Spartan RICHARD BATE broke the course record in Thursday’s 5K handicap race in Stevenage. His fantastic new course record is 16 minutes 19 seconds. That’s 14 seconds faster than the record set in April 2012 and nine seconds quicker than Richard’s own previous personal best (PB).
Despite the cold evening, 20 Spartans still turned out to take part in the January event.
The winner on the evening was new member Nicola Haberland, beating her handicap by 3 minutes 15 seconds to finish in a time of 24 minutes 15 seconds. Her partner Richard Kennedy was first man home in 2nd position overall as he closed to within 23 seconds of Nicola despite starting 2½ minutes behind on handicap, to finish in a time of 22:03.
Rosie Canham was second woman (third overall), running her fastest 5k in the last couple of years to finish in 22:10, 2:49 ahead of handicap and just three seconds behind Richard at the finish.
Paul Pickard was just two seconds behind Rosie. He was second man in a new PB time of 22:11, 15 seconds quicker than his previous best. Record breaker Richard Bate was third man (5th overall).
Kirsty Callan was third female, in her third 5k with the club and running her third PB to finish in 24:19, 56 seconds quicker than her previous PB run last month.
Fastest runner on the evening was of course Richard with his new course record time of 16:19, closely followed by Carlos Vasquez in a new PB time of his own with 16:44, and Grant Ramsay was third in 17:13. Rob Willis also finished in less than 20 minutes with a time of 19:46.
The fastest female was Rosie Canham with her time of 22:10, with Lucy Field, another woman running her third PB in as many 5Ks was second with 22:54, 15 seconds faster than in December. Nicola was third quickest with her race winning time of 24:15.
There was also a PB by Daniel Bates who improved his 5k time by 2 seconds to 20:15 and a Season Best time for Iris Hornsey in 30:48, 2:23 faster than her race winning time of last month, while Adrian Donnelly also improved on his December Handicap 5k time by 1:26 to 20:12, as also did Robert Shaw by 9 seconds to 26:56 and Paul Holgate by 1 minute 17 seconds to 28:45.
The next handicap 5K will be on Thursday evening 20th February.
Wet For Bromley Marathon
Three Spartans Tricia Hopper, Karen Liddle and Barry King, braved the wet weather to complete their first marathons of 2014 in Bromley, squelching their way around the five-lap course in 4 hours 52 minutes 14 seconds. Paul Holgate continued his return to training with 18 miles in 3:36:00.
Ashford Parkrun
DANIEL BATES was sixth out of 86 runners in Saturday’s Park in Victoria Park, Ashford with his time of 20 minutes 33 seconds.
London Indoor Games
John Harris was third in his heat in the London Indoor Games. He ran the 800 metres in 2 minutes 26.43 seconds. A new indoor personal best.
Presentation Evening
Fairlands Valley Spartans Presentation Evening, Dinner and Disco will be on Friday evening, 28th February. Tickets are ÂŁ23. More details from 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:
• Serpentine 5K race on Friday lunch time 31st January
• Cross country race five at Watford on Sunday 16th February
• Handicap 5K on Thursday 20th February
• Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February
• Veterans Cross Country Championships in Royston on 16th March
• Off Road Challenge in Stevenage on Sunday 20th July
• Relays in the Park in Stevenage on Thursday 31st July
• Stevenage Marathon and half marathon on Sunday 2nd November
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, Brittain Way, 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 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 ÂŁ35 per year, ÂŁ25 without UKA membership. 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), Vivienne Honey 07702 846304 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk
E N D S
More from Jim Brown (Press Officer) 0793 968 7509 or Vivienne Honey (Secretary) 07702 846304
www.fvspartans.org.uk