Month: December 2013

26 at Buntingford

A fantastic twenty six from Fairlands Valley Spartans tackled the Buntingford Year End Ten road race on a cold morning last Sunday. Over the undulating course ANDY NEATHAM was first finisher for the club with a time of 1 hour 1 minute 7 seconds. He was eleventh out of the 497 finishers and won the prize for second veteran (40 plus).

The club’s other top 100 finishers were ADRIAN DONNELLY, 66th in 1:09:34; PETER SMITH, 93rd in 1:12:49 and TRACY PEZ, 98th in a new personal best of 1 hour 13 minutes 11 seconds. ANDY JAY was 198th in a new PB of 1:21:32 and TRICIA HOPPER reduced her PB by more than five minutes when she finished in 1:23:49.

STEPHEN MAYFIELD, 120th in 1:14:48; MARK GOODWIN, 146th in 1:16:55; NATALIE LAWRENCE, 217th in 1:23:05; MICHAEL CONNELL, 238th in 1:24:37; LUCY PATTERSON, 265th in 1:26:52; JOANNE BOWDERY, 282nd in 1:28:30; LISA LIVERSIDGE, 303rd in 1:29:50; ROY BOWDERY, 313th in 1:30:11; NICOLA HABERLAND, 330th in 1:31:40; RICHARD KENNEDY, 331st in 1:31:40; KAREN LIDDLE, 345th in 1:32:55 and CLAIRE WHITTLE, 380th in 1:35:22 all beat 100 minutes.

Position Name Time Category Comments
11 Andy Neatham 01:01:07 Vet40 2nd Male Vet 40
66 Adrian Donnelly 01:09:34 SenM
93 Peter Smith 01:12:49 Vet50
98 Tracy Pez (F) 01:13:11 Vet35 PB
120 Stephen Mayfield 01:14:48 Vet40
146 Mark Goodwin 01:16:55 Vet50
198 Andy Jay 01:21:32 Vet40 PB
217 Natalie Lawrence (F) 01:23:05 SenF
224 Tricia Hopper (F) 01:23:49 Vet45 PB (more than 5 minutes)
238 Michael Connell 01:24:37 Vet60
265 Lucy Patterson (F) 01:26:52 SenF
282 Joanne Bowdery (F) 01:28:30 SenF
303 Lisa Liversidge (F) 01:29:50 Vet45
313 Roy Bowdery 01:30:11 Vet50
330 Nicola Haberland (F) 01:31:40 SenF
331 Richard Kennedy 01:31:40 SenM
345 Karen Liddle (F) 01:32:44 V55+
380 Claire Whittle (F) 01:35:32 SenF
421 Lorraine Wyatt (F) 01:40:08 Vet45
424 Vivienne Honey (F) 01:40:15 Vet35
428 Trudie Molloy (F) 01:40:40 Vet35
429 Barry King 01:40:41 Vet40
448 Tracy Stiles (F) 01:43:14 Vet45
460 Jan Fry (F) 01:44:42 V55+
461 Graham Hill 01:45:14 Vet60
466 Paul Holgate 01:46:15 Vet50

Two Wins For Grant

GRANT RAMSAY won two races in three days. On 26th December he won the Pirton Boxing Day short course race taking 14 minutes 4 seconds for the 2.5 miles off road event. Then on Saturday 28th he won the St. Albans 5K Park Run in 16 minutes 40 seconds.

Full results from Pirton are not yet available but TRACY STILES ran the 3.2 miles event in 32:20.

Two Park Runs for Daniel

DANIEL BATES was racing on Christmas Day. He ran the Northampton 5km Parkrun in 20 minutes 40 seconds and was 11th out of 196 runners.

Then Daniel says that on Saturday he completed the hardest Parkrun course in the world at Harrow Lodge, in Hornchurch, Essex. Bogs, all grass, ice on the small parts of path, loads of geese in the way and so forth he finished 9th out of 80 runners with a time of 22:43.

Iris and James Win Five

Despite the cold, rain, and proximity to the holiday 18 Spartans took part in the club’s pre-Christmas Handicap 5k of the year on Thursday evening.

Winner on the night was IRIS HORNSEY in 32 minutes 11 seconds, 3:49 faster than handicap. She finished 1 minute 4 seconds ahead of KIRSTY CALLAN, who beat her November time by 1:25 to finish in 25:15. LUCY FIELD was third female in seventh position overall, beating her November time by 5 seconds to 23:29.

JAMES SEALS was first man and third finisher in a new personal best (PB) time of 21:28, 53 seconds quicker than before, with CALLUM BEASLEY second, taking 55 seconds off his personal best (PB) to 22:04. NICK EMMETT was third man in a new 24:45 PB of his own, 36 seconds faster than before.

Fastest runner on the night was LIAM HERBERT in 19:15, with DANIEL BATES 2nd quickest in 20:23, and VISHAL SHAH 3rd fastest in 21:17.

Fastest female was TRACY PEZ in 21:32, with LUCY FIELD 23:29 second quickest and KIRSTY CALLAN 25:15 third fastest, and, FIONA KEELY also improved her PB by 50 seconds to 32:04.

In handicap events the slower runners, based on recent races, start first, and are chased by the quicker ones. If the time intervals are correct and everyone runs as expected everyone will finish together.

A big thank you to a very cold Cathy Craig who organised the start.

Pos Name Time Comments
1 IRIS HORNSEY (F) 32:11 Event Winner. YB.
2 KIRSTY CALLAN (F) 25:15 Overall second. PB.
3 JAMES SEALS 21:28 First man. PB.
4 CALLUM BEASLEY 22:04 Second man. PB.
5 NICK EMMET 24:45 Third man. PB.
6 DANIEL BATES 20:23
7 LUCY FIELD (F) 23:29 Third female. PB.
8 TRACY PEZ (F) 21:32 Fastest female.
9 ROBERT SHAW 27:05
10 LIAM HERBERT 19:15 Fastest runner.
11 VISHAL SHAH 21:17
12 MARTIN PRICE 22:32
13 MARK GOODWIN 22:29
14 DYFED THOMPSON-SMITH 25:10
15 FIONA KEELEY (F) 32:04 PB.
16 JAMES KILROY 22:42
17 MARK BEASLEY 22:55
18 PAUL HOLGATE 30:02

The next handicap 5k will be on the 23rd January 2014.

Water Front Paul

On Sunday CAROL PAUL ran the multi terrain Portsmouth water front marathon. In windy conditions on a muddy water logged course Carol finished in 5:06:55. Due to the tide coming in which caused the course to be diverted the distance was 26.7 miles long instead of 26.2 miles.

Coming Events

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

• Hertfordshire Cross Country Championships in Watford on Sunday 5th January
• Cross country race four on Therfield Heath on Sunday 12th January
• Handicap 5K on Thursday 23rd January
• Cross country race five at Watford on Sunday 16th February
• Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February 2014
• Veterans Cross Country Championships in Royston on 16th March 2014.
• Off Road Challenge in Stevenage on Sunday 20th July 2014.
• Stevenage Marathon on Sunday 2nd November 2014.

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 hundreds of 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), 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

Despite the cold, rain, and proximity to Christmas 18 Spartans took part in the final Handicap 5k of the year on Thursday evening.

Winner on the night was IRIS HORNSEY in 32 minutes 11 seconds, 3:49 faster than handicap. She finished 1 minute 4 seconds ahead of KIRSTY CALLAN, who beat her November time by 1:25 to finish in 25:15. LUCY FIELD was third female in seventh position overall, beating her November time by 5 seconds to 23:29.

JAMES SEALS was first man and third finisher in a new personal best (PB) time of 21:28, 53 seconds quicker than before, with CALLUM BEASLEY second, taking 55 seconds off his personal best (PB) to 22:04. NICK EMMETT was third man in a new 24:45 PB of his own, 36 seconds faster than before.

Fastest runner on the night was LIAM HERBERT in 19:15, with DANIEL BATES 2nd quickest in 20:23, and VISHAL SHAH 3rd fastest in 21:17.

Fastest female was TRACY PEZ in 21:32, with LUCY FIELD 23:29 second quickest and KIRSTY CALLAN 25:15 third fastest, and, FIONA KEELY also improved her PB by 50 seconds to 32:04.

In handicap events the slower runners, based on recent races, start first, and are chased by the quicker ones. If the time intervals are correct and everyone runs as expected everyone will finish together.

A big thank you to a very cold Cathy Craig who organised the start.

Pos Name Time Comments
1 IRIS HORNSEY (F) 32:11 Event Winner. YB.
2 KIRSTY CALLAN (F) 25:15 Overall second. PB.
3 JAMES SEALS 21:28 First man. PB.
4 CALLUM BEASLEY 22:04 Second man. PB.
5 NICK EMMET 24:45 Third man. PB.
6 DANIEL BATES 20:23
7 LUCY FIELD (F) 23:29 Third female. PB.
8 TRACY PEZ (F) 21:32 Fastest female.
9 ROBERT SHAW 27:05
10 LIAM HERBERT 19:15 Fastest runner.
11 VISHAL SHAH 21:17
12 MARTIN PRICE 22:32
13 MARK GOODWIN 22:29
14 DYFED THOMPSON-SMITH 25:10
15 FIONA KEELEY (F) 32:04 PB.
16 JAMES KILROY 22:42
17 MARK BEASLEY 22:55
18 PAUL HOLGATE 30:02

The next handicap 5k will be on the 23rd January 2014.

Water Front Paul

On Sunday CAROL PAUL ran the multi terrain Portsmouth water front marathon. In windy conditions on a muddy water logged course Carol finished in 5:06:55. Due to the tide coming in which caused the course to be diverted the distance was 26.7 miles long instead of 26.2 miles.

Coming Events

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

• County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013
• Hertfordshire Cross Country Championships in Watford on Sunday 5th January
• Cross country race four on Therfield Heath on Sunday 12th January
• Handicap 5K on Thursday 23rd January
• Cross country race five at Watford on Sunday 16th February
• Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February 2014
• Veterans Cross Country Championships in Royston on 16th March 2014.
• Off Road Challenge in Stevenage on Sunday 20th July 2014.
• Stevenage Marathon on Sunday 2nd November 2014.

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 hundreds of 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), 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

Despite the cold, rain, and proximity to Xmas 18 Spartans took part in the final Handicap 5k of the year excellently supported by a very cold Cathy Craig who sorted the start all by herself and definitely earned a massive thank you from everybody who took part. Thank you also to Iris Hornsey and Tracy Pez who as well as running also then helped Cathy with the finish.

Winner on the night was IRIS HORNSEY in 32:11, 3:49 faster than handicap, followed by KIRSTY CALLAN, beating her November time by 1:25 to finish in 25:15, with LUCY FIELD 3rd female in 7th position overall, beating her November time by 5 seconds to 23:29.

First man was JAMES SEALS in a new personal best time of 21:28, 53 seconds quicker than before, with CALLUM BEASLEY 2nd, taking 55 seconds off his PB to 22:04, and with NICK EMMETT 3rd man in a new 24:45 PB of his own, 36 seconds faster than before.

Fastest runner on the night was LIAM HERBERT in 19:15, with DANIEL BATES 2nd quickest in 20:23, and VISHAL SHAH 3rd fastest in 21:17.

Fastest female was TRACY PEZ in 21:32, with LUCY FIELD 23:29 2nd quickest and KIRSTY CALLAN 25:15 3rd fastest, and, FIONA KEELY also improved her PB by 50 seconds to 32:04.

The first 16 finishers were within 2 minutes of their adjusted handicap time and the gap between 3rd-16th position was only 1:46.

Very well done to everybody who took part. The next handicap 5k will be on the 23rd January 2014. Until then I hope that all Spartans have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a fantastic HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Result19Dec13

Five Spartans completed the Garden City Festive Five on Sunday. The first from Fairlands Valley over the line was CHRIS WESTCOTT, 1st M40 and 6th overall in a time of 29 minutes 20 seconds – his first time under 30 minutes for five miles. STEVE MAYFIELD was the next Spartan in, 43rd in 36:21, followed by ROY BOWDERY, 77th in 41:42. ANDREA WESCOTT was the first Spartan lady, 92nd in 44:21 with LORRAINE WYATT six places behind in 45:53. There were 140 finishers in all.

South Eastern X/C

Sharon Crowley and Bev Harlow competed in the South Eastern Counties Cross Country Championships at Old Warden on Saturday. It was a glorious morning and a lovely course.
Bev finished the 6km course in 36 minutes 36 seconds and Sharon in 38:13.

A good race to run next year.

Lanzarote

Carol Paul ran the hottest Lanzarote Marathon to date. In over 27 degress Celsius she was third Vet 50 in 5 hours 1 minutes 14 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 19th December
• County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013
• Hertfordshire Cross Country Championships in Watford on Sunday 5th January
• Cross country race four on Therfield Heath on Sunday 12th January
• Cross country race five at Watford on Sunday 16th February
• Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February 2014
• Veterans Cross Country Championships in Royston on 16th March 2014
• Off Road Challenge in Stevenage on Sunday 20th July 2014
• Stevenage Marathon on Sunday 2nd November 2014

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 hundreds of 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 9.00a.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), Vivienne Honey 07702 846304 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

Twenty Spartans swapped the joys of Christmas shopping to do a not so muddy run around Trent Park on Sunday morning. This was the third of the five races in this season’s cross country league which includes eighteen clubs.

First woman, first finisher, for Fairlands Valley was CHRISTINE LATHWELL, an impressive 44th overall in 31 minutes 59 seconds for the five mile race. She was followed in by ADRIAN DONNELLY, 69th in 33:34; DANIEL BATES, 108th in 35:10; THOMAS SAUKAE, 116th in 35:26; PETE SMITH, 147th in 37:02; VISHAL SHAH, 152nd in 37:11; MATT PALACIO, 177th in 37:49; STEVE MAYFIELD, 182nd in 38:15; RHIANNON GRIFFIN, second woman for the club who was 194th in 38:38; JULIE SIMMONS, third woman, 196th in 38:52; MARK CHEADLE, 235th in 41:22; ANDY JAY, 247th in 42:07; PETA WILSON, 298th in 46:51; MARK FREEMAN, 302nd in 46:38; NICK WITCOMBE, 313th in 48:26; STEPH MAYFIELD, 318th in 49:02; SHARON CROWLEY, 322nd in 49:30; LORRAINE THOMAS, 324th in 49:41; PAUL HOLGATE, 329th in 50:36 and LIZ CROWLEY, 330th in 51:02.

Position Name Time Category
44 CHRISTINE LATHWELL (F) 31:59 W35
69 ADRIAN DONNELLY 33:34 SM
108 DANIEL BATES 35:10 SM
116 THOMAS SAUKAE 35:26 SM
147 PETE SMITH 37:02 M50
152 VISHAL SHAH 37:11 SM
177 MATT PALACIO 37:49 SM
182 STEVE MAYFIELD 38:15 M40
194 RHIANNON GRIFFIN (F) 38:38 SW
196 JULIE SIMMONS (F) 38:52 W55
235 MARK CHEADLE 41:22 SM
247 ANDY JAY 42:07 M40
298 PETA WILSON (F) 46:51 W35
302 MARK FREEMAN 46:38 M50
313 NICK WITCOMBE 48:26 M40
318 STEPH MAYFIELD (F) 49:02 W35
322 SHARON CROWLEY (F) 49:30 W55
324 LORRAINE THOMAS (F) 49:41 W45
329 PAUL HOLGATE 50:36 M50
330 LIZ CROWLEY (F) 51:02 SW

Team results will be available in a few days. Fairlands Valley Spartans were ninth out of 18 at the previous race in Grovelands Park.

Another PB for Andrea
Andrea Westcott continued her recent good form with a 10K personal best in Oxfordshire on Sunday. Held just outside Bicester, the Andy Reading Memorial 10k was a breezy affair with about half the race on an airfield exposed to the elements. Andrea finished in 55 minutes 30 seconds – an improvement of nearly two and a half minutes on her previous best.

First Saturday
Four Spartans enjoyed the first Saturday of the month 5K race in Letchworth. JOHN HARRIS was 10th in 21 minutes 35 seconds; TRACY PEZ 15th in 22:05; JAMES SEALS 26th in 23:05 and MADDIE PRITCHARD 46th in 26:18.

Nene Valley 10
SIMON BELL recently ran the Nene Valley 10 in 62 minutes 16 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 19th December
• County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013
• Hertfordshire Cross Country Championships in Watford on Sunday 5th January
• Cross country race four on Therfield Heath on Sunday 12th January
• Cross country race five at Watford on Sunday 16th February
• Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February 2014
• Veterans Cross Country Championships in Royston on 16th March 2014.

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 hundreds of 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