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News Race Results

Lucky Biggs

After three days in the City of Quebec, a European  city in the East of Canada, with wall to wall blue skies and temperatures in the mid to high 20s, all did not bode well for Roger Biggs and the Quebec Marathon.

Worry not, Roger woke to find a cloudy skies and a significant drop in temperatures, plus a cooling light wind, almost perfect!  The marathon started in the city of Levis on the Southern banks of the St Lawrence River, crossing the Pont de Quebec before turning East to Quebec, mostly right next to the Northern shore of the St Lawrence River.  With favourable conditions, Roger ran his best marathon of 2016, by some 13 minutes to finish in 4:27:18, plus his best since October 2014.

 

Last Friday Faster

Despite the heat and a cycle race less than two days beforehand Jim Brown ran a year’s best of 24:16 at Friday’s Serpentine 5K.  An improvement of 54 seconds.  He was 136th and fourth in his category.

 

Parkrun Report

Lots of Spartans ran and volunteered in the #IAmTeamGB parkruns this weekend.  21 Spartans ran in Fairlands Valley.  STEFFAN FORD finished in fourth  place overall in his first park run in 18:29.  TODD GRAY, also making his parkrun debut finished in 12th place overall in 20:35.  MARK BEASLEY was in 20th place in a new PB of 21:20.  DAVE SMITH was 25th (21:56).  For the women, OLWEN BATTY ran a new PB of 24:12 to finish as 4th lady.  CAROL PAUL was 6th lady in 25:21 and NIKKI WILBY ran a new PB of 25:25 to finish as 7th lady.

There were also course PBs for CHRIS HOLLAND (24:06) and DANIEL SUTTON (24:31).  Other Spartans running at Stevenage were LIAM ERRINGTON (22:23), MARTIN DUDLEY (22:46), DARREN EMMERSON (24.06), TIM ROBINSON (24:15), CLAIRE COX (26:39), JENNY GARRETT (27:38), HEATHER MALONEY (30:44), JOHN WALSH (31:46), KARENA TRUMAN (35:28), KAREN BROOM (35:44), JANE SWEET (42:21) and VERITY FISHER (tail runner) (51:37).

At Panshanger, TRACY PEZ was 7th lady in 24:00.  Other Spartans running at Panshanger were VISHY SHAH (25:42), ANDY JAY (27:00) and Club Chairman NICK WITCOMBE in 31:08.

At Milton Keynes, JOHN ROXBOROUGH finished in an excellent 22:18.  GRAHAM HILL also ran in course PB of 33:25.

 

Coming Events

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

 

  • Harlow 10 at 10a.m. on Sunday 4th September.
  • Spartans Family Fun and Charitable Day at 2p.m. on Sunday 4th September.
  • Herts 5K senior championships in Hatfield on Wednesday 7th September.
  • Herts 5K veteran championships in Hatfield on Wednesday 21st September.
  • FVS Handicap 5 / 10 in Stevenage on Sunday 25th September.
  • Standalone 10K including County Vets Championships on Sunday 2nd October.
  • Open 5K race in Hatfield on Wednesday 5th October.
  • Peterborough Half Marathon on Sunday 9th October.
  • Abingdon Marathon on Sunday 23rd October.
  • First Cross Country League Race in Cheshunt on Sunday 23rd October.
  • Stevenage Half Marathon, a Stevenage 70 event, on Sunday 6th November.
  • Second Cross Country League Race on Sunday 13th November (new date).
  • St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 20th November.
  • County Five Miles Open Championship in Hatfield on 27th November.
  • Spartans Christmas Social on Saturday 10th December.
  • Third Cross Country League Race on Sunday 18th December.
  • Boxing Day Five in Witham on Monday 26th December.

 

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 9a.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 yet done very much running might prefer to start with a Thursday, Saturday or Monday session.

Try a few sessions before joining.  Membership is only £37 per year, £25 without UKA affiliation.  Concessions are available.  Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk  Please ask if you would like a paper copy.  You can also join online.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (0793 968 7509), Andy Neatham 0777 197 5499 and 01438 816889; or Karen Palmer (07734678566) or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

Categories
News Race Results

Spartan 1500s

Thirty Spartans enjoyed the club’s 1500 metres “Try It” session at Ridlins Track on Saturday morning. GRANT RAMSAY was fastest in 4 minutes 40.5 seconds while YUKO GORDON was the quickest woman in 6:09.3. The other runners were:

Mike Green 5:07.0; Todd Gray 5:09.4; Thomas Sauka 5:16.3; Stuart Haycroft 5:17.3; Paul Harris 5:26.3; Craig Bacon 5:41.5; Callum Beasley 5:47.3; Mark Beasley 5:49.8; Mark Goodwin 5:56.9; Darren Emmerson 5:58.2; Steve Smithson 6:05.0; Hazel Clark 6:15.1; Tim Robinson 6:15.4; Barry King 6:20.8; Jordon Quicke 6:05.09; Andy Jay 6:28.79; Caroline Barter 6:37.10; Karl Shreeve 6:40.55; Andrea Westcott 6:48.42; Roger Biggs 7:00.92; Anton McCalla 7:15.46; Steve Gough 7:21.42; Rob Shaw 7:24.11; Sean Millwood 7:26.63; Monica Smithson 7:30.39; Sharon Crowley 7:34.49; Cathy Craig 7:42.92; and Graham Hill 8:14.71.

 

Runner Number Time Race
Grant Ramsay 457 4:40.5 Race 2
Mike Green 386 5:07.0 Race 2
Todd Gray 385 5:09.4 Race 2
Thomas Sauka 392 5:16.3 Race 2
Stuart Haycroft 395 5:17.3 Race 2
Paul Harris 387 5:26.3 Race 2
Craig Bacon 390 5:41.5 Race 2
Callum Beasley 388 5:47.3 Race 2
Mark Beasley 393 5:49.8 Race 2
Mark Goodwin 394 5:56.9 Race 2
Darren Emmerson 455 5:58.2 Race 2
Steve Smithson 397 6:05.0 Race 2
Yuko Gordon 396 6:09.3 Race 2
Hazel Clark 398 6:15.1 Race 2
Tim Robinson 391 6:15.4 Race 2
Barry King 399 6:20.8 Race 2
Jordon Quicke 292 6:05.09 Race 1
Andy Jay 382 6:28.79 Race 1
Caroline Barter 297 6:37.10 Race 1
Karl Shreeve 376 6:40.55 Race 1
Andrea Westcott 380 6:48.42 Race 1
Roger Biggs 378 7:00.92 Race 1
Anton McCalla 295 7:15.46 Race 1
Steve Gough 377 7:21.42 Race 1
Rob Shaw 357 7:24.11 Race 1
Sean Millwood 379 7:26.63 Race 1
Monica Smithson 381 7:30.39 Race 1
Sharon Crowley 298 7:34.49 Race 1
Cathy Craig 296 7:42.92 Race 1
Graham Hill 299 8:14.71 Race 1

Not Rio

Three Spartans competed in the “Not The Rio Marathon” in the London Olympic Park on Sunday. DAVID BOWKER speed walked in preparation for the “Shine” Marathon at the end of September. He finished in 5 hours 20 minutes 40 seconds.

The event started with a circuit of the Velopark, then went out into the park for nine laps before finishing inside the Velodrome.

The continuous small climbs and descents made it a hard marathon. CAROL PAUL ran round in 4 hours 13 minutes 40 seconds and ROGER BIGGS in 4:59:39.

Fast Walk

On Tuesday DAVE BOWKER was second in the last of the Veterans’ Athletic Club series of midweek five mile walking races with a personal best of 52 minutes 18 seconds.

Tim at Kimbolton

TIM SABAN ran the Kimbolton Castle Half Marathon in 1 hour 41 minutes 5 seconds. 1:41:05.

Parkrun Report

With the 1500m races taking place at Ridlins there were fewer Spartans in parkrun action this weekend.

At Stevenage, KEITH COUGHLIN was first Spartan finisher and 2nd male a time of 18:28. CHRIS HOLLAND ran another new course PB to finish in 24:47 while ANDY PRIOR was third Spartan male in 25:15. For the women CLAIRE COX was 4th finisher in 24:16, TRACY PEZ was 7th in 25:15 and VERITY FISHER was 8th in 25:16, a new course PB.

There was also a new course PB for TRACY STILES, who finished in 29:55. The other Spartan runners were DANIEL SUTTON (26:43), HAZEL SMITH (27:24), IRIS HORNSEY (30:03), CHLOE EMMERSON (31:17), ROBERT HARDY (39:18), PAULINE HARDY (39:36) and tail-runner KERSTIN WEINER (43:15).

At St Albans, CRAIG HALSEY was first across the line in 16:47, while at the Wimpole Estate JOHN ROXBOROUGH finished in 23:31.

Finally, JOHN WALSH ran at LYMINGTON WOODSIDE, finishing in 32:58.

Coming Events

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

  • Harlow 10 on Sunday 4th September.
  • Herts 5K senior championships on Wednesday 7th September.
  • Herts 5K veteran championships on Wednesday 21st September.
  • FVS Handicap 5 / 10 in Stevenage on Sunday 25th September.
  • Standalone 10K including County Vets Championships on Sunday 2nd October.
  • Open 5K race in Hatfield on Wednesday 5th October.
  • Peterborough Half Marathon on Sunday 9th October.
  • Abingdon Marathon on Sunday 23rd October.
  • First Cross Country League Race in Cheshunt on Sunday 23rd October.
  • Stevenage Half Marathon, a Stevenage 70 event, on Sunday 6th November.
  • Second Cross Country League Race on Sunday 13th November (new date).
  • St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 20th November.
  • County Five Miles Open Championship in Hatfield on 27th November.
  • Spartans Christmas Social on Saturday 10th December.
  • Third Cross Country League Race on Sunday 18th December.
  • Boxing Day Five in Witham on Monday 26th December.

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 9a.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 yet done very much running might prefer to start with a Thursday, Saturday or Monday session.

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only ÂŁ37 per year, ÂŁ25 without UKA affiliation. Concessions are available.

Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk

Please ask if you would like a paper copy. You can also join online.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (0793 968 7509), Andy Neatham 0777 197 5499 and 01438 816889; or Karen Palmer (07734678566) or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

Categories
News Race Results

GRANT IS MARATHON CHAMPION

Fairlands Valley Spartans have another British Champion.  GRANT RAMSAY won the British Masters Marathon Championship on the Isle of Man at the weekend.  He was first veteran in 2 hours 49 minutes 8 seconds.  The championship was incorporated in the Isle of Man open event in which he was fourth overall.

Grant was delighted with his performance and time considering the injury issues he has had this year and feels he paced the run perfectly.

Richard and Nicola Kennedy ran the Isle of Man Half Marathon.

 

Donegal Double

ROGER BIGGS ran two of the marathons that make up the Donegal Quadrathon.

The first, on Thursday, was from Moville to Malin Town.  He says there was lovely scenery when you could see through the mist, and it was certainly hilly.  With persistent light rain throughout and windy most of the time Roger ran a consistent race to finish in 5 hours 35 minutes 13 seconds.

 

First Over The Line

Then on Sunday Roger tackled race four which went by the name ‘Muff Marathon’.  This marathon started in Buncrana on the west side of the Inishowen Peninsula.  It followed Lough Swilly for ten miles before heading east to meet Lough Foyle at Muff, right on the Ireland/N.Ireland border just after the 17 miles marker.  It was then a simple task to follow Lough Foyle North to the Redcastle Hotel just South of Moville.

In near perfect weather, which Roger Biggs took advantage of, to finish in a much better time than expected time of 4:52:36.  Roger has started in the early start, and was actually the first over the line, as the faster runners who started up to two hours later failed to catch him.

 

Parkrun Report

Eighteen Spartans took on the parkrun in Fairlands Valley. DAVID RIDELL was the first Spartan finisher in 19:18 for 6th place, while THOMAS SAUKA continued to improve his pace at the shorter events, dipping below the 20 minute mark for a new course PB of 19:39 in 9th place. BARRY OSBORNE ran his first ever parkrun, finishing 13th in 20:42 (an age-graded score 81%). DAVE SMITH was 19th in 22:03.

For the women CAROL PAUL was 5th in 24:59 and NIKKI WILBY 11th in 26:08, both new course PBs. HAZEL SMITH also notched a new course PB finishing 13th in 26:27 and KAREN PALMER was 15th in 26:49.

There were also new course PBs for CHRIS HOLLAND (25:52) and LIZ CARVELL (29:08). Other Spartans running at Stevenage were MARK BEASLEY (22:15), DARREN EMMERSON (22:32), MARTIN DUDLEY (22:42), ANDY PRIOR (26:26), CLAIRE COX (27:48), HEATHER MOLONEY (29:14), CHLOE EMMERSON (33:50) and IAN ALEXANDER who was tail-runner in a time of 48:45.

At other local venues, TIM ROBINSON ran 26:39 at Panshanger, where they were celebrating their 100th event, and TIM SABAN ran a new course PB of 20:15 at Cassiobury Park for an excellent 15th place finish.

Runners at locations further afield were DANIEL SUTTON (25:36) and VERITY FISHER (26:06) at Lowestoft, IAIN MCKEAN (18:30 for 7th place at Springburn in Glasgow), ANDY JAY (28:17 at Longrun Meadow, JOHN ROXBOROUGH (22:44 at Fulham Palace), JOHN HARRIS (19:32, new course PB, for 4th place at Llyn Llech Owain) and DARYL STEVENS (37:54 at Medina on the Isle of Wight).

 

Coming Events

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

  • Fairlands Fun Day including try a 1500 on Sunday 20th August.
  • Harlow 10 on Sunday 4th September.
  • Herts 5K senior championships on Wednesday 7th September.
  • Herts 5K veteran championships on Wednesday 21st September.
  • FVS Handicap 5 / 10 in Stevenage on Sunday 25th September.
  • Standalone 10K including County Vets Championships on Sunday 2nd October.
  • Open 5K race in Hatfield on Wednesday 5th October.
  • Peterborough Half Marathon on Sunday 9th October.
  • Abingdon Marathon on Sunday 23rd October.
  • First Cross Country League Race in Cheshunt on Sunday 23rd October.
  • Stevenage Half Marathon, a Stevenage 70 event, on Sunday 6th November.
  • Second Cross Country League Race on Sunday 13th November (new date).
  • St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 20th November.
  • County Five Miles Open Championship in Hatfield on 27th November.
  • Spartans Christmas Social on Saturday 10th December.
  • Third Cross Country League Race on Sunday 18th December.
  • Boxing Day Five in Witham on Monday 26th December.

 

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 9a.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 yet done very much running might prefer to start with a Thursday, Saturday or Monday session.

Try a few sessions before joining.  Membership is only £37 per year, £25 without UKA affiliation.  Concessions are available.  Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk  Please ask if you would like a paper copy.  You can also join online.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (0793 968 7509), Andy Neatham 0777 197 5499 and 01438 816889; or Karen Palmer (07734678566) or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

Categories
News Race Results

FVS Women Finish Top!

Fairlands Valley Spartans, who are known for their road racing, hosted the fourth and final Eastern Masters Athletic Club League match at Ridlins Athletics Track in Stevenage. Competing against 5 other clubs, most of which mainly concentrate on Track and Field, the women won the match by an impressive fifteen points, securing their position the top of the South West Division of the league. The men’s team lost out on third place on the night due to absent members, missing by only three points.

The Women’s team consisted of ANDREA WESTCOTT, PETA WILSON, STEPHANIE MAYFIELD, CHRISTINE LATHWELL, HAZEL CLARK and ROSIE CANHAM in the 35-49 age group; MONICA BROWN, TESSA STEPHENSON, JULIE SIMMONS and new member ALISON WOOD in the 50-59 age group, and IRIS HORNSEY, and CATHY CRAIG in the 60+ age group.

MONICA BROWN continued her fantastic winning form from last week’s British Masters National Heptathlon Championships in Birmingham, jumping a league record of 9.05m in  the triple jump, and also coming first in the 100 metres and High Jump. She also anchored the older age group team in the 400, 200, 200, 400 metres relay. CHRISTINE LATHWELL, ALISON WOOD and CATHY CRAIG all had good runs and won their age group mile races.

The Men’s team consisted of CHRISTOPHER WESTCOTT, TIM SABAN and BARRY KING in the 35-49 age group, STEVE MAYFIELD, DAVE STEPHENSON, DAVID BOWKER and JOHN HARRIS in the 50-59 age group and BARRY OSBORNE was the sole 60+ member.

Monica Brown

Parkrun Report

Eighteen Spartans headed to Fairlands Valley for a Saturday morning parkrun fix with several others helping behind the scenes. NATALIE LAWRENCE was first woman finisher in 19:38. OLWEN BATTY finished ninth in a new course PB of 25:07, CAROL PAUL was 12th in 25:29 and VERITY FISHER also notched a new course PB finishing 16th in 26:14

For the men, THOMAS SAUKA secured a new course PB of 20:07 in finishing 8th and is edging tantalisingly close to breaking 20 minutes. MARTIN WOOD was 16th in 20:54, DAVE SMITH was 21st in 21:22 and MARK BEASLEY ran a new course PB of 21:36 to finish 25th.

There were also new course PBs at Stevenage for CHRIS HOLLAND (25:03) and HILARY DAVIES (32:45). Other Spartans in action at Stevenage were JOHN NELMS (21:37), CRAIG BACON (22:53), PAUL MAGUIRE (23:11), CAROL PAUL (25:29), ANDREA WESTCOTT (27:04 in her first parkrun anywhere), DANIEL SUTTON (27:20), HEATHER MALONEY (29:05), THERESA KEAST (30:00) and KAREN PALMER (30:26).

CRAIG HALSEY paid a first visit to Ellenbrook Fields and finished second in a time of 16:44, as the first runner home broke the course record, while at Banstead Woods PETER CARPENTER finished his first parkrun in a time of 31:40.

At Swindon DARREN EMMERSON and CLAIRE COX both completed in 24:07. At Cleethorpes EMMA POULTER came home in a time of 42:40 while at Rutland Water TRACY STILES ran in a time of 28:41. GRAHAM HILL took on the challenge at Wimpole Estate for the first time and completed in 36:06.

Finally TIM ROBINSON became the latest Spartan to reach the 50 parkruns milestone when accompanying his son Oliver round Panshanger Park in 45:46.

 

Coming Events

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

 

  • Harlow 10 on Sunday 4th September.
  • Herts 5K senior championships on Wednesday 7th September.
  • Herts 5K veteran championships on Wednesday 21st September.
  • FVS Handicap 5 / 10 in Stevenage on Sunday 25th September.
  • Standalone 10K including County Vets Championships on Sunday 2nd October.
  • Open 5K race in Hatfield on Wednesday 5th October.
  • Peterborough Half Marathon on Sunday 9th October.
  • Abingdon Marathon on Sunday 23rd October.
  • Stevenage Half Marathon, a Stevenage 70 event, on Sunday 6th November.
  • St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 20th November.
  • County Five Miles Open Championship in Hatfield on 27th November.
  • Spartans Christmas Social on Saturday 10th December.
  • Boxing Day Five in Witham on Monday 26th December.

 

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 9a.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 yet done very much running might prefer to start with a Thursday, Saturday or Monday session.

Try a few sessions before joining.  Membership is only £37 per year, £25 without UKA affiliation.  Concessions are available.  Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk  Please ask if you would like a paper copy.  You can also join online.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (0793 968 7509), Andy Neatham 0777 197 5499 and 01438 816889; or Karen Palmer (07734678566) or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk