Hatfield 5 Mile County Championships
Twelve Spartans made the short trip to Hatfield for the 5 Mile race incorporating the Senior County Championship. STEVE GREEN ran a new Personal Best of 31:36 in finishing 14th in the M40 category, while BARRY OSBORNE took the prize for the first male over 60, finishing in 32:24. STEVE SMITHSON finished in 37:19 and JIM BROWN in 38:08 (6th in the M60 category).
For the women, JOANNE BOWDERY was the first Spartan finisher in 41:23, followed by STEPHANIE MAYFIELD with a huge new PB of 42:37 in her best age-graded result for four years. CAROLE SHELDRICK finished in 45:07, CAROLINE CROFT in 44:23), SHARON CROWLEY notched a season’s best in 47:42 and IRIS HORNEY was 3rd in the W70 category in 49:46. KELLY CHAPMAN and CAREN THAIN completed the race together in 62:33.
| Pos | Name | Gun Time | Chip Time | Category | Cat Pos | Gender | Notes |
| 56 | STEVE GREEN | 00:31:44 | 00:31:36 | M40 | 14 | Male | New personal best |
| 74 | BARRY OSBORNE | 00:32:32 | 00:32:24 | M60 | 1 | Male | 1st Over 60 |
| 149 | STEVE SMITHSON | 00:37:30 | 00:37:19 | M40 | 40 | Male | |
| 172 | JIM BROWN | 00:38:29 | 00:38:08 | M60 | 6 | Male | |
| 238 | JOANNE BOWDERY | 00:42:19 | 00:41:23 | Lady | 26 | Female | |
| 265 | STEPHANIE MAYFIELD | 00:43:33 | 00:42:37 | W40 | 22 | Female | PB by 2:13 |
| 290 | CAROLE SHELDRICK | 00:45:07 | 00:44:08 | W40 | 27 | Female | |
| 299 | CAROLINE CROFT | 00:45:22 | 00:44:23 | W40 | 28 | Female | |
| 379 | SHARON CROWLEY | 00:48:59 | 00:47:42 | W50 | 22 | Female | Season’s Best |
| 398 | IRIS HORNSEY | 00:50:43 | 00:49:46 | W70 | 3 | Female | |
| 466 | KELLY CHAPMAN | 01:03:50 | 01:02:33 | Lady | 87 | Female | |
| 467 | CAREN THAIN | 01:03:50 | 01:02:33 | Lady | 88 | Female |
Bass Belle 10 miler
Nine Spartans headed into Cambridgeshire for the Bass Belle 10 Miler, run in aid of Brainstrust, and on a fantastic day for the club ANDREW PATTERSON ran a massive new PB of 56:11 to take the trophy for third place in the open male category. Meanwhile GRANT RAMSEY was 4th overall and 1st Veteran in 56:45. BRIAN WHITE completed a trio of Spartan trophies as he finished in 01:07:06 for 1st in the M60 category. TIM ROBINSON (01:25:35) and KEN JUDE (01:30:23) also ran for the men.
For the ladies, KAREN ELLIS ran a terrific race to finish in 01:25:42 and a top 20 finish in her category. JULIE SHADBOLT continued her recent form with a new PB at the 10 mile distance, finishing in 01:31:35 and the Spartan contingent was completed by JENNY GARRETT and HAZEL CLARK both running well in 01:33:43 and 01:33:46 respectively.
| Pos | Name | Gun Time | Chip Time | Category | Cat Pos | Gender | Notes |
| 3 | Andrew Patterson | 00:56:12 | 00:56:11 | Senior | 3 | Male | New personal best |
| 4 | Grant Ramsay | 00:56:45 | 00:56:45 | M40 | 1 | Male | 1st in M40 |
| 31 | Brian White | 01:07:06 | 01:07:06 | M60 | 1 | Male | 1st in M60 |
| 201 | Tim Robinson | 01:26:04 | 01:25:35 | M40 | 52 | Male | |
| 202 | Karen Ellis | 01:26:08 | 01:25:42 | W45 | 16 | Female | |
| 244 | Ken Jude | 01:30:51 | 01:30:23 | M50 | 26 | Male | |
| 250 | Julie Shadbolt | 01:32:02 | 01:31:35 | W45 | 24 | Female | PB |
| 272 | Jenny Garrett | 01:34:11 | 01:33:43 | W45 | 26 | Female | |
| 274 | Hazel Clark | 01:34:12 | 01:33:46 | W35 | 49 | Female |
Bright and Breezy 5K
Two Spartans enjoyed a bright and breezy 5K race in Hyde Park on Friday. DAVE BOWKER finished the Serpentine Last Friday event in the top 100, he was 98th in 20 minutes 32 seconds, while JIM BROWN improved his 5K time by three seconds when he came 182nd in 23:43.
La Rochelle Marathon
ROGER BIGGS and PAUL HOLGATE were in France this weekend to run the country’s 3rd largest marathon in LA Rochelle, a two-lap event twisting through the sea-town’s quant streets and quays. Roger ran his second best marathon of the year to finish in 4:32:46 while Paul ran his best marathon time for over 3 years finishing in 5:27:21 (season’s best).
Saxon Shore Marathon
On Saturday CAROL PAUL ran the Saxon Shore marathon from Walmer in Kent. The marathon was a 5-lap course starting in Walmer, running along the coast through Deal and then returning to Walmer. It was a cold day with the wind picking up at times but Carol completed the marathon in 4:20:31.
Spartans Third In Cross Country, Next Race 18th December
After two races Fairlands Valley Spartans are in BRONZE position in the cross country league series but it is close and they could easily slip back to fourth or move up to SILVER.
Their combined male and female scores after the Grovelands Park fixture were 1,025 compared with 985 for second placed Harpenden and 1050 for St Albans in fourth. In that fixture the FVS men were second on 254 compared with Trent Park’s 202 and St Albans 288. A better turnout by the club’s women at the third race, which will be in Willian on 18th December, could hugely boost the Spartan performance as they were ninth out of the nineteen teams on 254 with Trent Park eighth on 202 and St Albans tenth 288. A lower score is better as it is made up of lower finishing positions.
Parkrun Report (26 November)
At Stevenage parkrun SUZY HAWKINS was second woman, finishing in a new course personal best time of 21 mins 22 secs. VERITY FISHER was fourth in 24:03 and CLAIRE COX 5th in 24:18. PAULINE FARNHAM finished in 32:56, CAREN THAIN notched a new course PB of in 35:40 and CHLOE EMMERSON took on the tail-runner volunteering role crossing the line in 57:24.
For the men, DARREN EMMERSON was 18th in 21:51. THOMAS SAUKA was 43rd in 24:04 and CHRIS HOLLAND 48th in 24:29. DANIEL SUTTON finished in 24:43.
At Panshanger, ANDY JAY was 67th, crossing the line in 25:25, while at Lymington SAM PRETTY was 1st woman in 20:42.
Now Thirty At St Neots
ROBERT WRIGHT completed the recent St Neots Half Marathon in exactly two hours.
Coming Events
Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks including cross country league. The opportunities include:
- Spartans Christmas Social on Saturday 10th December.
- Third Cross Country League Race at Willian on Sunday 18th December.
- Boxing Day Five in Witham on Monday 26th December.
- Serpentine New Year 10K in Hyde Park on 1st January 2017.
- Herts Cross Country Championships at Haileybury on Sunday 8th January.
- Fourth Cross Country League Race at Watford on Sunday 15th January.
- Fred Hughes 10 at St Albans on Sunday 22nd January.
- Southern Seniors Cross Country at Parliament Hill Fields on Saturday 28th January.
- Watford Half Marathon inc. County Senior Champs on Sunday 5th February.
- Fifth and Final Cross Country League Race at Royston on Sunday 12th February.
- Veterans County Cross Country Championships on Sunday 19th February.
- Finchley 20 on Sunday 11th March.
- County 1500 Championships in Stevenage on Monday 1st May (TBA).
- Stirling Marathon on Sunday 21st May.
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 hundreds of 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 the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) 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 9a.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 yet done very much running might prefer to start with a Thursday, Saturday or Monday session.
Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £37 per year, £25 without UKA affiliation. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy. You can also join online.
If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (0793 968 7509), Andy Neatham 0777 197 5499 and 01438 816889; or Karen Palmer (07734678566) or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk