A RECORD BREAKING CHRISTMAS

Golds and Silver for Fairlands Valley Spartans as 32 ran in the County 10 Championships

A superb run by DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT won him a great GOLD medal in the Hertfordshire County Ten Mile Championships for veteran runners.  He finished in 57:39, tenth overall compared with 1:05:27 in the same race in December 2024 and reduced his all-time personal best (PB) by 1:59.

David said, “The Spartans were out in force today! 

Really pleased with today’s race, especially after last year’s race not going at all to plan. Super proud with a new 10 mile PB, picking up both race and Herts Vets wins in the MV40 age category with really strong competition from St Albans Striders and Ware Joggers, and helping to win the Men’s Team silver.”

JIM BROWN won the male 70 plus GOLD by improving by 1 minute 40 seconds on his 2024 time on the same course in the same race.  He finished in 1:30:35 (90:35).

He said, “That was a surprise.  Delighted to get ahead of some people I haven’t beaten for at least twelve years.  A little chilly but no sign of Saturday’s frost and nothing like some previous years with their snow and ice.  The descent from six mile marker was wonderful.”

Silver Spartans.  In addition to the gold individual medals the Spartan men’s team of David Harris-Cherguit; ROSS GALLAGHER with a season’s best 1:06:18; ADRIAN DONNELLY with a new PB of 1:06:39 and TERRY SAWYER running his first “10” in 1:09:31 won SILVER.

The County Championships were included in the Buntingford End of Year 10 open to all aged 16 or more event.  Although not eligible for the county event Spartan CHARLIE ARNOLD was easily the fastest 70 in the open race.  He finished in 1:15:17, a new season’s best by 1:54, and a margin of almost six minutes (5:56).

NICK GILL was second Spartan home in 1:01:22 – 2 minutes 37 seconds quicker than his previous 10-mile PB on the same course in 2023.  He was really pleased with the effort and the time as he builds up towards a half marathon PB attempt in March, and loved seeing so many Spartans wearing their stripes with pride!

CLAIRE PULLEN was the fastest female from Fairlands with 1:24:37.  Next were ANN TRYSSESOONE 1:34:29 and SAM SUTTON achieving a tremendous 20 minutes 2 seconds personal best with 1:35:11.  The next largest gain was 12 minutes 16 seconds for BECKY RAYNER who had a great finish to the year taking her PB to 1:47:43.

Between them the 32 Spartans produced eight new personal bests (PB) and eight new season’s bests (SB).

There were 641 finishers.

Pos.	Bib	Name	Net Time
10	311	David Harris-Cherguit	57:39
31	266	Nick Gill	1:01:22
52	772	Charlie White	1:03:45
59	537	Jay Papa	1:05:15
71	256	Ross Gallagher	1:06:18
74	203	Adrian Donnelly	1:06:39
110	632	Terry Sawyer	1:09:31
135	614	Sam Simmons	1:11:50
146	634	Danny Scanlon	1:12:21
167	148	Mark Collins	1:13:29
175	366	Simon Jackson	1:14:18
188	25	Charles Arnold	1:15:17
231	342	Keith Hooker	1:18:07
232	259	Pete Gentle	1:18:07
233	369	Mike Jeffs	1:18:08
318	579	Claire Pullen	1:24:37
363	736	Tony Vickers	1:28:51
389	101	Jim Brown	1:30:35
418	143	Matt Clarke	1:32:16
445	721	Ann Tryssesoone	1:34:29
455	686	Samantha Sutton	1:35:11
477	662	Hazel Smith	1:37:06
483	142	Fiona Clarke	1:37:27
495	418	Karen Liddle	1:38:57
506	346	Tricia Hopper	1:39:45
558	170	Sharon Crowley	1:45:36
572	590	Rebecca Rayner	1:47:43
590	635	Penny Schenkel	1:49:42
610	150	Hayley Peach	1:54:19
619	735	Amanda Vickers	1:58:27
634	339	Paul Holgate	2:08:36
641	210	Nichola Durent	2:27:20

Christmas Day Record Breaker – Thursday 25^th December.

At least 57 Fairlands Valley Spartans were in Fairlands Valley Park for the record breaking Stevenage parkrun on Christmas Day.  Record breaking!!  911 completed the 5K course beating the previous record by 161.  There were also 49 volunteers helping to make the event a success.  Some of those were also Spartans.

That was spectacular.  A bit chilly but a beautiful sunny morning with loads of santas, a lot of elves and little helpers, and huge variety including penguins; Kiwi Christmas; grinch; reindeer; turkeys; Christmas trees; snowmen and crackers.  Even the bollards had Santa hats.

Spartan times ranged from 17:37 to 58:04.  ADRIAN BUSOLINI and ANDREW PATTERSON were top ten at sixth with 17:37 and seventh with 17:52.  WILLIAM MORLEY ran a new parkrun personal best of 19:08 and CHARLIE ARNOLD was first man over 70 with 23:18 – a winning margin of 6:34!

This time the fastest female from Fairlands was CLAIRE PULLEN in 27:40 with JAYNE RIDDELL in 28:33 and SAMANTHA SUTTON also sub 30 with 29:59.  Great times considering how congested the course was in places for this very popular event.

MARIAN MORLEY ran her milestone 50^th parkrun in 30:23 and MARK GOODWIN, coming back to running, his 25^th in 33:49.  Those with mini-milestones included CAROLINE CROFT 130^th in 38:51; CALLIE CHAPMAN 90^th in 39:06; KARL SHREEVE 30^th in 40:23 and TRACY HAYGARTH her 180^th in 45:57.  Meanwhile MIKE CROWLEY completed his very first parkrun in 45:57.

More than 236,000 people ran a parkrun on Christmas Day!

Position	FVS parkrunner	Gender	Age Group	Time
6	Adrian BUSOLINI	Male	VM35-39	17:37
7	Andrew PATTERSON	Male	VM40-44	17:52
13	Simon JACKSON	Male	VM45-49	18:39
17	William MORLEY	Male	SM20-24	19:08
43	Stuart ARCHER	Male	VM40-44	20:54
60	Charlie WHITE	Male	SM30-34	22:00
61	Mike JEFFS	Male	VM40-44	22:01
88	Danny SCANLON	Male	VM40-44	23:11
91	Charles ARNOLD	Male	VM70-74	23:18
104	Kris WESTCOTT	Male	VM40-44	23:45
108	Keith HOOKER	Male	VM45-49	23:49
139	Tony RANDFIELD	Male	VM65-69	24:25
141	Daniel VILJOEN	Male	VM45-49	24:25
267	Claire PULLEN	Female 43/360	VW55-59	27:40
297	Jayne RIDDELL	Female 53/360	VW60-64	28:33
298	David RIDDELL	Male	VM60-64	28:35
337	Ryan DUNNING	Male	VM50-54	29:26
352	Samantha SUTTON	Female	VW50-54	29:59
354	Perri GENTRY	Male	SM25-29	30:02
374	Marian MORLEY	Female	VW60-64	30:23
391	Vishal SHAH	Male	VM40-44	30:57
397	Jay PAPA	Male	SM30-34	31:10
398	Richard MOORE	Male	VM45-49	31:10
404	Kerstin WEINER	Female	VW55-59	31:15
432	Nick KLEANTHOUS	Male	VM60-64	31:56
438	Shauna LAWLESS	Female	SW25-29	32:05
475	Andy PRIOR	Male	VM55-59	32:50
485	Monica SMITHSON	Female	VW60-64	33:03
486	Ada JANUSIENE	Female	VW40-44	33:05
496	Jim BROWN	Male	VM70-74	33:16
510	Mark GOODWIN	Male	VM65-69	33:49
532	Steve PLATT	Male	VM50-54	34:20
536	Debbie BLANTERN	Female	VW55-59	34:27
542	Claire EMMERSON	Female	VW50-54	34:37
543	Darren EMMERSON	Male	VM55-59	34:37
548	Jodie WILSON	Female	SW25-29	34:59
549	Leanne WILSON	Female	SW25-29	35:00
560	Georgie HOOPER	Female	VW35-39	35:15
561	Tracy PEZ	Female	VW50-54	35:16
592	Alice WELCH	Female	SW25-29	35:58
611	Andy JAY	Male	VM60-64	36:32
612	Nick GILL	Male	VM35-39	36:36
639	Lucy PAUL	Female	VW45-49	37:32
671	Stephen SMITHSON	Male	VM55-59	38:12
692	Caroline CROFT	Female	VW50-54	38:51
700	Hilary DAVIES	Female	VW60-64	39:03
703	Callie CHAPMAN	Female	VW40-44	39:06
744	Karl SHREEVE	Male	VM55-59	40:23
754	Jane WADEY	Female	VW55-59	40:41
756	Hazel SMITH	Female	VW50-54	40:44
763	Sam GENTRY	Female	VW45-49	40:52
853	Tracy HAYGARTH	Female	VW55-59	43:40
867	Mike CROWLEY	Male	VM65-69	45:57
873	Rebecca RAYNER	Female	VW40-44	47:39
876	Elizabeth CROWLEY	Female	VW35-39	48:18
877	Sharon CROWLEY	Female	VW65-69	48:26
904	Thomas SAUKA	Male	VM50-54	58:04

A Couple of Charlies and other parkrun highlights

On Saturday 27^th CHARLIE ARNOLD broke the 70 plus age group record at Henlow Bridge Lakes parkrun with 23 minutes 8 seconds (23:08).  Meanwhile Spartan CHARLIE WHITE finished in 22:52.

MIKE REYNOLDS ran the Princes Park, Liverpool parkrun in 28:01 and SARAH ILLINGWORTH Tyne Green, Hexham in 28:25 but JENNY GARRETT wins the prize for parkrun tourism this week.  She was one of 1,053 finishers at the Albert Park, Melbourne parkrun which she ran in 39:19 and got an “A” for her parkrun alphabet.

Cold enough for one or two slippery patches and only two days after the record busting Thursday but still 424 including 26 Spartans turned out for the regular Saturday Stevenage parkrun on 27^th December.

For a selection of other events coming up soon see Coming Events later in this release.

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time
5	5	Simon JACKSON	18:37
15	15	Perri GENTRY	20:36
65	61	Matthew COOKE	23:56
87	7	Claire PULLEN	25:13
100	88	Daniel VILJOEN	25:50
123	16	Jodie WILSON	26:33
132	113	Darren EMMERSON	26:51
207	47	Claire EMMERSON	29:12
209	49	Carole SHELDRICK	29:14
249	69	Ada JANUSIENE	31:04
256	74	Fiona CLARKE	31:24
257	177	Matt CLARKE	31:24
260	76	Sophie PARSONS	31:38
263	179	Ryan RIDDELL	31:42
272	186	Nick KLEANTHOUS	32:07
275	83	Alice WELCH	32:19
285	189	Chris HOLLAND	33:16
313	110	Hilary DAVIES	34:41
345	133	Sam GENTRY	36:44
387	222	Tony RANDFIELD	42:44
396	225	Michael O’KEEFE	46:14
411	233	Thomas SAUKA	52:20
412	234	Roger BIGGS	53:30
414	170	Samantha SUTTON	54:36
415	235	Matthew PATTMAN	54:37
424	240	Jim BROWN	60:21

Cross Country Update

A great turnout and some real efforts have moved Fairlands Valley Spartans up in the Sunday League cross country.  Their women’s team were ninth in the second event but jumped up to fourth in the third fixture.  The women’s over 35 team jumped from tenth to second!  In the combined scores for men and women FVS are now fifth out of the 18 clubs with some other clubs not far in front.

In the run up to Christmas more than fifty, 23 women and 29 men, Fairlands Valley Spartans ran the cross country league race in Stevenage on Sunday morning 21^st December.  21 other Spartans volunteered as marshals or helped in other ways.

On an undulating three lap course in the south field of Fairlands Valley Park GEORGE HALFPENNY was the fastest Spartan over the 7.75 kilometres.  He was 15^th in 28:59.

The next two Spartans were also under 30 minutes.  ADRIAN BUSOLINI 18^th in 29:18 and DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT 30^th in 29:55.

NATALIE LAWRENCE was the fastest female from Fairlands, and third woman overall, with her 31:36 lapping many of the men.  Next came SHAUNA LAWLESS in 36:51 and SUZY HAWKINS in 36:56. 

Celebrating his birthday didn’t slow CHARLIE ARNOLD who ran round in 36:50.

This was a first cross country league race for many Spartans including George Halfpenny (28:59), Graham Hoare (38:18), Shauna Lawless (36:51), Sally Pickles (49:09), Amanda Vickers (57:05) and Chris Watling (42:43).

There were 403 finishers.  The next and fourth Sunday League race will be in Panshanger Park on Sunday 11^th January.

Position	Name	Official	Category
15	GEORGE HALFPENNY	28:59	MSenior
18	ADRIAN BUSOLINI	29:18	MSenior
30	DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT	29:55	M40
54	NATALIE LAWRENCE	31:36	W35
58	DAN HUKIN	31:56	M40
75	JAY PAPA	32:54	MSenior
76	NICK GILL	32:56	MSenior
92	ADRIAN DONNELLY	33:19	M40
106	GRANT RAMSAY	34:05	M50
138	LIAM WELLER	36:10	MSenior
139	ANDY SHAW	36:12	M50
158	CHARLIE ARNOLD	36:50	M60
159	SHAUNA LAWLESS	36:51	WSenior
161#	SUZY HAWKINS	36:56	W45
163	LEWIS GREEN	37:11	M40
166	GEORGIE HOOPER	37:23	W35
189	GRAHAM HOARE	38:18	M50
190	KEITH HOOKER	38:21	M40
201	MELVIN AUBURN	38:42	MSenior
202	MATT COOKE	38:43	MSenior
247	CHLOE SIMPSON	41:21	W35
250	ALICE WELCH	41:25	WSenior
265	ANDY PRIOR	42:13	M50
272	CRAIG BACON	42:36	M50
275	CHRIS WATLING	42:43	MSenior
278	JO COOKSLEY	42:50	W35
295	DARREN EMMERSON	43:35	M50
300	PETE COOK	43:47	M50
304	JACKIE PERRY	43:59	W55
315	SIMON SYPULA	44:36	M40
319	LINDA GEORGE	44:56	W35
321	ADAM HILL	45:23	MSenior
322	MARK FREEMAN	45:27	M60
335	SAM SUTTON	46:39	W45
336	JON SYPULA	46:46	M40
338	JACOB NELMS	46:54	MSenior
341	JIM BROWN	46:58	M70
346	SAM GENTRY	47:44	W45
350	CLAIRE EMMERSON	48:16	W45
351	SHARON CROWLEY	48:24	W65
352	EMILY GRIEVES	48:47	WSenior
353	STEVE TINSLEY	48:56	M40
355	ANNABELLE WHITE	48:59	WSenior
357	SALLY PICKLES	49:09	W55
370	LIZ CROWLEY	51:01	W35
375	BECKY RAYNER	51:31	W35
381	CALLIE CHAPMAN	53:44	W35
384	BECCA BIRT	54:13	W45
393	AMANDA VICKERS	57:05	W45
394	JAYNE DYMOKE	57:16	W45
395	PAUL HOLGATE	59:03	M60
399	JANE WADEY	62:56	W55