Author: Liam PBM

2011's PB Machine and Spartan of the Year. Ninja Librarian and fashion icon. Has awesome hair. Loves to run, generally.

NEWS RELEASE: CLARE WINS 5K

Post author By Liam PBM
Post date November 27, 2012
100 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: CLARE WINS 5K

CLARE WINS 5K

Cross Country 28 * Wet Wolverton

Handicap 5K

There were very tough running conditions for the Spartans final handicap 5K of the year as very strong winds blasted their way into the faces of the 28 runners all the way along Grace Way from the 2K marker for nearly two kilometres.

First to finish, in her first 5k with the club was newcomer CLARE MOORE, supported by Jim Brown, in 25 minutes 36 seconds. Clare was 4 minutes 24 seconds ahead of her handicap!

The winning man was BARRY KING in a year’s best time of 23:12. DAVE SMITH was second in a new personal best of 22:30. Newcomer ENDA MURPHY was third in 23:20.

KAREN PALMER was second woman across the line, in 9^th position overall, in 26:12. That was just four days after running the St Neots Half Marathon. SARAH PIKE was third female in 24:48.

Once again GRANT RAMSAY was fastest on the night. He was showing no side effects from his county championship winning Luton Marathon run just four days earlier as he completed the course in 17:34 to finish in 10^th position overall. LIAM HERBERT was second quickest man in 19:09 and JAMIE KELLET third fastest in a new personal best of 20:07, 2 seconds quicker than BERNIE BARNABY.

The fastest female was RHIANNON GRIFFIN in 21:16, with SARAH PIKE second quickest and event winner CLARE MOORE third fastest.

Despite the conditions there were still several personal bests (PB) on the night, including for James Marlow +1:09 to 23 minutes 31 seconds; Hannah Davidson +0:39 to 26:01 and Matthew Palacio +0:35 to 23:00.

Pos	Name	Time	R	F	Comments
1	CLARE MOORE (F)	25:36	20	3	Event Winner. 1st 5K
2	JIM BROWN	25:36	19
3	BARRY KING	23:12	14		YB (1:17)
4	DAVE SMITH	22:30	11		PB (2:00)
5	ENDA MURPHY	23:20	15		1st 5K
6	MATTHEW PALACIO	23:00	13		PB (0:35)
7	JAMES MARLOW	23:31	16		PB (1:09)
8	JAMIE KELLETT	20:07	3		1st 5K
9	KAREN PALMER (F)	26:12	23	5
10	GRANT RAMSAY	17:34	1
11	MATT GILL	22:01	7		YB (2:11)
12	RYAN DUNNING	22:18	9
13	BERNIE BARNABY	20:09	4
14	ALEX ROUSE	22:43	12		1st 5K
15	CHRIS LEIGH	26:01	22
16	HANNAH DAVIDSON (F)	26:01	21	4	PB (0:39)
17	LIAM HERBERT	19:09	2
18	MARK BEASLEY	21:40	6
19	SARAH PIKE (F)	24:42	18	2
20	KERRY SETTERFIELD (F)	32:19	26	7	YB (3:23)
21	RHIANNON GRIFFIN (F)	21:16	5	1
22	PAUL HOLGATE	26:35	24
23	LISA GAVIGAN (F)	27:39	25	6
24	MARK GOODWIN	22:26	10
25	PETE SMITH	22:15	8
26	DEAN CARPENTER	24:34	17		1st 5K
27	MATTHEW HOLGATE	42:15	27
28	SIMON HARRIS	45:18	28

Time Order:

Time Position	Name	Time	F	Comments
1	GRANT RAMSAY	17:34
2	LIAM HERBERT	19:09
3	JAMIE KELLETT	20:07		1st 5K
4	BERNIE BARNABY	20:09
5	RHIANNON GRIFFIN (F)	21:16	1	Fastest Female
6	MARK BEASLEY	21:40
7	MATT GILL	22:01		YB (2:11)
8	PETE SMITH	22:15
9	RYAN DUNNING	22:18
10	MARK GOODWIN	22:26
11	DAVE SMITH	22:30		PB (2:00)
12	ALEX ROUSE	22:43		1st 5K
13	MATTHEW PALACIO	23:00		PB (0:35)
14	BARRY KING	23:12		YB (1:17)
15	ENDA MURPHY	23:20		1st 5K
16	JAMES MARLOW	23:31		PB (1:09)
17	DEAN CARPENTER	24:34		1st 5K
18	SARAH PIKE (F)	24:42	2	Second Fastest Female
19=	JIM BROWN	25:36
19=	CLARE MOORE (F)	25:36	3	1st 5K. Third Fastest Female
21	HANNAH DAVIDSON (F)	26:01	4	PB (0:39)
22	CHRIS LEIGH	26:01
23	KAREN PALMER (F)	26:12	5
24	PAUL HOLGATE	26:35
25	LISA GAVIGAN (F)	27:39	6
26	KERRY SETTERFIELD (F)	32:19	7	YB (3:23)
27	MATTHEW HOLGATE	42:15
28	SIMON HARRIS	45:18

The next Handicap 5k will be on Thursday 3^rd January 2013.

(PB = personal best; SB = season’s best; YB = year’s best).

Fantastic Turnout for Cross Country

There was a brilliant sunny morning for Sunday morning’s cross country fixture but Grovelands Park, Southgate was pretty waterlogged after Saturday’s heavy rain. Twenty eight Spartans, more than two complete teams, tackled the 8,000 metres three lap course with the heavy going and undulations slowing some down more than others.

RHIANNON GRIFFIN led in the Spartan women’s “A” team with an excellent time of 40 minutes 4 seconds for the tough course, she was supported by an improving MADDIE PRITCHARD (45:40) together with ANN TRYSSESOONE (45:56); HANNAH DAVIDSON (47:45) and KAREN LIDDLE (49:41).

The “B” team was headed up by TRICIA HOPPER (50:20) and also included JEANNETTE COLLINS (52:29); MARIA THORNE (52:35); LORRAINE THOMAS (53:08) and IRIS HORNSEY (54:08). ELIZABETH and SHARON CROWLEY finished in 58:21.

Three Spartan men finished in the top twenty. LEE REYNOLDS was ninth in 31 minutes 45 seconds followed by SIMON JACKSON, tenth, in 31:53 and ANDY PATTERSON, twentieth, in 33:05. The others in the eight man “A” team were DANNY HUKIN, 43^rd, in 34:44; TODD GRAY, 85^th, in 37:06; ADRIAN DONNELLY, 115^th, in 38:37; GRAHAM BLACKBURN, 127^th, in 39:36 and MATT GILL, 138^th, in 39:52.

STEVE MAYFIELD, 150^thin 40:20 led in the “B” team. He was supported by JIM BROWN, 206^th in 43:52; BARRY KING, 231^st in 45:17; ANDY PRIOR, 247^th in 46:47; MARK CHEADLE, 248^th in 46:48; NICK WITCOMBE, 299^th in 49 minutes exactly; MATTHEW HOLGATE, 344^th in 65:52 and PAUL HOLGATE, 345^th also in 65:52.

These results are certain to move the Spartans up the league table when the team results are published.

Steve Mayfield, Paul Holgate, Mark Cheadle, Andy Prior, Simon Jackson, Tricia Hopper and Sharon Crowley had run the very wet Wolverton Five road race the previous afternoon.

Spartan Women:

Overall Position	Name	Time
141	RHIANNON GRIFFIN	40:04
237	MADDIE PRITCHARD	45:40
240	ANN TRYSSESOONE	45:56
262	HANNAH DAVIDSON	47:45**
281	KAREN LIDDLE	49:41
290	TRICIA HOPPER	50:20
306	JEANETTE COLLINS	52:29
307	MARIA THORNE	52:35**
310	LORRAINE THOMAS	53:08
316	IRIS HORNSEY	54:08
340	ELIZABETH CROWLEY	58:21
341	SHARON CROWLEY	58:21

Spartan Men:

Overall Position	Name	Time
9	LEE REYNOLDS	31:45
10	SIMON JACKSON	31:53
20	ANDREW PATTERSON	33:05
43	DANNY HUKIN	34:44
85	TODD GRAY	37:06
115	ADRIAN DONNELLY	38:37
127	GRAHAM BLACKBURN	39:36
138	MATT GILL	39:52
150	STEVE MAYFIELD	40:20
206	JIM BROWN	43:52
231	BARRY KING	45:17
247	ANDY PRIOR	46:47
248	MARK CHEADLE	46:48
299	NICK WITCOMBE	49:00**
344	MATTHEW HOLGATE	65:52
345	PAUL HOLGATE	65:52

The next cross country league match will be in St. Albans on Sunday 9^th December.

Wet Wolverton

Wolverton was wet, wet, continuously wet for Saturday afternoon’s five mile road race. Despite that seven of the 17 Spartans ran new personal bests. SIMON JACKSON was 21^st out of the 213 finishers in a new PB of 28 minutes 8 seconds; LIAM HERBERT was 40^th in a new PB of 30:25; STEVE MAYFIELD was 77^th in a new PB of 34:00; ANDY PRIOR 122^nd in 38:54; MARK CHEADLE 127^th in 39:33; NICOLA LORIMER 130^th in 39:30 and TRICIA HOPPER 142^nd in 41 minutes 22 seconds.

RICHARD BATE (28:52); KEVIN SMYTH (34:46); ROGER BIGGS (38:27) and YVONNE JONES (41:50) all ran season’s bests and RYAN DUNNING completed his first five mile race in 37 minutes exactly. BARRY OSBORNE was second veteran (60 plus) in 32:03 and SIMON BELL third veteran (45 plus) in 30:05.

Position	Name	Chip Time	Comments
21	SIMON JACKSON	28:08	PB (4 seconds)
24	RICHARD BATE	28:52	SB
39	SIMON BELL	30:05	3^rd Vet 45 plus
40	LIAM HERBERT	30:25	PB (3 seconds)
61	BARRY OSBORNE	32:03	2^nd Vet 60 plus
77	STEVE MAYFIELD	34:00	PB (10 seconds)
84	KEVIN SMYTH	34:46	SB
108	ANNETTE BELL (F)	37:01	YB
109	RYAN DUNNING	37:00	First 5 mile race
120	ROGER BIGGS	38:27	SB
122	ANDY PRIOR	38:54	PB (49 seconds)
127	MARK CHEADLE	39:33	PB (1:15)
130	NICOLA LORIMER (F)	39:30	PB (16 seconds)
137	PAUL HOLGATE	40:40	YB
142	TRICIA HOPPER (F)	41:22	PB (1:37)
145	YVONNE JONES (F)	41:50	SB
155	SHARON CROWLEY (F)	44:02	YB

Sharon’s Silver in Herts Marathon

In the recent Hertfordshire Marathon Championship SHARON CROWLEY took SILVER in the women’s veteran 45 plus category. ROGER BIGGS won GOLD in the men’s 60 plus category and GRANT RAMSAY took GOLD in the 40 plus category as well as winning the county championship overall.

Baggage for VLM.

The London Marathon is not until Sunday 21^st April but Fairlands Valley Spartans are already signing up volunteers for help in Pall Mall. The club have helped make the event a success for many years. Places for the baggage will be allocated after the draw for running place at the Spartans Christmas Party which is on Friday, 14^th December 2012.

Coming Events

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

Cross Country League in St Albans on Sunday 9^th December.
Spartans Christmas Party on Friday 14^th December.
Buntingford Ten on Sunday 30^th December.
Handicap 5K on Thursday evening 3^rd January 2013.
County Cross Country Championships at Haileybury College on Sunday 6^th January.
Cross Country League on Therfield Heath, Royston on Sunday 13^th January.
Cross Country League in Watford on Sunday 17^th February.
Virgin London Marathon on 21^st April.

Join The Spartans

Live in or near Stevenage? Like running? Fairlands Valley Spartans is your local running club and is on the up! The club was voted the UK’s Best Running Club in 2010. It now has over 400 members and encourages participation by all. The Spartans have a varied training programme to suit those who want to run 5 kilometres through to full marathons.

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to drama studio next to the gymnastics centre at Marriotts School — a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 0AN) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights — there will be one to suit you!

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 9.30a.m. sharp. Spartan track training sessions are held at Ridlins Athletics Track, Woodcock Road, Stevenage most Saturdays from 9.15a.m. There are events to enter every Sunday. Newcomers are very welcome — those who have not done very much running yet might prefer to start with a Thursday, Saturday or Monday session.

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £27 per year. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (0793 968 7509 or 01438 354505), Vivienne Honey 07702 846304 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: BESTS AT ST NEOTS

Post author By Liam PBM
Post date November 20, 2012
56 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: BESTS AT ST NEOTS

BESTS AT ST. NEOTS

Success At County Marathon

The St. Neots Half Marathon was a beautiful run on a lovely course in perfect conditions and produced fourteen new personal bests for Fairlands Valley Spartans.

STEVE MAYFIELD improved by 49 seconds to 1:33:01; DAVIE STAFFORD by 2:53 to 1:35:30; NIKKI ANDREWS by 3:32 to 1:39:17; MARK GOODWIN by 1:31 to 1:40:25; JON SYPULA by 1:33 to 1:41:53; CLAIRE COKER by 1:13 to 1:46:45; VISHAL SHAH by a massive 7 minutes 34 seconds to 1:47:05; MADELEINE PRITCHARD by 3:37 to 1:48:05; ANDY PRIOR had the biggest improvement, 8 minutes 40 seconds, to 1:49:32; KAREN ELLIS 1:11 to 1:53:51; RACHEL PAYNE by 3:36 to 1:53:53; NICK WITCOMBE by 3:26 to 2:02:45; VIVIENNE HONEY by 0:38 to 2:14:52 and JO CAHILL by 1:29 to 2:30:31.

CHRIS WESTCOTT was the fastest Spartan. He was 48^th out of the 921 finishers in 1 hour 23 minutes 59 seconds.

Here are the times for all 25 Spartans (the first number is the position in the club; the second is the position in the race which is followed by the chip time):

1 Chris Westcott 48 1.23.59; 2 Graham Blackburn 112 1.29.40; 3 Steve Mayfield 162 1.33.01 PB 0.49; 4 Davie Stafford 196 1.35.30 PB 2.53; 5 Phil Gale 221 1.37.21; 6 Nikki Andrews 260 1.39.17 PB 3.32; 7 Mark Goodwin 279 1.40.25 PB 1.31; 8 Jon Sypula 307 1.41.53 PB 1.33; 9 Tracy Pez 386 1.46.04 YB 10.23; 10 Claire Coker 400 1.46.45 PB 1.13; 11 Vishal Shah 404 1.47.05 PB 7.34; 12 Madeline Pritchard 424 1.48.05 PB 3.37; 13 Andy Prior 458 1.49.32 PB 8.40; 14 Paul Marshall 510 1.51.58; 15 Karen Ellis 531 1.53.51PB 1.11; 16 Andy Jay 532 1.53.59; 17 Rachel Payne 533 1.53.53 PB 3.36; 18 Paul Holgate 589 1.56.52; 19 Beverly Harlow 592 1.56.27; 20 Karen Palmer 674 2.00.19; 21 Phil Rushton 686 2.01.28; 22 Nick Witcombe 706 2.02.45 PB 3.26; 23 Vivienne Honey 829 2.14.52 PB 0.38; 24 Maria Rushton 881 2.27.56; 25 Jo Cahill 894 2.30.31 PB 1.29

Position	Name	Time	Comments
48	CHRIS WESTCOTT	1:23:59
112	GRAHAM BLACKBURN	1:29:40
162	STEVE MAYFIELD	1:33:01	PB (0:49)
196	DAVIE STAFFORD	1:35:30	PB (2:53)
221	PHIL GALE	1:37:21
260	NIKKI ANDREWS (F)	1:39:17	PB (3:32)
279	MARK GOODWIN	1:40:25	PB (1:31)
307	JON SYPULA	1:41:53	PB (1:33)
386	TRACY PEZ (F)	1:46:04	Year’s Best
400	CLAIRE COKER (F)	1:46:45	PB (1:13)
404	VISHAL SHAH	1:47:05	PB (7:34)
424	MADELEINE PRITCHARD (F)	1:48:05	PB (3:37)
458	ANDY PRIOR	1:49:32	PB (8:40)
510	PAUL MARSHALL	1:51:58
531	KAREN ELLIS (F)	1:53:51	PB (1:11)
532	ANDY JAY	1:53:59
533	RACHEL PAYNE (F)	1:53:53	PB (3:36)
589	PAUL HOLGATE	1:56:52
592	BEVERLEY HARLOW (F)	1:56:27
674	KAREN ELLIS (F)	2:00:19
686	PHIL RUSHTON	2:01:28
706	NICK WITCOMBE	2:02:45	PB (3:26)
829	VIVIENNE HONEY (F)	2:14:52	PB (0.38)
881	MARIA RUSHTON (F)	2:27:56
894	JO CAHILL (F)	2:30:31	PB (1:29)

There were 921 finishers.

Luton Marathon (including Hertfordshire Championships)

On a slightly cold, but a glorious sunny November day, with barely a breeze blowing, Spartan GRANT RAMSAY won the Hertfordshire Marathon Championship with his time of 2 hours 45 minutes 37 seconds. He was fifth overall and first male (40 plus) in the Luton Marathon which incorporated the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Championships.

The event was on an undulating three lap course from the Lea Manor Recreation Centre to the North of Luton, out towards Streetley.

ROGER BIGGS took GOLD in the Vet 60 plus category for the second year running with his time of 3:57:55; ROB SHAW was 444^th in 4:42:30 and SHARON CROWLEY 466^th in 4:53:42.

Spartan Simmonds First Woman In Ashwell Multi-Terrain Half Marathon

Spartan TASHA SIMMONDS was first woman in Sunday’s Ashwell Multi-Terrain Half Marathon. On the hard course JOHN HARRIS was fifth overall and first male (50 plus) in 1 hour 31 minutes 51 seconds; SARAH PRICE shaved 30 seconds off her personal best with her time of 1:50:15 winning a trophy for second in her age group. LISA LIVERSIDGE finished in 2:03:28 and LORRAINE WYATT in 2:13:52.

Milton Keynes MoRun 10K

RUSS ANDREWS took part in his first ever competitive race on Sunday. It was the Milton Keynes MoRun 10K which he finished in 54 minutes exactly.

Leeds Abbey Dash 10K

On a relatively flat course and in the sunshine MATTHEW KIRK had a good run from Leeds city centre up to Kirkstall Abbey and back in the Abbey Dash 10k along with 9000 others. Very pleased (and surprised) to beat my PB by 29 secs in doing 45:48. Cheers.

Baggage for VLM.

Coming Events

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

Handicap 5K on Thursday evening 22^nd November.
Wolverton Five on Saturday 24^th November.
Cross Country League on Sunday 25^th November.
Cross Country League on Sunday 9^th December.
Spartans Christmas Party on Friday 14^th December.
Buntingford Ten on Sunday 30^th December.
Virgin London Marathon on 21^st April 2013.

Join The Spartans

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (0793 968 7509 or 01438 354505), Stephanie Mayfield 01438 815859 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: ROGER TRIPLE MAKES 1500

Post author By Liam PBM
Post date November 13, 2012
63 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: ROGER TRIPLE MAKES 1500

ROGER’S TRIPLE MAKES 1500

And Three In A Row For Grant

ROGER BIGGS has run 1500 races! On Thursday 1^st November he travelled to Penkridge in Staffordshire for the Enigma Staffs Trail Marathon. This was a marathon entirely on the towpath of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. The course consisted of four out & backs laps of approx 6.6 miles. Going out south against the locks (climbs at each one), then returning back to ‘The Boat’ Public House before starting the next lap. Due to heavy rain the night before, the compacted surface had become very muddy & slippery, hence fast times were not in order. Roger completed the course in 4 hours 25 minutes 39 seconds.

There was another trip north for Roger Biggs, to complete a scenic route totally around the Rutland Water Reservoir for the Rutland Water Trail Marathon on Sunday 4^th November. To make up the marathon distance, runners had to make two trips around Hambleton Peninsula. While the surface would normally be quite acceptable, the incessant rain made the course very wet, with puddles that took up the whole path, so running shoes were very wet. With temperatures probably topping out at 5C, it was day to get round and no more. He finished in 4:34:27

The Enigmas Fox at 40 Trail Marathon last Sunday was a race to celebrate the 40^th birthday of Race Director David ‘Foxey’ Bayley, and the amazing consistency of 100 Marathon Club member Steve Edwards, for completing 500 marathons with finishing times of under 3hrs & 30 mins.

The course hugged the waters edge of Caldecotte Lake in Bletchley near Milton Keynes. It was run in near perfect conditions. a nip in the air, but it was a lovely sunny day to run 7.5 times around a lake. Roger Biggs finished in 4:05:04; CAROL PAUL in 5:01:59 and PAUL HOLGATE in 5:04:46.

This means that Roger has completed 1500 events at all distances from 400 metres on the track to 80 mile ultras, including over 700 marathons.

Three Out Of Three For Grant

Spartan GRANT RAMSAY beat 200 runners to win the Watford Autumn Challenge Five Miles Off Road Race for the third year in a row. He finished in 31 minutes 14 seconds. This was his sixth win in seven years.

Baggage for VLM

Coming Events

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

St. Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 18^th November.
Handicap 5K on Thursday evening 22^nd November.
Wolverton Five on Saturday 24^th November.
Cross Country League on Sunday 25^th November.
Cross Country League on Sunday 9^th December.
Spartans Christmas Party on Friday 14^th December.
Buntingford Ten on Sunday 30^th December.
Virgin London Marathon on 21^st April 2013.

Join The Spartans

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (0793 968 7509 or 01438 354505), Stephanie Mayfield 01438 815859 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: FILTHY HALF MARATHON

Post author By Liam PBM
Post date November 5, 2012
66 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: FILTHY HALF MARATHON

FILTHY HALF MARATHON

Jen’s Ogle

Heavy rain greeted runners as they lined up for the Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday morning. The filthy conditions persisted for much of the race but 446 finished with the fastest being PAUL ADAMS from St. Albans Striders in just 1 hour 17 minutes 39 seconds. SIMON RILEY, also from St. Albans, was second in 1:13:57 with MARTIN BATEMAN, Hillingdon Athletic Club third in 1:15:41.

Fairlands Valley Spartans’ GRANT RAMSAY ran a new season’s best time of 1 hour 17 minutes 39 seconds to come sixth overall and win the County GOLD medal for veteran runners (40 plus).

GIEDRE DRAKE from Garden City Runners was first woman in 1 hour 31 minutes 7 seconds with Spartans’ JO LAING second in 1:35:16. Jo won the County GOLD medal for women veterans (35 plus). CATHERINE COLLINS from London Heathside was third women in 1:35:33 and ANDREA MANN from Garden City fourth in 1:36:01.

Spartans’ CHRISTOPHER WESTCOTT won the County SILVER for men aged 40 plus with his time of 1:22:53.

Golden Women

Fairlands Valley Spartans’ women won the county team race with JO LAING (1:35:16); MADDIE PRITCHARD (1:55:33) and TRACY PEZ (1:57:30). [Teams of three]. The club’s men took SILVER with GRANT RAMSAY (1:17:39); CHRISTOPHER WESTCOTT (1:22:53); TONY BRADFORD (1:33:27) and SAM HARTE (1:40:27). [Teams of four].

The race included the county veteran championships as well as the seniors so Grant Ramsay, Christopher Westcott, Tony Bradford and PAUL MURRAY (1:45:10) to take the team GOLD medals for men aged 40 plus.

New personal bests were run by JON SYPULA (1:43:26); LEWIS DAVIN (1:48:27); SELVAN NAICKER (1:50:48) and ADAM DAVIN (1:58:36).

Fairlands Valley Spartans organised the race and provided dozens of volunteer marshals and race officials.

Results For All 25 Spartans:

Position	Name	Time	Comments
6	Grant RAMSAY	1:17:39	County Gold (V40), County Bronze
14	Christopher WESTCOTT	1:22:53	County Silver (V40), PB
64	Jo LAING (F)	1:35:16	County Gold, Second Woman
67	Tony BRADFORD	1:35:27	Season’s Best (SB)
103	Sam HARTE	1:40:27	First Half
106	Jamie DRACKFORD	1:40:37
143	Jon SYPULA	1:43:26	Personal Best (1:48)
161	Paul MURRAY	1:45:10
179	Robert EVANS	1:46:33	SB
184	Mikos TAYLOR	1:47:12	First Half
197	Chris HOLLAND	1:48:21	First Half
204	Lewis DAVIN	1:48:27	PB (9:08)
227	Selvan NAICKER	1:50:48	PB (0:22)
279	Andy JAY	1:55:22
281	Madeleine PRITCHARD (F)	1:55:33
306	Tracy PEZ (F)	1:57:30
313	Stephen BLOCK	1:58:10
320	Adam DAVIN	1:58:36	PB (6:54)
326	Robert SHAW	2:01:00
335	Paul HOLGATE	2:01:21
352	Ruth REILLY (F)	2:04:46	First Half
363	Donna GRAY (F)	2:06:00	First Half
382	Lee MORRIS	2:09:14
406	Graham HILL	2:13:53	First Half
422	Lee POTTER	2:21:11

Ogle

Jennifer Robertson ran the Glen Ogle Ultra in Strathyre, Scotland this weekend. 33 miles of stunning scenery, a forest trail route which was hilly in parts. Jen completed it in 6 hours 8 minutes.

Baggage for VLM

Coming Events

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

St. Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 18^th November.
Handicap 5K on Thursday evening 22^nd November.
Wolverton Five on Saturday 24^th November.
Cross Country League on Sunday 25^th November.
Cross Country League on Sunday 9^th December.
Buntingford Ten on Sunday 30^th December.
Virgin London Marathon on 21^st April 2013.

Join The Spartans

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (0793 968 7509 or 01438 354505), Stephanie Mayfield 01438 815859 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: MATTHEW AND CHRISTINE WIN 5K

Post author By Liam PBM
Post date October 30, 2012
52 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: MATTHEW AND CHRISTINE WIN 5K

MATTHEW AND CHRISTINE WIN 5K

Cross Country Season Starts

MATTHEW HOLGATE and CHRISTINE PROWLE were the winners as 32 runners took part in Fairlands Valley Spartans Handicap 5K on Thursday night.

Matthew was first to finish, four minutes quicker than his previous best 5K this year, and in a new personal best (PB) time of 36 minutes 17 seconds as he continued his improvements shown over recent weeks.

In second position, just 13 seconds behind Matthew and improving her own PB by 3:23 to 38 minutes exactly, the first female to finish was Christine Prowle, with AMANDA VICKERS second female, also in a new PB, of 34:12, 2:46 faster than previous. GEMMA SMITH was third female in her welcome return to the club with 25 minutes 50 seconds.

Third man (fourth overall) was newcomer ALI VORSTER in his debut 5k, finishing in 25 minutes exactly, 2:30 faster than handicap, with another newcomer, DAVE SMITH third man just a few seconds behind Ali, in 24:30, 2:15 ahead of handicap.

Grant Fastest

Fastest runner on the night was GRANT RAMSAY in 17 minutes 9 seconds. LIAM HERBERT was second quickest in 18:27 and ROB WILLIS third fastest with 18:33. BERNIE BARNABY also beat 20 minutes with 19:45 in his first 5k with the club.

Fastest female was the much improved RHIANNON GRIFFIN 20:20, with GEMMA SMITH’s 25:50 2^nd quickest and VIVIENNE HONEY 3^rd fastest in 28:14.

Next month’s Handicap 5k will be in 4 weeks time on Thursday 22^nd November.

Cross Country Season Starts

Sunday’s conditions were perfect for the first cross country league race of the season, a little mud but not a lot and a little cold but not too cold. Eighteen Spartans made the trip to Cheshunt with the following results.

Women: Alison Wood 84^th overall in 34 minutes 30 seconds; Rhiannon Griffin 111^th in 35.47; Nikki Andrews 159th in 38.33; Julie Simmons 160th (app. 38.36); Tracy Pez 165th (app. 39.15); Anne Tyressone 221st in 41.57; Nikki Lorimer 259th in 44.17; Hannah Davidson 272nd in 45.13 and Iris Hornsey 295th in 50.59

Men: Simon Jackson 13^th in 29 minutes 46 seconds; Martin Wood 75th (app. 33.55); Dave Bowker 76th in 34.01; Todd Gray 82nd in 34.23; Steve Mayfield 146th in 37.42; Andy Jay 223rd in 41.41; Mark Cheadle 228th in 42.16; Marc Green 264th (app. 44.00); Nick Stewart 308th (app. 47.00).

The first five women and eight men will count towards the league results though others may have contributed by getting ahead of runners from other clubs.

Britain’s Toughest Marathon

On a beautiful dry day, albeit with a chilly breeze that was quite strong in places, six Spartans took on Britain’s toughest marathon, in Snowdonia, North Wales.

With three massive climbs, the race is not for the faint hearted, but all six Spartans were delighted with their achievements and with such stunning scenery around the course are already looking forward to returning next year.

Their finishing times were – Matt Gill 4:08:48; Tricia Hopper 4:58:55; Karen Liddle 4:58:55; Barry King 4:58:55; Sharon Crowley 5:00:20 (21st consecutive Snowdon marathon – every year since 1991); and Paul Holgate 5:01:07 (24th consecutive – every year since 1988

Chosen Half

NICK WITCOMBE ran in the Chosen Half Marathon in New Braunfels, Texas, USA on Sunday. His time was 2 hours 13 minutes and 17 seconds. It was very cold due to a rare cold snap and the course was quite hilly. The race took place along the Guadalope river and the race was very picturesque and enjoyable. A fellow runner even recognised the famous FVS stripes.

Fenland 10mile at Wisbech.

The Fenland Ten was on a flat course but it weas open and exposed when windy as it was at the weekend. PHIL GALE says it was a well organised small race on quiet roads, raining at start but eased off soon afterwards. Lots of puddles on course and a pretty cold wind against runners in second half. He finished in 68 minutes exactly.

Roger Doubles Up

ROGER BIGGS ran the Woolwich Tunnel Marathon on Friday. It was organised by the 100 Marathon Club to commemorate the opening of the Woolwich Tunnel exactly 100 years ago. Starting at the Northern end of the tunnel, the marathon commenced by the entire field walking to the southern end, then up the 105 steps to emerge on the southern shore of the Thames. At this point the running started with four out & back sections along the Thames path to the East then West. After a reasonably good first half, Roger suffered to finish in 4 hours 32 minutes 11 seconds.

Then Roger travelled North to Preston for a marathon billed as ‘once every 20 years’. Organised as part of The Preston Guild, this well organised event went through Preston, then out into the countryside to the North & South. It wasn’t the undulating course that slowed down runners, it was the strong & cold Northerly wind plus rain from start to finish! Roger struggled early on, but found a strong finish to come home in 4:07:31.

Pompey Payne

RACHEL PAYNE ran the Great South Run in Portsmouth on Sunday in 1:23 which she is pretty pleased with.

20^th Anniversary Serpie

JIM BROWN ran the 20^th Anniversary Last Friday of the Month Serpentine 5K. This popular event goes round the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London. In cool, windy and damp conditions he was happy to finish in 22 minutes exactly and the first half of the finishers. He moved up to 22^nd overall in the 2012 series championship.

Baggage for VLM.

Enter Now!

The club host the County Championship Half Marathon on Sunday 4^th November. The race is in Stevenage and is for seniors and veterans. The championships are within an open race — everyone can have a go. Enter now. There are details on www.fvspartans.org.uk

Coming Events

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

Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 4^th November.
Handicap 5K on Thursday evening 22^nd November.
Cross Country League on Sunday 25^th November.
Buntingford Ten on Sunday 30^th December.
Virgin London Marathon on 21^st April 2013.

Join The Spartans

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (0793 968 7509 or 01438 354505), Stephanie Mayfield 01438 815859 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: GRANT TAKES OFF

Post author By Liam PBM
Post date October 23, 2012
234 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: GRANT TAKES OFF

Grant takes off

Five Spartans made the short trip to RAF Henlow on Wednesday for the annual RAF 10 mile championships from Old Warden to Henlow. On a windy day and into a headwind for most of the point-to-point run times were not surprisingly a little slower than hoped for but it did not stop Grant Ramsay coming away with the trophy for 1^st vet, in 5^th position overall, in 57:50, while Julie Simmons won the 1^st V55 female trophy in 1:17:31.

SIMON BELL finished in 1 hour 3 minutes 4 seconds, ROGER BIGGS in 1:21:02 and PAUL HOLGATE in 1:21:02. There were about 150 runners.

Spartans in the Cabbage Patch

Three Spartans completed the Cabbage Patch 10 in Twickenham on Sunday morning.

On a nice flat-ish course Nikki Andrews was first Spartan home in 1.14.57, RICHARD HAZELDENE finished in 1.15.00 and ANDY PRIOR in 1.22.58 — says he was just thankful to get to the end in 1 piece.

All highly recommended the race as a potential personal best course & will return in 2013.

Abingdon Marathon

There were pretty good running conditions for the Abingdon Marathon on Sunday with the temperature around 10C and the rain generally holding off. Great marshalling and well organised, just a shame the showers that did fall were freezing.

Christopher Westcott finished in 40^th position overall in a new personal best of 2 hours 57 minutes 48 seconds.

STEVE MAYFIELD’s first marathon for over two years resulted in a new personal best of 3:27:30. CAROL PAUL finished in 4:25:36 and ALISON SUCKLING 4:44:34.

Great Yarmouth Marathon — Sunday, 21^st October 2012

ROGER BIGGS took part in the inaugural running of the Great Yarmouth Marathon. The course was on three flats laps to the North, then South of the town, either along the promenade or adjoining roads. After some recent tough marathons on and off road, Roger returned to form with his second best marathon of 2012. He won the Vet 60 category with a time of 3 hours 51 minutes 45 seconds.

Tough Bacon

CRAIG BACON ran the Abbots Langley 10 in 47 minutes 52 seconds.

Rotherham Half Century

MIKE NEWBITT took part in the Rotherham 50 which is 50 miles off road with a set of instructions to find your way around the route. He took 14 hours and 52 minutes

Peterborough Claire

At the Great Eastern Run CLAIRE COKER took a 13 minutes 5 seconds chunk off her personal best (PB) reducing it to 1:48:18 and was absolutely chuffed to bits all her training paid off.

Baggage for VLM.

Enter Now!

COMING EVENTS

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

Handicap 5K on Thursday evening 25^th October.
Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 4^th November.
Buntingford Ten on Sunday 30^th December.
Virgin London Marathon on 21^st April 2013.

Join The Spartans

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (0793 968 7509 or 01438 354505), Stephanie Mayfield 01438 815859 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: CUTS AT PETERBOROUGH

Post author By Liam PBM
Post date October 16, 2012
No Comments on NEWS RELEASE: CUTS AT PETERBOROUGH

CUTS AT PETERBOROUGH

Loads of personal bests!

Forty one Fairlands Valley Spartans ran in the sun Sunday’s Great Eastern Run, the Peterborough Half Marathon. Many of the twenty three women and eighteen men were rewarded with new personal and season’s bests.

The Spartans star performer was DUNCAN MARSHALL who finished 78^th out of the 3,431 finishers in 1 hour 19 minutes 13 seconds. LIAM HERBERT took 2 minutes 36 seconds off his PB to finish 180^th in 1:25:46; STEVE MAYFIELD chopped 50 seconds off his PB to 1:33:50 and LISA BURGESS 4 minutes off her PB to 1:34:35.

Running his first half marathon since a major operation last year Spartan Press Officer JIM BROWN was delighted to finish with a time of 1 hour 41 minutes 45 seconds. MATT GILL ran his best half marathon this year with an improvement of 14 minutes 16 seconds to 1:43:15; JON SYPULA improved his PB by 49 seconds to 1:45:14; whilst NIKKI COLLINS improved her PB by 7 minutes and 34 seconds to 1:48:02 and CLAIRE COKER took a 13 minutes 5 seconds chunk off her PB reducing it to 1:48:18 and was absolutely chuffed to bits all her training paid off.

MADDIE PRITCHARD cut her PB by 7 minutes 38 seconds to 1:51:42. KAREN ELLIS improved by 4:01 to 1:55:02; RACHEL PAYNE by 4:09 to 1:57:29; MARIA THORNE by 2:51 to 2:01:09; STEVE WATKINS by 10:39 to 2:11:34; and MARIA RUSHTON by 1:28 to 2:14:11.

LES BUTLER improved his season’s best by 2:48 to 2:16:12; JAN FRY her PB by 8:57 to 2:20:20; JACKIE MORRISON cut her season’s best time by seven seconds to 2:23:53 and 80 year old RON COHEN cut his season’s best by 2:29 to 2:29:04.

Those who achieved the milestone of their first half marathon included DANNY HARWOOD (2:00:48); TRUDY MOLLOY (2:01:00); MELISSA GIBSON (2:14:23) and JAYNE PINNER (2:41:30).

The results for all 41 Spartans follow:

Position	Name	Time	Comments
78	Duncan MARSHALL	1:19:13	PB
180	Liam HERBERT	1:25:46	PB (2:36)
324	Graham BLACKBURN	1:30:53
326	Danny HUKIN	1:30:58	SB
430	Steve MAYFIELD	1:33:50	PB (0:50)
459	Lisa BURGESS (F)	1:34:35	PB (4:11)
592	Peter SMITH	1:37:44
787	Jim BROWN	1:41:45	SB. First half after a major operation.
874	Matt GILL	1:43:15	YB (14:16)
991	Jon SYPULA	1:45:14	PB (0:49)
1151	Nikki COLLINS (F)	1:48:02	PB (7:34)
1174	Claire COKER (F)	1:48:18	PB (13:05)
1395	Maddie PRITCHARD (F)	1:51:42	PB (7:38)
1436	Hadrian COOPER	1:52:14
1472	LEE POTTER	1:52:41	PB
1644	Karen ELLIS (F)	1:55:02	PB (4:01)
1730	Stephanie MAYFFIELD (F)	1:56:13
1818	Rachel PAYNE (F)	1:57:29	PB (4:09)
1973	Paul HOLGATE	1:59:57
2029	Danny HARWOOD	2:00:48	First Half Marathon
2046	Trudie MOLLOY (F)	2:01:00	First Half Marathon
2045	Barry kING	2:01:00	First half after ankle operation
2049	Stephen BLOCK	2:01:07
2053	Maria THORNE (F)	2:01:09	PB (2:51)
2231	Sharon CROWLEY (F)	2:04:32	YB
2553	Steve WATKINS	2:11:34	PB (10:39)
2597	Jeanette COLLINS (F)	2:12:19	SB
2621	Lisa GAVIGAN (F)	2:12:49	YB
2629	Karen SMITH (F)	2:13:03
2674	Maria RUSHTON (F)	2:14:11	PB (1:28)
2685	Melissa GIBSON (F)	2:14:23	First Half Marathon
2695	Tracy STILES (F)	2:14:47
2758	Les BUTLER	2:16:12	SB (2:48)
2884	Jan FRY (F)	2:20:20	PB (8:57)
2909	Lisa JERROM (F)	2:20:57	YB
3002	Jackie MORRISON (F)	2:23:53	SB (0:07)
3044	Karen BUCKLEY (F)	2:26:07
3108	Ron COHEN	2:29:04	SB (2:29) Age 80
3286	Jayne PINNER (F)	2:41:30	First Half Marathon. Pleased after a four month break due to injury.
3288	Nick WITCOMBE	2:41:31
3287	Hannah SYPULA (F)	2:41:31

Ware Ten

A multi terrain, two lap course and perfect weather conditions for running at Sunday’s Ware Ten provided the platform for several personal best performances. Experienced runner MARK GOODWIN continued his fantastic form this year with a PB of 1 hour 16 minutes 14 seconds, which was his second PB in a week. LEE LAWRENCE took 1:17:37. Despite massive blisters NATALIE BARNARD finished in `1:18:16 close to TRACY PEZ with 1:18:38. VISHAL SHAH cut his PB by four minutes to 1:21:04.

Matthew Is A Happy Spartan.

MATTHEW KIRK did the Liverpool marathon Sunday morning in glorious sunshine but cool and no wind so good conditions. He finished 40 minutes faster than last year in 3 hours 52 minutes which is his new personal best. Says he is very happy, or will be when his feet stop hurting!!

Chingford Cross Country

GRANT RAMSAY was fifth out of 300 in the Chingford League Cross Country race at Enfield. He covered the 8 kilometres in 27 minutes 29 seconds.

Founders Marathon — Sunday, 12^th October 2012

For yet another weekend ROGER BIGGS enjoyed lovely running weather on a tough course. This Sunday he was at the Founders Marathon.

This is an off road marathon run under LDWA (Long Distance Walkers Association) rules from Peaslake in the North Downs region of Surrey. “Founders” refers to the first LDWA meeting which was help in Peaslake. The event included 1,000 metres of climbing over some testing ground. Roger finished in 7 hours 18 minutes 41 seconds.

Baggage for VLM.

Enter Now!

Coming Events

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

Handicap 5K on Thursday evening 25^th October.
Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 4^th November.
Buntingford Ten on Sunday 30^th December.
Virgin London Marathon on 21^st April 2013.

Join The Spartans

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (0793 968 7509 or 01438 354505), Stephanie Mayfield 01438 815859 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: BARRY WINS GOLD AT STANDALONE

Post author By Liam PBM
Post date October 10, 2012
49 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: BARRY WINS GOLD AT STANDALONE

BARRY WINS GOLD AT STANDALONE

Ron 80 and still racing!

There were 46 Spartans among the 1,130 finishers in Sunday’s Standalone 10K race and several of them were county medal winners. BARRY OSBORNE won GOLD in the Vet 60 plus category with an outstanding sub 40 time of 39 minutes 56 seconds; JO LAING (40:34), TRACY PEZ (44:37) and JULIE SIMMONS (44:40) won silvers in the women’s team competition; Julie’s personal best improvement of 2 minutes 41 seconds helped her win SILVER in her age category; GRANT RAMSAY was second Vet 40 plus in an incredible new personal best (PB) of 34 minutes 15 seconds. He was sixth overall.

RON COHEN ran his first race since his 80^th birthday. He beat over a hundred runners with his time of 1 hour 4 minutes 2 seconds and he cycled to and from the event.

CHRISTOPHER WESTCOTT ran his first race as a veteran and celebrated with a time of 35 minutes 44 seconds — a personal best (PB) by 90 seconds. ANDREW PATTERSON improved his PB by 16 seconds to 36:29; DAVID BOWKER ran a new season’s best (SB) of 38:43; Club Chair GRAHAM BLACKBURN ran a new SB of 40:39; STEVE GREEN improved his PB by 1:41 to 42:52; Club Press Officer JIM BROWN achieved his first 75% age related score for many years by improving his season’s best by 2:52 to 43 minutes 17 seconds; MARK GOODWIN improved his PB by 1:16 to 43:56; NIKKI ANDREWS took a 6:38 chunk off for her new PB of 44:34; MADDIE PRITCHARD took 3 minutes 20 seconds off her PB with her time of 45 minutes 51 seconds; HADRIAN COOPER improved his PB by 31 seconds to 46:17; RYAN DUNNING by 5 seconds to 46:23; ANN TRYSSESOONE by 3:25 to 47:01; SELVAN NAICKER by 2:52 to 47:16; SCOTT ROUSE improved his season’s best by 43 seconds to 48:47; PAUL MARSHALL his SB by 2:06 to 50:18; SARAH PIKE her PB by 47 seconds to 50:27; STEVE PIKE his SB by 1:09 to 50:29; KAREN ELLIS her PB by 1:23 to 51:14; Club Treasurer MARK CHEADLE improved his PB by 1:08 to 51:54; HANNAH DAVIDSON her PB by over three minutes to 53:10; SAIVERSHAN NAIDO by over five minutes to 55:45; MELISSA TYLER, 59:02, beat her PB by 58 seconds; KAREN BUCKLEY her PB by 3:41 to 59:03; JANET COX by a massive 12 minutes 24 seconds to 1:07:29; LEE MORRIS by 1:23 to 1:07:35; and HELEN MORRIS by 1:23 to 1:07:36.

Several including CLAIRE SMITH (48:55) and LISA KASPEROWICZ (51:36) were running their first 10K race.

Standalone results for every Spartan:

Pos	Name	Chip	Comments
6	Grant RAMSAY	34:15	2^nd Vet 40. PB by 32 seconds
15	Christopher WESTCOTT	35:44	PB by 1:30. First race as a V40
21	Andrew PATTERSON	36:29	PB by 16 seconds
55	David BOWKER	38:43	SB by 15 seconds
78	Barry OSBORNE	39:56	1^st Vet 60. PB by 1:03.
139	Jo LAING (F)	40:34	Vet team silver.
94	Graham BLACKBURN	40:39	SB by 40 seconds.
101	Jake AMOS	40:54
130	Sam HARTE	42:12
143	Steve GREEN	42:52	PB by 1:41
161	Jim BROWN	43:17	SB by 2:52.
195	Mark GOODWIN	43:56	PB by 1:16
217	Nikki ANDREWS (F)	44:34	PB by 6:38
225	Tracy PEZ (F)	44:37	Vet team silver.
220	Tim PINE	44:37
228	Julie SIMMONS (F)	44:40	Individual and vet team silver. PB by 2:41
257	Mikos TAYLOR	45:31	1^st 10K.
270	Maddie PRITCHARD (F)	45:51	PB by 3:20
302	Hadrian COOPER	46:17	PB by 31 seconds
307	Ryan DUNNING	46:23	PB by 5 seconds
334	Ann TRYSSESOONE (F)	47:01	PB by 3:25
340	Selvan NAICKER	47:16	PB by 2:52
368	Paul PICKARD	47:57
430	Paul FORDE	48:15	1^st 10K
414	Scott ROUSE	48:47	SB by 43 seconds.
418	Claire SMITH (F)	48:55	1^st 10K
495	Paul MARSHALL	50:18	SB by 2:06
465	Sarah PIKE (F)	50:27	PB by 47 seconds
467	Steve PIKE	50:29	SB by 1:09
501	Owen STEWART	50:52	1^st 10K
530	Karen ELLIS (F)	51:14	PB by 1:23
547	Lisa KASPEROWICZ (F)	51:36	1^st 10K
548	Mark CHEADLE	51:54	PB by 1:08
626	Hannah DAVIDSON (F)	53:10	PB by over 3 minutes
668	Chris LEIGH	53:19
731	Paul HOLGATE	54:36
730	Sharon CROWLEY (F)	55:26
753	Saivershan NAIDO	55:45	PB by over 5 minutes
831	Lorraine THOMAS (F)	58:10	YB by 2 seconds
870	Melissa TYLER (F)	59:02	PB by 58 seconds
856	Karen BUCKLEY (F)	59:03	PB by 3:41
950	Gopalan NAIDOO	1:01:40
1014	Ron COHEN	1:04:02	80 years old and cycled to the event.
1062	Janet COX (F)	1:07:29	PB by 12:24
1064	Lee MORRIS	1:07:35	PB by 1:23
1065	Helen MORRIS (F)	1:07:36	PB by 1:23

(Many pictures are available in the Gallery here: http://fvspartans.org.uk/gallery/)

Royal Parks for Lisa and Lorraine

LISA LIVERSIDGE and LORRAINE WYATT ran in Sunday’s Royal Parks Half Marathon. Lisa finished in 2:00:38 and Lorraine in a new personal best of 2 hours 3 minutes 50 seconds.

First Saturday

Spartan JOHN HARRIS was fifth overall in the North Herts First Saturday of the Month 5K. His time of 19 minutes 56 seconds was achieved in muddy conditions.

Kielder 10K

LINDA GREEN ran 75 minutes 36 seconds in the Kielder 10K on Saturday. It was part of a weekend of events held at the Northumberland reservoir, which include a run-bike-run and a full marathon. The events are billed as “Britain’s Most Beautiful” – the organisers (Steve Cram among them) were not overdoing the praise there as it really is a fabulous location. The scenery goes some way to alleviate the discomfort from the undulating course!

Steve Cram wished Linda and her friend “have a good race, ladies” as they passed him on the way to the start line!

Biggleswade Open

JOHN TYRELL improved his personal best (PB) in the shot with 7.25 metres and in the discus with 19.71 metres in the Biggleswade open graded meeting at Sandy Sports Centre. He was competing in the over 75s age group.

When Ravens Dare

ROGER BIGGS travelled to Machen, Wales for the “When Ravens Dare” event on Saturday to run his 78^th different county in the UK and Ireland. On a glorious sunny day he toiled over an extremely hilly and wet underfoot course to finish in 8 hours 48 minutes 48 seconds.

Flower of Suffolk

CAROL PAUL and MIKE NEWBITT ran Sunday’s Flower of Suffolk 26.5 miles off road event around the Suffolk countryside from Walberswick. Carol and Mike finished in 5 hours 34 minutes 12 seconds. Dave Paul did the 17.5 mile route in 3:56:03

Baggage for VLM.

Enter Now!

Coming Events

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

Great Eastern (Peterborough) Half Marathon on Sunday 14^th October.
Handicap 5K on Thursday evening 25^th October.
Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 4^th November.
Virgin London Marathon on 21^st April 2013.

Join The Spartans

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (0793 968 7509 or 01438 354505), Stephanie Mayfield 01438 815859 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: SPARTAN TRACK AND FIELD WOMEN TAKE SILVER

Post author By Liam PBM
Post date October 1, 2012
104 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: SPARTAN TRACK AND FIELD WOMEN TAKE SILVER

SPARTAN TRACK AND FIELD WOMEN TAKE SILVER

After winning the central division of the Eastern Veterans Athletics Club track and field league during the season, Fairlands Valley Spartans women travelled to Milton Keynes to contest the league final against seven other clubs.

The women were looking to improve on their fifth place from last year but, up against strong competition from the likes of Chelmsford AC and Loughton AC, it was going to be tough. However, the Spartans showed their continuing improvement by coming second to take home Silver Medals.

The weather deteriorated during the day and became so bad that the Sprint Hurdles and High Jump competitions had to be cancelled. The Spartan ladies were not deterred and maintained their second position throughout the day.

Monica Brown was a super Spartan, winning six events out of seven. She was awarded Woman of the Match by the organisers for her great performances.

Rosie Canham stepped in for the injured Kerry James who was going to do the women’s 35 and over age group 1500 and 3000 metres. Rosie covered all distances from 100 metres to 3000 metres plus a 400 metre leg of the relay, great team work.

Tessa Stephenson has been concentrating on the Shot Putt and Discus throws after an injury earlier in the season. That was beneficial as she won the shot in a new personal best and club record of 8 metres 30. She also did a personal best to win the discus; both events were for the younger age group for women over 35.

After completing her 2 km walk in a huge personal best time, Jan Fry then turned to helping with officiating the competition and was rewarded with a bump on the head from a discus in a bizarre accident.

In an event she took up to gain vital points that had previously been missed, Stephanie Mayfield battled through the elements to come a good third place in the pole vault. She also gained points in the 400 metre hurdles, along with Sharon Crowley in the older age group in one of the few events which took place before the wet weather descended.

Carolyn Shortland competing in her first final with the Spartans, gained vital points in both the over fifty five and over thirty five age groups in the Shot and hammer throws.

Chris Feely and Sharon Crowley covered the middle to long distances in the over forty five age group as did Julie Simmons in the over 55 year age group, another Spartan in her first final for the Spartans.

Iris Hornsey followed up her success in the 70 plus year age group in the European Veteran Championships in Germany by covering the over 55 years Long Jump, 100 metres and relay.

Tessa Stephenson, Iris Hornsey, Stephanie Mayfield and Rosie Canham competed in the over thirty five relay of 400 metres, 200 metres x2 and finishing with another 400 metres.

In the same relay distance but for the over forty fives, Chris Feely, Julie Simmons, Sharon Crowley and Monica Brown ended the meeting coming second in a very exciting race as Monica was able two gain two places to end in second place.

Honington 10K

SIMON BELL ran the Honington 10km on Wednesday in 36 minutes 20 seconds, finishing 24th Overall and 3rd Veteran.
Biggleswade Open

David Bowker and Mark Cheadle took part in the 1500 metres at the Biggleswade Open Track Event on Saturday. Some brilliant sunshine made it perfect running conditions, although some strong headwinds down the back straight made it much tougher than expected, but well organised and great fun all the same.

David Bowker put in a fantastic performance, winning his heat among some great competitors. His season’s best 4 minutes 55 seconds was quicker than his target time. Mark ran a season’s best 6.18.

Serpie 5K

Conditions were mild, dry, overcast and breezy for Friday lunch time’s 5K race in Hyde Park, London.

Spartan JIM BROWN improved to the top half of the field, 96^th out of 201 finishers in 21 minutes 44 seconds. That’s ten seconds quicker than a month earlier on the faster Kensington Gardens course. He was third in his age category.

Mooathon — Sunday, 30^th September 2012

Roger travelled to County Donegal in Ireland for a marathon where entrants are encouraged to dress up as cows, and/or in black & white.

After a few days of very mixed weather, suddenly marathon day was greeted with some sunshine and ideal temperatures. However this was a tough course with steep climbs over the 1^st 4 miles, as the course left Kilmacrenan Town, just north of Letterkenny to head north to Downings where the half marathon finished next to a glorious beach. For marathon runners there was a loop round the coast with steep ups and downs from 14 miles through 20 miles, before finally the course was kind as runners found their way back to Downings.

Over such a tough course, Roger was happy to finish in 4:12:31, on Ireland’s most Northerly Marathon.

Eastern Combined Events

At the Eastern Athletic Association combined events, STEVE MAYFIELD competed in the senior pentathlon and was by some 20 years the oldest competitor in the field. Blustery conditions made all the events difficult, leading to below par performances by many athletes. Steve opened with 4.02m in the Long Jump, well down on his best this year. He followed up with a satisfying 27.51m in the Javelin and 27.8 in the 200m run into a headwind on the bend. His discus of 21.71 was just short of a PB but the final event, the 1500m, was a struggle and run in 5:23.3. Steve’s overall score was 1584pts (Senior) which converts to an age graded 2156 (V45). He did well in this regional standard event!

Jay Goes West

Andy Jay made the trip west, for the very popular Bristol Half marathon which was over a flat out and back course along the A4 under the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Andy finished in a year’s best time of 1 hour 51 minutes.

Enter Now!

Coming Events

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

Standalone 10K in Letchworth on Sunday 7^th October.
Great Eastern (Peterborough) Half Marathon on Sunday 14^th October.
Handicap 5K on Thursday evening 25^th October.
Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 4^th November.

Join The Spartans

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (01438 354505 or 0793 968 7509), Stephanie Mayfield 01438 815859 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE AT PM5

Post author By Liam PBM
Post date September 25, 2012
179 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE AT PM5

GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE FOR SPARTANS AT PM5

There were gold, silver and bronze medals for Fairlands Valley Spartans in the Paul Maguire Memorial Five Mile Road Race which included the county championships for seniors and veterans.

JO LAING was fastest woman and won the county senior and veterans championships with a time of 32 minutes 34 seconds. She led the GOLD winning women’s team which included ANN TRYSSESOONE, bronze medal in the women’s 45 plus category in 38 minutes 9 seconds — a PB (personal best) by 2 minutes 40 seconds, and NICKY LORIMER with a time of 39 minutes 52 seconds.

JIM BROWN won an individual silver medal in the Vet 60 category with his time of 36 minutes 2 seconds and contributed to a silver medal winning performance by the Spartan veterans with DAVID BOWKER, bronze in the men’s 50 plus category in 31:20); PETER SMITH (34:59) and MARK GOODWIN with a new personal best of 35:43.

David Bowker, TODD GRAY (31:33), ADRIAN DONNELLY (33:00) and Pete Smith also won silver in the senior team category.

Showing strength in depth among the Spartan women KAREN ELLIS (40:57); MARIA THORNE (44:42) and LORRAINE THOMAS (47:29) took team bronze medals for female runners aged 35 plus.

SIMON BELL was the fastest Spartan, seventh overall in 29 minutes 52 seconds, but he is not eligible for Hertfordshire awards.

The race was organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans with LISA JERROM doing a superb job as race director. The course included the cycleways on Fairlands Way, Grace Way, Martins Way and a loop within Fairlands Valley Park.

Position	Name	Time	Comments
7	SIMON BELL	29.52	(Not Herts)
19	DAVID BOWKER	31.20	V50 County Bronze. Team Silver. Vets Team Silver.
20	TODD GRAY	31.33	Team Silver.
23	JO LAING (F)	32.34	1^st Woman. County Gold. Team Gold.
25	ADRIAN DONNELLY	33.00	Team Silver.
37	PETER SMITH	34.59	Team Silver. Vets Team Silver.
41	KIERAN FEETHAM	35.22
45	MARK GOODWIN	35.43	Vets Team Silver (PB)
48	JIM BROWN	36.02	V60 County Silver. Vets Team Silver.
57	JON SYPULA	37.21
58	VISHAL SHAH	37.26
60	PAUL FORDE	38.08
62	ANN TRYSSESOONE (F)	38.11	FV45 Bronze. Team Gold (PB)
67	IAN SIMPSON	39.11
68	ANDREW PRIOR	39.43
70	NICKY LORIMER (F)	39.52	Team Gold
71	ANTHONY WHITE	40.07
72	STEPHEN PIKE	40.09
77	RACHEL PAYNE (F)	40.54
79	KAREN ELLIS (F)	40.57	Vets Team Bronze
82	PAUL MARSHALL	41.17
93	KHILAN SHAH	43.39
95	MARIA THORNE (F)	44.42	Vets Team Bronze
106	LORRAINE THOMAS (F)	47.29	Vets Team Bronze
110	SARAH HUKIN (F)	49.20
112	KERRY SETTERFIELD (F)	50.48

Stockholm

BEV HARLOW says the Stockholm Half Marathon was a very well organised and run in a beautiful city. She finished in 1 hour 56 minutes exactly.

Roger and Phil in Shetland Marathon

ROGER BIGGS and PHIL GALE travelled to the Island of Shetland for the UK’s most Northerly Marathon at a little over 60 degrees north.

The race was an out and back from Scallaway, north to the hamlet of Nestling, and back again, while the half marathon finished at the turnaround point in Nestling. The islands were certainly getting better weather than the south, although the hilly course and cold easterly winds made for a tough day out.

Roger completed the marathon in 4 hours 9 minutes and Phil the half in 1 hour 33.

Wet and Windy Swansea

Robert Evans completed a very wet & windy Swansea Bay 10K in 45min 42 secs narrowly missing his PB (personal best) time by 2 seconds.

Green Chain Trail Marathon

Recently ROGER BIGGS and CLAIRE WHITTLE ran the Green Chain Trail Marathon from New Eltham in SE London. The course followed the ‘Green Chain Way”, which links parks & wooded areas in the Capital, including four miles on the South Bank of the Thames. It was not flat and had 600 metres of climb. They finished together in 5 hours 20 minutes 34 seconds.

Many Spartans helped organised the Stevenage “Race for Life” on Saturday which was won by RHIANNON GRIFFIN in 42 minutes 40 seconds.

Enter Now!

Coming Events

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

Serpentine 5K on Friday 28^th September.
Standalone 10K in Letchworth on Sunday 7^th October.
Great Eastern (Peterborough) Half Marathon on Sunday 14^th October.
Handicap 5K on Thursday evening 25^th October.
Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 4^th November.

Join The Spartans

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (01438 354505 or 0793 968 7509), Stephanie Mayfield 01438 815859 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

News Paul Maguire 5 Mile Races

Paul Maguire 5 mile 2012 results

Post author By Liam PBM
Post date September 23, 2012
No Comments on Paul Maguire 5 mile 2012 results

Well done to everyone who ran the 2012 Paul Maguire 5 mile race: the final results, including Herts County Champs, are detailed in the spreadsheet (linked below).

Paul Maguire 5m 2012 results (final)

Please contact pm5@fvspartans.org.uk if you spot any errors or omissions.

A big thank you to everyone involved, who either organised or who helped us out at the event in any small way. Another big thank you to everyone who made donations to our nominated charity, Garden House Hospice, Letchworth, in memory of Paul Maguire. Your generosity and support is much appreciated.

Spartan runners: the winner of the FVS Paul Maguire Trophy will be revealed in due course.

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: GREAT NORTH SPARTANS

Post author By Liam PBM
Post date September 17, 2012
10 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: GREAT NORTH SPARTANS

GREAT NORTH SPARTANS

In his last race representing Fairlands Valley Spartans, ANDREW HULL completed the Great North Run in 1 hour 37 minutes 57 seconds improving his personal best (PB) by 55 seconds. NIKKI COLLINS was happy to report a great race for her and a brilliant day running in the rain. She finished in a new PB of 1:55:36.

St. Paul’s 10K

In near perfect conditions STEVE GREEN ran the charity organised hilly, off road St. Paul’s Walden 10K in 46 minutes 43 seconds. GEORGINA (6) and DANIEL GREEN (4) completed the 2K fun run in 18:45.

Ponton Plod

On Sunday CAROL and DAVE PAUL, and MIKE NEWBITT travelled to Great Ponton nr Grantham for the Ponton Plod. This was an off road event with scenic views of the Lincolnshire and Leicestershire countryside near the Vale of Bevoir. Carol and Mike did the 27.5 mile route in 5:44:27. Dave did the 17.1 mile route in 4:01:19 on a very windy day

Memorial Five This Sunday

The Paul Maguire Memorial Five Mile Race is in Stevenage this Sunday 23^rd September. It will include the Hertfordshire County Championships for men and women, senior and veteran but everyone can have a go. Based at Moss Bury School (Webb Rise) the race starts on the Fairlands Way cycleway, opposite Bedwell Crescent, at 10.30a.m. with a course via Grace Way, Martins Way, Verity Way, Fairlands Way, around the lakes in Fairlands Valley Park to the finish near the school.

For more information and how to enter please go to www.fvspartans.org.uk

Enter Now!

Coming Events

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

Paul Maguire Memorial and County 5 Miles Championship in Stevenage on Sunday 23^rd September.
Serpentine 5K on Friday 28^th September.
Standalone 10K in Letchworth on Sunday 7^th October.
Handicap 5K on Thursday evening 25^th October.
Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 4^th November.

Join The Spartans

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (01438 354505 or 0793 968 7509), Stephanie Mayfield 01438 815859 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

5K Series News Races

FVS 5K race 2012 results

A massive thank you to everyone who took part in our 5K race, and especially to all our volunteers who helped us to stage a good, safe and successful race.

The full results are attached here: FVS 5K Results 09.09.2012

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: MEDALS GALORE IN COUNTY 5K

Post author By Liam PBM
Post date September 11, 2012
162 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: MEDALS GALORE IN COUNTY 5K

MEDALS GALORE IN COUNTY 5K

There were medals galore for Fairlands Valley Spartans in the County Five Kilometres Championships which the club hosted in Stevenage in the heat on Sunday morning.

RHIANNON GRIFFIN won SILVER in the senior championships in a superb new sub 20 personal best of 19 minutes 59 seconds. ALISON WOOD took BRONZE in the seniors and GOLD in the women veterans (45 plus) with 20 minutes 12 seconds.

BARRY OSBORNE won GOLD in the male veterans (60 plus) competition in 19 minutes 52 seconds with JIM BROWN taking BRONZE with an amazing improvement to 21 minutes 24 seconds.

DAVE BOWKER was the SILVER medalist in 50 plus category with 18 minutes 50 seconds.

JULIE SIMMONS won GOLD in the women’s (55 plus) category in 22:24 and ANN TRYSSESOONE took BRONZE in the women’s (45 plus) with 23:08.

Fairlands Valley Spartans WON the senior women’s team GOLD with RHIANNON GRIFFIN (19:59); ALISON WOOD (20:12); JULIE SIMMONS (22:24) and ANN TRYSSESOONE (23:08) and the veteran only women’s team GOLD with Alison Wood, Julie Simmons and Ann Tryssesoone. Rhiannon, Alison, Julie and Ann also won the team contest for the whole race.

In the senior team competition the Spartans men’s team consisting of LIAM HERBERT (18:32); DAVID BOWKER (18:50); BARRY OSBORNE (19:52) and MARTIN WOOD (19:56) won SILVER with veterans David Bowker, Barry Osborne, Martin Wood and JIM BROWN (21:24) taking BRONZE in the contest for those 40 and over only.

SIMON BELL was the fastest of the 21 Spartans, eleventh overall in the race with a time of 18 minutes 7 seconds. (Simon lives outside Hertfordshire).

Spartan times:

Pos	Time	Name	Cat.	Comments
11	18.07	Simon Bell	M40
17	18.32	Liam Herbert	MS	Team Silver
22	18.50	David Bowker	M50	County Silver, Team Silver
27	19.52	Barry Osborne	M60	County Gold, Team Silver
28	19.56	Martin Wood	M40	Team Silver
29	19.59	Rhiannon Griffin	FS	County Silver, Team Gold
30	20.12	Alison Wood	W45	County Gold, Team Gold
35	21.00	Adrian Donnelly	MS
37	21.25	Jim Brown	M60	County Bronze, Team Bronze
39	22.10	Kevin Smyth	M50
41	22.24	Julie Simonns	W55	County Gold, Team Gold
47	23.00	Tony Argyrou	M40
50	23.08	Ann Tryssesoone	W45	County Bronze, Team Gold
53	23.56	Andy Prior	M40
54	24.13	Claire Coker	W35
57	24.26	Nicola Lorimer	W35
58	24.41	Robert Shaw	M60
66	27.49	Melissa Tyler	FS
67	27.55	Karen Palmer	W45
69	28.59	Peter Carpenter	M60
71	30.17	Mark Stephens	M50

(Lots of images from the race are available in our gallery here: http://fvspartans.org.uk/gallery/).

Chiltern Off Road Marathon

On a very warm day and an exceptionally tough course, seven Spartans took part in this year’s Chiltern Off Road Marathon.

In off road marathons competitors are given route instructions that they follow to navigate their way around the course, with a key to abbreviations used at the top of the instructions, and the key at the top of the Chiltern Marathon are the only instructions that identify that up means UP!

CAROL PAUL completed the full marathon course in 6 hours 31 minutes 38 seconds and MIKE NEWBITT in 6:50:40. Karen Liddle, Tricia Hopper & Sharon Crowley followed in 7:24:24.

DAVE PAUL completed the shorter, 21.3 miles option in a time of 7:04:30

PAUL HOLGATE retired at the last checkpoint having already completed 25.3 miles in 7:02:13 after not following the instructions properly, instead putting in a three detours of his own!

Peter’s Duck ‘n’ Dash

Last Sunday PETER CARPENTER entered the Duck race in the Duck and Dash at Letchworth which consisted of a 400 metres swim & 6km run. His time was 51:09 – 27th out of 35 overall — but he is competing in the male over 60 age group.

Enter Now!

The club host the Paul Maguire Memorial Five on 23^rd September which includes the County Championship Five and County Championship Half Marathon on Sunday 4^th November. Both races are in Stevenage and all are for seniors and veterans. The championships are within open races — everyone can have a go. Enter now. There are details on www.fvspartans.org.uk

Coming Events

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

Paul Maguire Memorial and County 5 Miles Championship in Stevenage on Sunday 23^rd September.
Serpentine 5K on Friday 28^th September.
Standalone 10K in Letchworth on Sunday 7^th October.
Handicap 5K on Thursday evening 25^th October.
Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 4^th November.

Join The Spartans

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (01438 354505 or 0793 968 7509), Stephanie Mayfield 01438 815859 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: SIMON AND KAREN WIN 5K

Post author By Liam PBM
Post date September 3, 2012
29 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: SIMON AND KAREN WIN 5K

SIMON AND KAREN WIN 5K

Track and Tri Wins by Grant and Natalie

August Handicap 5K

There were many excellent times from the forty runners in Fairlands Valley Spartans’ Handicap 5K on Thursday night. They included seven new personal bests, four season’s bests and eight year best times for 2012. There were nine people running their first 5K.

SIMON HARRIS was first to finish, recording his third Handicap 5K victory. He ran a new year best time of 27 minutes 39 seconds (27:39), 41 seconds quicker than previously. Newcomer Khil Shah was second in 27:49, 3:26 quicker than handicap, and Ian Simpson 3^rd just 10 seconds behind, in his first 5K in just 22:59.

KAREN ELLIS finished first female, 2:29 ahead of handicap, in 25;01, with Claire Coker 2^nd in a new PB of 23:57, 43 seconds quicker than her previous PB, and Rhiannon Griffin 3^rd in a PB time of her own of 21 minutes 2 seconds.

In handicap events the slower runners, on previous form, start first and if everyone runs to handicap everyone finishes together. However the fastest runner on the night was GRANT RAMSAY, overtaking 34 runners to finish 6^th overall in 17 minutes 11 seconds. Christopher Westcott was second quickest in a new personal best (PB) time of 17:55, and Liam Herbert third fastest with 18:27, just 19 seconds outside his own PB time despite the increased difficulty of the Stevenage 5K course.

LISA BURGESS was the fastest female in a new PB of 20:29, with Rhiannon 2^nd quickest (21:02) and Tracy Pez 3^rd fastest in 22:51.

Other PBs included Sai Naidoo, +2:13 to 27:25, Peter Carpenter +1:12 to 29:28, Vishal Shah +0:32 to 22:54 and Maddie Pritchard + 0:11 to 23:08, while the Season’s Best times were by Steve Gough (+1:26), Mark Goodwin (+0:29), Dawn Easby (+0:28) and Mark Cheadle (+0:03), and the year best times included Nick Witcombe (+6:38), Adrian Donnelly (+2:42) and Selvan Naicker (+0:12).

A big thank you to Chris Leigh, Mark Beasley, Christine Sharman and Mike & Sharon Crowley gave excellent support and assistance on the night.

There is a perfect opportunity to compete again on the Handicap 5k course in the Stevenage 5k on Sunday 9^th September and the first Autumn Handicap 5k of 2012 will be on the 25^th October.

Full 5K Results:

Pos	Name	Time	Time Position	Female Position	Comments
1	SIMON HARRIS	27:39	32		Event winner. Year’s best by 41 seconds.
2	KHIL SHAH	27:49	33		1st 5K
3	IAN SIMPSON	22:59	17		1st 5K
4	ADRIAN DONNELLY	19:53	6		YB
5	SAI NAIDOO	27:25	31		PB (2:13)
6	GRANT RAMSAY	17:11	1
7	DAVID BOWKER	18:42	4		YB
8	OLLY TEW	22:44	12		1st 5K
9	TODD GRAY	18:47	5
10	VISHAL SHAH	22:54	14		PB (0:32)
11	CHRISTOPHER WESTCOTT	17:55	2		PB (0:23)
12	KAREN ELLIS	25:01	27	9	First woman.
13	STEVE GOUGH	28:10	35		SB
14	MARK CHEADLE	24:38	24		SB
15	CLAIRE COKER	23:57	22	7	PB (0:43)
16	RUSS ANDREWS	27:58	34		1^st 5K
17	RHIANNON GRIFFIN	21:02	9	2	1st 5K
18	MARK GOODWIN	21:31	10		SB
19	ANDY JAY	23:24	20
20	DEREK WOOD	22:55	15		1st 5K
21	LIAM HERBERT	18:27	3
22	NICK WITCOMBE	26:00	29		YB
23	DAWN EASBY	23:37	21	6	SB
24	SELVAN NAICKER	24:08	23		YB
25	MADDIE PRITCHARD	23:08	19	5	PB (0:11)
26	LISA BURGESS	20:29	7	1	PB (0:14)
27	PETER CARPENTER	29:28	37		PB (1:12)
28	ROGER BIGGS	22:58	16
29	JULIE SIMMONS	23:03	18	4	1st 5K
30	MARIA THORNE	26:39	30	10
31	NICOLA LORIMER	24:48	25	8	YB
32	GRAHAM HILL	29:29	38		1st 5K
33	RYAN DUNNING	22:33	11
34	BARRY OSBORNE	20:40	8		1st 5K
35	ANDREA WESTCOTT	28:26	36	11	YB
36	PAUL HOLGATE	25:40	28
37	TRACY PEZ	22:51	13	3
38	ROBERT SHAW	25:01	26
39	CHAS AVIS	36:05	40		YB
40	SARAH SAPSTEAD	31:01	39	12

PB = personal best; SB = season’s best; YB = year best.

Grant Wins In Southern League

GRANT RAMSAY won Sunday’s Southern League 5,000 metres track race in 16 minutes 25 seconds, his fastest time for over three years. He was also fourth in the 2,000 metres steeple chase in 7 minutes 28 seconds.

PB Ann At Bedford 10K

Ann Tryssesoone reduced her personal best by over a minute when she ran Sunday’s Bedford 10K in 50 minutes 26 seconds. It was a well organised race making use of the local cycle paths and taking in the local scenery and river.

Peter’s First Tri

PETER CARPENTER has completed his first triathlon and was second in his age group (65-69) at the Thames Turbo Triathlon 4.

He took 10 minutes 31 seconds for the 426 metres swim; 47 minutes 45 seconds for the 21.5 kilometres cycle and took 30 minutes 50 seconds for the 5K run. With transitions his total time was 1 hour 33 minutes 1 second.

There were 500 entries. Overall Peter was 347^th out of the 418 who finished.

Barnard’s First Ever Podium At Ironman Debut

NATALIE BARNARD was third in the Galway 70.3 Triathlon. Her first podium placing at the ironman distance. She was the youngest pro by 5-9yrs!

It was her fastest swim by 5 minutes; had a strong but hard bike and ran 13.25miles in 1 hour 35 minutes exactly.

Kent Coastal Marathon.

On a hilly first half and a flat second half ROGER BIGGS and CAROL PAUL ran the Kent Coastal Marathon with its hilly first half and a flat second half. Roger completed the course in 3 hours 56 minutes 48 seconds and Carol in 4:43:24. DAVE PAUL did the supporting half marathon in 2:25:20

Enter Now!

The club host the County Championship 5K road race THIS Sunday 9^th September. See www.fvspartans.org.uk

Then there is the Paul Maguire Memorial Five on 23^rd September which includes the County Championship Five and Championship Half Marathon on Sunday 4^th November. All three races are in Stevenage and all are for seniors and veterans. The championships are within open races — everyone can have a go. Enter now. There are details on www.fvspartans.org.uk

Coming Events

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

County 5K Championships and Open 5K in Stevenage on Sunday 9^th September.
Paul Maguire Memorial and County 5 Miles Championship in Stevenage on Sunday 23^rd September.
Serpentine 5K on Friday 28^th September.
Standalone 10K in Letchworth on Sunday 7^th October.
Handicap 5K on Thursday evening 25^th October.
Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 4^th November.

Join The Spartans

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (01438 354505 or 0793 968 7509), Stephanie Mayfield 01438 815859 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: GRANT FOR GB IN EUROPE

Post author By Liam PBM
Post date August 28, 2012
28 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: GRANT FOR GB IN EUROPE

GRANT FOR GB IN EUROPE

Europe Medals for Iris * Enter Now For The County 5K

Fairlands Valley Spartans GRANT RAMSAY was the first runner home for Team GB in the European Veterans Marathon Championships which were held in Hradek, Czech Republic at the weekend. He was fifth in the male veteran (40 plus) age group with an overall position of 21^st out of the 500 runners with a time of 2 hours 51 minutes 40 seconds.

Euro Medals On The Track

Meanwhile IRIS HORNSEY was in Zittau in Germany for the weekend where she took part in the European Veterans Athletic Championships.

She ran in four events in the Women’s 70+ age group:

In the 1500 metres Iris came seventh in a time of 7 minutes 22.05 seconds. She was a bit disappointed and realised she went off too fast. The temperature was a sticky 35 degrees though and everyone’s time was down!

The 400 metres was a better race for Iris on a cooler day. She came fifth in a time of 1:30.68.

Then in the 800 metres Iris came third in a time of 3:30.37 and won a BRONZE medal! She was absolutely thrilled!

Then the next day there were the relays. In the 4×100 metres W70 Team, she ran the second leg in the Great Britain Team which finished second in a time of 1:17.45 and won a SILVER medal! (They were beaten by the Germans who had a really good team of sprinters but they were very pleased with themselves)

BBC 10K

The Regent’s Park run was a pleasant early evening 10K for three Spartans after their days work in London. It was organised by the BBC Running Club on a fast three lap course round Regents Park with a cooling temperature and a light wind making for near perfect running conditions. STEVE MAYFIELD completed his sixth race in 10 days, finishing 24th in a new personal best (PB) of 42 minutes 43 seconds. STEPH MAYFIELD came in 74th in 52:55 just ahead of PAUL HOLGATE in 54:40.

Mayfield On Track

With the track and field season recommencing after the Olympics, STEVE MAYFIELD made up for lost time by getting to three open graded meetings in just over a week. Starting at Blackheath and Bromley, he was third in heat two of the 1500 metres in 5 minutes 10.5 seconds.

Two days later Steve was at Lea Valley for their sprints evening. These are held monthly through the summer and often attract the odd international, on this occasion Montell Douglas (current GB women’s 100 metres record holder) was the star athlete. Steve set a new personal best (PB) of 13.40 in heat two of the 100 metres then ran 27.08 to take fourth place in heat 3 of the 200m,

After squeezing in a 5 mile road race in Tewksbury, Steve was back on the track this week at Woodford Green. In the midst of a short sharp rain shower he ran a season’s best of 2 minutes 26.36 in the 800 metres, before dashing off to do the long jump.

Serpentine

Although he says he struggled throughout battling a stitch, and the race followed a tough week of duathlon training in preparation for representing GB in the World Duathlon Championships in four weeks time, SIMON JACKSON, completed the Friday lunch-time Serpentine 5K in 17 minutes 9 seconds. He was ninth out of the 151 finishers.

Spartans Club Chair BEV HARLOW ran a new personal best of 24 minutes 43 seconds, beating a PB set ten years ago, so she is quite pleased and will certainly do this race again. Bev was 121^st.

JIM BROWN ran an age related season’s best time of 21 minutes 51 seconds. He was 77^th.

The race was on the temporary Kensington Gardens course. Once the Olympics and Paralympics are over the Serpentine 5Ks will revert to the usual course in Hyde Park and the usual date, the last Friday of the Month.

Liam’s Diamond PB

LIAM HERBERT used his Bank Holiday Monday to race on the track for the first time this year, by running 1500 metres in the Peterborough Diamond Games. Running in the first of three open graded races, Liam maintained a consistent pace with his final lap being his fastest, and accelerated to a new personal best (PB) time of 4 minutes 49.8, taking an impressive 32.1 seconds off his previous best.

Newmarket Duathlon

Last Sunday, DANNY HUKIN competed in his first Duathlon race at Newmarket consisting of a 3 mile run; 14mile bike and 3mile run. With a midday start in 30 degree heat as well pre race nerves to contend with, it was a tough duathlon debut. Danny finished in 21st place and 9th in his age category in a strong field.

Thames Meander Trail Marathon trail Marathon

The Thames Meander Trail Marathon on Saturday was an event from Kingston-Upon-Thames, with a 1 mile road start and 2.5 miles in Richmond Park, before turning East along the south towpath to reach halfway at Putney Bridge, then returning back along the same route. Apart from hilly sections with in the park, the course was basically flat, although roughish trail at times.

After a reasonable first half, Roger struggled in the later stages to finish in 4 hours 28 minutes 27 seconds and 102^nd out of 181 finishers.

Pathfinder Event

Twelve Spartans travelled to Conington near Huntingdon on Monday for the Pathfinder event that visits the several World War Two RAF Airfields in the area. The race was on a a combination of minor road, trails, paths & fields, that took part in lovely running conditions, over a pretty flat course.

Spartan times in the 42 kilometre event were MIKE NEWBITT (4:57:30); CAROL PAUL (5:08:30); ROGER BIGGS (5:21:57); SHARON CROWLEY, TRICIA HOPPER, KAREN LIDDLE and DAVID BOWKER (all 5:44:59) and DAVE CARTER (8:00:00).

DAVE PAUL and MIKE CROWLEY finished the 32 kilometres event in 4 hours 44 minutes 30 seconds and 5:18:20 respectively.

ROBERT and PAULINE HARDY both completed the 14 kilometres option in 4:03:55.

Smugglers Trod Off Road Marathon — Saturday, 25^th August 2012

MIKE NEWBITT took part in the Smugglers Trod Off Road Marathon from Robin Hoods Bay, Yorkshire on Saturday. He took exactly six hours.

Enter Now!

The club host the County Championship 5K road race on Sunday 9^th September, Paul Maguire Memorial Five on 23^rd September which includes the County Championship Five and Championship Half Marathon on Sunday 4^th November. All are in Stevenage and all are for seniors and veterans. The championships are within open races — everyone can have a go. Enter now. There are details on www.fvspartans.org.uk

Coming Soon

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

Spartans Handicap 5K on Thursday evening 30^th August.
County 5K Championships and Open 5K in Stevenage on Sunday 9^th September.
Paul Maguire Memorial and County 5 Miles Championship in Stevenage on Sunday 23^rd September.
Serpentine 5K on Friday 28^th September.
Standalone 10K in Letchworth on Sunday 7^th October.
Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 4^th November.

Join The Spartans

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (01438 354505 or 0793 968 7509), Stephanie Mayfield 01438 815859 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: FAST AT FERRY MEADOWS

Post author By Liam PBM
Post date August 20, 2012
173 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: FAST AT FERRY MEADOWS

FAST AT FERRY MEADOWS

Plus It’s Never Too Late

Fast at Ferry Meadows

Fairlands Valley Spartans’ RICHARD BATE and LIAM HERBERT ran superb 5K times on Wednesday evening. The Barney Memorial 5K provided the perfect scenic background for some fast times. Based at Ferry Meadows in Peterborough, and taking in a relatively flat circuit of a lake and the surrounding countryside, conditions were overcast but otherwise cool and great for racing.

In a strong field, due to this race also being a Cambridgeshire County Champs race, RICHARD BATE finished 11th out of 223 finishers in a new season’s best (SB) time of 16 minutes 53 seconds. LIAM HERBERT ran a new personal best (PB) time of 18 minutes 20 seconds, finishing in 34th place.

It’s Never Too Late

76 year old JOHN TYRRELL joined Fairlands Valley Spartans at the beginning of the track and field season in April. He become a member of the club’s Eastern Vets team and progressed steadily over the season.

On Thursday 16th August, John ventured up to Sandy, Bedfordshire to enter the Biggleswade Throws Fest along with throwers from all over Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

He had good competition in the Discus throwing a personal best of 19.30 metres and the Shot in 6.76 metres. Both throws were a metre improvement on his previous best.

He will be 77 in October. John has proved it’s never too late to take up athletics.

Aquaman Aquathlon

DARREN WILBY and NIKKI ANDREWS did the Aquaman aquathlon in Banbury in scorching sunshine (nice for the swim, not for the run!). It was a 1500 metres pool swim followed by a 10km run, 5km of which was off road and very hilly. Nikki just about beat Darren on the swim but in the end they finished not too far apart considering the staggered start. Darren’s total was 1 hour 23 minutes 42 seconds for 15^th place in a strong field. Nikki’s total was 1 hour 24 minutes 25 seconds for 16^th. Detailed times below:

Darren

Wilby

Senior

00:30:48
swim

00:52:54
run

01:23:42
total

Nikki

Andrews

Senior

00:30:23
swim

00:54:02
run

01:24:25
total

The run times include transition.

Northumberland Trail

ROGER BIGGS took a train ride north to the coastal village of Alnmouth for the Northumberland Coast Trail Marathon. This hugged the coast to the north and back again. With a warm start, but raining by the end, he finished in 5 hours 5 minutes 56 seconds.

Wilting On Wight

STEVE BLOCK ran/walked the Isle of Wight Half Marathon on Sunday. On a hilly course and very hot day he was glad just to finish! His time was 2 hours 27 minutes 23 seconds.

Enter Now!

Coming Events

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

Serpentine 5K on Friday 24^th August (note unusual date).
County 5K Championships and Open 5K in Stevenage on Sunday 9^th September.
Paul Maguire Memorial and County 5 Miles Championship in Stevenage on Sunday 23^rd September.
Standalone 10K in Letchworth on Sunday 7^th October.
Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 4^th November.

Join The Spartans

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (01438 354505 or 0793 968 7509), Stephanie Mayfield 01438 815859 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: CROWLEYS DIP IN DOVEDALE

Post author By Liam PBM
Post date August 14, 2012
41 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: CROWLEYS DIP IN DOVEDALE

CROWLEYS DIP IN DOVEDALE

Gold Connection * Here Come The Fives

Dovedale Dipper

Spartans MIKE and SHARON CROWLEY took on the Dovedale Dipper based at Hartington in Derbyshire. Sharon completed the marathon run in a time of 7 hours 21 minutes, finishing in 120th place. Mike completed the 15 mile walk in 4 hours 53 minutes, the 10th finisher. The weather was generally OK, Mike getting just a few spots of rain and missing the showers, but Sharon getting drenched at one point! Mike’s brother, Gregory, won the marathon race in 3 hours 45 minutes!

Gold Connection

Spartans PETE and KAREN SMITH are celebrating. Their niece, Katherine Copeland and her partner Sophie Hosking won the Olympic Gold Medal for Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls on Saturday 4th August. They are extremely proud of her.

Enter Now!

The club host the County Championship 5K road race on Sunday 9th September, Championship Five Miles on 23rd September and Championship Half Marathon on Sunday 4th November. All are in Stevenage and all are for seniors and veterans. The championships are within open races — everyone can have a go. Enter now. There are details on www.fvspartans.org.uk

Please see the separate release about the Paul Maguire Five.

Coming Events

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

Serpentine 5K on Friday 24th August (note different Friday and starting point due to the Olympics and Paralympics)
County 5K Championships and Open 5K in Stevenage on Sunday 9th September.
Paul Maguire Memorial and County 5 Miles Championship in Stevenage on Sunday 23rd September.
Standalone 10K in Letchworth on Sunday 7th October.
Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 4th November.

Join The Spartans

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (01438 354505 or 0793 968 7509), Stephanie Mayfield 01438 815859 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

News

Membership Information Survey – Prize draw winner

Post author By Liam PBM
Post date July 31, 2012
126 Comments on Membership Information Survey – Prize draw winner

A big thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the first membership information survey this month. The response was better than anticipated which means more useful feedback and opinions were generated. Your views really do matter, and both the club and Liam (who is now in the final stages of his University dissertation project) are very appreciative for all your efforts.

We are pleased to announce that the winner of the prize draw for the £20 Amazon gift voucher, selected at random from everyone who completed the survey, is Vivienne Honey.

Congratulations … your prize is on its way to you Vivienne!

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: TEN GOLDS, FOUR SILVERS, TWO BRONZES

Post author By Liam PBM
Post date July 30, 2012
No Comments on NEWS RELEASE: TEN GOLDS, FOUR SILVERS, TWO BRONZES

TEN GOLDS, FOUR SILVERS, TWO BRONZES

Roger’s Night Fever * Hot In Bedford

Fairlands Valley Spartans won ten GOLD medals, four SILVER medals and two BRONZE medals in regional championships on Sunday. Five women and two men travelled up to Sandy in Bedfordshire to compete in the Eastern Veterans Athletic Club (EVAC) track and field championships.

EVAC is the area club most veterans in the East of England belong to, which allows them to compete for their clubs in the league matches.

The Spartan group of Monica Brown, Dave Bowker, Sharon Crowley, Iris Hornsey, Steph Mayfield, Steve Mayfield and Tessa Stephenson battled against the inclement weather and came home with ten golds, four silvers, two bronze medals and three club records between them.

Monica Brown who used the championships as a warm up to next week’s British Masters Heptathlon Championships at Oxford by winning 100m, 200m, High Jump and Long Jump in a season’s best length in her age group.

Steve Mayfield had to fight the elements to win the male 45 age group Javelin with a new personal best and club record along with Dave Bowker who improved his own club record in the 2000 metre walk.

Full results

Monica Brown 1st W45 (GOLD women 45 plus) 100 metres 14.1 seconds; 1st W45 200 metres 29.6 seconds; 1st W45 Long Jump 4 metres 55; and 1st W45 High Jump 1 metre 35

Iris Hornsey 1st W70 (GOLD women 70 plus) 400 metres; and 1st W70 800 metres

Sharon Crowley 1st W50 (GOLD women 50 plus) 2k Walk 14 minutes 18 seconds; and 3rd W50 1500 metres

Stephanie Mayfield 1st W35 (GOLD women 35 plus) Hammer 16 metres 51; 2nd W35 100 metre Hurdles 24.1 seconds; and 3rd W35 Pole Vault 1 metre 70

Tessa Stephenson 2nd W50 (SILVER women 50 plus) Discus 14 metres 35; and 2nd W50 Shot Putt and club record (for 3kg weight) 7 metres 53

Dave Bowker 1st M50 (GOLD men 50 plus) 2000 metre Walk and club record 11 minutes 17.5 seconds

Steve Mayfield 1st M45 (GOLD men 45 plus) Javelin and club record 28.11 metres; 2nd M45 Long Jump 4 metres 42 centimetres; and 3rd M45 100 metres 13.7 seconds

Bedford

On the hottest day of the year so far, evening temperatures were perfect for running at the Doug Anderson 5k in Bedford on Wednesday, with 5 Spartans competing:

LIAM HERBERT was 38^th of the 351 finishers equalling his personal best (PB) time of 18 minutes 29 seconds; KEVIN SMYTH was 108^th in a season’s best (SB) 21 minutes 1 second; ANDREW HULL 119^th in a SB 21:26; PAUL HOLGATE 214^th in 25:13 and IRIS HORNSEY was first Vet 70 plus in 28 minutes 24 seconds.

Madeyarun Marathon x2

On Saturday 28th July in brilliant sunshine CAROL PAUL and Mike Newbitt took part in day one of the Madeyarun around the reservoir trail marathon. This was a trail marathon consisting of seven laps around Brackmills reservoir in Northampton. Finishing with superb sun tans Carol completed the course in 4 hours 42 minutes and Mike completed it in 5 hours and 3 minutes. Not content with doing one marathon over the weekend they toed the line again on Sunday morning to run it again but this time it started in sunshine then there were showers and then heavy rain and strong winds with thunder and lightning. Mike completed the course in 4 hours 56 minutes and Carol finished in exactly 5 hours.

Enigma Night Fever Marathon

With forthcoming marshal duties at the Olympics, ROGER BIGGS took the opportunity to fit in a midweek marathon on Wednesday. On a lovely warm evening the runners in the Enigma Night Fever Marathon had to complete 17 laps of Furzton Lake, Milton Keynes. Roger completed the marathon in 4:14:30.

Enter Now!

The club host the County Championship 5K road race on Sunday 9^th September, Championship Five Miles on 23^rd September and Championship Half Marathon on Sunday 4^th November. All are in Stevenage and all are for seniors and veterans. The championships are within open races — everyone can have a go. Enter now. There are details on www.fvspartans.org.uk

With the numerous sporting events taking place during the next couple of months now is a good time to remind you about entering two Fairlands Valley Spartan races.

Both of these events also incorporate the Hertfordshire Country Champs — Vets and Seniors — so don’t miss out.

Fairlands Valley Spartans 5K – 10:30am, Sunday 9 September 2012

(This year we are only holding one 5K race — DON’T MISS OUT!)

Run on the usual Spartans course but in complete daylight, you will be able to see every inch of this undulating but fast course. Entries will be capped at 300 runners and it incorporates the Vets and Senior Herts County Champs — so it is bound to fill up fast.

Enter online at:

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/events/viewevent.asp?sp=&v=2&EN=71675&ms=

Further event details, plus postal entry forms, are available from the Spartans website here:

http://fvspartans.org.uk/ai1ec_event/5k-race-incorporating-the-herts-county-championships/?instance_id=

‘Like’ this event on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FV5kSeries

The Paul Maguire Memorial 5 Mile – 10:30am, Sunday 23 September 2012

Re-launched this year on a new fast undulating course that takes in some of the lakes and our famous cycle-ways. This event is to remember Paul Maguire, a much admired Spartan, who passed away in 2008 after a long battle with cancer. Profits from the race will be donated to the Garden House Hospice in Letchworth.

Entries will be capped at 300 runners and it incorporates the Vets and Senior Herts County Champs — so, again, it is bound to fill up fast.

Enter online at:

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/events/viewevent.asp?sp=&v=2&EN=71094&ms=

Further event details, plus postal entry forms, are available from the Spartans website here:

http://fvspartans.org.uk/ai1ec_event/paul-maguire-5-mile-race-incorporating-the-herts-county-championships/?instance_id=

Please support your local running events.

Coming Events

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

Serpentine 5K on Friday 24^th August (note different Friday and starting point due to the Olympics and Paralympics)
County 5K Championships and Open 5K in Stevenage on Sunday 9^th September.
Paul Maguire Memorial and County 5 Miles Championship in Stevenage on Sunday 23^rd September.
Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 4^th November.

Join The Spartans

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (01438 354505 or 0793 968 7509), Stephanie Mayfield 01438 815859 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

E N D S

More from Jim Brown (Press Officer) 01438 354505 / 0793 968 7509 or Stephanie Mayfield (Secretary) 01438 815859

www.fvspartans.org.uk

***********

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: IRIS IS A TREBLE CHAMPION

Post author By Liam PBM
Post date July 23, 2012
39 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: IRIS IS A TREBLE CHAMPION

IRIS IS A TREBLE CHAMPION

326 Relay in the Park plus 487 in Fairlands Off Road Challenge

326 runners plus spectators and dozens of helpers enjoyed a great sunny evening in Fairlands Valley Park on Thursday for Fairlands Valley Spartans’ annual relays which included the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire road relay championships. Each runner ran three kilometres.

The 218 men and 108 women were organised into 35 women’s and 45 men’s or mixed teams.

The men’s race, five stages totalling 15 kilometres, was won by St. Albans Striders in 47 minutes 17 seconds and the women’s race, three stages totalling nine kilometres, was won by Garden City Runners in 33 minutes 59 seconds. The fastest woman was Louise Peters of Stopsley Striders in 10 minutes 37 seconds, the fastest man Edward Shepherd of Herts Phoenix in 8 minutes 53 seconds.

Fairlands Valley Spartans had four men’s teams and two women’s teams. Two others ran as individuals. Two Spartans beat ten minutes for the undulating three kilometres — GRANT RAMSAY, 20th in 9 minutes 45 seconds, and SIMON JACKSON, 27th in 9:52.

ALISON WOOD beat twelve minutes to finish in 11:27 with RHIANNON GRIFFIN second fastest Spartan woman in 12:19.

LIAM HERBERT improved by 32 seconds to 10:21 (49th); VISHAL SHAH by 29 seconds to 13:30 (242nd); MARK CHEADLE by 38 seconds to 14:12 (262nd). Many other Spartans were running in the relays for the first time.

Pos	Name		Team	Time	Comments
20	Grant Ramsay	M	FVS ‘A’	9:45
27	Simon Jackson	M	FVS ‘A’	9:52
35	Andrew Patterson	M	FVS ‘A’	10:05
38	Shaw Pye	M	FVS ‘A’	10:08
49	Liam Herbert	M	FVS ‘B’	10:21	32 seconds improvement on 2011
51	Rob Willis	M	FVS ‘B’	10:23
62	Chris Westcott	M	FVS ‘A’	10:29
72	Brian Brackstone	M	FVS ‘B’	10:37
96	Todd Gray	M	FVS ‘B’	10:58
97	David Bowker	M	FVS ‘B’	10:59
127	Alison Wood	F	FVS women’s ‘A’	11:27	11th woman
134	Martin Wood	M	FVS ‘C’	11:35
144	Steve Mayfield	M	FVS ‘C’	11:45
148	Tony Bradford	M	FVS ‘C’	11:46
152	Adrian Donnelly	M	FVS Individual	11:53
186	Rhiannon Griffin	F	FVS women’s ‘A’	12:19
214	Ryan Dunning	M	FVS ‘C’	12:57
236	Julie Simmons	F	FVS individual	13:23
242	Vishal Shah	M	FVS ‘C’	13:30	29 seconds improvement on 2011
244	Jim Brown	M	FVS ‘D’	13:32
256	Ian Runner	M	FVS ‘D’	13:59
258	Claire Coker	F	FVS women’s ‘B’	14:05
262	Mark Cheadle	M	FVS ‘D’	14:12	38 seconds improvement on 2011
263	Trudie Molloy	F	FVS women’s ‘A’	14:13
268	Karen Ellis	F	FVS women’s ‘B’	14:19
288	Paul Holgate	M	FVS ‘D’	15:16
292	Katie Bradford	F	FVS women’s ‘B’	15:35
324	Matthew Holgate	M	FVS ‘D’	22:04

Fairlands Valley Challenge

487 runners and walkers took part in Fairlands Valley Spartans’ hugely successful Fairlands Valley Challenge off road event. They included 35 Spartans, seven in the 50 kilometres “Ultra;” ten in the 26.4 miles marathon; five in the 18 miles event; twelve in the 12 miles event and one in the 10 miles.

In the “Ultra” they were MATT GILL (6 hours 17 minutes); CHRIS LEIGH (6:27); JAMIE KELLETT (6:46); TRICIA HOPPER (7:48); KAREN LIDDLE (6:48); JENNIFER ROBERTSON (7:49); and SHARON CROWLEY (7:49).

Over 26.4 miles there were CAROL PAUL (5 hours 16 minutes); MIKE NEWBITT (5:16); ROGER BIGGS (5:17); ROB SHAW (5:22); CLAIRE WHITTLE (5:44); ROB HARDY (5:58); PAUL HOLGATE (6:05); DAVID PAUL (6:19); MICHAELA SANDERS (8:20) and BIG DAVE CARTER (9:03).

The five in the 18 miles event were STEVE GREEN (2 hours 49 minutes); SAM HARTE and RHIANNON GRIFFIN (both 3:14); LISA LIVERSIDGE (3:54) and LORRAINE WYATT (3:55).

Then the dozen in the twelve were YVONNE JONES (2 hours 7 minutes); TRACY BULLOT, VISHAL SHAH and LEE POTTER (all in 2:17); JEANETTE COLLINS (2:25); TRACY STILES and LISA JERROM (both 2:52); DARRYL STEVENS (2:56); PAULINE HARDY (3:18); KATRINA DOYLE, LISA POTTER and KERRY SETTERFIELD (all in 3:51).

SIMON HARRIS completed ten miles in 3 hours 10 minutes.

Iris Is A Treble Champion

Spartan IRIS HORNSEY competed in the BMAF (British Masters Athletics Federation) Track and Field Championships at Derby and came home with THREE GOLD medals. She’s a three times national champion!

On Saturday Iris ran in the 1500 metres in the morning and finished first in the W70+ age group (women aged 70 plus) in a time of 7 minutes 19.27 seconds. Then in the afternoon she competed in the 400 metres and finished first again in her age group in a time of 91.18 seconds.

The next day Iris ran in the 800 metres race and was first W70 again in a time of 3 minutes 30.05 seconds.

Roger’s Romantik Marathon

ROGER BIGGS was in Fuessen, Bavaria, Germany on the edge of the Alps for the Konigsschlosser Romantik Marathon. A stunning course 50% alongside water, 50% tarmac, 50% track / trail. Rain at the start yet still scenic, with the famous King’s Castle always in view. With some chest problems Roger was delighted to run all the 42.195 kilometres in 4 hours 18 minutes 3 seconds.

Friday 5K

Friday lunchtime’s 5K race was not on the Last Friday of The Month and was not round the Serpentine due to preparations for the Olympics.

Dry, mild, overcast with a moderate breeze for the popular event.

If anything the temporary course in Kensington Gardens was faster than the usual one. Practically dead flat and really wide for the first few hundred metres until the first turn.

JIM BROWN was third in his age category with a time of 23 minutes 9 seconds.

If you want to have a go at this course it will be used again at 12.30p.m. on Friday 24th August.

Trent Park Aquathlon Saturday

NIKKI ANDREWS swam / ran the Trent Park Aquathlon on Saturday. It was the first time the organisers had invited other clubs to join in and it was a really fun race: 400 metres pool swim then a 4.7km (ish) cross country (but flat) run. It was very muddy! Nikki finished the swim in 7 minutes 52 seconds then the run (including transition which took ages as competitors had to walk through the pool area!) was 23 minutes 2 seconds, giving a total of 30 minutes 54 seconds. That gave her 12th position overall and 4th lady.

Enter Now!

Coming Events

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

Serpentine 5K on Friday 24th August (note different Friday and starting point due to the Olympics and Paralympics)

County 5K Championships and Open 5K in Stevenage on Sunday 9th September.

Paul Maguire Memorial and County 5 Miles Championship in Stevenage on Sunday 23rd September.

Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 4th November.

Join The Spartans

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (01438 354505 or 0793 968 7509), Stephanie Mayfield 01438 815859 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

E N D S

More from Jim Brown (Press Officer) 01438 354505 / 0793 968 7509 or Stephanie Mayfield (Secretary) 01438 815859

www.fvspartans.org.uk

***********

Fairlands Valley Challenge News Races

FVC 2012 Results

FAIRLANDS VALLEY CHALLENGE 2012 was a HUGE success, and that’s all down to YOU … by supporting our event this year, and for the past 17 years! Our race directors would like to take the opportunity to say a very big thank you to all the runners, walkers, spectators, stalls and service providers, volunteers and race officials who came down to spend a very nice Sunday in July with us (we were blessed to have great weather!).

ALMOST FINALISED results from our 2012 event are here:

FVC2012 v3

(Updated 18th July – there are still a few names missing – please contact us if you see your number but not your name!)

Please check through and let us know if you spot any amendments that we need to make. We are relying on our runners, and especially our walkers, to let us know their START TIMES if they started earlier or later than the advertised times below. This will allow us to correct the positions and finish times of all entrants to ensure that our results are as accurate, full and fair as possible.

If you notice anything about your time which is not quite correct, or can provide your own recorded finish time, we would be very grateful to hear from you. Please contact Mr Paul Holgate by email at paul.holgate@bt.com to let him know.

With your help, we hope to finalise our results by the middle of this week. Thank you very much for your assistance, in advance (and thank you to Paul for his help in compiling these results!)

START TIMES:

08:00 – 08:15 – Walk 50K Ultra

08:45 – Trail Run 50K Ultra *Massed Start

08:00 – 09:00 -Walk 26.2 Miles

09:30 – Trail Run 26.2 Miles Marathon *Massed Start

09:00 – 10:00 -Walk 18.7 Miles

10:00 – Trail Run 18.7 Miles *Massed Start

10:00 – 11:00 -Walk 12.3 Miles

10:30 – Trail Run 12.3 Miles *Massed Start

We hope you enjoyed our event and would love to hear your feedback, suggestions, stories and see your photos from the day.

Email us at fvc@fvspartans.org.uk

Find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FVSChallenge

Fairlands Valley Challenge is an off-road challenge event using footpaths, tracks, bridleways and some minor roads. Navigated by written route descriptions through some beautiful Hertfordshire Countryside. Usually blessed with lovely sunny weather and famous for its bread pudding at the check points and free BBQ after! See you in 2013!!!

News

Take part in the FVS Membership Information Survey!

Post author By Liam PBM
Post date July 4, 2012
174 Comments on Take part in the FVS Membership Information Survey!

The first club Membership Information Survey is now available to fill out online here:

http://fvspartans.org.uk/members-2/membership-survey/

Essentially it is a 25 question long survey which centres on you and your relationship with the club: what training sessions you do, how you find out information about the club and its activities, and how you rate the information sources such as the website, forum, emails and more.

The data gathered will help one of our members, Liam Herbert, with his studies into information needs and behaviour within sport as part of his masters degree for City University London. The survey has also been designed to provide feedback to help the club improve the services they provide to members. The process is anonymous and all feedback given will be treated so that no member can be easily identified if it is used.

As an added incentive for you, one person who completes the survey will be chosen at random to win a £20 Amazon gift voucher! All you need to do is to fill out the online survey, and give your name and email address at the end when prompted to do so.

If you have any questions on this project, please contact Liam by email liam.herbert1@city.ac.uk or by mobile 07871396873

News

FVS taking part in Stevenage Library Sports Information Day!

Post author By Liam PBM
Post date June 25, 2012
49 Comments on FVS taking part in Stevenage Library Sports Information Day!

Midweek League News

MWL Division 1 Race â€“ Official Results Race 2 – WGC 7 MILES â€“ THURSDAY 29TH JUNE 2012

Post author By Liam PBM
Post date June 4, 2012
5 Comments on MWL Division 1 Race â€“ Official Results Race 2 – WGC 7 MILES â€“ THURSDAY 29TH JUNE 2012

5k FVS Handicap

Handicap 5K results – April 2012

Post author By Liam PBM
Post date April 20, 2012
100 Comments on Handicap 5K results – April 2012

Handicap 5K results – Thursday 19th April 2012

A very big well done to everybody who braved the weather last night to take part in the 63rd running of the club’s Handicap 5k.
Thank you to Graham Blackburn, Mike Crowley, Jim Brown and Jayne Pinner for their superb organisation and support at the start and finish, Barry King, Sharon Crowley, Kerry Setterfield and Lee Reynolds for their support for runners around the course, and also to the Starter Group for their vocal encouragement also. A massive thank you, as always, to Paul Holgate for his organisation, support and work behind the scenes in getting the results out so promptly every month for this club event.

First of the 31 runners to finish was Lyndsey Carlisle to claim her second Handicap 5k victory in a new personal best (PB) time 31:51, 1:40 quicker than her previous PB and 4:39 ahead of handicap. 2nd female, in 3rd place overall, was debutee Louisa Bill in 28:46, 2:29 ahead of handicap, and with Victoria Sealy 3rd lady, in a new PB of 27:33, 53 seconds faster than previously.

Winning man, in 2nd position overall, was newcomer James Cooper in 27:33, 3:26 faster than handicap, with another debutee, Chris Hilton, 2nd male, in 5th position overall, in a new handicap 5k course record time of 16:33, 3 seconds quicker than the previous record, and with Richard Bate 3rd man in a new seasons best (SB) time of 16:57, 5 seconds quicker than previously.

Chris and Richard were also fastest and 2nd fastest runners on the night, with Rob Willis 3rd quickest in a new PB time of 18:31, and with Liam Herbert (18:41 YB) and Steve Williamson (19:11) also inside 20 minutes.

Fastest female was Tracy Pez, equalling her year’s best (YB) time of 22:22, with Maddie Pritchard 2nd quickest in a new YB time 23:21, and with Sarah Pike 3rd fastest in 26:03.

In addition to those already mentioned above, Sarah Sapstead also took 29 seconds off her PB time to 30:05 and Amanda Vickers +0:51 to 36:58, while there were SB times for Steve Pike (+0:05) and James Day (+0:07), and YB times for Selvan Naicker (+0:26), Matthew Holgate (+0:38) and Andy Jay (+0:16).

The difference between the fastest runner and slowest time was 23:22, while the difference between the 2nd runner to cross the finish line and the 30th was only 3:46, and just 2:20 between 3rd-29th, and 77% of finishers crossed the line within 1 minute of their adjusted handicap time (90% within 1:36).

The full results can be found here: Handicap 5K Result 19Apr12

Next up is the first midweek league race, in Stevenage, on Tuesday 15th May, and the Handicap 5k’s will return at the end of this year’s MWL in the Summer.

Club Motivation News

Spartan Jukebox!

GET MOTIVATED WITH MUSIC

We need your help to top-up our Spartan jukebox!

Getting out and training is one thing, but what helps to motivate you to start your run and to want to keep on going?

You might have a target time or distance in your head, but getting from start to finish might seem like a bit of a chore.

Running to a beat or musical tempo might help you to maintain your tempo pace and to spur you on until the very end!!!

Many runners regularly take out an iPod or MP3 player with them on a solo run. Of course, we ask our club runners NOT to bring these to training as wearing earphones mean that you will not be able to hear our coaches’ instructions and warnings relating to oncoming traffic, pedestrians or hazards. Similarly, most race organisers ban the use of personal MP3 players from their events for very much the same reason.

Enjoy listening to, and running to, music in our own time as we understand that it does have benefits but just be careful out there! 🙂

You may have noticed that we have placed a Spotify Music Player on the home page of this website. It holds a list of songs which we hope we motivate you to get out there and run. Give them a good listen if you ever need inspiration before that next long training run.

We are going to compile regular play-lists of YOUR favourite motivational running songs, so we need your input!

If you would like to share your musical choices with the rest of the club, please write a comment on this page and we’ll do our best to include them in an upcoming play-list!

Or if you have made your own complete playlist on Spotify, even better!
Please make sure that the playlist is ‘published’ and then copy and paste the Spotify URI into a new comment and I will update the widget so we can all hear your motivational music. If you have any anything to say about the songs themselves, please include them in your comment.

If you need help doing this, let me know (generally all you need to do is create a new playlist and then right click on that playlist in the menu bar on the right, and select ‘copy Spotify URI’). I’ll alternate the playlists so that everyone gets a go!

Our current play-list for April 2012 includes the following contributions from our members:

To get you motivated, we asked ‘PB Machine’ Liam Herbert to share (and talk through) some of his favourite running songs, so over to Liam:

The Launch – DJ Jean (get way to get to ‘launch’ yourself off at the start of your run. A classic song which builds nicely as you settle into your pace)
Good Luck – Basement Jaxx (dance songs motivate me to run more than any other genre … and Basement Jaxx are fantastic at this! This song remind me that I’ve only just set out but to keep my focus on the road/cycle path and to continue working hard)
We Speak No Americano – Yolanda Be Cool (possibly my favourite dance song at the moment – only slightly behind on trends! Love the quirkiness of the bouncy beat which really makes me want to shuffle on)
Lose Control – Missy Elliott (this song sounds like some sort of deranged video game and generates a great hard base beat to get me to push on)
Morning After Dark – Timbaland (yes this is the hip-hop section of my run! Another song with electronica influences and a crazy BPM to try to get up with!)
SexyBack – Justin Timberlake (a drop in speed on this, but this song has an almost mechanical consistency which helps when I feel like I’m dropping off the pace ever so slightly … by making me remember the need to maintain a consistent pace)
Sandstorm – Darude (firmly back into classic dance music territory, this is a great number for that part of the run where you have been going well but feel the need to explode out and increase your pace. Energetic!)
Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) – Backstreet Boys (the optimal boy-band to run along to! Not as full-on as some of the earlier dance numbers, but catchy sing-a-long lyrics are great for keeping your mind off of the evitable fatigue you feel as you get towards the end of your run)
Fireflies – Owl City (the pace is slowing down, but you don’t want to drop off completely. This song had a ploddy beat but explodes back up in the chorus. Almost time to wind down and wrap up a good training run…)
Porcelain – Moby (my premier cool-down track. Its keeps a strong beat to remind you to keeping moving and not to stop immediately at the end of your run. The song is also very pretty and relaxing and gives me a great calming assurance that I’ve just enjoyed a great run).

Can you do better than this? If so, post a comment and let us know the song(s) that get you motivated!

Soooo get your groove on Spartans, and share some beautiful sounds! 😉

Our current play-list. Give it a listen!!!

Please note that you will need to have the Spotify software installed on your PC before you can use this feature. You can download it for FREE by following the instructions in the box below.
[spotifyplaybutton play=”spotify:user:1122177190:playlist:03cMAIbwLkiwkY4JF3VFkn”]