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EUROPEAN BRONZE FOR GRANT

GRANT RAMSAY was very happy to win a bronze medal in the European Marathon Champs which were held in Turkey. He finished eleventh, out of 110 starters (16 dropped out). Grant came sixth in his age group, in a time of 2 hours 51 minutes 44 seconds. Pretty good considering temperatures peaked at 35°C. He was part of Team GB which came third.

Watford and Oak Hill

ANDY NEATHAM set records for 1500 metres and 5 kilometres over the past week.

On Wednesday he was at the Watford Harriers Open Track Meeting where he was second in the 1500 metres in 4 minutes 28.59 seconds. A new FVS club record for the male 40 plus as well as 45 plus age groups. Then on Saturday he raced the Oak Hill Park Run, New Barnet where he was second out of the 99 finishers in 17 minutes 51 seconds, a male 45 plus course record.

Serpentine

It was mild, dry and breezy for the popular Last Friday of the Month 5K race round the Serpentine in Hyde Park London.

JIM BROWN has been pounding the bike a lot recently but was happy enough with his time of 23 minutes 2 seconds which gave him a series average of 69.9%. He was 114th in the event which was won in 15:40 with the first woman on 19:11 and the last runner at 35:07. Naturally Jim will be trying to tip his average over 70% before the end of the year.

Stevenage Marathon and Half Marathon

Get Sunday 2nd November in your diary. The Stevenage Marathon is only organised every ten years and it takes place this Autumn. The annual half marathon will be on the same day. Visit www.fvspartans.org.uk for more information.

Fairlands First Aid

Another ten from the Fairlands Valley Spartans coaching team qualified as First Aiders on Saturday. They were Jim Brown, Jan Fry, Bev Harlow, Andy Jay, Katy Jinks, Barry King, Trudie Molloy, Dave Stephenson, Tessa Stephenson and Kirstin Weiner.

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 18th September.

County 5K Veteran Championship in Hatfield on Wednesday 24th September

Spartans Fall Ball (Autumn Social) in Stevenage on Friday 26th September

Henlow 10 on Wednesday 8th October

County 5K Senior Championship in Hatfield on Wednesday 8th October

Stevenage Marathon and Half on Sunday 2nd November

Buntingford Year End Ten on Sunday 28th December.

Join The Spartans

Live in or near ? Like running? Spartans is your local running club and is on the up! The club was voted the ’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 – a , , (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, 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 or Vivienne Honey (Secretary) 07702 846304

www.fvspartans.org.uk

 

Categories
News

News: Pathfinder Spartans

On a very wet Bank Holiday Monday four Fairlands Valley Spartans completed the Pathfinder Off Road Marathon from Conington.

CAROL PAUL and MIKE NEWBITT completed the 42 kilometres in 6 hours 6 minutes and 1 second and SHARON CROWLEY took 7 hours 19. MIKE CROWLEY walked the 20 miles option in 5 hours 54 minutes.

Thames Meander Marathon

DANIEL BATES and ROGER BIGGS enjoyed the Thames Meander Marathon. Daniel was 109th in 3 hours 54 minutes 21 seconds. Roger was 311th out of the 324 runners with a time of 05:27:29

Paul Marshal, Barry King, Tricia Hopper and Karen Liddle all took part in the Leila’s run charity event recently. Leila was a lovely person, who loved life and had many interests and friends. She especially loved running socially and as an active member of Garden City Runners and 100 Marathon Club. Leila completed over 200 marathons in the UK, Europe and around the world including New York, Perth and Honolulu. Never short of things to talk about, you could be sure that miles would just fly by when running in her company, and even the dullest run would become a joy! She was always interested in and praised the achievements of her running friends. Leila’s last marathon was at Abingdon when shortly afterwards she was diagnosed with cancer, her last run was at the Pathfinder in 2012. Soon after that, her condition deteriorated again. She would never run again,and she passed away in February 2013. Last year Paul, Barry, Tricia and Karen sent £250 to the Michael Sobell Hospice. They would have liked to raise more.

Paul Marshal finished in 5 hours 5 minutes exactly; Barry King and Tricia Hopper came in together in 5:09:33. Karen Liddle completed the 20 miles option in 4 hours 11 minutes 57 seconds.

They say it was a lovely course of four laps with 60% off­road, friendly organisers and marshals, that they were lucky with the weather and that it was such a wonderful experience to be part of this event with all monies going to Leila’s charity.

ANDY NEATHAM has recently broken the Fairlands Valley Spartans club records for 800 and 3,000 metres run by veterans (45 plus).

On Wednesday evening at the Watford Harriers Open Meeting, finishing in 2.14.65, breaking M45 Club Record for the third time this year.

Then on Tuesday evening Andy ran in the 3000m and he finished second in the ‘A’ race, in a new Club Veterans Record of 9 minutes 34.04 seconds. This eclipsed Simon Bell’s seven year old mark in the M35 & M40 categories by 0.2 of a second, and his own M45 mark by 18 seconds.

DAVE BOWKER was fifth in the South of England senior men’s walking track championship. In the 5K event at Crystal Palace he finished with a new personal best of 31 minutes 9 seconds.

Carol Paul completed the Herts Stroller which was 54 miles off road from Hitchin rugby club taking in Hertfordshire country side. It was a lovely day for running but darkness fell and Carol completed the last 12 in the dark. Carol completed the event in 15 hours 13 minutes 5 seconds.

Newcomer CHARLOTTE SMITH won the latest evening Handicap 5K event organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans. In her first run with the club she improved on her previous best 5K time by a massive seven minutes to beat her handicap by 6:47 in a very impressive time of 27

Next to finish, just missing out on his personal best (PB) by 1 second, was Steve Gough in 26:20, pipping another newcomer, Naomi Clark (31:19) on the line, with both runners 3:10 ahead of handicap.

Nicola Haberland finished third woman, in a new PB time of 23:00, 1:17 quicker than her previous handicap 5k winning time, with Sue Hamer fourth female, two minutes ahead of handicap, in 26:46. Daniel Bates finished second man (6 David Bowker was third man in a year best time of 19:34, just ahead of the third newcomer for the evening, Sarah Hollands in 29 minutes 36 seconds.

Grant Ramsay was the quickest runner on the evening, as he fine­tuned his preparations to represent Great Britain over the marathon distance, in the world veteran championships in Turkey on the 31 in a year best time of 16:52 , with Andy Neatham second quickest in a year best of his own, 17:39, and Davie Stafford third quickest, with yet another 2014 PB, 19:19, 23 seconds quicker than his previous best.

Clare Moore was quickest female in a year best time of 22:50, just 6 seconds outside her PB run on a much quicker course, with Tracy Pez supporting her and coming in second quickest with 22:51, and Nicola third fastest with her 23:00 PB.

There were also PBs for Richard Kennedy, improving his best time by 42 seconds to 21:21, and Anne Spiller (24:55) & Felicity Evans (27:37) in their first 5k with the club. Season best times were achieved by Mark Goodwin, 21:53 and Peter Carpenter, 30:50 while Lisa Liversidge, Claire Drake & Dean Carpenter all ran new best times for the year.

The next handicap 5K will be on Thursday 18 September, fitting perfectly between the first two 5K races in the Hatfield Series.

Position Name Time Time Position Comments

1 CHARLOTTE SMITH 27:42 23 PB.

2 STEVE GOUGH 26:20 18 YB.

3 NAOMI CLARK 31:19 28 1

4 NICOLA HABERLAND 23:00 12 3

5 SUE HAMER 26:46 19

6 DANIEL BATES 20:46 5

7 DAVID BOWKER 19:34 4 4

8 SARAH HOLLANDS 29:36 26 11. 1

9 GRANT RAMSAY 16:52 1 Fastest runner. YB.

st 5K.

rd

fastest female. PB.

th

fastest. YB.

st 5K.

10 ANDY NEATHAM 17:39 2 2

11 DAVIE STAFFORD 19:19 3 3

12 RICHARD KENNEDY 21:21 6 PB.

13 ANNE SPILLER 24:55 14 1

14 LISA LIVERSIDGE 25:46 17 YB.

15 CLARE MOORE 22:50 10 Fastest female. YB.

16 TRACY PEZ 22:51 11 2

17 MARK GOODWIN 21:53 8 SB.

18 FELICITY EVANS 27:37 22 1

19 NICK EMMETT 25:13 16

20 CLAIRE DRAKE 28:00 25 YB.

21 VISHAL SHAH 23:26 13

22 ROBERT SHAW 27:45 24

23 DEAN CARPENTER 21:25 7 YB.

24 MARK BEASLEY 22:07 9

25 PETER CARPENTER 30:50 27 SB.

26 SOFIA CARPENTER 27:19 20

27 MARTIN DUDLEY 27:19 21

28 CALLUM BEASLEY 25:12 15

Stevenage Marathon and Half Marathon

Put the 2nd November in your diary. The Stevenage Marathon is only
organised every ten years and it takes place this Autumn. The annual half marathon will be on the same day. Visit www.fvspartans.org.uk for more information,

Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks including the:
Serpentine 5K on Friday lunch time 29th August
Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 18th Sept
County 5K Veteran Championship in Hatfield on Wednesday 24th Sept.
Spartans Fall Ball (Autumn Social) in Stevenage on Friday 26th
Henlow 10 on Wednesday 8th Oct
County 5K Senior Championship in Hatfield on Wednesday 8th October
Stevenage Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday 2nd November

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.

Try a few sessions before joining.

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 or Vivienne Honey
(Secretary) 07702 846304

www.fvspartans.org.uk

Categories
Club News

FVS Track & Field Champs – 13th September 2014

Meeting starts at 12 pm; last events start at 5.30pm.; for Club members only and invited disability athletes.

Each Athlete chooses to compete in one event from each of the groups listed below (NB cannot choose 300/400m and 800m)

Disability athletes please choose three events ensuring only one from each event group

SPRINT
100m
200m
300m
400m

MIDDLE DISTANCE
800m
1500m
3000m

JUMPS
Hurdles
Long jump
Triple Jump
Pole Vault

THROWS
Shot
Discus
Hammer
Javelin

Entry forms to be submitted to Tessa Stephenson by Tuesday 2nd September at the latest. Entry fee of £5.00 per athlete to be handed in with the entry form.

Points gained for each performance are added together The points tables used are the AAA 5 star award tables

After the event, a barbecue (or similar refreshments) will be available while the points are added and the winners decided.

LATE ENTRIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

ENTRY FORM:

Fairlands Valley Spartans
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS; September 13th 2014

FIRST NAME:

SURNAME:

Date of birth:

AGE GROUP Please circle one
u20 21-34 35-44 45+

Male or Female… please cross out as appropriate

PLEASE CHOOSE ONE EVENT FROM EACH COLUMN
and CIRCLE

SPRINT MIDDLE DISTANCE JUMPS THROWS
Hurdles
(Not U11s) 800m High Jump Shot
100m
1500m Long jump Discus
200m
3000m
(not u11/u13) Triple Jump
(not u11/u13) Hammer
(not u11/u13)
300m
(only u15g/u17w) Can’t choose 300/400m & 800m Pole Vault Javelin
400m
(not u11/u13) 400

(Disability athletes only)
Disability athletes please choose three events ensuring only one from each event group

THIS PART OF THE FORM, TOGETHER WITH £5.00 ENTRY FEE,
TO BE GIVEN TOTessa Stephenson
NO LATER THAN Tuesday 2nd September 2014

Categories
News Newsletter

Catch A Coach, August 2014

We are pleased to announce the return of a new and improved Catch a Coach newsletter produced for your enjoyment and information.

Catch A Coach

Categories
News

Newcomer wins Club Handicap

Last week Thursday saw the return of the FVS 5k Handicap and the winner on the night, in her first run with the club, was newcomer Charlotte Smith. She improved on her previous best 5k time by a massive 7 minutes to beat her handicap by 6:47 in a very impressive time of 27:42.

Next to finish, was Steve Gough in 26:20, pipping another newcomer, Naomi Clark who finished in 31:19.

Nicola Haberland finished 3rd lady, in a time of 23:00, with Sue Hamer 4th lady in 26:46. Daniel Bates finished 2nd man (6th overall), in 20:46, and David Bowker was 3rd man in 19:34, just ahead of the 3rd newcomer for the evening, Sarah Hollands, in 29:36.

Grant Ramsay was the quickest runner on the evening, as he fine-tuned his preparations to represent Great Britain over the marathon distance, in the world veteran championships in Turkey on the 31st August, in a time of 16:52 , with Andy Neatham 2nd quickest in, 17:39, and Davie Stafford 3rd quickest in 19:23.

Clare Moore was quickest female in a time of 22:50, with Tracy Pez supporting her, and finishing 2nd quickest in 22:51, and Nicola 3rd fastest with her 23:00 PB.

There were also PBs for Richard Kennedy in 21:21; Anne Spiller in 24:55 & Felicity Evans in 27:37. Plus season best times for Mark Goodwin in 21:53 & Peter Carpenter in 30:50.

Head Torch Required

On Saturday, Carol Paul completed the Herts Stroller event, held over a 54 mile off road course from Hitchin Rugby Club into the Hertfordshire countryside. It was a lovely day for running but darkness fell and Carol completed the last 12miles in the dark. Carol completed the event in 15:13:05.

Once, twice, three times!

Andy Neatham ran in the 800m at the Watford Harriers Open Meeting on Wednesday evening, finishing in 2:14.65, breaking M45 Club Record for the 3rd time this year.

Walking Tall

David Bowker made an appearance at the South of England Track Walking Championships+, held at Crystal Palace. David finished 5th in the Senior 5k race, finishing 5th in a PB of 31:09.

Leila’s Run

An event held in Wheathampstead, in memory of Leila Taylor, a former member of Garden City Runners.
The event was a Marathon held over a 4 lap mixed terrain course.
Paul Marshall was the 1st Spartan to finish in 5hrs and 5mins, while Barry King & Tricia Hopper finished together in 5hrs and 9mins.

photo

Stevenage Marathon and Half Marathon

Get Sunday 2nd November in your diary. The Stevenage Marathon is only organised every ten years and it takes place this Autumn. The annual half marathon will be on the same day. Visit www.fvspartans.org.uk for more information.

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 14th August.
Serpentine 5K on Friday lunch time 29th August.
Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 18th September.
County 5K Veteran Championship in Hatfield on Wednesday 24th September
Spartans Fall Ball in Stevenage on Friday 26th September
Henlow 10 on Wednesday 8th October
County 5K Senior Championship in Hatfield on Wednesday 8th October
Stevenage Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday 2nd November

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, Telford Avenue, 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 or Vivienne Honey (Secretary) 07702 846304

www.fvspartans.org.uk

Categories
News

August 5k Handicap results

Very well done to everybody braving the wet weather for last night’s August Handicap 5k. Thank you to Roger Biggs for his support with the start and finish and to Liam Herbert also for his runner support and assistance at the finish. Thank you also to all 28 runners who took part.

Winner on the night, in her first run with the club, was newcomer Charlotte Smith, assisted around the course by Liam, she improved on her previous best 5k time by a massive 7 minutes to beat her handicap by 6:47 in a very impressive time of 27:42.

Next to finish, just missing out on his PB by 1 second, was Steve Gough in 26:20, pipping another newcomer, Naomi Clark (31:19) on the line, with both runners 3:10 ahead of handicap.

Nicola Haberland finished 3rd lady, in a new PB time of 23:00, 1:17 quicker than her previous handicap 5k winning time, with Sue Hamer 4th lady, 2 minutes ahead of handicap, in 26:46. Daniel Bates finished 2nd man (6th overall), 1:57 better than handicap, in 20:46, and David Bowker was 3rd man in a year best time of 19:34, just ahead of the 3rd newcomer for the evening, Sarah Hollands, 29:36.

Grant Ramsay was the quickest runner on the evening, as he fine-tuned his preparations to represent Great Britain over the marathon distance, in the world veteran championships in Turkey on the 31st August, in a year best time of 16:52 , with Andy Neatham 2nd quickest in a year best of his own, 17:39, and Davie Stafford 3rd quickest, with yet another 2014 PB, 19:19, 23 seconds quicker than his previous best.

Clare Moore was quickest female in a year best time of 22:50, just 6 seconds outside her PB run on a much quicker course, with Tracy Pez supporting Clare and 2nd quickest getting back into her running on her return from holiday with 22:51, and Nicola 3rd fastest with her 23:00 PB.

There were also PBs for Richard Kennedy, improving his best time by 42 seconds to 21:21, and Anne Spiller (24:55) & Felicity Evans (27:37) in their first 5k with the club; season best times for Mark Goodwin, 21:53 & Peter Carpenter, 30:50; and, year best times for Lisa Liversidge, Claire Drake & Dean Carpenter.

Except for the first 3 finishers and the last 3 finishers, the other 22 participants all finished within 2 minutes of their handicap set and the total time difference between 3rd-25th positions was just 3:48.

Next handicap 5k will be on Thursday 18th September, positioned perfectly between the first two 5k’s in the Hatfield Series, which are also well worth considering if you have not already entered.

Results: Result 14Aug14

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News

Cancelled Relays update

I am very pleased to let you know that the runner who collapsed on Thursday evening is now recovering in cardiac intensive care following treatment.

His team mates were able to speak to him-he was upset that the race was cancelled because of him!

Our thoughts and best wishes go to him, his family, friends and members of his running club.

Once again, thanks to everyone for your help and support.

Bev Harlow
Club Chair and Race Director