YUKO GORDON won her category by a mile in the Buntingford Year End 10 on New Year’s Eve. In fact it was by a lot more than a mile as she was 14 minutes ahead of her nearest competitor. She was first female veteran, 65 plus with an amazing 1 hour 14 minutes 1 second.
Fifteen from Fairlands Valley Spartans tackled the undulating course. No ice this year and no rain but a strong headwind in places and the roads were very wet and pavements slippery with damp leaves after recent downpours.
MARK COLLINS was first in for FVS with 1:09:56 and THOMAS SAUKA ran a new personal best of 1 hour 11 minutes 17 seconds. The second female from Fairlands was MADDIE PRITCHARD in 1:19:11. JIM BROWN ran a season’s best 1:22:35 and was fourth veteran, 65 plus.
CALLIE CHAPMAN completed her first ever 10 mile race in 1:43:03. The other Spartans were JOHN HARRIS 1:12:54; ANN TRYSSESOONE 1:26:21, JO BOWDERY 1:28:44; DAVID SCOTT 1:29:40; NEIL ROBINSON 1:30:11; SCOTT ROUSE 1:32:49; KAREN LIDDLE 1:38:47; JENNY GARRETT 1:41:35 and CLAIRE EMMERSON 1:43:03. There were 492 finishers
Eve in Ely
The Ely New Year’s Eve 10k is on a predominantly flat route across the fens starting in the village of Little Downham. The wind caught runners from all angles of the course. Post race souvenirs were a packet of Corkers crisps (made in Little Downham) and a bottle of beer.
Spartan times were as follows: Â Craig Halsey 35 minutes 17 seconds; Tim Saban 41:32; Chris Holland 48:46; Maria Swift 54:09; Karen Palmer 54:57; Caroline Croft 1:00:05 and Karen Broom 1:03:44.
Boxing Day Winner
Spartan GRANT RAMSAY WON the Pirton Boxing Day Race in 18 minutes 29 seconds. This was a 3.2 miles off road event near Hitchin. Another Spartan ANDREW PATTERSON was second in 18:50.
An Early Start to the New Year
Despite an energetic Hogmanay Spartans PENNY SCHENKEL and JIM BROWN got to Hyde Park in time for the New Year’s Day 10K. They both finished in 1 hour and 49 seconds (1:00:49). Jim was 399th and Penny 400th.
Velopark 10
TIM ROBINSON was third in his age category with 1:27:37 at the Olympic VeloPark. Â This was a Grand Prix style circuit of 10 one mile laps.
Coach to London
Got a place in the London Marathon? You can train with Fairlands Valley Spartans and then you can coach to the big event as the club have booked a bus. Cost £10. Bookings to Roger Biggs by emailing roger@thebiggs.net.
Witham Five Flyers
Taking the last opportunity to run a five mile race for the 2017 Fairlands Valley Spartans club championships TIM SABAN raced to a new personal best (PB) of 33 minutes 17 seconds; in his first event since a mishap at the St Neots Half Marathon JIM BROWN maintained fairly consistent eight minute miles (keeping a reindeer in sight) to finish in 39 minutes 38 seconds; MONICA SMITHSON ran an excellent 45:19 and PENNY SCHENKEL continued her recovery with a steady 46 minutes 29 seconds. On a bright but chilly day with a headwind to battle for a couple of miles there were 388 finishers.
Spartan Vets Have Nose Ahead In Cross Country Team Results
At the third cross country league race in Willian the Spartan men were sixth out of twenty and the club’s women ninth. Overall the women are tenth and the men sixth but the FVS male veterans (40 plus) narrowly lead the masters’ contest by just two race points (102 to 104) ahead of Trent Park.   The next league race is in Watford on 14th January.
New Year Parkrun Highlights
New Year’s Day is the only day of the year when runners can officially log two parkrun results, and ten Spartans set off to Panshanger to run the first leg of their double, accompanied by an eleventh who presumably had breakfast in mind rather than a second parkrun helping!
GRANT RAMSEY finished second male (third overall) in 18:02, happy with his effort but not totally satisfied with the time in testing conditions following the recent rain. Â TIM SABAN, was 25th in 21:23, and ANDY JAY 77th in 25:08. Â JACKIE DOWNES was 39th woman in 28:32 with VERITY FISHER 43rd in 29:00 and RUTH REILLY accompanied her son in 32:55. Â ANDREW SMITH, DAVE SMITH, TOM SAUKA, TIM ROBINSON and JAMES SOUTH also ran and all bar ANDY KAY headed off to a second run.
GRANT RAMSAY chose to go to Barclay parkrun, retracing his steps from New Years Day 2017. There he again finished second male in 19:15 to round off a good morning’s work.
The other doublers headed to Stevenage, where JACKIE DOWNES topped off her morning’s work by achieving a new Course PB of 26:40. TIM SABAN. DAVE SMITH and TOM SAUKA showed that running an earlier parkrun was no barrier to running a decent second one and were the first three Spartans home with top 30 finishes in 21:13, 21:43 and 22:22 respectively. MADDIE PRITCHARD was first woman to finish for the Spartans in 3rd place in 22:23, with YUKO GORDON next in 4th in 23:07 and JULIE SIMMONS 8th woman in 24:28.
In all, 36 Spartans ran at Stevenage and Fairlands Valley Park was awash with stripes as most ran in club vests to celebrate the start of a new year of running with the club.
Finally, MICHAEL O’KEEFE opted to do a New Year’s Day double with a different starting point. He began at Luton Wardown where he finished 71st in a new course PB of 28:44, before then heading to Stevenage to complete the double there.
Pre- Christmas Parkrun Highlights for Fairlands Valley Spartans
On Saturday 23rd at Stevenage it was a Spartan first across the line as GRANT RAMSAY ran his first parkrun in a while to finish in 17 mins 17 secs. Â THOMAS SAUKA rushed round in 21:12 in 25th place and DAVE SMITH was just outside the top 30 men in 22:05. Three Spartan women finished in the top 30. Â YUKO GORDON was second in 22:45. MADELEINE PRITCHARD was 7th in 23:23 and JO BOWDERY continues to run well, finishing 9th in 23:51.
For a day when you want to run fast you really need to line up near the front rank at Panshanger due to congestion through the gate and the early part of the course in the woods.  RUTH REILLY didn’t do that on this occasion but still notched a new course PB of 22:45 for sixth place woman as she continues to run really well.  TRACY STILES was the other Spartan to achieve a new course PB this weekend, finishing 13th woman at Westmill parkrun,
Finally BARRY OSBORNE secured a top 20 finish at Ellenbrook Fields, crossing the line in 21:23 for 15th place.
Christmas Day Parkrun Highlights
The recent Spartan favourite of a Christmas Day parkrun at Panshanger was challenged this year as Stevenage held a festive run for the first time, and nineteen Spartans duly lined up in Fairlands Valley. Â ERICA GRAYSON has been improving well recently and celebrated the festive season with a new course PB (personal best) of 26 minutes 50 secondss. Â Â She was two places behind the first Spartan woman, TRACY PEZ, who finished 9th in 26:24. Â CLAIRE EMMERSON, KERSTIN WEINER and JENNY GARRETT were the other Spartans in the Top 30 women finishers.
TOM SAUKA finished 9th in 20:49 to be the best placed male Spartan. Â BARRY OSBORNE and DAVE SMITH also finished in the top 30.
Spartans were in festive action up and down the country with Top 30 finishes also achieved by STEVE and ISABEL GREEN in Newcastle, VERITY FISHER at Peterborough, KAREN PALMER at Clair and TIM SABAN at Canons Park.
Clair for Karen at Christmas
KAREN PALMER ran the Christmas Day park run in Haywards Heath. The course was 4 and a half laps and a hilly one. Supposedly more downhill than up! Pre race briefing for newbies said to expect a time at least a minute and a half longer. She was pleased to finish in 28:48.
Coming Events
Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks including:
- County Cross Country Championships at Cassiobury Park, Watford on Sunday 7th January.
- Training session led by England Athletics at FVS Marriotts on Tuesday 9th 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 county 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.
- Fairlands Valley Spartans Champions Night on Friday 23rd 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.
- Welwyn 10K including senior county championships on Sunday 24th June.
Tables
Spartans at Buntingford (most times at Buntingford are “gun” times):
POSITION |
FIRSTNAME |
LASTNAME |
CATEGORY |
CAT POS |
TIME |
CommeNTS |
69 |
Mark |
Collins |
Male Vet 40 |
22 |
01:09:56 |
|
77 |
Thomas |
Sauka |
Male Vet 40 |
26 |
01:11:17 |
PB |
85 |
John |
Harris |
Male Vet 50 |
10 |
01:12:54 |
|
95 |
Yuko |
Gordon |
Female Vet 65 |
1 |
01:14:01 |
1st FV65 |
148 |
Madeleine |
Pritchard |
Senior Female |
10 |
01:19:11 |
|
185 |
Jim |
Brown |
Male Vet 60 |
4 |
01:22:35 |
SB |
243 |
Ann |
Tryssesoone |
Female Vet 45 |
30 |
01:26:21 |
|
269 |
Joanne |
Bowdery |
Senior Female |
23 |
01:28:44 |
|
280 |
David |
Scott |
Senior Male |
66 |
01:29:40 |
|
283 |
Neil |
Robinson |
Senior Male |
67 |
01:30:11 |
|
307 |
Scott |
Rouse |
Senior Male |
69 |
01:32:49 |
|
361 |
Karen |
Liddle |
Female Vet 55 |
10 |
01:38:47 |
|
382 |
Jenny |
Garrett |
Female Vet 45 |
63 |
01:41:35 |
|
393 |
Claire |
Emmerson |
Female Vet 45 |
66 |
01:43:03 |
|
394 |
Callie |
Chapman |
Senior Female |
34 |
01:43:03 |
1st 10 mile race |
Full Spartan results from the New Years Day parkruns are as below:
parkrun/date |
Pos |
Gen |
parkrunner |
Time |
Notes |
1st January |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Panshanger |
3 |
2 |
Grant RAMSAY |
00:18:02 |
NYD Double 1st leg |
Panshanger |
28 |
25 |
Tim SABAN |
00:21:23 |
NYD Double 1st leg |
Panshanger |
87 |
77 |
Andy JAY |
00:25:08 |
|
Panshanger |
153 |
120 |
Andrew SMITH |
00:28:14 |
NYD Double 1st leg |
Panshanger |
154 |
121 |
Dave SMITH |
00:28:15 |
NYD Double 1st leg |
Panshanger |
165 |
39 |
Jackie DOWNES |
00:28:32 |
NYD Double 1st leg |
Panshanger |
175 |
43 |
Verity FISHER |
00:29:00 |
NYD Double 1st leg |
Panshanger |
176 |
133 |
Thomas SAUKA |
00:29:02 |
NYD Double 1st leg |
Panshanger |
178 |
135 |
Tim ROBINSON |
00:29:05 |
NYD Double 1st leg |
Panshanger |
232 |
164 |
James SOUTH |
00:32:51 |
NYD Double 1st leg |
Panshanger |
235 |
70 |
Ruth REILLY |
00:32:55 |
NYD Double 1st leg |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Barclay |
2 |
2 |
Grant RAMSAY |
00:19:15 |
NYD Double 2nd leg |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stevenage |
14 |
13 |
Tim SABAN |
00:21:13 |
NYD Double 2nd leg |
Stevenage |
19 |
18 |
Dave SMITH |
00:21:43 |
NYD Double 2nd leg |
Stevenage |
26 |
24 |
Thomas SAUKA |
00:22:22 |
NYD Double 2nd leg |
Stevenage |
33 |
3 |
Madeleine PRITCHARD |
00:22:33 |
|
Stevenage |
40 |
4 |
Yuko GORDON |
00:23:07 |
|
Stevenage |
48 |
44 |
Barry OSBORNE |
00:23:42 |
|
Stevenage |
59 |
8 |
Julie SIMMONS |
00:24:28 |
|
Stevenage |
61 |
53 |
Mark BEASLEY |
00:24:36 |
|
Stevenage |
62 |
54 |
Andrew SMITH |
00:24:40 |
NYD Double 2nd leg |
Steveange |
64 |
10 |
Rosie INGRAM |
00:24:48 |
|
Stevenage |
66 |
56 |
Lee PICKERSGILL |
00:24:59 |
|
Stevenage |
95 |
75 |
Ken JUDE |
00:26:29 |
|
Stevenage |
100 |
21 |
Jackie DOWNES |
00:26:40 |
NYD Double 2nd leg, new course PB |
Stevenage |
101 |
22 |
Ruth REILLY |
00:26:41 |
NYD Double 2nd leg |
Stevenage |
113 |
85 |
Tim ROBINSON |
00:27:14 |
NYD Double 2nd leg |
Stevenage |
114 |
23 |
Hazel SMITH |
00:27:14 |
|
Stevenage |
115 |
87 |
Paul MAGUIRE |
00:27:15 |
|
Stevenage |
116 |
30 |
Jenny GARRETT |
00:27:15 |
|
Stevenage |
125 |
34 |
Verity FISHER |
00:27:27 |
NYD Double 2nd leg |
Stevenage |
129 |
95 |
Darren EMMERSON |
00:27:36 |
|
Stevenage |
130 |
36 |
Nikki WILBY |
00:27:37 |
|
Stevenage |
143 |
39 |
Carole SHELDRICK |
00:28:27 |
|
Stevenage |
144 |
40 |
Victoria BRETT |
00:28:28 |
|
Stevenage |
155 |
112 |
Jon SYPULA |
00:29:04 |
|
Stevenage |
164 |
46 |
Hannah SYPULA |
00:29:15 |
|
Stevenage |
168 |
49 |
Karen PALMER |
00:29:23 |
|
Stevenage |
172 |
51 |
Catherine CRAIG |
00:29:35 |
|
Stevenage |
176 |
126 |
James SOUTH |
00:29:47 |
NYD Double 2nd leg |
Stevenage |
192 |
59 |
Caroline CROFT |
00:30:23 |
|
Stevenage |
196 |
137 |
Michael O’KEEFE |
00:30:29 |
NYD Double 2nd leg |
Stevenage |
212 |
67 |
Karen BROOM |
00:31:33 |
|
Stevenage |
247 |
92 |
Sarah SAPSTEAD |
00:34:34 |
|
Stevenage |
282 |
112 |
Emma POULTER |
00:37:59 |
|
Stevenage |
297 |
126 |
Caren THAIN |
00:39:40 |
|
Stevenage |
299 |
128 |
Lynsey CHALKLEY |
00:41:12 |
|
Stevenage |
315 |
183 |
Ian ALEXANDER |
00:54:57 |
Tail walker |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Luton Wardown |
96 |
71 |
Michael O’KEEFE |
00:28:44 |
NYD Double 1st leg,New course PB |
Full parkrun results for 23rd December below:
parkrun/date |
Pos |
Gen |
parkrunner |
Time |
Notes |
23rd December |
|
|
|
|
|
Westmill |
41 |
13 |
Tracy STILES |
00:33:06 |
13th woman, new course PB |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Medina IOW |
303 |
197 |
Paul WHYTE |
00:34:47 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stevenage |
1 |
1 |
Grant RAMSAY |
00:17:17 |
1st finisher |
Stevenage |
26 |
25 |
Thomas SAUKA |
00:21:12 |
|
Stevenage |
35 |
34 |
Dave SMITH |
00:22:05 |
|
Stevenage |
38 |
37 |
Martin DUDLEY |
00:22:22 |
|
Stevenage |
39 |
38 |
David RIDDELL |
00:22:37 |
|
Stevenage |
41 |
40 |
Chris HOLLAND |
00:22:42 |
|
Stevenage |
43 |
2 |
Yuko GORDON |
00:22:45 |
|
Stevenage |
55 |
7 |
Madeleine PRITCHARD |
00:23:23 |
|
Stevenage |
64 |
9 |
Jo BOWDERY |
00:23:51 |
|
Stevenage |
71 |
60 |
Daniel SUTTON |
00:24:20 |
|
Stevenage |
77 |
65 |
Lee PICKERSGILL |
00:24:58 |
|
Stevenage |
86 |
72 |
Neil ROBINSON |
00:26:01 |
|
Stevenage |
149 |
113 |
James SOUTH |
00:30:19 |
|
Stevenage |
185 |
128 |
Michael ANDREWS |
00:33:33 |
|
Stevenage |
224 |
81 |
Verity FISHER |
00:42:53 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Panshanger |
48 |
6 |
Ruth REILLY |
00:22:45 |
New couse PB |
Panshanger |
130 |
102 |
Ken JUDE |
00:27:43 |
|
Panshanger |
132 |
104 |
Andy JAY |
00:27:47 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lullingstone |
40 |
30 |
Michael O’KEEFE |
00:32:26 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wyre Forest |
205 |
140 |
Peter CARPENTER |
00:34:10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ellenbrook Fields |
15 |
15 |
Barry OSBORNE |
00:21:23 |
|
Full Spartan parkrun results for 25th December below:
parkrun/date |
Pos |
Gen |
parkrunner |
Time |
Notes |
25th December |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Newcastle |
16 |
15 |
Steve GREEN |
00:20:00 |
|
Newcastle |
112 |
21 |
Isabel GREEN |
00:24:27 |
|
Newcastle |
213 |
159 |
Roger HARDMAN |
00:28:21 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lymington Woodside |
156 |
99 |
Darryl STEVENS |
00:41:41 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Peterborough |
94 |
87 |
Daniel SUTTON |
00:23:46 |
|
Peterborough |
139 |
16 |
Verity FISHER |
00:25:26 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stevenage |
9 |
9 |
Thomas SAUKA |
00:20:49 |
|
Stevenage |
21 |
19 |
Barry OSBORNE |
00:22:15 |
|
Stevenage |
30 |
28 |
Dave SMITH |
00:23:13 |
|
Stevenage |
50 |
43 |
Neil ROBINSON |
00:25:41 |
|
Stevenage |
55 |
47 |
Nick GILL |
00:26:20 |
|
Stevenage |
57 |
9 |
Tracy PEZ |
00:26:24 |
|
Stevenage |
65 |
11 |
Erica GRAYSON |
00:26:50 |
New course PB |
Stevenage |
87 |
70 |
Mark BEASLEY |
00:28:01 |
|
Stevenage |
107 |
27 |
Claire EMMERSON |
00:30:04 |
|
Stevenage |
109 |
82 |
Darren EMMERSON |
00:30:09 |
|
Stevenage |
111 |
29 |
Kerstin WEINER |
00:30:11 |
|
Stevenage |
115 |
30 |
Jenny GARRETT |
00:30:30 |
|
Stevenage |
124 |
91 |
David SCOTT |
00:31:37 |
|
Stevenage |
125 |
34 |
Karen BROOM |
00:31:38 |
|
Stevenage |
126 |
35 |
Carole SHELDRICK |
00:31:46 |
|
Stevenage |
127 |
36 |
Caroline CROFT |
00:31:46 |
|
Stevenage |
138 |
41 |
Tracy STILES |
00:33:05 |
|
Stevenage |
166 |
57 |
Caren THAIN |
00:40:44 |
|
Stevenage |
169 |
59 |
Emma MARTIN |
00:41:49 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clair |
77 |
20 |
Karen PALMER |
00:28:48 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Canons Park |
13 |
10 |
Tim SABAN |
00:20:59 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Panshanger |
86 |
75 |
Chris HOLLAND |
00:24:44 |
|
Panshanger |
108 |
94 |
Andy JAY |
00:25:51 |
|
Panshanger |
132 |
112 |
Ken JUDE |
00:26:43 |
|