Fairlands Valley Spartans had thirty runners in Sunday’s County Cross County Championships and provided dozens of helpers.
Despite helping to organise the event for clubs all over Hertfordshire the club’s women’s team were fifth out of 17, the men ninth out of 21 and William Morley had a good run in the under 17 race.
In the senior men’s race over 11 kilometres in Fairlands Valley Park’s south field SIMON JACKSON led the “A” team in at 35th in 42 minutes 41 seconds. DAN McALPINE came next at 44th in 43:42 followed by CIARAN McANENY at 48th in 43:58 with ADRIAN BUSOLINI also in the top 50 at 50th in 44:08. Men’s teams consisted of six runners and the “A” team was completed by PAUL HEWETT 71st in 45:35 and STUART ARCHER 104th in 48:46. The bottom end of the field was very wet.
There were some strong performances by the Spartan women who raced over about 8K. Three complete teams of four finished the championship event. Six women beat 40 minutes for the five miles. They were ALISON WOOD 14th in 33:32; SAMANTHA PRETTY-CONNORS 15th in 33:34; SUZY HAWKINS 27th in 34:59; MICHELLE REEVES 29th in 35:05; GAIL MACKIE 32nd in 35:39 and TANYA BRAZIER 35th in 36:36.
Many other Spartans enjoyed the event and the satisfaction of taking part in such a high standard event.
In the male U17 event WILLIAM MORLEY was 21st in 24:14 for about 6,000 metres.
Huge thanks to Sophie Cowan and Ken Jude who worked in extremely trying conditions to get everything together for the event.
Spartan Men (17, 2 teams of 6 and 5 others) running 11K
Position | Bib | First Name | Last Name | Minutes | Seconds |
35 | 348 | Simon | Jackson | 42 | 41 |
44 | 352 | Dan | McAlpine | 43 | 42 |
48 | 353 | Ciaran | McAneny | 43 | 58 |
50 | 339 | Adrian | Busolini | 44 | 08 |
71 | 347 | Paul | Hewett | 45 | 35 |
104 | 337 | Stuart | Archer | 48 | 46 |
118 | 355 | Martin | Rutherford | 51 | 20 |
132 | 345 | Toby | Eccleshall | 54 | 24 |
133 | 358 | Martin | Wood | 54 | 35 |
135 | 356 | Thomas | Sauka | 54 | 54 |
147 | 357 | Danny | Scanlon | 57 | 27 |
149 | 350 | Paul | Maguire | 58 | 02 |
153 | 344 | Steve | Dobner | 60 | 00 |
155 | 343 | Nick | Crowley | 60 | 36 |
156 | 346 | Ed | Hare | 60 | 49 |
161 | 338 | Jim | Brown | 63 | 20 |
163 | 349 | Andy | Jay | 64 | 33 |
167 finishers.
Spartan Women (3 teams of 4) running 8K
Position | Bib | First Name | Last Name | Minutes | Seconds |
14 | 556 | Alison | Wood | 33 | 32 |
15 | 552 | Samantha | Pretty-Connors | 33 | 34 |
27 | 548 | Suzy | Hawkins | 34 | 59 |
29 | 553 | Michelle | Reeves | 35 | 05 |
32 | 549 | Gail | Mackie | 35 | 39 |
35 | 542 | Tanya | Brazier | 36 | 36 |
56 | 547 | Rhiannon | Griffin | 40 | 03 |
58 | 550 | Susan | McAneny | 40 | 26 |
59 | 545 | Claire | Emmerson | 40 | 27 |
71 | 543 | Fiona | Clarke` | 43 | 10 |
73 | 546 | Kelly | Evans | 43 | 24 |
89 | 554 | Penny | Schenkel | 48 | 41 |
97 finishers.
Hundreds of Racing Spartans Run more than 2,000 kilometres
Fairlands Valley Spartans raced at least 2,400 kilometres over the Christmas and New Year period. There were hundreds of participations – 377 Spartan runs.
Rosie’s Knacker Cracker
The Knacker Cracker took place on a surprisingly warm and dry first day of the year.
Spartan ROS INGRAM took 1 hour 17 minutes 7 seconds to get round. She said, “This sounds less good for a 10km, before you know it is basically running up and down different sides of 224 metres high Boxhill in Surrey.” There’s a total of 500 metres (1667ft) of climbing. The organisers describe it as “a run for hearty man fellows and lady fellows”, mostly on rough tracks, and including superb views over the North Downs, the Mole Gap, Denbies Vineyard, and Dorking.
Many people were celebrating the new year the night before and there were plenty of fancy dress costumes so this was not a super-serious event, but a fun and friendly one. Ros was 80th overall and 11th woman, with the unfair advantage of not having drunk the night before and being reasonably well-slept. There were 210 runners.
New Year’s Day 10K
Two Spartans combined the New Year’s Day 10K in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens with the enormous New Year’s Day Parade. Despite racing a 5K; ten miles and leading a bike ride in the previous days JIM BROWN got round the 10K in 50 minutes 4 seconds and was pretty happy with that. He was 246th. PENNY SCHENKEL was 413th in 60 minutes 16 seconds. There were 502 finishers.
After the race they did the short walk past Green Park to see London’s New Year’s Day Parade. The 10K is essentially flat. The first woman finished in 34:47! Putting the two events together could be an attractive option for 2021.
New Year’s Eve 10K
SIMON JACKSON did the Ely 10K on Tuesday, New Year’s Eve. As always it was undulating and had 3k uphill in to the wind from 5.5K. He was amazed to run a new personal best (PB) and finished in 34:47, 11th overall and second in Age Group, though picking up the first place prize on the on the one runner one prize rule, which gave him a very pleasing and surprisingly end to the year.
Breezy conditions as usual for the end of year Ely 10k but that still did not prevent some excellent times on the fast course.
STUART HAYCROFT was 30th in a new PB of 37 minutes 11 seconds and was fourth man 40 plus. PAUL HOLGATE’s 1:10:07 was 3 minutes 30 seconds faster than his 10K at Cambridge two days earlier; and ROGER BIGGS’ 1:11:50 7 minutes 9 seconds quicker. There were 597 finishers.
Tim Gets His Bacon – Flitch Way Marathon
On New Year’s Eve Tim Robinson ran the Flitch Way Marathon. The route is out and back from Braintree Discovery Centre through Dunmow to Takeley Street and back, mainly following disused railway line. The recent rain meant that many sections of the run were very muddy.
There’s a strict three hour cut off at half way and 6 hour at the finish. Unfortunately Tim left his watch at home, and other than an aid station at 6 miles, there are no distance markers and so had no real idea of progress up to halfway. He made the turn around in 2:28 with 30mins to spare.
The return leg was extremely hard. Hungry, cold, tired and confused he was sure he was taking walk breaks too often and going far too slowly. However he made the finish within the cut off time finishing 103rd of 118 in 5:24:25
Parkrun Highlights 4th January 2020
The first Saturday Parkrun of the year continues to see high numbers turning out for various venues. Stevenage saw the second highest turnout in history with 532 runners of which 41 were Fairlands Valley Spartans.
A total of 51 Spartans headed out to 11 different venues, covering three home nations.
The fastest Spartan was Grant RAMSAY finishing with a time of 18:39 (third male) at Oak Hill on his 30th Parkrun. The fastest Spartan lady was Grace BROWN (second female) at Stevenage, completing her 50th Parkrun in 23:19.
There were three other top 10 gender position finishes, Stuart STABLES (9th 22:45) at Plean, John ROXBOROUGH (4th 21:49) at Merthyr (running at another new venue, John’s 74th venue to date), and Dean CARPENTER (10th 19:25) at Stevenage.
Jenny GARRET also ran at a new venue Temple Newsam with a time of 30:55.
Julie SHADBOLT (Stevenage 28:34) and Mo WARRILLOW (Panshanger 27:42) ran their 10th and 130th milestone runs. Special mention to Tracy STILES who completed an official milestone of 50 Parkruns at Stevenage. Congratulations!
New Year’s Day parkrun report
Attendance records were broken across numerous parkrun venues including Stevenage with 562 finishers. Of the events where Spartans attended records were broken at Bournemouth, Stevenage, Buckingham (west of MK), Whinlatter Forest, Folkestone, Panshanger, Ellenbrook Fields and Irchester Country (near Wellingborough).
Many Spartans took the opportunity to do a double parkrun close to home eg Panshanger / Stevenage. Many ventured further afield.
Chris Holland was in Keswick running new PB of 22:59 in his second run there. Then he moved on to celebrate his 100 milestone run at the much more challenging Whinlatter Forest (28.33).
Erica Grayson was in Barrow (28:41) then onto Ford (near Ulverston) (31:00).
Liz Smith was at Wimpole (32:57) then in Cambridge (33:34).
Jonathan Parr was first at Stevenage (16:54) on his milestone 50th run. Grant Ramsay was 6th man (18:45). Gail Mackie was second lady at Stevenage in (21:53) after a warm up run at Panshanger (32:42).
Sam Simmons not only did a double parkrun he also got a double PB: Stevenage (23:19) and Panshanger (26:25).
There were also PBs at Panshanger for Paul Shelley (24:01), Kelly Evans (27:22) and Matt Clarke (28:02) and Fiona Clarke (30.01). More PBs at Stevenage for Claire Drake (29:02) and Karen Liddle (32:07).
Tim Robinson completed his 149th and 150th parkrun at Panshanger + Stevenage with his dog Oscar for company.
Congratulations to Danny Sutton who ran 250th and 251th parkrun at Panshanger (32:11) + Stevenage (24:37). Also congratulations to Steve Dobner who recorded his 100th parkrun at Stevenage (24.37) also running earlier at Panshanger (25:16).
John Nelms reached his 50th parkrun running first at a very muddy Letchworth (25:28) then onto Stevenage (25:42).
Full Spartan results can be found below.
Tables
Spartan Parkrun Results for Saturday 4th January.
Parkrun | Position | Gender Position | Name | Run Time | Comments | ||||
Plean | 10 | 9 | Stuart STABLES | 00:22:45 | |||||
Braunstone | 41 | 39 | Richard COWLISHAW | 21:50 | |||||
Bedford |
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Oak Hill |
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30th | ||||
Merthyr |
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new venue | ||||
Stevenage |
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Stevenage | 15 | 15 | Paul SHELLEY | 00:20:25 | |||||
Stevenage | 34 | 34 | Graham HOARE | 00:22:12 | |||||
Stevenage | 51 | 50 | Martin DUDLEY | 00:23:17 | |||||
Stevenage | 52 | 2 | Grace BROWN | 00:23:19 | 50th | ||||
Stevenage | 60 | 57 | Darren EMMERSON | 00:23:32 | |||||
Stevenage | 82 | 76 | Craig BACON | 00:24:36 | |||||
Stevenage | 89 | 82 | Robert Lloyd EVANS | 00:24:47 | |||||
Stevenage | 99 | 90 | Thomas SAUKA | 00:24:53 | |||||
Stevenage | 106 | 11 | Verity FISHER | 00:25:03 | |||||
Stevenage | 107 | 12 | Gail MACKIE | 00:25:04 | |||||
Stevenage | 128 | 113 | Matt CLARKE | 00:25:55 | |||||
Stevenage | 138 | 18 | Karen ELLIS | 00:26:12 | |||||
Stevenage | 168 | 138 | Jonathan JONES | 00:27:04 | |||||
Stevenage | 178 | 145 | Jim BROWN | 00:27:16 | |||||
Stevenage | 185 | 36 | Georgie HOOPER | 00:27:29 | |||||
Stevenage | 186 | 150 | Nick GILL | 00:27:30 | |||||
Stevenage | 190 | 37 | Fiona CLARKE | 00:27:35 | |||||
Stevenage | 206 | 164 | Michael ANDREWS | 00:27:59 | |||||
Stevenage | 221 | 44 | Sheryl HANN | 00:28:24 | |||||
Stevenage | 224 | 179 | James MCSWEENEY | 00:28:31 | |||||
Stevenage | 226 | 46 | Julie SHADBOLT | 00:28:34 | 10th | ||||
Stevenage | 256 | 202 | Nick KLEANTHOUS | 00:29:42 | |||||
Stevenage | 260 | 56 | Debbie BLANTERN | 00:29:47 | |||||
Stevenage | 296 | 75 | Claire PULLEN | 00:31:01 | |||||
Stevenage | 297 | 76 | Karen PALMER | 00:31:02 | |||||
Stevenage | 298 | 222 | Karl SHREEVE | 00:31:04 | |||||
Stevenage | 303 | 226 | Jon SYPULA | 00:31:09 | |||||
Stevenage | 320 | 89 | Ada JANUSIENE | 00:31:35 | |||||
Stevenage | 321 | 90 | Hazel SMITH | 00:31:36 | |||||
Stevenage | 322 | 232 | Tim ROBINSON | 00:31:37 | |||||
Stevenage | 347 | 249 | Steven DOBNER | 00:32:42 | |||||
Stevenage | 370 | 113 | Sally PICKLES | 00:33:27 | |||||
Stevenage | 380 | 259 | Paul HOLGATE | 00:33:45 | |||||
Stevenage | 432 | 155 | Monica SMITHSON | 00:35:40 | |||||
Stevenage | 436 | 158 | Tracy STILES | 00:35:58 | 50th | ||||
Stevenage | 443 | 282 | Roger BIGGS | 00:36:18 | |||||
Stevenage | 448 | 164 | Hilary DAVIES | 00:36:37 | |||||
Stevenage | 472 | 181 | Rhiannon GRIFFIN | 00:39:39 | |||||
Stevenage | 515 | 211 | Hazel JONES | 00:45:06 | |||||
Stevenage | 532 | 224 | Jan FRY | 00:58:33 | |||||
Brockenhurst |
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Wimpole Estate |
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Temple Newsam |
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new venue | ||||
Whinlatter Forest |
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Panshanger |
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130th |
Parkrun Results for New Year’s Day:
Cambridge parkrun
A total of 561 runners took part.
Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Run Time |
439 | 157 | Liz SMITH | 00:33:44 |
Bournemouth parkrun
A total of 967 runners took part.
Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Run Time |
895 | 530 | Darryl STEVENS | 00:38:07 |
Stevenage parkrun
A total of 562 runners took part.
Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Run Time |
1 | 1 | Jonathan PARR | 00:16:54 |
6 | 6 | Grant RAMSAY | 00:18:45 |
8 | 8 | Martin BLACKBURN | 00:19:07 |
11 | 11 | Stuart ARCHER | 00:19:17 |
16 | 16 | Andrew PATTERSON | 00:19:50 |
20 | 20 | Dean CARPENTER | 00:19:55 |
23 | 22 | Paul SHELLEY | 00:20:33 |
29 | 28 | Elliott WHITE | 00:21:06 |
31 | 30 | David RIDDELL | 00:21:15 |
33 | 32 | Toby ECCLESHALL | 00:21:16 |
39 | 38 | William MORLEY | 00:21:38 |
40 | 39 | James KAY | 00:21:41 |
42 | 2 | Gail MACKIE | 00:21:53 |
45 | 43 | Thomas SAUKA | 00:22:06 |
52 | 4 | Eva RAMSEY | 00:22:26 |
55 | 51 | Peter SMITH | 00:22:34 |
64 | 60 | Paul MAGUIRE | 00:22:59 |
65 | 61 | Danny SCANLON | 00:23:01 |
72 | 67 | Sam SIMMONS | 00:23:19 |
73 | 6 | Natalie WHITE | 00:23:28 |
99 | 88 | Mark GOODWIN | 00:24:20 |
106 | 94 | Steven DOBNER | 00:24:37 |
107 | 95 | Daniel SUTTON | 00:24:37 |
114 | 101 | Edward HARE | 00:24:45 |
119 | 105 | Martyn DOWLING | 00:24:55 |
123 | 109 | Ryan DUNNING | 00:24:59 |
134 | 120 | John NELMS | 00:25:42 |
140 | 125 | Jonathan JONES | 00:25:53 |
146 | 19 | Kelly EVANS | 00:26:05 |
148 | 129 | Neal MUGGLETON | 00:26:06 |
155 | 21 | Jo BOWDERY | 00:26:17 |
175 | 28 | Mo WARRILLOW | 00:26:40 |
190 | 33 | Verity FISHER | 00:27:04 |
198 | 37 | Alison SHELLEY | 00:27:10 |
209 | 43 | Julie SIMMONS | 00:27:35 |
228 | 175 | Ken JUDE | 00:28:15 |
235 | 180 | Simon SYPULA | 00:28:29 |
238 | 57 | Ann TRYSSESOONE | 00:28:32 |
260 | 195 | Matt CLARKE | 00:28:59 |
261 | 66 | Claire DRAKE | 00:29:02 |
265 | 67 | Fiona CLARKE | 00:29:05 |
308 | 220 | Jon SYPULA | 00:30:09 |
337 | 102 | Hazel SMITH | 00:31:03 |
350 | 109 | Andrea WESTCOTT | 00:31:28 |
357 | 115 | Liz CARVELL | 00:31:48 |
363 | 117 | Karen LIDDLE | 00:32:07 |
364 | 118 | Claire PULLEN | 00:32:07 |
368 | 121 | Julie SHADBOLT | 00:32:13 |
369 | 122 | Karen ELLIS | 00:32:14 |
382 | 129 | Karen PALMER | 00:32:29 |
384 | 130 | Caroline CROFT | 00:32:38 |
386 | 255 | Tim ROBINSON | 00:32:44 |
392 | 258 | Paul JENNINGS | 00:32:59 |
405 | 142 | Callie CHAPMAN | 00:33:21 |
406 | 143 | Catherine CRAIG | 00:33:22 |
416 | 150 | Melanie BUTT | 00:33:39 |
459 | 177 | Nicola HATHERLY | 00:35:25 |
466 | 184 | Nicola PATTMAN | 00:35:36 |
495 | 291 | Roger BIGGS | 00:37:33 |
529 | 228 | Caren THAIN | 00:42:28 |
530 | 229 | Maggie MONTGOMERY | 00:42:39 |
549 | 241 | Hazel JONES | 00:46:57 |
Barrow parkrun
A total of 150 runners took part.
Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Club | Run Time |
66 | 16 | Erica GRAYSON | Fairlands Valley Spartans RC | 00:28:41 |
Wimpole Estate parkrun
A total of 402 runners took part.
Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Club | Run Time |
277 | 94 | Liz SMITH | Fairlands Valley Spartans RC | 00:32:57 |
Keswick parkrun
A total of 398 runners took part.
Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Club | Run Time |
79 | 65 | Chris HOLLAND | Fairlands Valley Spartans RC | 00:22:59 |
Buckingham parkrun
A total of 410 runners took part.
Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Club | Run Time |
47 | 43 | John ROXBOROUGH | Fairlands Valley Spartans RC | 00:22:06 |
Whinlatter Forest parkrun
A total of 421 runners took part.
Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Club | Run Time |
114 | 96 | Chris HOLLAND | Fairlands Valley Spartans RC | 00:28:33 |
Folkestone parkrun
A total of 345 runners took part.
Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Club | Run Time |
266 | 89 | Beverley HARLOW | Fairlands Valley Spartans RC | 00:34:43 |
Panshanger parkrun
A total of 681 runners took part.
Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Run Time | |
91 | 84 | Danny SCANLON | 00:23:35 | |
95 | 88 | Thomas SAUKA | 00:23:39 | |
110 | 103 | Paul SHELLEY | 00:24:01 | |
113 | 106 | Stuart ARCHER | 00:24:05 | |
125 | 116 | Mark GOODWIN | 00:24:34 | |
127 | 10 | Grace BROWN | 00:24:37 | |
169 | 21 | Mo WARRILLOW | 00:25:41 | |
206 | 177 | Sam SIMMONS | 00:26:25 | |
240 | 37 | Kelly EVANS | 00:27:22 | |
270 | 225 | Matt CLARKE | 00:28:02 | |
293 | 242 | Edward HARE | 00:28:30 | |
336 | 272 | Jonathan JONES | 00:29:38 | |
350 | 70 | Fiona CLARKE | 00:30:01 | |
352 | 71 | Alison SHELLEY | 00:30:03 | |
382 | 294 | Andy JAY | 00:30:51 | |
425 | 115 | Claire EMMERSON | 00:31:51 | |
426 | 116 | Jenny GARRETT | 00:31:52 | |
427 | 311 | Darren EMMERSON | 00:31:53 | |
441 | 318 | Daniel SUTTON | 00:32:11 | |
442 | 124 | Verity FISHER | 00:32:17 | |
461 | 325 | Toby ECCLESHALL | 00:32:41 | |
462 | 137 | Gail MACKIE | 00:32:42 | |
499 | 156 | Catherine CRAIG | 00:33:33 | |
521 | 350 | Paul JENNINGS | 00:34:01 | |
540 | 184 | Hazel SMITH | 00:34:28 | |
541 | 185 | Karen PALMER | 00:34:29 | |
542 | 186 | Caroline CROFT | 00:34:31 | |
559 | 360 | Tim ROBINSON | 00:34:48 | |
571 | 211 | Callie CHAPMAN | 00:35:12 | |
628 | 382 | Peter CARPENTER | 00:37:57 |
Ellenbrook Fields parkrun
A total of 455 runners took part.
Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Club | Run Time |
73 | 10 | Grace BROWN | Fairlands Valley Spartans RC | 00:23:22 |
Letchworth parkrun
A total of 123 runners took part.
Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Club | Run Time |
30 | 28 | John NELMS | Fairlands Valley Spartans RC | 00:25:28 |
Ford parkrun
A total of 124 runners took part.
Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Club | Run Time |
85 | 29 | Erica GRAYSON | Fairlands Valley Spartans RC | 00:31:00 |
Irchester Country parkrun
A total of 472 runners took part.
Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Club | Run Time |
51 | 47 | John ROXBOROUGH | Fairlands Valley Spartans RC | 00:22:46 |