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News Race Results

CHESHUNT CROSS COUNTRY

 

45 Fairlands Valley Spartans answered the club’s call to compete in the first Cross Country League race of the season.  On a bright sunny morning the 17 women and 28 men raced round a parkland style course in Cheshunt.

The leading performance was by CALLUM STEWART second overall in just 27 minutes 50 seconds.  YUKO GORDON was first in for the Spartan women in 39:08 with ISABEL GREEN twelve seconds behind in 39:20.

Three other Spartans achieved top thirty positions out of the five hundred runners.  They were GRANT RAMSAY, 14th in 29:30; CHRIS WESTCOTT, 20th in 29:50 and SIMON JACKSON, 22nd in 30:03.

 

Women’s Team At Cheshunt

Overall Position Name Time
255 YUKO GORDON 39:08
259 ISABEL GREEN 39:20
325 JULIE SIMMONS 41:45*
332 CLAIRE COX 42:12
370 JANE McFARLANE 43:50
388 WENDY THARANI 45:00
390 KAREN ELLIS 45:15
412 SOPHIE COWAN 46:48
416 JENNY GARRETT 47:30
417 KERSTIN WEINER 47:32
430 CLAIRE WHITCHURCH 48:40*
446 OLWEN BATTY 49:56
452 STEPH MAYFIELD 49:57
456 MONICA SMITHSON 50:46
461 LIZ GUEMACHE 51:20*
480 IRIS HORNSEY 54:23
487 HANNAH SYPULA 56:09

 

Men’s Team

Overall Position Name Time
2 CALLUM STEWART 27:50
14 GRANT RAMSAY 29:30
20 CHRIS WESTCOTT 29:50*
22 SIMON JACKSON 30:03
52 PAUL HEWETT 31:34
75 DAN HUKIN 32:30
97 MIKE GREEN 33:18
103 STEVE GREEN 33:34
113 MARK COLLINS 34:01
114 BRIAN WHITE 33:58
135 TODD GRAY 34:54
150 TOM SAUKA 35:19
155 TIM SABAN 35:41
174 BARRY OSBORNE 36:25
223 PETE SMITH 36:21*
237 STEVE MAYFIELD 36:31
239 MARK GOODWIN 38:00
271 CLIVE CANNON 39:53
279 PAUL WHYTE 39:58
351 ANDY PRIOR 43:08
354 DAVE SMITH 43:12*
356 JAMES KILROY 43:17
357 SIMON SYPULA 43:23
397 VISH SHAH 45:40
401 ANDY JAY 45:23
418 JON SYPULA 47:11
436 ROB SHAW 48:19
488 STEVE GOUGH 57:18

 

Magnificent Seven Spartans in Snowdonia

A magnificent seven Spartans tackled the challenging Snowdonia Marathon at the weekend.

Poor visibility made scenery at a premium on this Snowdon marathon, but mild temperatures and a damp day made for excellent running conditions.  ROB EVANS ran an impressive 4 hours 31 minutes 18 seconds despite the treacherous final couple of miles which saw many runners fall.

Sharon Crowley took 27 minutes off her season’s best from Snowdon last year to finish in 5:12:31, while Paul Holgate beat his 2016 time by 43 minutes with 5:26:00 to record his fastest marathon since 2014.

Barry King, Karen Liddle, Tricia Hopper & Trudie Molloy ran round together in 5:35:48.

 

Name Time
ROBERT EVANS 4:31:18
SHARON CROWLEY 5:12:31
PAUL HOLGATE 5:26:00
TRICIA HOPPER 5:35:48
KAREN LIDDLE 5:35:48
TRUDIE MOLLOY 5:35:49
BARRY KING 5:35:50

 

Serpentine 25th Anniversary

MADDIE PRITCHARD and JIM BROWN were in London for the 25th Anniversary of the popular Serpentine 5K Last Friday of the Month race around 5K.  Conditions were excellent for late October – warm and sunny with a light breeze.  Maddie was 165th in 22:03 and Jim, after many months of trying, beat 24 minutes with a year’s best 23:55.  He was 214th.

 

Beachy Head Marathon

Tim Robinson reports a tough day at the Beachy Head Marathon on Saturday.  There was a cold wind and he thinks he picked up some sunstroke.  The last four miles were monstrous with dizziness and strange visual disturbances.  Tim finished in 5 hours 47 minutes 46 seconds.

 

Fair City

PAUL MAGUIRE completed the Dublin Marathon in 4 hours 26 minutes 23 seconds.

 

parkrun reports

ERICA GRAYSON took advantage of a half term break up north to run the Barrow Parkrun.  She was happy to beat her Stevenage parkrun times on a hilly two and a half ran course with 26 minutes 49 seconds and second in her category.

Fastest Spartan at a parkrun at the weekend was RICHARD BRUCE who was 5th at Bedford in 18 mins 23 secs. NICOLA KENNEDY ran at Nobles on the Isle of Man for the first time and was 1st woman to finish in 24:59.

This week there were course personal bests (PBs) at Stevenage for SALLY PHILLIPS (29:29) and SELVAN NAICKER (30:06).

RUTH REILLY was the fastest Spartan woman this week with 21 minutes 37 seconds at Ellenbrook Fields.

The full list of parkrun times for the week by course was as follows:

 

Bedford        
         
Pos Gender Pos parkrunner Time Notes
5 5 Richard BRUCE 00:18:23  
         
Bath Skyline        
       
Pos Gender Pos parkrunner Time Notes
288 86 Alexandra WHITEHOUSE 00:32:27  
         
Nobles        
         
Pos Gender Pos parkrunner Time Notes
15 1 Nicola KENNEDY 00:24:59 First woman
         
Stevenage        
         
Pos Gender Pos parkrunner Time Notes
11 11 Nick GILL 00:20:41  
33 31 Martin DUDLEY 00:22:27  
39 37 Clive CANNON 00:23:12  
48 44 Lee PICKERSGILL 00:24:04  
51 47 Barry OSBORNE 00:24:07  
68 62 David SCOTT 00:25:09  
83 74 Dave SMITH 00:26:04  
104 16 Tracy PEZ 00:27:13  
122 99 James SOUTH 00:28:23  
142 30 Sally PHILLIPS 00:29:29 Course PB
164 126 Selvan NAICKER 00:30:06 Course PB
188 139 Peter CARPENTER 00:33:03  
         
Barrow        
         
Pos Gender Pos parkrunner Time Notes
55 11 Erica GRAYSON 00:26:49  
         
Panshanger        
         
Pos Gender Pos parkrunner Time Notes
58 55 Paul WHYTE 00:24:07  
         
Rutland Water        
         
Pos Gender Pos parkrunner Time Notes
95 67 Daniel SUTTON 00:27:28  
100 32 Verity FISHER 00:27:59  
         
         
Leicester Victoria        
         
Pos Gender Pos parkrunner Time Notes
133 36 Karen PALMER 00:27:34  
         
Ellenbrook Fields        
         
Pos Gender Pos parkrunner Time Notes
18 3 Ruth REILLY 00:21:37  

 

 

 

Coming Events

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

  • Cross Country League at Trent Park on Sunday 12th November.
  • St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 19th November.
  • Wolverton Five at Milton Keynes on Saturday 25th November.
  • Hertfordshire Five Mile Championship for Veterans at Hatfield on Sunday 26th Nov.
  • Bass Belle 10 near Royston on Sunday 26th November.
  • Bedford Harriers Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd December.
  • Spartans Christmas Party on Friday 8th December.
  • Festive Five at Welwyn Garden City on Sunday 10th December.
  • Cross Country League at Willian on Sunday 17th December.
  • Witham Five on Tuesday 26th December.
  • Buntingford Year End 10 on Sunday 31st December.
  • New Year 10K in Hyde Park on Monday 1st January 2018.
  • County Cross Country Championships at Cassiobury Park on Sunday 7th January.
  • Cross Country League at Watford on Sunday 14th January.
  • Fred Hughes 10 miles including senior county championships at St. Albans on Sunday 21st January.
  • Southern Cross Country Championships on Saturday 27th January.
  • Watford Half Marathon inc. veteran championships on Sunday 4th February.
  • Bramley 20/10 (20 miles or 10 miles) on Sunday 11th February.
  • St Valentine’s 30K at Stamford on Sunday 11th February.
  • Cross Country League at Royston on Sunday 18th February.
  • Welwyn Half Marathon on Sunday 4th March.
  • Finchley 20 miles (including Herts County) on Sunday 18th March.
  • Oakley 20 miles on Sunday 18th March.
  • Orion 15 at Chingford (Epping Forest) on Saturday 24th March.
  • London Marathon on Sunday 22nd April.
  • Stirling Marathon on Sunday 29th April.
Categories
News

Sunday XC League – Race 1 (Cheshunt)

Details provided by Broxbourne Runners for the first race of the season:

Sunday Cross Country League

First fixture 2017 – 2018 season.

Sunday 29th October at Cheshunt Park 11:00am

PLEASE NOTE THE RACE START TIME OF 11AM

Broxbourne Runners welcome you to the first fixture of the 2017 – 2018 season on Sunday 29th October starting at 11:00am.

Location

Cheshunt Park, Park Lane, Cheshunt, Herts EN7 6QD

Facilities

In order to maintain our good relationship with the Local Council and Golf Club please be mindful of the following:-

There are no changing facilities but toilets and refreshments are available in the Golf Centre nearby. Showers are NOT available.

Only food and drink purchased on site can be consumed on the premises. Dirty shoes are not allowed on the premises, this applies to all users.

Providing the ground is not too wet a field will be available for car parking. Please follow the Marshals directions and car share as much as possible.

The course is the same as previous years, circa 5 miles, three circuits of the Park. Kit is usually left (unsupervised) at the finish point. The start is in the adjacent field and is signed.

Rules

Headphones – For safety reasons, runners must not run wearing headphones or other impediments to their hearing. Runners must be able to hear any warnings or guidance given by course marshals or race officials. This is a league rule – the referee can disqualify any athlete who does not comply with this rule.

Travel

For anyone that is interested in car share, suggested departure will be from RIDLINS with a 0915 departure. Note: It is unlikely that the skippers will be there so self-arrangement will be required. It is suggested you you post on the Facebook group well in advance of the race if you need a lift to Cheshunt.

Categories
News Race Results

HUNDREDS RACE ROUND STEVENAGE IN SPARTANS’ HALF MARATHON

 

Fairlands Valley Spartans organised the Stevenage Half Marathon and it was a tremendous community event with nearly 500 people running round the town, dozens of Spartans volunteering to make the event a success, a local Spartan winner, hundreds of spectators around the course and still 29 members of the club racing and doing well.

stevenagehalf2

Spartan GRANT RAMSAY won the race in 1 hour 17 minutes 26 seconds with the club’s team of Grant, STEFFAN FORD 1:24:16, BRIAN WHITE 1:28:23 and ADRIAN BUSOLINI 1:29:21 taking the team honours.  Grant was also the first finisher aged 40 plus and Brian second 60 plus finisher in the open race.

The event included the Hertfordshire Half Marathon Championships for veteran runners.  Grant took GOLD.  BRIAN WHITE took GOLD and JIM BROWN 1:46:31 BRONZE in the 60 plus category.  ROB SHAW won BRONZE in the 70 plus contest.

The Spartan veterans Grant Ramsay, Steffan Ford; Brian White and Tim Saban in a new personal best of 1:31:25 won GOLD in the county team event.  The club’s women were not being left out as ROS INGRAM 1:54:22, JULIE SHADBOLT beating two hours for the first time with 1:58:48; and ERICA GRAYSON 2:02:29 made up the SILVER medal winning team.

Many other Spartans had great races.  NICK GILL put in a huge effort on the undulating course to take ONE second off his personal best (PB) which is now 1:37:53.  There were also personal bests by KAREN ELLIS 1:51:48 and JO BOWDERY 1:57:44.

Massive thanks to SOPHIE COWAN, race director and her huge team of volunteer race makers.

 

Spartan Results at the Stevenage Half Marathon

Position Name Time Comments
1 GRANT RAMSAY 1:17:26 Race Winner.  GOLD team.
11 STEFFAN FORD 1:24:16 GOLD team.
30 BRIAN WHITE 1:28:23 County GOLD.  GOLD team.
34 ADRIAN BUSOLINI 1:29:21
41 TIM SABAN 1:31:25 PB.  GOLD team.
48 DEAN CARPENTER 1:32:11
65 STUART ARCHER 1:35:18
80 NICK GILL 1:37:53 PB (1 second!)
127 CHRIS HOLLAND 1:44:09
156 JIM BROWN 1:46:31 County BRONZE
169 MARTIN DUDLEY 1:48:14
198 KELLY EVANS (F) 1:51:15
201 KAREN ELLIS (F) 1:51:48 PB
213 SUSAN McANENY (F) 1:53:06
217 ROBERT EVANS 1:53:42
227 ROS INGRAM (F) 1:54:22 SILVER team
241 JOANNE BOWDERY (F) 1:57:44 PB
250 JULIE SHADBOLT (F) 1:58:48 SILVER team.  PB (first sub two)
270 ERICA GRAYSON (F) 2:02:29 SILVER team.
273 WENDY THARANI (F) 2:02:02
309 KARTIK SHARMA 2:07:07
326 ROBERT WRIGHT 2:08:57
327 KAREN PALMER (F) 2:09:18
328 SUE HAMER (F) 2:09:24
343 JEANNETTE COLLINS(F) 2:10:48
376 ROGER BIGGS 2:14:31
390 CALLIE CHAPMAN (F) 2:18:18
392 ROB SHAW 2:17:40 County GOLD (M70)
411 JAMES SOUTH 2:21:40
459 KELLY CHAPMAN (F) 2:56:23

 

There were 468 finishers.  Results for everyone can be found on http://eventchiptiming.com/

 

Great South Ten Miles

Six Spartans travelled to Portsmouth for the Great South Run.  Racing over ten miles and with a big field RUTH REILLY ran a tremendous new personal best of 1 hour 14 minutes 44 seconds.  JENNY GARRETT was rewarded with a new 1:29:59 PB.  LIAM HERBERT was the club’s fastest finisher with 1:08:52.

Position Name Time Comments
538 LIAM HERBERT 1:08:52
1390 RUTH REILLY 1:14:44 PB
5529 JENNY GARRETT 1:29:59 PB
7676 TESSA STEPHENSON 1:36:19
9102 HAYLEY TRANTER 1:40:21
10617 ZOE YIAMAKA 1:45:13

 

Abingdon Marathon

In a very windy Abingdon Spartan ANDREW PATTERSON cut his marathon personal best (PB) by five minutes to 2 hours 42 minutes 20 seconds.  That gives him a championship start at the London Marathon.  SUZY HAWKINS cut her PB to 3:21:50.

 

Toronto

CAROL PAUL ran the Toronto marathon.  On a hot day for the time of year where Carol suffered in the heat Carol completed the marathon in 4:39:35 her sixth marathon in Canada and her 355th marathon.   Carol ran her first marathon 25 years ago at Snowdon.

 

Cross Country Campaign Commences

Fairlands Valley Spartans campaign in the new season’s cross country league starts in Cheshunt at 11a.m. this Sunday, 29th October.

 

parkrun reports

Fastest Spartan parkrunner of the week was RICHARD KENNEDY who was 7th finisher in 22:45 in the inaugural event of Nobles parkrun on the Isle of Man.

Fifteen Spartans lined up at Stevenage. MARK BEASLEY finished 36th in 23:33 with LEE PICKERSGILL next Spartan in 24:18 followed by ANDY JAY in 25:10. DANIEL SUTTON (25:22), DAVID SCOTT (25:44), ROGER BIGGS (30:27), JAMES SOUTH (32:00) and SELVAN NAICKER (40:13) also ran with IAN ALEXANDER volunteering as tailwalker in 44:33.

VERITY FISHER was 10th woman in 25:30, with TRACY PEZ (27:55), LIZ GUEMACHE (29:56) and SALLY PHILLIPS (30:07) also finishing in the top 50 women. TRACY STILES (32:42) and LYNSEY CHALKLEY (35:49) also ran.

In other parkruns around the country DARYL STEVENS headed north (for him!) to Basingstoke to compete in 42:19. HANNAH NEALE (20th, 26:02) and ALEXANDRA WHITEHOUSE (34:24) were both in action at Bath Skyline, and NEIL ROBINSON (16th) ran at Westmill in 27:08. Finally TIM ROBINSON was 15th at Pymmes in 24:00.

 

Coming Events

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

  • Serpentine 25th Anniversary 5K from the boat house, Hyde Park on Friday 27th October.
  • First Cross Country League race at Cheshunt on 29th October.
  • Cross Country League at Trent Park on Sunday 12th November.
  • St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 19th November.
  • Wolverton Five at Milton Keynes on Saturday 25th November.
  • Hertfordshire Five Mile Championship for Veterans at Hatfield on Sunday 26th Nov.
  • Bass Belle 10 near Royston on Sunday 26th November.
  • Bedford Harriers Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd December.
  • Spartans Christmas Party on Friday 8th December.
  • Festive Five at Welwyn Garden City on Sunday 10th December.
  • Cross Country League at Willian on Sunday 17th December.
  • Witham Five on Tuesday 26th December.
  • Buntingford Year End 10 on Sunday 31st December.
  • New Year 10K in Hyde Park on Monday 1st January 2018.
  • County Cross Country Championships at Cassiobury Park on Sunday 7th January.
  • Cross Country League at Watford on Sunday 14th January.
  • Fred Hughes 10 miles including senior county championships at St. Albans on Sunday 21st January.
  • Southern Cross Country Championships on Saturday 27th January.
  • Watford Half Marathon inc. veteran championships on Sunday 4th February.
  • Bramley 20/10 (20 miles or 10 miles) on Sunday 11th February.
  • St Valentine’s 30K at Stamford on Sunday 11th February.
  • Cross Country League at Royston on Sunday 18th February.
  • Welwyn Half Marathon on Sunday 4th March.
  • Finchley 20 miles (including Herts County) on Sunday 18th March.
  • Oakley 20 miles on Sunday 18th March.
  • Orion 15 at Chingford (Epping Forest) on Saturday 24th March.
  • London Marathon on Sunday 22nd April.
  • Stirling Marathon on Sunday 29th April.
Categories
News Race Results

1 to 893

 

CATHY CRAIG celebrated her 65th birthday in style by running the Lisbon Marathon with her daughter Hazel in temperatures that peaked at 35 degrees Celsius!  Cathy was fourth in her age category completing in 5 hours 38 minutes 22 seconds.

HAZEL SMITH completed her FIRST marathon in 4 hours 23 minutes 47 seconds after only eight weeks training due to a bike accident.

 

Birmingham Biggs

ROGER BIGGS ran his 893rd marathon on Sunday.  The Great Birmingham Marathon was the first marathon in the city for at least twenty years.  On a course that went straight through the city centre Roger finished in 5 hours 27 minutes 45 seconds.

 

A Win In Leicester

JAN FRY ran the Leicester Marathon in 5:14:55 coming FIRST in the V60 Women’s category!  There were a total of 516 runners and Jan really enjoyed the course

 

Stevenage Half Marathon This Sunday

Organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans the Stevenage Half Marathon is the town’s biggest and best running event, and has been organised for more than thirty years.  Entries have opened and 580 have already signed up.  This year it will be on Sunday 22nd October and the race starts from Ridlins Athletic Track at 10a.m.  Have a look on www.fvspartans.org.uk  or go straight to https://www.activetrainingworld.co.uk/events/2017/10/22/stevenage_half_marathon

 

Hawkins Wins At Hatfield House

Spartan SUZY HAWKINS was first woman and third overall at the Hatfield House 5K with a time of 21 minutes 51 seconds.

Elsewhere MOLLIE SMITH ran the Amsterdam marathon in 4:11:46 and ROBERT WRIGHT the Manchester Half Marathon in 2:05:38.

 

parkrun reports

The Spartans all ran locally this weekend, with a handful at Panshanger, but most at Stevenage where CRAIG HALSEY was again first to finish in a time of 16:56 (just five seconds outside his best round here).  KEITH COUGHLIN was next home in second, in 18:10 with ALLAN GARCIA 24th in a new course PB of 21:48 and MARTIN DUDLEY also just getting a top 30 finish in 22:23.  JOHN NELMS (22:37), MARK BEASLEY (22:50), CHRIS HOLLAND (23:00), DAVID SCOTT (new course PB, 23:56), JIM BROWN (new parkrun PB, 24:10); DANIEL SUTTON (25:28), JAMES SOUTH (28:39), MICHAEL O’KEEFE (30:19) and STEVE DOBNER (33:07) also ran, with DARREN EMMERSON (48:49) operating as tail-walker.

ALLISON WOOD made it a double-first for the Spartans, as she was first woman finisher in 19:56.  VERITY FISHER was 6th in 24:25, CLAIRE EMMERSON and TRACY PEZ 11th and 12th respectively in 25:20, with CAROL PAUL also making the top thirty in 27:30. Other Spartans running were KAREN BROOM (29:35), SALLY PHILLIPS (new course PB, 29:41) and IRIS HORNSEY (30:46).

Over at Panshanger IAN STRETCH was first Spartan to finish in 27:28, with Anthony OSBORNE completing in 40:05 to round out the Spartan men.  For the women BEV HARLOW completed in 32.35 with LIZ M0RGAN finishing in 35.32.

 

Coming Events

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

  • Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 22nd October.
  • Serpentine 25th Anniversary 5K from the boat house on Friday 27th October.
  • First Cross Country League race at Cheshunt on 29th October.
  • Cross Country League at Trent Park on Sunday 12th November.
  • St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 19th November.
  • Wolverton Five at Milton Keynes on Saturday 25th November.
  • Hertfordshire Five Mile Championship for Veterans at Hatfield on Sunday 26th Nov.
  • Bass Belle 10 near Royston on Sunday 26th November.
  • Bedford Harriers Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd December.
  • Spartans Christmas Party on Friday 8th December.
  • Festive Five at Welwyn Garden City on Sunday 10th December.
  • Cross Country League at Willian on Sunday 17th December.
  • Witham Five on Tuesday 26th December.
  • Buntingford Year End 10 on Sunday 31st December.
  • New Year 10K in Hyde Park on Monday 1st January 2018.
  • County Cross Country Championships at Cassiobury Park on Sunday 7th January.
  • Cross Country League at Watford on Sunday 14th January.
  • Fred Hughes 10 miles including senior county championships at St. Albans on Sunday 21st January.
  • Southern Cross Country Championships on Saturday 27th January.
  • Watford Half Marathon inc. veteran championships on Sunday 4th February.
  • Bramley 20/10 (20 miles or 10 miles) on Sunday 11th February.
  • St Valentine’s 30K at Stamford on Sunday 11th February.
  • Cross Country League at Royston on Sunday 18th February.
  • Welwyn Half Marathon on Sunday 4th March.
  • Finchley 20 miles (including Herts County) on Sunday 18th March.
  • Oakley 20 miles on Sunday 18th March.
  • Orion 15 at Chingford (Epping Forest) on Saturday 24th March.
  • London Marathon on Sunday 22nd April.
  • Stirling Marathon on Sunday 29th April.
Categories
News Race Results

GETTING PERSONAL AT PETERBOROUGH

 

Seventeen Spartans raced around Peterborough in the Perkins Great Eastern Run half marathon and many achieved new personal bests, hit new targets, got under two hours for the first time and were running 13.1 miles for the first time.

DANNY HUKIN was running his first half marathon race since knee surgery.  He set himself a target of 1 hour 30 minutes and was very happy with a 1:27:43 finish time.

ERICA GRAYSON got under two hours for the first time, knocking 15 minutes off her half marathon personal best (PB) this year to finish in 1:59:51.  She was joined by MICHAEL ANDREWS who ran his first ever half marathon in 1:59:48.

Despite already having a good time SUZY HAWKINS squeezed another 14 seconds off hers and finished in 1:33:45.

STUART HAYCROFT continued his run of achieving a PB for every race of the year with 1:27:45, beating his previous Half Marathon PB by just under six minutes.

GREG KELLY who trimmed 3:31 off his PB when he ran in with 1:48:11.

BARRY KING ran with his brother STEVE KING who took almost 20 minutes off his PB time!  They finished in 2:07:29.

JIM BROWN ran his fastest half marathon since 2010 having had major surgery in 2011 and 2015.  His 1:44:02 gives him an age related score well over 70%.

VERITY FISHER and ANN TRYSSESOONE were under two hours with 1:58:23 and 1:58:56.  DANIEL SUTTON came with 2:00:44; KAREN ELLIS and JULIE SHADBOLT with 2:01:54; SHARON CROWLEY in a season’s best 2:06:34; and CAROLINE CROFT with 2:10:30.  PAUL HOLGATE ran round with his daughter in her first half marathon, they finished in 2 hours 48 minutes.

 

Position Name Chip Time Comments
226 DANNY HUKIN 1:27:43 SB (first in season)
232 STUART HAYCROFT 1:27:45 PB (5:46).
444 SUZY HAWKINS (F) 1:33:45 PB (0:14)
878 JIM BROWN 1:44:02 SB (0:55)
1333 GREG KELLY 1:48:11 PB (3:31)
1857 DANIEL SUTTON 2:00:44 SB (first in season)
1928 MICHAEL ANDREWS 1:59:48 First Half Ever
1966 VERITY FISHER (F) 1:58:23 SB (first in season)
2015 ANN TRYSSESOONE (F) 1:58:56 YB (first in 2017)
2109 ERICA GRAYSON (F) 1:59:51 PB (1:24)
2225 KAREN ELLIS (F) 2:01:54
2226 JULIE SHADBOLT (F) 2:01:54 YB (8:52)
2373 STEPHEN KING 2:07:29 PB (20 minutes)
2374 BARRY KING 2:07:29
2602 SHARON CROWLEY (F) 2:06:34 SB (12:27)
2717 CAROLINE CROFT (F) 2:10:30
3995 PAUL HOLGATE 2:48:00 Running with daughter

 

Stevenage Half Marathon Entries Open

Organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans the Stevenage Half Marathon is the town’s biggest and best running event.  Entries have opened and 500 have already signed up.  The race has been organised for more than thirty years.  This year it will be on Sunday 22nd October.  Have a look on www.fvspartans.org.uk  or go straight to https://www.activetrainingworld.co.uk/events/2017/10/22/stevenage_half_marathon

 

Herts 10K

PAUL HEWETT ran the Herts 10K in a time of 38 mins 22 seconds.  He was 23rd out of 1789.

 

Ridgeway Run

JENNY PAUL did The Ridgeway Run, organised by Tring Running Club.  It was nine miles of hilly trail with great views from the tops.  Her time of 1:39:39 was thirteen minutes quicker than last year.

 

Wimpole Hall 10 Miles

Super veteran PETER CARPENTER ran the Wimpole Hall 10 mile event.  He reckons he was doing reasonably well to the 8 mile point, but then it was a struggle for the last two miles, including a couple of brief stops in the last mile in what was really a meadow. He was pleased to just finish in less than two hours with 1:59:20 for the scenic cross country course.

 

Norton 5K

Maddie Pritchard and John Harris ran the Norton 5k on Saturday.  John was eighth with 20:30 and Maddie 27th with 23:18.

 

Langdale Horseshoe

TOM SAUKA did the Langdale Horseshoe fell race on Saturday.  It was wet and forecast for rain all day so he prepared for the worst.  It was very wet and boggy all through the race and he spent a lot of it knee deep in it or slipping over on the grassy down hills, but it was a great atmosphere as one of the classic fell races with a lot of the top names there.  He finished in 3 hours 52 minutes 6 seconds.

 

Biggs At York

York is one of the biggest and best organised UK marathons.  On an undulating course mainly to the East of York, ROGER BIGGS completed the 26.2 miles in 5:05:42.

 

Royal Parks Half

ANTHONY BLYTH completed his first run as a Spartan at the weekend!

It was the Royal Parks Half with a time of 1:35:28.  He was fund raising running for the Great Ormond Street Hospital.

 

Parkrun Reports

It was a quiet week with a number of Spartans expected to be in action at the Great Eastern Half Marathon in Peterborough.  CRAIG HALSEY followed up his recent outstanding Berlin Marathon performance by showing there’s nothing wrong with his current speed at shorter distances either.  He was first to finish at Stevenage parkrun in 16:51, matching his course best.  MARK BEASLEY was next Spartan man home in 22:22 in 30th position and MARTIN DUDLEY finished in 22:36. CHRIS HOLLAND (23:30), RYAN DUNNING (24:06), SIMON SYPULA (24:39), LEE PICKERSGILL (24:39), DAVID SCOTT (25:07) and JAMES SOUTH (28:01) also ran.

For the ladies RUTH REILLY was second finisher at Stevenage in a new course PB time of 22:00. KELLY EVANS was 9th in 25:05 and CAROL PAUL 14th in 26:32. TRACY PEZ also finished top 30 (23rd in 27:30) and was joined by KAREN PALMER (28:37) and SALLY PHILLIPS in a new course PB time of 29:46.

PAUL MAGUIRE chose to run in Stratford-Upon-Avon on parkrun’s 13th birthday and ran an excellent new 5k PB of 20:56 to finish in 23rd position. Elsewhere MARK GOODWIN was 26th finisher at Panshanger in 22:37 and VERITY FISHER was at Rutland Water, finishing in 47:46. Finally ROGER HARDMAN was again in action in Newcastle, finishing in 27:42.

 

Coming Events

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

  • Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 22nd October.
  • Serpentine 25th Anniversary 5K from the boat house on Friday 27th October.
  • Cross Country League at Trent Park on Sunday 12th November.
  • St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 19th November.
  • Wolverton Five at Milton Keynes on Saturday 25th November.
  • Hertfordshire Five Mile Championship for Veterans at Hatfield on Sunday 26th Nov.
  • Bass Belle 10 near Royston on Sunday 26th November.
  • Bedford Harriers Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd December.
  • Spartans Christmas Party on Friday 8th December.
  • Festive Five at Welwyn Garden City on Sunday 10th December.
  • Cross Country League at Willian on Sunday 17th December.
  • Witham Five on Tuesday 26th December.
  • Buntingford Year End 10 on Sunday 31st December.
  • New Year 10K in Hyde Park on Monday 1st January 2018.
  • Cross Country League at Watford on Sunday 14th January.
  • Fred Hughes 10 miles inc senior championships at St. Albans on Sunday 21st January.
  • Watford Half Marathon inc. veteran championships on Sunday 4th February.
  • Bramley 20/10 (20 miles or 10 miles) on Sunday 11th February.
  • Cross Country League at Royston on Sunday 18th February.
  • Welwyn Half Marathon on Sunday 4th March.
  • Finchley 20 miles on Sunday 18th March.
  • Oakley 20 miles on Sunday 18th March.
  • London Marathon on Sunday 22nd April.
  • Stirling Marathon on Sunday 29th April.
Categories
News Race Results

SPARTAN ARMY AT STANDALONE

 

A massive 49 from Fairlands Valley Spartans raced round the Standalone 10K race at Letchworth on Sunday.  The fastest was KEITH COUGHLIN, 17th out of the 1,354 finishers in 37 minutes 33 seconds.  CHRIS TILLBROOK cut his personal best (PB) by a significant 1 minute 32 seconds to come in 45th with 39:05.  Next in was BRIAN WHITE taking first place in the Vet 60 plus category with a year’s best 39:12.

NUALA ROBINSON was fourth senior woman (18 plus) in 43 minutes 40 seconds and JULIE SIMMONS had a great race to win the female vet 55 race with 48 minutes 38 seconds, a 2 minutes 13 seconds improvement on her previous best this year.

NualaStandalone

Together with CLAIRE PULLEN, 46:53 Nuala and Julie took SILVER in the County Team Championship for women.

ClairePullenStandalone

ROB SHAW was the quickest man over 70 in the race with 58 minutes 34 seconds.

There were many other great FVS performances.  NICK GILL, 113th cut his PB by 44 seconds to 42:34; GARETH COWELL by 7 seconds to 45:20; JO BOWDERY by a huge 7 minutes 37 seconds to 49:27; JULIE SHADBOLT by 40 seconds to 55:02; and GRAHAM HILL by a big 5 minutes 33 seconds to 57:01.

Others were chalking up claims in the Spartan short distance championships with their fastest 10K times this year including TODD GRAY 41:17; DEAN CARPENTER 41:50; MARTIN DUDLEY 47:08; CLIVE CANNON 47:54; JIM BROWN 48:20; MADDIE PRITCHARD 49:53; ANN TRYSSESOONE 50:37; BARRY KING 51:27; DAVID SCOTT 51:14; STEPHEN PIKE 53:54; TRUDIE MOLLOY 57:04; MONICA SMITHSON 58:11; LORRAINE THOMAS 1:04:27; ANNE SPILLER 1:06:38 and KELLY CHAPMAN in 1:17:42.

Position Name Time Comments
17 KEITH COUGHLIN 37:33
45 CHRIS TILLBROOK 39:05 PB (1:32)
46 BRIAN WHITE 39:12 1st MV60.  YB (0:08)
85 JOHN HARRIS 41:14
86 TODD GRAY 41:17 SB (0:15)
94 DEAN CARPENTER 41:50 SB (0:40)
113 NICK GILL 42:34 PB (0:44)
138 NUALA ROBINSON 43:40 4th FS.
192 GARETH COWELL 45:20 PB (0:07)
229 MARK GOODWIN 46:10
254 CLAIRE PULLEN 46:53
262 MARTIN DUDLEY 47:08 YB (0:10)
288 CLIVE CANNON 47:54 SB (2:53)
309 JIM BROWN 48:20 YB (0:01)
317 JULIE SIMMONS 48:38 1st FV55.  YB (2:13)
322 KEN JUDE 48:24
380 ANDY JAY 49:35
388 MADELEINE PRITCHARD 49:53 1st 10K in 2017
391 JOANNE BOWDERY 49:27 PB (7:37)
413 LEE PICKERSGILL 50:07
441 SELVAN NAICKER 50:56
445 ANN TRYSSESOONE 50:37 1st 10K in 2017
468 BARRY KING 51:27 SB (1:26)
470 DAVID SCOTT 51:14 1st 10K
476 KAREN ELLIS 51:25
496 NEIL ROBINSON 51:52
498 ROS INGRAM 51:39
521 MARIE COLUCCI 52:40
612 STEPHEN PIKE 53:54 YB (2:47)
664 JULIE SHADBOLT 55:02 PB (0:40)
706 SARAH PIKE 55:59
745 HAZEL SMITH 56:37
748 CALLIE CHAPMAN 56:41
798 GRAHAM HILL 57:01 PB (5:33)
801 TRUDIE MOLLOY 57:04 1st 10K in 2017
825 ROGER BIGGS 58:32
835 MONICA SMITHSON 58:11 SB (0:34)
890 ROBERT SHAW 58:34 1st MV70.
982 SHARON CROWLEY 1:01:03
983 MICHAEL ANDREWS 1:00:55
990 PAUL HOLGATE 1:01:00
1073 LORRAINE THOMAS 1:04:27 1st 10K in 2017
1075 GOPOLAN NAIDOO 1:04:15
1168 ANNE SPILLER 1:06:38 1st 10K in 2017
1169 SUE HAMER 1:06:38
1170 CLAIRE EMMERSON 1:06:38
1171 JENNY GARRETT 1:06:38
1172 SOPHIE COWAN 1:06:39
1314 KELLY CHAPMAN 1:17:42 YB (3:56)

 

There were 1,354 finishers.

 

Hatfield 5K

It was damp and dark for the last of the Hatfield 5K evening races on Wednesday but that did not seem to slow down some Spartans.  ROS INGRAM cut her 5K personal best (PB) by five seconds to 23:36; PAUL HOLGATE reduced his best time for the last two years by 21 seconds to 26:17 and STEPH MAYFIELD hers by 1:02 to 26:51.  There were fifteen Spartan finishers.

Across the whole series of three races BRIAN WHITE was first Vet 60 plus with an average time of 18 minutes 56 seconds, DAVID RIDDELL was second Vet 50 plus with an average of 18:04.

Position Name Time Comments
35 DAVID RIDDELL 18:26
49 BRIAN WHITE 19:10
59 JOHN HARRIS 19:21
71 NICK GILL 20:00
107 CHRIS HOLLAND 21:56
125 ANDY JAY 22:51
126 KEN JUDE 22:41
135 ROS INGRAM (F) 23:36 PB (0:06)
155 MICHAEL ANDREWS 24:39
158 JIM BROWN 24:44
178 HAZEL SMITH 26:09
179 PAUL HOLGATE 26:17 SB (0:21)
180 JENNY GARRETT 26:15
195 STEPHANIE MAYFIELD 26:51 SB (1:02)
199 SHARON CROWLEY 27:09

 

There were 249 finishers.

 

Cardiff Half Marathon

Getting over his disappointment at being unable to finish the Worlds course Spartan STEFFAN FORD returned to his home to run the Cardiff Half Marathon in 1 hour 22 minutes 27 seconds.  On an overcast day with rain he was 178th out of 19,641 finishers and 26th in his category.

 

Barnstaple Half Marathon

KYM MARTIN completed the Barnstaple Half Marathon in 2 hours 42 minutes 37 seconds.  This was her first 13.1 mile race.

 

Flower of Suffolk

CAROL PAUL completed the Flower of Suffolk off road marathon in 5:12:56. The marathon started in Walberswick in Suffolk and went towards Sizewell and back. It was a very windy day with rain at times and some muddy parts thrown in as well.

 

Serpentine

It was mild, dry with a light breeze but damp underfoot in Hyde Park for the Last Friday of the Month 5K race round the Serpentine.  JIM BROWN was 152nd in 24 minutes 15 seconds.  The popular lunch-time race has its 25th Anniversary on Friday 27th October.

 

Stevenage Half Marathon Entries Open

Organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans for more than thirty years the 2017 Stevenage Half Marathon will be on Sunday 22nd October and entries have opened.  Have a look on www.fvspartans.org.uk

 

Parkrun Reports

It was a quiet week of parkrunning for the Spartans. At Stevenage THOMAS SAUKA was the first Spartan finisher, sixth over the line in 20:01. LEE PICKERSGILL was next in 26:18 followed by JAMES SOUTH (27:56) and ROGER BIGGS (30:06). TREVOR BROOM secured a new course Personal Best, crossing the line in 32:24, and SELVAN NAICKER finished in a time of 36:46.

KELLY EVANS was first woman to finish in 24:23, a new course PB, with JULIE SIMMONS in third place in 24:49.  VERITY FISHER incorporated the parkrun into a long run ahead of next weekend’s Peterborough Half, and finished in 10th place in 26:26, with TRACY PEZ next in 27:46. KAREN PALMER (28:27) and KAREN BROOM (31:23) were next.

Elsewhere in local parkruns KEN JUDE ran 26:02 at Panshanger and TIM ROBINSON was 24th in a new course PB time of 23:58 at Pymmes. Further afield, DAVID SCOTT completed in 26:10 at Penrith parkrun while ROGER HARDMAN ran at Newcastle parkrun, completing in 27:21.

 

Coming Events

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

  • Peterborough Half Marathon on Sunday 8th October.
  • Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 22nd October.
  • Serpentine 25th Anniversary from the boat house on Friday 27th October.
  • Cross Country League at Trent Park on Sunday 12th November.
  • St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 19th November.
  • Hertfordshire Five Mile Championship for Veterans at Hatfield on Sunday 26th Nov.
  • Bass Belle 10 near Royston on Sunday 26th November.
  • Spartans Christmas Party on Friday 8th December.
  • Cross Country League at Willian on Sunday 17th December.
  • New Year 10K in Hyde Park on Monday 1st January 2018.
  • Fred Hughes 10 miles at St. Albans on Sunday 21st January.
  • Watford Half Marathon on Sunday 4th February.
  • Bramley 20/10 on Sunday 11th February.
  • Finchley 20 miles on Sunday 18th March.
  • Oakley 20 miles on Sunday 18th March.
  • London Marathon on Sunday 22nd April.
  • Stirling Marathon on Sunday 29th April.