Month: May 2017

 

Greater participation meant Fairlands Valley Spartans moved up in the second Mid Week Road Race League event of the season.  They finished second overall on the night as 76 Spartans, 32 women and 44 men, were among 390 runners racing round Fairlands Valley Park on Wednesday evening.  So far the club have had 99 different participants across the two races so far.  One more 39 minute male runner or one more sub 45 female would have been enough to secure 16 points overall after the two races, equal with Bishop Stortford – that is how tight runner-up spot is this year and why it is so important to get out as many runners as possible for the remaining two scoring fixtures.

The warm evening affected several runners but CRAIG HALSEY raced round the almost 10K two lap race in just 34 minutes 20 seconds to be second overall in a competitive field.  Altogether 59 runners beat the 40 minute barrier despite the undulations, turns and heat.

ANDREW PATTERSON, sixth in 35:29 and SIMON JACKSON, eighth in 35:40 also scored top ten places.  GRANT RAMSAY 12^th in 35:48; STEFFAN FORD 15^th in 36:24; BRIAN BRACKSTONE 22^nd in 37:10; CIARAN McANERY, 27^th in 37:52; MIKE GREEN, 36^th in 38:25; PAUL HEWETT, 43^rd in 38:41; RICHARD SPRINGALL, 53^rd in 39:37; and BRIAN WHITE, 57^th and first runner aged 60 plus in 39:43 all beat forty minutes and together with STUART HAYCROFT, 76^th in 41:06 completed the Spartan men’s “A” team

The Spartan women were third led in by SUZY HAWKINS, fourth in 43:44 and NUALA CARSON, sixth woman in 44:04.  The other four, women’s teams consist of six runners in division two, in the club’s “A” team were CLAIRE PULLEN third FV45 in 46:03; ISABEL GREEN in 47:15; JULIET FULLWOOD in 49:07 and CLAIRE EMMERSON 49:25.

There were also some great performances in the women’s “B” team with RUTH REILLY 50:11; VERITY FISHER 50:57; LAUREN DEIGHTON 51:01; KAREN ELLIS 52:42; SUSAN McANERY 52:40 and LISA GRAY 53:53.

Spartan results and stats follow.

Race	Name	Time	Comments
2	CRAIG HALSEY	34:20	Second Overall.  FVS “A”
6	ANDREW PATTERSON	35:29	Sixth Overall.  FVS “A”
8	SIMON JACKSON	35:40	4MV40.  FVS “A”
12	GRANT RAMSAY	35:48	5MV40.  FVS “A”
15	STEFFAN FORD	36:24	6MV40.  FVS “A”
22	BRIAN BRACKSTONE	37:10	8MV40.  FVS “A”
27	CIARAN MCANERY	37:52	FVS “A”
36	MIKE GREEN	38:25	FVS “A”
43	PAUL HEWETT	38:41	FVS “A”
53	RICHARD SPRINGALL	39:37	FVS “A”
57	BRIAN WHITE	39:43	First MV60.  FVS “A”
76	STUART HAYCROFT	41:06	FVS “A”
80	TIM SABAN	41:08	5MV50.  FVS “B”
89	DEAN CARPENTER	42:14	FVS “B”
90	TODD GRAY	42:16	FVS “B”
101	DAVID BOWKER	43:07	FVS “B”
104	MIKE WENN	43:22	FVS “B”
111	SUZY HAWKINS	43:44	4th woman.  FVS “FA”
115	NUALA CARSON	44:04	6th woman.  FVS “FA”
125	LIAM HERBERT	44:49	FVS “B”
130	ELLIOTT THOMPSON	45:04	FVS “B”
138	MARK GOODWIN	45:26	FVS “B”
141	DARREN EMMERSON	45:45	FVS “B”
140	PAUL BATTERBEE	45:42	FVS “B”
152	CLAIRE PULLEN	46:03	3rd FV45.  FVS “FA”
178	ISABEL GREEN	47:15	FVS “FA”
184	ROBERT EVANS	47:52	FVS “B”
191	GARETH COWELL	48:08	FVS “B”
195	MARTIN DUDLEY	48:22	FVS “C”
199	MARK BEASLEY	48:29	FVS “C”
201	PAUL MAGUIRE	48:33	FVS “C”
202	NEIL ROBINSON	48:41	FVS “C”
211	JULIET FULLWOOD	49:07	FVS “FA”
213	JAMES KILROY	49:11	FVS “C”
218	CLAIRE EMMERSON	49:25	9th FV45.  FVS “FA”
225	GREG KELLY	49:54	FVS “C”
230	TIM ROBINSON	50:10	FVS “C”
231	RUTH REILLY	50:11	FVS “FB”
238	JIM BROWN	50:20	6MV60.  FVS “C”
243	VERITY FISHER	50:57	FVS “FB”
247	LAUREN DEIGHTON	51:01	FVS “FB”
259	LEE PICKERSGILL	52:04	FVS “C”
264	ANDY JAY	52:39	FVS “C”
266	KAREN ELLIS	52:42	FVS “FB”
267	SUSAN MCANERY	52:40	FVS “FB”
278	LISA GRAY	53:53	FVS “FB”
285	CAROL PAUL	54:36	2FV55.  FVS “FC”
290	ANDY SMITH	55:07	FVS “C”
291	PETE SMITH	55:09	FVS “C”
292	NICK GILL	55:12
295	KARTIK SHARMA	55:25
306	ALICE BURLEIGH	56:13
307	CALLIE CHAPMAN	56:32	FVS “FC”
309	JULIE SHADBOLT	56:19	FVS “FC”
310	SARAH PIKE	56:19	FVS “FC”
316	CALLUM BEASLEY	56:59
318	TANYA BRAZIER	57:02	FVS “FC”
319	JOANNE BOWDERY	57:04	FVS “FC”
323	CAROLINE CROFT	57:26	FVS “FD”
324	JOHN NELMS	57:34
328	KARL SHREEVE	58:15
334	PAUL HOLGATE	58:23
340	JENNY PAUL	59:15	FVS “FD”
345	MICK ANDREWS	59:44
351	SHARON CROWLEY	59:55	7FV55.  FVS “FD”
354	LISA SMITH	59:30	FVS “FD”
356	MONICA SMITHSON	1:00:00	FVS “FD”
364	JULIA WHITE	1:01:50	FVS “FD”
366	STEPHANIE MAYFIELD	1:01:53
367	SHELLEY DUNNE	1:02:09
370	DIANE RESKER	1:03:53
378	STEVE GOUGH	1:06:09
379	ALEXANDRA WHITEHOUSE	1:06:00
385	SHANI HUNT	1:10:52
389	CAREN THAIN	1:15:30
390	EMMA POULTER	1:17:51

 

There were 390 runners in the race, 139 women and 251 men.  The next league race will be in Hitchin on Wednesday 14^th June.

 

Edinburgh Marathon Festival (EMF)

ERICA GRAYSON is a very happy Spartan.  She has run three marathons in eleven weeks and all of them have been personal bests.  Despite the heat in Edinburgh and East Lothian she finished in 4 hours 37 minutes 58 seconds.  That’s the same time as SUE HAMER who also recorded a new PB.

The Spartans fastest finisher was NATALIE LAWRENCE 264^th overall out of thousands of runners and in with a shout of a championship place at next year’s London Marathon with her time of 3:15:05, only fifteen weeks after giving birth.

LIAM HERBERT was not far behind with 3:15:55 and 271^st.

KERSTIN WEINER took half a minute off her London personal best with 3:56:44.  She said it was definitely was a race of two halves and one of the toughest races she’s ever run but pleased with her result.

Despite stopping to help a runner in trouble MOLLIE SMITH finished with 4:14:40.

It was VICTORIA BRETT’s first marathon and she was very happy with her time of 4:54:51 as it was pretty tough.  JON SYPULA’s time was 4:31:32 while mother and daughter JAN FRY and HANNAH SYPULA finished together in 5:50:13.

In the half marathon the fast improving HAZEL SMITH recorded a massive 16 minutes half marathon PB to finish in 1 hour 48 minutes 27 seconds.

PETE SMITH raced round the half in 1:33:04.  JENNY GARRETT came in with 2:00:45 and KAREN SMITH with 2:31:21.

Edinburgh Marathon – Spartan Times

Position	Name	Time	Comments
264	NATALIE LAWRENCE	3:15:05	London Possible
271	LIAM HERBERT	3:15:55
1576	KERSTIN WEINER	3:56:44	PB (30 seconds)
2434	MOLLIE SMITH	4:14:40
3323	JON SYPULA	4:31:32
3630	SUE HAMER	4:37:58	PB
3631	ERICA GRAYSON	4:37:58	PB
4383	VICTORIA BRETT	4:54:51	First marathon
5742	HANNAH SYPULA	5:50:13	Daughter
5743	JAN FRY	5:50:13	Mother

 

Edinburgh Half – Spartan times

 

Position	Name	Time	Comments
400	PETER SMITH	1:33:04
1737	HAZEL SMITH	1:48:27	PB (16 minutes)
3678	JENNY GARRETT	2:00:45
7765	KAREN SMITH	2:31:21

 

Noosa Half Marathon

PETER CARPENTER was easily the Spartan racing the furthest from home on Sunday.  He ran the Noosa Half Marathon, his first ever half marathon, in Queensland Australia.  Peter was third in the 70 plus category with 2 hours 32 minutes 19 seconds, pointing out that he beat 45 runners who were much younger than him.  Peter pointed out it was pleasantly warm in their winter.

 

Serpentine

JIM BROWN had recovered well enough from the Stirling Marathon and Wednesday’s midweek league race to get third in his category at the Last Friday of the Month 5K race with 24 minutes 30 seconds.  It was hot and sunny for the lunch-time run round the Serpentine.  Jim was 172^nd out of the 228 finishers.

 

Hercules Festival of Sport, Northwood

BRIAN WHITE was fourth and first veteran 60 plus in the Hercules Festival of Sport duathlon at Northwood.  Over the standard duathlon distances of 10K, 40K and 5K his time was 2 hours 25 minutes 59 seconds (splits 40.01, 1.23.04, 20.26)

 

Dorchester Marathon – Sunday, 28th May 2017

Roger Biggs travelled to the County Town of Dorset for the inaugural Dorchester Marathon.

Conditions were warm and humid, and of course Dorset is one of the hiller places to run a marathon. Roger was pleased to run faster than his previous marathon in a time of 5:03:51.

 

Parkrun Reports

Eighteen Spartans turned out in Fairlands Valley on the first birthday of the Stevenage parkrun, in thundery wet and humid conditions.  Starting in torrential rain MIKE GREEN raced round in a new course PB (personal best) of 18 mins 24 secs to be first male finisher, NICK GILL in 29^th (22:16), MARTIN DUDLEY (22:50) and DANIEL SUTTON (23:12) were the next Spartan men to cross the line.  There was also new course PB for STEVEN DOBNER (30:03)

PENNY SCHENKEL was first Spartan woman, and tenth overall, in a new course PB of 26:58, followed closely in 11^th by CAROL PAUL (27:08). VERITY FISHER (30:05) and SALLY PHILLIPS (30:16) were next to finish, Sally also achieving a new best time on this course.

The other Spartans running were MARK BEASLEY (23:39), DARREN EMMERSON (24:46), CHRIS HOLLAND (25:01), JIM BROWN first 60 plus (26:56), JOHN MCCALL (29:03), ROGER BIGGS (29:04), SELVAN NAICKER (32:27), ELLA GOWER (34:06), ROBERT EVANS (38:32) and KAREN BROOM (1:02:45 on tail-running duty).

BARRY OSBORNE and TIM ROBINSON went to Ellenbrook Fields, Barry finishing 8th in a new course PB of 20:01 and Tim crossing the line in 36:41.  Meanwhile JOHN ROXBOROUGH was at Hatfield Forest, also running a new course best of 23:15.

Furthest traveller of the week was ISABEL GREEN who was 15^th woman at Newcastle in 22:44 for another new course PB.

 

Todmorden Boundary Walk

Whilst amazing times were coming from a warm Edinburgh Marathon and half, Sharon and Mike Crowley took on a damp, drizzly and cloudy 22 miles in the Pennines, taking part in the Todmorden Boundary walk.  With flags to mark the way, there was no map reading required.  Sometimes in the mist it was sometimes difficult to see the next flag on the way across the moors.  They finished in a time of 6:42:23.

 

Coming Events

Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks.  The opportunities include the County 1500 and other track championships in Stevenage on Monday 1^st May.  Others are:

• EMAC Track and Field at Cambridge on Wednesday 7^th June.
• Third Mid Week Road Race League in Hitchin on Wednesday 14^th June.
• Herts Veteran 10K Championships at Welwyn on Sunday 25^th June.
• Fourth Mid Week Road Race League from Ridlins on Wednesday 28^th June.
• Serpentine 5K on Friday 30^th June.
• EMAC Track and Field at Milton Keynes on Wednesday 5^th July.
• Mob Match at Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 13^th July.
• Fairlands Valley Challenge from Stevenage on 15^th and 16^th July
• EMAC Track and Field at Stevenage on Wednesday 26^th July.
• Fairlands Valley Relays in Stevenage on Thursday 27^th July.
• Herts Senior 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 30^th August.
• Herts Veteran 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 13^th September.
• Herts Senior 10K Championships at Standalone on Sunday 1^st October.
• Peterborough Half Marathon on Sunday 8^th October.
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 22^nd October.
• St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 19^th November.  Enter fast.
• Hertfordshire Five Mile Championship for Veterans at Hatfield on Sunday 26^th Nov.
• Bass Belle 10 near Royston on Sunday 26^th November.

 

On a visit back to Stirling where he worked before coming to Stevenage Jim Brown ran the inaugural Stirling Scottish Marathon in a Good For Age qualifying and season’s best time of 3 hours 46 minutes 32 seconds.  He was ninth in his category and 862^nd out of about 4,300 finishers.  Roger Biggs finished in 5:13:48.  The course was beautiful, starting in Blairdrummond Safari Park, passing the Wallace Monument and finishing below Stirling Castle.  Despite some drizzle conditions were almost perfect for runners.  A team of Spartans will be at next week’s Edinburgh Marathon.

 

Best for Tim

TIM SABAN ran the Chester Half in a new personal best (PB) of 1:31:39.

 

Hoohah Harris

There was a tough course for Wimpole Hoohah but JOHN HARRIS was second man 50 plus in 43:04.

 

Portchester 10K

And JENNY GARRETT ran the Portchester 10K, near Portsmouth, in 54:02.

 

Battersea Bowker

David Bowker went to Battersea Park on Tuesday for the monthly Veterans’ Athletic Club five miles race walk league.  He finished fourth overall and second man in a recent personal best of 50 minutes 11 seconds.

 

Parkrun Reports

Stevenage parkrun saw its second largest ever field on Saturday and MIKE GREEN was the leading Spartan, finishing 9^th in 19mins 11secs.  BRIAN WHITE was 11^th in 19:36 and NICK GILL 27^th in 21:13, both achieving new course PBs.  GARETH COWELL just missed a top 30 slot in 21:31 but notched a new course PB too.  The other Spartan men were MARTIN DUDLEY (22:29), PAUL MAGUIRE (22:48, new course PB), MARK BEASLEY (23:24), DARREN EMMERSON (23:26), TIM ROBINSON (25:29), KARTIK SHARMA (25:57), ROBERT EVANS (26:56), SELVAN NAICKER (31:37) and DAVE PEACH (36:30 on his parkrun debut).

For the women, there was a fantastic course PB for HAZEL SMITH who followed up her recent 10k PB in the midweek league by smashing more than a minute and a half off her previous best here.  She finished 6^th woman in 23:26.  NIKKI WILBY was 13^th in 24:56, CAROL PAUL 22^nd in 26:24 and CALLIE CHAPMAN 28^th in 27:02. KAREN PALMER (28:31) and SALLY PHILLIPS (30:42, a new course PB) were the other Spartan women.

In the other local parkruns, ANDY JAY ran at Panshanger finishing in 25:20, while VERITY FISHER was 15^th woman at Ellenbrook Fields in 24:44, a new course PB. Heading in to Essex, JOHN ROXBOROUGH finished in 23:24 at Hatfield Forest, and BARRY OSBORNE was 8^th at Great Notley in 21:45.

Finally, DANIEL SUTTON finished in 25:37 at Coventry, and HAYLEY BIRONNEAU crossed the line in 26:38 at Poole parkrun.

 

Something Completely Different

Something completely different.  On Sunday JENNY PAUL the PARAS 10 with her dog.

She finished in 1 hour 52 minutes 28 seconds.  A bit slower than a normal ten mile race due to obstacles, wees etc. (dog, not Jenny) lots of water stops for dog as it was very hot.  A fun course across the army training ground at Colchester barracks including swamp, water (swimming for dog) and plenty of mud.  The Red Devils flew in at the start, gunfire around the course.   She says it was a fab race.

 

Coming Events

Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks.  The opportunities include the County 1500 and other track championships in Stevenage on Monday 1^st May.  Others are:

 

• Second Mid Week Road Race League in Stevenage on Wednesday 24^th May.
• EMAC Track and Field at Cambridge on Wednesday 7^th June.
• Third Mid Week Road Race League in Hitchin on Wednesday 14^th June.
• Herts Veteran 10K Championships at Welwyn on Sunday 25^th June.
• Fourth Mid Week Road Race League from Ridlins on Wednesday 28^th June.
• EMAC Track and Field at Milton Keynes on Wednesday 5^th July.
• Mob Match at Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 13^th July.
• Fairlands Valley Challenge from Stevenage on 15^th and 16^th July
• EMAC Track and Field at Stevenage on Wednesday 26^th July.
• Fairlands Valley Relays in Stevenage on Thursday 27^th July.
• Herts Senior 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 30^th August.
• Herts Veteran 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 13^th September.
• Herts Senior 10K Championships at Standalone on Sunday 1^st October.
• Peterborough Half Marathon on Sunday 8^th October.
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 22^nd October.
• St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 19^th November.  Enter fast.
• Hertfordshire Five Mile Championship for Veterans at Hatfield on Sunday 26^th Nov.
• Bass Belle 10 near Royston on Sunday 26^th November.

 

Spartan GRANT RAMSAY won the Hertfordshire County Championships on Sunday.  He took the 5,000 metres GOLD on Watford track in 16 minutes 43 seconds.  Although he may not have been fully race fit, following two recent sub 3 hour marathons in eight days, he was very pleased with his time and position”.

 

Mid Week Masses

Sixty six Spartans made the tricky after work journey to Bishops Stortford on Wednesday for the first in this summer’s series of Mid Week Road Race League events.

GRANT RAMSAY ran into a top ten spot, seventh out of the 400 or so runners in 35 minutes 2 seconds. 66 Spartans.  A total of eight Spartans beat the 40 minute barrier on the undulating course which included farm tracks and country lanes.  The others were SIMON JACKSON, 12^th in 35:46; ANDREW PATTERSON, 14^th in 35:54; STEFFAN FORD, 20^th in 36:46; CIARAN McANERY running his first 10K in 38:15; RICHARD SPRINGALL his first 10K in 38:36; DANNY HUKIN 39:08 and BRIAN WHITE 39:20.  Brian was the first 60 plus man in the race.

New member NUALA CARSON was the fastest female for Fairlands.  Another first timer she was eighth woman, 120^th overall, in 43 minutes 52 seconds.  Next came another newcomer, CARLA HOWELL in 45:25.  Six other women beat 50 minutes.  They were ISABEL GREEN in 46:19; HANNAH NEALE with a tremendous finish in 48:09; CLAIRE WHITCHURCH in 48:28; RUTH REILLY taking 3:52 of her PB with 48:45; VERITY FISHER following a determined sprint for a new personal best of 48:56 and LAUREN DEIGHTON in 49:22 for her first 10K.

The Spartans were fourth overall with 557 points behind Harlow on 694 but well ahead of Hitchin on 941.  The men’s team were third.

The next mid week league race will be in Stevenage on Wednesday evening 24^th May.

 

Results for all 66 Spartans:

Position	Name	Time	Comments	Team
7	Grant Ramsay	35:02	6th male; 4th V40; YB	MA
12	Simon Jackson	35:46	5th V40; YB	MA
14	Andrew Patterson	35:54	SB (0:40)	MA
20	Steffan Ford	36:46	6th V40; SB (0:28)	MA
39	Ciaran McAnery	38:15	1st 10K	MA
43	Richard Springall	38:36	1st 10K	MA
51	Danny Hukin	39:08	SB (0:17)	MA
53	Brian White	39:20	1st V60; SB (0:50)	MA
72	Steve Green	40:30	SB (0:12)	MA
84	Stuart Haycroft	41:32	PB (2:48)	MA
90	David Bowker	42:06	9th V50.  SB (10:11)	MA
100	Thomas Sauka	42:48	YB	MA
102	Tim Saban	42:48	YB (0:45)
109	Mark Collins	43:08	1st 10K
114	Dean Carpenter	43:18	SB (1:15)
115	Mike Wenn	43:31	1st 10K
120	Nuala Carson (F)	43:52	8th Female; 1st 10K	FA
125	John Nelms	44:16	YB
127	Nick Gill	44:23	1st 10K
132	Paul Harris	44:42	YB
146	Mark Goodwin	45:22	SB (0:03)
147	Carla Howell (F)	45:25	1st 10K	FA
155	Chris Holland	46:04	PB (2:08)
161	Darren Emmerson	46:10	YB
164	Isabel Green (F)	46:19	YB	FA
172	Mark Beasley	46:35	YB
177	Paul Batterbee	46:49	YB
178	Robert Evans	46:57	SB (0:54)
188	Martin Dudley	47:18	YB
199	Hannah Neale (F)	48:09	1st 10K	FA
204	Claire Whitchurch (F)	48:28	1st 10K	FA
209	Ruth Reilly (F)	48:45	PB (3:52)	FA
212	Verity Fisher (F)	48:56	PB (0:55)	FB
223	Lauren Deighton (F)	49:22	1st 10K	FB
224	Tim Robinson	49:24	YB
229	Ken Jude	49:40	SB (0:23)
234	Karl Shreeve	50:00	PB (3:57)
238	Hazel Smith (F)	50:17	1st 10K	FB
243	Juliet Fullwood (F)	50:40	1st 10K	FB
244	Callum Beasley	50:41	YB
247	Neil Robinson	50:51	1st 10K
256	Lisa Gray (F)	51:20	8th V45; YB	FB
259	Andy Jay	51:34	YB
261	Lee Pickersgill	51:38	PB (1:20)
263	Claire Emmerson (F)	51:37	YB	FB
272	Karen Ellis (F)	52:11	YB
276	Jenny Garrett (F)	52:21	PB (2:37)
285	Kelly McHale (F)	53:19	1st 10K
287	Barry King	53:33	YB
288	Callie Chapman (F)	53:46	1st 10K
289	Wendy Tharani (F)	53:49	1st 10K
297	Rob Shaw	54:06	7th V60; YB
298	Carol Paul (F)	54:08	3rd V55; SB
303	Simon Sypula	54:30	YB
307	Sarah Pike (F)	54:48	YB
329	Steve Pike	56:47	YB
331	Erica Grayson (F)	56:48	1st 10K
332	Sue Hamer (F)	56:48	YB
333	Claire Hyde (F)	56:45	PB (0:15)
348	Karen Palmer (F)	57:55	YB
351	Mick Andrews	58:32	PB (5:50)
358	Paul Holgate	59:00	YB
365	Sharon Crowley (F)	59:51	8th V55; SB (2:38)
381	Alexandra Whitehouse (F)	62:52	1st 10K
382	Cathy Craig (F)	63:10	YB
388	Steve Gough	64:57	YB

 

Battersea Bowker

David Bowker went to Battersea Park on Tuesday for the monthly Veterans’ Athletic Club five miles race walk league.  He finished fourth overall and second man in a recent personal best of 50 minutes 11 seconds.

 

Parkrun Reports

JOHN HARRIS went to Ellenbrook Fields and was 11th in 19:07 for the fastest parkrun time by a Spartan this weekend.  He was joined at the Hatfield venue by BARRY OSBORNE who ran a new course PB (personal best) of 20:36 to finish 20th.

Fast woman of the weekend was NATALIE LAWRENCE who was first woman to finish at Stevenage in 19:23, as the venue moved back on to its normal course following completion of the bridge works in the top half of the park.  ASHLEY SCHOENWETTER was 3rd woman in 21:41 on her first run in a parkrun, and VERITY FISHER was 21st in 27:01. CLAIRE EMMERSON (27:08), JO BOWDERY (27:25 in her first parkrun), KAREN PALMER (29:39) and SALLY PHILLIPS with a new course PB of 31:17 also ran.

For the men at Stevenage RYAN DUNNING was 38th in 23:28, a new course PB, with TIM ROBINSON 56th in 24:59 and DARREN EMMERSON 59th in 25:28. KEN JUDE (25:51), ANDREW SMITH  (26:40), KARTIK SHARMA (27:09) and ROGER BIGGS (34:24) also ran.

JOHN ROXBOROUGH was at Panshanger, finishing 44th in 23:20, while finally DANIEL SUTTON was in Edinburgh and finished 62 at Portobello parkrun in 23:51.

 

Coming Events

Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks.  The opportunities include the County 1500 and other track championships in Stevenage on Monday 1^st May.  Others are:

• Summer Solstice 10K at St Albans on Tuesday 16^th May.
• Stirling Marathon on Sunday 21^st May.
• Second Mid Week Road Race League in Stevenage on Wednesday 24^th May.
• EMAC Track and Field at Cambridge on Wednesday 7^th June.
• Third Mid Week Road Race League in Hitchin on Wednesday 14^th June.
• Herts Veteran 10K Championships at Welwyn on Sunday 25^th June.
• Fourth Mid Week Road Race League from Ridlins on Wednesday 28^th June.
• EMAC Track and Field at Milton Keynes on Wednesday 5^th July.
• Mob Match at Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 13^th July.
• Fairlands Valley Challenge from Stevenage on 15^th and 16^th July
• EMAC Track and Field at Stevenage on Wednesday 26^th July.
• Fairlands Valley Relays in Stevenage on Thursday 27^th July.
• Herts Senior 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 30^th August.
• Herts Veteran 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 13^th September.
• Herts Senior 10K Championships at Standalone on Sunday 1^st October.
• Peterborough Half Marathon on Sunday 8^th October.
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 22^nd October.
• St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 19^th November.  Enter fast.
• Hertfordshire Five Mile Championship for Veterans at Hatfield on Sunday 26^th Nov.
• Bass Belle 10 near Royston on Sunday 26^th November.

 

The Spartans finished fourth in the first race of Division 2 of the Scott’s Travel Midweek League 2017, hosted by Bishop’s Stortford Running Club. The men were third and the women fourth as a strong NHRR team dominated the event to lead the Second Division.

Bishop’s Stortford were second and Harlow Running Club third in the race.

In the Division 3 Race run at the same time Harpenden Arrows won, with Stevenage Striders finishing second and Herts Phoenix AC third.

There was a fantastic turnout as forty men and twenty-six women, including many making their debut in a club team event, ran for the Spartans on Wednesday night. There were a number of personal bests on the night as well.

Final results circulated on Sunday 14th May can be downloaded in Excel format by clicking HERE.

 

Fairlands Valley Spartans women’s team went straight into a substantial lead after this season’s first Eastern Masters track and field league fixture which was at Bedford.  FVS scored 146 compared to the 121 for Milton Keynes and 93 for Cambridge and Coleridge.  Seven clubs took part.

FVS individual winners included MONICA BROWN in the 100 metres (50-59) in 14.7 seconds who was also the highest age graded athlete in a field event, the long jump, and won her pole vault; CHRISTINE LATHWELL in the 3,000 metres (35-49) with 10:55.0; TESSA STEPHENSON in the shot (50 – 59) with 8.07 metres; and STEPHANIE MAYFIELD in the pole vault (35-49) with 1.80 metres.  They also won the relay for 50 plus runners.

The men were fourth out of the seven teams with 93 points.  JOHN HARRIS won the 3000 metres (50 to 59) in 11:15.1; DAVID BOWKER won the 1K walk in 5:30.9 with JAMES KILROY winning the “B” string walk in 6:20.7; STEVE MAYFIELD took the long jump (50-59) with 4.04 metres.

 

Greenway Challenge

Ten Spartans took on the Greenway Challenge on Sunday.  Starting cool it soon turned into a pleasant sunny morning.  This was a trail and self navigate event so TODD GRAY did amazingly well to beat the 1:30 barrier.  He was fifteenth out of the 295 finishers in 1 hour 28 minutes 34 seconds.

SUZY HAWKINS stormed ahead of her competition to win the women 35 plus category in 1:38:02 – 5 minutes 38 seconds ahead of her nearest rival.  She was second woman and 36^th overall out of all the men and women.

Despite a heavy fall at about ten miles JIM BROWN was first man 60 plus 21 minutes 16 seconds ahead of the second runner in the category with 1:47:11.  He was 89^th overall.  Jim’s next big challenge will be the Stirling Marathon.

NEIL and TIM ROBINSON also beat two hours.  Neil in 1:52:45 and Tim in 1:54:42.

Preparing for the Edinburgh Marathon ERICA GRAYSON ran a new personal best (PB) of 2 hours 8 minutes 11 seconds.  CARLA HOWELL came in with 2:03:08.

SOPH GEORGIOU finished in 2:13:53 then CLAIRE EMMERSON and SOPHIE COWAN on a recovery run came in together with 2:23:37.

 

Position	Name	Time	Comments
15	TODD GRAY	1:28:34
36	SUZY HAWKINS (F)	1:38:02	1st FV35 by 5:38
89	JIM BROWN	1:47:11	1st MV60 by 21:16
118	NEIL ROBINSON	1:52:45
130	TIM ROBINSON	1:54:42
162	CARLA HOWELL (F)	2:03:08
190	ERICA GRAYSON (F)	2:08:11	PB
225	SOPH GEORGIOU	2:13:53
254	CLAIRE EMMERSON (F)	2:23:37
255	SOPHIE COWAN (F)	2:23:37

 

There were 295 finishers.

Picture courtesy of Danik Bates

 

Silverstone 10K

Despite the strength of the wind, the cool evening made for an enjoyable run around the Silverstone racing circuit at Wednesday’s popular 10K.  New member Michael Andrews in his first 10K finished in 1086th position of the 1218 finishers in 64:22, while Paul Holgate ran round with his daughter Aimee Holgate in her first ever race in 72:48 in 1185th & 1186th positions.

A warm day in Stratford upon Avon did not stop Paul Holgate recording his best marathon time since 2014, 18 minutes quicker than his 2016 time on the same course as he crossed the line of the popular Shakespeare marathon in a very tired 5:26:31.

 

Parkrun Reports

STUART STABLES was the first Spartan finisher at Stevenage parkrun, crossing the line 8^th in a new course Personal Best time of 20:54. MARK COLLINS (21:44 in 13^th) and CHRIS HOLLAND (24:26) were the other Spartans in the top 50, Other male runners were RYAN DUNNING (24:37), DARREN EMMERSON (24:53), TIM ROBINSON (25:36), JIM BROWN (27:52), MICHAEL ANDREWS (28:46, new course PB), STEVEN DOBNER (31:58) and JAMES SOUTH (37:34).

CALLIE CHAPMAN was the first Spartan woman to finish, in 10^th in 27:27. PENNY SCHENKEL (28^th in 28:00) and SALLY PHILLIPS (32:12) were also top 50 for the women.

Last week’s fastest Spartan woman went even quicker this week. NATALIE LAWRENCE travelled over to Bedford and was second woman to finish in 19:09. Meanwhile at Aldenham Country Park JAMES KILROY finished 13^th in 24:11.

Finally DANIEL SUTTON and VERITY FISHER were in the west country at Torbay Velopark which the report as an ideal venue for a fast 5k for anyone holidaying in that part of the country. DANIEL was 31^st male finisher in 22:44 while Verity was 7^th woman in 24:37.

 

Coming Events

Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks.  The opportunities include the County 1500 and other track championships in Stevenage on Monday 1^st May.  Others are:

• First Mid Week Road Race League match in Bishops Stortford on Wednesday 10^th May.
• Summer Solstice 10K at St Albans on Tuesday 16^th May.
• Stirling Marathon on Sunday 21^st May.
• Second Mid Week Road Race League in Stevenage on Wednesday 24^th May.
• EMAC Track and Field at Cambridge on Wednesday 7^th June.
• Third Mid Week Road Race League in Hitchin on Wednesday 14^th June.
• Herts Veteran 10K Championships at Welwyn on Sunday 25^th June.
• Fourth Mid Week Road Race League from Ridlins on Wednesday 28^th June.
• EMAC Track and Field at Milton Keynes on Wednesday 5^th July.
• Mob Match at Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 13^th July.
• Fairlands Valley Challenge from Stevenage on 15^th and 16^th July
• EMAC Track and Field at Stevenage on Wednesday 26^th July.
• Fairlands Valley Relays in Stevenage on Thursday 27^th July.
• Herts Senior 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 30^th August.
• Herts Veteran 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 13^th September.
• Herts Senior 10K Championships at Standalone on Sunday 1^st October.
• Peterborough Half Marathon on Sunday 8^th October.
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 22^nd October.
• St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 19^th November.  Enter fast.
• Hertfordshire Five Mile Championship for Veterans at Hatfield on Sunday 26^th Nov.
• Bass Belle 10 near Royston on Sunday 26^th November.

 

There were golds galore for Fairlands Valley Spartans at the Hertfordshire Track and Field Championships held at Ridlins, Stevenage on the May Day Bank Holiday Monday.

There were three Spartan GOLDS in the men’s 1500 metres.  STEFFAN FORD won GOLD with 4 minutes 43.1 seconds in the 40 plus category; JOHN HARRIS won 50 plus GOLD with 5:09.9 and JIM BROWN won GOLD in the 60 plus with 6:44.7, sixteen seconds quicker than last year.  There were silvers for THOMAS SAUKA with 5:15.0 in the Vet 40 and KEN JUDE with 6:12.1 PB in the Vet 50.  STEVE SMITHSON took BRONZE in the Vet 40 with 6:02.3.  In addition seniors NICK GILL and KARTIK SHARMA ran 5:31.9 and 6:22.4 while Vet 40 STEVE GOUGH ran his 1500 in a new PB (personal best) 7:04.4.

There was a Spartan battle in the women’s 1500 metres.  CATHY CRAIG won GOLD in the 60 plus category with 7:09.58; MONICA SMITHSON GOLD in the 50 plus category with 7:12.32; PENNY SCHENKEL GOLD in the 40 plus with 7:13.61 and SHARON CROWLEY SILVER in the 50 plus with 7:15.01.

Penny won her second GOLD in the women’s 3,000 metres with 15 minutes 8.2 seconds.

In the 5,000 metres Jim won his second GOLD in the 5,000 with 24:05.4, eighteen seconds better than 2016; while Steffan took SILVER in his category with 17:49.7.

Steffan said it was a great return to the track after 25 years.  A former Cardiff AC runner, he took to the track again after three years of road running with Fairlands Valley Spartans.  The experience was amazing winning a gold in V40 1500m and 5000m.  The 5000m was tough running in the back straight in the wind without any protection and using back markers as a motivation to keep in the medals.  It was a learning experience after many years away from track but a happy return.

There were many other running, walking, throwing and jumping events on Monday:

Sharon Crowley won her hammer throw with a season’s best 16.95 metres; she won her 3K walk in 21:54 with a massive 53 seconds PB (personal best).  STEPHANIE MAYFIELD won the women’s 40 plus pole vault with 1.90 metres.

In the 100 metres TESSA STEPHENSON finished in 15.85 seconds taking GOLD in the women’s 50 plus and PETA WILSON in a PB 16.81 won GOLD in the 40 plus.  DAVE STEPHENSON won BRONZE in the men’s 50 plus 100 metres with 13.72 seconds.

In the men 50 plus category Dave Stephenson got a bronze in the Long Jump with a PB of 4.35 metres and a GOLD in the Shot Putt with 8.16m

Tessa Stephenson got GOLD in the shot with 7.95m and GOLD in long Jump with 3.35m.  Monica Brown won GOLD in the High jump W50 with 1.30m.  Andrea Westcott won the W40 high jump event.

 

Fives

CRAIG HALSEY and DAVID BOWKER were at the Pednor Five on Monday evening.  Craig come away with a podium, third overall and SILVER medal for Hertfordshire county championships, in a time of 27.44 on a tough undulating course.  David’s time was 36:29, earlier he had finished sixth in the five mile walking race with a personal best of 50:23.

TIM SABAN ran in the May Day 5 in Witham.  He finished 49th in 34:37.44

 

Milton Keynes Festival of Running

Three Spartans were out on Sunday for the second MK Rocket 5km.  Despite a horrible “incline” for the first half mile, the last part of the course made up for it with a great PB potential course, with near perfect weather to match.

Stuart Haycroft was first Spartan home with a new PB of 19:26, his first time breaking the 20 minute mark for 5K.

Victoria Mack Brett knocked over two minutes off her PB to break the 25 minute mark with an outstanding time of 24.32.  She said there was great support coming into the finish.

Claire Hyde also continued an outstanding return to form, dropping 4 minutes of her recent best to a time of 25:27

It was the Milton Keynes marathon on Monday. Nice cool sunny day, very well organised and a varied/interested course.  Great Spartans support and Grant Ramsay paced the three hour runners and finished in 2 hours 59 minutes exactly.

ISSY GREEN finished well with 3:43:41, which is good for age and a new PB by 8 minutes 37 seconds.  She was 33^rd woman overall and 18^th in her category.

CLAIRE PULLEN also achieved a Good For Age qualifying time with her 3:49:09.

TRISH HOPPER finished in 4:15:59 and ADRIAN BUSOLINI in 4:19:39.

KAREN LIDDLE and BARRY KING ran together and completed the marathon in 4.46.05.  They said it was a tough undulating course and the weather was a mixture of rain and sunshine.  After 12 miles they were on course for new PBs running 9.45 minutes per mile but couldn’t hold and eventually finished a slower time.  Both were happy in the end completing the marathon.

ROB SHAW completed the 26.2 miles in 4:57:33 with THERESA KEAST coming in with 5:52:29.

In the MK Half Marathon CAROLINE CROFT’s time was 2 hours 10 minutes 56 seconds.

 

PB for Verity

VERITY FISHER broke her 10K personal best on Sunday.  Despite 18 degrees and a 20mph wind, making a tough second half she finished the Langcroft 10K in 49:37.  Now she hopes to build on that during the mid week league races.  To give an idea of the conditions there were three sub 30 runners in the race but the best could only do 31:20.  DAN SUTTON finished in 51:43.

 

Serpentine

Three Spartans enjoyed dry, mild and still conditions for the lunch-time race round the Serpentine on Friday.  THOMAS SAUKA was 95^th in 20:19; DAVID BOWKER 123^rd in 21:13 and JIM BROWN 218^th in 24:19.

 

Winchester Wind

On Monday evening, Tessa & Dave Stephenson began their outdoor track & field season, in very cold and blustery conditions, at Winchester Stadium. Tessa started off with 15.9 seconds, her fastest 100m for four years and also managed 82.2 seconds in the 400m, 1.05m in the High Jump and 6.65m in the Triple Jump. Meanwhile, Dave jumped 1.40m in the High Jump, equalling his personal best and then produced 8.35m, his best ever Shot Putt with the 6kg weight. He also managed 4.13m in the Long Jump and 70 seconds in the 400m as conditions deteriorated.

 

Duathlon Debut

HANNAH and JON SYPULA ran their first ever Duathlon today at Ashridge House in the Sprint distance which was 5km run, followed by 22km cycle and then a 2.5km to finish.

They both loved it and would recommend the event to anyone considering a multi sport event.  Beautiful scenery and well organised with great support from the marshalls.  Their times were Hannah 1:52:05 and Jon 1:34:56.:

In the Ashridge Duathlon race 3 BRIAN WHITE competed in the 10k run – 44k bike – 5k run event.  He finished in 2.39.20, 40th position and first Vet 60.  That’s his fastest time in the series of three which is impressive since only one week after London Marathon.

 

Parkrun Reports

Fastest Spartan woman of the parkrun weekend NATALIE LAWRENCE continues to put in impressive performances so soon after recently giving birth.  She was first woman to finish at Weymouth parkrun, in 19 mins 22 secs just a week after a very good run in the London Marathon off a necessarily short preparation.

STEFFAN FORD was the fastest Spartan man of the weekend, finishing second in 18:53 at Stevenage parkrun. DARREN EMMERSON was 21^st in 22:39, MARTIN DUDLEY 22^nd in 22:40 and MARK BEASLEY finished in 22:58 to also claim a top 30 finish.

TRACY PEZ was first Spartan woman to finish in 29:15, with PENNY SCHENKEL in 30:06 and HILARY DAVIES in 32:02 the next Spartan finishers.

In all 21 Spartans took part in Fairlands Valley, the others being NEIL ROBINSON (25:01),  PAUL MAGUIRE (26:11), KARTIK SHARMA (26:22), JIM BROWN (notching a new course PB in 26:35), JOHN MCCALL (28:58), PAUL HOLGATE (30:00), SALLY PHILLIPS (32:27), CALLUM BEASLEY (32:29), STEVEN DOBNER (32:33), KAREN PALMER (37:13), CAREN THAIN (38:10), JAMES SOUTH (38:14), SELVAN NAICKER (38:20) and EMMA MARTIN (44:46).

In other local parkruns, CRAIG BACON ran the fast circuit in Verulamium Park in St Albans, finishing 76^th in 21:56. CHRIS HOLLAND went to Ellenbrook Fields where the grass portions are now drying nicely and conditions are quickening up. He finished 36^th in 21:52, a new course PB.

Further afield, EMMA POULTER ran a new course PB at Brundall, finishing in a time of 35:48 while DARRYL STEVENS was at Portsmouth Lakeside where he finished in 38:40.

 

Off Road 10K

Spartan JOHN HARRIS recently ran the Childerley Estate Off Road 10K in 40 minutes 32 seconds.  He was sixth overall in the Cambridgeshire event and first male 50 plus.

 

London Update

No less than 26 Spartans including several first timers enjoyed almost ideal running conditions as they all completed the London Marathon.

Achieving a championship qualifying time GRANT RAMSAY finished in 2 hours 42 minutes 22 seconds.  That put him in the top 1% in the field at 404^th and 67^th in his category.  The second of three Spartans, a fantastic achievement, to beat the three hour barrier was ANDREW PATTERSON in 2:47:55.

JASON ANDERSON ran nearly perfect splits taking 12 minutes off his personal best to finish in 2 hours 52 minutes 28 seconds.  He went through halfway in 1:26:08.  Jason collapsed near the finish line last year.  No problems this time.

NATALIE LAWRENCE was the fastest female from Fairlands Valley in 3 hours 19 minutes 38 minutes.  An incredible race considering she had her third baby just eleven weeks ago.  Three other Spartan women beat four hours.  They were NICOLA KENNEDY in 3:42:18; MICHELLE REEVES in 3:43:22 and KERSTIN WEINER in 3:56:28.

Marathon first timers CLAIRE EMMERSON and SOPHIE COWAN met where the starts merged about three miles into the race and helped, and chatted, each other all the way to the finish.  Claire took 4 hours 30 minutes 55 seconds and Sophie 4:35:14.

JENNY GARRETT was another Spartan first-timer coming in with an impressive 4:18:33.  She ran a perfect debut marathon, with all 5K splits evenly paced.  Jenny went through half way in 2.09 and finished race in 4.18.  An amazing debut.  Fairlands Valley Spartans are known for preparing runners from ambition to finishing the London Marathon and celebrated more first time successes with MARK COLLINS in 3:40:06 after an injury-interrupted preparation, JENNY PAUL in 4:47:12, WAYNE McMILLAN in 6:02:55.

BRIAN WHITE was 16^th in the Vet (60 plus) category with 3:15:05 and TRUDIE MOLLOY ran a new personal best (PB) of 4:50:21.

Dozens of Spartan volunteers helped make the event possible by working beyond the finish line getting the correct kit to tired runners after their 26.2 miles.  Well done and thank you the Fairlands Valley baggage buses crew.

The other Spartans making it to the Pall Mall finish line were PETER SMITH 3:17:05; RICHARD KENNEDY 3:21:42; DEAN CARPENTER 3:33:27; ANDY PRIOR 4:07:33; CAROL PAUL 4:25:57; DEREK WOOD 4:34:39; ERICA GRAYSON 4:43:07; MARK and CALLUM BEASLEY both in 5:14:30; TONY ARGYROU in 5:32:21; and LUCY WALSH in 5:46:59.

 

Place overall	Name	Category	Finish	Comments
404	GRANT RAMSAY	40-44	2:42:22	67MV40
688	ANDREW PATTERSON	18-39	2:47:55
1011	JASON ANDERSON	18-39	2:52:28	PB (12 minutes)
3812	BRIAN WHITE	60-64	3:15:05	16MV60
4124	PETER SMITH	50-54	3:17:05
4509	NATALIE LAWRENCE	18-39	3:19:38
4808	RICHARD KENNEDY	18-39	3:21:42
6912	DEAN CARPENTER	40-44	3:33:27
8243	MARK COLLINS	18-39	3:40:06	First marathon
8702	NICOLA KENNEDY	18-39	3:42:18
8909	MICHELLE REEVES	18-39	3:43:22
12207	KERSTIN WEINER	45-49	3:56:28
14992	ANDREW PRIOR	45-49	4:07:33
17651	JENNY GARRETT	45-49	4:18:33	First marathon
19536	CAROL PAUL	55-59	4:25:57
20842	CLAIRE EMMERSON	45-49	4:30:55	First marathon
21729	DEREK WOOD	18-39	4:34:39
21881	SOPHIE COWAN	18-39	4:35:14	First marathon
23883	ERICA GRAYSON	45-49	4:43:07
24906	JENNY PAUL	50-54	4:47:12	First marathon
25621	TRUDIE MOLLOY	45-49	4:50:21	Personal Best
30589	MARK BEASLEY	55-59	5:14:30
30590	CALLUM BEASLEY	18-39	5:14:30
33344	TONY ARGYROU	50-54	5:32:21
35001	LUCY WALSH	18-39	5:46:59
36425	WAYNE McMILLAN	40-44	6:02:55	First marathon

 

Coming Events

Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks.  The opportunities include the County 1500 and other track championships in Stevenage on Monday 1^st May.  Others are:

• EMAC Track and Field at Bedford on Wednesday 3^rd May.
• First Mid Week Road Race League match in Bishops Stortford on Wednesday 10^th May.
• Ross Peers Half Marathon on Sunday 14^th May.
• Summer Solstice 10K at St Albans on Tuesday 16^th May.
• Stirling Marathon on Sunday 21^st May.
• Second Mid Week Road Race League in Stevenage on Wednesday 24^th May.
• EMAC Track and Field at Cambridge on Wednesday 7^th June.
• Third Mid Week Road Race League in Hitchin on Wednesday 14^th June.
• Herts Veteran 10K Championships at Welwyn on Sunday 25^th June.
• Fourth Mid Week Road Race League from Ridlins on Wednesday 28^th June.
• EMAC Track and Field at Milton Keynes on Wednesday 5^th July.
• Mob Match at Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 13^th July.
• Fairlands Valley Challenge from Stevenage on 15^th and 16^th July
• EMAC Track and Field at Stevenage on Wednesday 26^th July.
• Fairlands Valley Relays in Stevenage on Thursday 27^th July.
• Herts Senior 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 30^th August.
• Herts Veteran 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 13^th September.
• Herts Senior 10K Championships at Standalone on Sunday 1^st October.
• Peterborough Half Marathon on Sunday 8^th October.
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 22^nd October.
• St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 19^th November.  Enter fast.
• Hertfordshire Five Mile Championship for Veterans at Hatfield on Sunday 26^th Nov.
• Bass Belle 10 near Royston on Sunday 26^th November.