 DAVE SMITH 21:47 9 PB (0:43
5 MATT GILL 21:18 6 SB
6 VISHAL SHAH 22:11 11 PB (0:22)
7 MATTHEW PALACIO 22:46 12 PB (0:14)
8 BERNIE BARNABY 20:50 5  
9 MARK GOODWIN 21:59 10  
10 PAUL PICKARD 23:45 13  
11 DEAN CARPENTER 20:01 2  
12 GRAHAM BLACKBURN 20:23 3  
13 BARRY OSBORNE 20:42 4  
14 JAMES KILROY 25:39 15 1st 5K
15 RHIANNON GRIFFIN 21:30 7 1st Woman 
16 MATTHEW HOLGATE 36:33 20  
17 ANTON McCALLA 28:00 16  
18 PAUL HOLGATE 28:02 17  
19 EARL BROWN 30:32 18  
20 RUSS ANDREWS 31:01 19  

The next Handicap 5k will be on Thursday 28th March – will hopefully it will be warmer then.

Gold for Monica and Iris

In the same week as the women’s EVAC team collected the Comet award for team of the year, four Spartans took part in the EVAC Indoor Championships held within the wider South of England Champs.

Spartan MONICA BROWN took GOLD in the East of England Veterans (EVAC) Indoor Championships at Lee Valley.

She won the 60 metres sprint for women (45 plus) in 8.67 seconds.

IRIS HORNSEY took two GOLDS in the 70 plus category.  She was first in the 400 metres with her time of 94.20 seconds and first in the 800 metres with 3 minutes 32.67 seconds.  JOHN TYRRELL took SILVER in the 75 plus shot put with a new personal best of 7.91 metres.

STEVE MAYFIELD won BRONZE in a very close finish in the men’s (45 plus) 200m, missing silver by just 4/100ths with 28.41 seconds.   He went one better with SILVER in the M45 long jump.

In the British Masters (BMAF) Pentathlon Monica won SILVER with the following performances:- 60 metres hurdles 12.27 seconds; high jump 1.36 metres (PB); shot 6.39 metres; long jump 4.34 metres; and 800 metres 3.15.54 giving a total points score of 2580.  

Baldock Beast

Eight Spartans tackled the Baldock Beast on Sunday morning.  The half marathon route showcased Hertfordshire’s fine countryside, albeit hilly and cold countryside.  The run went through Wallington, Sandon, Roe Green and Redhill and it was enthusiastically supported by spectators in the villages.  The course was multi terrain and definitely not one for a personal best but it did give runners a great chance of a negative split.  ANDY PATTERSON was eighth in 1 hour 20 minutes 46 seconds; SIMON JACKSON ninth in 1:20:47 and CRAIG HALSEY 12th in 1:23:36 – solid times for a tough course and making them to first set of three club runners to finish.

MICHAEL GREEN was 34th in 1:30:55; TOM  AYRES 250th in 1:54:44; MATTHEW BURGESS 258th in 1:56:05; MADDIE PRITCHARD 297th in 1:59:58 and LORRAINE WYATT 385th in 2:12:08. 

 

Position Name Time Comments
8 ANDY PATTERSON 1:20:46 First team
9 SIMON JACKSON 1:20:47 First team
12 CRAIG HALSEY 1:23:36 First team
34 MICHAEL GREEN 1:30:55  
250 TOM AYRES 1:54:44  
258 MATTHEW BURGESS 1:56:05  
297* MADDIE PRITCHARD (F) 1:59:58  
385 LORRAINE   WYATT (F) 2:12:08  

 

There were 427 finishers

Not So Disgusted With Tunbridge Wells

It was bitterly cold for the Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon, but over 1800 runners braved the weather to run in this Tunbridge Wells Harriers 30th Anniversary event.  It was the first time MARK CHEADLE had made it to 13 miles since last March and he was pleased to finish in a new PB of 1:55:52.  The race was highly organised and very picturesque.  Mark says it is a must do event.

Knebworth

ELLA CERAULO continued her comeback by running the British Heart Foundation Knebworth Park Jog on Sunday.  She took 48 minutes 34 seconds for the 5.87 miles.  CLARE MOORE finished in 51 minutes. 

PB on Test Track 10

LIAM HERBERT’s first competitive race in stripes this year resulted in a new personal best (PB) for 10 miles.

He took part in the Test Track 10 mile for a second consecutive year and recorded a new personal best time of 1:01:30, taking over one minute off his previous best set on the same course in 2012.  Liam finished 15th out of 331 finishers.

The race is a hidden gem: based at the Ford Motor Company Technical Test Centre in Dunton, Essex.  The course consists of a relatively flat two lap circuit of the centre and incorporates two full flying laps around the otherwise off-bounds test track.  The perfect race for speedy long distance racers and one Liam would highly recommend.

Kiwi Coastal Challenge

Globe trotting Spartan ROGER BIGGS is in New Zealand.  He described Saturday’s Coastal Challenge as the “Race From Hell.”

It took Roger 3 hours 41 minutes 15 seconds to complete 22 kilometres along the coast, in and out of the sea, scrambling over rocks, and even a bit of running on soft sand.  The race was from Long Bay to Devenport in Northern Auckland. 

Long Run For Laing

JO LAING ran the recent Bramley 20 road race in 2 hours 27 minutes 11 seconds.

COMING EVENTS

  • County Veterans Cross Country Championships at Willian, Letchworth on Sunday 17th March 2013.
  • Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 28th March.
  • Virgin London Marathon on Sunday 21st April.
  • Fairlands Valley Challenge on Sunday 21st July.
  • Relays in the Park on Thursday 25th July.
  • Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd November.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories
News

THIS WEEK’S WHATS ON NEWSLETTER

Here is a copy of this week’s What’s On newsletter, summarising all of the activities within the club in the coming week.  Start planning!!!

215 23rd February 2013

 

Categories
News

THIS WEEK’S PRESS RELEASE

News Release                                                                                                 17th February 2013

 

CROSS COUNTRY WINNERS

Eight at Bramley Twenty

Increased participation helped Fairlands Valley Spartans achieved their best place so far in the Sunday Cross Country League.

The club won the women’s B team competition.  Over the whole series the Spartan women were seventh out of seventeen clubs and the club’s men were ninth.

The last race of the series was over a tough undulating course at Watford on Sunday.  Eleven Spartan men and eleven Spartan women finished – both the male and female teams were seventh on the day.

There were outstanding performances from GRANT RAMSAY, fourth out of the 298 finishers in just 36 minutes 3 minutes; SIMON JACKSON, 13th in 37:48; ANDREW PATTERSON, 15th in 37:56 and RHIANNON GRIFFIN, 18th woman in 47:18.

But the teams’ improvement would not have been possible without the contribution of MARTIN WOOD, 69th man in 43 minutes 33 seconds; ADRIAN DONNELLY, 96th man in 45:19; DAVID BOWKER, 102nd man in 45:40; VISHAL SHAH, 151st man in 49:48; JIM BROWN, 169th man in 52:56; STEVE PIKE, 177th man in 55:02; NICK WITCOMBE, 189th in 60:32 and ANDY INGRAM-TEDD, 197th in 64:40 for the men and….

NIKKI ANDREWS, 27th in 49 minutes 32 seconds; JULIE SIMMONS, 38th in 51:46; ROSIE CANHAM, 41st in 52:17; CLAIRE COKER, 46th in 53:35; KAREN ELLIS, 49th in 54:27; KAREN LIDDLE, 61st in 56:42; TRICIA HOPPER, 65th in 57:16; MARIA THORNE, 75th in 58:34; HANNAH DAVIDSON, 77th in 58:58 and SARAH PIKE, 89th in 64:44 for the women.

Times on the Day: Women’s Team 

Position Name Time
18 RHIANNON GRIFFIN 47:18
27 NIKKI ANDREWS 49:32
38 JULIE SIMMONS 51:46
41 ROSIECANHAM 52:17
46 CLAIRE COKER 53:35
49 KAREN ELLIS 54:27
61 KAREN LIDDLE 56:42
65 TRICIA HOPPER 57:16
75 MARIA THORNE 58:34
77 HANNAH DAVIDSON 58:58
89 SARAH PIKE 64:44

 

There were 98 female finishers.

Men’s Team

Position Name Time
4 GRANT RAMSAY 36:03
13 SIMON JACKSON 37:48
15 ANDREW PATTERSON 37:56
69 MARTIN WOOD 43:33
96 ADRIAN DONNELLY 45:19
102 DAVID    BOWKER 45:40
151 VISHAL SHAH 49:48
169 JIM BROWN 52:56
177 STEVE PIKE 55:02
189 NICK WITCOMBE 60:32
197 ANDY INGRAM-TEDD 64:40

There were 200 male finishers.

Eight At Bramley 20

Training for Spring Marathons, including the London Marathon, is well under way and eight Spartans completed Sunday’s Bramley 20 mile road race.

After a cold and foggy start, the race mostly took part in beautiful spring sunshine.  It was a big step up in distance for SHARON CROWLEY following the snow and cold bugs of recent weeks.  She did wonder if she was mad attempting the event but it seems to have worked out!  However she does have a large lump and blister on the back of her heel/Achilles from the ankle chip, so she was glad she stopped to take off the chip but wonders how much time she lost, especially with only 4 minutes between herself and Paul Holgate in the finish after she closed 6 minutes in the second half of the race!  Sharon is now proudly displaying sock and short lines and the top of her chest/neck is red, as is the top of her arms.  A suntan in February!

SIMON BELL was 56th in 2 hours 9 minutes 47 seconds; TODD GRAY 109th in 2:15:57; SAM PRETTY 193rd in 2:26:36; RICHARD HAZELDENE took two minutes off his personal best to finish 221st in 2:28:55; LEE LAWRENCE was 469th in 2:50:32; ROGER BIGGS 518th in 2:54:40; PAUL HOLGATE 746th in 3:38:37 and Sharon Crowley 752nd in 3:42:38.

There were 780 finishers

Brass Monkey 10 km road race – Rockingham Speedway Circuit – 1

DON GREGORY recently ran the Brass Monkey 10 kilometres road race on the Rockingham Speedway circuit.  He was 46th in 45 minutes 46 seconds.

Coming Events

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

  • Handicap 5K in Stevenage  on Thursday 21st February.
  • County Veterans Cross Country Championships at Willian,  Letchworth on Sunday 17th March 2013.
  • Virgin London  Marathon on Sunday 21st April.
  • Fairlands Valley Challenge on Sunday 21st July.
  • Relays in the Park on Thursday 25th July.
  • Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd November.

 

Categories
Midweek League

MIDWEEK LEAGUE – DIVISION 2 FIXTURES 2013

The dates and venues of the 2013 midweek league fixtures are out!!!  Make sure they are in your diary!

FIXTURE 1 – 14th MAY 2013 – STEVENAGE 10K  (Hosts – Fairlands Valley Spartans)

FIXTURE 2 – 29th MAY 2013 – CHINGFORD 10K

FIXTURE 3 – 12th JUNE 2013 – HARLOW 10K

FIXTURE 4 – 26th JUNE 2013 – WELWYN 5 MILE

MOB MATCH ( NON SCORING) – 17th JULY 2013 – TRENT PARK 9K

 

Categories
News

THIS WEEK’S WHATS ON

Another packed week of training activities at the club!

REMEMBER – it’s the final XC league fixture and the club are having one of it’s best seasons for many years.  We have a number of runners in contention for league trophies/medals.  Lets get out and put the club in the best possible league position!

See you at training!

214 16th February 2013

Categories
News

THIS WEEK’S PRESS RELEASE

News Release                                                                                                 10th February 2013

 

TODD WINS BRYAN MOORE SHIELD

Lisa Wins Five Mile Race * Genk & Another Enigma

55 Spartans braved Sunday morning’s cold and miserable weather to take part in the Bryan Moore Shield Handicap 10 mile and associated five mile events.

TODD GRAY won the shield by smashing his ten mile personal best (PB) by almost 3 minutes to cross the line in an excellent 64 minutes 49 seconds, almost 10 minutes quicker than handicap!  Newcomer JORDAN MILLER was second in his first 10 miles with the club in 86:43, 8:47 ahead of handicap, and the ever improving VISHAL SHAH third man in a new PB time of 77:36.

DEBBIE WESTMORE was the winning female, also in her first race with the club, in 99:10, 7 minutes 50 seconds better than handicap.  TRACY BULLOT was second, just 16 seconds behind Debbie, in 82:26, 7:34 faster than handicap.  KERRY SETTERFIELD came third just another 7 seconds further back, in a new season’s best time of 1:49:33.

Todd was also the fastest 10 mile runner on the day with LIAM HERBERT second quickest in 65:39, and Graham Blackburn third fastest with 68:10.

The fastest female was NATALIE BARNARD, just 1 week after her half marathon in Malaga, finishing in 69:11.  NIKKI ANDREWS was second quickest in 75:30 and KATY JINKS 3rd fastest in 78:09.

LISA GRAY won the 5 mile handicap in her first 5 mile race in 41 minutes 13 seconds.  SARAH HUKIN was second in a new season’s best 46:39, with CLAIRE COKER third in 37:40, just ahead of the fourth placed finisher JACKIE MORRISON taking 46 seconds off her PB to 51:08.

The winning man was LES BUTLER in a season’s best time of 48:56, with ANTHONY WHITE second, just 24 seconds behind in 40:20, and PAUL PICKARD third man in 39:35.

BERNIE BARNABY was the fastest 5 mile runner of the day in 34:51, with Paul Pickard 2nd quickest man and Anthony White 3rd fastest.  RHIANNON GRIFFIN was fastest woman in 34:57, with LISA BURGESS second by just eight seconds in 35:05.  MADDIE PRITCHARD was third fastest with 37:07.

There were also 10 mile PBs for NICK WITCOMBE +12:58 to 89:34; MARK CHEADLE +8:28 to 83:10; ISABEL GREEN +2:33 to 91:26; ROBERT EVANS +0:49 to 80:41; LEE LAWRENCE +0:37 to 77:00 and TONY BRADFORD +0:05 to 70:55.

SARAH PIKE +1:08 to 41:31 and MARIA RUSHTON +0:27 to 49:00 achieved new five mile personal bests.

In handicap races the slowest runners start first with others following at times based on recent performances until the fastest start last.  If everyone ran exactly according to their handicap everyone would finish together.  Thus the event winners are the best improvers.

Ten Mile Result

Position

Name

Time

Time Position

Comments

1

TODD GRAY

1:04:49

1

Event winner.  Fastest man. PB (2:57)

2

JORDAN MILLER

1:26:43

22

Second overall

3

DEBBIE WESTMORE

1:39:10

34

First woman.

4

TRACY BULLOT

1:22:26

17

Second woman

5

KERRY SETTERFIELD

1:49:33

37

Third woman (SB)

6

VISHAL SHAH

1:17:36

12

Third man.  PB (3:20)

7

ANDREW JORDAN

1:26:02

19

 

8

STEVE MAYFIELD

1:13:45

7

 

9

LORRAINE THOMAS

1:37:20

30

SB (1:32)

10

CHRISTINE HARDMAN

1:37:20

31

SB (1:53)

11

CHRIS LEIGH

1:37:20

32

 

12

DAWN ANDREWS

1:40:26

35

 

13

SUZY HAWKINS

1:20:03

14

 

14

MARK CHEADLE

1:23:10

18

PB (8:28)

15

ROGER HARDMAN

1:31:21

26

SB (1:42)

16

ISABEL GREEN

1:31:26

27

PB (2:33)

17

NICK WITCOMBE

1:29:34

24

PB (12:58)

18

ANDY PRIOR

1:29:44

25

 

19

GRAHAM BLACKBURN

1:08:10

3

Third fastest man

20

NATALIE BARNARD

1:09:11

4

Fastest woman )of 14)

21

TONY BRADFORD

1:10:55

6

PB (0:04)

22

LIAM HERBERT

1:05:39

2

Second fastest man

23

DEAN CARPENTER

1:09:53

5

 

24

NIKKI ANDREWS

1:15:30

9

Second fastest woman

25

PETE SMITH

1:14:22

8

 

26

LEE LAWRENCE

1:17:00

11

PB (0:37)

27

DYFED THOMPSON-SMITH

1:27:06

23

SB

28

KATY JINKS

1:18:09

13

Third fastest woman

29

MARK GOODWIN

1:15:56

10

 

30

MARIA THORNE

1:31:48

28

 

31

TRACY STILES

1:45:00

36

SB

32

ROBERT EVANS

1:20:41

15

PB (0:49)

33

KAREN PALMER

1:32:20

29

 

34

DARREN WILBY

1:21:30

16

SB

35

SELVAN NAICKER

1:26:35

21

 

36

CHARLIE PATERSON

1:26:27

20

 

37

PAUL HOLGATE

1:37:59

33

 

 Five Mile Result

Event Position

Name

Time

Time Position

Comments

1

LISA GRAY

41:13

9

Event Winner

2

SARAH HUKIN

46:39

12

Second Overall

3

CLAIRE COKER

37:40

5

Third Overall

4

JACKIE MORRISON

51:08

16

PB (0:46)

5

LES BUTLER

48:56

13

First Man (SB)

6

MARIA RUSHTON

49:00

14

PB (0:27)

7

ANTHONY WHITE

40:20

8

Second Man

8

RHIANNON GRIFFIN

34:57

2

Fastest Woman

9

PAUL PICKARD

39:35

6

 

10

MADDIE PRITCHARD

37:07

4

Third Fastest Woman

11

SARAH PIKE

41:31

10

PB (1:08)

12

LISA BURGESS

35:05

3

Second Fastest Woman

13

STEVE PIKE

42:11

11

 

14

BERNIE BARNABY

34:51

1

Fastest Man

15

ANDREA WESTCOTT

50:20

15

SB

16

TRACY PEZ

40:00

7

 

17

SAIVESHEN NAIDOO

52:49

17

 

18

SHARON CROWLEY

55:14

18

 

Enigma Marathon

ROGER BIGGS and PAUL HOLGATE ran the Enigma Marathon around Caldecote Lake in Milton Keynes on Thursday.  Roger finished in 4 hours 18 minutes 50 seconds and Paul in 5:30:49.

Genk Marathon

Three Spartans ran the Genk Marathon near Maastrich, Belgium on Sunday.  This was a seven lap course on the outskirts of Genk, with a mixture of quiet residential roads and forest trails (hard surface).  Despite the temperature being around zero, the hazy sunshine made it reasonable running conditions. 4:17:13 – Roger Biggs finished in 4 hours 17 minutes 13 seconds; CAROL PAUL in 4:43:02 and MIKE NEWBITT in 5:11:30.

Move Up In Cross Country

Fairlands Valley Spartans go into this Sunday’s Cross Country League race with the club’s women in seventh place out of seventeen and the men ninth equal on points.  Both have opportunities to move up this weekend.

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 in Watford on Sunday 17th February.

– County Veterans Cross Country Championships at Willian, Letchworth      on Sunday 17th March 2013.

– Virgin London Marathon on Sunday 21st April.

– Fairlands Valley Challenge on Sunday 21st July.

– Relays in the Park on Thursday 25th July.

– Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd November.

 

Categories
Spartan in the spotlight

Meet Davie Stafford

553890

Welcome to the next in our series of Spartans in The Spotlight,  a fascinating insight into the lifes of our fantastic runners.  This month we feature Davie Stafford who has been with FVS since 2010 and doing extremely well with the club,  with many Personal Bests and a first marathon in 2012.    So what can we tell you about Davie…..

 

Occupation: Self Employed/Window Cleaner

 

Family: wife Hailey, Daughter Isla-May

 

When did you join FVS ?  2010

 

Why did you join the FVS ?  Because i felt i needed i new fitness challenge, FVS was local & recommended through a friend.

 

As a running club,  what does FVS mean to you and provide you with ?  Provides a very good training programme. I like to be committed something and achieving my goals.

 

Whats been your racing highlight to date,  since joining the Spartans and why. Running my first marathon in MK 2012 and i’m happy I have achieved a PB in every race (so far!)

 

Which race has been the best you have taken part in and why ? St Neots half marathon, as it was a lovely course & enjoyed running it.

 

What is your favourite running distance(s) ? 10miles/half marathons

 

What are your running goals for the future,  either short term,  medium or long term goals. My main goal is to get into the london marathon (fouth time lucky this year, i hope). Sub 1hr 30 half marathon. Continue to achieve my pb’s in every race i enter.

 

What other Sports and hobbies do you have in your spare time ? none

 

Whats the most interesting fact about you,  that your friends at the running club would not be aware of ?
I was a qualified chef before i owned my own window cleaning company

 

Thanks Davie,  so clearly you are loving your racing and setting some great Personal Bests along the way.  Congratulations on your first Marathon in 2012.  Good luck with your targets in 2013.

 

Next up in the spotlight Series,  I will be catching up with the FVS Most Improved female and Most Improved Male – so stay tuned to this channel !!!!
Andy Jay.
Categories
News

THIS WEEK’S WHATS ON NEWSLETTER

Here is this week’s What’s On Newsletter, a chance to see all the upcoming club activities for this coming week!

213 9th February 2013

 

Categories
News

THIS MONTH’S CATCH A COACH HAS LANDED!

Here is this month’s Catch a Coach newsletter from the coaching team.

Take a look at the ten of the best for February.  There’s loads going on with a particular emphasis in our training for the forthcoming midweek league series starting in May.  The planned speed development and hill training complement a whole range of training objectives so please don’t miss then simply because you are training for a marathon.  They will turn you into quicker runners and they are great fun to do with the rest of the club.

See you on the training ground!

Catch a Coach newsletter February 2013 v0.1

 

Categories
Club

THIS WEEKS NEWS RELEASE

News Release                                                                                                 3rd February 2013

 

WATFORD HALF

Tough Guy

It was a beautiful day for the ten Spartans running Sunday’s Watford Half Marathon.  Despite the undulating course four ran new personal bests (PBs) for the 13.1 miles.  MATTHEW GILL improved by 23 seconds to 1 hour 40 minutes 46 seconds (524th); VISHAL SHAH by 4 minutes to 1:43:55 (654th) and BARRY KING by a massive 7 minutes 36 seconds to 1:52:08 (982nd) and JENNIFER ROBERTSON by an incredible 12 minutes 32 seconds to 1:41:30.  She was first woman for the club and 545th overall in the popular race which had 1,703 finishers.

DEAN CARPENTER was the fastest for Fairlands Valley.  He was 317th in 1:34:19.  SUZY HAWKINS finished in 1:44:34 (691st) and KIM TYLER in 1:58:48 (1,229th). 

STEPHEN BLOCK was 1,259th in 1:59:10; PAUL HOLGATE 1,477th in 2:08:47 and NEIL MAIDENS 1,641st in 2:23:48.  Paul reckons he overtook 98 runners in the second half of the race. 

Position Name Time   (Chip) Comments
317 DEAN   CARPENTER 1:34:19  
524 MATTHEW   GILL 1:40:46 PB   (23 seconds)
545 JENNIFER   ROBERTSON (F) 1:41:30 PB   (12:32)
654 VISHAL   SHAH 1:43:55 PB   (4 minutes)
691 SUZY   HAWKINS (F) 1:44:34  
982 BARRY   KING 1:52:08 PB   (7:36)
1229 KIM   TYLER (F) 1:58:48  
1259 STEPHEN   BLOCK 1:59:10  
1477 PAUL   HOLGATE 2:08:47  
1641 NEIL   MAIDENS 2:23:48  

Tough Guy Rob

ROB EVANS, along with seven team mates from work, travelled to Perton near Wolverhampton last week to take part in TOUGH GUY 2013.  The challenge began with a grueling 5-6 mile cross-country run including hill slaloms, deep mud and wooden obstacles before taking on the 3-4 mile “Killing Fields” assault course.

The team had to battle water temperatures of minus 10 degrees C, very deep mud obstacles, electric shocks, claustrophobia, barbed wire, 12 metre high cargo nets with dual rope and plank walks.  As a measure of the toughness of the course there was a shortage of medical staff, ambulances and air ambulances to cope with the number of competitors suffering injuries and hypothermia.  Even some of the rescue divers (in dry-suits!) had hypothermia.  Approximately one third of the 5,000 entrants did not complete the course.

All eight members of the team were tremendously proud to have successfully completed the event.

Tracy First Lady

Spartan TRACY PEZ was first lady in the North Herts first Saturday of the month 5K.  She was 23rd overall in 25 minutes 9 seconds.  KIERAN FEETHAM was 15th in 23:47 and SARAH FEETHAM 50th in 28:40.

The course was very muddy and slippery.  Kieran lost his shoe at one point and had to stop to put it on.

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 10th February (new date).
  • Cross Country League in Watford on Sunday 17th February.
  • County Veterans Cross Country Championships at Willian, Letchworth on Sunday 17th March 2013.
  • Virgin London Marathon on Sunday 21st April.
  • Fairlands Valley Challenge on Sunday 21st July.
  • Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd November.

Categories
News

This week’s Whats On newsletter

Here is this week’s Whats On newsletter, giving you details of all of the club’s training activities for the coming week.  Remember there is much more information within the club’s training calendar, easily found on the website.

See you at training!

212 2nd February 2013