Ninety six Fairlands Valley Spartans raced round Fairlands Valley Park in the fourth Mid Week League 10K race of the season. Others helped organise the event so well over a hundred club members were involved.
An improved turnout of forty helped the Spartan women beat Orion Harriers and Trent Park Running Club. They were boosted by NATALIE LAWRENCE who won the women’s race in 38 minutes 57 seconds. SAM PRETTY finished in 41:45; MICHELLE REEVES with a 2 minute 37 seconds improvement on her personal best (PB) in 42:55; SUZY HAWKINS in 44:30, an improvement of 36 seconds; TRACY PEZ in 46:33; ANN TRYSSESOONE in 46:47; CLAIRE COX in 48:07; and ANGELA ARMITAGE with a 37 second improvement to 49:01.
MARIE COLUCCI led in the women’s “B” team with 49:41. The team was completed by LISA GRAY, 49:59; JULIE SIMMONS, 50:31; JANE MacFARLANE, 50:48; KAREN ELLIS, 51:22; SOPHIE COWAN, 51:24; OLWEN BATTY, 52:23; and NIKKI TOUT 52:51.
With a dramatic 8 minutes 3 seconds improvement since the 10K league race in St Albans PENNY SCHENKEL was first for the “C” team in 53:48. She was chased in by TRICIA HOPPER, 54:11; KAREN PALMER 54:32 and SUE HARMER, 55:01. Then there was a rush of other Spartan women ADA JANUSIENNE, 55:22; CAROLINE CROFT, 56:11; JENNY GARRETT, 56:14 and JULIE SHADBOLT, 56:14 completed the “C” team and were followed in by KERSTON WEINER also 56:14; VICTORIA BRETT with a 2:57 improvement to finish in 56:17; KATHERINE HYDE, also 56:17; SARAH PIKE 58:06 and MARIA THORNE, 58:34.
SIMON JACKSON was fastest man for the Spartans. He was 19th out of the 400 plus runners in 35:59; ANDREW PATTERSON was 26th in 36:34 and STEFFAN FORD 41st in 37:18. PAUL HEWETT improved his personal best by nine seconds to be 43rd in 37:25 and IAIN McKEAN was 44th in his first 10K with a time of 37:26. GRANT RAMSAY was in the top fifty at 49th with 37:38.
| Race | Name | Surname | Cat. | M/F | Time | Comments |
| 19 | Simon | Jackson | V 40 | M | 35:59 | 4MV40 |
| 26 | Andrew | Patterson | S | M | 36:34 | YB |
| 41 | Steffan | Ford | S | M | 37:18 | YB |
| 43 | Paul | Hewett | S | M | 37:25 | PB (0:09) |
| 44 | Iain | McKean | S | M | 37:26 | 1st 10K |
| 49 | Grant | Ramsay | V 40 | M | 37:38 | |
| 58 | Brian | Brackstone | V 40 | M | 38:13 | |
| 71 | Natalie | Lawrence | S | F | 38:57 | First woman |
| 73 | Keith | Coughlin | S | M | 39:11 | |
| 79 | Danny | Hukin | S | M | 39:27 | YB |
| 93 | John | Harris | V 50 | M | 40:29 | YB |
| 100 | David | Riddell | V 50 | M | 40:44 | |
| 111 | Karl | Clark | V 40 | M | 41:22 | PB (1:24) |
| 118 | Todd | Gray | S | M | 41:32 | YB |
| 124 | Sam | Pretty | S | F | 41:45 | YB |
| 127 | Liam | Herbert | S | M | 41:57 | YB |
| 142 | Michelle | Reeves | S | F | 42:55 | PB (2:37) |
| 148 | Kevin | Smart | V 40 | M | 43:05 | |
| 149 | Kieran | Feetham | S | M | 43:08 | PB (0:14) |
| 153 | Liam | Errington | S | M | 43:44 | 1st 10K |
| 156 | Tim | Saban | V 40 | M | 43:57 | |
| 158 | Paul | Batterbee | S | M | 43:58 | PB 1:06) |
| 162 | Stuart | Haycroft | S | M | 44:20 | 1st 10K |
| 164 | Thomas | Sauka | V 40 | M | 44:26 | |
| 168 | Dean | Carpenter | V 40 | M | 44:33 | YB |
| 172 | Suzy | Hawkins | V 35 | F | 44:30 | 6FV35. PB (0:36) |
| 176 | Paul | Whyte | S | M | 44:43 | YB |
| 186 | Paul | Carter | V 40 | M | 45:21 | SB |
| 187 | Claire | Pullen | V 45 | F | 45:20 | YB |
| 188 | Mark | Goodwin | V 50 | M | 45:25 | YB |
| 189 | Chris | Manning | S | M | 45:26 | 1st 10K |
| 192 | Mark | Beasley | V 50 | M | 45:42 | |
| 196 | David | Hodbod | S | M | 46:08 | YB |
| 204 | Tracy | Pez | V 35 | F | 46:33 | YB |
| 207 | James | Kilroy | S | M | 46:40 | PB (0:05) |
| 209 | Ann | Tryssesoone | V 45 | F | 46:47 | |
| 215 | Martin | Dudley | V 50 | M | 47:10 | PB (0:49) |
| 218 | Greg | Kelly | V 40 | M | 47:10 | PB |
| 226 | Darren | Emmerson | V 40 | M | 47:40 | PB (0:54) |
| 232 | Robert | Evans | V 40 | M | 48:17 | |
| 233 | Claire | Cox | V 35 | F | 48:07 | |
| 235 | Gareth | Powell | V 40 | M | 48:15 | 1st 10K |
| 240 | Paul | Maguire | V 50 | M | 48:45 | PB (0:13) |
| 252 | Selvan | Naicker | V 40 | M | 49:18 | YB |
| 256 | Angela | Armitage | V 35 | F | 49:01 | PB (0:37) |
| 264 | Marie | Colucci | V 35 | F | 49:41 | |
| 267 | Lisa | Gray | V 45 | F | 49:59 | YB |
| 268 | Jon | Sypula | V 40 | M | 49:51 | |
| 270 | Andy | Jay | V 50 | M | 50:02 | |
| 277 | Julie | Simmons | V 55 | F | 50:31 | 5FV55 YB |
| 279 | Martin | Nicholas | V 40 | M | 50:29 | PB (3:04) |
| 281 | Jane | McFarlane | V 35 | F | 50:48 | |
| 286 | Sophie | Cowan | V 35 | F | 51:24 | |
| 289 | Karen | Ellis | V 45 | F | 51:22 | |
| 297 | Vishal | Shah | S | M | 52:05 | |
| 299 | Steve | Pike | V 50 | M | 52:06 | |
| 300 | Olwen | Batty | S | F | 52:23 | |
| 308 | Nikki | Tout | V 35 | F | 52:51 | |
| 313 | Callum | Beasley | S | M | 53:04 | |
| 317 | Tim | Robinson | V 40 | M | 53:26 | |
| 321 | Lee | Pickersgill | S | M | 53:27 | |
| 322 | James | South | S | M | 53:45 | 1st 10K |
| 324 | Roger | Biggs | V 60 | M | 53:41 | YB |
| 325 | Jim | Brown | V 60 | M | 53:45 | |
| 326 | Rob | Shaw | V 60 | M | 53:45 | |
| 327 | Penny | Schenkel | V 45 | F | 53:48 | PB (8:03) |
| 333 | Tricia | Hopper | V 45 | F | 54:11 | YB |
| 337 | Karen | Palmer | V 45 | F | 54:32 | |
| 343 | Sue | Hamer | V 45 | F | 55:01 | PB (1:13) |
| 344 | Mark | West | V 40 | M | 55:10 | 1st 10K |
| 345 | Simon | Sypula | V 40 | M | 55:15 | |
| 347 | Andy | Prior | V 40 | M | 55:16 | |
| 348 | Ada | Janusiene | S | F | 55:22 | |
| 356 | Caroline | Croft | V 45 | F | 56:11 | 1st 10K |
| 357 | Jenny | Garrett | V 45 | F | 56:14 | |
| 358 | Julie | Shadbolt | V 45 | F | 56:14 | YB |
| 359 | Kerstin | Weiner | V 45 | F | 56:14 | YB |
| 362 | Victoria | Brett | V 35 | F | 56:17 | PB (2:57) |
| 363 | Katherine | Hyde | V 35 | F | 56:17 | 1st 10K |
| 373 | Sarah | Pike | S | F | 58:06 | |
| 375 | Maria | Thorne | V 45 | F | 58:34 | |
| 377 | Anton | McCalla | S | M | 58:59 | |
| 378 | Heather | Moloney | V 45 | F | 59:02 | 1st 10K |
| 379 | Beverley | Harlow | V 55 | F | 59:11 | YB |
| 380 | Karl | Shreeve | V 40 | M | 59:13 | PB (7:35) |
| 382 | Stephanie | Mayfield | V 35 | F | 59:14 | YB |
| 386 | Paul | Holgate | V 50 | M | 59:48 | YB |
| 387 | Sarah | Sapstead | S | F | 1:00:13 | PB (3:55) |
| 399 | Claire | Bell | S | F | 1:01:12 | |
| 401 | Sharon | Crowley | V 55 | F | 1:02:18 | YB |
| 407 | Tracy | Stiles | V 45 | F | 1:04:06 | |
| 409 | Steve | Gough | V 40 | M | 1:04:22 | YB |
| 414 | Chloe | Emmerson | S | F | 1:05:08 | 1st 10K |
| 416 | Hannah | Sypula | V 35 | F | 1:05:24 | YB |
| 420 | Peter | Carpenter | V 70 | M | 1:06:42 | 7MV70 |
| 427 | Emma | Martin | V 35 | F | 1:11:00 | 1st 10K |
The relays in the park will be on Thursday 28th July. See www.fvspartans.org.uk for details.
Craig and Jim Win Prizes At Welwyn 10K
CRAIG HALSEY was third overall in Sunday’s Welwyn 10K in a fantastic time of 35 minutes 20 seconds. The race included the Hertfordshire Championships for seniors (18 plus) in which he will win at least a BRONZE medal. There were about 800 runners.
JIM BROWN won the trophy for third veteran (60 plus) in the race with 52 minutes 59 seconds. Despite tough hills at four and nine kilometres PENNY SCHENKEL took another 41 seconds off her personal best when she finished in 53:07.
Two more sub 50 times were recorded by TIM SABAN and MARK GOODWIN, Tim with 46:37 and Mark on 47:15.
KEN JUDE was very pleased to record 52 minutes 33 seconds at this stage in his recovery from injury.
OLWEN BATTY had other Spartans in her sights for most of the race and finished in 53:40. She was followed in by LEE PICKERSGILL (55:32) and CLAIRE HYDE (57:00).
The County Track 10K is on Thursday evening 7th July.
Herts Hobble
KAREN LIDDLE, BARRY KING and CAROL PAUL ran the Herts Hobble on Sunday. It was on a new tough course. Carol completed the 26.2 miles in 5 hours 35 minutes 39 seconds while Karen and Barry took 7 hours 36 minutes. The event was based in Buntingford and included Great Hormead, Anstey, Barley, Reed and Wyddial.
Mike and Liz CROWLEY covered the 17.4 miles option in 5 hours 59 minutes 30 seconds.
Springfield Friday 5 – Friday, 24th June 2016
The Springfield Five is a Friday evening race on quiet roads in and around the Village of Pleshey in Essex. ROGER BIGGS run a consistent race over an undulating course, in almost perfect running weather, to finish with a time of 42:31.
Parkrun Report
Spartan women dominated the first six finishing positions at Stevenage on Saturday.
ALISON WOOD was first to cross the line in 19:42, going almost half a minute faster that last week for a new course personal best (PB). NICOLA HABERLAND was second in 22:53 on her first visit, MARIE COLUCCI 3rd in 22:59, also a new course PB, TRACY PEZ 4th in 23:00 and CLAIRE COX 5th in a new course PB of 23:23. CLAIRE PULLEN completed the sextet of Spartan women at the head of the field.
For the men DANNY HUKIN was 5th male in a new PB of 19:43, despite pushing a buggy that had mechanical difficulties, THOMAS SAUKA was 10th in 20:34 (course PB), MARTIN WOOD 12th in 20:45 (course PB), RICHARD KENNEDY 22nd in 21:55 and DARREN EMMERSON was 30th in 22:32.
There were also parkrun course PBs this weekend for JON SYPULA, VERITY FISHER, CAROLE SHELDRICK, KERSTIN WEINER, CLAIRE COKER and JANET COX, all at Stevenage.
The full list of Spartans in parkrun action at Stevenage and elsewhere this weekend was as follows:
STEVENAGE
| Pos | Gender Pos | parkrunner | Time | Notes |
| 5 | 1 | Alison WOOD | 00:19:42 | New PB! |
| 6 | 5 | Danny HUKIN | 00:19:43 | New PB! |
| 11 | 10 | Thomas SAUKA | 00:20:34 | New PB! |
| 13 | 12 | Martin WOOD | 00:20:45 | New PB! |
| 23 | 22 | Richard KENNEDY | 00:21:55 | First Timer! |
| 31 | 30 | Darren EMMERSON | 00:22:32 | PB stays at 00:22:26 |
| 33 | 2 | Nicola HABERLAND | 00:22:53 | First Timer! |
| 34 | 3 | Marie COLUCCI | 00:22:59 | New PB! |
| 35 | 4 | Tracy PEZ | 00:23:00 | PB stays at 00:22:45 |
| 39 | 35 | Martin DUDLEY | 00:23:06 | PB stays at 00:22:30 |
| 44 | 5 | Claire COX | 00:23:23 | New PB! |
| 45 | 6 | Claire PULLEN | 00:23:28 | PB stays at 00:22:03 |
| 48 | 41 | James KILROY | 00:23:37 | First Timer! |
| 65 | 55 | Jon SYPULA | 00:24:39 | New PB! |
| 74 | 64 | Daniel SUTTON | 00:25:21 | PB stays at 00:25:21 |
| 75 | 11 | Carol PAUL | 00:25:22 | PB stays at 00:25:18 |
| 85 | 71 | Simon SYPULA | 00:25:48 | First Timer! |
| 94 | 18 | Verity FISHER | 00:26:45 | New PB! |
| 96 | 20 | Carole SHELDRICK | 00:27:01 | New PB! |
| 97 | 21 | Kerstin WEINER | 00:27:24 | New PB! |
| 126 | 31 | Theresa KEAST | 00:29:14 | PB stays at 00:28:45 |
| 142 | 41 | Beverley HARLOW | 00:29:57 | PB stays at 00:29:24 |
| 149 | 44 | Hannah SYPULA | 00:30:28 | PB stays at 00:29:14 |
| 169 | 61 | Liz MORGAN | 00:32:40 | First Timer! |
| 179 | 111 | Ian ALEXANDER | 00:33:34 | PB stays at 00:32:06 |
| 189 | 76 | Claire COKER | 00:34:15 | New PB! |
| 202 | 118 | John NELMS | 00:35:32 | PB stays at 00:19:58 |
| 225 | 100 | Janet COX | 00:39:49 | New PB! |
| 226 | 101 | Caren THAIN | 00:40:09 | PB stays at 00:38:04 |
| 242 | 115 | Claire DRAKE | 00:50:44 | PB stays at 00:31:08 |
GRAHAM HILL ran the Milton Keynes parkrun in 34:22; DAVE SMITH Wimpole Estate in 23:50; ANDY JAY Panshanger in 24:08 and TIM ROBINSON Ellenbrook Fields in 34:22.
Swansea Half Marathon
Rob Evans and Karl Clark travelled to South Wales for the Swansea Half Marathon. With near-perfect weather conditions, Karl completed the flat and fast course in 1:30:41 and Rob in 1:48:20.
Coming Events
Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks including the:
Milton Keynes 10K on Tuesday 28th June.
EMAC (Veterans Track & Field) event in Milton Keynes on Wednesday 6th July.
County Track 10K on Sandy on Thursday 7th July.
Midweek Mob Match at Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 14th July.
Fairlands Valley Challenge on Sunday 17th July.
Bedford 5K on Wednesday 27th July.
Relays in the Park, our 3K Relays in Fairlands Valley on Thursday 28th July.
EMAC (Veterans Track & Field) event in Stevenage on Wednesday 3rd August.
Harlow 10 on Sunday 4th September.
FVS Handicap 5 / 10 in Stevenage on Sunday 25th September.
Standalone 10K including County Vets Championships on Sunday 2nd October.
Peterborough Half Marathon on Sunday 9th October.
Abingdon Marathon on Sunday 23rd October.
Stevenage Half Marathon, a Stevenage 70 event, on Sunday 6th November.
St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 20th November.
County Five Miles Open Championship in Hatfield on 27th November.
Spartans Christmas Social on Saturday 10th December.
Join The Spartans
Live in or near Stevenage? Like running? Fairlands Valley Spartans is your local running club and is on the up! The club was voted the UK’s Best Running Club in 2010. It now has hundreds of members and encourages participation by all. The Spartans have a varied training programme to suit those who want to run 5 kilometres through to full marathons.
The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!
The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.
Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 9a.m. sharp. Spartan track training sessions are held at Ridlins Athletics Track, Woodcock Road, Stevenage most Saturdays from 9.15a.m. There are events to enter every Sunday. Newcomers are very welcome – those who have not yet done very much running might prefer to start with a Thursday, Saturday or Monday session.
Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £37 per year, £25 without UKA affiliation. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy. You can also join online.
If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (0793 968 7509), Andy Neatham 0777 197 5499 and 01438 816889; or Karen Palmer (07734678566) or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk