Month: December 2012

News Release                                                                                                 16^th December 2012

FIVE AT FESTIVE FIVE

Park Run and an Enigma

Fairlands Valley Spartans were first team at Sunday’s Festive Five.  SIMON JACKSON, ANDREW PATTERSON and DAVIE STAFFORD beat the host club, Garden City Runners, by just one point (17 to 18).

This was the second annual Festive Five in Welwyn Garden City and five Spartans were racing.  Between them they achieved five new personal bests (PBs) and a 1st, 2nd & 3rd place finish in the race for Spartans.

After finishing third in the race in 2011, Simon Jackson returned to the event and won the event in 28 minutes 33 seconds.  However the performance of the race was by Andy Patterson who managed to beat the 5 mile personal best which he has had for five and a half years.  He finished an impressive third in 29.13.  Davie Stafford ran his quickest five miles ever – 33 minutes 12 seconds for 12^th place.

RHIANNON GRIFFIN continued her good year and was second woman in her first race over five miles with 34 minutes 17 seconds.  IRIS HORNSEY was 13^th female in 45 minutes 31 seconds.  Rhiannon and Iris made up the third women’s team.

The race was on a two lap, fast, flat course and the weather was cold and crisp.

St.   Albans Park Run

Spartans VISHAL SHAH and ANDY PRIOR ran last Saturdays St Albans Park Run.

Andy managed a new personal best of 23 minutes 14 seconds and was 48^th out of the 116 finishers.  Vish was 51^st in 23:50.

The course is very flat & potentially fast if you get the start right as it can be congested over the first kilometre.

Andy will be returning on the 21^st for another crack at a sub 23 time.

Enigma Christmas Trail Marathon — Saturday, 15^th December 2012

ROGER BIGGS completed the Enigma Marathon for the seventh time on Saturday.

The Enigma is over a 7.5 lap course around Caldecotte Lake in Bletchley, near Milton Keynes.  In good conditions, although slightly windy, Roger navigated this twisty course in 3:58:33, over 6 minutes quicker than his previous best for this event.

Coming Events

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

• Christmas Social Run on Tuesday 18^th December.
• Misden Chapel Run on Sunday 23^rd December.
• Buntingford Ten on Sunday  30^th December.
• Handicap 5K on Thursday  evening 3^rd January 2013.
• County Cross Country Championships at Haileybury College on Sunday 6^th  January.
• Cross Country League on Therfield Heath, Royston on Sunday 13^th January.
• Cross Country League in Watford on Sunday 17^th February.
• Virgin London Marathon on 21^st April.

News Release                                                                                                 9^th December 2012

 UPHILL CROSS   COUNTRY AT ST ALBANS

Back to School on Friday

Fairlands Valley Spartans put out two strong women’s teams in Sunday’s cross country league race in Verulamium Park, St. Albans.  Over a tough and hilly 5.7 miles with some liquid mud patches RHIANNON GRIFFIN led the “A” team in 128^th position (overall out of all the men and women) with a time of 41 minutes 57 seconds; TRACY PEZ was 165^th in 44:40; JULIE SIMMONDS 174^th in 45:20; MADDIE PRITCHARD 217^th in 48:05; and KAREN ELLIS 231^st in 48:55.

ANN TRYSSESOONE was first for the “B” team and not far behind, 236^th in 49:18; HANNAH DAVIDSON 252^nd in 50:43; LISA GRAY 255^th in 50:59; TRICIA HOPPER 260^th in 51:26 and KAREN LIDDLE 264^th in 51:40.  The Spartan women even had a bonus of two other runners — SHARON CROWLEY 280^th in 53:45 and LORRAINE THOMAS 290^th in 56:15.

For the men’s team LEE REYNOLDS was a phenomenal third in 34 minutes exactly; ADRIAN DONNELLY was 97^th in 40:22; STEVE MAYFIELD 138^th in 42:28; JIM BROWN 197^th in 46:39; MARK CHEADLE 212^th in 47:36; BARRY KING 218^th in 48:09; ANDY JAY 229^th in 48:50 and PAUL HOLGATE 277^th in 53:06.  In addition TONY OSBORNE was 293^rd in 57:44 and NICK WITCOMBE 298^th in 59:40.

Women’s Results (five per team):

Men’s Results (eight per team):

Off Road Stratford

On Saturday CAROL PAUL ran the Winter Board Meadow Off Road Marathon from Stratford upon Avon.  The marathon consisted of three different loops around Stratford upon Avon.  It was a cold day with the sun hardly making an appearance.   Carol’s time was 5 hours 38 minutes 49 seconds.

Getting Ready For Disney

Husband & wife, PAUL MARSHALL and VIVIENNE HONEY participated in a very windy & undulating Bedford Half marathon on Sunday morning.

With times of 1 hour 53 minutes 7 seconds and 2:17:41 respectively, this race signals the wind down to the Disney Marathon in Florida in January where Paul is doing both the half marathon & the full marathon during the weekend.

Lisbon Marathon

ROGER BIGGS was in Lisbon, the Capital of Portugal, on Sunday for a marathon that took in the city and riverside areas.  Over an undulating course, with a 4 kilometres climb from 36 kilometres (22 miles), Roger ran a steady race to finish in 4:05:22.

Club Christmas Party — We Are Going Back To School! — Friday 14^th December

The Spartans’ Christmas Party is this Friday.  They are going back to school.  Relive the best days of your life with fun and games along with dancing to a variety of popular music.  Fancy dress is encouraged (maybe your old school uniform still fits) but you are free to attend in non-uniform.  The evening will also include the Virgin London Marathon club draw which is due to take place at around 7.30pm.  The event is taking place at Mossbury Primary School , Webb Rise , Stevenage SG1 5PA, doors open at 7pm (Don’t be late for registration).

Tickets are now available (from Tracy Pez, Jayne Pinner, Katrina Doyle or Nick Witcombe) and cost £5.  This includes a buffet but can you please bring your own drinks.  Further details will be posted to the Forum on www.fvspartans.org.uk. 

The Spartans New Committee

At the recent AGM the following people were elected onto the committee:

Chair — Bev Harlow, General Secretary — Viv Honey (07702 846304), Committee Secretary — Jo Cahill, Treasurer — Mark Cheadle, Head Coach — Chris Leigh, Mens Team Captain — Nick Witcombe, Ladies Team Captain — Tracy Pez together with Graham Blackburn, Jim Brown (Press Officer 0793 968 7509), Paul Holgate, James Day, Simon Harris, John Harlow, Lisa Jerrom, Tessa Stephenson, Maria Rushton, Phil Rushton, Barry King, Christine Sharman and Jayne Pinner.

Last year’s Committee, particularly Chair — Graham Blackburn and Secretary — Steph Mayfield, were thanked for all their work during the last year

Baggage for VLM.

The London Marathon is not until Sunday 21^st April but Fairlands Valley Spartans are already signing up volunteers for help in Pall Mall.  The club have helped make the event a success for many years.  Places for the baggage will be allocated after the draw for running place at the Spartans Christmas Party which is on Friday, 14^th December 2012.

Coming Events

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

• Buntingford Ten on Sunday 30^th December.
• Handicap 5K on Thursday  evening 3^rd January 2013.
• County Cross  Country Championships at Haileybury College on Sunday 6^th  January.
• Cross Country League on  Therfield Heath, Royston on Sunday 13^th January.
• Cross Country League in Watford on Sunday 17^th February.
• Virgin London Marathon on 21^st April.