Month: November 2014

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5k Handicap November Results

A good turnout for last night’s November handicap 5k despite the cold weather. Many thanks to Roger Biggs, Nick Witcombe and Mike Crowley for their assistance with the start and finish, and also to Andy Prior and Martin Dudley for their support to runners around the course.

Winner on the night, in her debut 5k with the club was new member Jane Foster in an excellent time of 31:25, 4:35 ahead of handicap, followed closely by another new member, Vicky Meredith, in an equally impressive 32:25, 3:35 better than handicap. 

Jason Anderson led the men home, in 3rd position overall, smashing his October handicap 5k PB by 1 massive 1:20 to a superb 18:25, with Michelle Reeves 3rd female overall in a new PB time of her own as she took 41 seconds off her previous PB to 22:15, closely followed by another newcomer, Helen McLean in 5th position with a time of 30:39, 2:21 quicker than handicap. 

David Bate was 2nd man home, taking 5 seconds off his PB to 27:58, with newcomer Martin Nicholas 3rd man in 25:15, 1:20 ahead of handicap, and Callum Beasley improving his PB by 23 seconds to 21:05 in 8th position overall.

There were also PBs for Liz Carvell (+0:49 to 30:53), Elizabeth Crowley (+0:44 to 29:59) and new member Hannah West (37:01) in her 1st 5k, and a season best time for Peter Carpenter (+0:43 to 29:57) and year best times for Pete Smith (+0:46) to 21:55 and Sharon Crowley (35:41), while Felicity Evans (+1:23), Sofia Carpenter & Martin Dudley (+1:17) and Paul Holgate (+0:06) all improved on their previous handicap 5k time recorded.

Jason Anderson’s 18:25 was the fastest time of the evening, with Dean Carpenter 2nd quickest in 20:30 and Tim Saban 3rd fastest in 21:00. Michelle Reeves was quickest female (22:15), with Tracy Pez 2nd fastest in 22:33, Lisa Gray 3rd fastest (24:25) and Sofia Carpenter 4th quickest in 26:31.

62% of finishers were within 1 minute of their handicap and the time difference between 3rd-27th positions as only 2:40.

The December handicap 5k will be on Thursday 18th December. Hope to see as many runners as possible taking part.

Result_20Nov14

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News

TWO IN TOP TWENTY AT ST NEOTS

A Spartan Army of 23 club members descended on St. Neots for the town’s popular half marathon. In damp conditions Fairlands Valley had two finishers in the top twenty. RICHARD BATE was 13th in 1 hour 17 minutes 39 seconds and SIMON JACKSON 17th in 1:18:37.

DAVIE STAFFORD was 56th in a new personal best of 1 hour 25 minutes 37 seconds and STEVE ELDER 206th in a season’s best 1:36:30. GRAHAM BLACKBURN was the fourth fastest Spartan, 112th in 1:30:13.

SUZY HAWKINS was the club’s fastest woman, 263rd out of the 915 finishers in 1:40:26. TRACY PEZ was 349th in 1:44:16 and MADDIE PRITCHARD 350th in 1:44:19. RUTH REILLY ran an excellent 1:55:58.

Other Spartan times included TIM SABAN (1:37:33); STEVE MAYFIELD (1:39:18); MARK GOODWIN (1:42:59); MATT GILL (1:44:27); VISH SHAH (1:52:08); JAMES ULPH (1:51:59); NICK EMMETT (1:55:56); BARRY KING (1:56:15); Club chair BEV HARLOW (1:56:14); SUE HAMER (2:06:36); JACKIE DOWNES (2:10:11).

ANDY PRIOR and NICK WITCOMBE came over the line in 2.30:29, after a morning of selfies and fun with those around them and the marshals. JO CAHILL finished in 2 hours 33 minutes 27 seconds.

Spartan Times:

Position

Name

Chip Time

Comments

13

RICHARD BATE

1:17:39

17

SIMON JACKSON

1:18:37

56

DAVIE STAFFORD

1:25:37

Personal Best (PB)

112

GRAHAM BLACKBURN

1:30:13

206

STEVE ELDER

1:36:30

Season’s Best (SB)

214

TIM SABAN

1:37:33

243

STEVE MAYFIELD

1:39:18

263

SUZY HAWKINS (F)

1:40:26

318

MARK GOODWIN

1:42:59

349

TRACY PEZ (F)

1:44:16

350

MADELEINE PRITCHARD (F)

1:44:19

355

MATTHEW GILL

1:44:27

519

VISH SHAH

1:52:08

521

JAMES ULPH

1:51:59

611

NICK EMMETT

1:55:56

612

RUTH REILLY (F)

1:55:58

615

BARRY KING

1:56:15

619

BEV HARLOW (F)

1:56:14

763

SUE HAMER (F)

2:06:36

796

JACKIE DOWNES (F)

2:10:11

892

NICK WITCOMBE

2:30:29

893

ANDY PRIOR

2:30:29

897

JO CAHILL (F)

2:33:27

915 finishers.

Shillington Shuffle Off Road Marathon – Sunday, 16th November 2015

Six Spartans tackled the Shillington Shuffle Off Road Marathon on Sunday. This event starts from Barton-Le-Clay, and goes into the surrounding countryside and the local villages of Lilley, Pirton, Stondon & Shillington. It is on a combination of tracks, paths, fields and the odd minor road. There was visibility of no more than 100 metres as the mist stayed most of the day, until a rain storm finally cleared it.

MIKE NEWBITT finished in 6 hours 26 minutes 3 seconds with KAREN LIDDLE and TRICIA HOPPER following in 6:29:15; ROGER BIGGS in 6:37:37 and ROBERT HARDY in 6:46:14.

PAULINE HARDY completed a 12 mile route in 3 hours 35 minutes 33 seconds.

Panshanger Parkrun

MARTIN WOOD and STEVE GREEN competed in Saturday’s Panshanger Parkrun. On a muddy and undulating cross country 5K run Martin finished in 20:54 and Steve in 21:28. The race was free!

Maybe Mud, Mud Glorious Mud

The next Sunday League cross country fixture for the Spartans is in Grovelands Park, North London on Sunday 23rd November. It starts at 10.30a.m. in Grovelands Park, Broad Walk, Southgate, London, N21 3DA. The race is over about 8,000 metres (five miles). No need to enter. There’s a club entry so it’s free for Spartans. Just bring your FVS kit.

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 evening 20th November

Cross Country League at Grovelands on Sunday 23rd November

Serpentine 5K in Hyde Park on Friday 28th November

Spartans’ AGM on Friday 28th November

Wolverton Five on Saturday 29th November

Cross Country League at Watford on Sunday 7th December

Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday evening 18th December

Serpentine 5K In Hyde Park on Friday 19th December (not 26th)

Spartans’ Christmas Social in Stevenage on Friday 19th December

Buntingford Year End Ten (County Vets Champs) on Sunday 28th December

Ely New Year’s Eve 10K on Wednesday 31st December

Serpentine New Year’s Day 10K in Hyde Park on Thursday 1st January

Herts County Cross Country Championships in St Albans on Sunday 4th January.

Cross Country League at Trent Park on Sunday 11th January.

Fred Hughes 10 in St. Albans on Sunday 18th January.

Watford Half Marathon on Sunday 1st February.

Cross Country League at Therfield Heath, Royston on Sunday 15th February.

County Cross Country Championships for Veterans in Trent Park on Sunday 22nd March/

London Marathon on Sunday 26th April.

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 9.00a.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 ÂŁ35 per year, ÂŁ25 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

SPARTANS GO STATESIDE & A Tale Of Two Halves

Christopher and Andrea Westcott were among the World Record number of 50,564 finishers when they completed the TCS New York marathon recently. Despite winds gusting at over 40mph and some challenging climbs, Chris clocked a time of 2 minutes 57 minutes 46 seconds while Andrea took a huge 61 minutes off her previous best to finish in 4:37:28. The support throughout the race was amazing with a Gospel choir, rappers, soul bands and bagpipes along the way.

Marathon Des Alpes Maritimes- Sunday, 9th November 2014

The Marathon des Alpes Maritimes is billed as the second biggest marathon in France behind Paris. The course runs along or near to the Cote D’Azur, from Nice to Cannes. For the first half, it was dry and flat with no wind and a perfect temperature. However by the time runners reached half way, it was raining, hilly, windy and cooler.

Overall it was still a good day for running as Roger Biggs produced his second best marathon of the year, finishing in 4 hours 34 minutes 16 seconds. Paul Holgate went one better, with his best marathon of the year, finishing in 5:13:29.

Met League

MADDIE PRITCHARD and BERNIE BARNABY ran as guests in the Metropolitan League cross country race at Stevenage on Saturday. The men’s race was eight kilometres and Bernie was 348th out of 450 in 37 minutes 20 seconds. In the women’s race, over six kilometres, Maddie was 85th, well in the top half of the field.

The next Sunday League cross country fixture for the Spartans is in Grovelands Park on Sunday 23rd November.

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 evening 20th November

Cross Country League at Grovelands on Sunday 23rd November

Serpentine 5K in Hyde Park on Friday 28th November

Spartans’ AGM on Friday 28th November

Wolverton Five on Saturday 29th November

Cross Country League at Watford on Sunday 7th December

Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday evening 18th December

Serpentine 5K In Hyde Park on Friday 19th December (not 26th)

Spartans’ Christmas Social in Stevenage on Friday 19th December

Buntingford Year End Ten (County Vets Champs) on Sunday 28th December

Ely New Year’s Eve 10K on Wednesday 31st December

Serpentine New Year’s Day 10K in Hyde Park on Thursday 1st January

Cross Country League at Trent Park on Sunday 11th January.

Fred Hughes 10 in St. Albans on Sunday 18th January.

Watford Half Marathon on Sunday 1st February.

Cross Country League at Therfield Heath, Royston on Sunday 15th February.

London Marathon on Sunday 26th April.

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 9.00a.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 ÂŁ35 per year, ÂŁ25 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

SPARTAN 1 & 2 IN ANNIVERSARY MARATHON

There was a Fairlands Valley Spartans one two in the Stevenage 30th Anniversary Marathon On Sunday.

GRANT RAMSAY led throughout to win in 2 hours 43 minutes 42 seconds. ANDREW PATTERSON was second with a new personal best of 2 hours 52 minutes 35 seconds.

There was driving rain for the first 13.1 miles lap but 234 completed the full marathon. 544 finished the supporting half marathon race. The marathon incorporated the Hertfordshire County Championships.

The local club had huge success in the team events. The Spartans’ male and female teams were winners. The men’s team of Grant Ramsay (2:43:42); Andrew Patterson (2:52:35); SIMON JACKSON (3:09:05) and DAVIE STAFFORD (3:12:57) won the open event and won the county championship.

NATALIE LAWRENCE (3:35:02); NICOLA HABERLAND (3:39:40) and KERSTIN WEINER (4:05:01) won the women’s open race and county championship.

MICHAEL GREEN (3:22:02); RICHARD KENNEDY (3:32:41); DAVID BATES (3:42:24) and JOHN NELMS (3:58:39) won BRONZE in the county championship.

The Spartans also won SILVER in the women’s race with CAROL PAUL (4:57:51), KAREN LIDDLE (5:04:24) and TRICIA HOPPER (also 5:04:24). Carol, Tricia and SHARON CROWLEY (6:03:17) won SILVER in the County team race.

The Spartan men also won SILVER in the male veterans’ (over 40s) team race with Grant, Michael, JOHN NELMS (3:56:05) and ROBERT EVANS (4:02:05).

In addition to Grant’s GOLD and Andrew Patteron’s SILVER there was lots of individual success in the county championships. NATALIE LAWRENCE (3:34:19) won GOLD in the senior women’s championship; NICOLA HABERLAND (3:49:21) won the women veteran’s (35 plus) GOLD; KERSTIN WEINER (4:04:30) took SILVER in the 35 plus category; MICHAEL GREEN (3:21:30) BRONZE the men’s 50 plus category; CAROL PAUL (4:57:51) and TRICIA HOPPER (5:04:24) took SILVER and BRONZE in the women’s 45 plus category.

Sunday’s Stevenage Marathon was Spartan SHARON CROWLEY’s 200th Marathon. She ran her first marathon at the first Stevenage Marathon back in 1984, has since run the Stevenage Marathons in 1994 and 2004. And now 2014. Her son, Nicholas, was running this Stevenage Marathon as his first marathon. Roger Biggs, Mike Newbitt & Robert Hardy have run all 4 Stevenage marathons

In the half marathon Spartans SUZY HAWKINS (1:38:21); TRACY PEZ (1:42:24) and JENNIFER BIRKIN (1:45:05) won the women’s team prize. Suzy was second veteran woman (35 plus).

The fastest women in the full marathon was Fiona Oakes from Vegan Runners in 3:06:47. She was nearly 27 minutes ahead of her nearest rival.

Mark Vaughan from North Herts Road Runners won the half marathon in 1 hour 14 minutes 46 seconds just ahead of James Cordwell from Victoria Park Harriers and Tower Hamlets AC (n.b. one club name) in 1:14:56

The Stevenage Marathon is only organised every ten years. This year’s event was held on the precise 30th anniversary of the founding of Fairlands Valley Spartans.  Full results are here: https://www.sportsystems.co.uk/ss/results

Spartan Marathon Results:

Posn

First Name

Last Name

Category

Time

Comments

1

Grant

Ramsay

Male V40-49

2:43:42

Winner. GOLD. 1St V40.

2

Andrew

Patterson

Male Open

2:52:35

County SILVER.

10

Simon

Jackson

Male Open

3:09:05

14

Davie

Stafford

Male Open

3:12:57

21

Michael

Green

Male V50-59

3:21:30

BRONZE (V50)

31

Richard

Kennedy

Male Open

3:32:33

36

Natalie

Lawrence

Female Open

3:34:19

3rd woman. County GOLD

50

Daniel

Bates

Male Open

3:41:54

69

Nicola

Haberland

Female V35-44

3:49:21

GOLD and BRONZE

96

John

Nelms

Male V40-49

3:56:05

102

Robert

Evans

Male V40-49

4:02:05

107

Kerstin

Weiner

Female V35-44

4:04:30

County SILVER

123

Nick

Crowley

Male Open

4:12:18

132

Andy

Prior

Male V40-49

4:17:34

155

Selvan

Naicker

Male V40-49

4:27:52

183

Jon

Sypula

Male Open

4:50:56

186

Nick

Emmett

Male Open

4:52:08

192

Carol

Paul

Female V45-54

4:57:51

County SILVER

194

Andy

Ingram-Tedd

Male Open

4:54:15

198

Karen

Liddle

Female V55-64

5:04:24

199

Tricia

Hopper

Female V45-54

5:04:24

County BRONZE

201

Barry

King

Male V40-49

5:04:24

208

Mike

Newbitt

Male V60-69

5:17:27

210

Paul

Holgate

Male V50-59

5:16:41

212

Robert

Hardy

Male V60-69

5:31:04

223

Sharon

Crowley

Female V55-64

6:03:17

227

Roger

Biggs

Male V60-69

6:34:37

Spartan Half Marathon Results

Pos

First Name

Last Name

Category

Time

37

Dean

Carpenter

Male V40-49

01:31:06

75

Suzy

Hawkins

Female V35-44

01:38:21

90

Andrew

Jordan

Male Open

01:39:18

92

Craig

Bacon

Male V40-49

01:40:29

93

Tim

Saban

Male V40-49

01:40:42

112

Tony

Bradford

Male V50-59

01:41:34

116

Tracy

Pez

Female V35-44

01:42:24

128

Thomas

Sauka

Male Open

01:44:54

133

Jennifer

Birkin

Female V35-44

01:45:05

253

Lisa

Gray

Female V35-44

01:55:29

291

Ruth

Bradford

Female V45-54

01:57:56

347

Karen

Ellis

Female V45-54

02:05:04

372

Felicity

Evans

Female Open

02:07:34

401

Robert

Shaw

Male V60-69

02:11:45

410

Sarah

Headland

Female Open

02:10:34

439

Anthony

Waller

Male V40-49

02:16:18

473

Hilary

Davies

Female V45-54

02:21:48

Spartan Women Win Cross Country

Fairlands Valley Spartans WON the women’s race against 20 other teams in the first race in the Cross Country League.

Overall the Spartans were sixth on 694 points just behind Team Trisports on 665 but well ahead of London Heathside who had 966.

MADDIE PRITCHARD was the fastest woman for the club. She was eighth in 37 minutes 21 seconds. JULIE SIMMONS was 12th in 37:46; TRACY PEZ 14th in 38:12; NIKKI WILBY 17th in 38:32; CLARE MOORE 19th in 38:59; MICHELLE REEVES 30th in 40:02; HAYLEY FAULKNER 60th in 43:07 and FELICITY EVANS 112th in 50:44.

The next cross country league race will be on 23rd November.

Position

First Name

Last Name

Category

Time

8

Maddie

Pritchard

SW

37:21

12

Julie

Simmons

W55

37:46

14

Tracy

Pez

W35

38:12

17

Nikki

Wilby

SW

38:32

19

Clare

Moore

W35

38:59

30

Michelle

Reeves

SW

40:02

60

Hayley

Faulkner

SW

43:07

112

Felicity

Evans

SW

50:44

Spartan Men

Position

First Name

Last Name

Category

Time

12

Lee

Reynolds

SM

29:31

14

Andy

Neatham

M40

29:39

46

Davie

Stafford

SM

31:47

72

Liam

Herbert

SM

33:03

99

Danny

Hukin

SM

34:46

121

Danik

Bates

SM

35:46

128

Steve

Mayfield

M40

36:02

132

Bernie

Barnaby

M50

36:15

153

Thomas

Sauka

SM

37:31

161

Tim

Saban

M40

37:50

187

Andy

Churn

M40

39:32

205

Vish

Shah

SM

42:13

219

Mark

Cheadle

SM

44:07

231

Nick

Stewart

M50

47:57

240

Nick

Whitcombe

M40

50:13

Summer At Serpentine

The last Friday of the Month lunch time 5K was held in incredible conditions for the 31st October. MADDIE PRITCHARD and JIM BROWN enjoyed a Halloween Summer with temperatures around 23 degrees in Hyde Park. Maddie was 77th out of the 248 finishers in 20 minutes 39 seconds and Jim 144th in 23:20. That lifts his series average to 70.7%.

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 at Grovelands on Sunday 23rd November

Wolverton Five on Saturday 29th November

Cross Country League at Watford on Sunday 7th December

Buntingford Year End Ten on Sunday 28th December

Ely New Year’s Eve 10K on Wednesday 31st December

Serpentine New Year’s Day 10K in Hyde Park on Thursday 1st January

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 9.00a.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 ÂŁ35 per year, ÂŁ25 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