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NEWS RELEASE: FIVE AT FESTIVE FIVE, PARK RUN AND AN ENIGMA

Post author By Coach
Post date December 17, 2012
39 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: FIVE AT FESTIVE FIVE, PARK RUN AND AN ENIGMA

News Release 16^th December 2012

FIVE AT FESTIVE FIVE

Park Run and an Enigma

Fairlands Valley Spartans were first team at Sunday’s Festive Five. SIMON JACKSON, ANDREW PATTERSON and DAVIE STAFFORD beat the host club, Garden City Runners, by just one point (17 to 18).

This was the second annual Festive Five in Welwyn Garden City and five Spartans were racing. Between them they achieved five new personal bests (PBs) and a 1st, 2nd & 3rd place finish in the race for Spartans.

After finishing third in the race in 2011, Simon Jackson returned to the event and won the event in 28 minutes 33 seconds. However the performance of the race was by Andy Patterson who managed to beat the 5 mile personal best which he has had for five and a half years. He finished an impressive third in 29.13. Davie Stafford ran his quickest five miles ever – 33 minutes 12 seconds for 12^th place.

RHIANNON GRIFFIN continued her good year and was second woman in her first race over five miles with 34 minutes 17 seconds. IRIS HORNSEY was 13^th female in 45 minutes 31 seconds. Rhiannon and Iris made up the third women’s team.

The race was on a two lap, fast, flat course and the weather was cold and crisp.

St. Albans Park Run

Spartans VISHAL SHAH and ANDY PRIOR ran last Saturdays St Albans Park Run.

Andy managed a new personal best of 23 minutes 14 seconds and was 48^th out of the 116 finishers. Vish was 51^st in 23:50.

The course is very flat & potentially fast if you get the start right as it can be congested over the first kilometre.

Andy will be returning on the 21^st for another crack at a sub 23 time.

Enigma Christmas Trail Marathon — Saturday, 15^th December 2012

ROGER BIGGS completed the Enigma Marathon for the seventh time on Saturday.

The Enigma is over a 7.5 lap course around Caldecotte Lake in Bletchley, near Milton Keynes. In good conditions, although slightly windy, Roger navigated this twisty course in 3:58:33, over 6 minutes quicker than his previous best for this event.

Coming Events

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

Christmas Social Run on Tuesday 18^th December.
Misden Chapel Run on Sunday 23^rd 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.

Spartan in the spotlight

Meet your Captains – an interview with Nick Witcombe and Tracy Pez

Post author By Tracy Pez
Post date December 15, 2012
29 Comments on Meet your Captains – an interview with Nick Witcombe and Tracy Pez

Our Super Captains, Nick & TP

Andy Jay: Hi Captains, nice photo. Let me ask, why is it that superheros wear their underwear over the top of their clothes?

NW: Because their pants are always clean, it is a sign of perfection….
TP: Plus, It’s a fashion statement…!!!

AJ: OK, so you are clearly not really superheros, but if you were, which super power would you like to have?

NW: The power of speed, so I can no longer have to plod!!
TP: The power of invisibility, so I can cause lots of mischief!!!

AJ: Would you rather be able to read people’s minds OR have x-ray vision?

TP & NW: We know what you’re thinking…….!!!!….it has to be X-ray vision!!

AJ: Tell me, what was the most interesting trip you have ever taken?

TP: Oh no…what did you have to go and ask that for??
NW: Well it was when I went to Texas and ran the New Braunfels Half Marathon….where I finished in first position….the first Spartan….it was a great trip….

AJ: Anyway, moving swiftly on….What is your favourite pre-run breakfast ?

NW: Porridge. Because I am not allowed a fry up.
TP: I have porridge too….but not with Nick!! #awkward

AJ: What is your favourite piece of clothing?

NW: It has to be my famous flat cap…
TP: Obviously mine has to be my stripy vest….closely followed by my underpants…

AJ: What was the funniest thing you have ever experienced while running?

NW: I think it was my Pingu experience….although Sharon running through the farm with a flock of sheep hot on her heels was very funny too!!!
TP: Ummm…I think mine was Andy Jay stamping his feet and throwing his toys out the pram at the Eddy half while Charlie did his rather poor impersonation of a Scots man…..!!

AJ: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what five items would you want to have with you and why?

TP: Jointly stranded?
NW: Together? #awkward…
TP: Well in that case, I’d need earplugs (to avoid those stories from Texas!). Umm…and a box of Christmas crackers (to source some new jokes)
NW: I’d take earplugs (to avoid the bad jokes). And a mobile device to prevent Facebook withdrawal symptoms….
TP: Yes I can imagine the exciting status updates now….Still stuck on the island….sunny and sandy today…
NW: I’d need my other gadgets too — like my head torch, to see what I am doing when it gets dark
TP: And I’d have to take my Spartan calendar!
NW. Oh, and my dartboard… (see the Spartan calendar….)

AJ: What are your pet running peeves?

TP: Andy Jay.
NW: Andy Prior.

AJ: What three items are top of your bucket list?

NW: run the Las Vegas half marathon, to go to Australia to see the Ashes, and to visit a desert island (but not with the ladies captain)….
TP: I’d like to travel some more, Rome and South America being top of my wish list at the moment, and I’d like to get a PhD — Dr Pez has such a nice ring to it don’t you think?!….and I’d like to learn to swim really well and really far to escape Nick on that desert island….

AJ: Where would you go in a time machine?

TP: Into the future…just to see if AJ gets any quicker….but that’s unlikely and actually I don’t think I really want to know what the future has in store so I think I’d go back…..maybe to Egyptian times see how they really did build the pyramids..
NW: Umm..I’d pop back to 1986 and leave a note for myself to buy shares in Apple and Google with my first ever pay cheque….

AJ: Do you have any phobias?

TP: Spiders and housework! And Nick’s stories from Texas….
NW: Heights, stripy shorts, and the Ladies Captain…

AJ: Would you rather own a boat or a plane?

NW. A boat….I don’t like heights….
TP: But you work for an airline….??

AJ: Which Spartan do you most look up to?

NW. Ron Cohen — what an inspiration
TP: Andy Jay – cos he is taller than me…(and paid me to say that!!)

AJ: Do you have any moments of fame?

NW: Yes, I appeared in 1993 FA cup final. Unfortunately I didn’t score the winning goal though!!
TP: I was in the Comet once….There was a great photo of me with blurred feet — my girls were very impressed as the blurring was clearly due to the fact I was running so fast…!!

AJ: What is the best thing about the Spartans….

NW: It has to be the great people..The Fab 4, Doyles Dollies, and Andy Jay of course…~
TP: What about me…??
NW: Ooppps….#awkward
TP: My best bits are Shed parties, SSRs, CBFs, all the laughs we have and of course the fab training runs on offer – intervals on a Tuesday, long Sunday morning adventures (preferably with Jelly Babies) – and the MWL…oh yes, and listening to tales of Texas…..get off my foot now Nick….
NW: And the Ladies Captain…TP…can you stop pinching me now…??!

AJ: Would you rather give up chocolate or chips?

TP: Chips obviously — couldn’t be without chocolate!!
NW: I’ll give up the chocolate – there’s a shortage anyway with TP’s addiction…

AJ: Would you rather find true love or £100,000?

TP: That’s easy. £100,000!!….
NW: £100,000!!!

AJ: Would you rather sit on a cloud or walk on water?

NW: Walk on water…
TP: That would be useful if your boat sinks Captain…

AJ: Delicious choice: Swallow a fly or suck a brussel sprout?

TP: The fly….have had a fair few while out running already….
NW: Ummm..protein

AJ: Would you prefer to be super strong or super fast?

TP: Super strong…I am already super fast….and I have cute muscles! 😉
NW: Super Fast…I am already super strong..! (flexes muscles)

AJ: Would you rather be a ninja or a pirate?

TP: A Pirate…of the Caribbean…with Johnny Depp…
NW: A pirate obviously, I mean I’ve already got me boat, and I can walk on water….and I look like Johnny Depp
TP: Johnny Vegas more like…

AJ: Would you like it to be always summer or always winter?

NW: Defo Summer…it’s not Christmas and there are no Christmas cracker jokes!!!…..ouch…!!!

AJ: Do you prefer to have your birthday or Christmas?

NW: Birthday..no Christmas jokes to put up with!!..OUCH!!!!

AJ: What location would you choose: to be on a beach or up a hill?

NW: A beach….you’ve got me thinking back to that desert island….
TP: I’d rather be up a hill….escaping Nick’s desert island fantasies..!!

AJ: You guys seem to do a lot together as Captains…what famous double act would you compare yourselves too?

TP: I think Wham. One talented member (me) and one who just follows behind….!!! 😉 ….

AJ: Thanks Captains!!!!

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: UPHILL CROSS COUNTRY AT ST ALBANS

Post author By Coach
Post date December 13, 2012
78 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: UPHILL CROSS COUNTRY AT ST ALBANS

News Release 9^th December 2012

UPHILL CROSS COUNTRY AT ST ALBANS

Back to School on Friday

Fairlands Valley Spartans put out two strong women’s teams in Sunday’s cross country league race in Verulamium Park, St. Albans. Over a tough and hilly 5.7 miles with some liquid mud patches RHIANNON GRIFFIN led the “A” team in 128^th position (overall out of all the men and women) with a time of 41 minutes 57 seconds; TRACY PEZ was 165^th in 44:40; JULIE SIMMONDS 174^th in 45:20; MADDIE PRITCHARD 217^th in 48:05; and KAREN ELLIS 231^st in 48:55.

ANN TRYSSESOONE was first for the “B” team and not far behind, 236^th in 49:18; HANNAH DAVIDSON 252^nd in 50:43; LISA GRAY 255^th in 50:59; TRICIA HOPPER 260^th in 51:26 and KAREN LIDDLE 264^th in 51:40. The Spartan women even had a bonus of two other runners — SHARON CROWLEY 280^th in 53:45 and LORRAINE THOMAS 290^th in 56:15.

For the men’s team LEE REYNOLDS was a phenomenal third in 34 minutes exactly; ADRIAN DONNELLY was 97^th in 40:22; STEVE MAYFIELD 138^th in 42:28; JIM BROWN 197^th in 46:39; MARK CHEADLE 212^th in 47:36; BARRY KING 218^th in 48:09; ANDY JAY 229^th in 48:50 and PAUL HOLGATE 277^th in 53:06. In addition TONY OSBORNE was 293^rd in 57:44 and NICK WITCOMBE 298^th in 59:40.

Women’s Results (five per team):

Overall Position	Name	Time
128	RHIANNON GRIFFIN	41:57
165	TRACY PEZ	44:40**
174	JULIE SIMMONDS	45:20
217	MADDIE PRITCHARD	48:05
231	KAREN ELLIS	48:55
236	ANN TRYSSESOONE	49:18
252	HANNAH DAVIDSON	50:43**
255	LISA GRAY	50:59
260	TRICIA HOPPER	51:26
264	KAREN LIDDLE	51:40
280	SHARON CROWLEY	53:45
290	LORRAINE THOMAS	56:15

Men’s Results (eight per team):

Overall Position	Name	Time
3	LEE REYNOLDS	34:00**
97	ADRIAN DONNELLY	40:22
138	STEVE MAYFIELD	42:28
197	JIM BROWN	46:39
212	MARK CHEADLE	47:36
218	BARRY KING	48:09
229	ANDY JAY	48:50
277	PAUL HOLGATE	53:06
293	TONY OSBORNE	57:44
298	NICK WITCOMBE	59:40

Off Road Stratford

On Saturday CAROL PAUL ran the Winter Board Meadow Off Road Marathon from Stratford upon Avon. The marathon consisted of three different loops around Stratford upon Avon. It was a cold day with the sun hardly making an appearance. Carol’s time was 5 hours 38 minutes 49 seconds.

Getting Ready For Disney

Husband & wife, PAUL MARSHALL and VIVIENNE HONEY participated in a very windy & undulating Bedford Half marathon on Sunday morning.

With times of 1 hour 53 minutes 7 seconds and 2:17:41 respectively, this race signals the wind down to the Disney Marathon in Florida in January where Paul is doing both the half marathon & the full marathon during the weekend.

Lisbon Marathon

ROGER BIGGS was in Lisbon, the Capital of Portugal, on Sunday for a marathon that took in the city and riverside areas. Over an undulating course, with a 4 kilometres climb from 36 kilometres (22 miles), Roger ran a steady race to finish in 4:05:22.

Club Christmas Party — We Are Going Back To School! — Friday 14^th December

The Spartans’ Christmas Party is this Friday. They are going back to school. Relive the best days of your life with fun and games along with dancing to a variety of popular music. Fancy dress is encouraged (maybe your old school uniform still fits) but you are free to attend in non-uniform. The evening will also include the Virgin London Marathon club draw which is due to take place at around 7.30pm. The event is taking place at Mossbury Primary School , Webb Rise , Stevenage SG1 5PA, doors open at 7pm (Don’t be late for registration).

Tickets are now available (from Tracy Pez, Jayne Pinner, Katrina Doyle or Nick Witcombe) and cost £5. This includes a buffet but can you please bring your own drinks. Further details will be posted to the Forum on www.fvspartans.org.uk.

The Spartans New Committee

At the recent AGM the following people were elected onto the committee:

Chair — Bev Harlow, General Secretary — Viv Honey (07702 846304), Committee Secretary — Jo Cahill, Treasurer — Mark Cheadle, Head Coach — Chris Leigh, Mens Team Captain — Nick Witcombe, Ladies Team Captain — Tracy Pez together with Graham Blackburn, Jim Brown (Press Officer 0793 968 7509), Paul Holgate, James Day, Simon Harris, John Harlow, Lisa Jerrom, Tessa Stephenson, Maria Rushton, Phil Rushton, Barry King, Christine Sharman and Jayne Pinner.

Last year’s Committee, particularly Chair — Graham Blackburn and Secretary — Steph Mayfield, were thanked for all their work during the last year

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:

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.

Club News

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.

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

Jo Cahill – Committee Member

Post author By fvsadmin
Post date November 23, 2012
10 Comments on Jo Cahill – Committee Member

Jo joined the club as a complete novice in June 2011 and has never looked back! She had been going to the gym to lose some weight and on arriving home one evening she said her husband “I have just run my first ever 5 km she had NEVER run in my life before this! She proceeded to tell him how she’d love one day to do a marathon. Her husband turned blue and said very nicely Jo you are not really built for running- well that was it – within a month she had applied and secured a place in VLM for 2012! Hubby nearly had a coronary and she joined Spartans! As a result of the professional advice from the coaches and the camaraderie she experienced during training she completed London in 5 hrs 39 mins and now also has some fabulous friends. Jo runs every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, with her Group C run on a Sunday being her favourite.

Jo has an 8 year old son called Jack – who demands that she is fit! She enjoys doing 10kms and half marathons and hopes one day to do the London Marathon again.

Jo works in higher education, but prior to that she worked for 12 years as a ward sister in a cardiothoracic intensive care unit. On the 23 November 2012 Jo achieved her PhD which involved doing a research study looking at patient participation in surgical nursing care and which after the London Marathon was one of the biggest challenges of her life. If you put your mind to it you can succeed at anything! Jo’s motto is ‘It helps to be a Spartan’!!!!!

Club News

New Committee Elected for 2013

Post author By fvsadmin
Post date November 23, 2012
81 Comments on New Committee Elected for 2013

FVS Committee 2013

During the AGM on Wednesday 21st November, a new committee was voted in.

Position	Name
Chairman	Beverley Harlow
General Secretary	Vivienne Honey
Treasurer	Mark Cheadle
Head Coach	Chris Leigh
Mens Team Captain	Nick Witcombe
Ladies Team Captain	Tracy Pez
Committee	Graham Blackburn Jim Brown James Day John Harlow Simon Harris Paul Holgate Lisa Jerrom Maria Rushton Phil Rushton Tessa Stephenson Barry King Christine Sharman Jayne Pinner Jo Cahill

Contact the committee to give your thoughts and feedback using email address: committee@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

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

Club News

URGENT HELP NEEDED: 23rd SEPTEMBER

Post author By Coach
Post date September 16, 2012
1 Comment on URGENT HELP NEEDED: 23rd SEPTEMBER

On the 23rd September the club are hosting the Paul Maguire 5. The race is in memory of Paul, a very popular and inspirational Spartan who passed away following a long battle with cancer. The race is also the County 5 mile and all proceeds will be going to the Garden House hospice. At the moment we do not have enough help to put the race on safely, in particular we are short of some 30 marshals. If we do not get additional volunteers to cover these vital roles then we will have little choice but to cancel the race.

If you can spare a couple of hours next Sunday please add your name to the list of helpers either on this message, on the Forum or by adding your name on the list at training.

Thank you.

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

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: BOWKER WINS BRITISH MASTERS

Post author By Tracy Pez
Post date August 6, 2012
129 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: BOWKER WINS BRITISH MASTERS

BOWKER WINS BRITISH MASTERS
Monica Takes Silver * Grant Ready for Europe

Fairlands Valley Spartans’ DAVID BOWKER won GOLD in the British Masters Athletics Federation Championships at Oxford on Sunday. He was first vet (50 plus) in the 10 kilometre walk with a time of 66 minutes 48 seconds.

MONICA BROWN took silver in the Heptathlon which was held on Saturday and Sunday though she says she had a mixed competition.

She was disappointed to be down on her jumps and 200 metres after last week’s EVAC championships but was pleased to see an improvement in her throws with personal bests (PB) in both the shot and javelin. The overall result was a Silver Medal in my age group (W45).

Day One: The day was a mixture of sunshine and occasional showers but luckily athletes managed to avoid the rain but sadly not the wind. Hurdles- 17.05 seconds, High Jump – 1.30 metres, Shot – 6.87 metres (PB), 200 metres sprint – 29.91 seconds.

Day Two: Heavy rain and more wind. There were showers just before the long jump, javelin in the rain and heavy rain and lightning during the 800 metres. Mmonica was hoping that the thought of getting soaked and possibly struck by lightning might help her to run faster for the 800 metres but sadly that was not the case. Long Jump – 4.03 metres, Javelin 17.60 metres (PB), 800metres — 3 minutes 18.10 seconds.

Overall an enjoyable couple of days, made better by being joined on the Sunday by fellow Spartans. Dave Bowker for the BMAF 10K Walk Championships and Grant Ramsay for the BMAF 10K Run Championships. Her silver medal was in the women (45 plus) category.

GRANT RAMSAY was fourth man (40 plus) in the British Masters 10K Track Champs, Oxford in 34 minutes 47 seconds.

A nice confidence booster ahead of the European Vets Marathon Championships, which will be in the Czech Republic on Aug 25th. He will be representing team GB.

And, of course, lots of Spartans have been watching or helping the London Olympics.

John’s Golds, Silver and Bronze.

In the recent EVAC (East of England) championships Spartan JOHN TYRELL was first in the male (75 plus) category javelin with 16.57 metres; second in the hammer with 11.32 metres; third in the discus with 18.32 metres and fourth in the shot with 5.97 metres.

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

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.
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

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: 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!

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

***********

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: SPARTAN WOMEN WIN LEAGUE

Post author By Tracy Pez
Post date July 16, 2012
71 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: SPARTAN WOMEN WIN LEAGUE

SPARTAN WOMEN WIN LEAGUE

County Gold and Silver for Dave and Jim

Fairlands Valley Spartans’ women have won the Central Division Track and Field League. They will now go forward to the East of England Veterans Final on Sunday 23^rd September.

The club’s team of MONICA BROWN, SHARON CROWLEY, CHRIS FEELY, JAN FRY, IRIS HORNSEY, STEPH MAYFIELD, CAROLYN SHORTLAND, JULIE SIMMONS and TESSA STEPHENSON only needed to finish within 22 points of past winners and hosts of the last fixture Marshall Milton Keynes to win. In fact they kept within two points, MMK 135 to Spartans 133, and were well ahead of Corby (96); Bedford and County (89); Kettering (86); Wellingborough (56) and Biggleswade (4).

The men – DAVE BOWKER, JIM BROWN, MARK GLADING, BARRY KING, STEVE MAYFIELD, ANDY NEATHAM, SIMON PROCTOR, MICK SHORTLAND, DAVE STEPHENSON, JOHN TYRRELL – finished a strong third with 120 points compared with 151 for Bedford and County and 140 for Marshall Milton Keynes with Kettering a distant fourth with 83 followed by Wellingborough (81); Corby (31) and Biggleswade (24).

This was achieved with the help of many club and age bests including 200 metres MICK SHORTLAND men 60 plus 35.9 seconds (also beating the M55 record); 400 metres hurdles MARK GLADING men 50 plus 115.7 seconds; Mile Walk male 50 plus DAVE BOWKER set a new club record for all ages of 9 minutes 22.7 seconds; Triple jump male 40 plus new Spartan SIMON PROCTOR set a new club record for all ages of 10.11 metres; Discus male 45 plus STEVE MAYFIELD set a new club record of 21.94 metres and beat the all ages javelin record with 27.40 metres; also in the discus male 75 plus JOHN TYRRELL threw 17.15 metres (also breaking the M70 and M65 records); and the 1 x 400 metres, 2 x 200 metres and 1 x 400 metres male 40 plus relay team of STEVE MAYFIELD, DAVE STEPHENSON, SIMON PROCTOR and ANDY NEATHAM set a new club record of 3 minutes 4.9 seconds.

The winning women team were already high achievers but IRIS HORNSEY beat the female 70 plus record for 200 metres with 42.0 seconds and for the triple jump with 5.14 metres; JULIE SIMMONS beat the female 55 plus 800 metres record with 3 minutes 2.6 seconds (also beating the W50 record) and the 3,000 metres record with 12 minutes 57.4 seconds (also beating the W45 and W50 records); SHARON CROWLEY beat the all ages mile walk for women with 10 minutes 55.5 seconds; STEPH MAYFIELD beat the all ages pole vault record with 1.90 metres while MONICA BROWN pushed the 45 plus pole vault record up to 1.30 metres; in the discus TESSA STEPHENSON beat the women 50 plus record for the discus with 16.54 metres and CAROLYN SHORTLAND beat the women 55 plus record with 13.42 metres.

The ladies won four of their 26 events, with KERRY JAMES claiming a double in the F35 800m and 3000m. JULIE SIMMONS, having recently moved up to F55, won a close 3000m to go with her 2^nd place in the 800m. MONICA BROWN won the F45 200m, added second places in the Triple Jump, Javelin and Pole Vault making her top scorer for the ladies team with 25 individual points. Second place finishes were also earned by CHRIS FEELY in the F45 800m, STEPH MAYFIELD in the F35 Pole Vault, IRIS HORNSEY in the F55 Triple Jump, TESSA STEPHENSON F35 Discus and CAROLYN SHORTLAND F55 Discus. SHARON CROWLEY broke the ladies club record coming 2^nd in the 1 mile walk, whilst JAN FRY scored a 3^rd place in the same event for the F55s.

The men’s team had two 1^st places to celebrate, both going to DAVE BOWKER as he continues his return to fitness. His 1 mile walk was a new club record and his 3000m made it a treble for the club over the longest distance. ANDY NEATHAM also ran a fine 3000m but lost out to a rival Milton Keynes runner and they ended their head to head battle over the season at 2-2. New club member SIMON PROCTOR set a new club record coming 3^rd in the M40 triple jump. STEVE MAYFIELD earned second places in the M40, Pole Vault, Discus and Javelin (all PBs) and with a 3^rd in the 800m top scored for the men with 23 points. However MARK GLADING was the busiest and bravest Spartan, successfully negotiating the 400m hurdles for the first time by club make 50 plus (M50), before taking on a further four events and a relay leg. MICK SHORTLAND achieved 2^nd places in both the M60 throws, and came 3^rd in the 200m whilst JIM BROWN took on the remaining M60 events, coming second in the one mile walk, third in the 3,000 metres and fourth in the 800 metres. Between them they collected 32 valuable points. Then they both took up the baton in the M50 relay. DAVE STEPHENSON, BARRY KING and JOHN TYRELL completed the men’s team.

The relays brought the evening to a close and provided their traditional excitement. Several places over the evening were decided by very close finishes, but none closer than the fight for 2^nd place in the F45 relay. With Kettering leading comfortably and Milton Keynes equally comfortable in 2^nd MONICA BROWN ran an incredible anchor leg for the team managing the seemingly impossible task of catching the Milton Keynes runner and passing her inches from the line. The M40 team followed up with a club age record in the relay for the 3^rd match running, taking over 11 seconds off the previous best for the 400m/200m/200m/400m.

Gold and Silver in County 10K

Conditions were really horrible for the Hertfordshire 10K County Championships on Thursday night. There was continuous heavy rain and large puddles on many parts of Sandy Track but DAVE BOWKER won GOLD in the Vet 50 plus category in 41 minutes 37.2 seconds and JIM BROWN SILVER in the Vet 60 plus category with a season’s and age category time of 46 minutes 19.6 seconds.

Iris, Bev and Tracy Win Mid Week Medals

IRIS HORNSEY won the women’s 65 plus category in the Mid Week Road Race League series; TRACY PEZ was second woman 35 plus; BEV HARLOW tied on points with the winner in the 55 plus category but narrowly lost on the tie-breaker formula.

Mob Match

The “mob match” is the end of series combined race for both divisions after which the presentations were made for the 2012 Mid Week Road Race League. Spartan numbers were down compared with the counting events due to EVAC Track and Field (see separate story) and other commitment but twenty club members enjoyed the nine kilometres essentially trail event in Trent Park, north London.

SIMON JACKSON ran a superb race in 33 minutes exactly to finish sixth out of more than 300 runners and ANDREW PATTERSON was 17^th in 34:20. TRACY BULLOT (188^th in 45:52) and CLAIRE COKER (200^th in 46:53) were the club’s fastest women.

The other Spartans were ROB WILLIS (23^rd in 34:47); ANDREW HULL (143^rd in 43:02); ROGER BIGGS (171^st in 44:49); VISHAL SHAH (196^th in 45:58); KAREN ELLIS (207^th in 47:27); PAUL HOLGATE (233^rd in 49:26); MARK CHEADLE (237^th in 49:40); STEVEN DOBNER (261^st in 52:34); MARIA THORNE (270^th in 53:26); NICK WITCOMBE (274^th in 53:46); JULIE TWOMEY (276^th in 54:04); LORRAINE THOMAS (279^th in 54:15); ISABEL GREEN (286^th in 55:11); TRACY STILES (294^th in 57:20); LISA JERROM (295^th in 57:20) and SIMON HARRIS (305^th in 1 hour 3 minutes 19 seconds).

Position	Name	Category	Time
6	Simon Jackson	S	33:00
17	Andrew Patterson	S	34:20
23	Rob Willis	S	34:47
143	Andrew Hull	V 40	43:02
171	Roger Biggs	V 60	44:49
188	Tracy Bullot (F)	V 35	45:52
196	Vishal Shah	S	45:58
200	Claire Coker (F)	V 35	46:53
207	Karen Ellis (F)	V 35	47:27
233	Paul Holgate	V 50	49:26
237	Mark Cheadle	S	49:40
261	Steven Dobner	S	52:34
270	Maria Thorne (F)	V 35	53:26
274	Nick Witcombe	V 40	53:46
276	Julie Twomey (F)	V 45	54:04
279	Lorraine Thomas (F)	V 45	54:15
286	Isabel Green (F)	S	55:11
294	Tracy Stiles (F)	V 35	57:20
295	Lisa Jerrom (F)	V 35	57:20
305	Simon Harris	S	1:03:19

Grant Ramsay

GRANT RAMSAY competed in the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge on Wednesday evening. Over 5.6 kilometres in Battersea Park, London he was 27^th out of 7,000 in 19 minutes 46 seconds.

Then he was third in the 3,000 metres steeplechase at a Southern League Track Meeting in Woking with a time of 11 minutes 8 seconds.

Tony Goes Bare Foot.

TONY ARGYROU ran barefoot for the City 5K on Thursday evening. He was 913^th out of more than 6,000 with a time of 22 minutes 15 seconds.

Enter Now!

The Spartans host the Relays in the Park on Thursday evening 19^th July. The relays will be in Fairlands Valley Park with each runner racing over three kilometres. Men’s teams consist of five runners, women’s teams three. The club host the County Championship 5K road race on Sunday 9^th September and Five Miles on 23^rd September. These are within open races — everyone can have a go. Enter now. There are details on www.fvspartans.org.uk

The 3K relays are great for spectators. If you are not running why not come along to Fairlands Valley Park and support our local runners. The race starts at 7.30p.m.

Fairlands Valley Challenge

Fairlands Valley Spartans organised a hugely successful Fairlands Valley Challenge off road event on Sunday. Results will be available soon.

Coming Event

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

Relays in the Park (3K legs) on Thursday evening 19^th July.
Serpentine 5K on Friday 20^th (note different Friday and starting point due to Olympic preparations)
County 5K Championships 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: IT MIGHT AS WELL RAIN UNTIL SEPTEMBER

Post author By Tracy Pez
Post date July 9, 2012
52 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: IT MIGHT AS WELL RAIN UNTIL SEPTEMBER

IT MIGHT AS WELL RAIN UNTIL SEPTEMBER

Off Road Challenge and Relays Coming Soon

Tracy is first lady

Fairlands Valley Spartans’ TRACY PEZ was fastest woman in the North Herts first Saturday of the Month 5K race. On a course that was muddy and slippery in places she finished in 23 minutes 34 seconds.

Hard Hitchin

Eight Spartans splashed their way around a very wet Hitchin Hard Half Marathon on Sunday.

KERRY FLAIN was 27^th out of the 215 finishers in 1 hour 35 minutes 10 seconds; two minutes later JO LAING was 33^rd in 1:37:11. MIKE KING was 48^th in 1:41:03 and ANDREW HULL 75^th in 1:47:36.

TREVOR SETTERFIELD finished in 1:55:23; MADELEINE PRITCHARD in 1:59:20; BARBARA WILSON in 2:02:23 and PAUL HOLGATE in 2:10:47.

Position	Name	Time
27	KERRY FLAIN (M)	1:35:10
33	JO LAING (F)	1:37:11
48	MIKE KING	1:41:03
75	ANDREW HULL	1:47:36
??	TREVOR SETTERFIELD	1:55:23*
145	MADELEINE PRITCHARD (F)	1:59:20
156	BARBARA WILSON (F)	2:02:23
186	PAUL HOLGATE (M)	2:10:47

There were 215 runners.

Summer (?) Festival Marathon

On Saturday 7th July just a few days after getting over yet another cold CAROL PAUL travelled to Milton Keynes for the Enigma Summer Festival Marathon. The race was over an undulating seven and half laps around Caldecotte Lake. Carol finished in 4 hours 58 minutes 15 seconds.

British 10K London

JANET COX ran her first 10 kilometres race at the British 10K in London on Sunday. Also a wet race she finished in 1 hour 19 minutes 53 seconds.

Soggy Spartans

Two Spartans braved the rain on Tuesday to take part in the Milton Keynes 10k. Roger Biggs finished 235^th of the 392 runners in 47 minutes 44 seconds and Paul Holgate took 52:19 for 311^th position.

And dozens of Spartans were lining the streets of Stevenage to see the Olympic flame. On Monday morning at 7:30a.m. founder Spartan member KEVIN LAWLOR carried the Olympic torch in Luton

Enter Now!

The Spartans host the Fairlands Valley Off Road Challenge this Sunday 15^th July and the Relays in the Park on Thursday evening 19^th July. The relays will be in Fairlands Valley Park with each runner racing over three kilometres. 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:

Mob Match at Trent Park on Wednesday 11^th July.
EVAC Track and Field event in Milton Keynes on Wednesday 11^th July.
Fairlands Valley Challenge (Off Road) on Sunday 15^th July.
Relays in the Park (3K legs) on Thursday evening 19^th July.
County 5K Championships 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: BATTLING 58 GO DOWN FIGHTING

Post author By Tracy Pez
Post date July 2, 2012
1 Comment on NEWS RELEASE: BATTLING 58 GO DOWN FIGHTING

BATTLING 58 GO DOWN FIGHTING

Off Road Challenge and Relays Coming Soon

There were some brilliant individual performances by Spartans in the last counting Mid Week League race of the season which was over seven undulating miles at St. Albans on a very warm evening . For example NATALIE BARNARD was third senior woman in 46 minutes 22 seconds with SAM PRETTY fifth in 47:32. Club Vice-Chair BEV HARLOW was second woman veteran (55 plus) in 1:01:28.

CRAIG HALSEY is in the middle of a gruelling triathlon training programme but still came 14^th overall in just 41 minutes 29 seconds. The other Spartans in the top thirty were SHAW PYE 21^st in 42:31; GRANT RAMSAY 22^nd in 42:37: and ANDREW PATTERSON, 29^th in 43:05.

Seven miles, unlike say 10 kilometres or 10 miles, is not a standard race distance so there were no personal bests but compared with the same race last year there were many improvement — ANDY PRIOR by a huge 7 minutes 44 seconds to 1:01:44 (257^th); STEVEN DOBNER by 4:06 to 1:06:54 (289^th); VISHAL SHAH by 3:49 to 58:25 (233^rd); JENNIFER ROBERTSON by an impressive 3 minutes 44 seconds to 53 minutes 18 seconds (169^th); JIM BROWN by 2:53 to 56:41 (216^th); DAWN EASBY by 2:40 to 58:14 (230^th); MARIE COLUCCI by 2:05 to 56:51 (219^th); LISA BURGESS by 1:49 to 49:56 (112^th); PAUL HOLGATE by 1:31 to 1:01:40 (260^th); NICK WITCOMBE by 1:21 to 1:07:00 (291^st); JULIE SIMMONS by 1:19 to 55:16 (201^st); PETE SMITH by one minute exactly to 49:28 (104^th); LEE LAWRENCE by 29 seconds to 52:41 (154^th);

New Spartan RUTH RILEY ran her first race for the club in 1 hour 5 minutes 46 seconds.

However the efforts of the 58 Spartan finishers were not quite enough to make up the extra points Fairlands Valley Spartans needed to stay in Division One so it will be Division Two next year. The club have often yo-yo’d between the two divisions in the past and look forward to seeking promotion next year.

Full results for all 58 Spartans in the seven mile race at St. Albans on 28^th June 2012:

Race	Name	Time	Comments inc improvements compared with 2011
14	Craig Halsey	41:29
21	Shaw Pye	42:31
22	Grant Ramsay	42:37
29	Andrew Patterson	43:05
52	Danny Hukin	45:30
56	Todd Gray	45:52
63	Natalie Barnard	46:22	3rd senior woman
79	Sam Pretty	47:32	5th senior woman
97	David Bowker	49:07
98	Adrian Donnelly	49:07
104	Pete Smith	49:28	1:00
112	Lisa Burgess	49:56	1:49
135	Kerry James	51:05
143	Steve Elder	51:38
147	Darren Wilby	52:18
154	Lee Lawrence	52:41	0:29
167	Tracy Pez	53:22
169	Jennifer Roberston	53:18	3:44
170	Mick Connell	53:16
179	Jon Sypula	53:56
181	Mark Goodwin	53:55
185	Roger Biggs	54:12
187	Nikke Andrews	54:33
188	Andrew Hull	54:20
193	Rhiannon Griffin	54:59
201	Julie Simmons	55:16	1:19
216	Jim Brown	56:41	2:53
219	Marie Colucci	56:51	2:05
220	Paul Pickard	57:01
221	Ryan Running	57:04
229	Derek Wood	58:08
230	Dawn Easby	58:14	2:40
231	Gaynor Knight	58:16
233	Vishal Shah	58:25	3:49
239	James Day	59:11
241	Tony Argyrou	59:50
242	Helene Miller	59:56
244	Robert Shaw	1:00:22
251	Andy Jay	1:01:04
254	Dan Simms	1:01:06
257	Andy Prior	1:01:16	7:44
258	Claire Coker	1:01:15
259	Beverley Harlow	1:01:28	Second FV55
260	Paul Holgate	1:01:40	1:31
273	Roger Hardman	1:04:02
275	Steve Carter	1:05:05
279	Ruth Riley	1:05:46
280	Julie Twomey	1:05:55
281	Sharon Crowley	1:05:53
285	Nicky Collins	1:06:13
286	Lorraine Thomas	1:06:25
289	Steven Dobner	1:06:54	4:06
291	Nick Witcombe	1:07:00	1:21
292	Isabel Green	1:07:00
303	Graham Hill	1:11:35
304	Maria Thorne	1:11:40
310	Tracy Stiles	1:12:23
314	Victoria Sealy	1:13:24

There were 321 finishers.

Durham Duo

ROGER BIGGS and MICHAELA SANDERS were in County Durham at the weekend for the Hamsterly Forest Trail Marathon. In good conditions but on a hilly three lap course Roger finished in 4 hours 55 minutes 49 seconds and Michaela in 5:40:41.

Regent’s Park 10K

On Sunday PETE SMITH ran the Regent’s Park 10K in 42 minutes 25 seconds.

Hadrian’s Wall

Recently Spartans TRICIA HOPPER and KAREN LIDDLE took part in the Hadrian’s Wall ultra 69 mile race over 2 days, finishing in a total 16 hours and 57 minutes.

They both feel tired but fab and even had a little left to break into a sort of sprint over the Millennium Bridge. Tricia and Karen quite rightly are really chuffed at their achievement.

Roger’s a Winner in Hardest Marathon

ROGER BIGGS took part in possibly the hardest road marathon in the UK recently — the Lancaster Castle Marathon. There was a long climb out Lancaster into the surrounding countryside, then several stiff climbs before a monster hill at 18 miles. Despite this, Roger ran the whole 26.2 miles in good conditions. Roger’s time was good enough over a tough course to place as the first vet 60, winning £50 for his troubles, with a time of 4 hours 8 minutes 10 seconds.

Herts Hobble

Nine Spartans slipped and slid their way around a not surprisingly extremely muddy Hertfordshire Hobble which this year took in the Hertfordshire villages of Bramfield, Chapmore End, Westmill, Thunderidge, Sacombe, Dane End, Little Munden, Green End, Great Munden, Ardeley, Walkern, Benington and Watton-at-Stone.

Their times for the 26.4 miles were Carol Paul 5 hours 35 minutes 24 seconds; Mike Newbitt 5:35:24; Sharon Crowley 6:14:42; Paul Holgate 6:14:42; Dave Paul 6:18:11; Rob Hardy 6:23:54; Chas Avis 7:14:41 and Dave Carter 8:00:00.

Ramsay’s Recovery

GRANT RAMSAY continued his road to recovery with an impressive sixth place in the Colworth 8.1 mile trail race and a time of 56 minutes 50 seconds. There were 200 finishers.

Enter Now!

The Spartans host the Fairlands Valley Off Road Challenge on Sunday 15^th July and the Relays in the Park on Thursday evening 19^th July. The relays will be in Fairlands Valley Park with each runner racing over three kilometers. Enter now. There are details on www.fvspartans.org.uk

New Course, New Bests at Serpentine

Two Spartans ran the Serpentine Last Friday of the Month 5K race on Friday, which this month was moved to Kensington Gardens to allow Olympic organisers to prepare the race’s normal venue Hyde Park for the Triathlon. The new two lap circuit was moderately flat and fast, which the stripy duo worked to their advantages by each recording new personal best times.

Liam Herbert finished 22nd out of the 180 finishers in a new PB time of 18 minutes 29 seconds, and placed 11th in his category.

Steve Mayfield also ran a new lifetime best time of 20:20, finishing 49th overall and a brilliant first in his category.

The race conditions were warm and dry with a gusty wind.

Watford Track

Contrasting races for two Spartans at Watford on Wednesday, but a more than satisfactory result for both of them. The evening kicked off with the 100 metres, the opening heat was won by STEVE MAYFIELD in a new personal best (PB) 13.52 seconds. Almost three hours later, having patiently waited through 19 heats of the 1500 metres, RICHIE BATE lined up for the final event of the night. In a fast 3000 metres race amongst a high quality field he ran a new PB of 9:21.18. Steve also competed in the Long Jump with a best of 4.47 metres.

Coming Events

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

Mob Match at Trent Park on Wednesday 11^th July.
EVAC Track and Field event in Milton Keynes on Wednesday 11^th July.
Fairlands Valley Challenge (Off Road) on Sunday 15^th July.
Relays in the Park (3K legs) on Thursday evening 19^th July.
County 5K Championships 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: BIG PUSH NEEDED IN MID WEEK LEAGUE

Post author By Tracy Pez
Post date June 25, 2012
45 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: BIG PUSH NEEDED IN MID WEEK LEAGUE

Trish & Karen at the end of their Hadrians Wall adventure

News Release 24^th June 2012

BIG PUSH NEEDED IN MID WEEK LEAGUE

Getting in the Olympic Mood

Fairlands Valley Spartans will have to work hard in Thursday evening’s fourth and last counting event in the Mid Week Road Race League after a mishap in the Harlow race on Wednesday. In order to avoid relegation the club is calling on all who can to run the seven mile event in St. Albans on the 28th.

A slightly reduced but still impressive contingent of sixty two Spartans lined up for Wednesday’s Mid Week League race which was on a largely cross country 10K course in Harlow. The running surface and undulating terrain did not seem to worry some as their were several personal best times.

ROB WILLIS (35^th) ran his first 10K for the club in 38 minutes 14 seconds; DARREN WILBY (135^th) improved to 45:09; JON SYPULA (152^nd) to 45:54; JULIE SIMMONS (175^th) to 47:21; RHIANNON GRIFFIN (180^th) to 47:38; JENNIFER ROBERTSON (195^th) to 48:44; VISHAL SHAH (201^st) to 49:05; TONY VICKERS (204^th) to 49:14; TRACY BULLOT (226^th) to 51:19; and SARAH SAPSTEAD (312^th) to 1:04:46. Many improved on their times on the faster Welwyn Garden City course!

TRUDIE MOLLOY and SIMON STEWART ran their first 10Ks in 52:19 and 52:49 respectively.

SIMON JACKSON (11^th in 35:56); SHAW PYE (16^th in 36:20); ANDY NEATHAM (17^th and fourth “vet” in 36:22); GRANT RAMSAY (30^th in 37:42) and ANDREW PATTERSON (31^st in 37:53) were the fastest men for the club. TRACY PEZ (150^th in 45:51); Julie Simmons (above); Rhiannon Griffin (above); Jennifer Robertson (above) and DAWN EASBY (198^th in a season’s best 48:48) were the quickest Spartan women.

IRIS HORNSEY was the first woman vet (65 plus) in a season’s best 59:35; BEV HARLOW was second woman vet (55 plus) in 52:22: and BARRY OSBORNE was third vet man (60 plus) in 43:42.

A club casualty on a bridleway just over 5K stopped or delayed several Spartans who were in the top half of the field. This inevitably had an effect on the team result.

The Spartan men came fourth out of the six teams but unfortunately their women, more dramatically affected by the incident and missing some of their faster runners, came last. This meant the club were fifth on the night and in the same position in the league. They must improve to at least fourth to survive in division one.

The results for all sixty Spartan finishers will be found at the very end of this release.

Hadrians Wall

This weekend Spartans TRICIA HOPPER and KAREN LIDDLE took part in the Hadrians Wall ultra 69 mile race over 2 days, finishing in a total 16 hours and 57 minutes.

They both feel tired but fab and even had a little left to break into a sort of sprint over the Millenium bridge. Tricia and Karen quite rightly really chuffed at their achievement.

Roger’s a Winner in Hardest Marathon

ROGER BIGGS took part in possibly the hardest road marathon in the UK on Sunday — the Lancaster Castle Marathon. There was a long climb out Lancaster into the surrounding countryside, then several stiff climbs before a monster hill at 18 miles. Despite this, Roger ran the whole 26.2 miles in good conditions. Roger’s time was good enough over a tough course to place as the first vet 60, winning £50 for his troubles, with a time of 4 hours 8 minutes 10 seconds.

Herts Hobble

Ramsay’s Recovery

GRANT RAMSAY continued his road to recovery with an impressive sixth place in the Colworth 8.1 mile trail race and a time of 56 minutes 50 seconds. There were 200 finishers.

Olympic Warm Up

Fairlands Valley Spartans got in the Olympic mood with their own torch procession and games at Ridlins Track on Sunday afternoon.

Coming Events

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

Mid Week Road Race League Seven Miles in St. Albans on Thursday 28^th June.
Mob Match at Trent Park on Wednesday 11^th July.
EVAC Track and Field event in Milton Keynes on Wednesday 11^th July.
Fairlands Valley Challenge (Off Road) on Sunday 15^th July.
Relays in the Park (3K legs) on Thursday evening 19^th July.
County 5K Championships in Stevenage on Sunday 9^th September.
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

***********

Full Mid Week League result for all 60 Spartans:

Race	Pos	Name	Surname	Cat.	Time	PB
11	11	Simon	Jackson	S	35:56
16	16	Shaw	Pye	S	36:20	YB
17	17	Andy	Neatham	V 40	36:22	PB
30	29	Grant	Ramsay	S	37:42
31	30	Andrew	Patterson	S	37:53
35	34	Rob	Willis	S	38:14	1st 10K
40	39	Chris	Westcott	S	38:29
55	52	Danny	Hukin	S	39:18	YB
71	65	Todd	Gray	S	40:57
86	78	Pete	Smith	V 50	42:20
88	80	Barry	Osborne	V 60	42:21	3rd MV60
110	97	Steve	Mayfield	V 40	43:42	YB
135	116	Darren	Wilby	S	45:09	PB
140	119	Steve	Elder	V 50	45:16	YB
144	122	Lee	Lawrence	S	45:29
150	24	Tracy	Pez	V 35	45:51
151	127	Matt	Gill	S	45:48
152	128	Jon	Sypula	S	45:54	PB
157	131	Jody	Flett	S	46:13	YB
159	133	Mark	Goodwin	V 50	46:10
162	136	Robert	Evans	S	46:25
175	30	Julie	Simmons	V 45	47:21	PB
177	146	Roger	Biggs	V 60	47:24
180	33	Rhiannon	Griffin	S	47:38	PB
195	40	Jennifer	Robertson	S	48:44	PB
198	43	Dawn	Easby	S	48:48	SB
201	158	Vishal	Shah	S	49:05	PB (equal)
204	159	Tony	Vickers	V 40	49:14	PB
220	165	Andy	Jay	V 40	50:31
221	166	James	Day	S	50:31
222	167	Matthew	Palacio	S	50:54
226	57	Tracy	Bullot	V 35	51:19	PB
231	60	Trudie	Molloy	V 35	52:19	1st 10K
233	172	Robert	Shaw	V 60	52:26
235	62	Beverley	Harlow	V 55	52:22	2nd FV55
236	173	Simon	Stewart	S	52:49	1st 10K
238	174	Paul	Holgate	V 50	52:47
243	65	Sarah	Pike	S	53:38
245	66	Karen	Ellis	V 35	53:57
247	179	Steve	Pike	V 50	54:15
250	181	Steve	Carter	V 40	54:46
251	182	Mark	Cheadle	S	54:54
252	69	Stephanie	Mayfield	V 35	54:50
260	72	Sharon	Crowley	V 45	55:37
266	188	Nick	Witcombe	V 40	56:06
267	189	Chris	Leigh	V 40	56:05
268	190	Barry	King	V 40	56:05	YB
271	79	Julie	Twomey	V 45	56:19
272	192	Roger	Hardman	V 60	56:10
280	86	Lorraine	Thomas	V 45	58:12	YB
281	87	Victoria	Sealy	S	58:15
287	91	Jeanette	Collins	V 45	59:14
288	92	Iris	Hornsey	V 65	59:35	1st FV65 SB
293	97	Lisa	Gavigan	V 35	1:00:22
296	100	Andrea	Westcott	V 35	1:00:48
304	107	Claire	Drake	S	1:02:01	1st 10K
311	111	Tracy	Stiles	V 35	1:04:45
312	112	Sarah	Sapstead	S	1:04:46	PB (equal)
318	201	Jim	Brown	V 60	1:13:50
319	202	Mick	Connell	V 50	1:13:50

There were 320 finishers. 203 men and 117 women.

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: WOMEN FIRST IN EVAC

Post author By Tracy Pez
Post date June 18, 2012
529 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: WOMEN FIRST IN EVAC

WOMEN FIRST IN EVAC FIXTURE

National Championship Bronze for Monica

Fairlands Valley Spartans enjoyed a day at the races on Wednesday. The club hired a mini bus to take their team to Kettering for the third fixture of the EVAC (Eastern Veterans Athletic Club) central division track and field league.

Travelling the furthest distance out of the four meetings did not deter the women’s team winning the match with a score of 142.5 with Milton Keynes in second place with 119.5 followed by Bedford, Kettering and Corby. The men’s team were definitely stronger than before and finished a close third place in 100.5 to Bedford 105.5 and Milton Keynes winning the match with 141 points.

Good performances were produced by Rosie Canham, Monica Brown, with wins in the 100 metres in their age groups. Carolyn Shortland won the shot putt in the older age group (over 55 years) then completed in the hammer in the youngest age (35 plus) and came second.

In the men’s team Steve Mayfield continued to progress by winning the men’s over 40 years age group long jump along with Andy Neatham who won the over 40 1500 metres comfortably and Mick Shortland who won the over 60 Shot Putt.

Dave Bowker returned from injury to win the over 50 walk. Dave Stephenson produced a great run in the men’s 4×100 metres to put the team into first place, along with Steve Mayfield, Paul Pickard and Andy Neatham they set a new club record of 55.0 seconds.

Overall, after three of the four matches, the Spartan women lead the Central Division with the men in third place. If they keep this up in the fourth match on 11^th July both could be at the regional final.

A few statistical highlights from Wednesday night’s EVAC match at Kettering:

There are two new club records and one equalled, and a number of age group bests.

Outright Club Records

Mens 4x100m 55.0 by the M40 team in 1st place. The club’s first ever men’s relay win at EVAC.

Mens 2000m Walk 11.17.7 – Dave Bowker in 1st place M50.

Womens High Jump 1.33 metres – Monica Brown in 1st place W45 (equals her own Club Record)

1500 metres 4.34.8 – Andy Neatham in 1st place M40

M50 (plus) team – 4×100 metres relay in 64.3 seconds.

400m 65.8 – John Harris -who turned 50 within the last month.

Long Jump 3.95 – John Harris

High Jump 1.30 – John Harris

Shot Putt 9.03 – Mick Shortland M60.

Hammer 31.75 – Mick Shortland M60.

2000 metres walk 14.55.4 – Jan Fry (W60)

400 metres 97.6 seconds – Iris Hornsey (W70)

Long Jump 2.67 metres – Iris Hornsey (W70)

Monica and Mayfield at Masters Championships

Spartans multi eventers were in action at the British Masters Athletics Federation Outdoor Pentathlon in Oxford. In the W45 (Women 45 plus) category MONICA BROWN won Bronze with a points total of 2577 and in the very competitive M45 (Men 45 plus) category STEVE MAYFIELD was fifth with a points total of 2243.

Monica’s results were hurdles 16.44 (PB — personal best), high jump 1.36 (PB equalled), shot 6.48 metres, long jump 4.39 metres and 800 metres 3 minutes 13 seconds.

Steve’s results were long jump 4.58 metres, javelin 24.32 metres (SB — season’s best), 200 metres 28.19 seconds (SB), discus 20.29 metres (SB), 1500 metres 5.10.14. Steve improved on last year’s performance in four of the five events.

Marston Forest 5K

In the Marston Forest 5K on Friday evening Spartan Richard Bate finished a fantastic fifth out of 339 in a time of 17 minutes 4 seconds. Liam Herbert ran a new personal best (PB) time of 18:34, his fifth PB this year, to finish in the top thirty in 26th.

Paul Holgate completed the course in 25:27, in 159th place.

Lee Morris closely followed Paul in with a time of 25:46 (166th) and Helen Morris finished in 32:16, in 304th place overall.

Conditions were surprisingly humid and windy around a deceptively punishing course, which was run on relatively flat country footpaths circling the Marston Forest Centre. Good times but all in all it felt like hard work!

Done 10K

ANDY NEATHAM ran in the Dunmanway 10k in West Cork, Ireland on Sunday morning. It was a well organised and chip timed event, with an undulating course through the Cork countryside. The event started in bright sunshine, but the runners all finished sodden in an absolute deluge! Andy finished 10th out of 428 finishers, was 3rd Vet (2nd V45) in 36 minutes 38 seconds, a new VPB (veterans PB).

Roger’s Holly Trail

Roger Biggs ran the Holly Trail Challenge Trail Marathon on Saturday. Based on Lightmoor near Telford it consisted of 31 laps on muddy tracks. It was raining most of the time. Roger says it was very undulating and really tough but he kept going to finish in 4 hours 32 minutes 43 seconds

Tracy’s First Half

New member TRACY BULLOT ran her first half marathon in the recent St Albans Half Marathon. She finished in an excellent 1 hour 56.44 seconds

The club are preparing for the third Mid Week Road Race League Division One fixture which will be in Harlow this Wednesday 20^th June.

Coming Events

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

Mid Week Road Race League 10K in Harlow on Wednesday 20^th June.
Spartans v NHRR “Olympic” Fun Event on Sunday 24^th June.
Mid Week Road Race League Seven Miles in St. Albans on Thursday 28^th June.
Mob Match at Trent Park on Wednesday 11^th July.
EVAC Track and Field event in Milton Keynes on Wednesday 11^th July.
Fairlands Valley Challenge (Off Road) on Sunday 15^th July.
Relays in the Park (3K legs) on Thursday evening 19^th July.
County 5K Championships in Stevenage on Sunday 9^th September.
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: THREE SPARTAN HALF HEROES

Post author By Tracy Pez
Post date June 11, 2012
120 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: THREE SPARTAN HALF HEROES

THREE SPARTAN HALF HEROES
Plus Strathearn, Southend and Sheringham

Three Fairlands Valley Spartans ran the Heroes Half Marathon based on Bassingbourn on Sunday. LEE MORRIS was 286^th in 2 hours 6 minutes 28 seconds, MARIANNE SILSBY 372^nd in 2:21:49 and HELEN KINCH 40^5thin 2:43:54. There were 409 finishers.

Strathearn Marathon

ROGER BIGGS travelled to Highland Perthshire for the scenic (when you could see through the mist) Strathearn Marathon from a Second World War Prisoner of War Camp near Comrie.

The first five miles were probably as hard a start as you will find in any road marathon in the UK, with several hard hills coming later. However the second half was easier than the first as Roger turned a 2:01 :54 at halfway into a finishing time of 3:57:03 with a very strong finish.

Southend Half Marathon

PAUL HOLGATE enjoyed pleasant sea breezes along with 2,000 other runners at the Southend Half Marathon. He just missed out on a sub 2 hours time as he finished in 2:03:39.

Sheringham — Poppyline Marathon

On Sunday CAROL PAUL was in Sheringham, Norfolk where she ran the Poppyline Marathon (26.9 miles off road) on a hot and humid day. Her time was 5 hours 46 minutes and 10 seconds

The club are preparing for the third Mid Week Road Race League Division One fixture which will be in Harlow on Wednesday 20^th June.

Coming Events

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

EVAC Track and Field event in Kettering on Wednesday 13^th June.
Mid Week Road Race League 10K in Harlow on Wednesday 20^th June.
Spartans v NHRR “Olympic” Fun Event on Sunday 24^th June.
Mid Week Road Race League Seven Miles in St. Albans on Thursday 28^th June.
Mob Match at Trent Park on Wednesday 11^th July.
EVAC Track and Field event in Milton Keynes on Wednesday 11^th July.
Fairlands Valley Challenge (Off Road) on Sunday 15^th July.
Relays in the Park (3K legs) on Thursday evening 19^th July.
County 5K Championships in Stevenage on Sunday 9^th September.
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: ALL TO RUN FOR IN MWL

Post author By Tracy Pez
Post date June 7, 2012
98 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: ALL TO RUN FOR IN MWL

ALL TO RUN FOR IN MIDWEEK LEAGUE

Plus Stuart’s Comrades Marathon

A huge contingent of 95 Fairlands Valley Spartans travelled to Welwyn Garden City for the second 10K race in the Mid Week Road Race League series.

Both the men and the women finished fourth of the six ‘A’ teams for fourth position overall. However the men were just six points short of Garden City Runners in third and the women only 33 shy of third place Trent Park.

At the half-way point of the league the men are third just 10 scoring positions behind Trent Park in second, both have 8 league points each. The Spartan women are fifth only 5 scoring positions behind Barnet & District but two league points adrift.

St Albans are running away at the top and Harlow adrift at the bottom, but the 2^nd., 3^rd., and 4th positions are unbelievably close and there is still has everything to play for, so the club is encouraging another big turnout for race 3 which will be in Harlow on Wednesday 20th June.

In Thursday’s race RICHARD BATE was the first Spartan finisher with a superb new personal best of 34 minutes 37 seconds and eighth position overall.

Richard Bate, Craig Halsey (35:16), Simon Jackson (35:42), Andy Neatham (36:42), Lee Reynolds (36:44) and Chris Westcott (37:14) were all in the top 30 finishers of the 400 runners taking part. Andy was also 5th V40.

Natalie Barnard (41:49), Lisa Burgess (42:17), Kerry James (43:36) and Tracy Pez (44:36) were in the top 30 female finishers out of 138 women, with Natalie an excellent 7th and Lisa 9th, while Kerry was 5th V35 and Tracy 8th. Julie Simmons (48:20) was 9th V45, Tony Osborne (59:10) 2nd V70, Iris Hornsey (1:01:03) 1st V65 and Jan Fry (1:04:46) 8th V55. 71 Spartans recorded their fastest 10K time of the year with 43 personal bests, 10 season’s bests and 18 other year bests.

Times for all 95 Spartans can be found at the very end of this release.

Comrades Marathon

STUART HAYCROFT ran the very gruesome Comrades Marathon in South Africa on Sunday. The Comrades is a 56 mile ultra marathon from the city of Petermaritzburg to the city of Durban. Stuart finished in 10 hours 32 minutes.

Hatfield Broad Oak

TREVOR SETTERFIELD set a new personal best of 43 minutes 27 seconds and came 171^st out of 1106 runners at the Bank Holiday Hatfield Broad Oak 10K on Monday.

TONY ARGYROU was 401^st in 48:41.

With a blistering downhill finish PAUL HOLGATE blew MICK CONNELL away and beat him by less than a second in a 10K season’s best time. Paul was 502^nd in 50:57 and Mick 503^rd also in 50:57.

DAVID CLARKE was 511^th in 51 minutes 6 seconds, SHARON CROWLEY 669^th in 54:32 and PAUL FORDE 730^th in 55:49.

The village had its usual festive atmosphere with marquees in the churchyard and 1500? runners gathered in Cage End at the start.

Watford Warm Up

Two Spartans warmed up for the midweek league fixture with exciting 1500 metres races at Watford Track the evening before. Race entry is on the day and heats are allocated according to runners expected times, starting with the slowest heat and ending with the fastest. In heat 7, CHRIS WESTCOTT stayed near the rear of the field for the first two laps then moved gradually through the pack in lap three. He ran an excellent last lap of under 70 seconds, reigning in the leading group, and was closing rapidly on the leaders and crossed the line in third place with a new PB of 4:41.56. Returning from injury STEVE MAYFIELD started at the back of heat 2, but improved his position as other runners slowed and caught the leader with 250 metres to go. The final 100m was neck and neck with Steve edging it by just 0.07 seconds to win the heat in 5:09.99.

Kent Road Runner Marathon — On A Bike Course

ROGER BIGGS ran 17 undulating laps of the new purpose built Cyclo Park near Gravesend on Monday in the Kent Road Runner Marathon. He ran another consistent race on a tough course to finish in 3:58:28.

Coming Events

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

EVAC Track and Field event in Kettering on Wednesday 13^th June.
Mid Week Road Race League 10K in Harlow on Wednesday 20^th June.
Spartans v NHRR “Olympic” Fun Event on Sunday 24^th June.
Mid Week Road Race League Seven Miles in St. Albans on Thursday 28^th June.
Mob Match at Trent Park on Wednesday 11^th July.
EVAC Track and Field event in Milton Keynes on Wednesday 11^th July.
Fairlands Valley Challenge (Off Road) on Sunday 15^th July.
Relays in the Park (3K legs) on Thursday evening 19^th July.
County 5K Championships in Stevenage on Sunday 9^th September.
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

Mid Week Road Race Leagues Times for all 95 Spartans

Race	Name	Surname	Cat.	Time	PB
8	Richard	Bate	S	34:37	PB
13	Craig	Halsey	S	35:16	YB
17	Simon	Jackson	S	35:42
19	Andy	Neatham	V 40	36:42	PB
21	Lee	Reynolds	S	36:44
28	Chris	Westcott	S	37:14	PB
50	Liam	Herbert	S	39:05
61	Jake	Amos	S	39:26	1st 10K
64	Todd	Gray	S	39:39
70	Jamie	Drackford	S	40:13	PB
75	Christopher	Kremer	S	40:32	1st 10K
83	Sam	Harte	S	40:48	PB
93	Phil	Gale	V 40	41:21
97	Danny	Hukin	S	41:31	YB
107	Natalie	Barnard	S	41:49	SB
109	Tony	Bradford	V 40	42:03	YB
112	Lisa	Burgess	S	42:17
118	Davie	Stafford	S	42:25	PB
133	Pete	Smith	V 50	43:15
145	Mark	Beasley	V 50	43:31	YB
148	Kerry	James	V 35	43:36	SB
153	Steve	Mayfield	V 40	44:06	YB
160	Adrian	Donnelly	S	44:22	YB
163	Kevin	Smyth	V 50	44:24
170	Tracy	Pez	V 35	44:36	SB
181	Darren	Wilby	S	45:17	PB
184	Lee	Lawrence	S	45:26	PB
188	Matt	Gill	S	45:29	PB
193	Trevor	Setterfield	V 40	45:45
201	Mark	Goodwin	V 50	46:05
202	Robert	Evans	S	46:09	YB
211	Dave	Stephenson	V 40	46:31	SB
213	Jon	Sypula	S	46:27	PB
215	Ryan	Dunning	S	46:37	YB
229	Jim	Brown	V 50	47:07
230	Hadrian	Cooper	S	47:16	YB
231	Roger	Biggs	V 60	47:20	YB
233	Mark	Glading	V 50	47:24	SB
241	Clive	Cannon	V 50	47:57	YB
242	Andrew	Hull	V 40	48:06
246	Julie	Simmons	V 45	48:20
252	Derek	Wood	S	48:30	1st 10K
255	Rhiannon	Griffin	S	48:35	1st 10K
265	Vishal	Shah	S	49:05	PB
266	Andy	Jay	V 40	49:14	YB
272	Marie	Colucci	V 35	49:37	SB
274	Tony	Vickers	V 40	49:48	PB
282	Matthew	Palacio	S	50:28	1st 10K
283	James	Day	S	50:29	SB
288	Claire	Coker	V 35	50:22	PB
290	Andy	Prior	V 40	50:39	PB
293	Nikki	Collins	S	50:53	PB
294	Rachel	Payne	S	50:55	PB
299	Marc	Green	S	51:24
301	Tracy	Bullot	V 35	51:44	PB
302	Stephanie	Mayfield	V 35	51:47	PB
303	Robert	Shaw	V 60	51:51
310	Sarah	Pike	S	52:24
311	Karen	Palmer	V 45	52:19	PB
312	Karen	Ellis	V 35	52:37	PB
314	Chris	Leigh	V 40	52:40	SB
315	Paul	Holgate	V 50	52:46
316	Steve	Carter	V 40	52:54	PB
319	Steve	Pike	V 50	53:06
322	Anton	McCalla	S	53:26	PB
327	Sharon	Crowley	V 45	53:37	YB
329	Mark	Cheadle	S	53:53	SB
333	Katie	Bradford	S	54:10	PB
335	Katy	Jinks	V 35	54:22
338	Nick	Stewart	V 50	54:57
341	Maria	Thorne	V 35	55:35	PB
342	Julie	Twomey	V 45	55:42	PB
346	Lisa	Gavigan	V 35	55:59	PB
349	Gary	Dempsey	V 40	56:09	YB
352	Ruth	Murtagh	V 35	56:43	PB
354	Gaynor	Knight	V 45	57:30	1st 10K
355	Louisa	Bill	S	57:32	PB
360	Victoria	Sealy	S	57:55	PB
361	Nick	Witcombe	V 40	58:03
365	Andrea	Westcott	V 35	58:00	YB
367	Jeanette	Collins	V 45	58:46	YB
368	Sarah	Hukin	S	58:57	PB
369	Anthony	Osborne	V 70	59:10	YB
371	Steven	Dobner	S	59:15	PB
377	Iris	Hornsey	V 65	1:00:03	SB
380	Melissa	Gibson	V 35	1:01:08	PB
382	Annette	Young	S	1:01:43	1st 10K
383	Nicky	Freeman	V 45	1:02:39	PB
385	Tracy	Stiles	V 35	1:02:47
387	Karen	Smith	V 45	1:03:06
391	Sarah	Sapstead	S	1:04:46	1st 10K
392	Jan	Fry	V 55	1:04:46	PB
398	Jo	Cahill	V 45	1:22:04	YB
399	Jo	Eley	V 45	1:22:04	1st 10K
400	Simon	Harris	S	1:28:50

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: IT’S HOT AGAIN!

Post author By fvsadmin
Post date May 29, 2012
29 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: IT’S HOT AGAIN!

IT’S HOT AGAIN! Edinburgh, Whipsnade, Hyde Park

For the third year running it was hot, hot, hot for the Edinburgh Marathon and Half Marathon.

In the half marathon with fantastic support from Katrina Doyle, Debbie Blackburn and Jayne Pinner GRAHAM BLACKBURN finished just before the sun burst through with a great time of 1 hour 29 minutes 33 seconds.

Also in the Half Marathon ANDY JAY finished in 1 hour 54 minutes 41 seconds and PHIL RUSHTON in 2:01:30. NICK WITCOMBE ran a new personal best for the second week running with his time of 2 hours 6 minutes 12 seconds. TRACY STILES ran her fastest half this year with 2:08:06. KAREN SMITH ran her first half marathon in 2 hours 12 minutes 4 seconds

MARIA RUSHTON took 2:16:30. JACKIE MORRISON and LES BUTLER both ran their best half marathons this year with the same time – 2:26:30; and KERRY SETTERFIELD completed the race in 2:30:30.

The Marathon runners started just as the faster half marathon runners were finishers and had 26.2 miles of hot roads to contend with though they were near the banks of the Forth for much of the race and almost on the beach at Portobello.

JO LAING ran an excellent London Marathon qualifying time and new personal best (PB) of 3 hours 5 minutes 20 seconds. She was 195^th out of thousands of runners; PETE SMITH’s new PB of 3 hours 14 minutes 9 seconds gives him a “Good For Age” entry for London; TODD GRAY finished in 3 hours 34 minutes 52 seconds; ROGER BIGGS in a year’s best time of 3 hours 51 minutes 17 seconds; CLIVE CANNON finished in 4:09:30; SARAH O’BRYAN in 4:27:30; and KAREN LIDDLE in a new PB of 4:33:30.

Wilting At Whipsnade

Sunday’s Whipsnade 10K was VERY warm but over an enjoyable three lap course past the zebras, flamingos and rhinos inside Whipsnade Zoo. There were Spartan starters although CHRIS WESTCOTT collapsed from exhaustion less than 1k from the finish not too long after lapping wife Andrea, who not surprisingly then retired from the race to ensure Chris was okay, so just the 11 finish times.

ANDY NEATHAM was first to finish with an impressive eighth position overall out of 562 finishers in 37 minutes 59 seconds. MADDIE PRITCHARD was the next Spartan finisher completing her first ever 10K in 49:11. She was 19th woman out of the 270 female finishers. Those were both very good times in such warm conditions.

Spartan times: Andy Neatham, 8^th in 37:59; Maddie Pritchard 108^th in 49:11 (PB); Dan Sims 113^th in 49:31; Paul Holgate 203^rd in 54:39; Stephen Block 260^th in 57:09; Sarah Hukin 321^st in 60:14; Danny Hukin 322^nd in 60:15; Lisa Jerrom 417^th in 65:46; Gemma Nash 472^nd in 68:34; Jan Fry 485^th in 69:45; Anne-Marie Neatham 507^th in 72:32.

Excellent preparation for Thursday’s 10K league race!

Sweltering Serpentine

The Serpentine was looking very tempting during the Last Friday of the Month 5K race which started at 12.30p.m. It was hot in Hyde Park with conditions described by the organizers as sunny, hot, windy with lots of pollen. Spartan JIM BROWN finished with salt stinging his eyes in a fairly controlled time of 23 minutes 14 seconds. He was 115^th out of the 194 finishers and eighth in his category.

Blistering BUPA

RUTH MURTAGH completed the BUPA London 10K in 59 minutes 38 minutes. She was it was too blooming hot and had to walk for 1.3 miles. Ruth hopes to do much better in the Mid Week League race on Thursday evening.

Go For It At Welwyn Garden City

After a fantastic turnout and good result in the first Mid Week Road Race League event of the season Fairlands Valley Spartans are going all out for more than one hundred runners at the next fixture which is a 10K race in Welwyn Garden City this Thursday evening, 31^st May. Everyone can contribute to the club’s success provided they have joined and wear the stripy vest.

Coming Events

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

Mid Week Road Race League 10K fixture in Welwyn Garden City at 7.45p.m. on Thursday 31^st May.
EVAC Track and Field event in Kettering on Wednesday 13^th June.
Mid Week Road Race League 10K in Harlow on Wednesday 20^th June.
Spartans v NHRR “Olympic” Fun Event on Sunday 24^th June.
Mid Week Road Race League Seven Miles in St. Albans on Thursday 28^th June.
Mob Match at Trent Park on Wednesday 11^th July.
EVAC Track and Field event in Milton Keynes on Wednesday 11^th July.
Fairlands Valley Challenge (Off Road) on Sunday 15^th July.
Relays in the Park (3K legs) on Thursday evening 19^th July.
County 5K Championships in Stevenage on Sunday 9^th September.
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: MEN SECOND IN MID WEEK 10K

Post author By Tracy Pez
Post date May 21, 2012
26 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: MEN SECOND IN MID WEEK 10K

News Release
20^th May 2012

MEN SECOND IN MID WEEK 10K
Roger’s 700^th Marathon

350 runners including 92 from Fairlands Valley Spartans raced round Stevenage on Tuesday night in the opening First Division Mid Week Road Race League fixture of the season.

The club’s men finished a brilliant second and the women fifth (only 19 points behind Trent Park in fourth and probably only 1 runner away from an even higher position) to give third position overall, two points behind Barnet & District and one point ahead of Trent Park and Garden City Runners.

The overall scores in the first race were 1^st St. Albans Striders 279 (12 league points); 2^nd Barnet and District AC 620 (9 league points); 3^rd Fairlands Valley Spartans 652 (7 league points); 4^th Trent Park Running Club 703 (6 league points); 5^th Garden City Runners 788 (6 league points) and 6^th Harlow Running Club 1,368 (2 league points).

As expected the league is fascinatingly close and the club will need just as big a, if not a bigger, turnout for the race in Welwyn Garden City on the 31st May.

There were some brilliant individual performances including: Simon Jackson, Richard Bate and Lee Reynolds in the top 20 finishers. Jo Laing & Lisa Burgess both in the top ten women. Andy Gardner, Andy Neatham & Brian Brackstone among the top 10 veteran (40 plus) finishers. Barry Osborne second veteran (60 plus); Jo Laing third veteran woman (35 plus) and Kerry James in the top ten in that category. Julie Simmons in the top ten veteran women (45 plus), Bev Harlow first veteran woman (55 plus) and Iris Hornsey first veteran woman (65 plus).

The Spartans’ leading men included:

10. Simon Jackson (35:02 PB); 13. Richard Bate (35:18); 15. Lee Reynolds (35:44); 24. Andy Gardner (36:37); 25. Andy Neatham (36:42); 26. Andrew Patterson (36:45); 27. Brian Brackstone (36:45); 36. Chris Westcott (37:26 PB); 48. Liam Herbert (38:35); 55. Todd Gray (39:03); 68. Salva Guardiola who ran his first 10K in 39:57 and 69^th Phil Gale (39:54)

The club’s leading women included:

5. Jo Laing (39:44, 3^rd FV35); 9. Lisa Burgess in a new personal best of 42 minutes 11 seconds; 22. Kerry James (43:53); 27. Katy Jinks in a new personal best of 44 minutes 44 seconds; 32. Tracy Pez (46:03); 38. Julie Simmons (48:08); 51. Beverley Harlow first FV55+ in a new personal best of 50:52; 53. Claire Coker running her first 10K in 51 minutes exactly; 54. Nicola Lorimer in a new PB of 51 minutes exactly; 55 Sarah Pike in a new personal best of 51:14; 56. Nicky Collins in a new PB of 51:26; and 57^th Rachel Payne in a new PB of 51:28.

Others running their first 10K included Kerry Flain (40:51); Jamie Kellett (42:23); Sam Harte (43:28); Lee Thorpe (45:36); Tony Vickers (50:30); Tracy Bullot (56:00); Anton McCalla (57:40); Julie Twomey (58:20); Louisa Bill (59:33); Victoria Sealy (59:40); Melissa Tyler (59:51); Steven Dobner (59:52); Melissa Gibson (1:02:23) and Nicky Freeman (1:04:50).

The times for all 92 Spartans can be found at the very end of this release. The race director was Steve Smithson, the race referee Jim Brown and there were dozens of Spartans supported by members of North Herts Road Runners marshalling and helping in other ways.

The next league race will be in Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 31^st May.

Simon Back On Track

Spartan SIMON HARRIS was in action back on the track at Chelmsford on Saturday, taking part in the disabled athletics Eastern region championships meeting. Simon won a medal of each colour – gold in 100 metres, silver in 200 metres and a bronze in shot putt.

Lee and Helen’s First Trail Race

HELEN and LEE MORRIS ran their first “trail” race on Sunday. It was the Wimpole Hall (HooHaah) 10K.

They both finished in 1 hour 11 minutes and say it was a bit muddy but excellent, well organised. Shame it was so cold though. All in all they enjoyed it and would recommend it for next year.

Roger’s 700^th!

ROGER BIGGS ran the Richmond Park Marathon in 4 hours 32 minutes 29 seconds on Sunday. It was an undulating three lap trail run within the Royal Park. Roger says a bit cold and windy for late May but OK. This was his 700^th race over the full marathon distance or further.

Wheathampstead 10K

Sunday’s Wheathampstead 10km was an off road multi-terrain event utilising the Ayot Greenway, the old track bed that was once the Welwyn – Luton railway line and negotiating a few obstacles in the form of flights of steps and the odd kissing gate. The race was full, with 800 runners.

Running his first race having been injured with a severe Achilles injury in July 2011 ANDREW HULL finished in 45 minutes 30 seconds. ANN TRYSSESOONE took 56 minutes 10 seconds.

Ironman Rodger the Rocket

On Saturday 19th May, Rodger McPherson competed in the Ironman Triathlon in Lanzarote. Described as the toughest Ironman in the world, Rodger swam the 2.5 mile sea swim in 1hr 6mins, cycled 112 miles around the mountainous Island in 7hrs 59mins and then ran a marathon in 32 degree heat in 5hrs 29mins, completing the course, including transitions, in 14hrs 57mins Rodger came 203rd in his age group.

Coming Events

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

Mid Week Road Race League fixture in Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 31^st May.
EVAC Track and Field event in Kettering on Wednesday 13^th June.
Mid Week Road Race League 10K in Harlow on Wednesday 20^th June.
Spartans v NHRR “Olympic” Fun Event on Sunday 24^th June.
Mid Week Road Race League Seven Miles in St. Albans on Thursday 28^th June.
Mob Match at Trent Park on Wednesday 11^th July.
EVAC Track and Field event in Milton Keynes on Wednesday 11^th July.
Fairlands Valley Challenge (Off Road) on Sunday 15^th July.
Relays in the Park (3K legs) on Thursday evening 19^th July.
County 5K Championships in Stevenage on Sunday 9^th September.
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

MWRRL 10K Times for all 92 Spartans

Race	M/F	Cat	Name	Surname	Cat.	M/F	Time	PB	Impr
10	10	8	Simon	Jackson	S	M	35:02	PB	0:01
13	12	9	Richard	Bate	S	M	35:18
16	15	11	Lee	Reynolds	S	M	35:44
25	24	5	Andy	Gardner	V 40	M	36:37	SB	0:36
26	25	6	Andy	Neatham	V 40	M	36:42	?
27	26	19	Andrew	Patterson	S	M	36:45	SB	1:03
28	27	7	Brian	Brackstone	V 40	M	36:45	SB	1:31
37	36	22	Chris	Westcott	S	M	26:00	PB	1:05
50	48	28	Liam	Herbert	S	M	35:00
58	55	32	Todd	Gray	S	M	39:03	SB	0:46
72	68	34	Salva	Guardiola	S	M	39:43*	1st 10K	New
73	5	3	Jo	Laing	V 35	F	39:44	SB	0:11
74	69	27	Phil	Gale	V 40	M	39:54	SB	0:41
82	77	37	Kerry	Flain	S	M	40:51	1^st 10K	New
84	79	2	Barry	Osborne	V 60	M	40:59	?	0:38
96	91	36	Graham	Blackburn	V 40	M	41:31
101	94	13	Pete	Smith	V 50	M	41:39	SB	1:16
109	9	4	Lisa	Burgess	S	F	42:11	PB	3:01
112	100	45	Jamie	Kellett	S	M	42:23	1^st 10K	New
121	107	41	Mike	King	V 40	M	42:48	SB	0:05
130	114	45	Tony	Bradford	V 40	M	43:16
135	117	48	Sam	Harte	S	M	43:28	1^st 10K	New
142	121	50	Davie	Stafford	S	M	43:40	PB	0:28
146	22	9	Kerry	James	V 35	F	43:53
147	124	19	Kevin	Smyth	V 50	M	44:06
159	132	51	Adrian	Donnelly	S	M	44:29
163	27	12	Katy	Jinks	V 35	F	44:44	PB	2:06
171	142	58	Trevor	Setterfield	V 40	M	45:17
172	143	54	Lee	Thorpe	S	M	45:36	1^st 10K	New
178	147	26	Mark	Beasley	V 50	M	45:46
179	148	27	Mark	Goodwin	V 50	M	45:46
183	32	14	Tracy	Pez	V 35	F	46:03	SB	0:02
193	159	56	Ryan	Dunning	S	M	46:39
198	163	57	Jamie	Drackford	S	M	46:59	SB	New
199	164	58	Jon	Sypula	S	M	47:00	PB	4:17
202	166	59	Matt	Gill	S	M	47:12
205	168	12	Roger	Biggs	V 60	M	47:30
209	172	34	Dan	Simms	V 50	M	47:41	PB	2:14
212	174	35	Mick	Connell	V 50	M	47:55
213	38	10	Julie	Simmons	V 45	F	48:08	PB	0:39
214	175	68	Paul	Pickard	V 40	M	48:11
224	183	61	Hadrian	Cooper	S	M	48:45
227	184	62	Robert	Evans	S	M	48:51
232	188	63	Richard	Moore	S	M	49:30*	SB	0:01
237	191	64	Vishal	Shah	S	M	49:31	PB	1:27
241	193	65	Marc	Green	S	M	49:49*	YB	4:23
242	194	70	Andy	Jay	V 40	M	49:40	YB	2:15
244	196	71	Tony	Vickers	V 40	M	50:30	1^st 10K	New
249	198	66	James	Day	S	M	50:43	SB	New
251	51	1	Beverley	Harlow	V 55	F	50:52	PB	0:31
253	201	73	Rob	King	V 40	M	51:05	SB	1:38
255	53	20	Claire	Coker	V 35	F	51:00	1^st 10K	New
256	54	21	Nicola	Lorimer	V 35	F	51:00	PB	1:30
257	55	20	Sarah	Pike	S	F	51:14	PB	1:12
258	202	46	Paul	Holgate	V 50	M	51:12	YB	2:21
260	204	18	Robert	Shaw	V 60	M	51:25
261	56	21	Nicky	Collins	S	F	51:26	PB	2:37
262	57	22	Rachel	Payne	S	F	51:28	PB	1:18
264	206	47	Steve	Pike	V 50	M	51:38	SB	New
271	62	23	Karen	Ellis	V 35	F	53:06	PB	1:47
273	63	15	Karen	Palmer	V 45	F	53:07	PB	2:28
276	210	19	Roger	Hardman	V 60	M	53:21	SB	0:38
281	66	17	Sharon	Crowley	V 45	F	53:45
284	215	76	Nick	Witcombe	V 40	M	53:57	PB	0:18
285	216	50	Nick	Stewart	V 50	M	54:05	SB	New
292	73	28	Isabel	Green	S	F	54:44	PB	0:52
294	75	29	Katie	Bradford	S	F	55:05	PB	4:29
295	76	19	Ruth	Bradford	V 45	F	55:05
300	80	27	Tracy	Bullot	V 35	F	56:00	1^st 10K	New
301	220	77	Steve	Carter	V 40	M	55:50	SB	New
302	81	28	Lisa	Gavigan	V 35	F	56:00	PB	0:19
304	222	69	Mark	Cheadle	S	M	56:37
310	224	70	Anton	McCalla	S	M	57:40	1^st 10K	New
313	88	30	Tracy	Stiles	V 35	F	57:35	SB	0:54
318	93	24	Julie	Twomey	V 45	F	58:20*	1^st 10K	New
319	94	25	Karen	Smith	V 45	F	58:21*	PB	0:09
320	225	78	Andy	Prior	V 40	M	58:22
327	100	34	Louisa	Bill	S	F	59:33	1^st 10K	New
329	101	35	Victoria	Sealy	S	F	59:40	1^st 10K	New
330	228	80	Barry	King	V 40	M	59:40
331	102	36	Melissa	Tyler	S	F	59:51*	1^st 10K	New
332	229	71	Steven	Dobner	S	M	59:52	1^st 10K	New
333	103	1	Iris	Hornsey	V 65	F	1:00:05	SB	2:05
335	230	56	Doug	Hall	V 50	M	1:00:05
336	105	35	Dawn	Andrews	V 35	F	1:00:10	PB	2:43
337	231	3	Anthony	Osborne	V 70	M	59:58*	YB	0:25
341	108	36	Melissa	Gibson	V 35	F	1:02:23	1^st 10K	New
342	109	37	Lisa	Jerrom	V 35	F	1:02:51
344	111	38	Rebecca	Hart	V 35	F	1:04:31	PB	7:05
345	112	28	Nicky	Freeman	V 45	F	1:04:50	1^st 10K	New
347	233	81	Steve	Gough	V 40	M	1:05:50	SB	New
350	234	72	Simon	Harris	S	M	1:11:20	YB	0:01

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: GOLDS IN COUNTY CHAMPS

Post author By Tracy Pez
Post date May 14, 2012
162 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: GOLDS IN COUNTY CHAMPS

GOLDS IN COUNTY CHAMPS, Progress in EVAC League

Six Spartans brought home 17 medals including THIRTEEN GOLDS from the Hertfordshire Veterans Track & Field County Championships which were at Watford on Saturday.

In the 1500 metres, IRIS HORNSEY, SHARON CROWLEY and STEPH MAYFIELD posted strong times for the club’s short course championships with Iris & Sharon winning gold and Steph silver in their respective age categories. Steph was first Spartan home in a new PB of 6:39.23 closely followed by Sharon in 6:42.73, whilst Iris’s time of 7:16.31 gave her a fantastic 85% age grading. Sharon later took a second gold on the track with 14:29.01 in the 3000m. Sharon and Steph had another close contest in the Hammer, with both throwing new PBs of 17.25m and 17.39m respectively, the latter earning Steph a gold for the F35s. She won a second gold in the 100 metres hurdles (23.94) and another silver in the Pole Vault (1.80m) making it four PBs from four events.

MONICA BROWN had a sprint double with golds in the 100 metres (14.21) and 200 metres (29.85) and later added a third F40 gold in the Long Jump.

MARC GREEN was the sole Spartan representative in the men’s 5000 metres and won gold for the M35s in 22:38.47. STEVE MAYFIELD struggled with injury, but still managed clear 2.0m to win gold in the M40 pole vault and throw 23.05 to win the M40 javelin. He took further golds in the M40 discus and 800 metres, and bronze medals in the long and triple jumps.

An Eye On The Final

Fairlands Valley Spartans are targeting a place in the EVAC (Eastern Veterans) final after their women were second and men a comfortable third out of the seven clubs in the second of the four league matches which was in Bedford on Wednesday evening.

The next fixture is in Kettering on Wednesday 13^th June.

St Albans 10K

RACHEL PAYNE ran the St Albans 10K in a new personal best of 52 minutes 44 seconds.

Chris Leigh’s Comeback

After a break of 21 months since his last race CHRIS LEIGH ran the Marlow 5 on Sunday. He last ran this race in 2007 and it is still superbly organised. Over a flat course taking runners through the town and then back close to the river in a single loop he managed to hold on to complete the race in 36 minutes 52 seconds. A T-shirt, an excellent medal and a bulging goody bag awaited him at the finish — he thinks he will be back again next year!!

Great West Patrick

PATRICK MARSHALL ran the Great West Run half marathon in 1 hour 45 minutes 39 seconds. He says it was a lovely race.

Curragh Biggs

ROGER BIGGS was running in the Kildare Marathon on Sunday. The race was held at the home of Irish Horse racing ‘The Curragh’ in County Kiladare, Ireland. On a moderately undulating course on quiet road in a big lop around the Racecourse. he ran a good even race, running the second half quicker than the firstt to finish in 3:56:34. Regards

Becca Trailblazer

BECCA HART took part in the Runners World Trailblazer at Bedgebury Forest in Kent on Saturday 12 May 12. It was a great event, the first of 3 x 10k trail runs, and very well organized. The day was perfect for running but the ground not so! After 20 consecutive days of rain, the sun decided to shine on race day, thankfully it wasn’t all on tracks and there were some dry trails! This was Becca’s first solo event and she completed the 10k trail race in 1:11:36. The next one is in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire on May 26^th.

Coming Events

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

Mid Week Road Race League 10K in Stevenage at 7.45p.m. on Tuesday 15^th May.
Mid Week Road Race League fixture in Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 31^st May.
EVAC Track and Field event in Kettering on Wednesday 13^th June.
Mid Week Road Race League 10K in Harlow on Wednesday 20^th June.
Spartans v NHRR “Olympic” Fun Event on Sunday 24^th June.
Mid Week Road Race League Seven Miles in St. Albans on Thursday 28^th June.
Mob Match at Trent Park on Wednesday 11^th July.
EVAC Track and Field event in Milton Keynes on Wednesday 11^th July.
Fairlands Valley Challenge (Off Road) on Sunday 15^th July.
Relays in the Park (3K legs) on Thursday evening 19^th July.
County 5K Championships in Stevenage on Sunday 9^th September.
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

Sundays have just got even better!!

Post author By Coach
Post date May 10, 2012
46 Comments on Sundays have just got even better!!

Starting from this weekend the club are introducing an additional training group category to complement the existing two groups that normally organise Sunday runs. This will mean in future you are likely to see three different run options on a Sunday! The groups are being identified by their long run pace*, as follows:

Group A – designed to cater for runners at a long run pace* of 8 min/mile or faster;

Group B – designed to cater for runners at a long run pace* of between 8 min/mile and 10:30 min/mile;

Group C – designed to cater for runners at a long run pace* slower than 10:30 min/mile

As a coaching team we will do our best to organise a run for each of these groups on each Sunday. Ocassionally even we are fallable though!! Please have a look at the details that are shown in the training programme by going to the training programme option within the calendar drop down menu on the new website home page. Simples! We will aim to post details of each Sunday run by the end of Thursday (or earlier) each week. The routes being used by the groups will be varied and will incorporate off road and on road running. its a great way to explore the countryside surrounding Stevenage (and if you go out with Coach Leigh – the surrounding countryside of Bedfordshire and Bucks – only joking!!)

I hope you continue to enjoy what we are offering on Sundays! The three groups should now be able to cater for the full range of runners within the club. Please let us know what you think, your feedback is really valuable to us.

Thank you
Chris Leigh, Head Coach

* this is a pace that equates to approximately 65%-70% of maximum heart rate. You should be able to hold a conversation at this pace and not be gasping for air in between the odd word!! If you are struggling to speak, you are running too fast. In terms of effort level, this type of run equates to a 6-7 out of 10 where 10 is the effort you exert on a race (i.e. maximal!). You are training your aerobic energy system and not trying to push through your lactate threshold! If you are in any doubt about pacing for these runs please have a word with the coach.

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: GREENWAY CHALLENGE

Post author By Tracy Pez
Post date May 7, 2012
52 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: GREENWAY CHALLENGE

GREENWAY CHALLENGE, Nats Tri Third; Muddy First Saturday

Seven Spartans took up the Greenway Challenge off road half marathon and finished as follows:

LISA BURGESS 1 hour 40mins 2 seconds (female); KATY JINKS 1:41:14 secs (female); JODY FLETT 1:47:30 (male); RYAN DUNNING 1:52:30 (male); ROB KING 1:52:31 PB (male); MARC GREEN 2:10:30 (male) and RON COHEN 2:39:56 (male)

They say it was a good course of mainly trail and paths with a few steep climbs but the weather held out and it ended up being really good running conditions! Marc enjoyed it even though he got a little lost and did some extra miles!!

Nat Third In International Tri

Last weekend NATALIE BARNARD raced her first 70.3 of the season at the Lisbon International 70.3 where she raced the same event last year. That was her first ever long distance event.

As ever, her swimming proved the strongest of the three disciplines, exiting in fifth place overall and in a faster time from last year of 25min22sec (for 1900m).

After never riding or racing on a time trial (TT) bike, which would debut on this race, she clearly found it a massive shift up from last years’ road bike, by holding off the eventual winner Alison Rowatt for two hours before being overtaken in a new 10min personal best (PB) of 2 hours 35 minutes (for 90km).

Barnard unfortunately punctured 1200m before the second transition which cost her a few minutes and the overall final position on the podium.

The run proved, as ever, to be Barnard’s weaker of the three disciplines. She fought hard to keep second position from the Irish athlete, but a mixture of blisters, bruised toes bone and heat meant that she took the final slot of the podium to make it a British 1,2,3.

Natalie’s next event focus is the UK Ironman 70.3 in June where she faces her biggest competition yet!

Sub 40s At The Regent’s Park 10K

Two Spartan stars competed in the May Regent’s Park 10K on Saturday morning. Conditions were a little grey, windy but otherwise pleasant for the three lap circuit of the park. RICHARD BATE finished a fantastic FIFTH out of the 484 runners, in a time of 36 minutes dead.

LIAM HERBERT ran a new personal best time of 38:24, finishing 17th overall. He took 14 seconds off his previous 10K PB which was set at the same race last month, and claims his fourth personal best this year.

First Saturday of the Month

On a very wet and muddy course, JOHN HARRIS was fourth in the North Herts First Saturday of the Month 5K with a time of 19 minutes 59 seconds. TRACY PEZ was second lady.

Bank Holiday Running

After missing the Manchester Marathon last week due to a cold CAROL PAUL was back in action on Bank Holiday Monday for the wet and cold Belfast Marathon. The course was hilly in the first half and flattened out in the second half. Carol completed the course in 4 hours 39 minutes 59 seconds. ROGER BIGGS ran the same event in 3 hours 57 minutes 32 seconds.

Also on Bank Holiday Monday, STEPHANIE MAYFIELD took part in the Kimpton Fun Run. In cool conditions she ran 51mins 25seconds over the 9 kilometres undulating, multi-terrain course which due to the recent rain was a little boggy in places!

Coming Events

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

– Herts County Track and Field Championships on Saturday 12th May.
– Mid Week Road Race League 10K in Stevenage on Tuesday 15th May.
– Mid Week Road Race League fixture in Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 31st May.
– EVAC Track and Field event in Kettering on Wednesday 13th June.
– Mid Week Road Race League 10K in Harlow on Wednesday 20th June.
– Spartans v NHRR “Olympic” Fun Event on Sunday 24th June.
– Mid Week Road Race League Seven Miles in St. Albans on Thursday 28th June.
– Mob Match at Trent Park on Wednesday 11th July.
– EVAC Track and Field event in Milton Keynes on Wednesday 11th July.
– Fairlands Valley Challenge (Off Road) on Sunday 15th July.
– Relays in the Park (3K legs) on Thursday evening 19th July.
– County 5K Championships in Stevenage on Sunday 9th September.
– 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

Club

Lisa Jerrom

Post author By Coach
Post date May 5, 2012
33 Comments on Lisa Jerrom

Lisa joined the club in 2009

She joined for the usual reasons, getting older and putting on weight, oh and Maria Rushton made her! She raved about the club and insisted Lisa gave it a go!

It wasn’t long before Lisa realised how encouraging and motivating the coaching team are and soon Lisa found herself joining the coaching team, and then committee! Lisa is thrilled to be able to help others and give something back to the club.

Club

Barry King – Committee Member & Club Coach

Post author By Coach
Post date May 5, 2012
28 Comments on Barry King – Committee Member & Club Coach

Barry joined the Spartans just over back in December 2010. He had been running solo for 6 months and had ran 3 half marathons in that time, all over 2 hours. He wanted to beat that barrier. After running the Stevenage half where Barry says he spoke to Tracy Pez who recommended he join, he did!!

Barry describes himself as a people person and had previous experience of managing a men’s football teams and had enjoyed helping players develop their skills, so it seemed the next natural step forward to join the coaching team and to help people and pass on what he has learnt.

Barry’s running goals are to P.B at his longer distances – marathon, 20 mile, half marathon and 10 mile events so we’ll be seeing him at training Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays!

Barry recently took on the role of Kit Man, so if you need any FVS gear, you know who to contact!

Club

Jayne Pinner – Committee Member & Club Coach

Post author By Coach
Post date May 5, 2012
155 Comments on Jayne Pinner – Committee Member & Club Coach

Jayne joined the Spartans in January 2010. She had tried running on her own, but found it really difficult, then she saw one of her old school friends who ran with the Spartans and was persuaded to join the Starter Group and she loved it. The camaraderie, support and encouragement from the Starter Group coaches Katrina and Tessa, gave me Jayne the drive and determination to continue, until eventually she ran the full 5K course without stopping.. what an amazing feeling that was!

It wasn’t long before Jayne was asked to join the coaching team. She was honoured and the fact she might make a difference to someone like herself, makes her smile with pride! Jayne loves to turn ‘I can’t’ runners into ‘I can’ runners… and have fun along the way!

Jayne is looking forward to her first half marathon in Edinburgh at the end of May 2013 and hopes to run the full 13.1 miles without stopping.

Sensible by day… and fun loving by night, Jayne works as a School Business Manager at a local primary school. she is married with two grown up children, loves musicals, dancing and music. She used to go ballroom dancing as a child, started tap dancing in her late 20’s and running in her 40’s… proving you’re never too old to try something new!

Club

Meet the coaching team!

Here is the coaching team for Fairlands Valley Spartans. Click on a name to find out more about that coach!

Charlie Paterson Head Coach

Jayne Pinner Assistant Head Coach

Niki Andrews

Richard Bate

Roger Biggs

Graham Blackburn

Jim Brown

Paul Carter

David Clarke

Marie Colucci

Gary Dempsey

Katrina Doyle

April Drackford

Mark Drummond

Todd Gray

Beverley Harlow

Liam Herbert

Paul Holgate

Andy Jay

Lisa Jerrom

Barry King

Angela Moore

Andy Neatham

Tony Osborne

Andrew Patterson

Lisa Potter

Andy Prior

Maria Rushton

Phil Rushton

Chrissie Sharman

Julie Simmons

Pete Smith

Steve Smithson

Dave Stephenson

Tessa Stephenson

Dyfed Thomson-Smith

Steve Watkins

Barbara Wilson

Nick Witcombe

Club News

News Release: Spartan Track Stars & Two more Sub 3 at MK

Post author By Tracy Pez
Post date April 30, 2012
120 Comments on News Release: Spartan Track Stars & Two more Sub 3 at MK

Spartan Track Stars: Women Win, Men Move Up To Third; Two More Sub 3 At MK

It felt more like winter than the start of a summer track and field league at Ridlins on Wednesday but the Fairlands Valley Spartans veterans athletics team enjoyed their finest performance to date with the women’s team winning and the men a comfortable third in the opening match in the Eastern Veterans Athletics Club (EVAC) central division. In the contest with six other clubs the men showed how much they have improved since last season. If they can keep that up they could qualify for the East of England finals in September.

This was the first ever track and field home match hosted by Spartans who organised a successful event in difficult weather conditions.

The ladies won twelve events in total with some surprises coming in the field events where the Spartans often struggle against specialist athletics clubs. Ladies captain TESSA STEPHENSON lead the way, dropping down an age group, winning the women 35 plus (F35) Long Jump, High Jump and Shot. MONICA BROWN also had a hat-trick of 1st places, in the F45 100m, High Jump and Long Jump. There was a clean sweep for the team in the Ladies Hammer, with wins for STEPH MAYFIELD in the F35, SHARON CROWLEY F45 and CAROLYN SHORTLAND whose 18.41m for the F55s was the longest ladies throw of the night. Steph followed up with a surprise win in her first ever attempt at the 100m hurdles.

On the track IRIS HORNSEY won the F55 1500m to add to her 2nd place in the Long Jump. ROSIE CANHAM was twice beaten narrowly, but had the consolation of a new personal best (PB) of 14.3 seconds in the 100 metres and an excellent 67.5 in the 400 metres. Second places were also earned by CHRIS FEELY in the F45 sprint hurdles and in the 2km walk by SHARON CROWLEY F45 and JAN FRY F55 whose 15:01 beat her previous PB by 26 seconds.

The men enjoyed mixed fortunes and were forced into several last minute changes. In the opening event, team captain DAVE STEPHENSON won the men 40 plus (M40) 2km walk then withdrew from competition to help officiate. Injury restricted DAVE BOWKER’s participation, but he made it a double in the walk winning the M50 in a new PB of 11:23. STEVE MAYFIELD registered just one jump before injury also cut his evening short, however it was good enough to claim 1st in the M40 Long Jump.

As a result of these setbacks, several new team members took on more than they expected; some at very short notice! JOHN HARRIS stepped in to do the 100m, 400m and High Jump, and ANDY NEATHAM produced one of the best performances of the night with second in the 1500m in 4:43.4 pushing an exceptional Milton Keynes athlete all the way. BARRY OSBORNE also recorded a superb 1500m time of 5:41.3 to claim maximum points for the M60s after coming 3rd in the Long Jump. JOHN TYRELL and BARRY KING were the other debutants, the latter being summoned from tea making duties to lead off the M40 relay team. MICK SHORTLAND dropped down an age group to help out the M50s and despite the heavier weights achieved 2nd places in the Hammer and Shot.

The evening ended with the medley relay races which consisted of 2 x 200 metres, 1 x 400 metres and 1 x 800 metres. They were some of the most exciting relays seen for a while. In the male vet 40 plus event Andy Neatham swept past several runners in his 800 metres to finish second. In the vet 50 plus race DAVE BOWKER handed over to JIM BROWN who gradually caught a Bedford and County runner before kicking past him at 600 minutes to take second place by eleven seconds and gain lots of valuable points.

In the women’s medley Julie Simmons ran a great final 800 metres to win the race by just 1.3 seconds. JULIE SIMMONS ran a fine 800m leg on her EVAC debut for the Spartans to bring them home first in the F45 medley relay. In the women 35 plus race Rosie Canham passed several runners to lift the team into third place.

PAUL PICKARD and PAUL HOLGATE completed the men’s team and ensured it fielded an athlete and collected points in all bar three of the 26 events.

The team scores:

Women — Fairlands Valley Spartans 159; Marshall Milton Keynes 143; Kettering Town Harriers 84.5; Bedford & County 81; Corby 51.5; Biggleswade 12 and Wellingborough 6.

Men — Bedford & County 146; Marshall Milton Keynes 125; Fairlands Valley Spartans 105; Kettering 74; Biggleswade 54; Corby 42 and Wellingborough 34.

The Spartan women’s team consisted of MONICA BROWN, SHARON CROWLEY, CHRIS FEELY, JAN FRY, IRIS HORNSEY, STEPHANIE MAYFIELD, CAROLYN SHORTLAND, JULIE SIMMONS, TESSA STEPHENSON while DAVE BOWKER, JIM BROWN, JOHN HARRIS, PAUL HOLGATE, STEVE MAYFIELD, ANDY NEATHAM, BARRY OSBORNE, PAUL PICKARD, MICK SHORTLAND, DAVE STEPHENSON and JOHN TYRELL competed for the men.

Stevenage and North Herts Athletics Club played a huge part in facilitating this fixture for Fairlands Valley Spartans and supplying officials, with STEVE FEELY in particular working incredibly hard behind the scenes. The next EVAC match is at Bedford on May 9th.

Christopher and Lee Excel In Rain and Wind

Another two Spartans have beaten the three hour marathon barrier. Following Grant Ramsay and Simon Jackson’s achievement in London CHRISTOPHER WESTCOTT and LEE THORP went sub three on Sunday. What’s more both were running their first marathon! It was windy and incredibly wet for the inaugural Milton Keynes Marathon. So wet that part of the course had to be changed due to flooding. A fantastic twenty three Spartans completed the race. A huge success for Fairlands Valley only a week after the London Marathon. In April 68 different Spartans ran a marathon. They clocked up 76 marathons between them!

Chris Westcott was 17th out of the 2,923 finishers in 2 hours 57 minutes 17 seconds and Lee Thorp 21st in 2 hours 29 minutes 3 seconds.

DAVIE STAFFORD (3:44:47); STEVE GREEN (3:48:41); ANDY PRIOR (4:26:35); VISHAL SHAH (4:31:20); STEPHEN BLOCK (4:32:11); TREVOR SETTERFIELD (5:13:06); HANNAH SYPULA (5:19:06) and SARAH HUKIN (5:33:31) were also running their first marathons. That makes 26 new marathon runners in just two weeks for Fairlands Valley Spartans.

Despite the conditions five Spartans ran new personal bests — JAMIE DRACKFORD by 23 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes 7 seconds; NIKKI ANDREWS to 3:50:07; MARK GOODWIN to 3:54:14; STUART HAYCROFT by 14 minutes to 3:54:25 and BARRY KING by a huge 57 minutes to 4:26:36;

FVS Club Chair GRAHAM BLACKBURN ran a good time at London then just a week later he finished this marathon in just 3 hours 33 minutes 31 seconds. ROB SHAW and PAUL HOLGATE ran their best times for 2012 — Rob at 4:31:14 and Paul 4:36:53:

The other Spartans who waded MK were TODD GRAY (3:16:44); MARK BEASLEY (3:46:03); PHIL RUSHTON (4:31:40); ROGER BIGGS (4:42:30) and TONY ARGYROU (5:33:29).

Full results for all Spartans:

Position Name Time Comments
17 CHRISTOPHER WESTCOTT 2:57:17 1st marathon
21 LEE THORP 2:59:03 1st marathon
139 TODD GRAY 3:16:44
311 JAMIE DRACKFORD 3:30:07 PB by 23 minutes
377 GRAHAM BLACKBURN 3:33:31
570* DAVIE STAFFORD 3:44:47 1st marathon
592 MARK BEASLEY 3:46:03
689 STEVE GREEN 3:48:41 1st marathon
780 NIKKI ANDREWS (F) 3:50:07 PB
899 MARK GOODWIN 3:54:14 PB
859 STUART HAYCROFT 3:54:25 PB by 14 minutes
1794 ANDY PRIOR 4:26:35 1st marathon
1795 BARRY KING 4:26:36 PB by 57 minutes
1834 ROB SHAW 4:31:14 YB
1807 VISHAL SHAH 4:31:20 1st marathon
1903 PHIL RUSHTON 4:31:40
2047 PAUL HOLGATE 4:36:53 Year’s Best
1932 STEPHEN BLOCK 4:32:11 1st marathon
2100 ROGER BIGGS 4:42:30
2571 TREVOR SETTERFIELD 5:13:06 1st marathon
2634 HANNAH SYPULA (F) 5:19:06 1st marathon
2754 SARAH HUKIN 5:33:31 1st marathon
2755 TONY ARGYROU 5:33:29

Jim Moves Up In Hyde Park

It was blustery and wet underfoot in Hyde Park on Friday but Fairlands Valley Spartans’ JIM BROWN ran his fastest 5K race for many years. Having run his last 5K in 22 minutes 56 seconds he worked out an ambitious plan to take 22:30 for the Serpentine Last Friday of the Month 5K and finished in 21 minutes 49 seconds! That’s a year’s best by 1 minute 7 seconds and could qualify him for the “A” race next time.

Coming Events

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

– EVAC Track and Field event in Bedford on Wednesday 9th May.
– Herts County Track and Field Championships on Saturday 12th May.
– Mid Week Road Race League 10K in Stevenage on Tuesday 15th May.
– Mid Week Road Race League fixture in Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 31st May.
– EVAC Track and Field event in Kettering on Wednesday 13th June.
– Mid Week Road Race League 10K in Harlow on Wednesday 20th June.
– Spartans v NHRR “Olympic” Fun Event on Sunday 24th June.
– Mid Week Road Race League Seven Miles in St. Albans on Thursday 28th June.
– Mob Match at Trent Park on Wednesday 11th July.
– EVAC Track and Field event in Milton Keynes on Wednesday 11th July.
– Fairlands Valley Challenge (Off Road) on Sunday 15th July.
– Relays in the Park (3K legs) on Thursday evening 19th July.
– County 5K Championships in Stevenage on Sunday 9th September.
– 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

Club News

NEWS RELEASE, MASSIVE 38 SPARTANS FINISH LONDON MARATHON

Post author By Tracy Pez
Post date April 23, 2012
107 Comments on NEWS RELEASE, MASSIVE 38 SPARTANS FINISH LONDON MARATHON

TWO SPARTANS SUB THREE AT LONDON

Massive 38 Spartans finish London Marathon

Lyndsey and James win 5K

Spartans GRANT RAMSAY and SIMON JACKSON both beat the three hour barrier in Sunday’s London Marathon. Grant was in the top 1% of the 37,000 plus runners. He was 314^th overall in a magnificent championship qualifying time of 2 hours 43 minutes 57 seconds – his best time for three years. Simon was 687^th in 2 hours 53 minutes 38 seconds.

They were among a massive thirty eight Fairlands Valley Spartans who completed the 26.2 miles. Sixteen were running their first marathon and eight others ran new personal bests by big margins — a real demonstration of how well the club helps runners prepare for the marathon.

STEPHEN BIGGS was running his first marathon and beat his dad, ROGER by 43 seconds. Stephen was 9,851^st in 3:56:08 and Roger 10,068^th in 3:56:51. That 217 runners crossed the line in those 43 seconds shows how busy the finish is at that time.

The other first timers in the Virgin London Marathon were DICLUM LOY (2,783^rd in 3:02:11); PAUL WADESON (11,082^nd in 4:00:05); GARY CRETTON (18,823^rd in 4:30:49); KAREN PALMER (19,207^th in 4:32:24); ANNE-MARIE NEATHAM (21,724^th in 4:42:11); SALLY BEASLEY (22,302^nd in 4:44:37); LEE POTTER (22,665^th in 4:46:04); RODGER McPHERSON (24,069^th in 4:51:44); ANDY INGRAM-TEDD (25,748^th in 4:58:56); MARIA RUSHTON (26,589^th in 5:03:26); LARYA BARTON (27,638^th in 5:08:31); ELEANOR GLADING (28,819^th in 5:10:42); JO CAHILL (31,921^st in 5:39:13): HILARY DAVIES (32,601^st in 5:45:23); and DAWN TAYLOR (36,631^st in 8:001:11).

Two Spartan women improved their personal bests by more than eleven minutes to beat 3 hours 30 minutes for the first time. They were KERRY JAMES (4,296^th in 3 hours 28 minutes 32 seconds, an improvement of 11 minutes 13) and SAM PRETTY (4,316^th in 3:28:38, an improvement of 11:01).

The other Spartan personal bests (PBs) were by MICHAEL GREEN (2,864^th in 3:17:17, an improvement of 4:13); ROB EVANS (7,075^th in 3:44:14, an improvement of 10:46); HELENE MILLER (8,524^th in 3:51:02, an improvement of 10:43); JON SYPULA (11,890^th in 4:03:34, an improvement of 26:57); STEVE KEMP who improved by more than an hour to 4 hours 15 minutes 34 seconds (14,781^st); and KAREN LIDDLE (24,124^th in 4:52:02, an improvement of 22:44).

SHARON CROWLEY (20,837^th in 4:38:42) was running her 14^th London Marathon.

Results for all the Spartans in the London Marathon:

Position	Name	Time	Comments
314	GRANT RAMSAY	2:43:57	Champ time. Top 1%.
687	SIMON JACKSON	2:53:38
1379	SIMON BELL	3:02:11
2783	DICLUM LOY	3:16:33	First marathon
2864	MICHAEL GREEN	3:17:17	PB (4:13)
3334	GRAHAM BLACKBURN	3:21:33
4296	KERRY JAMES (F)	3:28:32	PB (11:13)
4316	SAM PRETTY (F)	3:28:38	PB (11:01)
7075	ROB EVANS	3:44:14	PB (10:46)
8236	RICHARD HAZLEDENE	3:49:47
8524	HELENE MILLER (F)	3:51:02	PB (10:43)
9851	STEPHEN BIGGS	3:56:08	Son beats father in 1^st marathon
10068	ROGER BIGGS	3:56:51
11082	PAUL WADESON	4:00:05	First marathon
11840	AMANDA BROOK (F)	4:03:22
11890	JON SYPULA	4:03:34	PB (26:57)
14070	KEVIN SMYTH	4:12:44
14395	BEV HARLOW (F)	4:13:59
14781	STEVE KEMP	4:15:34	PB (over an hour)
16006	MARK GLADING	4:20:05
18592	TRICIA HOPPER (F)	4:29:46
18823	GARY CRETTON	4:30:39	First marathon
19207	KAREN PALMER (F)	4:32:24	First marathon
19238	RICHARD MOORE	4:32:29
20837	SHARON CROWLEY (F)	4:38:42
21724	ANNE-MARIE NEATHAM (F)	4:42:11	First marathon
22302	SALLY BEASLEY (F)	4:44:37	First marathon
22665	LEE POTTER	4:46:04	First marathon
24069	RODGER McPHERSON	4:51:44	First marathon
24124	KAREN LIDDLE (F)	4:52:02	PB (22:44)
24748	CRAIG SNOWDEN	4:54:45
25748	ANDY INGRAM-TEDD	4:58:56	First marathon
26589	MARIA RUSHTON (F)	5:03:26	First marathon
27638	LARYA BARTON (F)	5:08:31	First marathon
27819	ELEANOR GLADING (F)	5:10:42	First marathon
31921	JO CAHILL (F)	5:39:13	First marathon
32601	HILARY DAVIES (F)	5:45:23	First marathon
36631	DAWN TAYLOR (F)	8:00:11	First marathon

Dozens of other Spartans helped at the finish. Without the volunteers the London Marathon would be impossible to organise.

Lyndsey and James Win 5K

Thirty one runners braved the weather on Thursday night to take part in the 63^rd running of the Fairlands Valley Spartans’ Handicap 5K.

LYNDSEY CARLISLE was first to finish. She claimed her second Handicap 5K victory by running a new personal best (PB) time of 31 minutes 51 seconds, 1:40 quicker than her previous PB and 4:39 ahead of handicap. LOUISA BILL was second female, and third overall in her first race with a time of 28 minutes 46 seconds and VICTORIA SEALY was third woman, in a new PB of 27:33 – 53 seconds faster than before.

The winning man, in second position overall, was newcomer JAMES COOPER in 27:33, 3:26 faster than handicap. Another first timer, CHRIS HILTON, set a handicap new course record time of 16 minutes 33 seconds to finish second male and fifth overall. This was three seconds quicker than the previous record.

RICHARD BATE was third man in a new seasons best (SB) time of 16:57, five seconds quicker than previously.

Chris and Richard were also fastest and second fastest runners on the night, with ROB WILLIS third quickest in a new PB time of 18:31. LIAM HERBERT (18:41 YB) and STEVE WILLIAMSON (19:11) were also inside 20 minutes.

TRACY PEZ was the fastest female equalling her year’s best (YB) time of 22:22, with MADDIE PRITCHARD second quickest in a new YB time 23:21, and SARAH PIKE third 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 start and finish was superbly organised by Graham Blackburn, Mike Crowley, Jim Brown and Jayne Pinner. Barry King, Sharon Crowley, Kerry Setterfield and Lee Reynolds supported runners around the course, and the Spartan Starter Group provided lots of vocal encouragement.

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

Madrid Marathon

For the first time in twenty years CAROL PAUL was not running the London Marathon. But she was running 26.2 miles in Madrid. On a hot day and on a hilly course Carol’s third marathon in two weeks was completed in 4 hours 28 minutes 50 seconds. KEVIN LAWLOR finished in 5:18:43. MIKE NEWBITT and DAVE PAUL came in together in 5:19:24.

Mayor of Hertford’s 10K

Eight Spartans competed in the recent Mayor of Hertford’s charity race which was over about 10 kilometres. DUNCAN MARSHALL was third overall in 37 minutes 5 seconds. The others were SIMON BELL (40:30); ANDY JAY (51:55); DYFED THOMPSON-SMITH (53:29); JEANETTE COLLINS (1:00:27); TRACY STILES (1:02:30); and KATIE and ANNETTE BELL finishing together in 1:03:40. This was Katie’s first 10K.

They said it was a lovely run, along trails and road, well organised with some nice goodies at the finish.

Coming Events

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

EVAC track and field league match in Stevenage on Wednesday evening 25^th April.
Serpentine Last Friday 5K on Friday 27^th April.
Herts County Track and Field Championships on Saturday 12^th May.
Mid Week Road Race League 10K in Stevenage on Tuesday 15^th May.
Fairlands Valley Challenge (Off Road) on Sunday 15^th July.
Relays in the Park (3K legs) on Thursday evening 19^th July.
County 5K Championships in Stevenage on Sunday 9^th September.
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: CHARLIE IS CiRF’d

Post author By Coach
Post date April 16, 2012
91 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: CHARLIE IS CiRF’d

Over the weekend (14th/15th April) our Assistant Head Coach, Charlie Paterson, put the finishing touches to the Coach in Running and Fitness (CiRF) course by passing through the assessment phase. This now means that Charlie is CiRF qualified and a ‘fully fledged’ coach within the coaching team. The course is particularly demanding, requiring a commitment to attend workshops over two weekends as well as building up a comprehensive coaching diary with training plans and relective notes. The course is completed with a written test and practical assessment. Congratulations to Charlie!

Club News

NEWS RELEASE: 15TH APRIL 2012, IRIS & STEVE WIN TRACK & FIELD

Post author By Tracy Pez
Post date April 15, 2012
133 Comments on NEWS RELEASE: 15TH APRIL 2012, IRIS & STEVE WIN TRACK & FIELD

IRIS AND STEVE WIN TRACK AND FIELD

Fast at Flitwick

IRIS HORNSEY and STEVE MAYFIELD were the winners at a chilly Fairlands Valley Spartans Track and Field Championships on Sunday afternoon. There were even the odd hail storms at the event which was kindly hosted by Stevenage and North Herts AC as part of their meeting at Ridlins. Several Spartans were taking part in Track & Field for the first time since schooldays and everybody enjoyed the event. Each athlete completed a sprint, a middle distance event, a jump and a throw and the results were age adjusted and then points awarded. Following on from her recent National Masters Indoor Titles, IRIS HORNSEY won the Womens event with MONICA BROWN second and TESSA STEPHENSON third.

In the men’s event STEVE MAYFIELD finished just ahead of DAVE STEPHENSON with BILL TUCK third.

The scoring system was based on taking the performance, age grading it and then using tables to provide a points score for each event. Points were added up for the four events and the person with the highest total wins.

Overall the results were as follows:

Women – Iris Hornsey 314; Monica Brown 308; Tessa Stephenson 301; Julie Simmons 240; Sharon Crowley 236; Steph Mayfield 195 and Jo Laing 182.

Men — Steve Mayfield 337; Dave Stephenson 329; Bill Tuck 306; Andy Neatham 305; Kieran Feetham 272; Paul Holgate 237; Mark Cheadle 208; Simon Harris 147 and Matthew Holgate 43.

Fast at Flitwick

Fourteen Spartans were at the Flitwick 10K on Sunday. For some it was a last bit of preparation before the London Marathon. The Spartan runners included PHIL GALE (54^th in 40:35); MATT JAMIESON (158^th in 44:50); TRACY PEZ (213^th in 46:28); CRAIG SNOWDEN (320^th in 49:26); DAN SIMS running his first 10K (324^th in 49:55); RICHARD MOORE (326^th in 49:35); PAUL HOLGATE (451^st in 53:33); NICK WITCOMBE (478^th in 54:15); KAREN PALMER (521^st in 55:35); JOHN WILDEN (576^th in 56:33); TONY OSBORNE was running his first road race since June 2011 and was the fifth “Vet 70” (659^th in 60:23); KERRY SETTERFIELD (728^th in 64:15); LEE MORRIS (782^nd in 68:58) and HELEN MORRIS (783^rd in 68:59).

Brighton Rocks for Carol

CAROL PAUL ran her second marathon in six days at Brighton after running her best time (4:15:40) since November 2008 at Utrecht, Holland the previous week. She ran the Brighton Marathon in windy over cast conditions in a time of 4 hours 18 minutes 4 seconds.

Two Inaugurals for Roger

On Sunday ROGER BIGGS ran the inaugural Worcester Marathon in 4 hours 4 minutes 54 seconds. It was on a hilly two lap course in sunny but cold conditions. Last week he ran the inaugural Humberside Marathon in 4 hours 6 minutes 58 seconds.

Cambourne for Dania

DANIA HEATH ran the Cambourne 10K in Cambridgeshire on Sunday in 58 minutes 26 seconds (620^th). RHIANNON HOWE was 890^th in 66:51. There were 1,001 finishers.

Andrenalin War

MARC GREEN completed the Andrenalin War army assault course 10k on the Dunstable Downs on Saturday. Rope swings, tubes, netting, slides, see-saws, balance bars and hills did not stop Marc finishing in an excellent 54.30

Bests for Grant and Liam

LIAM HERBERT, GRANT RAMSAY and DON GREGORY ran the Victoria Park Open Five with a fleet of exceptional runners. To put it into perspective, the winning time was 23 minutes 28 seconds and the fastest woman crossed the line in 27:04.

Both ran new personal bests (PB).

Liam’s PB time of 30 minutes 28 seconds represented an improvement of 2 minutes 59 seconds, coming off the back of last weekend’s improvement over 10K. He was delighted to take approximately 3 minutes off his last 5 mile personal best time which was set at the same race last year (33:27). Just goes to show what a difference a year, and being coached to run the distance specifically, makes. Liam placed 76th out of 174 finishers. This was his second personal best in six days and third PB of the year.

Meanwhile Grant Ramsay finished in a superb time of 27 minutes 37 seconds. That he was 34^th shows the quality of the entries. He improved his PB by ten seconds.

Don Gregory was 110th in 35m 41s.

There was a bit of a head-wind which meant the long expansive flats around the park dragged and that was off-putting. All in all, it was a great fast competitive course and he look forward to returning back there for a third attempt in 2013. Well worth the trip to Hackney.

First Saturday

Spartan JOHN HARRIS was fifth overall in the North Herts First Saturday of the Month 5K with a time of 19 minutes 17 seconds — a new season’s best.

Ultra Ladies

On Saturday (7^th) Sharon Crowley,Trica Hopper and Karen Liddle took on the challenge of ‘The Bedford Clanger’ a 28 mile ultra trail marathon around the Bedfordshire countryside. They were all delighted to finish in 5 hours 55 minutes 7 seconds.

Karen and Tricia then completed another 21 miles in training on Sunday as they continued their preparations for the 70 mile Hadrian’s Wall weekend event in June.

Carol’s Best Marathon Since 2008

CAROL PAUL did the Utrecht Marathon in Holland on Sunday and ran her best time since November 2008. She completed the flat, wet and windy race in 4 hours 15 minutes 40 seconds.

Running, Jumping, Throwing

Spartan MATTHEW HOLGATE enjoyed a great day at the Olympic Challenge organised by Stevenage and North Hertfordshire Athletics Club. He threw the shot putt 4.44 metres; achieved 1.30 metres in the long jump and ran the 100 metres in 20.38 seconds.

Dozens of Spartans will be running the London Marathon and dozens more will be helping at the finish. Without the volunteers the London Marathon could not take place.

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 in Stevenage on Thursday evening 19^th April.
London Marathon on Sunday 22^nd April.
EVAC track and field in Stevenage on Wednesday 25^th April.
Serpentine Last Friday 5K on Friday 27^th April.
Mid Week Road Race League 10K in Stevenage on Tuesday 15^th May.
Fairlands Valley Challenge (Off Road) on Sunday 15^th July.
Relays in the Park on Thursday evening 19^th July.
County 5K Championships in Stevenage on Sunday 9^th September.
County 5 Miles Championship in Stevenage on Sunday 23^rd September.
Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 4^th 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 over 430 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. Now the clocks have changed they will be even more popular. 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.

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 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”]

Club News

News Release: 8th April 2012, Bests for Grant & Liam

Post author By Tracy Pez
Post date April 9, 2012
62 Comments on News Release: 8th April 2012, Bests for Grant & Liam

BESTS FOR GRANT AND LIAM

Ultra Women

LIAM HERBERT and GRANT RAMSAY ran Saturday’s Victoria Park Open Five with a fleet of exceptional runners. To put it into perspective, the winning time was 23 minutes 28 seconds and the fastest woman crossed the line in 27:04.

Both ran new personal bests (PB).

Meanwhile GRANT RAMSAY finished in a superb time of 27 minutes 37 seconds. That he was 34^th shows the quality of the entries. He improved his PB by ten seconds.

First Saturday

Spartan JOHN HARRIS was fifth overall in the North Herts First Saturday of the Month 5K with a time of 19 minutes 17 seconds — a new season’s best.

Ultra Ladies

Karen and Tricia then completed another 21 miles in training on Sunday as they continued their preparations for the 70 mile Hadrian’s Wall weekend event in June.

Running, Jumping, Throwing

Fairlands Valley Spartans Track and Field Championships take place at Ridlins Track, Stevenage between 12 noon and 5p.m. this Sunday 15^th April.

Coming Events

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

Spartans Track and Field Championships on Sunday 15^th April.
Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday evening 19^th April.
London Marathon on Sunday 22^nd April.
EVAC track and field in Stevenage on Wednesday 25^th April.
Serpentine Last Friday 5K on Friday 27^th April.
Mid Week Road Race League 10K in Stevenage on Tuesday 15^th May.
Fairlands Valley Challenge (Off Road) on Sunday 15^th July.
Relays in the Park on Thursday evening 19^th July.
County 5K Championships in Stevenage on Sunday 9^th September.
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: 1st April 2012, Olympic Five

Post author By Tracy Pez
Post date April 2, 2012
28 Comments on News Release: 1st April 2012, Olympic Five

OLYMPIC FIVE

PBs at Twenty and 10K

Four Spartans were among the first ever to finish a race inside the new London Olympic Stadium. They were taking part in the National Lottery Five Mile Race on Saturday.

ANDY NEATHAM was 70^th in 29 minutes 41 seconds (10^th MV45); NICKY GILMORE 1,965^th in 41:28; BEV HARLOW was 2,476^th in 43:21; and JAN FRY 4,377^th on 51 minutes exactly.

Bev, the Spartans Vice-Chair, said it was a real privilege to take part in the Olympic Park run. It was well organised with the 5,000 runners going off in four waves. The course meandered around the Olympic Park before entering the stadium through the athlete’s tunnel with the final 300metres on the athletics track. It was very exciting to enter the stadium to the music from Chariots of Fire.

Still on an Olympic theme could we be seeing DAVID BOWKER on TV this summer?

At last the rating and paperwork is complete and he can officially try to qualify for the Paralympic Marathon by running a target time in the London Marathon.

Starting with the elite runners he’ll be aiming for the “A” standard of 2 hours 55 minutes or better. Three “A” standard places are available. The “B” standard is no slower than 3 hours 15 minutes but only one “B” place is available and only the fastest will get it.

Oakley 20

KERRY JAMES completed Sunday’s Oakley 20 mile road race today in a time of 2hrs 32 mins 36 seconds! That’s a personal best (PB) by almost four minutes from the same course two years ago. She was fifth female veteran (40 plus).

BARRY KING also enjoyed the perfect running conditions and took 6 minutes 47 seconds off his old PB when he finished in 3 hours 11 minutes 13 seconds.

PAULETTE ELDRIDGE ran her first twenty mile race in 2 hours 55 minutes.

PB Machine Runs Again

LIAM HERBERT recorded another personal best (PB) Sunday morning at the Regents Park 10K. He was kept alert by having to hurdle over a dog chasing over a squirrel on the first lap

Liam’s 38 minutes 38 seconds made him 15^th out of the 430 finishers. His previous best was 39:39 at last year’s Standalone 10K.

PETE SMITH was 62^nd in 43 minutes exactly.

Last Friday

SIMON JACKSON enjoyed the hot and sunny weather on Friday lunchtime when he ran the Serpentine Last Friday of the Month 5K. He was very happy with his time of 17 minutes 3 seconds and 11^th overall.

Yakima River Canyon Marathon — Saturday, 31^st March 2012

While the UK was warm & Sunny, ROGER BIGGS started the scenic YAKIMA RIVER CANYON MARATHON in light snow. The course followed the River Canyon south to Yakima, and while it was mostly downhill, the course got its vengeance with two long and tough hills.

Roger struggled to find his recent form, but dragged his time down nearer to 4 hours with a fast three mile downhill section, finishing in 4:05:15.

Dozens of other Spartans enjoyed the club twenty mile training run as they prepared for the London Marathon which will be on Sunday 22^nd April.

Coming Events

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

Spartans Track and Field Championships on Sunday 15^th April.
Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday evening 19^th April.
London Marathon on Sunday 22^nd April.
EVAC track and field in Stevenage on Wednesday 25^th April.
Mid Week Road Race League 10K in Stevenage on Tuesday 15^th May.
Fairlands Valley Challenge (Off Road) on Sunday 15^th July.
Relays in the Park on Thursday evening 19^th July.
County 5K Championships in Stevenage on Sunday 9^th September.
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: 25th March 2012, Claire wins 5k

Post author By Tracy Pez
Post date March 28, 2012
140 Comments on News Release: 25th March 2012, Claire wins 5k

CLAIRE WINS 5K
Spartans at Sandy + Sport Relief

There was an excellent turn-out of almost 60 Spartans for Thursday evening’s Handicap 5K, with 53 finishers from 54 starters, fantastically supported at the start and finish by Liam Herbert, Mark Beasley and Andy Prior; and those who helped others around the course — Bill Tuck, Chris Leigh, Sharon Crowley, Barbara Wilson, Lee Reynolds and Andy Prior.

On a beautiful evening for running 40 of the 53 finishers recorded their fastest 5K of 2012, with 12 personal bests (PB) and 6 season bests (SB) including, in addition to those mentioned below, Kieran Feetham +2:09 to 20:57, Victoria Sealy +0:39 to 28:26 and Sean Millwood +0:11 to 30:55.

First to finish, in her first 5K with the club, was Claire Coker in an excellent 27:10, 2:50 ahead of handicap, closely followed by Jo Eley, supported by Andy Prior, who continued to improve her 5K PB, this time by another 2:43 to 41:35, and with Jennifer Robertson third in a new PB of her own of 22:29, 3:51 quicker than previously.

The winning man was Steve Pike, in a new SB time 24:17, 2:26 ahead of handicap and 46 seconds quicker than his previous best SB time, followed by Dan Sims in a new PB of 23:44, 1;09 quicker than before, and with Steven Dobner third man in a new PB of his own, 2:01 faster at 27:50.

GRANT RAMSAY was the fastest runner on the evening in a new Year Best time of 16:45 to move from 53rd position at the start to 12th position by the end, with Rebecca Newstead & Lee Reynolds second quickest in yet another female Handicap 5K course record, smashing another 38 seconds off her time set in February, to 17:43.

Rob Willis was also well inside 20 minutes, with 18:44, as were Todd Gray 18:59, Steve Williamson 19:06 and Graham Blackburn 19:47. Next quickest female was Katy Jinks in 22;04, with Tracy Pez third quickest in a new year’s best time of 22:22.

Next month will see the final Handicap 5k before a break for the Midweek League. It will be on Thursday 19th April 2012.

Sandy Ten

Spartan LEE THORP beat the hour in his first ten mile road race which was Sunday’s Sandy Ten. He finished tenth out of the 500 competitors in 59 minutes 13 seconds. Club Secretary STEPH MAYFIELD ran a new personal best to finish 288th in 1 hour 24 minutes 29 seconds.

There was a good turnout from Fairlands Valley Spartans with the club’s other runners including Graham Blackburn 1:07:13 (61st); Steve Mayfield 1:09:58 (94th); Pete Smith 1:10:30 (103rd); Claire Haddleton 1:11:25 (124th); Mike King 1:11:25 (125th); Davie Stafford 1:12:17 (137th); David Moss 1:13:04 (149th); Rob Brady 1:13:30 (156th); Maddie Pritchard 1:24:45 (290th); Paul Holgate 1:24:54 (294th); Karen Ellis 1:27:47 (323rd); Maria Thorne 1:30:26 (350th); Sharon Crowley 1:32:00; Dania Heath 1:33:30 and Mark Cheadle 1:49:15.

Busy Bell

Recently SIMON BELL ran the Milton Keynes 10km race in 38 minutes 22 seconds and was second Vet 40. He also ran the Finchley 20 in 2 hours 15 minutes 48 seconds

Round The Rowing

TREVOR and KERRY SETTERFIELD ran a warm, flat half marathon around the Olympic rowing venue at Dorney Lake, near Windsor on Sunday. Trev finished in 1 hour 47 minutes 6 seconds and Kerry in 2 hours 24 minutes 5 seconds.

Spartans Help Sport Relief

Many Spartans helped organise Sunday’s Sport Relief event in Stevenage.

Amongst those running was LIAM HERBERT who did 25 laps (“10K”) in 39:44, in the full stripy outfit (oh yes the shorts!), with blue stripy face paint and neon blue hair. His inspiration was Sonic the Hedgehog (fast with spiky blue hair) but he received comparisons to Braveheart and Avatar as well! He says it was a great event to be involved in, for a very good cause!

SIMON HARRIS ran 10K in 1 hour 11 minutes 21 seconds and MATTHEW HOLGATE ran a mile in ten minutes 17 seconds.

ALISON SUCKLING completed the Brentwood Half Marathon in 2 hours 13 minutes 7 seconds while several other Spartans were amongst the 455 enjoying the Stevenage Start of Summertime Specials (SSoSS) cycle rides.

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

Coming Events

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

– Spartans Track and Field Championships on Sunday 15th April.
– Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday evening 19th April.
– London Marathon on Sunday 22nd April.
– EVAC track and field in Stevenage on Wednesday 25th April.
– Mid Week Road Race League 10K in Stevenage on Tuesday 15th May.
– Fairlands Valley Challenge (Off Road) on Sunday 15th July.
– Relays in the Park on Thursday evening 19th July.
– County 5K Championships in Stevenage on Sunday 9th September.
– 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 websitewww.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

1st April: Club 20 miles (10 / 15 mile options available)

Post author By Tracy Pez
Post date March 28, 2012
108 Comments on 1st April: Club 20 miles (10 / 15 mile options available)

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Club

John Harlow – Committee Member

Post author By fvsadmin
Post date January 23, 2012
129 Comments on John Harlow – Committee Member

John has been a Spartans groupie for 18 years and has spent many hours standing in the sun and rain marshalling and supporting his wife Beverley. After 35 years working mostly as a Community Psychiatric Nurse he took early retirement and now works part time at Heathcote School as a Mentor and Pastoral Assistant.

His interests are walking, cycling, bridge and always remembering to say “good run”. Being obsessed with ‘negative splits’ and ‘mile times’ he leaves to other as he is unable to run due to a long standing knee injury.

Club

Simon Harris – Committee Member

Post author By fvsadmin
Post date January 23, 2012
2 Comments on Simon Harris – Committee Member

Simon has been a member of the Spartans for three years and has brought a huge amount of energy and enthusiasm to training and has over come his physical disabilities to compete in races, achieving great success on the track at National, Regional and County level.

In 2008 Simon reached the finals of the National Disabled Athletics Championships and won multiple Gold Medals at the Eastern Region Championships.

2009 was a fantastic year for Simon. At the start of the year Simon won the Paul Pearce Disability Award at the Comet Sports Award. Then during the year Simon also won 2 Silvers and a Bronze (200M, 4 x 100M, and 4 x 400M respectively) in the National Championships for Disabled Athletes and Gold, 2 Silvers and a Bronze (400M, 100M, Long Jump and 200M respectively) at the Eastern Region Disabled Athletics Championships. At County level Simon won Gold in the 100M at the Hertfordshire Disabled Track Championships.

Simon participates in a variety of club events, often bursting past other runners in the Club at the track training sessions. He has also offered his support in helping out with the Club Kit this year. Simon also enjoys working out in the gym at Marriotts.

Club

Anne-Marie Neatham

Post author By fvsadmin
Post date January 23, 2012

Club

Tessa Stephenson – Committee Member & Club Coach

Post author By fvsadmin
Post date January 23, 2012
9 Comments on Tessa Stephenson – Committee Member & Club Coach

Tessa joined the Spartans in 1994 after moving from Hampshire to Stevenage to be with her boyfriend (now husband) Dave. She belonged (and still does) to City of Portsmouth Athletic Club where she was Hampshire County champion for 800m for 4 years consecutively. Tessa wanted to carry on her running and having run 10K’s, 10 Miles and Half Marathons, completed marathons in November 1994, running the Stevenage Marathon, and then the London Marathon in 2000 when she was forty and had been in the sport for 26 years. She has been a regular County Medal winner in Hertfordshire and competes on both track and road.

Having loved the atmosphere at the Spartans, Tessa decided to become a coach in 2000 to help her fellow members. She introduced different types of training including track sessions and the odd track race including relays! She also encouraged members to have a go at doing more cross country races and got mens and ladies teams out in both the Southern Counties and National Cross Country championships for the first time. Tessa along with Katrina Doyle has started the Club’s first ‘Starter Group’ encouraging complete novices to have a go to walk/run on Monday nights. Tessa is also team manager for the women’s track and field team in the Eastern Veteran Athletic Club League in which the ladies won the final at Bedford.

Away from running, Tessa works for a firm who deal with the maintenance of the roads in Hertfordshire.
In her spare time Tessa likes to read and make various puddings.

Club

Paul Holgate – Committee & Club Coach

Post author By fvsadmin
Post date January 23, 2012
37 Comments on Paul Holgate – Committee & Club Coach

Now in his 50’s Paul joined the Spartans in 1985 at 28 shortly after the club was formed following regular Sunday morning training runs that led up to the first Stevenage marathon in 1983.

Addicted to running as often as possible and the camaraderie of the club, Paul is a regular at most Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday training sessions.

A level 2 UKA qualified coach, Paul is also the Midweek League results secretary and club statistician for club championships and personal best records, as well as issuing monthly individual training plans for all 400+ members that he holds any data on which to base targets for.

Paul loves to race at all distances from 100 metres up to marathon and completed both his 1,000th race and 200th marathon in 2011.

A qualified accountant with BT, Paul is married with 3 teenage children and the youngest, Matthew, also trains and races with the club.

Outside of running Paul enjoys tackling tough logic problems, playing board games and the occasional game of duplicate bridge.

Club

Phil Rushton – Committee Member & Coach

Post author By fvsadmin
Post date January 23, 2012
17 Comments on Phil Rushton – Committee Member & Coach

Club

Jim Brown – Press Officer, Committee Member & Club Coach

Post author By fvsadmin
Post date January 23, 2012
124 Comments on Jim Brown – Press Officer, Committee Member & Club Coach

E-mail: press@fvspartans.org.uk

Jim Brown joined the Spartans shortly after moving to Stevenage from Scotland late in 1992. He arrived with a pretty good record as a racing cyclist having achieved targets like “under the hour” for a 25 (miles), over 20 mph for a “twelve” (hours) and getting into the national rankings. Gradually his number shifted from his backside to his chest for competitive sport but he is on the national council of the largest cyclists’ organisation in the country and still organises a number of successful cycling events including “Emitremmmus Desrever” which attracted 419 riders in October 2011.

Jim returned to the committee in 2009 but has been Spartan press officer for many years having first been elected to that post in 1996. He was delighted to receive a special award at the Silver Jubilee Gala Ball.

Jim is a great believer in encouraging more people to get into active recreation — loads of health and social benefits — something Fairlands Valley Spartans have been doing really well. His personal targets have been to try to achieve a 75% score in all eight club championship distances — particularly using the older, harder standards. He’s come close a few times but lacks the oompf for the short stuff.

Recently he’s been advised to become a fun runner, we’ll see about that, but he reckons now is a good time to put a little bit more into the club which has given him so much pleasure and motivated him to attempt to get fit.

Jim qualified as an assistant coach in 2010, a Leader in Running Fitness (LiRF) in 2011 and is now a UKA Level 2a Endurance Official.

Club

Stephanie Mayfield

Email: secretary@fvspartans.org.uk

Steph spent so much time contemplating whether or not to join Spartans, that in January 2010 she was given her membership and a stripey vest by husband Steve.

Who knew then that within two years she would become Club Secretary in December 2011.

Since joining her running has improved in style and speed — still not fast, but noticeably faster!

Steph takes part in occasional races but is always determined to try her hardest and aim to better her times.

She has been a member of FVS Ladies team for Eastern Vets Athletics Club (EVAC) for the last two seasons.

She supplements her running training (normally Tuesday nights and Saturday track session) with personal training and gym sessions and occasional coaching from Stevenage and North Herts AC for pole vaulting and throwing skills (hammer and discus).

Steph is a radiographer working for University College London Hospitals which allows her to practice speed walking for EVAC and sprints along Euston Road, depending how late she is for the train! She enjoys running because it enables her to get some fresh air, see daylight (a rarity in her job) and eat more!

Club

Paul Marshall – Committee Member

Post author By fvsadmin
Post date January 23, 2012

Email: committee@fvspartans.org.uk

Paul joined FVS in 2010, but his first taste for running was way back in 1986 when he ran the Mars London Marathon in 3hrs 36mins. Then after a 23 year absence from road running he was once again was fortunate enough to gain a ballot place in the 2009 Flora London marathon which he ran somewhat slower!

The following years were possibly the busiest of Paul’s life with not only running more marathons but also getting married, buying and managing a business and getting a puppy. Paul is still the Managing Director of QES Ltd, husband of Vivienne Honey and father to Toffee but life has calmed down a bit these days which has given Paul more time to concentrate on his running and being a committee member! Oh and his goal of breaking that 4 hour barrier for the marathon again !!

Club

Nick Witcombe – Coach & Committee Member

Post author By fvsadmin
Post date November 23, 2011
45 Comments on Nick Witcombe – Coach & Committee Member

Nick joined the Spartan’s in October 2009, two weeks after he completed his first 10k and shortly before his 40^th birthday – “a different kind of midlife crisis”. His aims to start with were just to get fit and improve his health, but since joining the Spartans he has run in the London marathon, numerous half marathons including Peterborough and Edinburgh and Nick even make his international running debut in the Texas half in 2012 (but he doesn’t like to talk about it much!)

Nick introduced the Spartans to the now infamous tradition of the CBF, has joined the coaching team, gained himself a new nickname of ‘Gadget’, mastered the art of wearing his pants OVER his trousers – and of course made numerous good friends along the way. Nick was appointed Men’s Captain in November 2012, a position he held for 2 years.

Nick’s greatest enjoyment is helping fellow Spartans reach their goals whatever they are. He currently works as a Business Analyst and is married with 2 daughters and when he is not running or gadget shopping he enjoys football (although being an Arsenal supporter that is diffcult!) and darts.

Club

Nikki Wilby – Ladies Team Captain, Coach and Committee Member

Post author By fvsadmin
Post date January 23, 2011
300 Comments on Nikki Wilby – Ladies Team Captain, Coach and Committee Member

E-mail: ladiescap@fvspartans.org.uk

Club

Mark Cheadle

Mark joined the Spartans in August 2009, a year after taking those tough first steps into running and in December 2011 joined the committee.

Mark most enjoys getting down the track on a Saturday morning over the summer months and still wishes he had the pace as a teenager playing on the wing at Rugby. Sadly after a 14 year break from exercise, those days are behind him, but still aims to at least get a sub 6 minute 1500m. Also keen on swimming and cycling, Mark plans to take part in a triathlon one day.

Outside of running Mark works as a demand planner for a grocery retailer. Main hobby is writing and performing music and will be spending plenty of time in the studio in 2012 recording an album.

Club

Barry Osborne – Treasurer

Post author By fvsadmin
Post date January 22, 2011
No Comments on Barry Osborne – Treasurer

E-mail: treasurer@fvspartans.org.uk

Barry started enjoying running at the age of 8 when he used to crawl through the hedge at the local running track and run round and around until the park keeper came and chased him off. (You were meant to pay to use the track!). He then ran as a teenager but only started finding himself near the front of races when as a 16 year old he went out with a girl who lived 10 minutes of fast running away from the train station. This meant that 3 or 4 nights a week Barry found himself running as fast as he could to catch the last train home which increased his fitness and once he realised how much running in the countryside (rather than on city streets) was such fun he hasn’t stopped!

Barry tries to run every day because he enjoys it, but if after 10 minutes or so he find it’s one of those days when his body rebels then he just heads home. Usually those days are when it is wet and cold and his mileage often increases in the summer so Barry’s best races often occur during the period September to December after his high mileage months of June to August.

Barry hates racing because when it hurts you cannot let up whereas in training or everyday running he pleases himself how hard he wants it to be. Saying that though, Barry still likes to get under 20mins/40 mins for 5k/10k respectively and 1:30 for a half but because of back problems cannot complete a marathon.

Barry says the saddest thing about getting older and racing is that nowadays his time for a one mile race is a whole minute slower than his average mile pace for a half marathon when he was 40! However, Barry still finds running great fun and when running well is at his happiest enjoying the flow of endorphins, the feeling of being totally content with life, and imaging he is winning the marathon gold medal at the Olympics!

Club

Karen Palmer – General Secretary

Post author By fvsadmin
Post date November 23, 2010
2 Comments on Karen Palmer – General Secretary

Club

Bev Harlow – Chairman & Coach

Post author By fvsadmin
Post date January 23, 2010
38 Comments on Bev Harlow – Chairman & Coach

Beverley Harlow first joined Fairlands Valley Spartans in 1991 after successfully applying for a place in the London Marathon. She had not previously been a runner and had intended walking the marathon, however, in following the training schedule, she discovered a love of running (slowly).

In 2011 she marked 20 years of running by achieving a PB at the Chester marathon. She recognises that she will never break records but now has a plan to keep running for as many years as possible so that there are very few people still running in her age category. Then she may start to win some medals!

After retiring from her job as the Deputy Headteacher of a secondary school, she decided that she would have the time to give something back to the club in return for all the support and encouragement she has received over the last two decades. She started by completing the LiRF course and enjoys coaching groups 1 and 2. Apart from running her passion is music and she is the organist and director of music for the church of St Mary the Virgin in Walkern. This means that she is generally not able to race on many Sundays during the year. She also enjoys cycling and walking with husband John and bordercollie/lab cross Meg.

Club

Mark Glading – Club President

Post author By fvsadmin
Post date January 11, 2010