Thursday saw 33 Spartans supporting the 100th FVS Handicap 5k race to be organised by PAUL HOLGATE. First to finish was MICHAEL ANDREWS, beating his July time by 2:39 to finish in 25:22, with newcomer MICHAEL O’KEEFE 2nd in 28:15, 3:00 ahead of handicap, and DAVE SMITH 3rd in a year’s best time of 23:34.
PENNY SCHENKEL was 1st lady to finish in a year best time of her own of 26:01, with guest AIMEE HOLGATE 2nd lady in a course best time of 33:12, 2:33 better than handicap, ahead of SUSAN McANENY 3rd lady in a new PB time of 24:07.
Fastest time was 17:07 by GRANT RAMSAY, with STEFFAN FORD 2nd quickest in 18:11 and CIARAN McANENY 3rd fastest with 18:12, while RICHARD SPRINGALL, 18:48 PB, MARK COLLINS 19:34 PB, BRIAN WHITE 19:42 and ADRIAN BUSOLINI 19:54 PB all also finished inside 20 minutes, and TIM SABAN 20:04 SB & NICK GILL 20:18 PB were both only just outside 20 minutes.
Quickest female was YUKO GORDON in a debut handicap 5k time of 23:31, ahead of SUSAN MCANENY (24:07) 2nd quickest and LISA GRAY 3rd fastest in a new season’s best time of 24:25.
There was also a new personal best by MELANIE BUTT in 31:51, season’s bests by SIMON SYPULA and SHARON CROWLEY and year’s bests by ANDY SMITH, JON SYPULA, DARREN EMMERSON, MARK BEASLEY, PETER CARPENTER and SOFIA CARPENTER.
Full Handicap 5k Finishing Positions
| Pos | Name | Time | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â PB/Notes |
| 1 | MICHAEL ANDREWS | 25:22 | Winner and CB |
| 2 | MICHAEL O’KEEFE | 28:15 | CB |
| 3 | DAVE SMITH | 23:34 | YB |
| 4 | JIM BROWN | 25:55 | |
| 5 | PENNY SCHENKEL | 26:01 | First woman and YB |
| 6 | LEE PICKERSGILL | 24:34 | CB |
| 7 | GRANT RAMSAY | 17:07 | |
| 8 | ANDY SMITH | 24:39 | YB |
| 9 | AIMEE HOLGATE | 33:12 | CB |
| 10 | JON SYPULA | 24:34 | YB |
| 11 | ADRIAN BUSOLINI | 19:54 | PB |
| 12 | SIMON SYPULA | 25:25 | SB |
| 13 | CIARAN McANENY | 18:12 | PB |
| 14 | NICK GILL | 20:18 | PB |
| 15 | SUSAN McANENY | 24:07 | PB |
| 16 | CLIVE CANNON | 23:38 | |
| 17 | SHARON CROWLEY | 27:55 | SB |
| 18 | LISA GRAY | 24:26 | SB |
| 18 | RICHARD SPRINGALL | 18:48 | PB |
| 20 | MARK COLLINS | 19:34 | PB |
| 21 | STEFFAN FORD | 18:11 | |
| 22 | TIM SABAN | 20:04 | SB |
| 23 | MELANIE BUTT | 31:51 | PB |
| 24 | BRIAN WHITE | 19:42 | |
| 25 | DARREN EMMERSON | 22:01 | YB |
| 26 | DANIEL SUTTON | 22:49 | |
| 27 | KEN JUDE | 24:05 | |
| 28 | MARK BEASLEY | 21:57 | YB |
| 29 | MARK GOODWIN | 22:05 | |
| 30 | PETER CARPENTER | 30:18 | YB |
| 31 | YUKO GORDON | 23:31 | CB |
| 32 | SOFIA CARPENTER | 29:54 | YB |
| 33 | MARTIN DUDLEY | 29:56 |
Grim Reaper
(Photo courtesy: Ann Tryssesoone)
Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincolnshire was the scene for the recent Grim Reaper ultra-marathon. It consisted of 10 mile loops of the stunning grounds of the estate, past lakes, through forests and along stately tree lined drives. Starting at 9.30am the event runs through for 26 hours with participants able to choose 40,70 or 100 miles as their target distance.
JOHN NELMS completed 40 miles (4 laps) in 7 hours 25. Then he had to get home to work a night shift!
TRICIA HOPPER, BARRY KING and KAREN LIDDLE ran 40 miles in 10 hours 36 minutes. Conditions were generally good with rain setting in for their final lap.
Doug Anderson Memorial
Perfect weather conditions made for very fast times on this exceptionally quick course in Bedford where MICHAEL ANDREWS improved his PB from 26:13 to 25:00 in 166th position (N.B. since improved further to 24:44) while PAUL HOLGATE paced his daughter AIMEE round in her first 5k exactly 100 positions back in 266th of 298 finishers, in 32:48, 3 minutes ahead of target.
Dove Dale Dipper
SHARON, LIZ and MIKE CROWLEY completed the Dove Dale Dipper based from Hartington, in Derbyshire. With many hills and stiles to climb over the course of the 27 mile route it was a tiring day. They finished together in 8hrs:41mins.
Battersea Park 5k
CHRIS JOHANSEN ran his second race as a Spartan, taking on the August 5k in Battersea Park. He was very happy with his time of 39:14 to finish in 6th place in the V40 category.
Parkrun Reports
BRIAN WHITE was first Spartan finisher at Stevenage parkrun, finishing 7th in 19 mins 57 secs. STUART ARCHER was 20th in 21:41 and CHRIS HOLLAND just missed out on a top 50 finish in 24:34. JIM BROWN achieved a new course PB of 25:54. DANIEL SUTTON (25:12), NEIL ROBINSON (25:24), CLIVE CANNON (28:34), JOHN WALSH (29:14) and IAN ALEXANDER (VI guiding in 43:38) were the other men running.
PENNY SCHENKEL ran a new course PB and was first woman finisher for Spartans in 25:57. JENNY GARRETT was 15th in 27:28 just in front of JULIE SHADBOLT (16th in 27:29). KAREN PALMER also reached the top 20, finishing in 28:09. CLAIRE EMMERSON (31:26), CALLY CHAPMAN (31:27) and SALLY PHILLIPS (31:42) were the other Spartan women.
Elsewhere in the county TIM ROBINSON ran at Panshanger, finishing in 28:25, and ANDY JAY went to Westmill and finished in 25:09. A little further afield ANTHONY OSBORNE took on the Wimpole Estate layout and finished in 40:43.
To the south DARRYL STEVENS was at Southsea and completed in 40:16, while VERITY FISHER was at Rutland Water and nursed a sore calf round in 42:04. Finally, STEPHEN and MONICA SMITHSON were at Lancaster parkrun, Stephen finishing in the top 30 in 24:17 and Monica just outside the top 30 women in 31:51.
Norton Common First Saturday of the Month 5k
Three Spartans ran the NHRR-organised Norton Common First Saturday of the Month 5k.
RICHARD SPRINGALL was 14th in 20:05, JOHN HARRIS was 15th in 20:20 and PAUL MAGUIRE was 38th of the 137 runners, finishing in 22:27.
Coming Events
Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks including:
- Herts Senior 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 30th August.
- Herts Veteran 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 13th September.
- Herts 10K Track Championships at Sandy on Saturday 23rd September.
- Herts Senior 10K Championships at Standalone on Sunday 1st October.
- Peterborough Half Marathon on Sunday 8th October.
- Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 22nd October.
- Cross Country at Trent Park on Sunday 12th November.
- St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 19th November. Enter fast.
- Hertfordshire Five Mile Championship for Veterans at Hatfield on Sunday 26th Nov.
- Bass Belle 10 near Royston on Sunday 26th November.