Month: August 2013

REGENTS PARK

A warm sultry evening did not deter the five Spartans in the enjoyable Regents Park evening 10k which was organised by the BBC running club on Thursday 22nd August. Steve Mayfield was first from the club to finish. He was 47th overall in 45 minutes 8 seconds. Roger Biggs was 68th in 47:02; Madeleine Pritchard 93rd (7th female) in 48:30; Paul Holgate 131stin 56:06 and Stephanie Mayfield 142nd in 57:16. There were 178 finishers and the winning time was 33:59.

Thames Meander Trail Marathon trail Marathon – Saturday, 24h August 2013

ROGER BIGGS enjoyed the Thames Meander Trail Marathon on Saturday. This was an event from Kingston-Upon-Thames, with a 1 mile road start, 2.5 miles in Richmond Park, before turning east along the south towpath to reach halfway at Putney Bridge, then returning back along the same route. Apart from hilly sections within the park, the course was basically flat, although roughish trail at times.

It was very humid throughout with a hint of rain, before runners were greeted with a downpour as they returned through Richmond Park.

Roger ran a good solid race to finish in 4 hours 16 minutes 37 seconds, 12 minutes quicker than last year! He was 147th out of the 265 finishers.

Pathfinder Event – Monday, 26th August 2013

Then on Monday Roger was one of three Spartans who travelled to Conington near Huntingdon for the Pathfinder Marathon which is an event that visits several of the Second World War RAF Airfields in the area.

It was on a combination of minor road, trails, paths & fields, over a pretty flat course.

On a warm and sunny day Roger completed the 42 kilometres in 5 hours 40 minutes 59 seconds. MIKE NEWBITT finished in 5:47:37 and ROBERT HARDY in 6:27:22.

PAULINE HARDY completed the 14.5 miles option in 4:02:14.

Parkrun

DANIEL BATES ran Saturday’s Oak Hill Parkrun in 20 minutes 55 seconds. He was sixth out of the 70 runners in the event which was in Barnet.

Coming Events

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

• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 5th September
• Club Five Mile Team Champs on Tuesday 10th September
• Herts Senior 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 24th September
• County 10K Championships in Letchworth on Sunday 6th October
• Herts Veterans 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 8th October
• County 10 Mile Championships for veterans on Sunday 27th October
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd November
• County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013

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, Brittain Way, 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 9.30a.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 done very much running yet might prefer to start with a Thursday, Saturday or Monday session.

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (0793 968 7509 or 01438 354505), Vivienne Honey 07702 846304 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

E N D S

More from Jim Brown (Press Officer) 0793 968 7509 / 01438 354505 or Vivienne Honey (Secretary) 07702 846304

www.fvspartans.org.uk

Flying the Spartan Stripes in South Africa

Bev Harlow ran a trail race in South Africa which would have been called a fell race in the UK. It was up a mountain, then down again and finally along a coast road with beautiful views all round. Recent stormy weather meant that the terrain was mostly wet rocks, mud and several sections along streams or river beds(knee deep). It was very friendly and well organised. Time 2:00:06 Position 231/282 and 5th in age group.

Lee Valley Sprints

At the penultimate Lee Valley sprints evening of the summer, STEVE MAYFIELD ran 13.02 seconds for the 100m taking 6th place in heat 4. After a 90 minute break he lined up in heat 4 of the 200m and came in 4th, setting a new personal best of 26.62 seconds. This was his second PB over the distance in 4 days, having run 27.01 in the Southern League at Abingdon last weekend.

A free run in the Park

Saturday Park Runs are springing up all over the country and beyond Not only do you usually get a well organised event, they are free!! The latest Spartans to take advantage of this was Daniel Bates. Located at Ferry Meadows in Peterborough, Daniel finished the 5km race in lucky 13th place of 170 runners, in a time of 20:17.

Kimbolton Castle triumphs

Grant Ramsay continued his fine run of form, despite a hilly course and windy conditions at the Kimbolton Castle Half Marathon in Cambridgeshire. Grant finished in a time of 1:17:29 to earn 4th place of 315 runners
Daniel Bates beat his personal best by 4 minutes and 39 seconds, to finish in 01:36:47

Celebrating Leila

A marathon to celebrate the life of Leila Taylor, a former Garden City Runner who died of Breast Cancer back in February. The marathon was based in Wheathampstead, and run over a multi terrain 4 lap course, with it’s fair share of hills. Spartans taking part were:
4:59:43 – Roger Biggs
5:48:52 – Mike Newbitt

Coming Events

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

Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 5th September
Club Five Mile Team Champs on Tuesday 10th September
Herts Senior 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 24th September
County 10K Championships in Letchworth on Sunday 6th October
Herts Veterans 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 8th October
County 10 Mile Championships for veterans on Sunday 27th October
Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd November
County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013

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, Brittain Way, 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 9.30a.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 done very much running yet might prefer to start with a Thursday, Saturday or Monday session.

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (0793 968 7509 or 01438 354505), Vivienne Honey 07702 846304 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

E N D S

More from Jim Brown (Press Officer) 0793 968 7509 / 01438 354505 or Vivienne Honey (Secretary) 07702 846304

www.fvspartans.org.uk

News Release – 11th August 2013

FAIRLANDS VALLEY SPARTANS WOMEN WIN VETERANS TRACK & FIELD LEAGUE FOR SECOND YEAR

Fairlands Valley Spartans Women’s Team won the Central Division of the Eastern Veterans Athletic league for the second time in succession after they won the final match of the season, beating the home team, Milton Keynes, into second place on the night by 82 points to 78 with Kettering and Biggleswade further behind. They have now qualified automatically for the final in September and will then take on clubs from the other divisions.

Highlights of the match included the Triple Jump, where Spartans won in all three age categories, Steph Mayfield jumping 7.31 metres in the Women’s 35 group, Monica Brown 8.39m in the Women’s 45 group and Julie Simmons producing a Club W55 record with 5.89m. Julie also produced a great run in the 3000 metres, finishing second in 12 minutes 46.2 seconds to set a new club record, not only for her own age, but also the lower 45 group. Club records were also set by Chris Feely as an over 50 whilst finishing second in her 800 metres race in a time of 2 minutes 52.8 seconds, Carolyn Shortland as an over 60 in the Discus with 14.38 metres and Monica Brown in the Javelin as an over 45 with 17.63 metres. The rest of the team was Louise Oliver, Christine Lathwell, Sharon Crowley, Peta Wilson and the Team Captain Tessa Stephenson.

In the men’s match at the same meeting, Fairlands Valley Spartans finished second to Milton Keynes, finishing with 87 points to the winning 94. This leaves the team in second place in the Central Division behind Milton Keynes, but they should make their first ever appearance in the final as one of the best runners up.

Highlights for the men included the 3000 metres where Grant Ramsay won the over 40 age group, and the combined race in a time of 9 minutes 36.2 seconds, Dave Bowker won the over 50 group in 10 minutes 59.4 seconds, Simon Jackson was second in the over 35 group in 9 minutes 47.2 seconds and Barry Osborne came second in the over 60 group in a Club Record of 11 minutes 32.8 seconds. The Pole Vault saw wins for both Steve Mayfield in the over 40 group with a height of 2.00 metres and Dave Stephenson in the over 50 group with 2.32 metres, Dave Setting a new Club Record across all age groups. In the 1 mile walk Dave Bowker finished just 1 second ahead of Barry King with both winning their groups, this was Barry’s first ever win in the league. Mick Shortland set three Club over 60 records whilst coming second in each of the Discus with 29.19 metres, Javelin with 27.23 metres and the 200 metres in 34.8 seconds. The meeting ended with relays consisting of legs of 400m, 200m, 200m and 400m. In the 35 to 49 age group, Simon Jackson, Paul Pickard, Steve Mayfield and Grant Ramsay finished second but set a new Club Record for the over 35 age group of 3 minutes 3.9 seconds, whilst in the over 50 group, Bernie Barnaby, Dave Bowker, Mick Shortland and Dave Stephenson reduced the Club Record for over 40 athletes to 3 minutes 29.1 seconds. The team also included Tim Saunders-Mullins who competed in the over 50 group, even though he is over 60 and came second in the discus with 21.76 metres and third in the Javelin with 21.08 metres.

Salisbury 54321

The Salisbury 54321 trail marathon consisted of 5 Rivers; 4 Hills; 3 Large Country Estates; 2 Castles and 1 Cathedral. SHARON CROWLEY walked the 42K Marathon in 6 hours 36 minutes 6 seconds. CAROL PAUL finished in 5 hours 55 minutes and MIKE NEWBITT in 6 hours exactly. MIKE CROWLEY walked the 31.5 kilometre event in 5 hours 4 minutes 43 seconds.

Wimpole

DANIEL BATES ran Saturday’s Wimpole Estate Park Run in 20 minutes 54 seconds. He was 15th out of the 191 runners in the five kilometre event.

Northumberland Coast Marathon

ROGER BIGGS travelled to the North East, for the Northumberland Coast Marathon, a trail marathon based on the Village of Alnmouth in Northumberland.

The course followed the coastal path from Alnmouth to Beadwell Bay, before turning back and re-tracing all the way back to Alnmouth. On a lovely day for running, with cooling sea breezes and intermittent sunshine, the course took in around 8 miles of beach, finishing with a soft sand section back, that totally finished you off. Roger finished in 4 hours 54 minutes 1 second.

Grant’s PB Southern Track and Field

GRANT RAMSAY was fifth in a new personal best of 7 minutes 2 seconds in the 2,000 metres steeplechase Southern Track and Field Event at Cambridge.

Lottery Anniversary Race

Trudie Molloy completed the National Lottery Five Mile Anniversary Race Race in 47 minutes 15 seconds. She was delighted with the time particularly as there were 15,000 runners and some areas of the course were very busy. The race culminated with Trudie finishing by running the last 300 metres in the Olympic Stadium.

Coming Events

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

• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 5th September
• Club Five Mile Team Champs on Tuesday 10th September
• Herts Senior 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 24th September
• County 10K Championships in Letchworth on Sunday 6th October
• Herts Veterans 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 8th October
• County 10 Mile Championships for veterans on Sunday 27th October
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd November
• County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013

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, Brittain Way, 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 9.30a.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 done very much running yet might prefer to start with a Thursday, Saturday or Monday session.

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (0793 968 7509 or 01438 354505), Vivienne Honey 07702 846304 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

E N D S

More from Jim Brown (Press Officer) 0793 968 7509 / 01438 354505 or Vivienne Honey (Secretary) 07702 846304

www.fvspartans.org.uk