CLARE MOORE completed her second marathon in two months in 4 hours 1 minute 52 seconds beating her London time by a whole 5 minutes! She had the most wonderful time running it as the course was so beautiful and she had learned a lot from running the London Marathon.

LISA GRAY ran her very first marathon on Sunday with a time of 4:07:45. She was very pleased particularly as she missed almost four weeks preparation from mid April due to an ankle sprain. HADRIAN COOPER finished in a new personal best (PB) of 4 hours 27 minutes 16 seconds.

Nine Spartans ran in the Edinburgh Half Marathon. Pete Smith was first home in 1.30:23. He was followed by Tracy Pez with a new PB of 1.37:33. Next came Mark Goodwin in a PB of 1 second in 1.39:26, then Andy Prior in a new PB of 1.47:47, Andy Jay in 1.55:33; Christine Sharman 1.53:30; Bev Harlow 1:56:52; Jo Bowdery in a new PB of 1:59:58 followed by Nick Witcombe who stopped numerous times on the course to recruit new members and take selfies. He finished in 2. 11:40 but had a wonderful time.

Jayne Pinner and Karen Smith were amazing Spartan supporters, deafening the crowds, and Grant Ramsay dragged his dad along to cheer on his Spartan buddies and provide motivational comments in Scottish on the final mile stretch….

Spartans in the Half Marathon

Name Time Comments
PETE SMITH 1:30:23
TRACY PEZ (F) 1:37:33 PB
MARK GOODWIN 1:39:26 PB (1 second)
ANDY PRIOR 1:47:47 PB
CHRISTINE SHARMAN (F) 1:53:30
ANDY JAY 1:55:33
BEV HARLOW (F) 1:56:52
JO BOWDERY (F) 1:59:58 PB (48 seconds)
NICK WITCOMBE 2:11:40

Craig’s PB in London

The sun shone on Sunday as over 12,000 runners took part in the Bupa London 10K. The race was started by double Olympic champion Mo Farah, who unfortunately had to withdraw from running due to fitness concerns. FVS member Craig Bacon was among the starters, however, and ran the course, which followed one lap of the 2012 Olympic marathon course, from the Mall past Trafalgar Square, along the Embankment, past the Bank of England, and Big Ben to the finish outside Buckingham Palace. He completed the course in a time of 46 minutes 27 seconds, beating his previous best by 1 minute 25 seconds.

Flying Fox Marathon – Sunday, 25th May 2014

Roger Biggs travelled to the village of Knighton near Stafford, for a marathon last held in the 80s. There was a mixed bag of weather including some rain, but still pretty good conditions for running a marathon. On lovely country roads, over an undulating course, including a mile long hill to 14 miles, Roger completed the 26.2 miles in 5 hours 18 minutes 7 seconds.

Club Best At Watford Open

ANDY NEATHAM achieved a new Spartans’ club best at the Watford Harriers Open Meeting on Wednesday 21/05/2014. He was fifth in the 800 metres in 2 minutes 15.02 seconds. That’s a club best for the male 35+, 40+ and 45+ categories.

Last Friday 5K

JIM BROWN and SIMON JACKSON both enjoyed the 5K race around the Serpentine on Friday lunch-time. Complaining of too much triathlon training Simon still managed to finish ninth of the 220 finishers and won his age group with 17 minutes 16 seconds. Jim ran a steady 24 minutes 43 seconds and was 166th. Conditions were dry and mild but windy.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon

There was beautiful weather and lovely course as PAUL HOLGATE improved his year best marathon time by 23 minutes to 5 hours 16 minutes 12 seconds in the BT Liverpool Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon which took in the Cavern Club where the Beatles became famous, Everton Football Stadium at Goodison Park, Liverpool Football Stadium in Anfield, four beautiful parks and the River Mersey.

Coming Events

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

• Second Road Race League (5 miles) race in Chingford on Wednesday 4th June
• Third Road Race League (9K) race in Trent Park on Thursday 12th June
• Serpentine 5K on Friday 27th June
• Fourth Road Race League (10K) in St Albans on Tuesday 1st July
• Mid Week Mob Match (10K) in Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 17th July
• Off Road Challenge in Stevenage on Sunday 20th July
• Relays in the Park in Stevenage on Thursday 31st July
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 14th August.
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 18th September.
• County 5K Veteran Championship in Hatfield on Wednesday 24th September
• County 5K Senior Championship in Hatfield on Wednesday 8th October
• Stevenage Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday 2nd November

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 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 £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

There was a superb turnout of 56 Fairlands Valley Spartans running the first race in the 2014 Mid Week Road Race League and the club, which organised the event in Stevenage, had dozens of volunteer helpers.

A brilliant performance by the women’s team secured second position in the ladies race and helped FVS to fourth position overall with the same points as Trent Park who were third.

New member HELEN NUTTALL led the Spartan women home. She was seventh out of the 113 females taking part with her time of 40 minutes 50 seconds. MADDIE PRITCHARD was second Spartan in a new personal best (PB) 42:04, almost 2 minutes quicker than her previous PB. CLAIRE HADDLETON was third female for the club in a season’s best (SB) time of 44:06, closely followed by TRACY PEZ in a new SB time of her own, 44:11. MICHELLE REEVES smashed her PB by more than 6 minutes to 45:32. CLARE MOORE improved her PB by 1:37 to 47:30. JULIE SIMMONS beat her 2013 Stevenage MWRRL time by 25 seconds in 48:10 to finish second veteran (55 plus) overall and seventh Spartan lady. New member HAZEL CLARK completed the scoring for the A team with 48:34 for her first 10k with the club.

The FVS ladies B team finished second of the B teams with 7 PBs and 1 SB by Dawn Easby, Lisa Gray, Isabel Green, Ruth Reilly, Kerstin Weiner, Jeanette Collins, Hayley Faulkner and Felicity Evans. There were also PB times by Sophie Cowan, Sue Hamer & Julie Shadbolt and SBs for Maria Thorne, Lorraine Thomas & Penny Armstrong.

The men’s team secured 5th position led home by Grant Ramsay 1st Vet 40 and 2nd vet overall (of 129 runners) in 11th position overall (of 193), beating his 2013 Stevenage MWRRL time by 46 seconds in 34:36. Simon Jackson was second Spartan man home in 15th position overall, beating his 2013 time by 16 seconds to 35:16. Andy Patterson was third man for the Spartans in a new PB time of 35:54. A welcome return by Brian Brackstone saw him finish fourth Spartan in a new SB time of 36:40, closely followed by new member Keith Coughlin in 9:16 and Todd Gray 40:47.

There were also PB improvements by Kieran Feetham (+4:31), Matthew Gill (+2:06) & Andrew Jordan (+3:41); first time PBs by Paul Whyte, Andy Churn, Paul Maguire, Callum Beasley, Nick Emmett, David Peach, Dave Shaw & Peter Carpenter; and, SB times by Pete Smith, Mark Beasley, Lee Lawrence, James Day, Mark Freeman, Rob Shaw & Nick Stewart.

Times For All 56 Spartans

11. Grant Ramsay 34:36 (1st MV40); 15. Simon Jackson M 35:16; 22. Andy Patterson 35:52 PB (0:24); 28 Brian Brackstone 36:40 SB; 62. Keith Coughlin 39:16 (1st 10K); 81. Todd Gray 40:47; 82. Helen Nuttall 40:49 (3rd Senior Woman); 90. Pete Smith 41:13 SB; 95. Graham Blackburn 41:33; 101. Maddie Pritchard 42:04 PB (1:53); 123. Steve Green 43:15; 124. Kieran Feetham 43:22 PB (4:31); 125. Matthew Gill 43:23 PB (2:06); 126. Mark Beasley 43:26 SB; 133. Claire Haddleton 44:06 SB; 136. Tracy Pez 44:11 SB; 138. Paul Whyte M 44:44 (1st 10K); 140. Bernie Barnaby 44:52; 146. Andrew Jordan 45:30 PB (3:41); 148. Michelle Reeves 45:32 PB (6:18); 163. Andy Churn 46:31 ( 1st 10K); 171. Ryan Dunning 47:28; 172. Clare Moore 47:30 PB (1:37); 173. Paul Maguire 47:31 (1st 10K); 182. Callum Beasley 47:50 (1st 10K); 186. Julie Simmons 48:10 (2nd FV55); 187. Jon Sypula 48:09; 189. Selvan Naicker 48:25; 192. Hazel Clark 48:34 (1st 10K); 199. Lee Lawrence 49:21 SB; 203. Dawn Easby 49:30 SB; 205. Lisa Gray 49:36 PB (0:20); 213. Jim Brown 50:08; 222. Isabel Green 51:09 PB (0:23); 229. Nick Emmett 52:00 (1st 10K); 231. James Day 52:13 SB; 237. Ruth Reilly 53:32 PB (0:52); 243. Kerstin Weiner 54:04 PB (1:51); 247. Mark Freeman 54:12 SB: 249. Jeanette Collins 54:56 SB; 250. Hayley Faulkner 55:02 (1st 10K); 254. Felicity Evans 56:00 (1st 10K); 255. Maria Thorne 56:01 SB; 258. David Peach 56:38 (1st 10K); 262. Rob Shaw 56:35 SB; 264. Lisa Gavigan 57:28; 267. Roger Biggs 57:27; 271. Paul Holgate 57:43; 275. Sophie Cowan 58:31 (1st 10K); 278. Nick Stewart 58:47 SB; 279. Sue Hamer 59:04 (1st 10K); 280. Lorraine Thomas 59:04 SB; 288. Dave Shaw 1:01:35 (1st 10K); 294. Penny Armstrong 1:03:40 SB; 296. Julie Shadbolt 1:03:38 (1st 10K); 299. Peter Carpenter 1:04:50 (1st 10K).

Position Name M/F Time Comments
11 Grant Ramsay M 34:36 1st MV40
15 Simon Jackson M 35:16
22 Andy Patterson M 35:52 PB (0:24)
28 Brian Brackstone M 36:40 SB
62 Keith Coughlin M 39:16 1st 10K
81 Todd Gray M 40:47
82 Helen Nuttall F 40:49 3rd Senior Woman
90 Pete Smith M 41:13 SB
95 Graham Blackburn M 41:33
101 Maddie Pritchard F 42:04 PB (1:53)
123 Steve Green M 43:15
124 Kieran Feetham M 43:22 PB (4:31)
125 Matthew Gill M 43:23 PB (2:06)
126 Mark Beasley M 43:26 SB
133 Claire Haddleton F 44:06 SB
136 Tracy Pez F 44:11 SB
138 Paul Whyte M 44:44 1st 10K
140 Bernie Barnaby M 44:52
146 Andrew Jordan M 45:30 PB (3:41)
148 Michelle Reeves F 45:32 PB (6:18)
163 Andy Churn M 46:31 1st 10K
171 Ryan Dunning M 47:28
172 Clare Moore F 47:30 PB (1:37)
173 Paul Maguire M 47:31 1st 10K
182 Callum Beasley M 47:50 1st 10K
186 Julie Simmons F 48:10 2nd FV55
187 Jon Sypula M 48:09
189 Selvan Naicker M 48:25
192 Hazel Clark F 48:34 1st 10K
199 Lee Lawrence M 49:21 SB
203 Dawn Easby F 49:30 SB
205 Lisa Gray F 49:36 PB (0:20)
213 Jim Brown M 50:08
222 Isabel Green F 51:09 PB (0:23)
229 Nick Emmett M 52:00 1st 10K
231 James Day M 52:13 SB
237 Ruth Reilly F 53:32 PB (0:52)
243 Kerstin Weiner F 54:04 PB (1:51)
247 Mark Freeman M 54:12 SB
249 Jeanette Collins F 54:56 SB
250 Hayley Faulkner F 55:02 1st 10K
254 Felicity Evans F 56:00 1st 10K
255 Maria Thorne F 56:01 SB
258 David Peach M 56:38 1st 10K
262 Rob Shaw M 56:35 SB
264 Lisa Gavigan F 57:28
267 Roger Biggs M 57:27
271 Paul Holgate M 57:43
275 Sophie Cowan F 58:31 1st 10K
278 Nick Stewart M 58:47 SB
279 Sue Hamer F 59:04 1st 10K
280 Lorraine Thomas F 59:04 SB
288 Dave Shaw M 1:01:35 1st 10K
294 Penny Armstrong F 1:03:40 SB
296 Julie Shadbolt F 1:03:38 1st 10K
299 Peter Carpenter M 1:04:50 1st 10K

The next fixture will be in Chingford on Wednesday 4th June. The club are hoping for another massive turnout of Spartans.

Riga Run
Spartan DANIEL BATES ran the Riga Marathon, Latvia on Sunday. He finished 578th of around 8,000 runners with a time of 3 hours 58 minutes 29 seconds. The heat was strong from the start (around +20 – +25) but as this was his third marathon in thirteen days, his body was very tired at the end. However he ran the whole course without stopping but drank too much.

With television interviews done in Latvian and English, photos with lots of locals and other runners and training with the elite runners, race day has come to a close, but he will be back next year on the flattest course in Europe to get that personal best time.

There were two runners from Hertfordshire out of the 137 British runners in the race.

Run For The Hill Of It
On Sunday CAROL PAUL ran The Blue Nose marathon in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. This is the third province in Canada that a Carol has run in. The course was very hilly but then again the clue was in the slogan on the race T-shirt “run for the hill of it”. Carol completed the course in 5:25:05 making it her 290th marathon.

Farthingstone
Barry King, Karen Liddle, Tricia Hopper and Paul Marshal completed a very tough Farthingstone Marathon in 7 hours 24 minutes

Richmond Park Trail MarathonDespite his ongoing Achilles injury, ROGER BIGGS ran his third marathon in four weekends in Richmond Park.

With wall to wall sunshine, and temperatures into the low 20s Centigrade, this was not a day for the weak hearted.

Marathon runners shared the three lap undulating course with other park users, including casual runners and hordes of cyclists, certainly a well used park in South London.

Roger completed the 26.2 mile trail course in 5 hours 32 minutes 47 seconds.

Maybe Roger’s injury luck will change as ‘7’ is supposed to be a lucky number? This was Roger’s 777th marathon!

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

• Second Road Race League (5 miles) race in Chingford on Wednesday 4th June
• Third Road Race League (9K) race in Trent Park on Thursday 12th June
• Serpentine 5K on Friday 27th June
• Fourth Road Race League (10K) in St Albans on Tuesday 1st July
• Mid Week Mob Match (10K) in Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 17th July
• Off Road Challenge in Stevenage on Sunday 20th July
• Relays in the Park in Stevenage on Thursday 31st July
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 14th August.
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 18th September.
• County 5K Veteran Championship in Hatfield on Wednesday 24th September
• County 5K Senior Championship in Hatfield on Wednesday 8th October
• Stevenage Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday 2nd November

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 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 £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

Superb turnout for the first race in the 2014 MWL series with more helpers than we could find jobs for and 56 runners as well. Well done everybody and thank you all.

A brilliant performance by the ladies team secured 2nd position in the ladies race and kept FVS out of the relegation zone in 4th position overall on the same points as Trent Park in 3rd.

New member Helen Nuttall led the ladies home in 7th position of 113 females taking part in a time of 40:50 with Maddie Pritchard 2nd in a new PB time of 42:04, almost 2 minutes quicker than her previous PB, and Claire Haddleton 3rd Spartan lady in a SB time of 44:06, closely followed by Tracy Pez in a new SB time of her own, 44:11. Michelle Reeves smashed her PB by more than 6 minutes to 45:32, as did Clare Moore by 1:37 to 47:30. Julie Simmons beat her 2013 Stevenage MWL time by 25 seconds in 48:10 to finish 2nd V55 overall and 7th Spartan lady and new member Hazel Clark completed the scoring for the A team in 48:34 in her first 10k with the club.

The FVS ladies B team also finished 2nd of the B teams with 7 PBs and 1 SB by Dawn Easby, Lisa Gray, Isabel Green, Ruth Reilly, Kerstin Weiner, Jeanette Collins, Hayley Faulkner and Felicity Evans, with PB times also by Sophie Cowan, Sue Hamer & Julie Shadbolt and SBs for Maria Thorne, Lorraine Thomas & Penny Armstrong.

The men’s team secured 5th position led home by Grant Ramsay 1st Vet 40 and 2nd vet overall (of 129 runners) in 11th position overall (of 193), beating his 2013 Stevenage MWL time by 46 seconds in 34:36, with Simon Jackson 2nd Spartan man home in 15th position overall, beating his 2013 time by 16 seconds to 35:16, and with Andy Patterson 3rd man in a new PB time of 35:54. A welcome return by Brian Brackstone saw him finish 4th Spartan in a new SB time of 36:40, closely followed by new member Keith Coughlin 39:16 and Todd Gray 40:47.

There were also PB improvements by Kieran Feetham (+4:31), Matthew Gill (+2:06) & Andrew Jordan (+3:41); first time PBs by Paul Whyte, Andy Churn, Paul Maguire, Callum Beasley, Nick Emmett, David Peach, Dave Shaw & Peter Carpenter; and, SB times by Pete Smith, Mark Beasley, Lee Lawrence, James Day, Mark Freeman, Rob Shaw & Nick Stewart.

The second fixture is in Chingford on Wednesday the 4th June. Please do come along if you possibly can – the more runners we can get out the better our team score can be, and if you would prefer to travel by coach rather than car/car share please any of the committee know at the club, by phone or email or on the forum.

Hope to see you all on the 4th June.

Full results: Race1Div1

It was back to basics for DANIEL BATES at the Halstead and Essex Marathon which was part of his five marathons in eight weeks challenge. Marathon number three (and second one in six days) was completed in beautiful rural Essex on Sunday 11th May 2014 in 3 hours 48 minutes 56 seconds. With the weather managing to hold off during the whole race in Halstead, he kept to 8 minutes a mile pacing until mile 19 then slowed it down to under 10 minutes a mile pacing as his legs were getting tired. Daniel’s next marathon will be in the Latvian capital of Riga on Sunday 18th May.

Pritchard’s Parkrun

MADDIE PRITCHARD was fourth woman and 39th overall in Saturday’s Cambridge Parkrun with her time of 21 minutes 8 seconds. There were 303 finishers.

Corporate

Andrew Patterson took part in the Milton Keynes Corporate Relay representing his work team.

The relay was a 6 miles, two 7:25 miles and a final 6 miles lap. Andy did the third leg. He set off in about 10th place and made his way through the crowded field of marathon runners to second relay place which is where his team finished. He completed his 7.25 mile leg in 43 minutes 22 seconds.

Jim Runs Short Distance Championship In One Day

Recently JIM BROWN qualified for the Spartans’ Short Distance Club Championship in one day.

Starting at Ridlins Track at 11.15a.m. Jim ran 1500 metres in 6:25.33 and took the 60 plus gold medal in the County veterans’ championships.

Still on the track just before 4p.m. he won another gold in the 5000 metres with his year best time of 22 minutes 43 seconds.

Next it was off to Chesham where Jim ran the Pednor Five (5 miles) in a season’s best 38 minutes 49 seconds at 7p.m.

The club short distance championship consists of any three out of 1500 metres, 5000 metres, 5 miles and 10 kilometres.

Master Mayfield

Competing in the Midland Masters Track & Field League in Stourport on Severn, STEVE MAYFIELD set a new personal best of 12.9 seconds for the 100 metres. He later ran 59.8 seconds for the 400 metres and threw the javelin 24.84m into a very strong headwind!

10K this Tuesday!!!!

Fairlands Valley Spartans host the first race in the Mid Week Road Race League in Stevenage tomorrow evening, Tuesday. The course is ideal for spectators and photographs. After starting on the Fairlands Way cycle route near Bedwell Crescent at 7.45p.m. the last half of the 10K course is within Fairlands Valley Park coming up from the showground then past the lakes to loop back to a finish near the swing park.

Marriotts Sports Centre will be the event headquarters.

Coming Events

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

• First Mid Week Road Race League (10K) race in Stevenage on Tuesday 13th May
• Second Road Race League (5 miles) race in Chingford on Wednesday 4th June
• Third Road Race League (9K) race in Trent Park on Thursday 12th June
• Fourth Road Race League (10K) in St Albans on Tuesday 1st July
• Mid Week Mob Match (10K) in Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 17th July
• Off Road Challenge in Stevenage on Sunday 20th July
• Relays in the Park in Stevenage on Thursday 31st July
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 14th August.
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 18th September.
• County 5K Veteran Championship in Hatfield on Wednesday 24th September
• County 5K Senior Championship in Hatfield on Wednesday 8th October
• Stevenage Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday 2nd November

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 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 £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

LIAM HERBERT and MARK CHEADLE ran the Rotary Shakespeare Marathon on Sunday.

Based in and around Stratford-Upon-Avon, during the weekend of William Shakespeare’s 450th birthday celebrations, the marathon course was an undulating two lap circuit meandering alongside the River Avon, taking in countryside villages and a large long section of off-road trail. Shakespearean quote boards were dotted around the course to inspire the participants. Conditions were amicable, with some windy blasts and short bursts of rain.

Liam Herbert ran a new personal best time of 3 hours 15 minutes 2 seconds finishing 63rd out of 732 runners. He improved on his previous best by over 3 minutes. This was his second marathon in 2014.

Mark Cheadle ran his first ever marathon in 4:34:59, finishing in 603rd position.

He was on course for sub-4 hours at the halfway point, but in the end two big hills and a very long section of trail got the better of him, but he enjoyed it all the same!

Watford Open Graded

Spartan STEVE MAYFIELD did his first outdoor 400 metres of the year on Wednesday evening. His time of 59.11 seconds was a personal best and a new club male veteran (45 plus) age best. This came off the back of his best 800 metres for three years (2:25.7) at Gosling last Friday.

Round The Serpentine

JIM BROWN ran the Serpentine Last Friday of the Month 5K in 23 minutes 3 seconds. Slightly faster than last month. He was 171st overall, forty positions better than in March, and fourth in his age category.

Coming Events

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

• Herts 1500 and Veterans Track and Field Championships on Monday 5th May
• Herts County Five Miles Championships at Pednor on Monday 5th May
• First Mid Week Road Race League (10K) race in Stevenage on Tuesday 13th May
• Second Road Race League (5 miles) race in Chingford on Wednesday 4th June
• Third Road Race League (9K) race in Trent Park on Thursday 12th June
• Fourth Road Race League (10K) in St Albans on Tuesday 1st July
• Mid Week Mob Match (10K) in Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 17th July
• Off Road Challenge in Stevenage on Sunday 20th July
• Relays in the Park in Stevenage on Thursday 31st July
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 14th August.
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 18th September.
• County 5K Veteran Championship in Hatfield on Wednesday 24th September
• County 5K Senior Championship in Hatfield on Wednesday 8th October
• Stevenage Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday 2nd November

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 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 £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

Easter holidays did not prevent 26 Spartans turning out for Thursday night’s Handicap 5K race in Stevenage.

The winner on the night was newcomer PAUL MAGUIRE in 23 minutes 23 seconds. He beat his handicap by 2 minutes 37 seconds. Paul was closely followed by another first timer, Andy Fenwick, 2:17 ahead of handicap, in 32:43. Mark Beasley was third, just four days after his London marathon run, in a new year best time of 20:51.

SUE HAMER led the ladies home, in fourth position overall, to beat her personal best (PB) by 50 seconds, with 26:39. MADDIE PRITCHARD improved her PB by a whole minute to an impressive 21:09. She was second woman across the line. Hayley Peach was third female, also in a PB, 1:18 quicker with 33:52.

The fastest runner on the evening was Liam Herbert in a new year best time of 18:32. DANIEL BATES was second quickest, breaking 20 minutes for the first time, in a new personal best (PB) of 19:55. Graham Blackburn was third quickest with a new year best time of 20:22.

Maddie was quickest female (21:09), with Beverley Harlow second fastest, improving her year best time by 1 minute to 26:21, and Sue 3rd quickest (26:39).

Every finisher recorded a personal best, season best or year time, including Jon Sypula, 20 seconds quicker with 22:49 despite running the whole 5k on his own, and Matt Gill, back from injury with a new PB of 21:02, 5 seconds better than before his injury.

Iris Hornsey’s 29:54 was her fastest 5k for more than 2 years and Callum Beasley & Paul Holgate both improved their fastest 5k of 2014 by more than 40 seconds, while Mark Goodwin, Nick Emmett, Alex Pritchard, Jamie Tippett, Maria Thorne and Earl Brown each recorded their first Spartan 5k of the year.

Five helpers ensured the event ran smoothly – Bernie Barnaby, Lisa Jerrom, Jim Brown, Sharon Crowley & Vishal Shah.

There will now be a short break so that Spartans can concentrate on the Midweek League which starts with the first race in Stevenage on Tuesday 13th May. The Handicap 5K will return in August.

N.B. In handicap races the slower runners start first working through to the fastest who start last. Start times are calculated from recent performances. If everyone runs to form everyone finishes together. The best improver wins.

Pritchard’s Park Run

Just two days later MADDIE PRITCHARD took another chunk off her 5K personal best. She was first woman and 39th overall out of the 285 finishers in the St Albans parkrun with her time of 21 minutes 1 second. That’s eight seconds faster than Thursday night.

Coming Events

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

• Spartans Kit Sale at Marriotts Sports Centre at 6.15p.m. on Thursday 24th April
• Last Friday of the Month 5K in Hyde Park on Friday 25th April
• Herts 1500 and Veterans Track and Field Championships on Monday 5th May
• Herts County Five Miles Championships at Pednor on Monday 5th May
• First Mid Week Road Race League (10K) race in Stevenage on Tuesday 13th May
• Second Road Race League (5 miles) race in Chingford on Wednesday 4th June
• Third Road Race League (9K) race in Trent Park on Thursday 12th June
• Fourth Road Race League (10K) in St Albans on Tuesday 1st July
• Mid Week Mob Match (10K) in Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 17th July
• Off Road Challenge in Stevenage on Sunday 20th July
• Relays in the Park in Stevenage on Thursday 31st July
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 14th August.
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 18th September.
• County 5K Veteran Championship in Hatfield on Wednesday 24th September
• County 5K Senior Championship in Hatfield on Wednesday 8th October
• Stevenage Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday 2nd November

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 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 £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

Once again Fairlands Valley Spartans proved their ability to get lots of people round the London Marathon.

On a great day for spectators, maybe a little warm for runners, GRANT RAMSAY ran a fantastic sub 2:40 marathon to finish 149th out of more than 36,000 finishers. His time of 2 hours 38 minutes 21 seconds qualifies him for next year’s elite start and was only a minute off his lifetime personal best. Excellent in the rising temperatures.

CLARE MOORE was the club’s fastest female. She ran her first marathon in 4 hours 6 minutes 52 seconds.

A good for age qualifying time was recorded by PETE SMITH. He was 2,922nd, clearly in the top ten per cent, with 3 hours 14 minutes 55 seconds.

CAROL PAUL ran her 21st London marathon in 5:00:20 bringing her total number of marathons to 287.

HANNAH SYPULA (5:54:49) and KERSTIN WEINER (4:13:02) and JON SYPULA were running as part of a team of three. Hannah and Kerstein were running the London Marathon and Jon Sypula will be running the Milton Keynes Marathon to raise money for two hospices. One is the Garden House Hospice where Hannah works and who have provided Kerstin with counselling after losing her sister to cancer last year. The other one is the Isabel Hospice in Welwyn Garden City who looked after Kerstin’s sister and our family at a very difficult time. Both do amazing work and rely on charity. They have a team page which is: http://www.justgiving.com/teams/Spartan-III and within here you can then select what Hospice you would like to support specifically. So far they have £562 plus another £102 to add to the Garden House Hospice giving a total of £664. All three have been doing most of their training with the Spartans and Hannah has led a few of the long runs at the weekends which have been really good. It really makes a difference training with other people and getting support from the group.

JIM BROWN ran his first marathon after major surgery. After a four year break his careful run got him home in 5 hours 1 minute 16 seconds. This was his 17th London Marathon.

Other Spartan times included MARK BEASLEY (3:43:48); THOMAS SAUKA (3:56:37); ROBERT EVANS (3:57:30); JOHN ROXBURGH (4:02:55); VISH SHAH (4:04:35); STEVE ELDER (4:05:24); SALLY BEASLEY (4:22:52); CLAIRE COKER (4:28:04); MARJ SHANAHAN (4:36:53); RUTH MURTAGH (4:54:07); KAREN LIDDLE (4:54:51); JO CAHILL (5:09:49); SIMON GREEN (5:14:19); TRUDIE MOLLOY (5:16:13); PAUL HOLGATE (5:44:57); MELISSA TYLER (5:51:27); NICK STEWART (6:12:15); FIONA KEELEY (6:15:34) and AMY SMYTH (7:57:09).

The Spartan team included many first timers. Dozens of other club members helped at the finish.

Position Name Finish Half Way
149 GRANT RAMSAY 2:38:21 1:16:03
2922 PETER SMITH 3:14:55 1:35:30
7574 MARK BEASLEY 3:43:48 1:42:05
10790 THOMAS SAUKA 3:56:37 1:52:35
11038 ROBERT EVANS 3:57:30 1:47:34
12435 JOHN ROXBURGH 4:02:55 1:53:52
12793 VISHAL SHAH 4:04:35 1:44:02
12986 STEVE ELDER 4:05:24 1:42:04
13294 CLARE MOORE 4:06:52 1:58:11
14728 KERSTIN WEINER 4:13:02 2:02:04
17181 SALLY BEASLEY 4:22:52 2:03:16
18483 CLAIRE COKER 4:28:04 2:00:11
20515 MARJ SHANAHAN 4:36:53 2:19:42
24367 RUTH MURTAGH 4:54:07 2:15:44
24554 KAREN LIDDLE 4:54:51 2:17:23
25738 CAROL PAUL 5:00:20 2:19:19
25901 JIM BROWN 5:01:16 2:30:02
27347 JO CAHILL 5:09:49 2:29:33
28072** SIMON GREEN 5:14:19 2:20:42
28380 TRUDIE MOLLOY 5:16:13 2:36:36
31900 PAUL HOLGATE 5:44:57 2:25:52
32486 MELISSA TYLER 5:51:27 2:38:11
32776 HANNAH SYPULA 5:54:49 2:41:39
33859 NICK STEWART 6:12:15 2:34:11
33998 FIONA KEELEY 6:15:34 2:37:38
35763 AMY SMYTH 7:57:09 3:25:19

Brighton Marathon

PAUL MARSHALL finished the Brighton Marathon in 4 hours 10 minutes 7 seconds.

Caythorpe Canter

Tricia Hopper and Barry King ran the Caythorpe Canter on Saturday in a fantastic time of 5 hours 29 minutes 7 seconds. The course was a undulating, cross country route around the Lincolnshire countryside

Watford

At the first in the 2014 series of Watford Harriers popular open graded meetings, STEVE MAYFIELD kicked off his track season with the 100 and 200 metres. In the shorter sprint he recovered from a poor start to claim 3rd place in heat 4 in 13.34 seconds. He later went on to win heat 3 of the 200m relatively comfortably in 27.16.

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 17th April
• Last Friday of the Month 5K in Hyde Park on Friday 25th April
• Herts 1500 and Veterans Track and Field Championships on Monday 5th May
• First Mid Week Road Race League (10K) race in Stevenage on Tuesday 13th May
• Second Road Race League (5 miles) race in Chingford on Wednesday 4th June
• Third Road Race League (9K) race in Trent Park on Thursday 12th June
• Fourth Road Race League (10K) in St Albans on Tuesday 1st July
• Mid Week Mob Match (10K) in Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 17th July
• Off Road Challenge in Stevenage on Sunday 20th July
• Relays in the Park in Stevenage on Thursday 31st July
• Stevenage Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday 2nd November

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 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 £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

DANIEL BATE had a mixed race at Sunday’s Brighton Marathon. After a fantastic first 16 miles at doing 7 minutes per mile pacing, his back/kidney area gave him a lot of pain and slowed him right down to finish in a time of 3 hours 40 minutes 19 seconds. However he beat his course record from last year’s event by 13 minutes.

CAROL PAUL said it was a “hard day at the office.” Conditions were dry but really muggy and close so it felt quite warm. She completed the course in 4 hours 51 minutes 32 seconds. Such are the joys of marathon running. No doubt we’ll be hearing a lot more about them after this Sunday’s London Marathon.

Maddie’s London PB
It was soggy, cold and breezy but MADDIE PRITCHARD powered to a new 10 kilometres personal best in Regent’s Park on Sunday morning. Her time of 43 minutes 57 seconds beat her previous PB by 34 seconds.

Maddie was 12th woman out of 184 and 89th overall out of the 453 finishers.

Lisa Second On First Saturday
Spartan LISA GRAY was second woman in the North Herts First Saturday of the Month 5K race. She finished in 24 minutes 23 seconds and was 28th out of the 75 finishers.

CRAIG BACON was 22nd in 22:54.

Grant’s A Winner At Flitwick
The Flitwick 10K road race is always a good sharpener ahead of the London Marathon. Sunday’s event had to be shortened to 5.6 miles due to a road accident but GRANT RAMSAY made good use of it. He was first veteran and sixth overall out of the 631 finishers in 29 minutes 42 seconds.

HAYLEY FAULKNER was 356th in 46:10 and KERRY SETTERFIELD 571st in 56:41.

London’s Calling
The London Marathon is this Sunday! Fairlands Valley Spartans are always well represented. This year their entrants are ROGER BIGGS, JIM BROWN, CLAIRE COKER, JAMIE DRACKFORD, STEVE ELDER, ROBERT EVANS, KATE HANLON, RICHARD HAZLEDENE, KAREN LIDDLE, TRUDIE MOLLOY, CLARE MOORE, CAROL PAUL, DAVE PAUL, JOHN ROXBOROUGH, THOMAS SAUKA, MARJ SHANAHAN, PETE SMITH, HANNAH SYPULA and KERSTIN WEINER.

Fairlands Valley Spartans are organising a coach to the London Marathon on Sunday, 13 April for those running. Spaces are available at £10, departing from Stevenage Old Town at 6.30a.m. There may be some room for spectators. Further details given on booking. If you are interested please contact Roger Biggs on roger@thebiggs.net or 07748 326301.

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

• London Marathon on Sunday 13th April
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 17th April
• Last Friday of the Month 5K in Hyde Park on Friday 25th April
• Herts 1500 and Veterans Track and Field Championships on Monday 5th May
• EVAC Track and Field Fixture in Stevenage on Wednesday 7th May
• First Mid Week Road Race League (10K) race in Stevenage on Tuesday 13th May
• Second Road Race League (5 miles) race in Chingford on Wednesday 4th June
• Third Road Race League (9K) race in Trent Park on Thursday 12th June
• Fourth Road Race League (10K) in St Albans on Tuesday 1st July
• Mid Week Mob Match (10K) in Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 17th July
• Off Road Challenge in Stevenage on Sunday 20th July
• Relays in the Park in Stevenage on Thursday 31st July
• Stevenage Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday 2nd November

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 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 £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

Spartans At Sandy * London’s Calling

There is no better way of starting Springtime than a beautiful run in the Suffolk countryside. Nine Spartans enjoyed the Daffodil Dawdle trail marathon on a great day, admiring the Daffodils which were in full blossom this year. Eight of them covered the full 26.6 miles with CAROL PAUL first to finish from the club in 5 hours 49 minutes 43 seconds. TRICIA HOPPER, KAREN LIDDLE and BARRY KING finished together in 6:18:35 and PAUL HOLGATE in 6:58:54. ELIZABETH CROWLEY and MATTHEW PALACIO completed their first ever marathon with Elizabeth’s mum SHARON. They ran together and finished in 7:36:30.

MIKE CROWLEY completed the 17.4 miles option in 4 hours 58 minutes.

Spartans At Sandy

Fairlands Valley Spartans’ CLAIRE PULLEN returned to racing after a two year break at Sunday’s Sandy 10. She was very pleased with a strong performance after numerous nagging injuries. Claire was third women veteran (45 plus) in 1 hour 14 minutes 1 second missing out on second place by only 12 seconds. She was 14th woman and 132nd overall out of the 477 runners.

DANIEL BATES ran a new personal best of 1:12:12 beating his previous PB by 17 seconds. He was 106th.

The fastest Spartan was GRAHAM BLACKBURN, 69th in 1:08:07. VISH SHAH was 160th in 1:16:03.

London’s Calling

The London Marathon is coming up fast. It’s on Sunday 13th April. Fairlands Valley Spartans are always well represented. This year their entrants are ROGER BIGGS, JIM BROWN, CLAIRE COKER, JAMIE DRACKFORD, STEVE ELDER, ROBERT EVANS, KATE HANLON, RICHARD HAZLEDENE, KAREN LIDDLE, TRUDIE MOLLOY, CLARE MOORE, CAROL PAUL, DAVE PAUL, JOHN ROXBOROUGH, THOMAS SAUKA, MARJ SHANAHAN, PETE SMITH, HANNAH SYPULA and KERSTIN WEINER.

Steve Elder and Clare Moore are running for the Sainsbury’s Coreys Mill store charity which is the Magic of Play based at the Lister this year.

Fairlands Valley Spartans are organising a coach to the London Marathon on Sunday, 13 April for those running. Spaces are available at £10, departing from Stevenage Old Town at 6.30a.m. Further details given on booking. If you are interested please contact Roger Biggs on roger@thebiggs.net or 07748 326301.

Last Friday In Hyde Park

Friday’s Serpentine 5K was on a slightly different course due to resurfacing works. Despite a couple of awkward turns it may have been slightly quicker than usual. In mild, dry, with a medium breeze conditions SIMON JACKSON was 16th overall and third in his category with 16 minutes 54 seconds.

JIM BROWN was “taken out” by another runner about 1.5 kilometres into the race and then suffered very tight hamstrings but still finished in a reasonable time of 23 minutes 20 seconds. He was fourth in his category and 189th overall. There were 274 finishers in this great lunch time race around Hyde Park.

Wimpole Hall Parkrun

JOHN HARRIS ran Saturday’s Wimpole Hall 5K Parkrun in 20 minutes 43 seconds.

Several other Spartans took part in the Start of Summertime cycle rides from Stevenage on Sunday.

Coming Events

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

• Flitwick 10K on Sunday 6th April
• London Marathon on Sunday 13th April
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 17th April
• Last Friday of the Month 5K in Hyde Park on Friday 25th April
• Herts 1500 and Veterans Track and Field Championships on Monday 5th May
• EVAC Track and Field Fixture in Stevenage on Wednesday 7th May
• First Mid Week Road Race League (10K) race in Stevenage on Tuesday 13th May
• Second Road Race League (5 miles) race in Chingford on Wednesday 4th June
• Third Road Race League (9K) race in Trent Park on Thursday 12th June
• Fourth Road Race League (10K) in St Albans on Tuesday 1st July
• Mid Week Mob Match (10K) in Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 17th July
• Off Road Challenge in Stevenage on Sunday 20th July
• Relays in the Park in Stevenage on Thursday 31st July
• Stevenage Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday 2nd November

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 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 £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

It was a beautiful Spring-like day for the Milton Keynes Half Marathon. However the last mile and a bit of this event were as tough as usual. TODD GRAY was the fastest finisher for Fairlands Valley Spartans. He was 135th out of thousands of runners in 1 hour 30 minutes 21 seconds. HADRIAN COOPER was 936th in 1:54:33; DEBORAH FLEMING 1,750th in 2:12:09; PAUL HOLGATE 1,764th in 2:12:38 and HELEN TRANTER 2,097th in 2:24:13.

Spartan Trio At Cambridge Half
It was unexpectedly warm for Sunday’s Cambridge Half Marathon. The race was expected to be cool, wet and flat. Instead it was warm, sunny, twisty / turny and with plenty of undulations. Despite that RUTH REILLY was happy with her time of 2 hours and 58 seconds (2:00:58). She was 1,954th out of the 3,316 finishers.

SIMON JACKSON missed his planned finish time by 7 seconds but his 1:17:07 put him into 16th place, within the top 0.5% of the field.

Grant and Nicola at Finchley 20
GRANT RAMSAY ran his best 20 mile time for six years at Sunday’s Finchley 20. He was 13th out of the 506 finishers in 1 hour 58 minutes 57 seconds.

NICOLA HABERLAND beat three hours to finish in 2:57:52.

Carol On Track
Spartan CAROL PAUL has been running for over 20 years and has completed over 280 marathons and ultra marathons but on Saturday 8th March she completed her first track marathon at Telford. Carol ran the 105.5 laps of the Groundhog Marathon in 4 hours 47 minutes 4 seconds.

Boundary Running
LUCY FIELD completed the recent Cambridge Boundary Half Marathon in 1 hour 53 minutes 44 seconds. KIRSTY CALLAN got very close to the two hour target with 2:00:27. No doubt she will breeze past that next time. Other Spartan times included CAROL PAUL 2:28:59; LISA MARRIS 2:33:45 and JODIE FORD 2:41:56.

London Marathon

Fairlands Valley Spartans are organising a coach to the London Marathon on Sunday, 13 April for those running . Spaces are available at £10, departing from Stevenage Old Town at 6.30a.m. Further details given on booking. If you are interested please contact Roger Biggs on roger@thebiggs.net or 07748 326301.

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

• Veterans Cross Country Championships in Royston on 16th March
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 20th March
• Last Friday 5K in Hyde Park on Friday 28th March
• Herts 1500 and Veterans Track and Field Championships on 5th May
• First Mid Week Road Race League (10K) race in Stevenage on Tuesday 13th May
• Second Road Race League (5 miles) race in Chingford on Wednesday 4th June
• Third Road Race League (9K) race in Trent Park on Thursday 12th June
• Fourth Road Race League (10K) in St Albans on Tuesday 1st July
• Mid Week Mob Match (10K) in Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 17th July
• Off Road Challenge in Stevenage on Sunday 20th July
• Relays in the Park in Stevenage on Thursday 31st July
• Stevenage Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday 2nd November

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 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 £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

It was a surprisingly bitterly cold evening for Thursday’s February Handicap 5K as 24 Spartans battled against the stiff breeze and cold temperatures.

STEPHEN PACEY was first across the line. His 27 minutes 43 seconds was 2 minutes faster than handicap. This was his first 5K with Fairlands Valley Spartans.

RICHARD BATE was second, overtaking 22 runners in an attempt to beat his course record run in the opposite direction from the previous month. He finished in 16:44, only 25 seconds slower than January, despite the breeze and different hills. DAVIE STAFFORD was third smashing his personal best (PB) by 50 seconds, to finish in 19:42.

Kirsty First Lady

KIRSTY CALLAN has taken chunks off her 5K time in the last few months. She was first female in yet another personal best (her 4th consecutive Handicap 5K PB) of 24:01, with another newcomer, BECCA BIRT seconds female in 30:52, just 6 seconds behind Kirsty. Young SOFIA CARPENTER was third lady, in 26:20, 1:51 quicker than in January.

Richard’s 16:44 was the fastest time on the evening. LIAM HERBERT was second quickest in 18:56, 19 seconds faster than his previous handicap 5k, and CHRISTOPHER WESTCOTT third fastest in 19:09, 1:06 better than handicap.

Lucy Fastest Female

LUCY FIELD was fastest female in 23:21, 39 seconds ahead of handicap, with Kirsty’s 24:01 PB second quickest and Sofia’s 26:20 third fastest.

There were also personal bests for JULIAN STROLL and HAYLEY PEACH; season bests for RYAN DUNNING, BERNADETTE MILLWOOD & PETER CARPENTER and 2014 year bests for ROBERT SHAW & ADRIAN DONNELLY.

All the Spartan times:

Pos Name Time Comments Time Position Female Time
1 STEPHEN PACEY 27:43 1st 5K 19
2 RICHARD BATE 16:44 1
3 DAVIE STAFFORD 19:42 PB 4
4 ROBERT SHAW 26:42 YB 15
5 KIRSTY CALLAN 24:01 PB 11 2
6 BECCA BIRT 30:52 Ist 5K 20 6
7 ADRIAN DONNELLY 20:08 YB 5
8 LIAM HERBERT 18:56 2
9 SOFIA CARPENTER 26:20 12 3
10 MARTIN DUDLEY 26:20 13
11 CHRISTOPHER WESTCOTT 19:09 3
12 ANDREA WESTCOTT 27:13 16 4
13 LUCY FIELD 23:21 10 1
14 NICK WITCOMBE 26:22 14
15 RYAN DUNNING 22:21 SB 8
16 GRAHAM BLACKBURN 20:40 6
17 MARK BEASLEY 21:52 7
18 CALLUM BEASLEY 23:03 9
19 BEVERLEY HARLOW 27:21 17 5
20 ALASTAIR BALDWIN 27:25 18
21 JULIAN STROLL 31:51 1st 5K 22
22 HAYLEY PEACH 35:10 1st 5K 24 8
23 BERNADETTE MILLWOOD 32:13 SB 23 7
24 PETER CARPENTER 31:37 SB 21

The next Handicap 5K race will be on Thursday 20th March 2013.

Eastern Vets Win Inter Area Match

Fairlands Valley Spartans contributed to the Eastern of England winning the English Masters Inter Area Athletics Match which was at the Lee Valley Indoor Athletics Centre on Sunday.

This annual event pits teams of veteran athletes from all areas of Britain against each other. Brought in at a late stage, four Spartans were included in the team representing the East of England.

In the 3000 metres race Dave Bowker, finished 4th in the Over 35 Age Group in 11 mins 6.84 secs with John Harris finishing 3rd in the Over 50 Age Group just behind in 11 mins 7.53 secs. Dave also took part in the 2000m walk finishing second in 11 mins 29.99 secs whilst John completed the 800m in 2 mins 25.10 secs.

Tessa Stephenson competed against much younger athletes in the Over 35 Age Group and finished fifth.

Finally, Dave Stephenson finished 7th in the 1500m in the Over 50 Age Group in 5 mins 38.17 secs and ran a leg of the 4x200m relay for the over 35 age group, helping the team to second place. These results helped to produce a successful outcome, with Eastern Veterans finishing first in the women’s match (by 7 points) and the men finishing second, behind Southern Counties Veterans (by 6 points) and so winning the combined match by a single point!

PB for John

JOHN HARRIS ran a new indoor 800 metres personal best in the midweek meeting at Lee Valley. He finished in 2 minutes 24.73 seconds.
Midweek Lee Valley Open Meeting

Seville Marathon

VIVIENNE HONEY and PAUL MARSHALL were rewarded with new personal bests in Sunday’s Seville Marathon. ! Official results now show you as 4:51:08 in 7401st place! Well done! Great time!

The race began under a very clear blue sky with low temperatures. They were encouraged by the Spanish hospitality and the Mediterranean sunshine! Paul finished in 4 hours 1 minutes 30 seconds and Vivienne in 4:51:08. There were 9,000 runners.

Presentation Evening

Fairlands Valley Spartans Presentation Evening, Dinner and Disco will be at Chesfield Downs on Friday evening, 28th February. Tickets are £23. More details from www.fvspartans.org.uk

London Marathon

“Fairlands Valley Spartans will be organising a coach to the London Marathon on Sunday, 13Apr14 for those running . Spaces are available at £10, departing from Stevenage Old Town at 06:30hrs. Further details given on booking.

Please respond to Roger Biggs on roger@thebiggs.net or 07748 326301”

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 in Hyde Park on Friday lunchtime 28th February
• Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February
• Veterans Cross Country Championships in Royston on 16th March
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 20th March
• Herts 1500 and Veterans Track and Field Championships on 5th May
• First Mid Week Road Race League (10K) race in Stevenage on Tuesday 13th May
• Second Road Race League (5 miles) race in Chingford on Wednesday 4th June
• Third Road Race League (9K) race in Trent Park on Thursday 12th June
• Fourth Road Race League (10K) in St Albans on Tuesday 1st July
• Mid Week Mob Match (10K) in Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 17th July
• Off Road Challenge in Stevenage on Sunday 20th July
• Relays in the Park in Stevenage on Thursday 31st July
• Stevenage Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday 2nd November

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 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 £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

More from Jim Brown (Press Officer) 0793 968 7509 or Vivienne Honey (Secretary) 07702 846304

www.fvspartans.org.uk

Here are the results from the final cross country race of the season. It was warm but very muddy for the final cross country race of the 2013 / 2014 season. Perfect cross country conditions. On a 6.1 miles course based on Cassiobury Park, Watford all ten Spartans put in some excellent performances.

In the men’s event LEE REYNOLDS was 14th in 39 minutes 46 seconds; ADRIAN DONNELLY 55th in 43:30; ANDY JAY 177th in 58:44; MARK FREEMAN 181st in 61:01 and NICK WITCOMBE 182nd in 67:57.

CHRISTINE LATHWELL was a superb second in the women’s race with a time of 42 minutes 29 seconds. JULIE SIMMONS was 28th in 49:43; PETA WILSON 58th in 55:55; LORRAINE THOMAS 86th in 66:38 and SHARON CROWLEY 89th in 69:40.

Baldock Beast Half Marathon

Four Spartans tamed the Baldock Beast. It was a challenging course but a lovely running day for this event. JO LAING was first woman and first veteran (45 plus) in 1 hour 32 minutes 28 seconds. She was 24th out of the 391 finishers.

ANDREW PATTERSON was third senior and fifth overall in 1:22:28. DANIEL BATES was 83rd in 1:42:36 and MARK BEASLEY 98th in 1:44:22.

Eastern Athletics

On Saturday 8th Feb, Christopher Westcott competed in the Eastern Athletics Indoor Championships at Lea Valley. Racing in the veteran men’s 1500 metres, Christopher was first in 4 hours 35 minutes 54 seconds. The 400 metres was scheduled just 35 minutes later, and he was only able to finish in third place in 58.17, a new best since joining the Veteran ranks.

South of England & EVAC Indoor Championships

DAVID BOWKER had his first race of the year at the weekend. The Eastern Vets 3K Championship Walking Race was held at Lee Valley. He won with a time of 18 minutes 53 seconds.

There was a high standard of completion in the Lee Valley indoor event which combined the South of England Masters with four regional championships. STEVE MAYFIELD’s best run of the day was in the 400 metres where he set a new indoor PB of 61.82 to win the South of England bronze and Eastern Vets (EVAC) silver medal in the M45 age group. Earlier he earned an EVAC silver in the 200 metres with 27.94 and bronze in the 60 metres.

JOHN HARRIS won silver in the 50 plus 800 metres with his time of 2 minutes 26.57 seconds.

Second claim member CHRIS FEELEY was second woman (50 plus) in an 800 metres race where the winner broke the F50 WORLD RECORD with a time of 2:21.4.

Bramley 20

Weather conditions were perfect on Sunday for the Bramley 20 race near Reading, great preparation for the London Marathon. ROB EVANS improved on his personal best (PB) by over seven minutes despite turning his ankle in a pothole at 6 miles. His finishing time was 2hrs 40mins 56secs.

Barcelona

BEV HARLOW completed the Barcelona half marathon on 1:55:33. It was a lovely, flat course with great atmosphere and perfect running weather.

Two Persons in Persoons

Carol Paul and Mike Newbitt took part in the Louis Persoons Marathon held in Genk, Belgium. The weather was bright & sunny which made a pleasant change from stormy Britain. Both had good runs, Carol finished in 4 hours 55 minutes and Mike in 4.57

Presentation Evening

Fairlands Valley Spartans Presentation Evening, Dinner and Disco will be at Chesfield Downs on Friday evening, 28th February. Tickets are £23. More details from www.fvspartans.org.uk

London Marathon

Fairlands Valley Spartans have a few spare places on the runners’ and spectators’ buses to the London Marathon on Sunday 13th April. If you would like a seat please visit 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:

• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 20th February
• Serpentine 5K in Hyde Park on Friday lunchtime 28th February
• Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February
• Veterans Cross Country Championships in Royston on 16th March
• Off Road Challenge in Stevenage on Sunday 20th July
• Relays in the Park in Stevenage on Thursday 31st July
• Stevenage Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday 2nd November

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 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 £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

More from Jim Brown (Press Officer) 0793 968 7509 or Vivienne Honey (Secretary) 07702 846304

The Watford Half

It was a surprising beautiful day for the seven Spartans running the Watford Half Marathon, though that did not prevent quite a few very cold ankle deep puddles around the undulating course.

Fairlands Valley’s GRANT RAMSAY was the first veteran, and 16th overall out of thousands of runners, in 1 hour 16 minutes 17 seconds. Now he is looking forward to this years London Marathon & European Vets Marathon Championships, in Turkey this summer, where he will be representing Great Britain.

TODD GRAY was 128th in 1:28:14 and ADRIAN DONNELLY 276th in 1:32:12.

ANDREW JORDAN ran his fastest half marathon since 2007. He was 608th in 1:42:35, well within the first half of all finishers, and hopes all his injury problems are finally behind him.

NICOLA LORIMER ran a brilliant 1:57:56. PAUL HOLGATE nursed his calf around in 2:19:02 and SHARON CROWLEY protected her knee as best she could in 2:29:02.

Serpentine for Season’s Best

After a long break from racing JIM BROWN enjoyed Friday’s Serpentine 5K race and was pleasantly surprised by his time. With a nervous and slow start from the back he covered the first kilometre in 4 minutes 43 seconds but the race round Hyde Park in 22:52 – his best time since October 2012.

SIMON JACKSON was a superb eighth out of the 219 finishers in just 16 minutes 53 seconds. Jim was 163rd. Conditions were cool, dry but wet underfoot and breezy.

First Place, First Saturday

John Harris won the North Herts First Saturday of the Month 5K on a very wet and muddy course in a time of 20 minutes 58 seconds.

Presentation Evening

Fairlands Valley Spartans Presentation Evening, Dinner and Disco will be on Friday evening, 28th February. Tickets are £23. More details from www.fvspartans.org.uk

Coming Events

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

• Cross country race five at Watford on Sunday 16th February
• Handicap 5K on Thursday 20th February
• Serpentine 5K at Friday lunchtime 28th February
• Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February
• Veterans Cross Country Championships in Royston on 16th March
• Off Road Challenge in Stevenage on Sunday 20th July
• Relays in the Park in Stevenage on Thursday 31st July
• Stevenage Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday 2nd November

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 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 £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

Spartan RICHARD BATE broke the course record in Thursday’s 5K handicap race in Stevenage. His fantastic new course record is 16 minutes 19 seconds. That’s 14 seconds faster than the record set in April 2012 and nine seconds quicker than Richard’s own previous personal best (PB).

Despite the cold evening, 20 Spartans still turned out to take part in the January event.

The winner on the evening was new member Nicola Haberland, beating her handicap by 3 minutes 15 seconds to finish in a time of 24 minutes 15 seconds. Her partner Richard Kennedy was first man home in 2nd position overall as he closed to within 23 seconds of Nicola despite starting 2½ minutes behind on handicap, to finish in a time of 22:03.

Rosie Canham was second woman (third overall), running her fastest 5k in the last couple of years to finish in 22:10, 2:49 ahead of handicap and just three seconds behind Richard at the finish.

Paul Pickard was just two seconds behind Rosie. He was second man in a new PB time of 22:11, 15 seconds quicker than his previous best. Record breaker Richard Bate was third man (5th overall).

Kirsty Callan was third female, in her third 5k with the club and running her third PB to finish in 24:19, 56 seconds quicker than her previous PB run last month.

Fastest runner on the evening was of course Richard with his new course record time of 16:19, closely followed by Carlos Vasquez in a new PB time of his own with 16:44, and Grant Ramsay was third in 17:13. Rob Willis also finished in less than 20 minutes with a time of 19:46.

The fastest female was Rosie Canham with her time of 22:10, with Lucy Field, another woman running her third PB in as many 5Ks was second with 22:54, 15 seconds faster than in December. Nicola was third quickest with her race winning time of 24:15.

There was also a PB by Daniel Bates who improved his 5k time by 2 seconds to 20:15 and a Season Best time for Iris Hornsey in 30:48, 2:23 faster than her race winning time of last month, while Adrian Donnelly also improved on his December Handicap 5k time by 1:26 to 20:12, as also did Robert Shaw by 9 seconds to 26:56 and Paul Holgate by 1 minute 17 seconds to 28:45.

The next handicap 5K will be on Thursday evening 20th February.

Wet For Bromley Marathon

Three Spartans Tricia Hopper, Karen Liddle and Barry King, braved the wet weather to complete their first marathons of 2014 in Bromley, squelching their way around the five-lap course in 4 hours 52 minutes 14 seconds. Paul Holgate continued his return to training with 18 miles in 3:36:00.

Ashford Parkrun

DANIEL BATES was sixth out of 86 runners in Saturday’s Park in Victoria Park, Ashford with his time of 20 minutes 33 seconds.

London Indoor Games

John Harris was third in his heat in the London Indoor Games. He ran the 800 metres in 2 minutes 26.43 seconds. A new indoor personal best.

Presentation Evening

Fairlands Valley Spartans Presentation Evening, Dinner and Disco will be on Friday evening, 28th February. Tickets are £23. More details from www.fvspartans.org.uk

Coming Events

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

• Serpentine 5K race on Friday lunch time 31st January
• Cross country race five at Watford on Sunday 16th February
• Handicap 5K on Thursday 20th February
• Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February
• Veterans Cross Country Championships in Royston on 16th March
• Off Road Challenge in Stevenage on Sunday 20th July
• Relays in the Park in Stevenage on Thursday 31st July
• Stevenage Marathon and half marathon on Sunday 2nd November

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

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

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

The original course for Sunday’s Fred Hughes 10 mile road race including the county championship was flooded but the race, involving several Fairlands Valley Spartans, went ahead on an amended course.

STEVE GREEN was 190th in 1 hour 14 minutes 8 seconds; MICHAEL CONNELL 295th and eighth veteran (60 plus) in 1:19:40; ISABEL GREEN improved her personal best (PB) by a massive 6 minutes 33 seconds to finish 352nd in 1:23:24; ROGER HARDMAN was 424th in 1:26:58 (13th veteran (65 plus); KAREN PALMER 427th improving her PB by 1 minute 22 seconds to 1:27:01; and BEV HARLOW improved her PB by a similar amount to 1:27:21 – she was 434th and eighth female veteran (55 plus). PAUL HOLGATE was 598th in 1:41:07 and SHARON CROWLEY 621st in 1:44:29.

Cartoon Marathon

LIAM HERBERT realised a longstanding dream by taking part in the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend in Orlando, Florida recently. Liam had signed up to running the ‘Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge’ which involved running a half marathon on Saturday 11th January, followed by a full marathon on Sunday 12th January. Liam’s challenge would see him cover 39.3 miles across the weekend, by travelling between four Disney Theme Parks, around a motor car Speedway, through a multi-sports complex that featured a lap of the athletics track and a circuit of the Baseball stadium, and past a parade of Disney characters, screaming spectators, exotic animals, brass bands, cheerleaders and gospel choirs amongst others! Both events started at 5:30am in the morning, conditions were very humid (and got warmer!) but the atmosphere was electric, the best race experience Liam has experienced yet, with almost 40,000 participants finishing over the two days. The support around the course was incredible, and there was never a dull moment or quiet spot on the course which helped everyone keep going. Liam’s target was to run each race at a decent pace, and potentially to PB on the marathon: he made a good start by running the half in 1:38:20, finishing in 237th place out of 20245 finishers, and started well on the marathon, but suffered in the final 4 miles due to the warm conditions and a lack of energy, but kept pushing on to finish in 3:40:52, and placed 756th out of 19198 finishers. To give further perspective, Liam finished in the top 2% of all half marathon finishers, and in the top 4% of all marathon finishers at the event. Liam describes the racing weekend as the toughest yet most rewarding thing he was done so far, but also the most fun he has had as a runner: he made the most of his experience by running in and out of staged set pieces to get photographs done with Disney characters, and he completed the half marathon by leaping into the air and high-fiving Mickey Mouse to make a memorable finish! Liam was rewarded with three fantastic medals, wonderful race memories and a long sought, more relaxed holiday immediately after!

Eastleigh Parkrun

Official results from Danik’s run at EASTLEIGH (hampshire) Parkrun on 18th January 2018 on their standby course next to the runway of Southampton Airport which was more like a cross-country course with all the small hills, muds and puddles placed DANIEL BATES in 28th position out of 138 runners with a time of 23:32.

Presentation Evening

Fairlands Valley Spartans Presentation Evening, Dinner and Disco will be on Friday evening, 28th February. Tickets are £23. More details from www.fvspartans.org.uk

Coming Events

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

• Handicap 5K on Thursday 23rd January
• Serpentine 5K race on Friday lunch time 31st January
• Cross country race five at Watford on Sunday 16th February
• Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February 2014
• Veterans Cross Country Championships in Royston on 16th March 2014.
• Off Road Challenge in Stevenage on Sunday 20th July 2014.
• Stevenage Marathon on Sunday 2nd November 2014.

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

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

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

Twenty two Fairlands Valley Spartans competed in Sunday’s Cross Country League race on Therfield Heath. Running the undulating 5.5 miles course in 35 minutes 40 seconds SIMON JACKSON was first finisher for the club in 17th position overall. The club’s fastest woman, CHRISTINE LATHWELL was 51st and second Spartan in just 39 minutes 19 seconds.

ADRIAN DONNELLY was 102nd in 42:43; TRACY PEZ 118th in 43:29; STEVE MAYFIELD 137th in 45:16; DANIEL BATES 152nd in 46:39 and RHIANNON GRIFFIN 162nd in 47:06.

The rest of the men’s team consisted of JOHN ROXBOROUGH, 174th in 48:15; ANDY JAY, 177th in 48:17; MARK CHEADLE, 215th in 51:23; BARRY KING, 218th in 51:23; ANTHONY WHITE, 239th in 54:24; DAVID CADOGAN, 258th in 56:22; NICK WITCOMBE, 285th in 60:05; MARK FREEMAN, 290th in 60:20 and PAUL HOLGATE, 299th in 64:26.

The women’s team was completed by JULIE SIMMONS, 178th in 48:23; PETA WILSON, 243rd in 54:50; KAREN LIDDLE, 249th in 55:08; SHARON CROWLEY, 282nd in 60:00; LORRAINE THOMAS, 297th in 63:39 and LIZ CROWLEY, 300th in 64:29.

Men’s Team

Position Name Time
17 SIMON JACKSON 35:40
102 ADRIAN DONNELLY 42:43
137 STEVE MAYFIELD 45:16
152 DANIEL BATES 46:39
174 JOHN ROXBOROUGH 48:15
177 ANDY JAY 48:17
215 MARK CHEADLE 51:23
218 BARRY KING 51:23
239 ANTHONY WHITE 54:24*
258 DAVID CADOGAN 56:22
285 NICK WITCOMBE 60:05*
290 MARK FREEMAN 60:20
299 PAUL HOLGATE 64:26

Women’s Team

Position Name Time
51 CHRISTINE LATHWELL 39:19
118 TRACY PEZ 43:29
162 RHIANNON GRIFFIN 47:06*
178 JULIE SIMMONS 48:23
243 PETA WILSON 54:50*
249 KAREN LIDDLE 55:08
282 SHARON CROWLEY 60:00
297 LORRAINE THOMAS 63:39
300 LIZ CROWLEY 64:29

The fifth and final race in the series will be in Watford on Sunday 16th February.

Presentation Evening

Fairlands Valley Spartans Presentation Evening, Dinner and Disco will be on Friday evening, 28th February. Tickets are £23. More details from www.fvspartans.org.uk

Coming Events

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

• Handicap 5K on Thursday 23rd January
• Cross country race five at Watford on Sunday 16th February
• Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February 2014
• Veterans Cross Country Championships in Royston on 16th March 2014.
• Off Road Challenge in Stevenage on Sunday 20th July 2014.
• Stevenage Marathon on Sunday 2nd November 2014.

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

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

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

www.fvspartans.org.uk

Sunday’s Hertfordshire Cross Country Championships were run in extremely difficult conditions but every Spartan that ran did the club proud.

In the senior women’s race over 8,000 metres TRACY PEZ was the first Spartan home. She was 19th in 35 minutes 45 seconds. RHIANNON GRIFFIN was 30th in 38:45; PETA WILSON 45th in 42:52 and SHARON CROWLEY 56th in 57:23. The club’s women’s team were seventh.

The senior men’s race was over 12,000 metres. ANDREW PATTERSON was the first finisher from the club and was closely followed in by SIMON JACKSON and IAN YENNEY. Andrew was 27th in 44:59; Simon 31st in 45:26 and Ian 34th in 46:09. TODD GRAY, 57th in 50:10; ANDREW BENNETT, 81st in 54:36; DANIEL BATES, 89th in 56:23; THOMAS SAUKA, 90th in 56:42; JAMES SEALS, 98th in 58:35 and ANDY JAY, 106th in 63:18 made up the rest of the Spartans nine man team which was eighth overall.

The championships were in Cassiobury Park, Watford.

Grant Wins Enigma

On Saturday GRANT RAMSAY won the Milton Keynes Winter Enigma (New Year) Marathon won in 2 hours 43 minutes 33 seconds. His time was a bit slower than expected due to the awful conditions, but Grant was very happy with the way things went – it was a national championship qualifying time and a new course record! Due to flooding the venue was switched and the race involved 17 laps round a lake! Very challenging but enjoyable!

This was Grant’s fourth race victory in succession.

First Saturday 5K
LISA GRAY was the third woman over the line in the North Herts first Saturday of the month 5K race on Saturday morning with a time of 25 minutes 54 seconds. JOHN HARRIS was fourth overall in 21:16. Lots of mud and water to contend with!

New Year IndoorLea Valley hosted an indoor open graded meeting on New Years Day. The competition followed the usual format of heats seeded on expected performances, which made for some very close races over the first event of 60m. In round 1, STEVE MAYFIELD ran a personal best of 8.50 seconds earning second place in Heat 2. In round 2 he clocked 8.50 again, this time coming fourth in a race where just 0.04 separated 2nd and 5th. Next up was the 800 metres where JOHN HARRIS continued his return from injury coming 5th in heat 5 in 2:33.70. In the final event of the day, the 200m, STEVE MAYFIELD won his heat in an indoor personal best of 27.72 seconds.

Ely
Just two Spartans saw out the old year at a very windy Ely 10k. Despite the strong headwind from 4k to 8k, MADELEINE PRITCHARD was within 17 seconds of her personal best time, recording a new best time for 2013 of 46 minutes 8 seconds to finish 19th female of 211 finishers (149th of 553 finishers overall), with PAUL HOLGATE slowly recovering from his repetitive calf injury finishing in 495th position in a time of 63:05.

Pirton
ANDREW PATTERSON tried the Pirton Boxing Day Run for the first time. It was good fun and nice to get out in the fresh air and work off some of the overindulgence of the holidays. 3.2miles doesn’t take over the whole day either. The route was around Pirton Recreation Ground a couple of times before a loop around the countryside and a final lap of the rec. It was all offroad and due to the recent rain it was rather boggy and slippery; which made it good cross country training. He was third overall in 18 minutes 46 seconds.

ADRIAN DONNELY was 18th in 22:09: TRACY STILES 155th in 32:20 and MELISSA TYLER 192nd in 39:04.

GRANT RAMSAY won the short course race taking 14 minutes 4 seconds for the 2.5 miles off road event.

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 race four on Therfield Heath on Sunday 12th January
• Handicap 5K on Thursday 23rd January
• Cross country race five at Watford on Sunday 16th February
• Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February 2014
• Veterans Cross Country Championships in Royston on 16th March 2014.
• Off Road Challenge in Stevenage on Sunday 20th July 2014.
• Stevenage Marathon on Sunday 2nd November 2014.

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

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

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S
More from Jim Brown (Press Officer) 0793 968 7509 or Vivienne Honey (Secretary) 07702 846304

www.fvspartans.org.uk

26 at Buntingford

A fantastic twenty six from Fairlands Valley Spartans tackled the Buntingford Year End Ten road race on a cold morning last Sunday. Over the undulating course ANDY NEATHAM was first finisher for the club with a time of 1 hour 1 minute 7 seconds. He was eleventh out of the 497 finishers and won the prize for second veteran (40 plus).

The club’s other top 100 finishers were ADRIAN DONNELLY, 66th in 1:09:34; PETER SMITH, 93rd in 1:12:49 and TRACY PEZ, 98th in a new personal best of 1 hour 13 minutes 11 seconds. ANDY JAY was 198th in a new PB of 1:21:32 and TRICIA HOPPER reduced her PB by more than five minutes when she finished in 1:23:49.

STEPHEN MAYFIELD, 120th in 1:14:48; MARK GOODWIN, 146th in 1:16:55; NATALIE LAWRENCE, 217th in 1:23:05; MICHAEL CONNELL, 238th in 1:24:37; LUCY PATTERSON, 265th in 1:26:52; JOANNE BOWDERY, 282nd in 1:28:30; LISA LIVERSIDGE, 303rd in 1:29:50; ROY BOWDERY, 313th in 1:30:11; NICOLA HABERLAND, 330th in 1:31:40; RICHARD KENNEDY, 331st in 1:31:40; KAREN LIDDLE, 345th in 1:32:55 and CLAIRE WHITTLE, 380th in 1:35:22 all beat 100 minutes.

Position Name Time Category Comments
11 Andy Neatham 01:01:07 Vet40 2nd Male Vet 40
66 Adrian Donnelly 01:09:34 SenM
93 Peter Smith 01:12:49 Vet50
98 Tracy Pez (F) 01:13:11 Vet35 PB
120 Stephen Mayfield 01:14:48 Vet40
146 Mark Goodwin 01:16:55 Vet50
198 Andy Jay 01:21:32 Vet40 PB
217 Natalie Lawrence (F) 01:23:05 SenF
224 Tricia Hopper (F) 01:23:49 Vet45 PB (more than 5 minutes)
238 Michael Connell 01:24:37 Vet60
265 Lucy Patterson (F) 01:26:52 SenF
282 Joanne Bowdery (F) 01:28:30 SenF
303 Lisa Liversidge (F) 01:29:50 Vet45
313 Roy Bowdery 01:30:11 Vet50
330 Nicola Haberland (F) 01:31:40 SenF
331 Richard Kennedy 01:31:40 SenM
345 Karen Liddle (F) 01:32:44 V55+
380 Claire Whittle (F) 01:35:32 SenF
421 Lorraine Wyatt (F) 01:40:08 Vet45
424 Vivienne Honey (F) 01:40:15 Vet35
428 Trudie Molloy (F) 01:40:40 Vet35
429 Barry King 01:40:41 Vet40
448 Tracy Stiles (F) 01:43:14 Vet45
460 Jan Fry (F) 01:44:42 V55+
461 Graham Hill 01:45:14 Vet60
466 Paul Holgate 01:46:15 Vet50

Two Wins For Grant

GRANT RAMSAY won two races in three days. On 26th December he won the Pirton Boxing Day short course race taking 14 minutes 4 seconds for the 2.5 miles off road event. Then on Saturday 28th he won the St. Albans 5K Park Run in 16 minutes 40 seconds.

Full results from Pirton are not yet available but TRACY STILES ran the 3.2 miles event in 32:20.

Two Park Runs for Daniel

DANIEL BATES was racing on Christmas Day. He ran the Northampton 5km Parkrun in 20 minutes 40 seconds and was 11th out of 196 runners.

Then Daniel says that on Saturday he completed the hardest Parkrun course in the world at Harrow Lodge, in Hornchurch, Essex. Bogs, all grass, ice on the small parts of path, loads of geese in the way and so forth he finished 9th out of 80 runners with a time of 22:43.

Iris and James Win Five

Despite the cold, rain, and proximity to the holiday 18 Spartans took part in the club’s pre-Christmas Handicap 5k of the year on Thursday evening.

Winner on the night was IRIS HORNSEY in 32 minutes 11 seconds, 3:49 faster than handicap. She finished 1 minute 4 seconds ahead of KIRSTY CALLAN, who beat her November time by 1:25 to finish in 25:15. LUCY FIELD was third female in seventh position overall, beating her November time by 5 seconds to 23:29.

JAMES SEALS was first man and third finisher in a new personal best (PB) time of 21:28, 53 seconds quicker than before, with CALLUM BEASLEY second, taking 55 seconds off his personal best (PB) to 22:04. NICK EMMETT was third man in a new 24:45 PB of his own, 36 seconds faster than before.

Fastest runner on the night was LIAM HERBERT in 19:15, with DANIEL BATES 2nd quickest in 20:23, and VISHAL SHAH 3rd fastest in 21:17.

Fastest female was TRACY PEZ in 21:32, with LUCY FIELD 23:29 second quickest and KIRSTY CALLAN 25:15 third fastest, and, FIONA KEELY also improved her PB by 50 seconds to 32:04.

In handicap events the slower runners, based on recent races, start first, and are chased by the quicker ones. If the time intervals are correct and everyone runs as expected everyone will finish together.

A big thank you to a very cold Cathy Craig who organised the start.

Pos Name Time Comments
1 IRIS HORNSEY (F) 32:11 Event Winner. YB.
2 KIRSTY CALLAN (F) 25:15 Overall second. PB.
3 JAMES SEALS 21:28 First man. PB.
4 CALLUM BEASLEY 22:04 Second man. PB.
5 NICK EMMET 24:45 Third man. PB.
6 DANIEL BATES 20:23
7 LUCY FIELD (F) 23:29 Third female. PB.
8 TRACY PEZ (F) 21:32 Fastest female.
9 ROBERT SHAW 27:05
10 LIAM HERBERT 19:15 Fastest runner.
11 VISHAL SHAH 21:17
12 MARTIN PRICE 22:32
13 MARK GOODWIN 22:29
14 DYFED THOMPSON-SMITH 25:10
15 FIONA KEELEY (F) 32:04 PB.
16 JAMES KILROY 22:42
17 MARK BEASLEY 22:55
18 PAUL HOLGATE 30:02

The next handicap 5k will be on the 23rd January 2014.

Water Front Paul

On Sunday CAROL PAUL ran the multi terrain Portsmouth water front marathon. In windy conditions on a muddy water logged course Carol finished in 5:06:55. Due to the tide coming in which caused the course to be diverted the distance was 26.7 miles long instead of 26.2 miles.

Coming Events

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

• Hertfordshire Cross Country Championships in Watford on Sunday 5th January
• Cross country race four on Therfield Heath on Sunday 12th January
• Handicap 5K on Thursday 23rd January
• Cross country race five at Watford on Sunday 16th February
• Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February 2014
• Veterans Cross Country Championships in Royston on 16th March 2014.
• Off Road Challenge in Stevenage on Sunday 20th July 2014.
• Stevenage Marathon on Sunday 2nd November 2014.

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

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

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

Despite the cold, rain, and proximity to Christmas 18 Spartans took part in the final Handicap 5k of the year on Thursday evening.

Winner on the night was IRIS HORNSEY in 32 minutes 11 seconds, 3:49 faster than handicap. She finished 1 minute 4 seconds ahead of KIRSTY CALLAN, who beat her November time by 1:25 to finish in 25:15. LUCY FIELD was third female in seventh position overall, beating her November time by 5 seconds to 23:29.

JAMES SEALS was first man and third finisher in a new personal best (PB) time of 21:28, 53 seconds quicker than before, with CALLUM BEASLEY second, taking 55 seconds off his personal best (PB) to 22:04. NICK EMMETT was third man in a new 24:45 PB of his own, 36 seconds faster than before.

Fastest runner on the night was LIAM HERBERT in 19:15, with DANIEL BATES 2nd quickest in 20:23, and VISHAL SHAH 3rd fastest in 21:17.

Fastest female was TRACY PEZ in 21:32, with LUCY FIELD 23:29 second quickest and KIRSTY CALLAN 25:15 third fastest, and, FIONA KEELY also improved her PB by 50 seconds to 32:04.

In handicap events the slower runners, based on recent races, start first, and are chased by the quicker ones. If the time intervals are correct and everyone runs as expected everyone will finish together.

A big thank you to a very cold Cathy Craig who organised the start.

Pos Name Time Comments
1 IRIS HORNSEY (F) 32:11 Event Winner. YB.
2 KIRSTY CALLAN (F) 25:15 Overall second. PB.
3 JAMES SEALS 21:28 First man. PB.
4 CALLUM BEASLEY 22:04 Second man. PB.
5 NICK EMMET 24:45 Third man. PB.
6 DANIEL BATES 20:23
7 LUCY FIELD (F) 23:29 Third female. PB.
8 TRACY PEZ (F) 21:32 Fastest female.
9 ROBERT SHAW 27:05
10 LIAM HERBERT 19:15 Fastest runner.
11 VISHAL SHAH 21:17
12 MARTIN PRICE 22:32
13 MARK GOODWIN 22:29
14 DYFED THOMPSON-SMITH 25:10
15 FIONA KEELEY (F) 32:04 PB.
16 JAMES KILROY 22:42
17 MARK BEASLEY 22:55
18 PAUL HOLGATE 30:02

The next handicap 5k will be on the 23rd January 2014.

Water Front Paul

On Sunday CAROL PAUL ran the multi terrain Portsmouth water front marathon. In windy conditions on a muddy water logged course Carol finished in 5:06:55. Due to the tide coming in which caused the course to be diverted the distance was 26.7 miles long instead of 26.2 miles.

Coming Events

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

• County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013
• Hertfordshire Cross Country Championships in Watford on Sunday 5th January
• Cross country race four on Therfield Heath on Sunday 12th January
• Handicap 5K on Thursday 23rd January
• Cross country race five at Watford on Sunday 16th February
• Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February 2014
• Veterans Cross Country Championships in Royston on 16th March 2014.
• Off Road Challenge in Stevenage on Sunday 20th July 2014.
• Stevenage Marathon on Sunday 2nd November 2014.

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

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

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

Despite the cold, rain, and proximity to Xmas 18 Spartans took part in the final Handicap 5k of the year excellently supported by a very cold Cathy Craig who sorted the start all by herself and definitely earned a massive thank you from everybody who took part. Thank you also to Iris Hornsey and Tracy Pez who as well as running also then helped Cathy with the finish.

Winner on the night was IRIS HORNSEY in 32:11, 3:49 faster than handicap, followed by KIRSTY CALLAN, beating her November time by 1:25 to finish in 25:15, with LUCY FIELD 3rd female in 7th position overall, beating her November time by 5 seconds to 23:29.

First man was JAMES SEALS in a new personal best time of 21:28, 53 seconds quicker than before, with CALLUM BEASLEY 2nd, taking 55 seconds off his PB to 22:04, and with NICK EMMETT 3rd man in a new 24:45 PB of his own, 36 seconds faster than before.

Fastest runner on the night was LIAM HERBERT in 19:15, with DANIEL BATES 2nd quickest in 20:23, and VISHAL SHAH 3rd fastest in 21:17.

Fastest female was TRACY PEZ in 21:32, with LUCY FIELD 23:29 2nd quickest and KIRSTY CALLAN 25:15 3rd fastest, and, FIONA KEELY also improved her PB by 50 seconds to 32:04.

The first 16 finishers were within 2 minutes of their adjusted handicap time and the gap between 3rd-16th position was only 1:46.

Very well done to everybody who took part. The next handicap 5k will be on the 23rd January 2014. Until then I hope that all Spartans have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a fantastic HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Result19Dec13

Five Spartans completed the Garden City Festive Five on Sunday. The first from Fairlands Valley over the line was CHRIS WESTCOTT, 1st M40 and 6th overall in a time of 29 minutes 20 seconds – his first time under 30 minutes for five miles. STEVE MAYFIELD was the next Spartan in, 43rd in 36:21, followed by ROY BOWDERY, 77th in 41:42. ANDREA WESCOTT was the first Spartan lady, 92nd in 44:21 with LORRAINE WYATT six places behind in 45:53. There were 140 finishers in all.

South Eastern X/C

Sharon Crowley and Bev Harlow competed in the South Eastern Counties Cross Country Championships at Old Warden on Saturday. It was a glorious morning and a lovely course.
Bev finished the 6km course in 36 minutes 36 seconds and Sharon in 38:13.

A good race to run next year.

Lanzarote

Carol Paul ran the hottest Lanzarote Marathon to date. In over 27 degress Celsius she was third Vet 50 in 5 hours 1 minutes 14 seconds.

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 19th December
• County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013
• Hertfordshire Cross Country Championships in Watford on Sunday 5th January
• Cross country race four on Therfield Heath on Sunday 12th January
• Cross country race five at Watford on Sunday 16th February
• Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February 2014
• Veterans Cross Country Championships in Royston on 16th March 2014
• Off Road Challenge in Stevenage on Sunday 20th July 2014
• Stevenage Marathon on Sunday 2nd November 2014

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 9.00a.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 £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

Twenty Spartans swapped the joys of Christmas shopping to do a not so muddy run around Trent Park on Sunday morning. This was the third of the five races in this season’s cross country league which includes eighteen clubs.

First woman, first finisher, for Fairlands Valley was CHRISTINE LATHWELL, an impressive 44th overall in 31 minutes 59 seconds for the five mile race. She was followed in by ADRIAN DONNELLY, 69th in 33:34; DANIEL BATES, 108th in 35:10; THOMAS SAUKAE, 116th in 35:26; PETE SMITH, 147th in 37:02; VISHAL SHAH, 152nd in 37:11; MATT PALACIO, 177th in 37:49; STEVE MAYFIELD, 182nd in 38:15; RHIANNON GRIFFIN, second woman for the club who was 194th in 38:38; JULIE SIMMONS, third woman, 196th in 38:52; MARK CHEADLE, 235th in 41:22; ANDY JAY, 247th in 42:07; PETA WILSON, 298th in 46:51; MARK FREEMAN, 302nd in 46:38; NICK WITCOMBE, 313th in 48:26; STEPH MAYFIELD, 318th in 49:02; SHARON CROWLEY, 322nd in 49:30; LORRAINE THOMAS, 324th in 49:41; PAUL HOLGATE, 329th in 50:36 and LIZ CROWLEY, 330th in 51:02.

Position Name Time Category
44 CHRISTINE LATHWELL (F) 31:59 W35
69 ADRIAN DONNELLY 33:34 SM
108 DANIEL BATES 35:10 SM
116 THOMAS SAUKAE 35:26 SM
147 PETE SMITH 37:02 M50
152 VISHAL SHAH 37:11 SM
177 MATT PALACIO 37:49 SM
182 STEVE MAYFIELD 38:15 M40
194 RHIANNON GRIFFIN (F) 38:38 SW
196 JULIE SIMMONS (F) 38:52 W55
235 MARK CHEADLE 41:22 SM
247 ANDY JAY 42:07 M40
298 PETA WILSON (F) 46:51 W35
302 MARK FREEMAN 46:38 M50
313 NICK WITCOMBE 48:26 M40
318 STEPH MAYFIELD (F) 49:02 W35
322 SHARON CROWLEY (F) 49:30 W55
324 LORRAINE THOMAS (F) 49:41 W45
329 PAUL HOLGATE 50:36 M50
330 LIZ CROWLEY (F) 51:02 SW

Team results will be available in a few days. Fairlands Valley Spartans were ninth out of 18 at the previous race in Grovelands Park.

Another PB for Andrea
Andrea Westcott continued her recent good form with a 10K personal best in Oxfordshire on Sunday. Held just outside Bicester, the Andy Reading Memorial 10k was a breezy affair with about half the race on an airfield exposed to the elements. Andrea finished in 55 minutes 30 seconds – an improvement of nearly two and a half minutes on her previous best.

First Saturday
Four Spartans enjoyed the first Saturday of the month 5K race in Letchworth. JOHN HARRIS was 10th in 21 minutes 35 seconds; TRACY PEZ 15th in 22:05; JAMES SEALS 26th in 23:05 and MADDIE PRITCHARD 46th in 26:18.

Nene Valley 10
SIMON BELL recently ran the Nene Valley 10 in 62 minutes 16 seconds.

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 19th December
• County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013
• Hertfordshire Cross Country Championships in Watford on Sunday 5th January
• Cross country race four on Therfield Heath on Sunday 12th January
• Cross country race five at Watford on Sunday 16th February
• Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February 2014
• Veterans Cross Country Championships in Royston on 16th March 2014.

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

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

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

Handicap 5k

Very well done to the 28 Spartans who braved the bitterly cold conditions on Thursday to participate in the November Handicap 5k.

KIRSTY CALLAN beat 27 other runners in bitterly cold conditions to win Fairlands Valley Spartans November Handicap 5K race in Stevenage on Thursday evening.

A newcomer to the club she finished in 26 minutes 40 seconds, beating her handicap by 3 minutes 20 seconds. Another first timer, LUCY FIELD was second in 23:34, 2:41 better than handicap. DENISE HURLOCK was in a new personal best (PB) time of 26:53, 1:13 faster than in October, crossing the line at the same time as LOUISE TEMPLE, also 26:53, in her 1st 5k with the club.

Claire Drake also recorded a new PB of 27:47 in fifth position, crossing the finish line at the same time as the winning man, Martin Price, running a new PB of his own of 22:17, with Martin Dudley 2nd man as he kept up with Sofia Carpenter taking a further 67 seconds off her PB to 24:23, and newcomer Avi Bhogun 3rd man in 22:18, 2:12 ahead of handicap.

Fastest time was by Richard Bate as he got within 3 seconds of the course record in 16:36, with Ian Yenney 2nd quickest in a new PB of 17:29, Liam Herbert & Carlos Vasquez-Garcia 3rd quickest in 18:39, and Dean Carpenter also inside 20 minutes with 19:57.

Lucy Field’s 23:34 was the quickest female time, with Sofia Carpenter 2nd quickest in 24:23 and race winner Kirsty Callan 3rd fastest 26:40.

Ali Vorster 23:01 and Eileen Latchford 28:03 also recorded new PBs with Season Best times for Steve Elder 22:20 and Dave Stephenson 22:57.

In handicap races the slower runners start first with the very fastest starting last. In theory everyone would finish together if they all ran to form. Precise starting times are calculated from recent performances or estimates. The next Handicap 5k will be on Thursday 19th December.

1 KIRSTY CALLAN 26:40 Overall winner. 3rd fastest woman. 1st 5K.
2 LUCY FIELD 23:34 Second overall. Fastest woman. 1st 5K.
3 DENISE HURLOCK 26:53 Third overall. PB (1:13).
4 LOUISE TEMPLE 26:53 1st 5K.
5 CLAIRE DRAKE 27:47 PB (1:05).
6 MARTIN PRICE 22:17 First man. 1st 5K
7 MARTIN DUDLEY 24:18 Second man. PB (1:07).
8 SOFIA CARPENTER 24:23 Second fastest woman. PB (1:07).
9 ABI BHOGUN 22:18 Third man. 1st 5K.
10 IAN YENNEY 17:29 PB (0:26).
11 ALI VORSTER 23:01 PB (1:59).
12 EILEEN LATCHFORD 28:03 PB (0:57).
13 STEVE ELDER 22:20 SB
14 DAVE STEPHENSON 22:57 SB
15 DANIEL BATES 20:29
16 RICHARD BATE 16:36 Fastest overall.
17 CARLOS VASQUEZ 18:39
18 LIAM HERBERT 18:39
19 DEAN CARPENTER 19:57
20 ROBERT SHAW 27:10
21 VISHAL SHAH 20:57
22 AMY WARING 29:08
23 PAUL HOLGATE 27:12
24 ABI PEZ 31:34
25 TRACY PEZ 31:34
26 JAMES SEALS 31:34
27 ADRIAN DONNELLY 21:38
28 RICHARD BATES 30:09

Grovelands Cross Country

Twenty Spartans took part in Sunday’s cross country race which was the second in this season’s five race series. Racing in Grovelands Park, North London in calm but muddy conditions IAN YENNEY, CHRISTINE LATHWELL and NATALIE LAWRENCE were the top scorers for Fairlands Valley Spartans. Over about five miles Ian was 17th overall in 29 minutes 29 seconds, Christine 67th in 32:11 and Natalie 105th in 34:15.

The other Spartan women were JULIE SIMMONS, 212th overall in 38:16; RHIANNON GRIFFIN, 226th in 39:01; ROSIE CANHAM, 297th in 42:00; LISA LIVERSIDGE, 325th in 44:06; LORRAINE WYATT, 359th in 46:47 and TRUDIE MOLLOY, 370th in 47:22.

The men included BERNIE BARNABY, 109th overall in 34:40; ADRIAN DONNELLY, 122nd in 35:04; TOM SAUKA, 159th in 36:12; VISHAL SHAH, 190th in 37:06; MARTIN PRICE, 198th in 37:44; ANDY JAY, 268th in 40:51 and BARRY KING, 286th in 41:49. MARK FREEMAN was 340th in 46:00; PAUL HOLGATE 358th in 46:48; NICK WITCOMBE 373rd in 48:41 and MARK CHEADLE 374th in 48:42.

Daniel Doubles Up

Spartan DANIEL BATES raced on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday he was 10th out of 75 runners in the Oak Hill Parkrun at Barnet. He finished the 5 kilometres in 20 minutes 53 seconds.

Then on second he took part in the Ashwell Mult-Terrain Half Marathon. He was 18th out of around 200 runners in 1 hour 34 minutes 42 seconds.

Wolverton Two

Two Spartans braved the cold for the 49th running of the annual Wolverton 5 mile race round around Willen Lake in Milton Keynes on Saturday. MARK CHEADLE was rewarded with a new personal best of 38:31 in 209th position, while PAUL HOLGATE improved on his previous fastest time of 2013 by three minutes to 43:24 in 258th position. There were 297 finishers.

Spartans Sixty Up

Membership of Fairlands Valley Spartans increased by sixty over in the last year. That was some of the good news that was reported at the club’s annual meeting on Friday evening.

Those elected included Chair – BEV HARLOW; Secretary – VIV HONEY; Head Coach – CHARLIE PATERSON; Women’s Captain – NIKKI WILBY; Men’s Captain – NICK WITCOMBE; Women’s Vice Captain – LISA BURGESS; Men’s Vice Captain – BARRY KING; Press Officer – JIM BROWN; and President – MARK GLADING

The Stevenage Marathon is only held every ten years. Expect to see hundreds of runners racing 26.2 miles around Stevenage in November.

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 race three at Trent Park on Sunday 8th December
Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 19th December
County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013
Cross country race four on Therfield Heath on Sunday 12th January
Cross country race five at Watford on Sunday 16th February
Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February 2014
Veterans Cross Country Championships in Royston on 16th March 2014.

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

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

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

28 Spartans braved the bitterly cold conditions to participate in the November Handicap 5k while Roger Biggs, Graham Blackburn, Clare Moore and Bernie Barnaby helped at start and finish.

Winner on the night was newcomer Kirsty Callan in 26:40, 3:20 ahead of handicap, with another debutee, Lucy Field 2nd in 23:34, 2:41 better than handicap, and Denise Hurlock 3rd in a new PB time of 26:53, 1:13 faster than in October, crossing the line at the same time as Louise Temple in her 1st 5k with the club.

Claire Drake also recorded a new PB of 27:47 in 5th position, crossing the finish line at the same time as the winning man, Martin Price, running a new PB of his own of 22:17, with Martin Dudley 2nd man as he kept up with Sofia Carpenter taking a further 67 seconds off her PB to 24:23, and newcomer Avi Bhogun 3rd man in 22:18, 2:12 ahead of handicap.

Fastest time was by Richard Bate as he got within 3 seconds of the course record in 16:36, with Ian Yenney 2nd quickest in a new PB of 17:29, Liam Herbert & Carlos Vasquez-Garcia 3rd quickest in 18:39, and Dean Carpenter also inside 20 minutes with 19:57.

Lucy Field’s 23:34 was the quickest female time, with Sofia Carpenter 2nd quickest in 24:23 and race winner Kirsty Callan 3rd fastest 26:40.

Ali Vorster 23:01 and Eileen Latchford 28:03 also recorded new PB’s with Season Best times for Steve Elder 22:20 and Dave Stephenson 22:57, as all 28 runners finished within 2 minutes of their adjusted handicap time, with just 3:29 time difference between the first and last runners and just 2:49 from 2nd-27th.

Full results and analysis attached.

Next Handicap 5k will be in 4 weeks time on Thursday 19th December.
Result21Nov13

The fast St Neots Half Marathon always attracts a good entry and 35 Fairlands Valley Spartans were competing on Sunday with many achieving excellent results.

SIMON JACKSON was a brilliant ninth out of 917 finishers in 1 hour 15 minutes 50 seconds and MADDIE PRITCHARD took a huge 5 minutes 34 seconds off her personal best (PB) when she finished in 1:42:31. NICK WITCOMBE finally broke two hours with his 1:56:24 – an improvement of 4 minutes 4 seconds.

Other Spartan personal bests included VISHAL SHAH 1:32:04 – a PB by 4 minutes; JON SYPULA 1:38:25; TREVOR SETTERFIELD 1:38:28; ANDY JAY 1:45:44 – a PB by 1:17; ANDY PRIOR 1:48:50 – a PB by 1:02.

Club Chair BEV HARLOW was very pleased with her time of 1:56:16 and the fantastic Spartan support at the race.

All the Spartan times follow:

Position Name Time Category Comments
9 JACKSON, Simon 01:15:50 MS YB. Missed PB by 1 second.
36 REYNOLDS, Lee 01:21:34 MS
52 WESTCOTT, Christopher 01:22:57 MV40
87 NEATHAM, Andy 01:25:51 MV40
88 HERBERT, Liam 01:25:53 MS
142 BLACKBURN, Graham 01:29:41 MV40
174 SHAH, Vishal 01:32:04 MS PB (4:00)
177 BATES, Daniel 01:32:47 MS
254 MAYFIELD, Steve 01:36:37 MV40
273 DRACKFORD, Jamie 01:37:39 MS
287 SYPULA, Jon 01:38:25 MS PB
298 SETTERFIELD, Trevor 01:38:28 MV40 PB
329 GOODWIN, Mark 01:40:15 MV50
352 PEZ, Tracy 01:40:54 FV35
356 CANNON, Clive 01:41:22 MV50
378 PRITCHARD, Madeleine 01:42:31 FS PB (5:34)
452 JAY, Andy 01:45:44 MV40 PB (1:17)
487 COOPER, Hadrian 01:47:35 MV40
508 PRIOR, Andy 01:48:49 MV40 PB (1:02)
581 THOMPSON-SMITH, Dyfed 01:52:50 MV40
601 PALMER, Karen 01:53:39 FV45
637 HARLOW, Beverley 01:56:16 FV55
640 WITCOMBE, Nick 01:56:24 MV40 PB (4:04)
647 LORIMER, Nicola 01:56:53 FV45
652 REILLY, Ruth 01:57:04 FS
732 SYPULA, Hannah 02:00:19 FV35
754 WESTCOTT, Andrea 02:02:19 FV35
755 MARSHALL, Paul 02:02:19 MV50
758 HOLGATE, Paul 02:02:33 MV50
764 GAVIGAN, Lisa 02:03:59 FV35
826 MOLLOY, Trudie 02:10:11 FV35
828 KING, Barry 02:10:11 MV40
834 STILES, Tracy 02:11:27 FV45
872 FRY, Jan 02:16:25 FV55
891 CAHILL, Doctor Jo 02:22:28 FV45

Spartan for Scotland
GRANT RAMSAY ran for Scotland in the British & Irish Masters Home International Cross Country on Saturday He was 42nd out of 90 in the 35 to 49 age category and the fourth Scottish athlete out of 18. His time for the 8,000 metres (five miles) race in Cardiff was 26 minutes 1 second.

Then on the following day he successfully defended his title in the Watford Autumn Challenge. Beating 169 other runners in this five mile off road event his time was 28 minutes 45 seconds. This was his seventh win in eight years.

Dirty Half
Lisa Liversidge and Lorraine Wyatt ran in the Dirt Half Marathon Challenge in Leighton Buzzard on Saturday 16th November. Lisa finished on 2:01:00 and Lorraine finished in 2:14:46

Bell On The Move
SIMON BELL ran the Honington 10km in 37 minutes 21 seconds; the Henlow 10 in 64:20 and a Parkrun at Peterborough in 18:07

Marathon Marathon
Following the success of 11,000 Athens troops in defeating 100,000 Persian troops at the Greek Battle of Marathon in 490B.C. (thanks to the military genius of General Miltiades), an Athenian soldier named Feidippidis was sent to bring the good news to the city. He ran all the way from the field of battle to the market of Athens and managed to say just one word – Nenikikamen (we won) before collapsing and dying. From this historic event the Marathon race was established and is now run by hundreds of thousands of individuals every year. This year, just two weeks after the wind and rain of the Snowdonia marathon in North Wales, Fairlands Valley Spartan runner, Paul Holgate, competed in the 31st running of the modern Athens Marathon – and lived! The race is not for the faint hearted with most of the first 20 miles climbing gradually uphill before a 10 kilometre descent into the city of Athens and the Panathenaikin Stadium to finish. Despite temperatures into the high 20s Paul managed to complete the event in 5:21:12 with his only scars being a bit of sunburn!

Grand Union Half
The course of the Grand Union Half Marathon ran along the towpath of Grand union canal from Uxbridge to Watford. In places it was muddy and slippy but the sun shone brightly on Isabel Green who ran a new personal best of 1:55:54 finishing 416th out of 874.

In this her eleventh year as a member she has now set new personal bests (PBs) for 5K, 5 miles, 10 miles and half marathon.

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 21st November
• Spartans AGM in the Leisure Centre on Friday 22nd November
• Cross country race two at Grovelands on Sunday 24th November
• Cross country race three at Trent Park on Sunday 8th December
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 19th December
• County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013
• Cross country race four on Therfield Heath on Sunday 12th January
• Cross country race five at Watford on Sunday 16th February
• Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February 2014
• Veterans Cross Country Championships in Royston on 16th March 2014.

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

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

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

Please reply to Roger using this email address: roger@thebiggs.net

Hi Folks,

If you have no interest in the 2014 London Marathon, then you can look away now.

This is especially for those members who were rejected in the open ballot.
Fairlands Valley Spartans receive guaranteed entries for up to 9 members. Those members to receive one of these entries will be decided in a club ballot.
To be eligible for the ballot:

1) You must have been a paid-up 1st Claim member of the club at the time the ballot closed.
(2nd Claim members should apply to their 1st claim club)

2) You must have actually entered the London Marathon ballot (online), before this closed.
(Forgetting or trying to enter after the ballot closed does not make you eligible)

3) You may be asked to prove your ballot rejection

If you meet the above criteria and would like to be included in the Spartan ballot, then please let me know by replying to the email address at the top of this post. If applying, and you were a baggage volunteer in 2013, then please make me aware, as you get an extra chance in the ballot.
It is hoped that the ballot will take place at the AGM on Friday, 22nd November 2013. It is important that you get your request in before that date.

(As at today, the London Marathon has not confirmed the number of baggage places we will get in addition to the 4 Club Entries. This may affect when the draw will take place.)
As a reminder, those eligible who also worked on the baggage in 2013, go into the first draw. Any people or places left at the end of the 1st draw, go into a 2nd draw.

While it is not important at this point, could members who have received a place please advise us, and please let us know your running number where known.

Can I please ask those interested in helping with the baggage in 2014 to hold off until after the draw for places has been made. I think it’s a bit unfair to ask to go in the draw and request a baggage place if they don’t get in. Let’s start with a level playing field.
Any queries, then please get in touch using the contact details at the top of this post.

Regards,
Roger Biggs

Hundreds of runners raced round Stevenage in the Half Marathon organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans.

The fastest from Fairlands was GRANT RAMSAY, a magnificent fourth overall out of the 583 finishers in 1 hour 17 minutes 1 second. Grant was second in the veterans (40 plus) category took SILVER in the Hertfordshire County Championships and in the Eastern Veterans Championship.

SIMON JACKSON was less than a minute behind, fifth in 1:17:48. He was first in the East of England veterans (35 plus) category.

The Spartan men’s team consisting of Grant Ramsay, Simon Jackson, CHRISTOPHER WESTCOTT (28th in 1:24:30) and LIAM HERBERT (39th in 1:26:44) was second in the open race but Grant, Chris, MARK BEASLEY (103rd in 1:34:58) and PETE SMITH (116th in 1:37:11) won GOLD in the County Team Championship.

And the club’s “B” team won the county BRONZE medals. It consisted of ROBERT EVANS (1:41:52); ANDY JAY (1:49:24); ROGER HARDMAN (2:02:43); and PAUL HOLGATE (2:04:37). Paul was also third in the Eastern Veterans race for men (50 plus).

JO LAING won County GOLD in the female veteran (45 plus) category in 1:33:42. She led the women’s team to victory in the County team championship with NICOLA GILMOUR 395th in and ANDREA WESTCOTT who cut her personal best by a massive 7 minutes 47 seconds to come 462nd in 2 hours 5 minutes 45 seconds. Andrea also won SILVER in the County and Eastern Veterans race for women (35 plus). LISA GAVIGAN cut her personal best by 3 minutes 5 seconds to win the BRONZE medals in 2 hours 6 minutes 26 seconds. Nicola took BRONZE in the County Championship for women (45 plus).

NICK EMMETT (2:07:58) and NICOLA BUTTON (2:10:21) were running their first half marathon.

Other Spartan finishers included DEAN CARPENTER (1:32:42); DANIEL BATES (1:41:26) and STUART HAYCROFT (2:04:17).

The race winners were SIMON COOMBES from Leighton Buzzard Athletic Club in 1 hour 14 minutes 17 seconds and SARAH SWINHOE from London Heathside in 1:23:15.

The 13.1 mile race started from Ridlins Athletics Track, Woodcock Road at 10.30a.m. and followed a two lap course on cycleways and footpaths along Gresley Way, Barham Road, Six Hills Way, into Fairlands Valley Park passing the lakes, through the southern park of the park, Broadhall Way, Gresley Way before turning into Woodcock Road after the second lap to finish on the track. It raised a large amount of money for local charities including the Magic of Play Appeal at Lister hospital and the voluntary organisations which helped ensure the success of the event. These were the Stevenage Rotary Club, the Grange Rotary club, two local scout groups, sea cadets and the Stevenage Ladies Choir.

Posn First Name Last Name Time Comments
4 Grant Ramsay 1:17:01 2nd County and EVAC M40
5 Simon Jackson 1:17:47 1st EVAC M35 YB (2:40)
28 Christopher Westcott 1:24:30 YB (1:10)
39 Liam Herbert 1:26:44 YB (1:27)
78 Dean Carpenter 1:32:42
88 Jo Laing (F) 1:33:21 1st County and EVAC FV45
103 Mark Beasley 1:34:58 SB (New)
116 Peter Smith 1:37:11
168 Daniel Bates 1:41:26
175 Robert Evans 1:41:52 SB (4:51)
265 Andy Jay 1:49:24 SB (1:36)
395 Nicola Gilmour (F) 1:59:50 3rd County FV45
436 Roger Hardman 2:02:43
450 Stuart Haycroft 2:04:17 SB (New)
460 Paul Holgate 2:04:37 3rd EVAC M50
462 Andrea Westcott (F) 2:05:45 2nd County and EVAC FV35 PB (7:47)
470 Lisa Gavigan (F) 2:06:26 3rd County FV35 PB (3:05)
479 Nick Emmett 2:07:58 New
508 Nicola Button (F) 2:10:21 New

Steppingley Step

Karen Liddle & Tricia Hopper enjoyed a beautiful Autumn day in the Bedfordshire countryside on a beautiful course at the Steppingley Step off-road marathon from Barton-le-Clay. They both finished in 5 hours 57 minutes.

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 21st November
• Spartans AGM on Friday 22nd November
• Cross country race two at Grovelands on Sunday 24th November
• Cross country race three at Trent Park on Sunday 8th December
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 19th December
• County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013
• Cross country race four on Therfield Heath on Sunday 12th January
• Cross country race five at Watford on Sunday 16th February
• Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February 2014

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

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

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

Here are the results from the Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd November 2013
To see a full list of results  click here

Also to see a list of prize winners: click here

Well done everyone

Fairlands Valley Spartans will be holding the Stevenage half marathon on Sunday 3rd November 2013. The race starts at 10:30am and will have a race time limit of 3 hours.

Stevenage Half Marathon 3rd November 2013

The race is now closed.

To see an alphabetical list of race entrants and numbers click here (This opens an Excel spreadsheet)

Also checkout final race instructions here.

News Release 27th October 2013

Cross Country Season Starts

Come and encourage hundreds of runners as they race over 13.1 miles in this Sunday’s Stevenage Half Marathon. The race starts from Ridlins Athletics Track, Woodcock Road at 10.30a.m. and will follow a two lap course on cycleways and footpaths along Gresley Way, Barham Road, Six Hills Way, into Fairlands Valley Park passing the lakes, through the southern park of the park, Broadhall Way, Gresley Way before turning into Woodcock Road after the second lap to finish on the track.

All aged 17 and over can have a go but the race also includes the Hertfordshire Senior and Veteran County Championships and the Eastern Veterans Athletics Club (EVAC) competition. More information on www.fvspartans.org.uk.

Unfortunately entries are now closed for this event.

Cross Country Season Starts

There was a fantastic turnout of 32 Fairlands Valley Spartans for Race One of the new cross country season. The race in Cheshunt produced some outstanding Spartan performances in blustery conditions.

LEE REYNOLDS led in the Spartan men, seventh overall while CHRISTINE LATHWELL was an impressive third in the women’s race.

The men were fifth and the Spartan women’s team sixth. Overall the club were sixth out of the eighteen teams.

Men’s Results:

Position Name Age Group Time
7 Lee Reynolds SM 30:03
13 Simon Jackson SM 30:32
17 Ian Yenney SM 31:03
88 Martin Wood M40 35:05
90 David Stafford SM 35:23
93 John Harris M50 35:29
95 Bernie Barnaby M50 35:38
108 Adrian Donnelly SM 36:32
133 Tom Sauka SM 37:54
138 Pete Smith M50 38:20
148 Steve Mayfield M40 38:45
183 Andy Jay M40 40:52
192 Mark Cheadle SM 41:33
205 Andy Prior M40 42:57
209 James Seals SM 43:18
224 Anton McCalla SM 45:35
226 David Cadogan M50 45:47
234 Mark Freeman M50 47:51
241 Nick Stewart M50 52:36
242 Daniel Bates SM 52:41

There were 250 male finishers.

Women’s Results

Position Name Age Group Time
3 Christine Lathwell W35 33:58
31 Lisa Burgess SW 40:14
34 Rhiannon Griffin SW 40:36
41 Michelle Reeves SW 41:05
42 Nikki Wilby SW 41:13
78 Claire Baker W35 45:04
80 Peta Wilson W35 45:11
89 Trica Hopper W45 45:46
94 Lisa Liversidge W45 46:22
95 Karen Liddle W55 46:27
115 Steph Mayfield W35 49:59
121 Lorraine Wyatt W45 51:27

There were 134 female finishers.

Hatfield 5K

14 Spartans took part in the final race in the Hatfield 5k Series on Tuesday evening. Conditions were a bit windy and the paths more slippery than previously, so most times were slower than two weeks before, but the heavy rain stayed away until the journey home after the race and there were still same good improvements and further personal bests (PBs) from the ladies and Carlos Vasquez-Garcia continued to improve his time also.

GRANT RAMSAY led for the 1st 4k of the race before tired legs from a 20-mile run at the weekend saw him slip to 3rd position overall and 2nd MV40, in 16:48. SIMON JACKSON was 2nd Spartan on the evening, in 7th position overall, with a time of 17:03, and CHRISTOPHER WESTCOTT finished 3rd Spartan, 15th overall in 18:27, with BERNIE BARNABY in 30th position in 19:33. Other Spartans taking part were: ANDREW BENNETT, 40th 20:42 in his 1st 5k with the club, KIERAN FEETHAM, 42nd 20:48, JENNIFER ROBERTSON, 50th, 21:29 (PB +1:10), MICHELLE REEVES, 62nd, 22:27 (PB +0:29), JULIE SIMMONS, 63rd and 1st V55, 22:32, CLAIRE BAKER, 69th, 23:36, TRICIA HOPPER, 79th, 24:42 (PB +0:17), KAREN PALMER 84th, 25:01 (2nd PB in a week +0:20), BEVERLEY HARLOW, 86th and 3rd V55, 25:17, (YB, 20 seconds quicker than in race 2), and ANDREA WESTCOTT, 91st, 28:08, while Stevenage based CARLOS VASQUEZ-GARCIA finished 4th overall in 16:54 (5 seconds quicker than race 2) for his 1st claim club Serpentine Running Club. There were 102 finishers.

GRANT RAMSAY 3rd 16:48 2nd MV40
SIMON JACKSON 7th 17:03
CHRISTOPHER WESTCOTT 15th 18:27
BERNIE BARNABY 30th 19:33
ANDREW BENNETT 40th 20:42 New 5k time
KIERAN FEETHAM 42nd 20:48
JENNIFER ROBERTSON 50th 21:29 PB (1:10)
MICHELLE REEVES 62nd 22:27 PB (0:29)
JULIE SIMMONS 63rd 22:32 1st V55
CLAIRE BAKER 69th 23:36
TRICIA HOPPER 79th 24:36 PB (0:17)
KAREN PALMER 84th 24:52 PB (0:20)
BEVERLEY HARLOW 86th 25:11 3rd V55 YB (0:20)
ANDREA WESTCOTT 91st 28:03
CARLOS VASQUEZ-GARCIA 4th 16:54 (+0:05)

There were 102 finishers.

In the Series overall, SIMON JACKSON finished second with a cumulative time of 33 minutes 43 seconds. CARLOS VASQUEZ-GARCIA was third senior with 33:53. DAVID BOWKER was fourth male veteran (50 plus). JULIE SIMMONS won the FV55 category and BEVERLEY HARLOW was fourth.

Pops Race1 Race2 Race3 Series
SIMON JACKSON 2nd 16:52 16:51 17:03 33:43 2nd
CHRISTOPHER WESTCOTT 19th 19:09 18:17 18:27 36:44
DAVID BOWKER 21st 18:20 18:25 36:45 4th MV50
BERNIE BARNABY 37th 19:29 19:19 19:33 38:48
KIERAN FEETHAM 50th 20:37 20:48 41:25
JULIE SIMMONS 67th 22:29 22:32 45:01 1st FV55
MICHELLE REEVES 69th 23:24 22:56 22:27 45:23
CLAIRE BAKER 74th 24:12 23:08 23:36 46:44
BEVERLEY HARLOW 88th 25:31 25:17 50:48 4th FV55
PAUL HOLGATE 92nd 26:34 26:55 53:29
ANDREA WESTCOTT 94th 28:20 27:00 28:08 55:08
CARLOS VASQUEZ-GARCIA 4th 17:02 16:59 16:54 33:53 3rd MS

Best two races count.

Snowdonia Marathon

Despite being regarded as one of the toughest marathons on the international circuit, the Snowdonia Marathon, first run in 1982, is now a very popular event that is always oversubscribed, attracting 2,200 runners. Three Spartans took part in this year’s race including race regulars Sharon Crowley competing in her 22nd Snowdonia marathon (more than any other female) and Paul Holgate in his 25th Snowdonia marathon. Matt Gill competed for the first time in 2012 and already has the race entered into his own diary to return every year that he can. The course follows the roads around the Snowdon mountain in this rugged and beautiful part of North Wales and boasts the most stunning scenery in this unique and spectacular race. The rain, winds and hills are all par for the course for this event, which would not be the same without them.

Matt Gill ran an excellent new personal best (PB) of 4:04:03 in tough conditions, while Paul Holgate was delighted to finish in 5:16:29 after all the injuries of the last 10 months, and Sharon was equally delighted to be able to nurse her knee round in around 5:26. Paul was still 3 minutes inside 5 hours target at 23 miles but his lack of training told in the last 3.2 miles. He says onwards and upwards for the Athens marathon in two weeks time.

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 3rd November
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 21st November
• Spartans AGM on Friday 22nd November
• Cross country race two at Grovelands on Sunday 24th November
• Cross country race three at Trent Park on Sunday 8th December
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 19th December
• County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013
• Cross country race four on Therfield Heath on Sunday 12th January
• Cross country race five at Watford on Sunday 16th February
• Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February 2014

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

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

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

Here are the results from the Cheshunt Cross Country.  Cheshunt XC Results

Well done everyone.

The next cross country is on Sunday 24th November at Grovelands Park

Fairlands Valley Spartans are thrilled to offer their congratulations to our very own Grant Ramsey who has been called up to run for the Scotland team in next months British & Irish Masters Cross Country International which will be held in Cardiff.

Grant recently became sponsored by Osteopathy First Stevenage and has seen his times improve. Last weekend Grant won a vets cross country event for the London Met league which sealed the deal for his place on the Scottish team.

GOOD LUCK GRANT!!!!!

29 finishers in last night’s Handicap 5k. A big thank you to Graham Blackburn, Mick Connell and Bernie Barnaby for their excellent support with the start and finish, and also to Martin Dudley, Tracy Pez and Matt Gill for their support to runners around the course.

Winner on the night in her debut 5k was newcomer Denise Hurlock in 28:06, 6:54 quicker than handicap, with another debutee, Eileen Latchford 2nd, in 29:00, 6 minutes ahead of handicap, and Sofia Carpenter 3rd in a new personal best time of 25:30, 2:36 quicker than September, supported by Martin Dudley.

First male to finish was Robin Hester in a new PB of his own, 28:08, 2:54 faster than his previous PB, with Robert Shaw 2nd in 27:15, 3:10 quicker than September, and Darren Bennett 3rd man in his debut 5k in a time of 20:57, 2:18 better than handicap.

Fastest man was Grant Ramsay, in 16:46, 11 seconds quicker than September, with Dean Carpenter 2nd quickest in 20:01, 14 seconds better than September and Vishal Shah 3rd quickest, equalling his September PB time of 20:35.

Fastest lady was Lisa Liversidge in a new PB time of 24:26, 19 seconds better than her previous PB and 54 seconds faster than in September, with Isabel Green 2nd quickest in a season best time of 24:51, 1:39 better than handicap, and Karen Palmer 3rd quickest in a new PB of 25:12, 27 seconds better than her previous PB, supported by Matt Gill.

There were also PBs for Kerstin Weiner +1:38 to 25:34, in 5th position overall, Wendy Summerbee +2:16 to 31:56, in 8th position overall, Fiona Keely 32:54, Richard Bates +1:34 to 29:06, Jan Fry +0:45 to 29:50 and James Seals 22:21, while Steve Elder ran a new SB time of 23:13 and there were other year bests for Mark Beasley and Paul Holgate.

Total time between 1st and last finisher was 7:19 (6:15 from 2nd-27th) and 59% of finishers were within less than 1 minute of their adjusted handicap.

Next Handicap 5k will be on Thursday 21st November.

Best regards

Paul

Result_17Oct13

JULIE SIMMONS won GOLD and CLAIRE BAKER BRONZE medals in the Hertfordshire County 5K Championships for veterans (35 and over) which were held within the second race in the Hatfield series.

On Tuesday evening there were 15 Spartans among the 132 runners and more excellent times.

Once again SIMON JACKSON was the first Spartan to finish and was second overall. He was just four seconds behind the race winner, one second quicker than two weeks before, in a new Season Best time of 16 minutes 51 seconds, now just 2 seconds shy of his personal best (PB) run in 2010. CHRISTOPHER WESTCOTT improved his previous time by 52 seconds to 18:17, and was second Spartan to finish in 23rd place overall. DAVID BOWKER was just 8 seconds further back and 27th in 18:25. BERNIE BARNABY improved his time by 10 seconds to 19:19, with JOHN HARRIS 19:41 and KIERAN FEETHAM in a new personal best of 20:37.

JULIE SIMMONS collected the female (55 plus) Gold medal in a time of 22:29, followed by MICHELLE REEVES improving her PB by a further 28 seconds to 22:56. CLAIRE BAKER improved by 1 minutes 4 seconds to 23:08 and won the county bronze medal for women aged 35 plus.

ROGER BIGGS finished in 24:15, BEVERLEY HARLOW 25:31, SHARON CROWLEY 26:08 and PAUL HOLGATE 26:55. ANDREA WESTCOTT cut her PB by 37 seconds to 27 minutes exactly. She was 1:20 quicker than a fortnight earlier.

Serpentine Spartan, CARLOS VASQUEZ GARCIA, was again fourth overall, two seconds quicker than before, in a time of 16:59.

The final race in the series is on Tuesday 22nd October.

Great Eastern Run (Peterborough Half Marathon)

The 2013 Great Eastern Run was hailed a success despite the wet weather making conditions difficult for the 3,842 finishers who took part.

The start quickly became a mud bath with the rain continuing to pour down.

And for two of the Spartans taking part the challenge was made all the harder when they missed the start by 20 minutes when the A1 was closed due to a collision between a Tesco articulated lorry and a coach carrying 47 passengers, 11 requiring hospital treatment.

Sharon and Paul caught up the tail end of the race and then weaved their way through the runners as Sharon overtook 550 runners to finish in 3292nd position, while Paul made his way past 1,270 runners to 2572nd position.

Jo Cahill ran a new half marathon personal best of 2 hours 25 minutes 11 seconds.

The Spartan finishers were Dyfed Thompson-Smith 1,697th in 1:52:09; Paul Holgate 2,572nd in 2:03:50; Tracy Stiles 2,978th in 2:11:38; Sharon Crowley 3,292nd in 2:21:08; Jo Cahill 3,389th in a new personal best of 2:25:11; Charlotte Cockerill 3,534th in 2:31:25; Melissa Tyler 3,612th in 2:36:16 and Jayne Pinner 3,749th in 2:46:20.

Ware 10

Sunday’s Ware 10 was very wet and windy, feeling more like a duck ‘n’ dash than a running event at times due to the size of the unavoidable puddles but Spartan JOANNE BOWDERY finished her first ever 10 mile run in 1 hour 25 minutes 6 seconds.

DEAN CARPENTER was the fastest Spartan. He was 35th overall in 1:11:47. Although that wasn’t a personal best he did comment that he lapped a cow at about eight miles.

Several other Spartans took part including VISH SHAH (1:12:27); MARK GOODWIN (1:17:32); TRACY PEZ (1:18:40); MARIE COLUCCI (1:22:06); ROY BOWDERY (1:30:33); DAWN EASBY (1:35:00) and NICK WITCOMBE (1:36:32).

Leicester Marathon

It rained and it was windy for Sunday’s Leicester Marathon, but the predicted storms stayed away. Over a pleasant and undulating course, ROGER BIGGS had to nurse home an injured ankle to finish in 4 hours 27 minutes 6 seconds.

Carol in Canada

After a six week lay off with a back injury CAROL PAUL was back in action this weekend in Canada. On Sunday she ran the Kennebecassis marathon in New Brunswick, Canada. The race was a very undulating (hilly) point to point course which started in Bloomfield Ridge and finished in Rothesay near Saint John. At the race start the temperature was zero degrees C and sunny but it soon crept up to 14 deg C. The course was lined with the changing colour of the Fall trees, such a beautiful scenery for a marathon. Carol completed the race in 5:02:05

Danny’s A Winner – Lea Valley Aquathlon

Tuesday night saw the last of the six race Aquathlon series at Lea Valley. Feeling nervous about his lack of swimming ability DANNY HUKIN entered the short distance which was a 250 metre swim and a 4K run. Getting out the water well down the pecking order he found his running legs to win the race – first overall!

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 17th October
• County 10 Mile Championships for veterans on Sunday 27th October
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd November
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 21st November
• Spartans AGM on Friday 22nd November
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 19th December
• County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013
• Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February 2014

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

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

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

Forty four Spartans competed in Sunday’s Standalone 10K in Letchworth.

Dean Carpenter completed the Standalone 10k today finishing in 83rd position in a time of 41 min 32 seconds.

CLAIRE BAKER took part in the Standalone 10K for the first time. She had a good strong run and managed a time of 51 minutes 45 seconds which she was really pleased with. Her last 10K was a year ago with a time of 55.47 so she took just over 4 minutes off making this a new personal best (PB). Claire says she is quite new to Fairlands Valley Spartans and definitely felt the benefits of her recent training!

The leading Spartans were: 6th Grant Ramsay (34:33); 8th Simon Jackson (34:53); 14th Andrew Patterson (36:29); 41st Christopher Westcott (39:02); 66th Jo Laing (F, 40:22); 75th Graham Blackburn (40:54); 83rd Dean Carpenter (41:40); 109th Dave Carpenter (41:32); 112th John Harris (42:44) and 116th Mike King (43:07).

The results for the senior county 10K championships are not yet available.

Official Results For All Spartans:

Position Name Time Comments
6 GRANT RAMSAY 34:33
8 SIMON JACKSON 34:53 CB 1 minute
14 ANDREW PATTERSON 36:29
41 CHRISTOPHER WESTCOTT 39:02
66 JO LAING (F) 40:22
75 GRAHAM BLACKBURN 40:54
83 DEAN CARPENTER 41:32
109 DAVE SMITH 42:46
112 JOHN HARRIS 42:44
116 MIKE KING 43:07
120 MATTHEW JAMIESON 43:26
135 JENNIFER ROBERTSON (F) 43:57
167 RICHARD HAZLEDENE 44:16
198 MARK GOODWIN 45:05
202 RYAN DUNNING 45:13
204 TRACY PEZ (F) 45:15
205 TOM AYRES 45:14
228 SELVAN NAICKER 45:50
246 CLIVE CANNON 46:17
255 MADELEINE PRITCHARD (F) 46:31
257 JULIE SIMMONS (F) 46:38
265 RHIANNON GRIFFIN (F) 46:50
288 ANDY JAY 47:14
323 ANDY PRIOR 47:47
364 CHRISTOPHER MEE 48:57
459 NIKKI WILBY (F) 50:24
460 MARJ SHANAHAN (F) 50:40
482 ROY BOWDERY 50:50
544 DYFED THOMPSON-SMITH 51:50
548 CLAIRE BAKER (F) 51:45 PB (4 minutes)
567 LISA KASPEROWICZ (F) 52:29
612 NICOLA LORIMER (F) 53:09
632 KAREN PALMER (F) 53:28
699 LISA GAVIGAN (F) 55:33
730 RUTH REILLY (F) 55:54
768 KATE HANTON (F) 57:10
828 ANDREA WESTCOTT (F) 58:14
865 SHARON CROWLEY (F) 59:02
907 PAUL HOLGATE 59:52
930 LORRAINE THOMAS (F) 1:01:00
977 GRAHAM HILL 1:02:34
980 MELISSA TYLER (F) 1:03:32
1068 LINDA GREENE (F) 1:08:27
1072 JANET COX (F) 1:08:34

There were 1,153 finishers. Sofia Carpenter ran in the fun run and was first girl finishing 4th overall in a time of 5 min 40 seconds

John Harris was doing a Letchworth double at the weekend. He ran the first Saturday of the month 5K and came fifth in 20 minutes 6 seconds.

Krakow Parkrun

ANDY NEATHAM was third in Saturday’s Krakow Parkrun 5K with a time of 16 minutes 55 seconds. His graded 85.81% puts him second on the Polish Parkrun all time age graded list.

Royal Parks

VISH SHAH ran the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon in London on Sunday and improved his 13.1 miles time from 1 hour 41 minutes to 1:36:43. In the same race MARTIN PRICE finished in 1:50:20.

PB for Hannah at Bournemouth Marathon

It was a glorious day on the South Coast for the inaugural running of the Bournemouth Marathon on Sunday. The course took in parts of Boscombe, Bournemouth and Poole, using the cliff top roads, and extensive promenade, with nasty hills on the 14th & 18th miles.

HANNAH SYPULA ran a new personal best (PB) of 4 hours 48 minutes 1 second. An improvement of 5 minutes 23 seconds. She says there was great support, with beautiful scenery but commented that the unexpected killer hill at 18 miles was by the finish line making it tough to carry on, knowing others had finished!

By pushing the last three miles, ROGER BIGGS kept up his sub-4 hour sequence, but only just, finishing in 3:59:58, placing Roger in 655th of just over 2000 finishers.

5K and 10K were held on Saturday with the 5K starting at 7pm to create an illumination of LED’s and hi-vis colours! Hannah said the event was really well organised event (same organisers as Edinburgh) and would definitely recommend this to others.

Coming Events

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

• Herts Veterans 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 8th October
• Great Eastern Half Marathon in Peterborough on Sunday 13th October
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 17th October
• County 10 Mile Championships for veterans on Sunday 27th October
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd November
• Spartans AGM on Friday 22nd November
• County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013
• Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February 2014

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

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

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

County Champs

5K Champs

Many of the thirteen Spartans in the first race in the Hatfield 5 Kilometre series on Tuesday evening were rewarded with county medals and/or some excellent times.

The first Spartan to finish, in second position overall out of 141 , was SIMON JACKSON. His a new season’s best time of 16 minutes 52 seconds, was just three seconds shy of his personal best run in 2010 and he collected a county silver medal for his efforts. Next Spartans home in 23rd position overall was DAVID BOWKER with a 22 seconds improvement to his season best time to 18:20. CHRISTOPHER WESTCOTT finished in 19:09 in his first 5k of the year, continuing his recovery from injury, with BERNIE BARNABY 40th in his fastest time since re-joining the club last year, 19:29, to win the Bronze medal in the county team competition.

LISA BURGESS led the ladies home in a new personal best time of 20:18, followed by SARA BROOKS, 21:47, to improve her PB run at the Handicap 5k 2 weeks earlier by 1:28, with CLARE MOORE 22:44 in a new PB of her own, 43 seconds faster than 2 weeks before, to finish 4th in the ladies county team event.

Fairlands Valley Spartans also completed a ‘B’ team in the ladies county race with LISA GRAY, 23:17 improving her PB by 0:17 seconds; MICHELLE REEVES 23:24 cutting her PB by 1:28; and CLAIRE BAKER 24:12 taking 2:21 off her PB. They were in fifth position overall.

PAUL HOLGATE and ANDREA WESTCOTT completed the 13 Spartans line-up with Paul recording a new year best time of 26:34 and Andrea a new season best time of 28:20.

Serpentine runner, CARLOS VASQUEZ GARCIA, who has been training with the club since his recent move to Stevenage, finished in 4th position overall in a time of 17:02, 34 seconds quicker than in the club’s Handicap 5k earlier in the month.

The 5k series consists of 3 races with the next race in 2 weeks’ time on Tuesday 8th October and the final race on the 21st October.

Position Name Time Comments
2 SIMON JACKSON 16:52 County Silver. SB.
4 CARLOS VASQUEZ GARCIA 17:02 Team Bronze
23 DAVID BOWKER 18:20 Team Bronze. SB.
34 CHRISTOPHER WESTCOTT 19:09 Team Bronze
40 BERNIE BARNABY 19:29 PB (0:16)
52 LISA BURGESS 20:18 PB (0:11)
70 SARA BROOKS 21:47 PB (1:28)
81 CLARE MOORE 22:44 PB (0:43)
84 LISA GRAY 23:17 PB (0:17)
86 MICHELLE REEVES 23:24 PB (1:28)
92 CLAIRE BAKER 24:12 PB (24:12)
102 PAUL HOLGATE 26:34 YB
108 ANDREA WESTCOTT 28:20 SB

There were 141 finishers

Jo Wins At New Welwyn 10

JO LAING won the ladies’ veteran race at the New Welwyn 10 on Sunday.

This new race is a beautifully scenic, mostly off-road race from Wheathampstead on country roads and footpaths taking in Ayot St Peter, Ayot Green and the Brockett Hall country estate. But it is on a tough route with times 5 to 10 minutes slower than might be expected in a road event.

The six Spartans taking part were Daniel Bate 35th in 1:12:27; Dave Bowker 37th in 1 hour 12 minutes 48 seconds; Jo Laing 45th in 1:13:25 4th female & 1st lady veteran; Steve Green 72nd in 1:17:21; Isabel Green 153rd in 1:29:57 (PB); and Paul Holgate 197th in 1:36:43

There were 227 runners in the race.

What A Warrior Claire

A chuffed CLAIRE COKER was first female home in wave three of the Warrior Adrenalin 10K. It took her 66 minutes.

Best For Seven Years

GRANT RAMSAY ran his fastest 5K for seven years at the Biggleswade Open Track meeting. He won the race in 16 minutes 21 seconds.

JOHN HARRIS ran the 800 metres at the same event in 2 minutes 32 seconds.

Southend Parkrun

DANIEL BATES finished 6th out of 160 runners with a time of 20 minutes 20 seconds in Saturday’s 5K Parkrun at Southend. Not bad for first event back since the Jungfrau Marathon!

Last Friday

Stupidly only 65 hours after finishing second in the County 5k SIMON JACKSON was racing the Last Friday Of The Month in Hyde Park

Despite having nothing in his legs when he needed it at 3k he still did 16.54, 2 seconds slower that Tuesday and just 5 seconds off his personal best. He was eighth overall.

Oostende Marathon – Sunday, 29th September 2013

Roger Biggs travelled to the Belgium Coast to take part in the Inaugural Oostende Marathon.

It was a nice sunny warm day, but with cooling winds off the sea and the various canals. The event was on a flat course, but with a few sections of cobbles, and miles of concrete paths took their toll.

Roger struggled to maintain his sub-4 hours pace in the second half, but found something over the last 5km to finish in 3:58:22.

Barns Green Half

Bev Harlow ran the Barns Green half marathon in East Sussex in 2:02:09. It was on a lovely rural undulating course on a gloriously sunny day.

New Forest Half Marathon

Darryl Stevens ran the New Forest Half Marathon in 2 hours 39 minutes 58 seconds.

Lisa GNR

Recently LISA GRAY did her first half marathon in at the Great North Run in Newcastle with a time of 1:48:35 which she was delighted with. It was a superb experience. She hopes to have raised over 350 for Autism Uk too.

Coming Events

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

• Herts Veterans 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 8th October
• Great Eastern Half Marathon in Peterborough on Sunday 13th October
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 17th October
• County 10 Mile Championships for veterans on Sunday 27th October
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd November
• Spartans AGM on Friday 22nd November
• County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013
• Presentation Evening on Friday 28th February 2014

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

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

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

46 miles for Karen and Tricia

RHIANNON GRIFFIN took GOLD in Fairlands Valley Spartans’ recent track and field championship with an average score of 55.5%; SHARON CROWLEY won SILVER with 50.2% and MADDIE PRITCHARD BRONZE with 44.8%. Competitors had to take part in one sprint, one middle distance race, one jump and one throw.

The men’s championship was won by STEVE MAYFIELD with 61.5%, BERNIE BARNABY was second with 58.2% and IAN VENNEY third with 52.1%.

Three Spartans raced together in heat 2 of the 800 metres at the final midweek Watford Open Graded track meeting of the summer. In cool conditions with little wind they found it easier going than three days earlier at the club Track & Field Championships, each of them posting times more than three seconds faster. STEVE MAYFIELD was second in a season’s best time of 2 minutes 26.07 seconds, BERNIE BARNABY was 10th in 2:34.48 with RHIANNON GRIFFIN a place behind in 2:37.61.

Trail of Herts – Saturday 21st September 2013

Having completed 12 marathons in 12 months in 2011 and the Hadrian’s Wall Run in 2012, KAREN LIDDLE and TRICIA HOPPER were looking for a new challenge for 2013.

On Saturday they took part in the 55 miles Trail of Herts event!

This is a 55 mile trail race with a 13 hour time limit. The run started in the beautiful market town of Berkhamsted set deep in the heart of the Chiltern Hills in Hertfordshire, heading East and South East along trails using parts of The Chilterns Way, Hertfordshire Way, Chain Walk, disused railways and canal and riverside paths, and finishing in the centre of London. The first half of the race was undulating, passing through the Chiltern Hills, taking in stunning views, very old and historic churches, amazing disused railway lines, and great places of interest. The second half of the race flattened out, running alongside the manmade but beautiful New River, built to provide drinking water from Hertfordshire to the growing Victorian London. It then moved onto The Lea Valley canal towards the Olympic stadium and much revived East End.

As if the challenge was not tough enough already some delightful children decided to pull down some of the direction tape essential to enabling the runners to remain on course, resulting in Karen & Tricia becoming completely lost. Never ones to give up they navigated themselves back onto the course some 1½ hours later and with completion inside the 13 hour time limit now impossible, admirably continued to get as far as possible, completing more than 45 miles to reach Cuffley before running out of time.

Don Gregory turned out to support Karen & Tricia at checkpoint 3 at St Peter’s church in Tewin which was a real boost to them both at 24 miles.

Carlow – Kilkenny Marathon

The Carlow – Kilkenny Marathon drew ROGER BIGGS to Ireland at the weekend.

This was a point to point Marathon, starting in Carlow, finishing by Kilkenny Castle, County Kilkenny. Warm weather, an undulating course, and an over distance course at 26.8 miles, meant he was really pleased to dip under four hours in 3:59:26.

Roger has now run a marathon in 82 counties of the possible 109 in the UK & Ireland.

Dean’s Half

DEAN CARPENTER was 79th in the Pleshey & Essex half marathon with a time of 1 hour 32 minutes 54 seconds.

Coming Events

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

• County 10K Championships in Letchworth on Sunday 6th October
• Herts Veterans 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 8th October
• Great Eastern Half Marathon in Peterborough on Sunday 13th October
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 17th October
• County 10 Mile Championships for veterans on Sunday 27th October
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd November
• County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

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

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

NOT A POSTCODE LOTTERY
But SG5 are Number One

SG5 were number one in Fairlands Valley Spartans postcode team relay.

ANDREW PATTERSON (3rd in 30:18); TODD GRAY (5th in 31:05); DAVID BOWKER (10th in 34:18); MARIE COLUCCI (20th in 37:04); TRACY PEZ (22nd in 38:04) and DAWN EASBY (30th in 41:40), all living in postcodes SG5 to SG19 won Tuesday’s team race round the Spartans new five mile course.

“Team SG1 1xx/2xx” consisting of IAN VENNEY (4th in 30:40); DAVIE STAFFORD (7th in 33:04); LISA BURGESS (14th in 35:25); MICHELLE REEVES (29th in 41:10) and JIM BROWN (32nd in 42:33) were a third woman short of a complete team but still finished comfortably ahead of “SG1 4xx.”

The fastest runners were GRANT RAMSAY (28:22); SIMON JACKSON (29:01); ANDREW PATTERSON (30:18); IAN VENNEY (30:40) and TODD GRAY (31:05). LISA BURGESS (35:25) was the fastest woman. 49 runners completed the course.

Magnificent New Personal Best for Grant

GRANT RAMSAY ran a magnificent new personal best in Sunday’s Great North Run and he was in the top 0.1% of the finishers, 56th out of more than 56,000.

Grant says he paced this really well, with the last eight miles run faster than the first five. Even though the conditions were not easy with the wind and the rain he improved his personal best by 22 seconds to finish in 1 hour 13 minutes 8 seconds.

TRACY STILES completed the race in 2:15:30.

Jungfrau Marathon

DANIEL BATES ran two races in Interlaken, Switzerland over the weekend.

On Friday he took part in the Jungfrau Mini –Marathon. This was a 4.2 kilometres race consisting of three laps around the main park in Interlaken with around 2,000 people watching. Daniel finished 18th, with a time of 17 minutes 36 seconds having down the first lap in 5:12, second lap in 5:42 and after a mishap last lap in 6:41.

Then on Saturday he had to go ten times as far in the Jungfrau Marathon. This was a full 42km – 26.2 mile mountain marathon. He finished 987th out of 2,952 runners in the men category. Overall he was 1,143th out of 3,819 runners with a time of 4 hours 54 minutes 22 seconds.

Grafham Water Marathon

PAUL MARSHALL completed the Grafham Water marathon today in a PB of 4:04:15 taking 17mins off my previous time. It was a tough two lap race with uneven surface but the weather was fairly kind. In my goody bag at the end though I received some salad cream, which I’m still trying to understand.

What a difference a day makes!!

In Swanage for a weekend of running, ROGER BIGGS took part in the well organised Park Run 5km on Saturday. Running twolaps around the boating lake on a flat course in good weather for running, Roger completed the 5K in 23:17, to finish in 139th of the 497 finishers.

Then on Sunday the Purbeck Trail Marathon started from Swanage. The course was a clockwise lap of the Isle of Purbeck, often hugging the coastline on rocky coastal paths, and seemingly always going up & down. The concentration of running on tough terrain, the strong winds, then finally squally rain, made this a tough day, with Roger well down the field with a time of 4 hours 43 minutes 4 seconds.

Coming Events

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

• Herts Senior 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 24th September
• County 10K Championships in Letchworth on Sunday 6th October
• Herts Veterans 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 8th October
• Great Eastern Half Marathon in Peterborough on Sunday 13th October
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 17th October
• County 10 Mile Championships for veterans on Sunday 27th October
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd November
• County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

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

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

Here are the results from last night’s 5 mile team championship.

Huge well done to everyone who ran and big thanks to Bernie for organising and to Paul for the results.

5 mile Results

Rob and Cathy Win 5K

More than 40 Fairlands Valley Spartans took part in Thursday’s Handicap 5K.

ROB SHAW was the first to finish, proving excellent progress in his recovery from injury as he completed the course almost 10 minutes quicker than expected in 30 minutes 25 seconds.

CATHY CRAIG was the winning woman taking just 27 minutes 43 seconds in her first 5k with the club. Kerstin Weiner was second woman in 27:12 for her first 5k. Sue Hamer was third female in anew personal best (PB) time of 27:29 – over 2 minutes quicker than her previous PB, with Amy Waring 4th lady in 28:51 for her first 5k.

2nd man was another debutee, newcomer Richard Bates, 6th overall in 30:40, with another newcomer, Shane Bingley 3rd man in a PB time of 23:46.

In 8th & 9th positions overall were Andy Jay excellently paced around the course by a very speedy, young Ella Pez on her scooter, while Hannah Davidson posted her first 5k time of the year in 26:54 in 10th position.

Fastest time on the night was 16:57 by Grant Ramsay, with debutee Carlos Vasquez 2nd quickest in 17:36 and another first timer, Ian Yenney 3rd fastest in 17:55. Todd Gray was 4th quickest, equalling his fastest time of the year with 18:27, while David Bowker improved his Year Best time by 25 seconds to 19:18, 5th fastest.

Newcomer Sara Brooks was quickest female in 23:15, with Clare Moore 2nd fastest in a new PB time of 23:27 – 43 seconds ahead of her previous best, and Lisa Gray 3rd quickest with 24:33 despite carrying an injury on the night.

Dave Smith also improved his PB time, by 29 seconds to 20:24, and there were also year best times for Anton McCalla, Graham Blackburn, Mark Goodwin and Andy Prior, while Callum Beasley, Sofia Carpenter, Nick Emmett, Alastair Baldwin, Claire Baker, Andrew Jordan & Jacqui Brown made it 15 debutees running their 1st 5k with the club overall, although for Andrew it was closer to 6.5k after a slight detour, still managing 25:54 despite the extra distance.

The next Handicap 5k will be on Thursday 17th October 2013.

Spartans Win Eastern Veterans Championship

Fairlands Valley Spartans won the ladies team event at Eastern Vets Athletics Club finals. The men were a creditable 6th. For both teams this is their best achievement in the five years the club has competed in the tournament; the ladies improving on their runners up spot from last year, and the men making their first appearance in the finals. The continued progress of the club in track and field is due to two things, first the hard work and dedication of a small group of members to improve themselves and learn new skills and second by recruiting a handful of talented athletes who want the opportunity to participate in this increasingly popular competition.

For both teams the day was a complex logistical exercise, working around timetable clashes to get the best possible athlete in each event and cover as many of the 89 events as possible. This also meant working around injuries, which lead to a heavy burden for some athletes.

Stand out performers for the ladies team were MONICA BROWN in the W45s and LOUISE OLIVER for the W35s, both scored heavily and won several of the thirteen individual events they managed between them. JULIE SIMMONS took on all the track events for the W55 team, plus the 1500m for the W45, and SHARON CROWLEY found herself equally busy with five individual events too. There were fine performances on the track for the W35s from CHRISTINE LATHWELL in the 1500m and 3000m and ROSIE CANHAM returning from injury in the 400m and 800m. PETA WILSON, STEPHANIE MAYFIELD, CHRIS FEELY, TESSA STEPHENSON and CAROLYN SHORTLAND were the other members of the winning ladies team.

The men found it tough going against very strong competition with wins few and far between. DAVE BOWKER and BARRY KING achieved a double first in the A string and B string 2km walk. GRANT RAMSAY delivered the strong performances in the 1500m and 3000m for the M40s and CHRIS WESTCOTT showed signs of a return to form after injury. STEVE MAYFIELD was the busiest Spartan of the day with eight individual events plus a relay, closely followed by team captain DAVE STEPHENSON with seven and MICK SHORTLAND six. The team was completed by SIMON JACKSON, MARK CHEADLE, BERNIE BARNABY and TIM SAUNDERS MULLINS.

Wins In Scotland

It was a Highland Fling for ROGER BIGGS and BARBARA WILSON as they both won their age category in Saturday’s Highland Perthshire Marathon.

Roger and Barbara made the long journey to Aberfeldy, in the Perthshire Highlands of Scotland.

The two lap marathon course took a scenic route from Aberfeldy to the edge of Loch Tay at Kenmore passing through the grounds of Tay Castle near the halfway point of each lap. Despite a nasty hill going through the Tay Castle grounds, the course could be considered a fast course as both Roger and Barbara ran quick times.

Roger completed the marathon in 3:54:06, while Barbara ran the one lap half marathon in 1:58:22.

Chasing Steeples

GRANT RAMSAY represented Hertfordshire in the Intermcounties Match at Sandy. He was sixth in the 3,000 metres steeplechase with a season’s best time of 10 minutes 42 seconds.

Bedford 10K

BARRY OSBORNE raced round the Bedford Harriers 10K in 39 minutes 58 seconds.

Run To The Beat Half Marathon

LIAM HERBERT ran to the beat over 13.1 miles around Greenwich, London in the sixth annual Run To The Beat Half Marathon, organised by Nike. A fast, sweeping, downhill opening 6 miles was followed by a rather tough and hilly second half which was not conducive to a personal best time for Liam, but he still finished 134th out of 12,399 runners in 1:28:11, which placed Liam just outside the top 1% of all finishers on the day.

JO BOWDERY was running her first half marathon and finished in 2.00.46.

Watford Open

On a beautiful evening for running, Christopher Westcott triumphed in Heat 5 of the Watford Open in 2:21.24, his first 800m for over 20 years. Earlier on, Bernie Barnaby and Rhiannon Griffin secured a 1-2 in the 200m (29.80 and 30.25 respectively), as well as competing in the 800m in 2:32.05 and 2:37.68. Late into the night Richie Bate finished the 3000m in 7th in 9:20.06.

First Saturday

TRACY PEZ ran the first Saturday off road 5k around Norton Common. She was second woman in 22 minutes 28 seconds.

Grunty Fen

JAN FRY ran the Grunty Fen Half Marathon in a new personal best of 2 hours 18 minutes. She was third female in her age category.

Polish 10K

Andy & Anne Marie Neatham spent the weekend at the Festiwal Biegowy in Krynica-Zdroj, Poland. This event incorporated the World Mountain Running Championships. Andy and Anne Marie competed in the 10k Road Race on Saturday (7th) which included the Polish Veterans Championships. On a perfect day for running Andy finished 49th and 6th M40 in 34.35, his fastest time since becoming a veteran. Anne Marie finished in 1439th (and 73rd W40) out of 1821 finishers, in a PB of 58.43, her first time under the hour for this distance.

Chiltern Marathon

With just two weeks to go until they tackle the 55 miles Trail of Herts event, Tricia Hopper and Karen Liddle made some final preparations at the tough Chiltern marathon from Lane End, Buckinghamshire. On a very hilly course where up and down mean UP and DOWN, they were deservedly delighted to complete the 27 miles in 6:45, while Paul Holgate was equally pleased with his 21.5 miles in 5:49.

Coming Events

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

• Club Five Mile Team Champs on Tuesday 10th September
• Herts Senior 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 24th September
• County 10K Championships in Letchworth on Sunday 6th October
• Herts Veterans 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 8th October
• Great Eastern Half Marathon in Peterborough on Sunday 13th October
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 17th October
• County 10 Mile Championships for veterans on Sunday 27th October
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd November
• County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

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

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

REGENTS PARK

A warm sultry evening did not deter the five Spartans in the enjoyable Regents Park evening 10k which was organised by the BBC running club on Thursday 22nd August. Steve Mayfield was first from the club to finish. He was 47th overall in 45 minutes 8 seconds. Roger Biggs was 68th in 47:02; Madeleine Pritchard 93rd (7th female) in 48:30; Paul Holgate 131stin 56:06 and Stephanie Mayfield 142nd in 57:16. There were 178 finishers and the winning time was 33:59.

Thames Meander Trail Marathon trail Marathon – Saturday, 24h August 2013

ROGER BIGGS enjoyed the Thames Meander Trail Marathon on Saturday. This was an event from Kingston-Upon-Thames, with a 1 mile road start, 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 within the park, the course was basically flat, although roughish trail at times.

It was very humid throughout with a hint of rain, before runners were greeted with a downpour as they returned through Richmond Park.

Roger ran a good solid race to finish in 4 hours 16 minutes 37 seconds, 12 minutes quicker than last year! He was 147th out of the 265 finishers.

Pathfinder Event – Monday, 26th August 2013

Then on Monday Roger was one of three Spartans who travelled to Conington near Huntingdon for the Pathfinder Marathon which is an event that visits several of the Second World War RAF Airfields in the area.

It was on a combination of minor road, trails, paths & fields, over a pretty flat course.

On a warm and sunny day Roger completed the 42 kilometres in 5 hours 40 minutes 59 seconds. MIKE NEWBITT finished in 5:47:37 and ROBERT HARDY in 6:27:22.

PAULINE HARDY completed the 14.5 miles option in 4:02:14.

Parkrun

DANIEL BATES ran Saturday’s Oak Hill Parkrun in 20 minutes 55 seconds. He was sixth out of the 70 runners in the event which was in Barnet.

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 5th September
• Club Five Mile Team Champs on Tuesday 10th September
• Herts Senior 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 24th September
• County 10K Championships in Letchworth on Sunday 6th October
• Herts Veterans 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 8th October
• County 10 Mile Championships for veterans on Sunday 27th October
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd November
• County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

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

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

Flying the Spartan Stripes in South Africa

Bev Harlow ran a trail race in South Africa which would have been called a fell race in the UK. It was up a mountain, then down again and finally along a coast road with beautiful views all round. Recent stormy weather meant that the terrain was mostly wet rocks, mud and several sections along streams or river beds(knee deep). It was very friendly and well organised. Time 2:00:06 Position 231/282 and 5th in age group.

Lee Valley Sprints

At the penultimate Lee Valley sprints evening of the summer, STEVE MAYFIELD ran 13.02 seconds for the 100m taking 6th place in heat 4. After a 90 minute break he lined up in heat 4 of the 200m and came in 4th, setting a new personal best of 26.62 seconds. This was his second PB over the distance in 4 days, having run 27.01 in the Southern League at Abingdon last weekend.

A free run in the Park

Saturday Park Runs are springing up all over the country and beyond Not only do you usually get a well organised event, they are free!! The latest Spartans to take advantage of this was Daniel Bates. Located at Ferry Meadows in Peterborough, Daniel finished the 5km race in lucky 13th place of 170 runners, in a time of 20:17.

Kimbolton Castle triumphs

Grant Ramsay continued his fine run of form, despite a hilly course and windy conditions at the Kimbolton Castle Half Marathon in Cambridgeshire. Grant finished in a time of 1:17:29 to earn 4th place of 315 runners
Daniel Bates beat his personal best by 4 minutes and 39 seconds, to finish in 01:36:47

Celebrating Leila

A marathon to celebrate the life of Leila Taylor, a former Garden City Runner who died of Breast Cancer back in February. The marathon was based in Wheathampstead, and run over a multi terrain 4 lap course, with it’s fair share of hills. Spartans taking part were:
4:59:43 – Roger Biggs
5:48:52 – Mike Newbitt

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 5th September
Club Five Mile Team Champs on Tuesday 10th September
Herts Senior 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 24th September
County 10K Championships in Letchworth on Sunday 6th October
Herts Veterans 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 8th October
County 10 Mile Championships for veterans on Sunday 27th October
Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd November
County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

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

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

More from Jim Brown (Press Officer) 0793 968 7509 / 01438 354505 or Vivienne Honey (Secretary) 07702 846304

www.fvspartans.org.uk

News Release – 11th August 2013

FAIRLANDS VALLEY SPARTANS WOMEN WIN VETERANS TRACK & FIELD LEAGUE FOR SECOND YEAR

Fairlands Valley Spartans Women’s Team won the Central Division of the Eastern Veterans Athletic league for the second time in succession after they won the final match of the season, beating the home team, Milton Keynes, into second place on the night by 82 points to 78 with Kettering and Biggleswade further behind. They have now qualified automatically for the final in September and will then take on clubs from the other divisions.

Highlights of the match included the Triple Jump, where Spartans won in all three age categories, Steph Mayfield jumping 7.31 metres in the Women’s 35 group, Monica Brown 8.39m in the Women’s 45 group and Julie Simmons producing a Club W55 record with 5.89m. Julie also produced a great run in the 3000 metres, finishing second in 12 minutes 46.2 seconds to set a new club record, not only for her own age, but also the lower 45 group. Club records were also set by Chris Feely as an over 50 whilst finishing second in her 800 metres race in a time of 2 minutes 52.8 seconds, Carolyn Shortland as an over 60 in the Discus with 14.38 metres and Monica Brown in the Javelin as an over 45 with 17.63 metres. The rest of the team was Louise Oliver, Christine Lathwell, Sharon Crowley, Peta Wilson and the Team Captain Tessa Stephenson.

In the men’s match at the same meeting, Fairlands Valley Spartans finished second to Milton Keynes, finishing with 87 points to the winning 94. This leaves the team in second place in the Central Division behind Milton Keynes, but they should make their first ever appearance in the final as one of the best runners up.

Highlights for the men included the 3000 metres where Grant Ramsay won the over 40 age group, and the combined race in a time of 9 minutes 36.2 seconds, Dave Bowker won the over 50 group in 10 minutes 59.4 seconds, Simon Jackson was second in the over 35 group in 9 minutes 47.2 seconds and Barry Osborne came second in the over 60 group in a Club Record of 11 minutes 32.8 seconds. The Pole Vault saw wins for both Steve Mayfield in the over 40 group with a height of 2.00 metres and Dave Stephenson in the over 50 group with 2.32 metres, Dave Setting a new Club Record across all age groups. In the 1 mile walk Dave Bowker finished just 1 second ahead of Barry King with both winning their groups, this was Barry’s first ever win in the league. Mick Shortland set three Club over 60 records whilst coming second in each of the Discus with 29.19 metres, Javelin with 27.23 metres and the 200 metres in 34.8 seconds. The meeting ended with relays consisting of legs of 400m, 200m, 200m and 400m. In the 35 to 49 age group, Simon Jackson, Paul Pickard, Steve Mayfield and Grant Ramsay finished second but set a new Club Record for the over 35 age group of 3 minutes 3.9 seconds, whilst in the over 50 group, Bernie Barnaby, Dave Bowker, Mick Shortland and Dave Stephenson reduced the Club Record for over 40 athletes to 3 minutes 29.1 seconds. The team also included Tim Saunders-Mullins who competed in the over 50 group, even though he is over 60 and came second in the discus with 21.76 metres and third in the Javelin with 21.08 metres.

Salisbury 54321

The Salisbury 54321 trail marathon consisted of 5 Rivers; 4 Hills; 3 Large Country Estates; 2 Castles and 1 Cathedral. SHARON CROWLEY walked the 42K Marathon in 6 hours 36 minutes 6 seconds. CAROL PAUL finished in 5 hours 55 minutes and MIKE NEWBITT in 6 hours exactly. MIKE CROWLEY walked the 31.5 kilometre event in 5 hours 4 minutes 43 seconds.

Wimpole

DANIEL BATES ran Saturday’s Wimpole Estate Park Run in 20 minutes 54 seconds. He was 15th out of the 191 runners in the five kilometre event.

Northumberland Coast Marathon

ROGER BIGGS travelled to the North East, for the Northumberland Coast Marathon, a trail marathon based on the Village of Alnmouth in Northumberland.

The course followed the coastal path from Alnmouth to Beadwell Bay, before turning back and re-tracing all the way back to Alnmouth. On a lovely day for running, with cooling sea breezes and intermittent sunshine, the course took in around 8 miles of beach, finishing with a soft sand section back, that totally finished you off. Roger finished in 4 hours 54 minutes 1 second.

Grant’s PB Southern Track and Field

GRANT RAMSAY was fifth in a new personal best of 7 minutes 2 seconds in the 2,000 metres steeplechase Southern Track and Field Event at Cambridge.

Lottery Anniversary Race

Trudie Molloy completed the National Lottery Five Mile Anniversary Race Race in 47 minutes 15 seconds. She was delighted with the time particularly as there were 15,000 runners and some areas of the course were very busy. The race culminated with Trudie finishing by running the last 300 metres in the Olympic Stadium.

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 5th September
• Club Five Mile Team Champs on Tuesday 10th September
• Herts Senior 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 24th September
• County 10K Championships in Letchworth on Sunday 6th October
• Herts Veterans 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 8th October
• County 10 Mile Championships for veterans on Sunday 27th October
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd November
• County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013

Join The Spartans

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

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

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

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

Fairlands Valley Spartans hosted another successful Fairlands Valley Relays event on Thursday 25th July.

The results are attached.

Relay Results

The Fairlands Valley Challenge on Sunday 21st July saw approximately 450 runners and walkers enjoy navigating their way away the Hertfordshire countryside armed only with a set of directions and their wits!

Well done to all who competed and thank you to all who volunteered their time to make the day a success.

24th July::  Ammended provisional results are here (V2.2):

Provisional FVC 2013 Results v2.2 (1)

Photos are here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fairlandsvalleyspartans/sets/72157634756120465/show

SPARTAN CHAMPS AT HERTS 10K
RICHIE BATE, SIMON JACKSON, ANDY PATTERSON, LIAM HERBERT & DAVE BOWKER were racing in the Hertfordshire 10K Track Championship in Sandy on Thursday evening.

With it being a track race, it meant a mind numbing 25 laps of the track.

In a quality field, Richie was the winner of the Herts Championship and a very sizeable trophy. He smashed his personal best (PB) with 33 minutes 35 seconds. In the Vets 35 category Simon won gold, again in a pleasing PB of 34.43. Andy won silver in 36.16 and Liam was the bronze medallist. Dave won the male veteran (50 plus) gold in 41.10. All in, it was a very successful race for Spartans runners.

Open Graded Spartans
Four Spartans took part in last Wednesday’s Watford Open Graded meeting. In the 800m there were over 350 competitors spread over 30 heats. BERNIE BARNABY was the first Spartan to race over the two laps, he came 11th in heat 7 in 2:37.62. RHIANNON GRIFFIN went next, running a fraction quicker with 2:37.52 for 12th place in heat 8. Last up was JOHN HARRIS, who ran a well judged race coming 5th in heat 12, his time of 2:21.45 just outside his PB.

Earlier STEVE MAYFIELD took 4th place in heat 3 of the 400m, his time of 60.04 seconds was a personal best (PB) and M45 club best. This was the third time in 12 days he’d been under 61 seconds, edging ever closer to his target this year of breaking one minute. Competing for SNHAC in the Southern Athletics league on Saturday it proved to be fourth time lucky, with 59.7 seconds another PB and club age best.

JOHN HARRIS was third in Thursday’s Sandy Open Meeting-800 metres in 2.21.9

Lea Valley
On a hot day DEAN CARPENTER completed the Lea Valley 10K in 40 min and 20 seconds. He finished in seventh place, making this his third top 10 finish this year.

New member (just joined this week) and junior spartan Sofia Carpenter (aged 10) was 1st female in the 3k fun run and finished 6th overall in 17 min 7 seconds not bad for her debut race as a Spartan

Race For Life
3,000 woman ran in the Stevenage “Race for Life” on Sunday and Fairlands Valley Spartans provided much of the organisation and many of the marshals for the event. Preparation for the event started at 6a.m.

Amongst the runners were ABI PEZ (10) and TRACY PEZ. They both finished in 28.25, a new personal best for very proud Abigail! Her sister Ella joined for the last 200 metres which turned into a speedy competitive sprint…amazing what a bit of sibling rivalry can do!

Two By Grant
GRANT RAMSAY enjoyed two events recently. He was 21st out of 13,000 runners in the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge in 19 minutes 12 seconds. The race was 3.5 miles and held in Battersea Park, London.

Then he was second in the 3000 metres steeplechase at the Southern League Track Meeting in Hemel Hempstead. His time was 10 minutes 57 seconds.

Up There At EVAC
After the longest trip of the season, Fairlands Valley Spartans men’s and women’s teams both finished second to Milton Keynes. The women were only a point behind but still lead the league as they are three points ahead. There were lots of club records to back up the club’s good performances this season and there were thirteen wins between the teams.

Newcomer Louise Oliver won the women’s 35 age group 100 metres and Shot Putt, she also anchored the womens 35 4×100 metres relay team who came in 3rd.

Monica Brown continued her good form by winning the W45 100m, Long Jump, High Jump.

Both Chris Feely and Julie Simmons broke club age group records in the 400 metres, Chris in the over 45 age group and Julie in the over 55 age group. Julie also did an age group best in the Long Jump.

Carolyn Shortland did a brilliant hammer throw to cover the womens 45 age and broke the age group club best for W35, W40 and W45 age groups and was in third place in the womens 55 age group and also threw a club record.

The W45 4×100 metres relay team of Monica Brown, Tessa Stephenson, Sharon Crowley and Chris Feely narrowly broke the club record in the last event of the night.

In the men’s events, Dave Bowker not only won the 2000 metres walk, as a 50 year old, but broke the senior club record too carrying on his good form.

Tim Mullins Saunders copied Dave Bowker by also breaking club records in several age groups to win the mens 40 Hammer, in a category twenty years younger than his actual age!

The last club record to be bettered was the mens 4×100 metres relay for men over 50. Dave Bowker, Dave Stephenson, Bernie Barnaby and John Harris easily breaking the previous mark.

Paras 10
Recently ROB EVANS travelled to Merville Barracks, Colchester to take part in the Paras 10 race – organised and marshalled by members of the Parachute Regiment.

The race started at 11am and was started by an artillery gun and a flyover by an Army Lynx helicopter.

The tough cross country race included a number of obstacles including 2 water crossings. The first water crossing was made while automatic gunfire sounded all around and while being shouted at by Paras. Throughout the race the Lynx Helicopter flew overheard and members of the Paras demonstrated their battlefield skills.

Despite battling the heat and hay fever Rob completed the 10.25 miles course in 1 hour 35 minutes 8 seconds.

Enigma
On Saturday 6th July Carol Paul ran the Enigma marathon which is seven and a half laps of Caldecotte Lake in Milton Keynes. With temperatures reaching 25 degrees Carol completed the race in 4 hours 44 minutes 24 seconds. Carol has completed four Enigma marathons and that was her quickest time for the course

1st Saturday
JOHN HARRIS-was second in the North Herts First Saturday of the Month 5K, with a new Season’s Best time of 18 minutes 49 seconds. TRACY PEZ was second woman in 22:30 and LISA GRAY ran an excellent 23:34.

SixMileBridge Marathon
ROGER BIGGS was in Sixmilebridge, Cty Clare, Ireland supporting The Irish 10in10. (10 marathons in 10 days). He ran day 4 last week finishing in 4 hours 33 minutes 45 seconds, then also ran day 6 on Tuesday in 4:40:03, and day 8 on Thursday in 4:40:22.

Back in England on Sunday he ran the hilly ‘Heart of the Weald’ off road marathon from Wadhurst, East Sussex in 8:02:04. All three races in hot & sunny weather.

Danik’s Run
DANIEL BATES ran the Pymmes Parkrun in Edmonton, north London. He was second out of the 23 runners with a time of 20 minutes 26 seconds in very hot conditions.

The Fairlands Valley Off Road Challenge is this Sunday 21st July. For more information please go to 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 9K in Trent Park, North London on Wednesday 17th July
• Fairlands Valley Challenge on Sunday 21st July
• Relays in the Park in Stevenage on Thursday evening 25th July
• Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 5th September
• Club Five Mile Team Champs on Tuesday 10th September
• Herts Senior 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 24th September
• County 10K Championships in Letchworth on Sunday 6th October
• Herts Veterans 5K Championships in WGC on Tuesday 8th October
• County 10 Mile Championships for veterans on Sunday 27th October
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd November
• County Ten Miles Championship in Buntingford on 30th December 2013

Join The SpartansLive 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 about 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 the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Brittain Way, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

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

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

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

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

E N D S

www.fvspartans.org.uk

Plus Medals at Eastern Region

After the longest trip of the season, Fairlands Valley Spartans men’s and women’s teams both finished second to Milton Keynes. The women were only a point behind but still lead the league as they are three points ahead. There were lots of club records to back up the club’s good performances this season and there were thirteen wins between the teams.

Newcomer Louise Oliver won the women’s 35 age group 100 metres and Shot Putt, she also anchored the womens 35 4×100 metres relay team who came in 3rd.

Monica Brown continued her good form by winning the W45 100m, Long Jump, High Jump.

Both Chris Feely and Julie Simmons broke club age group records in the 400 metres, Chris in the over 45 age group and Julie in the over 55 age group. Julie also did an age group best in the Long Jump.

Carolyn Shortland did a brilliant hammer throw to cover the womens 45 age and broke the age group club best for W35, W40 and W45 age groups and was in third place in the womens 55 age group and also threw a club record.

The W45 4×100 metres relay team of Monica Brown, Tessa Stephenson, Sharon Crowley and Chris Feely narrowly broke the club record in the last event of the night.

In the men’s events, Dave Bowker not only won the 2000 metres walk, as a 50 year old, but broke the senior club record too carrying on his good form.

Tim Mullins Saunders copied Dave Bowker by also breaking club records in several age groups to win the mens 40 Hammer, in a category twenty years younger than his actual age!

The last club record to be bettered was the mens 4×100 metres relay for men over 50. Dave Bowker, Dave Stephenson, Bernie Barnaby and John Harris easily breaking the previous mark.

Paras 10
On Saturday ROB EVANS travelled to Merville Barracks, Colchester to take part in the Paras 10 race – organised and marshalled by members of the Parachute Regiment.

The race started at 11am and was started by an artillery gun and a flyover by an Army Lynx helicopter.

The tough cross country race included a number of obstacles including 2 water crossings. The first water crossing was made while automatic gunfire sounded all around and while being shouted at by Paras. Throughout the race the Lynx Helicopter flew overheard and members of the Paras demonstrated their battlefield skills.

Despite battling the heat and hay fever Rob completed the 10.25 miles course in 1 hour 35 minutes 8 seconds.

Enigma
On Saturday 6th July Carol Paul ran the Enigma marathon which is seven and a half laps of Caldecotte Lake in Milton Keynes. With temperatures reaching 25 degrees Carol completed the race in 4 hours 44 minutes 24 seconds. Carol has completed four Enigma marathons and that was her quickest time for the course

1st Saturday

John Harris-was second in the North Herts First Saturday of the Month 5K, with a new Season’s Best time of 18 minutes 49 seconds. TRACY PEZ was second woman in 22:30 and LISA GRAY ran an excellent 23:34.

SixMileBridge Marathon – Sunday, 7th July 2013
Roger travelled to the SixMileBridge, a small Irish town in County Clare. The marathon was day 4 of the Irish 10 in 10 series, i.e. 10 marathon in 10 days!

With warm and humid conditions, over a two lap course on undulating country roads from SixMileBridge, Roger Biggs struggled to beat the heat, and finally finished in 4 hours 33 minutes 45 seconds. Starting a marathon at 2pm was unusual and ensured that all runners would be out in the hottest part of the day!!

Danik’s Run
DANIEL BATES ran the Pymmes Parkrun in Edmonton, north London. He was second out of the 23 runners with a time of 20 minutes 26 seconds in very hot conditions.

Coming Events