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FAIRLANDS FLYING FIFTEEN HUNDREDS

News from the FVS 1500m event, park runs, Canterbury and Ireland

Fairlands Valley Spartans enjoyed good conditions and a great atmosphere for their Flying Fifteen Hundreds at Ridlins Track on Saturday morning. The club had adapted their usual track session to give lots of members a chance to race 1500 metres on the track. Enough were keen for there to be two busy races which were followed by some juniors running 800 and 400 metres.

LIAM HERBERT was the first Spartan to finish and had a time of 5 minutes 8 seconds (5:08); with BERNIE BARNABY eight seconds behind in 5:16 and TIM SABAN third in 5:29.

YLLKA ISTREFI was fastest woman in 5:58. CAROLINE BARKER was second in 6:21 and SUZIE GODREY third in 6:32. Veteran 70 plus PETER CARPENTER finished in 7 minutes 48 seconds.

The other finishers were CALLUM BEASLEY 4th in 5:34; JOHN NELMS 5th in 5:40: CRAIG BACON 6th in 5:46; TOM GLADING 7th in 5:47. Then there was a rush with DUNCAN GODREY 8th in 5:51; MARK GOODWIN 9th in 5:52; MARK BEASLEY 10th in 5:53; ANDY JAY sprinting in for 11th in 5:54; VISH SHAH 12th in 5:56; MARK CHEADLE and JAMES KILROY equal 13th in 5:57; and TIM ROBINSON 15th equal with Yllka in 5:58.

Caroline’s 6:21 put her in 17th place overall. She was followed by BARRY KING 18th in 6:25; STEVE SMITHSON making a welcome return to running 19th in 6:31; and Suzie was 20th with her 6:32.

They were chased in by NICK WITCOMBE 6:48; ANDREA WESTCOTT 6:53; STEVE GOUGH 7:02; club president MARK GLADING 7:13; club secretary KAREN PALMER
7:25; LIZ CARVELL 7:28; and MONICA SMITHSON 7:33.

Combined Result From Both Races

1 Liam Herbert 05:08
2 Bernie Barnaby 05:16
3 Tim Saban 05:29
4 Callum Beasley 05:34
5 John Nelms 05:40
6 Craig Bacon 05:46
7 Tom Glading 05:47
8 Duncan Godfrey 05:51
9 Mark Goodwin 05:52
10 Mark Beasley 05:53
11 Andy Jay 05:54
12 Vishal Shah 05:56
13 Mark Cheadle 05:57
14 James Kilroy 05:57
15 Tim Robinson 05:58
15 Yllka Istrefi 05:58
17 Caroline Barker 06:21
18 Barry King 06:25
19 Steve Smithson 06:31
20 Suzie Godfrey 06:32
21 Nick Witcombe 06:48
22 Andrea Westcott 06:53
23 Steve Gough 07:02
24 Sophie Cowan 07:04
25 Mark Glading 07:13
26 Karen Palmer 07:25
27 Liz Carvell 07:28
28 Monica Smithson 07:33
29 Peter Carpenter 07:48

The 1500 times will count towards the club’s short distance championship (which is based on the best of three out of 1500 metres; 5 kilometres; 5 miles and 10 kilometres).

Atlantic Achill

ROGER BIGGS travelled to Achill Island on the far West Coast of Ireland, for a very scenic and hilly marathon. In reasonable running conditions, but with the might of the Atlantic winds, Roger was pleased to finish in 5:14:13.

Canterbury Half

DANIEL BATES finished the Canterbury half marathon on Bank Holiday Monday in 1 hour 39 minutes 22 seconds. He was 51st place out of the 314 runners. The course was very hilly around the country lanes to the south of the historic city whilst heavy rain and thunder was the theme of the day.

Parkrun Reports

Spartan NATALIE LAWRENCE was first female home in the 5K Parkrun at Luton’s Wardown Park. She finished 33rd out of the 178th runners in 24 minutes 43 seconds.

Get Training for the Stevenage Half

Looking ahead entries have opened for the Stevenage Half Marathon which will be on Sunday 1st November. This event is open to all aged 17 and over but will include the county championships for veterans. Visit www.fvspartans.org.uk for more details; an online entry system and how you can train with the Spartans.

Coming Events

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

County 5K Senior Championships on Wednesday evening 2nd September.
EVAC Track and Field Final on Sunday 13th September.
County 5K Veterans Championship on Wednesday evening 16th September.
Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday evening 17th September.
Club Handicap 10 mile race on Sunday 20th September.
Serpentine 5K in Hyde Park on Friday 25th September.
Standalone 10K (inc. county senior champs) in Letchworth on Sunday 4th October.
Great Eastern Run in Peterborough on Sunday 11th October.
Abingdon Marathon on Sunday 18th October.
Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday evening 22nd October.
Serpentine 5K in Hyde Park at Friday lunchtime 30th October.
Stevenage Half Marathon (includes County Veterans) on Sunday 1st November.
St. Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 15th November.
Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday evening 19th November.
Serpentine 5K in Hyde Park at Friday lunchtime 27th November.
Spartans Christmas Party on Friday 4th December.
Handicap5K in Stevenage on Thursday evening 17th December.
County 10 miles Veterans Championship at Buntingford on 27th 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 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. 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

E N D S

More from Jim Brown (Press Officer) 0793 968 7509; Andy Neatham 0777 197 5499 and 01438 816889 or Karen Palmer (Secretary) 0773 467 8566

www.fvspartans.org.uk

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