It was a surprisingly bitterly cold evening for Thursday’s February Handicap 5K as 24 Spartans battled against the stiff breeze and cold temperatures.
STEPHEN PACEY was first across the line. His 27 minutes 43 seconds was 2 minutes faster than handicap. This was his first 5K with Fairlands Valley Spartans.
RICHARD BATE was second, overtaking 22 runners in an attempt to beat his course record run in the opposite direction from the previous month. He finished in 16:44, only 25 seconds slower than January, despite the breeze and different hills. DAVIE STAFFORD was third smashing his personal best (PB) by 50 seconds, to finish in 19:42.
Kirsty First Lady
KIRSTY CALLAN has taken chunks off her 5K time in the last few months. She was first female in yet another personal best (her 4th consecutive Handicap 5K PB) of 24:01, with another newcomer, BECCA BIRT seconds female in 30:52, just 6 seconds behind Kirsty. Young SOFIA CARPENTER was third lady, in 26:20, 1:51 quicker than in January.
Richard’s 16:44 was the fastest time on the evening. LIAM HERBERT was second quickest in 18:56, 19 seconds faster than his previous handicap 5k, and CHRISTOPHER WESTCOTT third fastest in 19:09, 1:06 better than handicap.
Lucy Fastest Female
LUCY FIELD was fastest female in 23:21, 39 seconds ahead of handicap, with Kirsty’s 24:01 PB second quickest and Sofia’s 26:20 third fastest.
There were also personal bests for JULIAN STROLL and HAYLEY PEACH; season bests for RYAN DUNNING, BERNADETTE MILLWOOD & PETER CARPENTER and 2014 year bests for ROBERT SHAW & ADRIAN DONNELLY.
All the Spartan times:
Pos Name Time Comments Time Position Female Time
1 STEPHEN PACEY 27:43 1st 5K 19
2 RICHARD BATE 16:44 1
3 DAVIE STAFFORD 19:42 PB 4
4 ROBERT SHAW 26:42 YB 15
5 KIRSTY CALLAN 24:01 PB 11 2
6 BECCA BIRT 30:52 Ist 5K 20 6
7 ADRIAN DONNELLY 20:08 YB 5
8 LIAM HERBERT 18:56 2
9 SOFIA CARPENTER 26:20 12 3
10 MARTIN DUDLEY 26:20 13
11 CHRISTOPHER WESTCOTT 19:09 3
12 ANDREA WESTCOTT 27:13 16 4
13 LUCY FIELD 23:21 10 1
14 NICK WITCOMBE 26:22 14
15 RYAN DUNNING 22:21 SB 8
16 GRAHAM BLACKBURN 20:40 6
17 MARK BEASLEY 21:52 7
18 CALLUM BEASLEY 23:03 9
19 BEVERLEY HARLOW 27:21 17 5
20 ALASTAIR BALDWIN 27:25 18
21 JULIAN STROLL 31:51 1st 5K 22
22 HAYLEY PEACH 35:10 1st 5K 24 8
23 BERNADETTE MILLWOOD 32:13 SB 23 7
24 PETER CARPENTER 31:37 SB 21
The next Handicap 5K race will be on Thursday 20th March 2013.
Eastern Vets Win Inter Area Match
Fairlands Valley Spartans contributed to the Eastern of England winning the English Masters Inter Area Athletics Match which was at the Lee Valley Indoor Athletics Centre on Sunday.
This annual event pits teams of veteran athletes from all areas of Britain against each other. Brought in at a late stage, four Spartans were included in the team representing the East of England.
In the 3000 metres race Dave Bowker, finished 4th in the Over 35 Age Group in 11 mins 6.84 secs with John Harris finishing 3rd in the Over 50 Age Group just behind in 11 mins 7.53 secs. Dave also took part in the 2000m walk finishing second in 11 mins 29.99 secs whilst John completed the 800m in 2 mins 25.10 secs.
Tessa Stephenson competed against much younger athletes in the Over 35 Age Group and finished fifth.
Finally, Dave Stephenson finished 7th in the 1500m in the Over 50 Age Group in 5 mins 38.17 secs and ran a leg of the 4x200m relay for the over 35 age group, helping the team to second place. These results helped to produce a successful outcome, with Eastern Veterans finishing first in the women’s match (by 7 points) and the men finishing second, behind Southern Counties Veterans (by 6 points) and so winning the combined match by a single point!
PB for John
JOHN HARRIS ran a new indoor 800 metres personal best in the midweek meeting at Lee Valley. He finished in 2 minutes 24.73 seconds.
Midweek Lee Valley Open Meeting
Seville Marathon
VIVIENNE HONEY and PAUL MARSHALL were rewarded with new personal bests in Sunday’s Seville Marathon. ! Official results now show you as 4:51:08 in 7401st place! Well done! Great time!
The race began under a very clear blue sky with low temperatures. They were encouraged by the Spanish hospitality and the Mediterranean sunshine! Paul finished in 4 hours 1 minutes 30 seconds and Vivienne in 4:51:08. There were 9,000 runners.
Presentation Evening
Fairlands Valley Spartans Presentation Evening, Dinner and Disco will be at Chesfield Downs on Friday evening, 28th February. Tickets are £23. More details from www.fvspartans.org.uk
London Marathon
“Fairlands Valley Spartans will be organising a coach to the London Marathon on Sunday, 13Apr14 for those running . Spaces are available at £10, departing from Stevenage Old Town at 06:30hrs. Further details given on booking.
Please respond to Roger Biggs on roger@thebiggs.net or 07748 326301”
Coming Events
Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks including the:
• Serpentine 5K in Hyde Park on Friday lunchtime 28th February
• Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February
• Veterans Cross Country Championships in Royston on 16th March
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 20th March
• Herts 1500 and Veterans Track and Field Championships on 5th May
• First Mid Week Road Race League (10K) race in Stevenage on Tuesday 13th May
• Second Road Race League (5 miles) race in Chingford on Wednesday 4th June
• Third Road Race League (9K) race in Trent Park on Thursday 12th June
• Fourth Road Race League (10K) in St Albans on Tuesday 1st July
• Mid Week Mob Match (10K) in Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 17th July
• Off Road Challenge in Stevenage on Sunday 20th July
• Relays in the Park in Stevenage on Thursday 31st July
• Stevenage Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday 2nd November
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 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), 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 or Vivienne Honey (Secretary) 07702 846304
www.fvspartans.org.uk
