Fairlands Valley Spartans finished two complete and counting teams at the Hertfordshire Cross Country Championships. A great achievement in such a competitive event.
HAZEL SMITH was first finisher at 50th with 40 minutes 35 seconds for the women’s race over 8 kilometres in Cassiobury Park, Watford. She was supported by CLAIRE EMMERSON, 54th in 41:01; JENNY GARRETT, 64th in 2:32; ERICA GRAYSON, 76th in 45:55; PENNY SCHENKEL, 79th in 46:15; CALANTHA CHAPMAN, 85th in 49:16 and SHARON CROWLEY, 89th in 52:52.
Starting at 1.15p.m. the men got an extra loop in the woods making their race up to 12 kilometres. DAVID RIDDELL got under 50 minutes for the undulating course. He was 71st in 49 minutes 11 seconds. TIM SABAN was 97th with 52:36; TOM SAUKA 100th in 53:35; STUART ARCHER 101st in 53:38; NICHOLAS CROWLEY 117th in 58:40; JIM BROWN 127th in 1:03:45 and TIM ROBINSON 130th in 1:05:40.
These were the senior (i.e. aged 20 and above) championships. The veteran championships are on Sunday 25th March. The Spartans will return to Watford for a cross country league race this Sunday 14th January.
Women (8K)
Position | Name | Time |
50 | HAZEL SMITH | 40:35 |
54 | CLAIRE EMMERSON | 41:01 |
64 | JENNY GARRETT | 42:32 |
76 | ERICA GRAYSON | 45:55 |
79 | PENNY SCHENKEL | 46:15 |
85 | CALANTHA CHAPMAN | 49:16 |
89 | SHARON CROWLEY | 52:52 |
Men (12K)
Position | Name | Time |
71 | DAVID RIDDELL | 49:11 |
97 | TIM SABAN | 52:36 |
100 | THOMAS SAUKA | 53:35 |
101 | STUART ARCHER | 53:38 |
117 | NICHOLAS CROWLEY | 58:40 |
127 | JIM BROWN | 63:45 |
130 | TIM ROBINSON | 65:40 |
Coach to London
Got a place in the London Marathon? You can train with Fairlands Valley Spartans and then you can coach to the big event as the club have booked a bus. Cost £10. Bookings to Roger Biggs by emailing roger@thebiggs.net.
parkrun Highlights
Nineteen Spartans lined up at Stevenage parkrun, and recent joiner DANNY SCANLON finished 5th and was first Spartan home in 20 mins 29 secs. BARRY OSBORNE (22:52), MARTIN DUDLEY (23:30), MARK BEASLEY (23:35) and CRAIG BACON (23:45) all finished in the top 50. It was also good to see JAMES SOUTH running close to 26 minutes following his long rehab from a broken leg.
VERITY FISHER was the first Spartan woman to finish, 12th in 27:41, with CLAIRE EMMERSON right behind in 27:43. KAREN PALMER (28:30) and TRACY PEZ (29:01) also top 50.
MICHELLE MARCHANT was the notable performer elsewhere, returning to Bedford, the scene of her first parkrun, and notching a new course PB of 32:03. ANDY JAY went to Westmill and finished 22nd in a time of 41:49.
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 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 county 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.
- Fairlands Valley Spartans Champions Night on Friday 23rd February.
- Baldock Beast on Sunday 25th 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.
- County Cross Country Championships for Veterans at Royston on Sunday 25th March.
- London Marathon on Sunday 22nd April.
- Stirling Marathon on Sunday 29th April.
- Welwyn 10K including senior county championships on Sunday 24th June.
Tables
Full results from the 6th January parkruns were as follows:
parkrun/date | Pos | Gen | parkrunner | Time | Notes |
Bedford | 421 | 128 | Michelle MARCHANT | 00:32:04 | New course PB |
Westmill | 26 | 22 | Andy JAY | 00:25:57 | |
Wycombe Rye | 511 | 315 | Darryl STEVENS | 00:41:49 | |
Stevenage | 5 | 5 | Danny SCANLON | 00:20:29 | |
Stevenage | 22 | 21 | Barry OSBORNE | 00:22:52 | |
Stevenage | 32 | 31 | Martin DUDLEY | 00:23:30 | |
Stevenage | 34 | 33 | Mark BEASLEY | 00:23:35 | |
Stevenage | 37 | 36 | Craig BACON | 00:23:45 | |
Stevenage | 60 | 57 | James SOUTH | 00:26:14 | |
Stevenage | 72 | 66 | Dave SMITH | 00:26:50 | |
Stevenage | 84 | 76 | Clive CANNON | 00:27:10 | |
Stevenage | 88 | 78 | Darren EMMERSON | 00:27:13 | |
Stevenage | 89 | 79 | Lee PICKERSGILL | 00:27:14 | |
Stevenage | 95 | 12 | Verity FISHER | 00:27:41 | |
Stevenage | 96 | 13 | Claire EMMERSON | 00:27:43 | |
Stevenage | 106 | 91 | Sam SIMMONS | 00:28:04 | |
Stevenage | 114 | 18 | Karen PALMER | 00:28:30 | |
Stevenage | 130 | 23 | Tracy PEZ | 00:29:01 | |
Stevenage | 204 | 61 | Liz GUEMACHE | 00:33:15 | |
Stevenage | 218 | 67 | Sally PHILLIPS | 00:34:02 | |
Stevenage | 274 | 174 | Robert Lloyd EVANS | 00:40:05 | |
Stevenage | 286 | 177 | Trevor BROOM | 00:43:56 |