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SPARTANS AND THE BEAST

Spartans and the Baldock Beast.

The Baldock Beast Half Marathon really is a beast, hilly with some off road sections but Spartan SAM SUTTON was first woman 50 plus and ran a new half marathon personal best (PB) by 13:59 with 2:08:11.  She said it was a hilly and windy course so not the easiest to get a pb on but she thinks she enjoyed it though 

A total of eleven Spartans ran including ADAM HILL who was running his first ever half marathon.  He said the race went really well.  Adam was originally aiming for a sub 2 hour 30, but seven miles in, seeing the opportunity to go for a sub two hour, he went for it!  1:59:14.  Not bad for a first half on that course!

The fastest female from Fairlands was JAYNE RIDDELL with 2:01:15.

SHARON CROWLEY tamed the Beast was tamed with a chip time of 2:14:04.  That’s almost 20 minutes faster than she’s ever run that course.

LEE POTTER beat his personal best by about 37 minutes.

The quickest Fairlands Valley Spartans were TERRY SAWYER in 1:38:22 and DANNY SCANLON in 1:43:44.

PosBiBNameCatGun TimeChip Time
282720Terry SAWYERMV401:38:241:38:22
462975Danny SCANLONMV401:43:481:43:44
1032822Keith HOOKERMV401:54:221:54:08
1302816Adam HILLMS1:59:351:59:14
1372992Jayne RIDDELLFV602:01:282:01:15
1622936Samantha SUTTONFV502:08:262:08:11
1842938Sharon CROWLEYFV602:14:202:14:04
2052934Pete COOKMV502:20:262:20:11
2272729Jim BROWNMV70+2:29:282:28:57
2332716Tim ROBINSONMV502:36:162:35:49
2472939Lee POTTERMS2:58:502:58:02

Winning Natalie at the Bedford Half

Spartan NATALIE LAWRENCE was the first woman in Sunday’s Bedford Half Marathon with a superb time of 1 hour 23 minutes 11 seconds.  She was in the top ten overall in a race with 600 finishers.

JAY PAPA took a group round and was 44th in 1:29:21.  JESS CLARKE squeaked under two hours with 1:59:34; SOPHIE PARSONS with 2:00:20 and SAM TOPHILL, fourth in her category, finished in 2:00:32. 

PositionNameGunChipCat Pos
10NATALIE LAWRENCE1:23:111:23:031
44JAY PAPA1:29:451:29:2120
344SAMANTHA TOPHILL2:03:592:00:324
364JESS CLARKE2:05:201:59:3425
377SOPHIE PARSONS2:07:422:00:2028

Bedford 10K

TOBY ECCLESHALL was 47th in 45:43 and EMMA CHAPMAN 389th in 1:38:19.

Over the Ridge With Jodie

It was further than a marathon for JODIE KANTAS on Sunday.  She ran the North Downs Ridge 50K, a trail event near Dorking, in 6 hours 11 minutes 11 seconds.  Total elevation 3,000 feet.  Jodie said it was a training run for a bigger distance so took it nice and easy, any excuse, but she thought the mud would have prevented her going much faster anyway.  She was eighth female and second in her age group which was a nice surprise.

Obviously building up.  Jodie did a 20 mile event on the North Downs in January.

Cross Country League Update

The results are out.  Fairlands Valley Spartans were fifth out of the eighteen clubs in the series of five cross country races run between September and February.

After last weekend when 21 “hardcore” Spartans finished the last race, the “big squelch” at Watford, in this season’s cross country league they found they had some trophy winners in the series.

Spartan DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT and GEORGIE HOOPER were trophy winners in the cross country league.  David was second man 40 plus just eleven points behind the winner and Georgie second woman 35 plus just nine points behind the winner.

JIM BROWN was a near miss in the medals at fourth in the men 70 plus category.  He missed out by four points.  Although he was one of only two in the category to finish all five races it was the best of four to count.

SHARON CROWLEY was fifth woman 65 plus.

Six Spartans ran all five races in the league.  They were Charles Arnold; Jim Brown; Matt Cooke; Callie Chapman; Sharon Crowley and Mark Freeman.

PositionNameOfficial TimeOwn TimeCategory
7DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT37:1937:18M
29ADRIAN BUSOLINI39:4439:43M
64MIKE JEFFS43:5444:30M
107GEORGIE HOOPER48:1148:09F
123DANNY SCANLON49:4249:39M
141CHARLES ARNOLD51:2151:19M
164MATT COOKE53:0253:00M
178JODIE KANTAS53:4053:40F
186TONY VICKERS54:2154:20M
187STEPHEN MASSEY54:2254:22M
198JO COOKSLEY55:1155:03F
251MARK FREEMAN62:2762:29M
252SHARON CROWLEY62:2962:37F
273CLAIRE EMMERSON66:0065:59F
274LIZ CROWLEY66:0265:59F
275PENNY SCHENKEL66:0366:00F
278SAMMIE SUTTON66:4966:49F
279LLOYD DIAS67:1367:17M
289JIM BROWN71:0971:07M
295CALLIE CHAPMAN74:3974:15F
300JANE DYMOKE81:0781:09F

Parkrun Highlights

Club Champion SIMON JACKSON ran his 100th parkrun on his 50th birthday.  He took his balloons and fancy dress round the Stevenage parkrun in 28 minutes 55 seconds.

555 people including 210 women finished the 442nd local parkrun and they included 29 Spartans.  Many Spartans ran new parkrun personal bests (PPBs) or achieved new milestones.

The PPBs were by ADAM HILL at 81st in 24:42; SALLY PICKLES 219th in 28:32; BECKY BIRT 348th in 32:03; KEITH MANTON 373rd in 32:55 and JULIE BUDDEN 528th in 45:59.

The mini-milestones were ANDREW PATTERSON running his 20th parkrun as part of Simon the century runner’s “escort” in 28:57; PENNY SCHENKEL 140th parkrun in 43:53; NIKI PLUMB 80th parkrun tail walking in 59:57; NICHOLA DURENT 40th parkrun in 39:40; and HAYLEY PEACH 30th parkrun in 39:40

KIRK NDUGU was second overall in the event with 17:39 just eight seconds off the winner.  GAIL MACKIE was fastest female from Fairlands in 26:52 and LORRAINE HILL second in 27:11.

Recently JAY PAPA won a parkrun.  The first time he’s done that.  He won the Wisbech parkrun with 18 minutes 23 seconds.  Thirty seconds ahead of the next runner.   JESSICA CLARKE was at the same event and finished in 29:09.  There were 204 finishers.  Well done Jay!

PositionGender PositionFVS parkrunnerTime
22Kirk NDUGU00:17:39
8174Adam HILL00:24:42
115101Daniel VILJOEN00:25:35
131113Peter SACH00:26:05
141122James SOUTH00:26:20
16520Gail MACKIE00:26:52
17322Lorraine HILL00:27:11
21938Sally PICKLES00:28:32
229181Simon JACKSON00:28:55
233185Andrew PATTERSON00:28:57
260201Jim BROWN00:29:31
285215Stephen SMITHSON00:30:14
31772Alison SHELLEY00:31:07
34884Rebecca BIRT00:32:03
355255Nick KLEANTHOUS00:32:15
36494Lindsay PATEMAN00:32:35
367260Andy JAY00:32:38
373265Keith MANTON00:32:55
405119Callie CHAPMAN00:34:13
411275Paul HOLGATE00:34:30
422131Pamela VILJOEN00:35:18
479164Julie MANTON00:39:32
482166Hayley PEACH00:39:40
481165Nichola DURENT00:39:40
493173Tracy HAYGARTH00:40:51
523192Penny SCHENKEL00:43:53
528196Julie BUDDEN00:45:59
554209Samantha SUTTON00:59:56
555210Niki PLUMB00:59:57
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News Race Results

THE BIG SQUELCH – WATFORD X/C

On Sunday morning 21 “hardcore” Spartans finished the last race in this season’s cross country league.  Meanwhile 12 more were in London for the Winter 10K.  On Saturday 37 Spartans ran the Valentine’s Day parkrun in Stevenage – one became a caped crusader.

Sunday’s Cross Country League race in Watford was described as one big squelch.  The 21 Spartans who finished have built some bigger characters.  Days and days of rain finished off with continuous heavy rain throughout the race meant the route was very wet making for damp shoes, mud splattered everywhere, some tricky stretches and it wasn’t warm!

The fastest Spartan in the 300 plus finishers was DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT who was seventh overall.  He ran the soggy undulating six miles in 37 minutes 18 seconds (37:18).  ADRIAN BUSOLINI was second Spartan at 29th in 39:43 and club captain MIKE JEFFS third in 44:30. 

GEORGIE HOOPER was the fastest female from Fairlands at 107th in 48:09 with  JODIE KANTAS was second woman in 53:40 and JO COOKSLEY third in 55:03.

Eleven men and ten women finished from FVS which meant the club had complete men’s and women’s teams which is more than can be said for some other clubs.

PositionNameTime
7DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT37:18
29ADRIAN BUSOLINI39:43
64MIKE JEFFS44:30
107GEORGIE HOOPER48:09
123DANNY SCANLON49:39
141CHARLES ARNOLD51:19
164MATT COOKE53:00
178JODIE KANTAS53:40
186TONY VICKERS54:20
187STEPHEN MASSEY54:22
198JO COOKSLEY55:03
252MARK FREEMAN62:29
253SHARON CROWLEY62:37
274CLAIRE EMMERSON65:59
275LIZ CROWLEY65:59
276PENNY SCHENKEL66:00
279SAMMIE SUTTON66:49
280LLOYD DIAS67:17
290JIM BROWN71:07
296CALLIE CHAPMAN74:15
301JANE DYMOKE81:09

London Winter 10K

Twelve Spartans were among about 20,000 people who ran the Cancer Research UK London Winter Run on Sunday.

ALISON SHELLEY said to say it was really cold and wet is a bit of an understatement, with rain setting in before we even started and continuing through and after the race.  It was impossible to avoid the many big puddles so we just had to embrace the water! Despite this there were over 19,500 finishers.  She had a goal to try and finish under the hour but due to the weather decided to not worry about the watch and just do her best with the conditions.  So Alison was quite surprised – and happy – when she finished in 56:42 (chip time) with a negative split.

Despite the weather a great day, supporting Cancer Research UK.

ALICE and JOSHUA WELCH both ran the London Winter 10K.  This was Joshua’s first race as a Spartan and they both ran new PBs (personal bests).  Alice finished in a new 10K PB of 47 minutes 59 seconds (47:59) and Joshua in a new 10K PB of 57:53.

It was also PB time for REBECCA RAYNER.  She finished in 63:10.

KEITH HOOKER ran a new personal best of 43:33 but the fastest Spartan was DAVE COOK.  He was 14th in the very large field with 34:27.

PosNameBibCategoryChip time
14Dave Cook27112MSEN34:27
951Keith Hooker817M4543:33
1818George Halfpenny10931MSEN46:47
2244Alice Welch22847FSEN47:59
4848Peter Sach255MSEN53:44
6733Alison Shelley22119F5556:42
7542Joshua Welch12349MSEN57:53
9080Vishal Shah4270M401:00:02
9627Karl Shreeve9429M551:00:54
10991Rebecca Rayner20990F401:03:10
19206Emma Chapman6786F351:40:41
19488Lee Potter13089M352:00:52

Farnborough Half

Spartan SAM TOPHILL beat two hours with 1:59:25 at the Farnborough Half Marathon.

Parkrun Highlights

Chilly but there was a break in the grey skies and 593 finished the Valentine’s Day parkrun in Stevenage on Saturday.

The 37 Spartans included two achieving new milestones.  One was a major milestone celebrated by wearing the big red cape round the 5K.  MIKE JEFFS FVS men’s club captain ran his 50th parkrun which he finished in 28:09.  Just behind him was NICK GILL who finished his 150th in 28:12.

LEE POTTER ran a new parkrun personal best (PPB) of 34:02.  New member JADE JENKINS was a first timer with 34:09.

Spartans elsewhere included JESSICA CLARKE 29:09 at Wisbech; REBECCA RAYNER at Southwark in 34:15 and DARRYL STEVENS in Edinburgh with 37:27.

PositionGender PositionParkrunnerTime
1515Perri GENTRY20:27
3030Stuart ARCHER21:44
3232Steve WELLS21:47
4543Toby ECCLESHALL22:43
5451Alexey ZHERDEV22:58
8883Matthew COOKE24:19
157143Keith HOOKER26:43
17218Karen ELLIS27:12
190162Ryan DUNNING27:35
206176Lee PICKERSGILL27:53
20728Georgie HOOPER27:54
20829Lorraine HILL27:55
217182Mike JEFFS28:09
218183Nick GILL28:12
219184Andy PRIOR28:12
228187James SOUTH28:29
261204Daniel VILJOEN29:21
30365Sarah ILLINGWORTH30:38
308236Jim BROWN30:52
322245Steve PLATT31:24
32875Hannah MANTON31:42
33881Monica SMITHSON32:01
34887Linda GEORGE32:24
35290Debbie BLANTERN32:27
35592Penny SCHENKEL32:35
393278Lee Francis POTTER34:02
394110Sally PICKLES34:03
399114Alison SHELLEY34:07
401116Jade JENKINS34:09
402117Sam GENTRY34:10
415127Pamela VILJOEN34:34
425290Keith MANTON34:56
440139Angie KEELING35:34
495317Lloyd DIAS38:23
515183Julie MANTON40:52
516184Stephanie GAJIC40:57
569219Samantha SUTTON53:50
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SPARTANS CHAMPIONS NIGHT

The big winners at the Fairlands Valley Spartans presentation evening were JODIE KANTAS, SIMON JACKSON and SAMMIE SUTTON.

Fairlands Valley Spartans running club packed into the Hotel Cromwell, Stevenage on Friday evening for their annual dinner, dance and presentation evening.

Jodie Kantas won the women’s and overall club championships.  Simon Jackson the men’s championship.

Sammie Sutton was Spartan of the Year, most improved female Spartan during 2025 and won the head coach’s award.  She really embedded herself in the Spartan community, supported newer runners, helping other runners to achieve their goals with advice and pacing.  Run leader, run director, smashing out new personal bests, organising kit and driving minibuses.  A very worthy winner.

The chair’s award went to VICKY ARCHER.  Chair TIM ROBINSON said she was someone he couldn’t have done without in 2025.  A great sounding board and extremely pro-active.  Someone who has been active on the committee pretty much from joining the club and taken on additional responsibilities including cross country.

The president’s award is for someone who spends a lot of time volunteering for the club.  Without volunteers we woouldn’t be able to run the club, put on races and events like tonight.  In 2025 she headed up the Spartan Charity of the Year.  The winner was CAROLYN LINSELL.

The most improved male Spartan was PETER SACH whose achievements included cutting his 5K time from 28:34 to 25:51 and his five miles from 57:22 to 43:24.

The Spartans organise a huge range of running activities so there were a huge range of awards including female open short Jodie Kantas; female age graded YUKO GORDON; female open long Jodie Kantas; female age graded long Yuko Gordon; male open short ANDREW PATTERSON; male age graded short Simon Jackson; male open long Simon Jackson and male age graded long CHARLIE ARNOLD.

Fairlands Valley Spartans were formed in 1984 during the huge boom in marathon running in the 1980s and the first year that women were allowed to run an Olympic Marathon.  The first London Marathon had been in 1981.  The club’s long distance championships consists of the best of three from full marathon; 20 miles race; half marathon and ten miles race.  The short distance championships include 10 kilometres; 5 miles; 5 kilometres and 1500 metres.

The raffle on the night raised £1390 for the club’s charity.  Thanks to Tracy Pez, Hazel Smith and Penny Schenkel for their amazing work  The club charity for 2026 is Ehlers-Danlos Support UK – Ehlers-Danlos Support UK.

And they kept the dancing going until midnight.  There probably should have been a special award for DANNY SCANLON.  Definitely an endurance sports club.

Having to pass go 8.75 times !!

Andy and Kerstin Prior decided to take on Battersea Half marathon on Sunday but they didn’t realise it was 8.75 laps of a 2.4 kilometre circuit when they entered.

They said the event was organised through Run UK Events and it was a very slick operation from arrival to departure, with a great medal as well.

The park is almost flat, so for the PB hunters out there is it well worth a road trip.

Kerstin ran a 1:54:03 and finished third V50 lady.  Andy ran a 1:42:10 and finished sixth V50 male with a new personal best (PB).

Both are building towards Spring Marathons and this was one of two key races in the build up.

Dorney Lakes – a 10K splash

Spartan JULIE BUDDEN ran her first 10K race on Saturday.  She “enjoyed” heavy wind and wind as she ran round Dorney Lake so not much shelter.  Julie said it was a flat course, great for a first race, and she knows how she can improve next time.

Parkrun Highlights

It was unpleasant Saturday morning with the woods option closed due to the ground conditions but still 568 ran the 440th Stevenage parkrun.  This was a first Saturday of the month stripes day for Fairlands Valley Spartans and an amazing 53 from the club were running.

They included SUZY HAWKINS who was running her 100th parkrun and wearing the celebration cape which she took round in 26:06.

GAIL MACKIE and ASHLEY SCHOENWETTER were the fastest females from Fairlands.  They both went round in 24:44 and were both top ten women.

JODIE WILSON ran a new person best of 25:53.

62 Spartans were running parkruns.  Those elsewhere included MATTHEW COOKE who ran a Milan parkrun in 23:17.

PositionGender PositionFVS parkrunnerTime
1110Jay PAPA19:48
4134Kirk NDUGU22:08
4942Steve WELLS22:20
6557John HARRIS22:55
8375Martin WOOD23:53
9586Tony RANDFIELD24:15
1069Gail MACKIE24:44
10710Ashley SCHOENWETTER24:44
116104Charlie WHITE25:06
128111Charles ARNOLD25:34
13915Jodie WILSON25:53
14617Suzy HAWKINS26:06
14718Georgie HOOPER26:06
148127Daniel VILJOEN26:07
158134Paul MAGUIRE26:21
169141James SOUTH26:34
208171Matt CLARKE27:46
218179Ryan DUNNING28:05
23036Fiona CLARKE28:16
23438Karen ELLIS28:20
24344Marie COLUCCI28:31
244194Nick GILL28:32
25748Lucy PAUL28:51
25950Alison SHELLEY28:56
260204Nick KLEANTHOUS28:59
268210Matt TUTTON29:19
275214Jim BROWN29:29
280218Stephen SMITHSON29:40
29462Samantha SUTTON30:08
329242Keith HOOKER31:13
33279Sophie PARSONS31:23
359258Steve PLATT32:04
371263Tim ROBINSON32:38
391109Hannah MANTON33:04
394112Penny SCHENKEL33:08
397114Lindsay PATEMAN33:13
401116Caroline CROFT33:21
413124Monica SMITHSON33:44
425281Kartik SHARMA34:18
426282Ahaan SHARMA34:19
428130Callie CHAPMAN34:20
454147Angie KEELING35:26
465298Keith MANTON35:53
473157Pamela VILJOEN36:15
482162Jayne DYMOKE37:02
486307Lloyd DIAS37:39
512181Rebecca RAYNER40:29
521188Julie MANTON41:26
527193Nikki NATION42:54
528194Tracy HAYGARTH42:58
538323Mike CROWLEY45:43
539200Sharon CROWLEY45:44
568332David SCOTT61:56
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WATFORD HILLS WERE ALIVE

A Fab Four from Fairlands tackled the hilly but popular Watford Half Marathon on Sunday morning. 

It was one of those days when everything seemed to be damp, though during the race there was no more than drizzle, but that didn’t stop Spartan JAY PAPA pacing a group to squeeze under the key 1:30 barrier with 1 hour 29 minutes 25 seconds.  WAYNE SIMMONS was under two with 1:59:01.

Not yet risking 100% but getting back into it JIM BROWN was content with his 2:07:37 and LUCY PAUL looked very comfortable going round in 2:10:54.

PositionNameTimePercentage
112JAY PAPA1:29:2564.71%
870WAYNE SIMMONS1:59:0160.06%
1115JIM BROWN2:07:3762.14%
1159LUCY PAUL2:10:5452.67%

1589 finishers.

Peddars Way Ultra 2026

Spartan ADRIAN BUSOLINI loves a trail run and this time it was the 76 kilometres of the Peddars Way starting from Knettishall, near Thetford and heading for the coast. 

He was fourth in 7 hours 11 minutes 45 seconds.

Serpie

It was like a Spring morning in Hyde Park for the Serpentine Last Friday of the Month 5K.  Spartan JIM BROWN enjoyed his lunch-time run in 29:01.

Parkrun Highlights

Nudging 600 again there were 582 finishers in Saturday’s Stevenage parkrun.  That included 229 women and 38 Spartans.  This was the 439th Stevenage parkrun.

LINDA GEORGE set a new parkrun PB of 25:37 of 25:37 and was the fastest female from Fairlands.  It was a century for JAMES SOUTH.  A new major milestone of 100 parkruns.  This one in 25:48.

ANDREW JORDAN achieved a new parkrun PB of 27:33.

Spartans elsewhere included CHARLIE WHITE; GEORGIE HOOPER; JAY PAPA; NICK GILL and CHARLES ARNOLD who were all at the Great Denham parkrun.  Charlie was second overall in 17:31; Georgie third woman and under 20 with 19:54 finishing with Jay 19:54 and Nick 19:55.  Charles came in with 22:43.

PETER SACH ran the Peel parkrun, Salford in 27:27.  There were three at Letchworth – LEWIS GREEN 24:55; TONY RANDFIELD 28:21 and SUZY HAWKINS 29:31.

No doubt warming up part of the course for the following day’s Watford half marathon JESSICA CLARKE ran the Cassiobury parkrun in 29:18.

PositionGender PositionFVS parkrunnerTime
4241Toby ECCLESHALL22:37
8278Lee PICKERSGILL24:18
10698Paul MAGUIRE25:11
12111Linda GEORGE25:37
122108Martin DUDLEY25:39
128114James SOUTH25:48
172147Matt CLARKE27:00
19325Karen ELLIS27:29
194162Andrew JORDAN27:33
209173Ryan DUNNING27:56
21831Fiona CLARKE28:05
235190Daniel VILJOEN28:26
25244Claire EMMERSON28:57
26951Alison SHELLEY29:27
304229David ACKERY30:31
316234Nick KLEANTHOUS30:49
34081Sally PICKLES31:35
342246Steve PLATT31:38
381110Caroline CROFT32:52
392260Keith HOOKER33:05
403121Hayley PEACH33:27
404122Lindsay PATEMAN33:36
410127Rebecca RAYNER33:53
422133Hannah MANTON34:26
438143Pamela VILJOEN34:54
442146Angie KEELING35:11
444279Paul HOLGATE35:21
463283Keith MANTON36:20
469285Maurice BALLARD36:34
504298Lee Francis POTTER39:03
512191Maria THORNE39:26
523199Stephanie GAJIC40:42
524200Julie MANTON41:13
540210Niki PLUMB42:17
556311Stephen SMITHSON46:49
558218Monica SMITHSON46:55
580323Roger BIGGS63:31
582230Sharon CROWLEY63:37