RAMSAY RACES LONDON
Carol Finishes Her 20th

GRANT RAMSAY ran a national championship qualifying time of 2 hours 40 minutes 51 seconds in Sunday’s warm London Marathon. He was 199th out of the 39,942 finishers – within the top 0.5% of the race. Nineteen Fairlands Valley Spartans finished the 26.2 mile race round the capital.

Two other Spartans beat the three hour barrier – SIMON JACKSON, 767th in 2:40:51 and CHRIS WESTCOTT, 856th in 2:55:17. NATALIE BARNARD was the club’s fastest woman with her time of 3 hours 27 minutes 30 seconds. MARK GOODWIN (3:46:52); JENNIFER ROBERTSON (3:47:22); BARRY KING (4:22:56) and JAN FRY (5:08:31) all ran new personals bests.

CAROL PAUL finished her TWENTIETH London Marathon in 4 hours 24 minutes and 57 seconds.

Several Spartans were running their first marathon including LISA LIVERSIDGE (4:25:59); KATE HANLON (4:50:30); KERRY SETTERFIELD (5:16:31) and TRACY STILES (5:51:37).

Other Spartan performances included ANDREW PATTERSON (3:08:50); PETE SMITH (3:23:08); ROGER BIGGS (3:58:48); TRACY BULLOT (4:30:16); PAUL HOLGATE (5:08:31) and SHARON CROWLEY (5:28:37).

Position Name Time Comments
199 GRANT RAMSAY 2:40:51 Champ Time
767 SIMON JACKSON 2:54:05
856 CHRIS WESTCOTT 2:55:17
2086 ANDREW PATTERSON 3:08:50
3650 PETE SMITH 3:23:08
5000 NATALIE BARNARD (F) 3:27:30
7699 MARK GOODWIN 3:46:52 PB
7834 JENNIFER ROBERTSON (F) 3:47:22 PB
10610 ROGER BIGGS 3:58:48
15973 BARRY KING 4:22:56 PB
16474 CAROL PAUL (F) 4:24:57 20th London
16721 LISA LIVERSIDGE (F) 4:25:59 1st Marathon
17830 TRACY BULLOT (F) 4:30:16
22386 KATE HANLON (F) 4:50:30 1st Marathon
25858 PAUL HOLGATE 5:08:31
25877 JAN FRY (F) 5:08:31 PB
27052 KERRY SETTERFIELD 5:16:31 1st Marathon
28680 SHARON CROWLEY (F) 5:28:57
30937 TRACY STILES (F) 5:51:37 1st Marathon

Forty of other Spartans volunteered to ensure the event was a success by working behind the finish line and remembering the casualties at the Boston Marathon just six days earlier.

Open Graded

Over 300 competitors used Watford’s second midweek open graded of 2013 to get an idea of their early season form. In heat 3 of the 200 metres, STEVE MAYFIELD came seventh, running 28.03 seconds despite the windy conditions and lane 8 draw.

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 on Thursday 25th April.
• County Five Miles Championships in Pednor on Monday 6th May.
• County Track and Field Veteran Championships in Stevenage on Monday 6th May.
• County 1500 metres championships for seniors and veterans on Monday 6th May.
• County Veterans 10K Championship at St. Albans on Sunday 12th May.
• Mid Week League 10K in Stevenage on Tuesday 14th May.
• Main County Track and Field Championships on 25th May.
• Mid Week League 10K in Chingford on Wednesday 29th May.
• Garden House 5K in Fairlands Valley Park on Sunday 9th June.
• St. Albans Half Marathon on Sunday 9th June.
• Mid Week League 10K in Harlow on Wednesday 12th June.
• Mid Week League Five Miles in Welwyn GC on Wednesday 26th June.
• County 10K track championships at Sandy on Thursday 11th July.
• Mob Match 9K in Trent Park, North London on Wednesday 17th July.
• Fairlands Valley Challenge on Sunday 21st July.
• Relays in the Park in Stevenage on Thursday 25th July.
• Herts Senior 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 24th September.
• County 10K Championships in Letchworth on Sunday 6th October.
• Herts Veterans 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 8th October.
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd November.
• County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013.
• Watch for announcements about the County Marathon Championships.

Join The Spartans

Live in or near Stevenage? Like running? Fairlands Valley Spartans is your local running club and is on the up! The club was voted the UK’s Best Running Club in 2010. It now has about 400 members and encourages participation by all. The Spartans have a varied training programme to suit those who want to run 5 kilometres through to full marathons.

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 9.30a.m. sharp. Spartan track training sessions are held at Ridlins Athletics Track, Woodcock Road, Stevenage most Saturdays from 9.15a.m. There are events to enter every Sunday. Newcomers are very welcome – those who have not done very much running yet might prefer to start with a Thursday, Saturday or Monday session.

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (0793 968 7509 or 01438 354505), Vivienne Honey 07702 846304 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

E N D S

More from Jim Brown (Press Officer) 0793 968 7509 / 01438 354505 or Vivienne Honey (Secretary) 07702 846304

www.fvspartans.org.uk

SPRING MARATHONS START TO ROLL

10Ks at Flitwick and Cambourne as Simon Shapes Up

14^th April 2013
Sun shining, felt like Spring, a week to go to the London Marathon but several Spartans were running marathons at the weekend.

Brighton Rocks As Marie and Dawn PB

It was a lovely warm day, albeit on the windy side, for Sunday’s Brighton Marathon.

MARIE COLUCCI ran brilliantly to finish in a new personal best (PB) of 3 hours 51 minutes 30 seconds; ROGER BIGGS was also inside four hours with 3 hours 59 minutes 37 seconds.

DAWN EASBY was over the finish line in a new PB 4 hours 4 minutes 33 seconds and CAROL PAUL in 4:15:18.

PAUL HOLGATE was heading for a sub five time but just drifted away towards the end to finish in 5.06.58. He reckons he got the better suntan. CLAIRE YOUNG finished in 5:22:17.

Position	Name	Time
2119	MARIE COLUCCI (F)	3:51:30 (PB)
2738	ROGER BIGGS	3:59:37
3463	DAWN EASBY (F)	4:04:33 (PB)
3883	CAROL PAUL (F)	4:15:18
7223	PAUL HOLGATE	5:06:57
7903	CLAIRE YOUNG (F)	5:22:17

There were 9,067 finishers.

Hazey’s Rotter”Dam Buster

Richard Hazeldene ran the Rotterdam Marathon in 3 hours 29 minutes 40 seconds, a personal best by 3 minutes 3 seconds and 20 minutes quicker than at last year’s London Marathon. In a well organised popular race it took 2-3 miles for him to find enough space to get into his stride. The temperature rose throughout, which made the latter stages tough but to break through the sub 3.30 barrier was the target. Mission accomplished…..just.

Holland in Paris

CHRIS HOLLAND ran in the recent Paris Marathon in 4 hours 11 minutes 19 seconds. This was in improvement of just over 40 minutes on his time in London last year, a month before he joined the Spartans. He was pretty pleased with this given his fairly inconsistent training in 2013 and only getting three hours sleep the night before. The crowds were very enthusiastic, a little too much in places encroaching on to the course. All in all a very enjoyable experience.

Flitwick 10K

NICK WITCOMBE and KAREN PALMER ran Sunday’s Flitwick 10K. No personal bests but great preparation for the Mid Week League on an undulating course. Nick finished in 55:07 and Karen in 55:52.

Simon Shapes Up For London

Spartan SIMON JACKSON won the weekly St Albans 5k Parkrun on Saturday morning.

At 1k Simon was holding on to the lead pack but he slowly ate in to the competition to take the lead at 3.5k before battling with a St Albans Strider to the finish line to win by six seconds.

Simon’s time of 17 minutes 4 seconds was his best on the course & his best 5k for nearly a year, just one week before he races at the London marathon.

Cambridge Festival of Running

BARRY KING ran the Cambourne 10k on Sunday. It was a cross country race ! In very windy conditions, on a hilly hilly course, in ankle deep mud and 20 degrees heat he ran a new 10K personal best (PB) of 48 minutes 23 minutes finishing 176^th from about 1,000 runners ! He ran this in 2011 finished 268^th in 50.23 so is very happy to take two minutes off that today and get a new PB despite being a XC race and the difficult conditions !

Coming Events

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

• Virgin London Marathon on Sunday 21^st April.
• Handicap 5K on Thursday 25^th April.
• County Five Miles Championships in Pednor on Monday 6^th May.
• County Track and Field Championships in Stevenage on Monday 6^th May.
• County Veterans 10K Championship at St. Albans on Sunday 12^th May.
• Mid Week League 10K in Stevenage on Tuesday 14^th May.
• Mid Week League 10K in Chingford on Wednesday 29^th May.
• Mid Week League 10K in Harlow on Wednesday 12^th June.
• Mid Week League Five Miles in Welwyn GC on Wednesday 26^th June.
• Mob Match 9K in Trent Park, North London on Wednesday 17^th July.
• Fairlands Valley Challenge on Sunday 21^st July.
• Relays in the Park in Stevenage on Thursday 25^th July.
• Herts Senior 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 24th September.
• County 10K Championships in Letchworth on Sunday 6^th October.
• Herts Veterans 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 8^th October.
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3^rd November.
• County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30^th December 2013.
• Watch for announcements about the County Marathon Championships.

Join The Spartans

Live in or near Stevenage? Like running? Fairlands Valley Spartans is your local running club and is on the up! The club was voted the UK’s Best Running Club in 2010. It now has about 400 members and encourages participation by all. The Spartans have a varied training programme to suit those who want to run 5 kilometres through to full marathons.

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 9.30a.m. sharp. Spartan track training sessions are held at Ridlins Athletics Track, Woodcock Road, Stevenage most Saturdays from 9.15a.m. There are events to enter every Sunday. Newcomers are very welcome – those who have not done very much running yet might prefer to start with a Thursday, Saturday or Monday session.

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

SUNSHINE IN SANDY

Success For Lucky 13s At Lee Valley

Three Spartans finished the indoor track and field season by representing Eastern Veterans against five other British regions at Lee Valley indoor stadium.  The Eastern Veteran men’s and women’s teams were both second to Southern Counties veterans.

Monica Brown had a brilliant competition by winning the women’s over 35 years Triple Jump in a personal best of 9 metres 12 centimetres, the first time she has jumped over 9 metres.  Monica then went onto race the 200 metre leg of a 800, 200, 200 and 400 metre medley relay.

Dave Stephenson had a very busy day as he competed in four events for the younger age group of male over 35 years even though he turned 50 just a month ago! Dave kindly stepped in and covered for a couple of people who were unable to compete due to illness. Dave events were 60 metre Hurdles second in 13.76 seconds; Triple Jump fourth in 8 metres 65 centimetres; 2000 metre walk third in 12 minutes 5 seconds and like Monica did a 200 metre leg in the medley relay.

Tessa Stephenson competed in the younger age group of over 35 years with the heavier weight shot of 4 kg instead of the over 50 years shot weight of 3 kg.  Despite the heavier weight she managed 7 metres 42 centimetres to come third.  Tessa also covered  gap in the 2000 metre Walk by coming second in 15 minutes 45.1 seconds, earning valuable points for the team.

Monica Brown

Triple Jump 1st 9 metres 12 (Personal Best, indoor and outdoor)
200 Metres leg in Medley Relay

Dave Stephenson

60 Metre Hurdles  2nd 13.76 seconds
Triple Jump 4th 8 metres 65 centimetres
2K Walk 3rd 12 minutes 05 seconds

200 Metres in Medley Relay

Tessa Stephenson

Shot Putt 3rd 7 metres 12 centimetres
2000 Metre Walk 2nd 15 minutes 45.1 seconds

Sandy Ten

At last Sunday was a beautiful Spring day and great for the Sandy Ten.  DEAN CARPENTER, 80^th in 67 minutes 48 seconds; MARK CHEADLE, 223^rd in 79:13; and BARRY KING, 271^st in 82:42 all ran new personal bests.  JULIE SIMMONS was second female veteran (55 plus) and 219^th overall in 78:53.

GRANT RAMSAY was the fastest Spartan in the race, seventh overall and fourth veteran in  57 minutes 35 seconds.

A good turnout of Spartans also included Graham Blackburn 90^th in 68:41; Davie Stafford 101^st in 69:55; Pete Smith 110^th in 70:27; Matt Gill 141^st in 73:25; Vishal Shah 167^th in 75:09; Ann Tryssesoone 293^rd in 84:47; Karen Ellis 296^th in 84:57; Stephen Block 343^rd in 89:45; Karen Palmer 344^th in 89:33; Paul Holgate 91 minutes 58 seconds and Sharon Crowley 106:35.

Bedfordshire Open

This open graded event at Luton was well attended by Bedfordshire clubs and others in the catchment area with athletes enjoying some welcome Spring sunshine after other early season events had been cancelled due to the weather.   STEVE MAYFIELD managed 4.33 metres in the Long Jump and 19.77 metres in the Discus, both a little short of last season’s standards.   He was much happier with his 400m as his time of 1 minute 01.9 seconds was his fastest for nearly two years.

Caythorpe Canter

Tricia Hopper, Karen Liddle and Paul Marshall completed Sunday’s Caythorpe Canter yesterday in 5 hours 33 minutes 17 seconds.  This was Paul’s first off-road marathon which he enjoyed very much.

Personal At Lincoln

ANDY PRIOR raced round the Lincoln 10K in a new personal best time of 47 minutes 10 seconds.  He says it was a nice course, but a busy race.  He would recommend the trip for anyone hunting for a fast time next year.

Victoria for Liam

LIAM HERBERT returned to East London for the second time this year, to compete in the Victoria Park Open 5 mile race for his third consecutive year.  It also gave him his third consecutive personal best time over 5 miles on the same course.

The Victoria Park Open 5 is billed as one of the fastest 5 mile races in the UK, and offers a relatively flat, traffic-free two-lap circuit of the park.  In a extremely competitive race attracting some of the fastest athletes around (the winning time was a devastatingly fast 23 minutes and 36 seconds!), Liam was 86th out of 204 finishers and he reduced his personal best by 22 seconds to 30 minutes and 3 seconds.  He is equally delighted and frustrated to be that close to a sub 30 minute 5 mile time, and believes that his breakthrough run will eventually come!

North Herts First Saturday

JOHN HARRIS was sixth in the North Herts First Saturday of the month 5K with a time of 19mins and 53 seconds.

Coming Events

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

• Flitwick 10K on Sunday 14^th April.
• Virgin London Marathon on Sunday 21^st April.
• Handicap 5K on Thursday 25^th April.
• County Five Miles Championships in Pednor on Monday 6^th May.
• County Track and Field Championships in Stevenage on Monday 6^th May.
• County Veterans 10K Championship at St. Albans on Sunday 12^th May.
• Mid Week League 10K in Stevenage on Tuesday 14^th May.
• Mid Week League 10K in Chingford on Wednesday 29^th May.
• Mid Week League 10K in Harlow on Wednesday 12^th June.
• Mid Week League Five Miles in Welwyn GC on Wednesday 26^th June.
• Mob Match 9K in Trent Park, North London on Wednesday 17^th July.
• Fairlands Valley Challenge on Sunday 21^st July.
• Relays in the Park in Stevenage on Thursday 25^th July.
• Herts Senior 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 24^th September.
• County 10K Championships in Letchworth on Sunday 6^th October.
• Herts Veterans 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 8^th October.
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3^rd November.
• County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30^th December 2013.
• Watch for announcements about the County Marathon Championships.