News Release 10th March 2013
SEVEN TRACK & FIELD MEDALS FOR SPARTANS
Silvers for Dave’s Rapid Walk And Barry’s Half
Four Spartans proved why they won the Central Eastern Veterans League last year, by competing at Lee Valley Sports Centre in the British Masters Indoor Track and Field Championships and winning SEVEN medals. The two day meeting included athletes from all over England and Ireland plus guest athletes from Spain and the USA.
On Saturday MONICA BROWN carried on her good form from the British Masters Pentathlon Indoor Championships last month by winning a bronze in one of the closest 60 metres of the competition in 8.64 seconds with only tenths of seconds between second and sixth place.
Monica then went onto win silver with a great dramatic lifetime best of 1 metre 40 centimetres in the women’s 45 to 49 year high jump which was a highlight of the Spartans afternoon. She also completed a silver jump double by coming second in the long jump.
Tessa Stephenson started off the weekend by competing in the women’s 50 to 54 age group shot putt. Only taking up shot putt seriously last year after injury, Tessa followed up her good form by doing a indoors personal best of 8 metres 12 centimetres with the bonus of a bronze medal.
With strong competition from other 75 to 79 year olds, John Tyrrell could not match his personal best from last month, but still recorded a great throw of 7 metres 12 metres in his age group to finish in 5th place.
Iris Hornsey had a strong run in the women’s 70 to 74 year age group to win GOLD in the 1500 metres. Iris recorded a time of 7 minutes 18.36 seconds which is creditable considering she had to do 7 and a half laps of the short 200 metre indoor track.
Sunday 10th March
Despite it being Mothering Sunday, Iris Hornsey decided to miss lunch with her children and grandchildren to compete at the BMAF championships for the second day in a row. Iris raced the 800 metres in style to collect the gold medal, her second of the weekend in 2 minutes 29.49, her fastest time since 2010. Iris is a real inspiration to a lot of club members, as she competes for the Spartans on both road and track.
John Tyrrell also competed in the discus outside at the arena winning his first silver national championship medal in 18.42 metres. A fantastic result considering John has only been with the Spartans just over a year.
A great competition for the team, leaving one more indoor competition which is the inter area match in April at Lee Valley which several Spartans will be involved in representing the Eastern area.
Summary:
Monica Brown W45
2nd High Jump – 1 metre 40 LIFETIME BEST SILVER Medal
2nd Long Jump – 4 metres 29 centimetres SILVER Medal
3rd 60 Metres – 8.64 seconds BRONZE Medal
Iris Hornsey W70
1st 1500 Metres – 7 minutes 18.36 seconds GOLD Medal
1st 800 Metres – 2 minutes 29.49 seconds BEST TIME since 2010 SILVER Medal
John Tyrrell
2nd Discus – 18 metres 42 centimetres (threw outdoors!) SILVER Medal
5th Shot Putt 7 metres 12 centimetres
Tessa Stephenson W50
3rd Shot putt 8 metres 12 centimetres Personal Best (indoors) BRONZE Medal
Milton Keynes Half Marathon
The eleven Spartans at the Milton Keynes Half Marathon contended with temperatures around 2oC and sleet throughout the race.
In the view of some a change in course from previous years slowed the race a bit due to more undulations, twists and turns but that plus 10k “walkers” to navigate around in the early stages did not stop DAVE SMITH, STEPHEN BLOCK and KAREN PALMER running new personal bests. Dave finished in 1 hour 38 minutes 29 seconds; Stephen in 1:52:05 and Karen in 1:58:54.
CHRIS WESTCOTT was the fastest Spartan on the day, 104th out of the 2,734 finishers in 1 hour 25 minutes 40 seconds. STEVE MAYFIELD was slightly disappointed with his 1:37:36. The other Spartan finishers were VISHAL SHAH (1:41:39); SUZY HAWKINS (1:48:17); JORDAN MILLER (1:54:02); PAUL HOLGATE (2:04:59); SHARON CROWLEY (2:20:12) and ANDREA BROWN (2:23:57).
The new course takes in parts of the Wolverton 5 route around Willen Lake and the last mile is now even tougher than before, with a short sharp climb to negotiate above the lake just after the 12 mile point.
| Position | Name |
Time |
Comments |
| 104 | CHRISTOPHER WESTCOTT |
1:25:40 |
|
| 493 | STEVE MAYFIELD |
1:37:36 |
|
| 537** | DAVE SMITH |
1:38:29 |
PB |
| 597 | VISHAL SHAH |
1:41:39 |
|
| 941 | SUZY HAWKINS (F) |
1:48:17 |
|
| 1190 | STEPHEN BLOCK |
1:52:05 |
PB |
| 1278 | JORDAN MILLER |
1:54:02 |
|
| 1540 | KAREN PALMER (F) |
1:58:54 |
PB |
| 1876 | PAUL HOLGATE |
2:04:59 |
|
| 2364 | SHARON CROWLEY (F) |
2:20:12 |
|
| 2449 | ANDREA BROWN (F) |
2:23:57 |
In the associated Milton Keynes 10K SIMON BELL was second veteran and 15th overall in 38 minutes 22 seconds.
Dave’s Fast Walk
DAVID BOWKER took part in the National 10 Kilometres Walk Championship in Victoria Park, London at the weekend. It included the Hertfordshire County Championship. He was second in the county championship and 16th overall out of the 52 finishers in 1 hour 46 minutes 20 seconds.
Dean Minus Five And Barry Silver At Lydd Half Marathon
DEAN CARPENTER managed to knock 5 minutes 21 seconds off his personal best as well as finishing in under 1 hour 30 min for the first time at Sunday’s Lydd Half Marathon. He finished 72nd in a time of 1 hour 28 minutes and 58 seconds and was raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Care.
Dean thanks the other Spartan in the race who passed him at about the 11 mile mark and gave lots of encouragement when he was flagging. It was certainly welcomed and at the time very much needed. Dean says it’s nice to be part of such a fantastic club with such suportive members.
The other Spartan was BARRY OSBORNE on his way to second place in the British Masters’ Athletic Federation Half Marathon Championship for runners aged 60 plus. He was 67th in 1 hour 28 minutes 37 seconds.
Sydney Park Run 5km
Roger Biggs completed his tour ‘Down Under’, with a 5km race in the Southern Suburbs of Sydney, Australia on Saturday. The race took place at St Peters in Sydney Park, on good quality paths within the park, featuring a rather nasty hill around halfway.
After a slow start, Roger pulled through to 68th place in a time of 25:18.
Club 20
The Club 20 mile training run will be from Marriotts on Sunday 17th March 2013, meet 9.15am for a 9.30 start. The run will consist of 5 separate sections each of 3.5-5.2 miles, so even if you are not in training for a marathon please do come along and join in for the amount of mileage that your training requires. The run is suitable for all abilities. No pre-notification is required, simply turn up and join in. Guests are also very welcome, so if you are looking for a 20 mile training run to help your marathon preparations please do come along and join us, no entry fee is required.
Coming Events:
Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks including the:
- County Veterans Cross Country Championships at Willian, Letchworth on Sunday 17th March 2013.
- Club Training Twenty on Sunday 17th March 2013.
- Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 28th March.
- Serpentine 5K in Hyde Park on Friday 29th March.
- Virgin London Marathon on Sunday 21st April.
- Fairlands Valley Challenge on Sunday 21st July.
- Relays in the Park on Thursday 25th July.
- Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd November.