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Spartans Win in Fairlands Valley Challenge

Panshanger Park Mid-Summer 5 Mile Race

Fairlands Valley Spartans again hosted the Fairlands Valley Challenge Weekend on 16th and 17th July offering runners and walkers of all abilities a range of distance options in the glorious local Hertfordshire countryside.

On the Saturday, Spartans’ LIAM HERBERT was first finisher in the 6 mile event, an event he created when Race Director last year, finishing in a time of 47 minutes 12 seconds. OLWEN BATTY for the Spartans was the first woman home in 59:03.

Sunday’s events comprised of 12 miles, 18 miles, marathon and 50k ultra-marathon distances. In the 12 mile event STUART HAYCROFT was first home in 1:45:00. PAULINE HARDY for the Spartans was first V65 woman finisher in 3:26:59, while DARYL STEVENS was first V50 male in 3:35:35.

In the 18 miler, LIAM HERBERT took his second victory of the weekend, finishing in 3:02:17, while ISABEL GREEN was joint first woman in a time of 3:08:40. In the Marathon distance, Spartan CAROL PAUL was first V45 woman in 4:42:02. KARL CLARKE was the sole Spartan in the ultra and finished in 5:57:12, a worthy performance in extremely hot conditions.

Full Spartans results as follows:

 

6 mile Trail Run – Saturday 16th July 2016
Pos No. Name Surname M/F Time
1 916 Liam Herbert M 47:12
7 910 Darren Emmerson M 59:03
8 921 Olwen Batty F 59:03
9 939 Lee Pickersgill M 59:03
16 909 Claire Cox F 1:07:07
17 927 Sophie Cowan F 1:07:07
18 935 Hayley Yendell F 1:07:07
19 941 Steve Green M 1:07:07
20 902 Andrew Martin M 1:09:28
23 906 Carole Sheldrick F 1:15:42
24 913 Heather Moloney F 1:15:43
25 907 Caroline Croft F 1:16:16
26 914 Jana Smith F 1:16:19
31 903 Andy Prior M 1:25:35
32 934 Nick Witcombe M 1:25:35
33 937 Steve Smithson M 1:27:03
34 938 Monica Smithson F 1:27:03
35 929 Stuart Haycroft M 1:50:58

 

12.3 mile Trail Run – Sunday 17th July 2016
Pos M/F Cat No. Name Surname M/F Time
1 1 637 Stuart Haycroft M 1:45:00
11 8 6 615 Greg Kelly M 40 2:25:30
11 4 627 Olwen Batty F 2:25:30
19 13 604 Andrew Martin M 2:43:26
28 12 6 645 Wendy Tharani F 35 2:53:38
32 15 2 608 Claire Cox F 45 2:57:44
32 15 2 624 Kerstin Weiner F 45 2:57:44
32 15 2 638 Sue Hamer F 45 2:57:44
35 18 9 605 Carole Sheldrick F  35 2:59:27
36 19 5 606 Caroline Croft F 45 2:59:54
43 19 8 651 Jon Sypula M 40 3:09:18
43 25 10 652 Hannah Sypula F 35 3:09:18
45 26 1 629 Pauline Hardy F 65 3:26:59
46 20 1 648 Darryl Stevens M 50 3:35:35

 

18.7 mile Trail Run – Sunday 17th July 2016
Pos M/F Cat No. Name Surname M/F Time
1 1 1 263 Liam Herbert M 3:02:17
3 2 1 275 Isabel Green F 35 3:08:40

 

26.3 mile Trail Run – Sunday 17th July 2016
Pos M/F Cat No. Name Surname M/F Time
6 2 1 17 Carol Paul F 45 4:42:02
49 33 6 119 Rob Shaw M 60 5:56:27
58 18 9 99 Tricia Hopper F 45 6:07:49
58 41 9 14 Barry King M 40 6:07:49
62 20 126 Karen Ellis F 6:13:37
69 46 2 67 Mike Newbitt M 70 6:23:19
81 52 15 76 Paul Holgate M 50 6:59:36
82 30 3 94 Sharon Crowley F 55 7:05:29
100 63 8 88 Robert Hardy M 60 8:21:23
100 63 8 89 Roger Biggs M 60 8:21:23
105 67 19 102 Ian Alexander M 50 8:57:28

 

50k Trail Run – Sunday 17th July 2016
Pos M/F Cat No. Name Surname M/F Time
12 10 3 718 Karl Clark M 40 5:57:12

 

 

Panshanger Park Mid-Summer 5 Mile Race

Six Spartans took on the new 5 mile event at Panshanger Park, the second of a two-race Mid-Summer series which began with a 5 mile race at Hatfield House. DAVID RIDDELL was 41st across the line in 35:21. ANDY CHURN finished 98th in 42:09 while the first Spartan woman finisher was CAROLINE CROFT in 48:56. The other Spartans in action were PAUL HOLGATE (52:48), SARAH ATKINSON (57:56) and OLWEN BATTY (59:43).

 

Portchester Castle 10k

JENNY GARRETT competed in the inaugural Portchester Castle 10k, finishing in a time of 57:18. She considered it to be a nice run overall, although the event was not without some teething problems in its first year.

 

Around the Reservoir off road Marathon

CAROL PAUL and MIKE NEWBITT ran the Around the Reservoir off road marathon in Northampton. On an exposed course with temperatures reaching 27 degrees and hardly any shade Carol completed the marathon in 4hrs 53 mins and Mike completed it in 6 hrs 17 mins.

 

Parkrun Report

CRAIG HALSEY was first finisher at Stevenage parkrun, finishing on 16:58 on a very warm morning. MARK BEASLEY notched a new course PB of 21:38 while finishing 13th male, DARREN EMMERSON was 21st male in 22:43 and MARTYN DOWLING was 35th male in 23:38 (a new course PB).

For the women, ANN TRYSSESOONE was 6th finisher in 24:14, KERSTIN WEINER notched a new course PB of 26:51 in finishing 16th, HEATHER MOLONEY was 56th in 33:00 and KARIN BREACH 74th in 34:50-on her first parkrun appearance.

Other Spartans in action in Stevenage were CALLUM BEASLEY (36th, 23:38), JAMES SOUTH (53rd, 25:22) and CAREN THAIN (96th, 38:31). CLAIRE COX (97th, 38:42) and ANDY PRIOR (125th, 38:43) were pacing others around the course.

Others in local parkrun action were DAVE SMITH (45th male, 22:27) at Huntingdon, TIM SABAN (16th male, 21:07) at Cassiobury Park, TIM ROBINSON (15th male, 25:24 a new course PB) at Ellenbrook Fields, and both DANNY SUTTON (22nd male, 24:22) and VERITY FISHER (9th woman, 26:32) at Rutland Water.

Finally, after his trip back to Stevenage last week for the FVS Challenge DARYL STEVENS returned south and was 139th male finisher at EASTLEIGH in 40:24.

 

Relays in the Park Coming Soon

The Relays in the Park organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans and in Fairlands Valley Park will be on Thursday 28th July starting at 7.30p.m.  Each runner will complete three kilometres.  Men’s teams will consist of five runners and women’s of four.  The event will include the county championships but a wide range of abilities are expected.  This is a great event for spectators with the half way point only a short distance from the changeover area in the top half of the park.  For more details please visit www.fvspartans.org.uk

 

Coming Events

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

 

  • Bedford 5K on Wednesday 27th July.
  • Relays in the Park, our 3K Relays in Fairlands Valley on Thursday 28th July.
  • EMAC (Veterans Track & Field) event in Stevenage on Wednesday 3rd 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.
  • 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

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