Categories
News Race Results

FAMOUS FAIRLANDS AT FIVE

 

There were 21 Spartans winning three golds, two silvers and lots of new personal bests (PB) at Sunday’s Hatfield Five.  The race included the Hertfordshire five mile championship for veteran runners.

BRIAN WHITE won GOLD for men aged 60 plus with a fantastic 31 minutes 21 seconds.  He says he has room for improvement!  This year he has won County Gold at 5K, 5 miles, 10 miles and half marathon but only silver in the 10K!  Then BARRY OSBORNE made it a Spartan one two by taking SILVER in the same category with 32:37.

ALISON WOOD won GOLD for women 45 to 54 with 33 minutes 15 seconds and IRIS HORNSEY GOLD for 75 plus with 49:14.  JULIE SIMMONS took the SILVER for women 55 plus with 39:22.

There were new personal bests from SIMON JACKSON fourth 40 plus in 28:00; STEVE GREEN 31:31; ISABEL GREEN 36:34; and KAREN BROOM 46:49.

SUZY HAWKINS and CAROL PAUL just missed out on a medal.  Suzy was fourth 35 plus in 33:48 and Carol fourth 55 plus with 43:34.  LEE PICKERSGILL and SIMON SYPULA ran their first ever five mile races in 39:10 and 40:11 respectively.

Other Spartans included JOHN HARRIS 32:56; STUART ARCHER 33:18; ANDY JAY 38:13; STEPHANIE MAYFIELD 43:59; SHARON CROWLEY 44:28; KELLY CHAPMAN 1:01:16; CAREN THAIN 1:01:16 and TREVOR BROOM 1:01:41.

Note: see bottom of news release for full results table

 

Changes at FVS

Fairlands Valley Spartans held their AGM on Friday.  SOPHIE COWAN is the new chair and BEV HARLOW president.  CLAIRE PULLEN is secretary and ISSY GREEN continues as treasurer.  KIERAN FEETHAM is the new head coach with NIKKI WILBY and PETE SMITH as the two assistant head coaches.  JOHN NELMS takes over as membership secretary.

Women and men of all abilities are very welcome.  Fairlands Valley Spartans offer training sessions on five days every week including free to members coached sessions at Ridlins track on Saturday mornings.  The club is affiliated to United Kingdom Athletics giving access to hundreds of events and competitions every year.

 

Wolverton Five

wolverton

The first five mile race of the weekend was the Wolverton Five at Milton Keynes on Saturday.  CRAIG HALSEY cut his personal best by over a minute to finish tenth in 26 minutes 25 seconds.  Yuko Gordon won her age category with 36:48.

Kerstin Weiner has now run a personal best (PB) at every standard road race distance this year.  She finished with ANDY PRIOR in 40:53.

PAUL HOLGATE’s 47.30 shows he is continually improving after his accident.

The Wolverton Five is held on a Saturday afternoon, 250 participants, relatively flat course which is fast as long as the wind doesn’t whip off the lakes – it was a bit cold though!!

 

Bright and Sunny Bass Belle

It was bright and breezy for Sunday’s Bass Belle ten mile race at Bassingbourn.  Spartan GRANT RAMSAY beat the hour and was third out of the 370 runners in 59 minutes 6 seconds.  TOM SAUKA was next in with 1:11:52.

The fastest female from Fairlands was RUTH REILLY in 1:13:34 with MADDIE PRITCHARD not far behind in 1:15:57.

Eleven other Spartan women took part.  They were KAREN ELLIS 1:22:02; CLAIRE EMMERSON in a new personal best of 1:22:33; HAZEL SMITH running her first ten mile race in 1:23:24; JENNY GARRETT in a new PB of 1:26:36; JACKIE DOWNES cutting her PB at the Great South Run by 8 minutes to 1:27:28; JULIE SHADBOLT 1:28:14; ERICA GRAYSON 1:28:27; SUE HAMER in 1:42:03 and JAN FRY in 1:44:19.

NEIL ROBINSON finished in 1:25:06; STEVE PIKE in 1:27:19 and PAUL HOLGATE in 1 hour 41 minutes 38 seconds.

Note: see bottom of news release for full results table

 

Serpentine

Mild and still conditions encouraged some great runs in Hyde Park on Friday.  MADDIE PRITCHARD recorded 21 minutes 17 seconds for the Serpentine 5K.  There were 249 runners in the lunch-time event.

 

Owler Marathon

ROGER BIGGS ran the Owler Marathon on Sunday.  This was a multi terrain marathon from Ashford Athletics Track with two laps set in the surroundings of Conningbrook Lakes Country Park, and the quiet roads of Brook.  A combination of quiet roads, tracks and muddy paths.  Roger Biggs completed the two laps in 5:46:17.

 

parkrun Highlights

It was a quiet week for parkruns with a number of Spartans lining up in the Bass Belle 10 and Hatfield 5 races the following day.

The quickest Spartan parkrunner of the week was ASHLEY SCHOENWETTER who was first woman to finish at Stevenage in a new course PB of 20 mins 34 secs.  JO BOWDERY also finished in the top 10 running with her dog in 24:31.  DAVID SCOTT was first Spartan man to finish in 24:32 with CHRIS HOLLAND also running sub-25 despite stopping to help a young lad who was in a collision with a cyclist, the lad then bravely continuing to finish in front of Chris!

VERITY FISHER was second woman at Torbay Velopark in a time of 23:18.  Last week’s furthest away parkrunner got even further.  Now in New Zealand PENNY SCHENKEL ran the Hagley Parkrun, Christchurch 11,763 kilometres away in 27 minutes 6 seconds.

Note: see bottom of news release for full results table

 

Coming Events

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

  • Herts Sports Partnership Awards at Hatfield on Tuesday 28th November.
  • Bedford Harriers Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd December.
  • Spartans Christmas Party with an 80s theme on Friday 8th December.
  • Festive Five at Welwyn Garden City on Sunday 10th December.
  • Cross Country League at Willian on Sunday 17th December.
  • Witham Five on Tuesday 26th December.
  • Buntingford Year End 10 on Sunday 31st December.
  • New Year 10K in Hyde Park on Monday 1st January 2018.
  • County Cross Country Championships at Cassiobury Park on Sunday 7th January.
  • Cross Country League at Watford on Sunday 14th January.
  • Fred Hughes 10 miles including county championships at St. Albans on Sunday 21st January.
  • Southern Cross Country Championships on Saturday 27th January.
  • Watford Half Marathon inc. veteran championships on Sunday 4th February.
  • Bramley 20/10 (20 miles or 10 miles) on Sunday 11th February.
  • St Valentine’s 30K at Stamford on Sunday 11th February.
  • Cross Country League at Royston on Sunday 18th February.
  • Baldock Beast on Sunday 25th February.
  • Welwyn Half Marathon on Sunday 4th March.
  • Finchley 20 miles (including Herts County) on Sunday 18th March.
  • Oakley 20 miles on Sunday 18th March.
  • Orion 15 at Chingford (Epping Forest) on Saturday 24th March.
  • London Marathon on Sunday 22nd April.
  • Stirling Marathon on Sunday 29th April.

 

Results Tables

 

Hatfield Five

Pos Name Net Time Category Cat Pos Gender Gen Pos County and Comments
14 SIMON JACKSON 28:00 M40 4 Male 14 4th MV40.  PB
65 BRIAN WHITE 31:21 M60 2 Male 61 Gold M60
69 STEVE GREEN 31:31 M40 15 Male 64 PB (5 seconds)
93 BARRY OSBORNE 32:37 M60 3 Male 87 Silver M60
99 JOHN HARRIS 32:56 M50 14 Male 93
106 ALISON WOOD 33:15 W50 1 Female 7 Gold W45
113 STUART ARCHER 33:18 Senior 61 Male 105
119 SUZY HAWKINS 33:48 W40 3 Female 12 4th W35
173 ISABEL GREEN 36:34 Lady 15 Female 27 PB (2:40)
204 ANDY JAY 38:13 M50 24 Male 167
227 JULIE SIMMONS 39:22 W60 2 Female 45 Silver W55
230 LEE PICKERSGILL 39:10 Senior 92 Male 184 First 5 miles
247 SIMON SYPULA 40:11 M40 56 Male 196 First 5 miles
326 CAROL PAUL 43:34 W50 16 Female 90 4th FV55
347 STEPHANIE MAYFIELD 43:59 W40 37 Female 102
360 SHARON CROWLEY 44:28 W50 19 Female 107
407 KAREN BROOM 46:49 W40 49 Female 131 PB
450 IRIS HORNSEY 49:14 W70 1 Female 161 Gold W75
551 KELLY CHAPMAN 1:01:16 W40 93 Female 244
552 CAREN THAIN 1:01:16 W40 94 Female 245
556 TREVOR BROOM 1:01:41 M50 57 Male 309

 

Bass Belle Bassingbourn (10 miles)

Position Name Time Comments
3 GRANT RAMSAY 59:06 2nd MV40
43 THOMAS SAUKA 1:11:52
56 RUTH REILLY 1:13:34 4th in category
72 MADELEINE PRITCHARD 1:15:57 4th in category
141 KAREN ELLIS 1:22:02
144 CLAIRE EMMERSON 1:22:33 PB
154 HAZEL SMITH 1:23:24 First ten miles
167 NEIL ROBINSON 1:25:06
192 JENNY GARRETT 1:26:36 PB
198 JACKIE DOWNES 1:27:28 PB (8 minutes)
201 STEVE PIKE 1:27:19
212 JULIE SHADBOLT 1:28:14 PB
215 ERICA GRAYSON 1:28:27
285 CATHY CRAIG 1:39:00
301 PAUL HOLGATE 1:41:38
304 SUE HAMER 1:42:03
317 JAN FRY 1:44:19

 

parkruns, Saturday 25th November:

parkrun Pos Gen parkrunner Time Notes
Newcastle 257 194 Roger HARDMAN 00:28:27
Torbay Velopark 34 2 Verity FISHER 00:23:18 2nd woman
Torbay Velopark 58 48 Daniel SUTTON 00:24:54
Winchester 291 177 Darryl STEVENS 00:40:46
Stevenage 12 1 Ashley SCHOENWETTER 00:20:34 1st woman, new course PB
Stevenage 61 9 Jo BOWDERY 00:24:31
Stevenage 63 54 David SCOTT 00:24:32
Stevenage 64 55 Chris HOLLAND 00:24:37
Stevenage 79 69 Barry OSBORNE 00:25:55
Stevenage 91 14 Tracy PEZ 00:26:43
Stevenage 101 17 Karen PALMER 00:27:14
Stevenage 134 103 James SOUTH 00:29:13
Stevenage 215 81 Chantal O’FLAHERTY 00:49:15 First parkrun
Hagley (NZ) 130 33 Penny SCHENKEL 00:27:06
Categories
News Race Results

SPEEDY SPARTANS AT ST NEOTS

 

A third place overall, a winner and lots of personal bests for the 22 Spartans at St Neots on Sunday.

Spartan CRAIG HALSEY raced round the St. Neots Half Marathon to finish in third place out of more than 1,000 finishers and cut his already impressive personal best by one minute to 1 hour 14 minutes 11 seconds.

In her first race as a Spartan ROSIE LYON-SMITH was first female for the club and took seven minutes off her personal best with 1 hour 37 minutes 4 seconds.  BRIAN WHITE was clear winner in the Vet 60 category in 1:28:13.

There were other personal bests for PAUL HEWETT 1:23:14); CHRIS HOLLAND in his first half under 100 minutes at 1:39:18; JO BOWDERY over the moon cutting her PB by another seven minutes to 1:49:35; KERSTIN WEINER 1:52:08 and ERICA GRAYSON 1:57:37;

On a chilly but sunny and wind free morning JIM BROWN went round his monthly half marathon in 1:46:32.  The other Spartan finishers were STEFFAN FORD 1:21:07; JOHN NELMS 1:40:49; MARK GOODWIN 1:41:34; PAUL MAGUIRE 1:42:16; ANDREW SMITH 1:47:21; ANDY PRIOR 1:54:54; JON SYPULA 1:57:48; CAROL PAUL 1:58:13; BARRY KING in a season’s best 1:58:17; ROBERT WRIGHT 2:01:06; MARIA SWIFT 2:03:43; STEPH MAYFIELD 2:07:05 and CAROLINE CROFT 2:11:37.

 

Position Name Time Age Rel. Comments
3 CRAIG HALSEY 1:14:11 79.9% Third overall.  PB (1 min).
28. STEFFAN FORD 1:21:07 74.5%  
41. PAUL HEWETT 1:23:14 70.1% PB.
96. BRIAN WHITE 1:28:13 82.4% 1st MV60
252. ROSIE LYON-SMITH 1:37:04 67.6% PB (7 minutes).  11th FS.
294. CHRIS HOLLAND 1:39:18 59.7% PB (first under 100)
310. JOHN NELMS 1:40:49 63.7%  
333. MARK GOODWIN 1:41:34 70.2% 6th MV60.
354. PAUL MAGUIRE 1:42:16 64.8%  
467. JIM BROWN 1:46:32 70.3% 12th MV60.
472. ANDREW SMITH 1:47:21 55.2%  
522. JOANNE BOWDERY 1:49:35 59.5% PB (7  minutes)
581. KERSTIN WEINER 1:52:08 63.8% PB
648. ANDY PRIOR 1:54:54 56.2%  
712. JON SYPULA 1:57:48 51.4%  
723. CAROL PAUL 1:58:13 67.0% 9th FV55.
726. ERICA GRAYSON 1:57:37 61.5% PB (2 minutes)
756. BARRY KING 1:58:17 55.5% SB
823. ROBERT WRIGHT 2:01:06 48.4%  
869. MARIA SWIFT 2:03:43 55.7%  
914. STEPHANIE MAYFIELD 2:07:05 54.2%  
984. CAROLINE CROFT 2:11:37 53.8%  

 

Soph in Cyprus

SOPH GEORGIOU ran the first Larnaca, Cyprus half marathon with a personal best (PB) of 2 hours 6 minutes 34 seconds.

There were about 1000 runners in the half and the weather was a sunny 23C.

 

Result of British and Irish Cross Country International on 18.11.17 in Derry

England won both men’s and women’s team.  Individually, YUKO GORDON was 5th (F65) over the 6km swampy parkland course and won the team bronze for the age group behind Ireland and Scotland.  She was the second scoring runner for the England team.  It was very close, just 1 point between each top three teams.

Yuko was happy with her debut run of the Cross Country International considering she had a massive hamstring muscle rupture 5 weeks ago and had only three weeks back in training against advice from my physio and GP.

 

Hertfordshire Half Marathon

Another eleven Spartans were at Knebworth House for the inaugural Hertfordshire Half.  This was on an undulating course with a brutal hill for the last 800 metres.

At 1 hour 56 minutes 10 seconds VICTORIA BRETT and CLAIRE HYDE ran new PBs both taking 7 minutes from the time of their last half marathon.

Being a Knebworth resident STEVE GREEN had to give the race a try.  He finished in 1:30:22.  RICHARD SPRINGALL was the fastest Spartan.  He was 53rd out of the 2,038 finishers in 1:29:11.  MARK COLLINS trimmed his PB to 1:30:37.

DAVID SCOTT cut a massive 25 minutes of his PB with 2:05:48.  TIM ROBINSON got back to the stately home in 1:52:51.

It proved a tough course with many undulations but all the FVS runners showed great determination and grit to get their medal.

 

Position Name Time Comments
53 RICHARD SPRINGHALL 1:29:11  
72 STEVE GREEN 1:30:22  
75 MARK COLLINS 1:30:37 PB
600 TIM ROBINSON 1:52:51  
602 PAUL WHYTE 1:52:41  
724 VICTORIA BRETT 1:56:10 PB
725 CLAIRE HYDE 1:56:10 PB
771 NEIL ROBINSON 1:57:14  
876 KELLY EVANS 2:00:04  
1195 DAVID SCOTT 2:05:48 PB (25 minutes)
1574 ROGER BIGGS 2:18:58  

 

Brighton 10K

The Brighton 10K turned out to be a fast flat race in perfect weather conditions alongside the seafront and ANN TRYSSESOONE ran a season’s best 49 minutes 36 seconds.

 

Snetterton

Altogether 34 Spartans ran a half marathon at the weekend.  CHRISTOPHER JOHANSEN ran his very first half marathon in a gun time of 3 hours and 15 minutes.  He chose the hard inaugural Snetterton Half Marathon.

 

South to North

TOM SAUKA did the Peaks South to North Ultra which was split into two days.  The first was 30 miles of the White Peak from Ashbourne to Edale which ended up being 53km with a time of 7 hours 7 minutes.  The second day from Edale to Marsden which was 45km in a time of 7 hours 17 minutes.

 

Shillington Shuffle

In perfect conditions with wonderful views Michael Andrews & Paul Holgate together with wife/daughter Aimee Andrews walked the Shillington Shuffle off-Road marathon through Barton-le-clay, Lilley, Offley,  Pirton, Holwell, Stondon, Meppershall and Hexton in 8 hours 7 minutes.  Sharon & Mike Crowley completed in 7:29.  Aimee’s first time further than 16 miles and Mick’s first time past 21 miles, but training going perfectly for Disney marathon in Florida on the 7th January.

 

parkrun Highlights

ASHLEY SCHOENWETTER finished 8th overall and first woman at Barclay parkrun, Hoddesdon in a time of 22:20 while NATALIE LAWRENCE was third woman at Luton Wardown in 23:03.

At Stevenage MARTIN DUDLEY was first Spartan finisher in 22 mins 07 seconds in 32nd place, with MICHELLE REEVES first Spartan woman in 3rd place in 22:15.  There was also a new course PB of 22:53 for RYAN DUNNING in 44th place.

Highlights elsewhere were a new course PB of 22:35 for MADELEINE PRITCHARD at Beckton where she finished as second placed woman.  HANNAH NEALE again improved her PB at Bath Skyline, now down to 23:10, while RICHARD KENNEDY also improved his Nobles course PB to 22:18.

Finally two Spartans were in action much further afield with MICHAEL O’KEEFE running his 28:00 close to the equator at East Coast parkrun in Singapore, and PENNY SCHENKEL clearly won the prize for most distant Spartan.  She was running in the southern hemisphere at Main Beach on the Gold Coast in Australia with 28:35.

Full parkrun times for 18th November were as follows:

Luton Wardown          
  Pos Gen parkrunner Time Notes
  47 3 Natalie LAWRENCE 00:23:03  
           
Newcastle          
  Pos Gen parkrunner Time Notes
  300 228 Roger HARDMAN 00:27:38  
           
Bath Skyline          
  Pos Gen parkrunner Time Notes
  46 10 Hannah NEALE 00:23:10 New course PB
           
Main Beach          
  Pos Gen parkrunner Time Notes
  76 18 Penny SCHENKEL 00:28:25 In Australia (Gold Coast)
           
Nobles          
  Pos Gen parkrunner Time Notes
  13 12 Richard KENNEDY 00:22:18 New course PB
           
Stevenage          
  Pos Gen parkrunner Time Notes
  34 32 Martin DUDLEY 00:22:07  
  37 3 Michelle REEVES 00:22:15
  44 41 Mark BEASLEY 00:22:45  
  47 44 Ryan DUNNING 00:22:53 New course PB
  65 60 Lee PICKERSGILL 00:23:35  
  73 67 Barry OSBORNE 00:23:45  
  89 8 Julie SIMMONS 00:24:24  
  92 84 Daniel SUTTON 00:24:30  
  109 99 Nick GILL 00:24:53  
  134 17 Hazel SMITH 00:26:27  
  146 22 Karen PALMER 00:27:12  
  160 133 James SOUTH 00:28:01  
  189 152 Roger BIGGS 00:29:23  
  195 41 Callie CHAPMAN 00:29:44  
  204 45 Verity FISHER 00:30:06  
  216 53 Sally PHILLIPS 00:31:15  
  251 172 Tim ROBINSON 00:34:37  
  262 88 Emma POULTER 00:37:15  
           
Beckton          
  Pos Gen parkrunner Time Notes
  16 2 Madeleine PRITCHARD 00:22:35 New course PB
           
East Coast          
  Pos Gen parkrunner Time Notes
  37 30 Michael O’KEEFE 00:28:00 In Singapore!
           
Panshanger          
  Pos Gen parkrunner Time Notes
  55 51 Andy JAY 00:24:05  
           
Barclay          
  Pos Gen parkrunner Time Notes
  8 1 Ashley SCHOENWETTER 00:22:20  

 

 

Coming Events

 

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

 

  • Spartans AGM in Stevenage on Friday 24th November.
  • Wolverton Five at Milton Keynes on Saturday 25th November.
  • Hertfordshire Five Mile Championship for Veterans and open race at Hatfield on Sunday 26th Nov.
  • Bass Belle 10 near Royston on Sunday 26th November.
  • Herts Sports Partnership Awards at Hatfield on Tuesday 28th November.
  • Bedford Harriers Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd December.
  • Spartans Christmas Party with an 80s theme on Friday 8th December.
  • Festive Five at Welwyn Garden City on Sunday 10th December.
  • Cross Country League at Willian on Sunday 17th December.
  • Witham Five on Tuesday 26th December.
  • Buntingford Year End 10 on Sunday 31st December.
  • New Year 10K in Hyde Park on Monday 1st January 2018.
  • County Cross Country Championships at Cassiobury Park on Sunday 7th January.
  • Cross Country League at Watford on Sunday 14th January.
  • Fred Hughes 10 miles including county championships at St. Albans on Sunday 21st January.
  • Southern Cross Country Championships on Saturday 27th January.
  • Watford Half Marathon inc. veteran championships on Sunday 4th February.
  • Bramley 20/10 (20 miles or 10 miles) on Sunday 11th February.
  • St Valentine’s 30K at Stamford on Sunday 11th February.
  • Cross Country League at Royston on Sunday 18th February.
  • Baldock Beast on Sunday 25th February.
  • Welwyn Half Marathon on Sunday 4th March.
  • Finchley 20 miles (including Herts County) on Sunday 18th March.
  • Oakley 20 miles on Sunday 18th March.
  • Orion 15 at Chingford (Epping Forest) on Saturday 24th March.
  • London Marathon on Sunday 22nd April.
  • Stirling Marathon on Sunday 29th April.
Categories
News Race Results

HALF A TON OF SPARTANS

 

A fabulous fifty Spartans enjoyed a two lap course over the fields and stony paths of Trent Park, near Cockfosters, in the second race of this season’s cross country league.  That’s five more from Fairlands compared with the first race and it showed in the results.

Racing the five miles in just 27 minutes 30 seconds CALLUM STEWART was second out of more than 500 runners from twenty clubs.  CHRIS WESTCOTT and SIMON JACKSON also beat thirty minutes with 29:00 and 29:43 for 13th and 19th positions.

A superb run by SUZY HAWKINS saw her round in 36 minutes 14 seconds for 183rd overall.  NUALA ROBINSON was less than a minute behind in 37:04 for 209th.  NATALIE LAWRENCE 38:00; MICHELLE REEVES 38:08 and YUKO GORDON 38:52 made up the rest of the women’s “A” team.  NICOLA KENNEDY was also under 40 minutes with 39:55.

JOHNNY PENNELL, 25th in 30:06; BRIAN BRACKSTONE, 28th in 30:23; STEFFAN FORD, 37th in 30:54 and PAUL HEWETT, 47th in 31:16 also achieved top 50 positions.

 

Results for all 32 Spartan men.

Position Name Time Comments
2 CALLUM STEWART 27:30 “A” team
13 CHRIS WESTCOTT 29:00 “A” team
19 SIMON JACKSON 29:43 “A” team
25 JOHNNY PENNELL 30:06 “A” team
28 BRIAN BRACKSTONE 30:23 “A” team
37 STEFFAN FORD 30:54 “A” team
47 PAUL HEWETT 31:16 “A” team
93 ADRIAN BUSOLINI 33:09 “A” team
99 TODD GRAY 33:19 “B” team
104 BRIAN WHITE 33:29 “B” team
106 MARK COLLINS 33:30 “B” team
169 TIM SABAN 35:40 “B” team
172 RICHARD KENNEDY 35:52 “B” team
187 STUART ARCHER 36:20* “B” team
203 STEVE GREEN 36:50 “B” team
214 PETE SMITH 37:20 “B” team
217 THOMAS SAUKA 37:23 “C” team
223 NICK CROWLEY 37:33* “C” team
249 STEVE MAYFIELD 38:11 “C” team
267 GARETH COWELL 39:00 “C” team
277 CLIVE CANNON 39:52 “C” team
301 MARK GOODWIN 39:59 “C” team
336 DAVE SMITH 41:26 “C” team
339 JAMES KILROY 41:27 “C” team
364 TIM ROBINSON 42:28 “D” team
370 KARTIK SHARMA 43:13 “D” team
379 ANDY JAY 43:23 “D” team
387 VISHY SHAH 43:35 “D” team
388 BARRY KING 43:42 “D” team
414 STEVE PIKE 45:05 “D” team
453 MARK FREEMAN 47:20* “D” team
468 ROB SHAW 47:53 “D” team

 

Results for all 18 women.  These are overall positions including all the men.

Position Name Time Comments
183 SUZY HAWKINS 36:14 “A” team
209 NUALA ROBINSON 37:04 “A” team
242 NATALIE LAWRENCE 38:00* “A” team
248 MICHELLE REEVES 38:08* “A” team
268 YUKO GORDON 38:52 “A” team
300 NICOLA KENNEDY 39:55* “B” team
315 ISABEL GREEN 40:46* “B” team
348 JULIE SIMMONS 41:47* “B” team
422 SARAH PIKE 45:08 “B” team
424 PETA WILSON 45:55* “B” team
433 WENDY THARANI 46:15* “C” team
440 TRUDY MOLLOY 46:30 “C” team
455 KAREN LIDDLE 47:30* “C” team
493 STEPH MAYFIELD 49:48* “C” team
502 CATHY CRAIG 50:24* “C” team
508 SHARON CROWLEY 51:21
514 IRIS HORNSEY 52:00*
519 DIANE RESKER 52:30*

 

In the cross country league women’s teams consist of five runners while men’s team have eight though clubs can have several teams.  After two events the Spartan lie in fourth place overall. The men’s A team is in fourth place while the Masters team leads. The women’s A team are in eighth with the Masters team in ninth place.

 

Santa Cruz de Tenerife Marathon – Sunday, 12th November 2017

Santa Cruz is the Joint Capital City of the Canary Islands with Las Palmas.  Generally the Islands are known for their all year round mild weather, but today warm turned to hot for the time of year, as temperatures pushed above 25C (shade).

The course was two laps, the 1st half of each lap was in the City with 3 hills to climb. The 2nd half was an out and back, basically flat and keeping close to the Atlantic Ocean. While not actually quoting a time limit for the whole course, you had to get thru halfway in 2hrs 30min, then they left you alone to finish.

Roger Biggs went through halfway in 2:24:54, before slowing in the warm conditions to complete his 895th marathon in 5:18:43.

 

Grand Union Canal Half Marathon

Five Spartan women took the coach down to Cowley Recreation Ground, Uxbridge to run the Grand Union Canal Half Marathon and run back to Cassiobury Park, Watford.  It was a lovely point to point course and even better when the sun came out.  Flat, scenic, unusual, multi-terrain course and traffic free apart from one minor road crossing.  The race is organised every April and November.

Saying it was an adventure thoroughly enjoyed adventure ERICA GRAYSON was the first Spartan to finish with her 2 hours 6 minutes 32 seconds.  The others were SUE HAMER 2:15:34; SOPHIE COWAN 2:19:03; with CLAIRE EMMERSON and HAYLEY YENDELL finishing together in 2:19:06

 

Rock ‘n’ Roll

CALLIE CHAPMAN and HAZEL SMITH ran the Rock ‘n’ Roll 10K in Las Vegas in 57 minutes 56 seconds.

 

parkrun highlights

At Stevenage parkrun CRAIG HALSEY was first finisher in 16 mins 59 seconds. STEVE GREEN was 4th in a new course PB of 19:46, while TIM SABAN also scored a new course PB of 21:14. MARK BEASLEY in 35th became the latest Spartan to complete 50 parkruns.

Highlights elsewhere were a new course PB of 24:08 at Bath Skyline for Hannah Neale, and Verity Fisher’s 4th overall and first woman to finish at the second running of the Anacostia parkrun in the States.   With an impressive 23:04.

Full parkrun times from the weekend were as follows:

 

Stevenage
Pos Gender parkrunner Run Time Notes
1 1 Craig HALSEY 00:16:59
4 4 Steve GREEN 00:19:46 Course PB
14 13 Nick GILL 00:21:05
16 15 Tim SABAN 00:21:14 Course PB
33 30 Chris HOLLAND 00:22:35
34 31 Martin DUDLEY 00:22:36
38 35 Mark BEASLEY 00:22:49  50th parkrun
52 45 Barry OSBORNE 00:23:56
65 12 Kelly EVANS 00:24:40
70 55 Lee PICKERSGILL 00:25:00
75 59 David SCOTT 00:25:22
76 60 Sam SIMMONS 00:25:26
101 20 Tracy PEZ 00:26:22
134 29 Karen PALMER 00:27:44
141 110 James SOUTH 00:28:02
206 141 Daniel GREEN 00:31:53
208 67 Isabel GREEN 00:31:57
211 70 Beverley HARLOW 00:32:10
271 158 Trevor BROOM 00:40:18
Newcastle
Pos Gender parkrunner Run Time Notes
406 315 Roger HARDMAN 00:29:01
Bath Skyline
Pos Gender parkrunner Run Time Notes
88 17 Hannah NEALE 00:24:08 Course PB
Brockenhurst
Pos Gender parkrunner Run Time Notes
132 90 Darryl STEVENS 00:40:22
Anacostia
Pos Gender parkrunner Run Time Notes
4 1 Verity FISHER 00:23:04

 

 

Coming Events

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

  • St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 19th November.
  • Spartans AGM in Stevenage on Friday 24th November.
  • Wolverton Five at Milton Keynes on Saturday 25th November.
  • Hertfordshire Five Mile Championship for Veterans at Hatfield on Sunday 26th Nov.
  • Bass Belle 10 near Royston on Sunday 26th November.
  • Herts Sports Partnership Awards at Hatfield on Tuesday 28th November.
  • Bedford Harriers Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd December.
  • Spartans Christmas Party with an 80s theme on Friday 8th December.
  • Festive Five at Welwyn Garden City on Sunday 10th December.
  • Cross Country League at Willian on Sunday 17th December.
  • Witham Five on Tuesday 26th December.
  • Buntingford Year End 10 on Sunday 31st December.
  • New Year 10K in Hyde Park on Monday 1st January 2018.
  • County Cross Country Championships at Cassiobury Park on Sunday 7th January.
  • Cross Country League at Watford on Sunday 14th January.
  • Fred Hughes 10 miles including county championships at St. Albans on Sunday 21st January.
  • Southern Cross Country Championships on Saturday 27th January.
  • Watford Half Marathon inc. veteran championships on Sunday 4th February.
  • Bramley 20/10 (20 miles or 10 miles) on Sunday 11th February.
  • St Valentine’s 30K at Stamford on Sunday 11th February.
  • Cross Country League at Royston on Sunday 18th February.
  • Baldock Beast on Sunday 25th February.
  • Welwyn Half Marathon on Sunday 4th March.
  • Finchley 20 miles (including Herts County) on Sunday 18th March.
  • Oakley 20 miles on Sunday 18th March.
  • Orion 15 at Chingford (Epping Forest) on Saturday 24th March.
  • London Marathon on Sunday 22nd April.
  • Stirling Marathon on Sunday 29th April.
Categories
News Race Results

BIG APPLE QUALIFIER

 

Well done STUART HAYCROFT.  He travelled to New York to attempt to qualify for a London good for age spot.  Despite struggling with jet lag, Stuart managed to cut just over 40 minutes off his marathon personal best (PB) with a time of 3:14:03, thereby achieving qualification.  Crowd support was amazing, they mean it when they say there are over a million spectators.  You run through all 5 boroughs and each one has such a unique feel.

This marathon is definitely one for the bucket list.

 

Sunday, 5th November 2017 – Marathon Des Alpes-Maritimes

The Marathon Des Alpes Maritimes is the second biggest in France, second only to Paris.  There were 6,600 runners last year.

The promised thunderstorm came overnight, but luckily the rain had cleared for the 8am start.  The race started on Nice promenade, then hugged the coast all the way to Cannes.  Basically flat, ROGER BIGGS was pleased to get close to five hours, finishing in 5 hours 3 minutes 14 seconds.

 

A Good Deal For Jenny

Spartan JENNY GARRETT was in Kent for the Deal Castle Run.  She ran the five miles in 41 minutes 42 seconds.

 

Battle for the Top in the Women’s Championships

Two months to go and the Fairlands Valley Spartans Club Championships for 2017 are getting very competitive.  SUZY HAWKINS leads the women’s short distance championships with 67.9% ahead of JULIE SIMMONS on 60.2% and ERICA GRAYSON on 54.2% but bubbling under with just one more counting race to complete are ALISON WOOD on 73.9%; RUTH REILLY on 67.1%; NICOLA KENNEDY on 65.7%; HANNAH NEALE on 65.6%; ISABEL GREEN on 65.5%; CLAIRE PULLEN on 65.3%; MADDIE PRITCHARD on 64.0%; and VERITY FISHER on 63.8%.  Julie Simmons leads the age related table with 78.3%.

 

Parkrun Reports

KEITH COUGHLIN was first Spartan finisher at a very wet Fairlands Valley course, finishing third in 18 mins 43 seconds.

JO BOWDERY was third woman to finish in 23:20, knocking over three minutes off her previous course best set in May.  Seventeen Spartans ran at Stevenage.  The other fifteen were CLIVE CANNON 23:24; RYAN DUNNING 23:45; VERITY FISHER 24:02; LEE PICKERSGILL 24:51; DAVID SCOTT 24:54; TIM ROBINSON 24:55; KARTIK SHARMA 25:36; DANIEL SUTTON 26:17; JAMES SOUTH 27:52; HAZEL SMITH 28:31; CALLIE CHAPMAN 28:37; club secretary KAREN PALMER 29:19; CATHY CRAIG 29:21; PAUL HOLGATE 29:53 and ELLA GOWER 33:24.

Full parkrun results for the week:

 

Stevenage        
         
Pos Gender Pos parkrunner Run Time Notes
3 3 Keith COUGHLIN 00:18:43  
27 3 Jo BOWDERY 00:23:20 **New Course PB**
29 26 Clive CANNON 00:23:24  
34 31 Ryan DUNNING 00:23:45  
38 4 Verity FISHER 00:24:02  
44 40 Lee PICKERSGILL 00:24:51  
45 41 David SCOTT 00:24:54  
46 42 Tim ROBINSON 00:24:55  
55 50 Kartik SHARMA 00:25:36  
57 51 Daniel SUTTON 00:26:17  
70 60 James SOUTH 00:27:52  
80 14 Hazel SMITH 00:28:31  
82 15 Callie CHAPMAN 00:28:37  
90 18 Karen PALMER 00:29:19  
92 19 Catherine CRAIG 00:29:21  
97 76 Paul HOLGATE 00:29:53  
133 40 Ella GOWER 00:33:24  
         
Panshanger        
         
Pos Gender Pos parkrunner Run Time  
64 53 Andy JAY 00:25:10  
112 89 Sam SIMMONS 00:27:42  
120 97 Paul WHYTE 00:28:14  
         
Hove        
         
Pos Gender Pos parkrunner Run Time  
1 1 Craig HALSEY 00:16:55

 

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 at Trent Park on Sunday 12th November.
  • St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 19th November.
  • Spartans AGM in Stevenage on Friday 24th November.
  • Wolverton Five at Milton Keynes on Saturday 25th November.
  • Hertfordshire Five Mile Championship for Veterans at Hatfield on Sunday 26th Nov.
  • Bass Belle 10 near Royston on Sunday 26th November.
  • Bedford Harriers Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd December.
  • Spartans Christmas Party with an 80s theme on Friday 8th December.
  • Festive Five at Welwyn Garden City on Sunday 10th December.
  • Cross Country League at Willian on Sunday 17th December.
  • Witham Five on Tuesday 26th December.
  • Buntingford Year End 10 on Sunday 31st December.
  • New Year 10K in Hyde Park on Monday 1st January 2018.
  • County Cross Country Championships at Cassiobury Park on Sunday 7th January.
  • Cross Country League at Watford on Sunday 14th January.
  • Fred Hughes 10 miles including senior county championships at St. Albans on Sunday 21st January.
  • Southern Cross Country Championships on Saturday 27th January.
  • Watford Half Marathon inc. veteran championships on Sunday 4th February.
  • Bramley 20/10 (20 miles or 10 miles) on Sunday 11th February.
  • St Valentine’s 30K at Stamford on Sunday 11th February.
  • Cross Country League at Royston on Sunday 18th February.
  • Baldock Beast on Sunday 25th February.
  • Welwyn Half Marathon on Sunday 4th March.
  • Finchley 20 miles (including Herts County) on Sunday 18th March.
  • Oakley 20 miles on Sunday 18th March.
  • Orion 15 at Chingford (Epping Forest) on Saturday 24th March.
  • London Marathon on Sunday 22nd April.
  • Stirling Marathon on Sunday 29th April.