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KIRSTY AND MARTIN WIN IN STEVENAGE, and Cross Country

News release includes the latest from Cross Country, the November Handicap 5k and Wolverton 5 miles

Handicap 5k

Very well done to the 28 Spartans who braved the bitterly cold conditions on Thursday to participate in the November Handicap 5k.

KIRSTY CALLAN beat 27 other runners in bitterly cold conditions to win Fairlands Valley Spartans November Handicap 5K race in Stevenage on Thursday evening.

A newcomer to the club she finished in 26 minutes 40 seconds, beating her handicap by 3 minutes 20 seconds. Another first timer, LUCY FIELD was second in 23:34, 2:41 better than handicap. DENISE HURLOCK was in a new personal best (PB) time of 26:53, 1:13 faster than in October, crossing the line at the same time as LOUISE TEMPLE, also 26:53, in her 1st 5k with the club.

Claire Drake also recorded a new PB of 27:47 in fifth position, crossing the finish line at the same time as the winning man, Martin Price, running a new PB of his own of 22:17, with Martin Dudley 2nd man as he kept up with Sofia Carpenter taking a further 67 seconds off her PB to 24:23, and newcomer Avi Bhogun 3rd man in 22:18, 2:12 ahead of handicap.

Fastest time was by Richard Bate as he got within 3 seconds of the course record in 16:36, with Ian Yenney 2nd quickest in a new PB of 17:29, Liam Herbert & Carlos Vasquez-Garcia 3rd quickest in 18:39, and Dean Carpenter also inside 20 minutes with 19:57.

Lucy Field’s 23:34 was the quickest female time, with Sofia Carpenter 2nd quickest in 24:23 and race winner Kirsty Callan 3rd fastest 26:40.

Ali Vorster 23:01 and Eileen Latchford 28:03 also recorded new PBs with Season Best times for Steve Elder 22:20 and Dave Stephenson 22:57.

In handicap races the slower runners start first with the very fastest starting last. In theory everyone would finish together if they all ran to form. Precise starting times are calculated from recent performances or estimates. The next Handicap 5k will be on Thursday 19th December.

1 KIRSTY CALLAN 26:40 Overall winner. 3rd fastest woman. 1st 5K.
2 LUCY FIELD 23:34 Second overall. Fastest woman. 1st 5K.
3 DENISE HURLOCK 26:53 Third overall. PB (1:13).
4 LOUISE TEMPLE 26:53 1st 5K.
5 CLAIRE DRAKE 27:47 PB (1:05).
6 MARTIN PRICE 22:17 First man. 1st 5K
7 MARTIN DUDLEY 24:18 Second man. PB (1:07).
8 SOFIA CARPENTER 24:23 Second fastest woman. PB (1:07).
9 ABI BHOGUN 22:18 Third man. 1st 5K.
10 IAN YENNEY 17:29 PB (0:26).
11 ALI VORSTER 23:01 PB (1:59).
12 EILEEN LATCHFORD 28:03 PB (0:57).
13 STEVE ELDER 22:20 SB
14 DAVE STEPHENSON 22:57 SB
15 DANIEL BATES 20:29
16 RICHARD BATE 16:36 Fastest overall.
17 CARLOS VASQUEZ 18:39
18 LIAM HERBERT 18:39
19 DEAN CARPENTER 19:57
20 ROBERT SHAW 27:10
21 VISHAL SHAH 20:57
22 AMY WARING 29:08
23 PAUL HOLGATE 27:12
24 ABI PEZ 31:34
25 TRACY PEZ 31:34
26 JAMES SEALS 31:34
27 ADRIAN DONNELLY 21:38
28 RICHARD BATES 30:09

Grovelands Cross Country

Twenty Spartans took part in Sunday’s cross country race which was the second in this season’s five race series. Racing in Grovelands Park, North London in calm but muddy conditions IAN YENNEY, CHRISTINE LATHWELL and NATALIE LAWRENCE were the top scorers for Fairlands Valley Spartans. Over about five miles Ian was 17th overall in 29 minutes 29 seconds, Christine 67th in 32:11 and Natalie 105th in 34:15.

The other Spartan women were JULIE SIMMONS, 212th overall in 38:16; RHIANNON GRIFFIN, 226th in 39:01; ROSIE CANHAM, 297th in 42:00; LISA LIVERSIDGE, 325th in 44:06; LORRAINE WYATT, 359th in 46:47 and TRUDIE MOLLOY, 370th in 47:22.

The men included BERNIE BARNABY, 109th overall in 34:40; ADRIAN DONNELLY, 122nd in 35:04; TOM SAUKA, 159th in 36:12; VISHAL SHAH, 190th in 37:06; MARTIN PRICE, 198th in 37:44; ANDY JAY, 268th in 40:51 and BARRY KING, 286th in 41:49. MARK FREEMAN was 340th in 46:00; PAUL HOLGATE 358th in 46:48; NICK WITCOMBE 373rd in 48:41 and MARK CHEADLE 374th in 48:42.

Daniel Doubles Up

Spartan DANIEL BATES raced on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday he was 10th out of 75 runners in the Oak Hill Parkrun at Barnet. He finished the 5 kilometres in 20 minutes 53 seconds.

Then on second he took part in the Ashwell Mult-Terrain Half Marathon. He was 18th out of around 200 runners in 1 hour 34 minutes 42 seconds.

Wolverton Two

Two Spartans braved the cold for the 49th running of the annual Wolverton 5 mile race round around Willen Lake in Milton Keynes on Saturday. MARK CHEADLE was rewarded with a new personal best of 38:31 in 209th position, while PAUL HOLGATE improved on his previous fastest time of 2013 by three minutes to 43:24 in 258th position. There were 297 finishers.

Spartans Sixty Up

Membership of Fairlands Valley Spartans increased by sixty over in the last year. That was some of the good news that was reported at the club’s annual meeting on Friday evening.

Those elected included Chair – BEV HARLOW; Secretary – VIV HONEY; Head Coach – CHARLIE PATERSON; Women’s Captain – NIKKI WILBY; Men’s Captain – NICK WITCOMBE; Women’s Vice Captain – LISA BURGESS; Men’s Vice Captain – BARRY KING; Press Officer – JIM BROWN; and President – MARK GLADING

The Stevenage Marathon is only held every ten years. Expect to see hundreds of runners racing 26.2 miles around Stevenage in November.

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 race three at Trent Park on Sunday 8th December
Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 19th December
County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013
Cross country race four on Therfield Heath on Sunday 12th January
Cross country race five at Watford on Sunday 16th February
Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February 2014
Veterans Cross Country Championships in Royston on 16th March 2014.

Join The Spartans

Live in or near Stevenage? Like running? Fairlands Valley Spartans is your local running club and is on the up! The club was voted the UK’s Best Running Club in 2010. It now has hundreds of members and encourages participation by all. The Spartans have a varied training programme to suit those who want to run 5 kilometres through to full marathons.

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 9.30a.m. sharp. Spartan track training sessions are held at Ridlins Athletics Track, Woodcock Road, Stevenage most Saturdays from 9.15a.m. There are events to enter every Sunday. Newcomers are very welcome – those who have not done very much running yet might prefer to start with a Thursday, Saturday or Monday session.

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only 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 or 01438 354505), Vivienne Honey 07702 846304 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

E N D S

More from Jim Brown (Press Officer) 0793 968 7509 / 01438 354505 or Vivienne Honey (Secretary) 07702 846304

www.fvspartans.org.uk

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