There were GOLD, SILVER and BRONZE medals for Spartans at the Hertfordshire County 20 mile road Championships.
The medals, celebrating Herts County Athletics centenary season, were attractive and worth having.
The county championships were incorporated in the Hillingdon 20. As the Finchley 20 and now the Hillingdon 20 that’s a famous race that was established in 1933 as the ‘Finchley 20’, now rebranded as Hillingdon 20. It is the world’s oldest continuously contested 20-mile road race. A hard race in itself it provides excellent preparation for a spring marathon, such as the London and Manchester Marathons.
The race may be a bit lumpy but SIMON JACKSON was round in 2 hours 8 minutes 7 to win SILVER for men aged 50 plus. SHARON CROWLEY won BRONZE for women 65 plus with 3:36:31 and JIM BROWN was top of the podium with GOLD for men 70 plus. He was 43 minutes 5 seconds faster than the same race last year with 3:21:53.
It was a first attempt at the distance by BECKY RAYNER which she finished in 3:51:40.
She was a bit concerned by the 4 hour cut off beforehand so was really pleased to come in under it, and it’s a PB as it was her first ever 20 miler.
After getting up with a temperature of just one degree and in thick mist it turned into a great morning for long distance running, and sitting around eating cakes afterwards,
Lee Valley Run Fest
Six Spartans enjoyed the Lee Valley Run Fest. Four took on the 10K in which DANNY SCANLON was third man 40 plus with 42 minutes 56 seconds. SALLY PICKLES took 4 minutes 48 seconds off her personal best with 57:53 and was so pleased. MATT TUTTON came in with 1:00:04; HAYLEY PEACH with 1:03:10 and NIKI PLUMB with 1:15:39. Hiya. Happy Sunday!
Niki said her result for Lee Valley 10k was 1:15:39. It was a great event and the weather was perfect. “I was aiming for 1:15 so really pleased with my result. 10 minutes quicker than the Willow 10k in October.
NICHOLA DURENT completed the half marathon in 3 hours 2 minutes 59 seconds. See said it was a chilly start before the sun came out.
Grant Goes Off For A Half And Comes Back A Winner
Spartan GRANT RAMSAY went off for a swift half. He was at the Moorathon Calf and Henk Half Marathon from Hyde Hall Farm, Buntingford.
He won this off road event in 1 hour 33 minutes 58 seconds!
Spartan Grant Ramsay said he took part in the off road half marathon event and put in a good solid run to come back in first overall. He was hoping for a quicker time, but the rugged & undulating course set him back a few minutes. It was a very enjoyable event with nice scenery and in pleasant early Spring conditions.
Ultra Lucy and Stamina Sue
SUSAN McANENY and LUCY PAUL both ran the Lea Valley Ultra 50K. Susan ran her second 50km ultra marathon with Camino running. The Lea Valley ultra starts in Welwyn GC and follows the river to Hackney where the race ended. It’s a beautiful course – flowy and flat. She said Camino runners have a relaxed vibe that was felt throughout and are really inclusive – even making sure all the women were at the front on the start line!
Susan added said “I had a pretty good run all in all, managing to hold pace and finish in 5 hours 26 – under my sub 5 hours 30 goal. I was 23rd lady out of almost 70, so really pleased with my efforts. And nice to run it with my husband for support too!”
Spartan LUCY PAUL ran the London Lea Valley 50K on Saturday. Unfortunately she fell over at mile 12.5 but managed to complete it in 6:02:45. Despite the fall she said it was a lovely run with beautiful scenery in lovely sunshine!
Reading
Father and son JOHN and JACOB NELMS ran the Reading Half Marathon in 2 hours 10 minutes 53 seconds.
Parkrun Highlights
There were a tremendous 39 Spartans at the Stevenage parkrun on Saturday.
This time there were two Spartans in the top ten – SIMON JACKSON 18:58 and STUART ARCHER in 20:03. KAREN ELLIS defended her fastest female from Fairlands record with 25:59 with FIONA CLARKE not far behind in 26:36.
KEITH MANTON ran a new parkrun personal best (PPB) of 31:14 and CAROLINE AUCKLAND was a first timer and finished in 34:53. MIKE CROWLEY was another PPB finisher with his 42:09.
Amongst the mini milestones ALISON SHELLEY was running her 180th parkrun (28:34); PAUL HOLGATE his 90th (36:07); KARTIK SHARMA his 80th (33:53); STEVE WELLS his 70th parkrun (20:23); AHAAN his 30th (33:54).
This time there were 502 finishers at Stevenage including 203 women.
Elsewhere ALICE WELCH ran a fantastic new parkrun personal best (PPB) at Great Denham – 22 minutes exactly. CHARLES ARNOLD was also there pacing the 26 minute group and finishing in 25:54.
JAY PAPA was dynamite at the Gunpowder parkrun. He ran a new PPB of 18:18
And KIRK NDUGU was third in the event with 17:25.
Altogether 61 Spartans ran parkruns on Saturday.
| Position | Gender Position | FVS parkrunner | Time |
| 5 | 5 | Simon JACKSON | 18:58 |
| 10 | 10 | Stuart ARCHER | 20:03 |
| 11 | 11 | Steve WELLS | 20:23 |
| 75 | 69 | Daniel VILJOEN | 24:19 |
| 79 | 73 | Matthew COOKE | 24:25 |
| 99 | 90 | Richard MOORE | 25:08 |
| 124 | 14 | Karen ELLIS | 25:59 |
| 126 | 110 | Brian WHITE | 26:04 |
| 127 | 111 | Matt CLARKE | 26:07 |
| 143 | 18 | Fiona CLARKE | 26:36 |
| 151 | 22 | Lorraine HILL | 26:45 |
| 194 | 161 | Ryan DUNNING | 28:11 |
| 208 | 171 | Martin DUDLEY | 28:31 |
| 209 | 36 | Alison SHELLEY | 28:34 |
| 217 | 175 | Jim BROWN | 28:51 |
| 223 | 42 | Sarah ILLINGWORTH | 28:54 |
| 254 | 59 | Claire EMMERSON | 30:09 |
| 263 | 66 | Monica SMITHSON | 30:35 |
| 279 | 203 | Keith MANTON | 31:14 |
| 280 | 73 | Debbie BLANTERN | 31:15 |
| 281 | 204 | Martin JACOB | 31:16 |
| 301 | 83 | Annabelle WHITE | 31:55 |
| 314 | 88 | Pamela VILJOEN | 32:23 |
| 322 | 94 | Nicola PATTMAN | 32:39 |
| 353 | 240 | Kartik SHARMA | 33:53 |
| 354 | 241 | Ahaan SHARMA | 33:54 |
| 365 | 115 | Angie KEELING | 34:23 |
| 376 | 122 | Caroline AUCKLAND | 34:53 |
| 377 | 123 | Sally PICKLES | 34:53 |
| 387 | 131 | Linda GEORGE | 35:51 |
| 394 | 255 | Paul HOLGATE | 36:07 |
| 395 | 135 | Karen PALMER | 36:09 |
| 398 | 137 | Nikki NATION | 36:31 |
| 402 | 141 | Jane WADEY | 37:10 |
| 421 | 151 | Julie MANTON | 38:48 |
| 433 | 160 | Tracy HAYGARTH | 40:02 |
| 447 | 270 | Mike CROWLEY | 42:09 |
| 468 | 279 | Lloyd DIAS | 45:08 |
| 486 | 190 | Penny SCHENKEL | 51:14 |