Categories
News

TOP TEN AT SANDY

 

On a beautiful sunny morning CRAIG HALSEY was a top ten finisher in the Sandy Ten Mile race.  He was eighth in 58 minutes 15 seconds.  GRAHAM BLACKBURN was 110th in 1:16:01.  Stepping down from her usual marathon distance CAROL PAUL had a good run for 235th in 1:27:28 and SHARON CROWLEY was 377th in 1:42:21.

 

Ashridge Duathlon series: Race 2

The Ashridge Duathlon was held in the grounds and surrounding roads of the Ashridge Estate.  The start and finish had the stunning Ashridge House as the backdrop.

Over distances of 10K run, 44K cycle and 5K run BRIAN WHITE finished in 20th position in 2 hours 39 minutes 43 seconds and was first vet 60.  He was about 12 minutes quicker than race 1.

TOM SAUKA completed the same event in 2:33:59 and was seventh in his category..

 

Wicked Marathon – Saturday, 25th March 2017

ROGER BIGGS travelled to the Town of Wamego in central Kansas for the Wicked Marathon.  The town is known for its connections with the film ‘Wizard of Oz’.

Roger could have used some help from the Wizard, with rain, wind and the local terrain to deal with. Luckily the storm clouds moved away, and Roger managed to get round the course in 4:41:06, to place second in his age group.

 

Parkrun Reports

Clear blue skies and a chilly easterly wind were the conditions facing eleven Spartans in action at Stevenage parkrun.  JASON ANDERSON ditched his planned hills session for a parkrun effort, and a decent effort it was too!  He was second finisher in 16 mins 59 secs in his first run at the Stevenage venue, a 31 second improvement.  JOHN NELMS continued his return to action following a break finishing 13th in 21:05 and LIAM ERRINGTON was the third Spartan home in 22:04.  DARREN EMMERSON (23:36), SELVAN NAICKER (39:41), JAMES SOUTH (42:21, still on the easy list) and IAN ALEXANDER (tail-running in 52:22) were the other men running.

For the women, ISABEL GREEN was 11th in 26:30, choosing to take in the parkrun as part of a longer Saturday run.  HAZEL SMITH was 30th in 28:47, a second in front of CALLIE CHAPMAN in 28:48 with SALLY PHILLIPS completing the Spartan contingent in 21:15.

ELLA GOWER went to Panshanger Park with no preconceptions as to her expected time and ran a new course PB of 31:42 knocking more than two and a half minutes off her previous best here. MARIE HUTCHINGS also ran, completing in 36:23.

Regular tourists DANNIEL SUTTON and VERITY FISHER were in the midlands, running at Brueton parkrun. Daniel completed in 23:30 and Verity was 5th woman to finish in 23:35.

Finally, DARRYL STEVENS was one of 868 runners who ran at Poole parkrun. He completed in 38:23 on his first visit to this venue.

Some other Spartans tackled the Stevenage Start of Summertime cycle rides.

 

London Calling

Fairlands Valley Spartans are organising a coach to the start of the London Marathon on Sunday 23rd April.  The club have spaces left on the coach for anyone who would like a lift to the start area at Greenwich Park & Blackheath.  The cost is £10 per person, leaving the Old Town at 06:30hrs.  Have a look at 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.  The opportunities include:

  • Serpentine 5K in Hyde Park on Friday 31st March.
  • Lee Valley 10K and Half Marathon in Waltham Forest on Sunday 2nd April.
  • Brighton Marathon on Sunday 9th April.
  • Maidenhead Easter Ten on Friday 14th April.
  • London Marathon on Sunday 23rd April.
  • County 1500 Championships in Stevenage on Monday 1st May.
  • Herts County Five Mile Championships for Seniors at Pednor on 1st May.
  • Dereham 10 (ten miles) on Sunday 7th May.
  • First Mid Week Road Race League match on Wednesday 10th May.
  • Ross Peers Half Marathon on Sunday 14th May.
  • Summer Solstice 10K at St Albans on Tuesday 16th May.
  • Stirling Marathon on Sunday 21st May.
  • Mid Week Road Race League in Stevenage on Wednesday 24th May.
  • Mid Week Road Race League in Hitchin on Wednesday 14th June.
  • Herts Veteran 10K Championships at Welwyn on Sunday 25th June.
  • Mob Match on Thursday 13th July.
  • Fairlands Valley Relays in Stevenage on Thursday 27th July.
  • Herts Senior 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 30th August.
  • Herts Veteran 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 13th September.
  • Herts Senior 10K Championships at Standalone on Sunday 1st October.
  • Peterborough Half Marathon on Sunday 8th October.
  • Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 22nd October.
  • St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 19th November (TBC).
  • Bass Belle 10 near Royston on Sunday 26th November.
Categories
News

THREE HALVES AND A SECOND FOR SPARTANS

 

The Spartan Army was in action at three half marathons over the weekend.  A magnificent seventeen kept it local and ran the Welwyn Half Marathon.  This was an undulating 13.1 miles with several twists, turns and pinch points and a wearing headwind for the last few miles but many achieved great results including RUTH REILLY with a new personal best of 1 hour 49 minutes 30 seconds.

JIM BROWN got his second category second place in a week with 1 hour 50 minutes 21 seconds to be second veteran (60 plus).  He was 267th.

The fastest Spartan was THOMAS SAUKA, 91 out of the 612 finishers in 1:33:57.  ADRIAN BUSOLINI was not far behind at 108th in 1:36:18.  MICHELLE REEVES was Fairlands fastest female in an excellent 1:39:34 for 133rd.

Starting nearer the back JAY PAPA was 136th with a net time of 1:39:04.  MARK GOODWIN blamed the wind for him being just 44 seconds slower than last year.  He was 163rd in 1:42:47.

KARL SHREEVE continues to improve.  He made it into the top half of the field at 302nd in 1:53:33.  OLWEN BATTY and TIM SABAN ran together with a target to beat two hours.  They did it with Olwen 374th in 1:59:30 and Tim 375th in 1:59:29.  Back from an injury caused by the new poor lighting on Stevenage cycleways LISA GRAY was 390th in 2:01:02.

CLAIRE HYDE 2:03:51 chased in VISH SHAH at 2:03:43 while ROGER BIGGS was fourth Vet 60 in 2:06:08.  CALLUM BEASLEY completed in 2:11:46; SOPH GEORGIOU in 2:13:46 and ROBERT WRIGHT in 2:23:48.

 

Position Name Chip Time Comments
91 THOMAS SAUKA 1:33:57  
108 ADRIAN BUSOLINI 1:36:18  
133 MICHELLE REEVES (F) 1:39:34 8th Senior Woman
136 JAY PAPA 1:39:04  
163 MARK GOODWIN 1:42:47  
249 RUTH REILLY (F) 1:49:30 Personal Best (PB).
267 JIM BROWN 1:50:21 Second MV60
302 KARL SHREEVE 1:53:33  
374 OLWEN BATTY (F) 1:59:30 Sub Two Hours
375 TIM SABAN 1:59:29  
390 LISA GRAY (F) 2:01:02  
424 VISHAL SHAH 2:03:43  
425 CLAIRE HYDE (F) 2:03:51  
437 ROGER BIGGS 2:06:08 Fourth MV60
492 CALLUM BEASLEY 2:11:46  
505 SOPHOCLES GEORGIOU 2:13:06  
550 ROBERT WRIGHT 2:23:48  

 

Reading Half

Three Spartans headed over to Reading for a famously fast half marathon with a nice stadium finish.

JAMES KILROY aiming for a 1.45 was going well maintaining an eight minutes per mile average for the first eight miles but then started to slow and struggled home for a 1.50.27 finish.

JOHN NELMS was treating this like a training run for his 100 miler in five weeks so offered to help pace KELLY McHALE.  Unfortunately Kelly started to struggle fairly early on with a big hill around mile four, but she said John was key to keeping her going and he got her round for a 1.57.10 with John just behind in 1.57.17.

The crowd support is one of the best at Reading and the course is interesting with a cool stadium finish.  The wind was annoying in places but not too bad.

 

Hampton Court

JENNY GARRETT and NICOLA TOUT ran the Hampton Court Half Marathon in 1 hour 59 minutes 42 seconds.  The 13.1 miles was on a flat course but very windy making the last two miles tough.  Jenny was using this run as training for the London marathon.

 

Enigma

Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, ROGER BIGGS ran the Enigma Event in Milton Keynes.  This was nine laps round Willen Lake, on a lovely sunny and warm day.  He finished in 5 hours and 40 seconds (5:00:40).

 

Parkrun Reports

A blustery spring morning saw Spartans in action at five Hertfordshire parkruns as well as some further afield.

Fastest performer of the weekend was CRAIG HALSEY who was first over the line at Ellenbrook Fields in a time of 16 mins 54 secs, only 10 seconds outside his best there.  He was joined there by CHRIS HOLLAND who notched a time of 23:59 on his first visit.

At Stevenage JOHN HARRIS was first home of the Spartans’ thirteen runners, and 8th male in 19:33. MARTIN DUDLEY was 25th in 22:23 and SIMON SYPULA 91st in 29:01. The other men were PETER CARPENTER (31:22) and STEVEN DOBNER (32:20).

For the women, CAROL PAUL was 13th in 26:30 and VICTORIA BRETT 15th in 26:52, a new course personal best.  ALEXANDRA WHITEHOUSE was 31st in 29:41, also a new course best.  The other women were BEVERLEY HARLOW (29:50), TRACY PEZ (30:05), KAREN BROOM (30:19), SALLY PHILLIPS (32:59) and HALEY MCLOUGHLIN (37:25) in her first parkrun.

Two Spartans headed to Panshanger Park, ANDY JAY finishing in 25:52 and KEN JUDE in 26:09.  At St Albans STEVE GREEN was 17th in 19:48 while at Cassiobury Park TIM SABAN was 15th in 20:23.

Further afield GRAHAM HILL ran 35.21 at Milton Keynes while DARRYL STEVENS was back at Brockenhurst for a time of 42:36.  He was not the only Spartan on the south coast this week: VERITY FISHER was 13th woman at Southampton in 23:55 and DANIEL SUTTON also ran there in 26:02.

 

Getting Ready For Spring

Many other Spartans enjoyed the club’s 20 mile training run.  Great preparation for a Spring marathon.  There was also a fifteen mile option.

 

London Calling

Fairlands Valley Spartans are organising a coach to the start of the London Marathon on Sunday 23rd April.  We have spaces left on the coach for anyone who would like a lift to the start area at Greenwich Park & Blackheath.  The cost is £10 per person, leaving the Old Town at 06:30hrs.  Have a look at 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 cross country league.  The opportunities include:

  • Sandy Ten and Wymondham 20 on Sunday 26th March.
  • Serpentine 5K in Hyde Park on Friday 31st March.
  • Lee Valley 10K and Half Marathon in Waltham Forest on Sunday 2nd April.
  • Brighton Marathon on Sunday 9th April.
  • Maidenhead Easter Ten on Friday 14th April.
  • London Marathon on Sunday 23rd April.
  • County 1500 Championships in Stevenage on Monday 1st May.
  • Dereham 10 (ten miles) on Sunday 7th May.
  • First Mid Week Road Race League match on Wednesday 10th May.
  • Summer Solstice 10K at St Albans on Tuesday 16th May.
  • Stirling Marathon on Sunday 21st May.
  • Mid Week Road Race League in Hitchin on Wednesday 14th June.
  • Herts Veteran 10K Championships at Welwyn on Sunday 25th June.
  • Mob Match on Thursday 13th July.
  • Fairlands Valley Relays in Stevenage on Thursday 27th July.
  • Herts Senior 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 30th August.
  • Herts Veteran 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 13th September.
  • Herts Senior 10K Championships at Standalone on Sunday 1st October.
  • Peterborough Half Marathon on Sunday 8th October.
  • Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 22nd October.
  • St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 19th November (TBC).
  • Bass Belle 10 near Royston on Sunday 26th November.
Categories
News

MEDALS INDOORS AND OUT FOR SPARTANS

 

Fairlands Valley Spartans won medals indoors and out, from 60 metres to 20 miles, over the weekend.

There were SILVER and BRONZE medals for Fairlands Valley Spartans at the Hertfordshire 20 Mile County Championships.  The championships were incorporated in the world’s longest running 20 mile race, the Finchley 20.

Damp throughout but cheered up by a supply of jelly beans at miles 13 and 18 JIM BROWN took SILVER in the county championships for veterans (60 plus).  With a negative split, faster second than first half, he finished in 2 hours 53 minutes 32 seconds which was a 12 minutes 2 seconds improvement on last year.

The Spartans county team consisting of STEFFAN FORD, JASON ANDERSON, NICK GILL and Jim won BRONZE.

Steffan was first in for the club with 2:13:32 and 50th out of the 380 finishers and Jason 69th in 2:17:06.  Running the distance for the first time Nick ran a very well paced race to finish in 2:53:56.

Ineligible for the County championship PAUL HEWETT was 78th with 2:19;32.

CAROLE SHELDRICK and CAROLINE CROFT tackled the undulating course and gloomy conditions well to finish in 3:33:38 and3:33:40.

 

Position Name Chip Time Comments
50 STEFFAN FORD 2:13:32 4MV40 in County
69 JASON ANDERSON 2:17:06 5th Senior in County
78 PAUL HEWETT 2:19:32 Personal Best
246 NICK GILL 2:53:56
247 JIM BROWN 2:53:32 County SILVER MV60 & SB (12:02)
359 CAROLE SHELDRICK 3:33:38 42WV35
360 CAROLINE CROFT 3:33:40 34WV45

 

There were 380 finishers.

 

National Track and Field Medals for Spartans as they go Indoors

Returning to the Lee Valley Indoor Track, Monica Brown, Tessa Stephenson and Grant Ramsay finished off the indoor season at the National Championships of the British Masters Athletics Federation.  The events were divided between Saturday and Sunday and all three returned with medals.

Grant had another successful championships, running the 15 laps of the 200 metre track in 9 minutes 34 seconds to win the Gold Medal in the 3000 metres race for Men aged 40 to 44.

Monica continued her success after last month’s National Pentathlon championships by taking the Silver Medal in the 60 metres dash for women aged 50 to 55. Her run of 8.67 seconds places her second in the British Rankings for 2017.  She then won Bronze in the Long Jump with a leap of 4 metres 40 just one centimetre behind Silver!

Tessa ran the 200 Metres, competing in the 55 to 59 age group. This is one complete lap in lanes. This can be tricky as the track is banked and coming off the last bend Tessa stumbled badly losing time, but managing to hold onto the Silver Medal in a time of 33.40 seconds. She had already taken Bronze in the 400m in a time of 79.88 seconds and finished 6th in the Shot Putt with a distance of 8.02 metres, her season’s best of 8.58m placing her 3rd on the season’s National rankings.

These and other Spartans are now preparing themselves for the Eastern Masters Athletics leagues which start in May.

 

North London Half Marathon

CRAIG BACON ran the North London Half Marathon this morning.  The course started along Wembley Way and undulated it way along the closed streets of North London to the Allianz Park, home of Saracens rugby club. After a quick lap around the stadium it was back along the same course with the finish being inside Wembley Stadium being cheered on by a crowd of well wishers.  The rain held off until the latter stages so it was ideal running weather.  Craig finished 832nd out of the 5,782 finishers in 1 hour 42 minutes and 41 seconds.

Thanking Fairlands Valley Spartans for being her motivation to go out running every week HANNAH NEALE made the North London event her first half and finished in the impressive time of 1:49:22 for 1564th.  Now she’s looking forward to pushing herself further and faster.

ROBERT WRIGHT finished in 2:56:25 for 5,646th and IAN ALEXANDER in 2:56:26 for 5,647th.

 

Silverstone Half

Others preparing for a Spring marathon were at the Silverstone Half Marathon.  GRAHAM BLACKBURN came in with 1:39:50; HAZEL SMITH and CALLIE CHAPMAN with 2:04:42 and CATHY CRAIG with 2:16:23.

 

London Calling

Fairlands Valley Spartans are organising a coach to the start of the London Marathon on 23rd April.  We have spaces left on the coach for anyone who would like a lift to the start area at Greenwich Park & Blackheath.  The cost is £10 per person, leaving the Old Town at 06:30hrs.  Have a look at www.fvspartans.org.uk

 

Weymouth Half

TRUDIE MOLLOY and BARRY KING completed Sunday’s Weymouth Half Marathon in 2.07.18.

After a flat first half of the race it then went very hilly for the second half so they were very happy with their times, both a season’s best and Barry’s first time as a 50 year old.

 

Douglas PBs

NICOLA and RICHARD KENNEDY both ran new personal bests (PBs) in Saturday’s 5K Prom Race at Douglas Isle of Man.  Despite dodging the horse trams and their “deposits” Nicola finished in 21:50 and Richard in 20:14.

 

Parkrun Reports

It was almost perfect running conditions in Fairlands Valley on Saturday, and RICHARD SPRINGALL took full advantage, running sub-19 minutes for the first time. He was 3rd finisher in 18 mins 51 secs, a stunning 48 seconds improvement on his previous best. Two toher Spartans made the top 30, DARREN EMMERSON finishing 21st in 21:58 and MARTIN DUDLEY finishing 27th in 22:33.

The other Spartan men were MARK BEASLEY (23:44), CHRIS HOLLAND: 23:49), DANIEL SUTTON (23:52), NICK GILL (23:56, pacing for target 24 mins), MARTYN DOWLING (24:33), ANDY JAY (26:49, pacing for 27 mins), ROGER BIGGS (27:38), LEE PICKERSGILL (28:45), STEVEN DOBNER (32:36), JAMES SOUTH (38:01, recuperating from a broken leg in which both cruciate ligaments were damaged) and TIM ROBINSON (39:49).

For the women, VERITY FISHER was pacing for a target 25 minutes and finished 12th in 25:05.  CAROL PAUL also achieved a top 30 position, finishing in17th in 26:14. The other Spartan women were MONICA SMITHSON (29:11), CLAIRE PULLEN (32:04), SALLY PHILLIPS (35:11) and CAREN THAIN (37:41).

Elsewhere, BEV HARLOW ran at Newcastle parkrun and finished in 31:03, an 11 second improvement on her previous visit for a new course PB.  GRAHAM HILL went to Milton Keynes and shaved one second off his previous run for a new course Personal Best of 33:04. Finally, MARIE HUTHINGS was at Harlow and ran 48:44 on her first visit there.

 

Coming Events

Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks including cross country league.  The opportunities include:

  • Welwyn Half Marathon on Sunday 19th March.
  • Sandy Ten and Wymondham 20 on Sunday 26th March.
  • Serpentine 5K in Hyde Park on Friday 31st March.
  • Lee Valley 10K and Half Marathon in Waltham Forest on Sunday 2nd April.
  • Brighton Marathon on Sunday 9th April.
  • Maidenhead Easter Ten on Friday 14th April.
  • London Marathon on Sunday 23rd April.
  • County 1500 Championships in Stevenage on Monday 1st May.
  • Dereham 10 (ten miles) on Sunday 7th May.
  • First Mid Week Road Race League match on Wednesday 10th May.
  • Summer Solstice 10K at St Albans on Tuesday 16th May.
  • Stirling Marathon on Sunday 21st May.
  • Mid Week Road Race League in Hitchin on Wednesday 14th June.
  • Herts Veteran 10K Championships at Welwyn on Sunday 25th June.
  • Mob Match on Thursday 13th July.
  • Fairlands Valley Relays in Stevenage on Thursday 27th July.
  • Herts Senior 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 30th August.
  • Herts Veteran 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 13th September.
  • Herts Senior 10K Championships at Standalone on Sunday 1st October.
  • Peterborough Half Marathon on Sunday 8th October.
  • Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 22nd October.
  • St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 19th November (TBC).
  • Bass Belle 10 near Royston on Sunday 26th November.
Categories
News

NINETEEN IN WET CAMBRIDGE

The Cambridge Half Marathon was a wet, windy and chilly race this year but 19 stripy vest clad Spartans ran round the 13.1 mile course which took in many of sights of this old university town.

SIMON JACKSON ran his fastest half for four years, was fourth veteran (forty plus) and 27th overall out of the 6,887 finishers with 1 hour 16 minutes 6 seconds.

Commenting it was a lovely morning for a run (!) JASON ANDERSON took another two minutes off his personal best (PB) with 1:17:55.  STEVE GREEN improved by 80 seconds to 1:18:17.

BRIAN WHITE won the veteran (60 plus) award with 1 hour 28 minutes 26 seconds.  THOMAS SAUKA beat his 2016 time at the same event by 5:38 and finished in 1:31:49 and TIM SABAN came in with 1:35:55.

ISABEL GREEN was the fastest female from Fairlands with an excellent 1:42:54.  Running his first half LEE PICKERSGILL completed in 1:56:01.

Despite the awful rain and wind, and a lack of sleep OLWEN BATTY cracked two hours for the first time and was super happy with her new personal best (PB) of 1:56:44.  MARIA SWIFT had only been a Spartan for a few days but finished in 1:58:33.  CAROLE SHELDRICK ran a new personal best (PB) of 2:00:03 and CAROLINE CROFT finished in 2:06:52.

KAREN BROOM beat her personal best (PB) by over eleven minutes with 2:13:41.

The other Spartan times were RICHARD SPRINGALL 1:26:01; LIAM HERBERT 1:29:01; CRAIG HALSEY 1:33:49; GREG KELLY 1:51:42; DAWN EASBY 1:54:57; and MARK CHEADLE 2:02:52.

 

Position Name Chip Time Comments
27 SIMON JACKSON 1:16:06 4MV40
43 JASON ANDERSON 1:17:55 PB (Two minutes)
332 RICHARD SPRINGALL 1:26:01
353 BRIAN WHITE 1:28:26 1st Vet 60
369 STEVE GREEN 1:28:17
415 LIAM HERBERT 1:29:01
587 THOMAS SAUKA 1:31:49 5:38 better than 2016
734 CRAIG HALSEY 1:33:49
862 TIM SABAN 1:35:55
1673 ISABEL GREEN (F) 1:42:54
2775 GREG KELLY 1:51:42
2948 DAWN EASBY (F) 1:54:57
3109 LEE PICKERSGILL 1:56:01 First Half
3541 MARIA SWIFT (F) 1:58:33 New Spartan
3662 OLWEN BATTY (F) 1:56:44 PB (First under two)
3821 CAROLE SHELDRICK (F) 2:00:03
4380 MARK CHEADLE 2:02:52
4563 CAROLINE CROFT (F) 2:06:52
5107 KAREN BROOM (F) 2:13:41 PB (over 11 minutes)

 

There were 6,887 finishers.

 

Grant Ramsay Leads Herts At Inter Counties

In the Inter Counties 20 Mile Championships, GRANT RAMSAY led Hertfordshire home in a time of 2hrs 8 minutes 33 seconds, finishing 49th overall out of 450. Ramsay was hoping for a quicker time, but tough conditions and hamstring trouble affected his performance.

 

MK20

Five Spartans, including four women, battled high winds, rain and a hilly course to complete the 20 mile race at Milton Keynes on Sunday.

JENNY GARRET was 518th in 3 hours 13 minutes 51 seconds; JENNY PAUL 574th in 3:20:02; JULIE SHADBOLT 604th in 3:22:28; BARRY KING 702nd in 3:37:39 and TRUDIE MOLLOY running her first twenty mile race finished with Barry at 703rd also in 3:37:39.

 

Position Name Time Comments
518 JENNY GARRET (F) 3:13:51
574 JENNY PAUL (F) 3:20:02
604 JULIE SHADBOLT (F) 3:22:28
702 BARRY KING 3:37:39
703 TRUDIE MOLLOY (F) 3:37:39 First Twenty

 

Milton Keynes was WAYNE McMILLAN’s first half marathon when he took the 13.1 miles option and finished in 2 hours 29 minutes 3 seconds.

 

Malta Marathon – Sunday, 5th March 2017

Roger Biggs travelled to Malta for the very popular Malta Marathon.  The course started at the Impressive Mdina Citadel in the middle and highest point of the Island, finishing in the lively town of Sliema at sea level.  There may be an overall drop in height, but this was still an undulating course.

Despite warm and sunny conditions, Roger finished in 4:18:18, his best marathon since October 2013!

 

Chiltern Kanter

Mike, Sharon and Liz Crowley with Paul Holgate completed 27.6 miles map reading course of the Chiltern Kanter in 9 hours 25 minutes.  There were no route instructions or marshals for this event.  Just pure map reading through wind, rain, hail, and a little sunshine.

Conditions underfoot were quite atrocious with loads of mud and many other participants on the long route cut it short, missing out a 7mile loop.

 

Parkrun Reports

The first spring parkrun of the year took place on a mild morning this weekend and 19 Spartans lined up in Fairlands Valley. JAY PAPA continues to make excellent progress and was 4th in the men’s event in 19 mins 57 seconds, which was a new course PB. He was closely followed by JOHN HARRIS in 5th in a time of 19:59. MARTIN DUDLEY also finished in the top thirty in 22:50. The other Spartan men were NEIL ROBINSON (24:27), JOHN NELMS (25:08), MARTYN DOWLING (25:16), JON SYPULA (26:23), PETER CARPENTER (31:33), STEVEN DOBNER (32:53), ANTHONY OSBORNE (35:55) and tail-runner IAN ALEXANDER (49:32).

There was a new course PB for HANNAH NEALE who was 3rd woman to finish in 23:58. NIKKI WILBY was 8th in 25:19 and CAROL PAUL 13th in 27:06. ALEXANDRA WHITEHOUSE was the fourth Spartan in the top thirty in 29:59, a time that was also a new course PB. The other Spartan women were TRACY PEZ (30:13), BEVERLEY HARLOW (31:38), ELLA GOWER (33:37) and EMMA POULTER (37:02).

Over at Panshanger Park ANDY JAY became the latest Spartan to chalk up a 50th parkrun, a milestone rescheduled twice due to injury. He finished in a time of 26:58 and was joined at the venue by fellow Spartans MARK GOODWIN (25:16, a new course PB), THOMAS SAUKA (25:16) and JAMES KILROY (25:20).

DARRY STEVENS was in the west country this week, running the Minehead parkrun in 39:51, but the “furthest travellers” award for the week goes to DANIEL SUTTON and VERITY FISHER. They ran the Roosevelt Island DC parkrun in Washington DC, with Daniel finishing 7th in the men’s event in 24:56 and Verity finishing 2nd in the women’s event in 25:26.

 

Coming Events

Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks including cross country league.  The opportunities include:

  • Finchley 20 including Hertfordshire Championships on Sunday 12th March.
  • Welwyn Half Marathon on Sunday 19th March.
  • Sandy Ten and Wymondham 20 on Sunday 26th March.
  • Serpentine 5K in Hyde Park on Friday 31st March.
  • Lee Valley 10K and Half Marathon in Waltham Forest on Sunday 2nd April.
  • Brighton Marathon on Sunday 9th April.
  • Maidenhead Easter Ten on Friday 14th April.
  • London Marathon on Sunday 23rd April.
  • County 1500 Championships in Stevenage on Monday 1st May.
  • Dereham 10 (ten miles) on Sunday 7th May.
  • First Mid Week Road Race League match on Wednesday 10th May.
  • Summer Solstice 10K at St Albans on Tuesday 16th May.
  • Stirling Marathon on Sunday 21st May.
  • Mid Week Road Race League in Hitchin on Wednesday 14th June.
  • Herts Veteran 10K Championships at Welwyn on Sunday 25th June.
  • Mob Match on Thursday 13th July.
  • Fairlands Valley Relays in Stevenage on Thursday 27th July.
  • Herts Senior 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 30th August.
  • Herts Veteran 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 13th September.
  • Herts Senior 10K Championships at Standalone on Sunday 1st October.
  • Peterborough Half Marathon on Sunday 8th October.
  • Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 22nd October.
  • St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 19th November (TBC).
  • Bass Belle 10 near Royston on Sunday 26th November.