There were silver and bronze county medals for Fairlands Valley Spartans on Sunday morning. 24 ran the Hitchin 10K which included the Hertfordshire championships for veteran runners.
In the open race Spartan CHARLIE WHITE was 12th out of the 893 finishers in a new personal best (PB) of 36 minutes 5 seconds. Charlie’s PB was 11 seconds quicker than the St Albans 10K two weeks ago and a 1 minute 17 second improvement since last year.
The fastest female from Fairlands was ASHLEY KING who was in the top 90 runners and in the County championships won a BRONZE medal with 42 minutes 29 seconds (42:29).
Spartan JIM BROWN was very pleased with himself. Despite a hard time in the London Marathon heat last Sunday afternoon he won SILVER in the County championships with a reasonable time of 55 minutes 57 seconds. That’s second man 70 plus.
There were many great achievements including MEGAN SUTTON improving her personal best by 2 minutes 4 seconds to 56:20 and SAM GENTRY with a new PB of 1:01:08, a reduction of 1 minute 10 seconds. JUDY KING got under one hour for the first time with her new PB of 27:43.
SAMANTHA SUTTON ran her fastest 10K since 2021 with 1:19:21. PENNY SCHENKEL and BECKY RAYNER were other London Marathon finishers who had a good run. Penny came in with 1:02:42 and Becky with 1:19:21.
The Spartans second woman JO COOKSLEY beat 50 minutes with 49:39.
JACKIE PERRY was second in the women 60 plus age group. Her chip time was 52 minutes 46 seconds.
To participate in the county championships runners had to be eligible by birth or place of residence.
| Pos | CatPos | MF | BiB | Name | Cat | Chip Time | Age Gd |
| 12 | 5 | 12 | 4409 | Charles WHITE | MV30 | 36:05 | 74.1% |
| 49 | 13 | 45 | 3836 | Adrian DONNELLY | MV40 | 40:31 | 71.5% |
| 88 | 15 | 77 | 3386 | Mike GUEST | MV50 | 42:34 | 74.2% |
| 89 | 5 | 12 | 4799 | Ashley KING | FV30 | 42:29 | 72.8% |
| 117 | 3 | 103 | 26 | Charles ARNOLD | MV60 | 44:08 | 80.8% |
| 123 | 43 | 108 | 3803 | Toby ECCLESHALL | MV30 | 44:23 | 60.7% |
| 187 | 40 | 163 | 3224 | Danny SCANLON | MV40 | 46:40 | 60.6% |
| 237 | 79 | 203 | 7296 | Joseph WASNOCK | MV30 | 48:11 | 55.3% |
| 275 | 20 | 47 | 7119 | Jo COOKSLEY | FV30 | 49:39 | 61.9% |
| 390 | 2 | 81 | 3700 | Jackie PERRY | FV60 | 52:46 | 76.6% |
| 412 | 77 | 325 | 3563 | Matt TUTTON | MV40 | 52:55 | 52.1% |
| 484 | 71 | 359 | 883 | Tim ROBINSON | MV50 | 55:09 | 56.6% |
| 507 | 3 | 370 | 3663 | Jim BROWN | MV70+ | 55:57 | 65.8% |
| 537 | 22 | 152 | 2338 | Megan SUTTON | F20 | 56:20 | 53.1% |
| 570 | 8 | 170 | 4142 | Judy KING | FV60 | 57:43 | 67.0% |
| 605 | 69 | 192 | 1605 | Amy SAWYER | FV30 | 58:15 | 51.6% |
| 615 | 32 | 416 | 7303 | Andy JAY | MV60 | 59:01 | 55.8% |
| 684 | 69 | 246 | 857 | Sam GENTRY | FV40 | 1:01:08 | 54.1% |
| 722 | 42 | 274 | 625 | Penny SCHENKEL | FV50 | 1:02:42 | 57.4% |
| 723 | 43 | 275 | 4944 | Hazel SMITH | FV50 | 1:02:42 | 54.7% |
| 729 | 91 | 451 | 196 | Karl SHREEVE | MV50 | 1:02:57 | 50..1% |
| 817 | 56 | 343 | 3710 | Samantha SUTTON | FV50 | 1:08:18 | 49.6% |
| 881 | 104 | 395 | 1589 | Rebecca RAYNER | FV40 | 1:19:21 | 39.7% |
| 893 | 10 | 489 | 4758 | Roger BIGGS | MV70+ | 1:42:15 | 38.3% |
Resolution 5000
Eleven Spartans ran in the Resolution 5000 at Ridlins Track in Stevenage.
Only days after running a full marathon in Manchester SIMON JACKSON was racing round 12.5 laps of the track to be second in the event with 17 minutes 2 seconds. NICK GILL was fifth with 17:50 and PAUL SHELLEY sixth in 18:05.
GEORGIE HOOPER was the fastest female from Fairlands third woman in the event with 21:15, a new personal best by three seconds. ANNABELLE WHITE was not far behind in 22:42.
The other Spartans were ROSS GALLAGHER 19:13; PAUL MOULD 19:24; MATT TUTTON in 24:24; MARTIN DUDLEY in 24:32; SHARON CROWLEY in 29:11 and PAUL HOLGATE in 33:12. There were 58 runners.
Nick Gill. 17:50 for me at the Resolution 5k – my third fastest over the distance and my quickest on the track. I was aiming for sub-18, so really pleased with the run and how I paced it. Thanks to everyone for the fantastic support!
Ross Gallagher said his 19:13 was a good marker to build on.
| Pos | Name | Time | MF | CatPos | Cat | Age Gd |
| 2 | Simon JACKSON | 17:02 | 2 | 1 | MV40 | 85.1 % |
| 5 | Nick GILL | 17:50 | 5 | 3 | MS | 73.7 % |
| 6 | Paul SHELLEY | 18:05 | 6 | 2 | MV50 | 84.8 % |
| 13 | Ross GALLAGHER | 19:13 | 13 | 4 | MV40 | 70.9 % |
| 17 | Paul MOULD | 19:24 | 17 | 6 | MV40 | 70.2 % |
| 27 | Georgie HOOPER | 21:15 | 3 | 3 | FS | 70.5 % |
| 35 | Annabelle WHITE | 22:42 | 6 | 5 | FS | 64.9 % |
| 43 | Matt TUTTON | 24:24 | 35 | 14 | MV40 | 55.8 % |
| 46 | Martin DUDLEY | 24:32 | 38 | 2 | MV60 | 65.8 % |
| 56 | Sharon CROWLEY | 29:11 | 11 | 1 | FV60 | 68.3 % |
| 57 | Paul HOLGATE | 33:12 | 46 | 4 | MV60 | 51.3 % |
MK Marathon Weekend
At about 12 degrees conditions were relatively kind for marathon running in Milton Keynes on May Day Holiday Monday.
A bit of a breeze but TONY RANDFIELD went through 10K in 49:40 and half marathon in 1:45:51 and reached the finish line in 3 hours 45 minutes 29 seconds. JESSICA CLARKE was through 10K in 1:00:12 and halfway in 2:06:51 and the finish line in 4:34:33. With a much better run than in Brighton a few weeks ago HANNAH MANTON in was at 10K in 1:23:45; halfway in 2:41:19 and finished in 5:27:05. There were 1,934 finishers.
Hannah said “It didn’t quite go to plan despite feeling strong, blisters definitely got the better of me! Multiple stops were needed to change plasters, and even swap trainers at the halfway point, but I’ll take it as lessons learned and more training towards my ultra in June!”
JOHN NELMS was running the half marathon. He went through 10K in 1:02:45 and finished in 2:02:15. There were 2,316 finishers in the half marathon.
Medals at Track Championships
Fairlands Valley Spartans came away from the Hertfordshire track championships for veterans with a good crop of medals. SHARON CROWLEY won GOLD for women 60 plus in the 1500 metres with 7 minutes 44 seconds (4:53.85), a recent improvement of 12 seconds, and SILVER in the hammer with 16.19 metres.
It was GOLD for SIMON JACKSON in the men 40 plus 1500. It took him just 4 minutes 34 seconds (4:34.25).
PAUL SHELLEY won GOLD in the men 50 plus 1500 metres with a personal best of 4:53.85 and CRAIG BACON took the SILVER with 5:33.86. That was Craig’s first 1500 since 2019.
ANNABELLE WHITE won GOLD in the senior women’s 1500 with 6:13.53.
Moving carefully after the road 10K championships the previous day JIM BROWN won 1500 metres GOLD for men 70 plus. However it was a bit of a journey. It took him 8:37.67.
Parkrun Highlights – Saturday 3rd May – 400th parkrun coming up
The FVS “takeover” of Saturday’s Stevenage parkrun resulted in a large turnout of 598 runners completing the five kilometres around Fairlands Valley Park. Some were proudly wearing their London Marathon finishers T shirts from six days earlier.
The Spartans provided nearly all the officials, the marshals, all the pacers and the tailwalkers – and 45 Spartans ran. PAUL MOULD a first timer was seventh in 19:47 and MIKE JEFFS, also top ten, was eighth in 19:50. MARTIN JACOB ran a new parkrun personal best (PPB) of 21:52 and MARIE COLUCCI was a top ten woman with 23:41.
LEE PICKERSGILL celebrated a milestone with his 100th parkrun which he finished in 25:23. There were also PPBs for PETER SACH 27:31 and JUDY KING 28:37. Judy improved by 36 seconds.
Altogether 75 Spartans were running a parkrun on Saturday morning. One was enjoying a really memorable run along the city walls at Lucca in Italy. The Mura di Lucca parkrun. JACKIE DOWNES finished in 29 minutes 46 seconds. There were 115 finishers.
Stevenage parkrun celebrates a major milestone on Saturday morning 10th May. It will be the 400th Stevenage parkrun. So far there have been 131,852 finishes with an average time of 30 minutes 11 seconds.
| Position | Gender Position | FVS parkrunner | Time |
| 7 | 7 | Paul MOULD | 19:47 |
| 8 | 8 | Mike JEFFS | 19:50 |
| 42 | 39 | Martin JACOB | 21:52 |
| 44 | 41 | Jay PAPA | 21:58 |
| 50 | 47 | David RIDDELL | 22:09 |
| 91 | 80 | Tony RANDFIELD | 23:23 |
| 98 | 86 | Ross GALLACHER | 23:29 |
| 107 | 10 | Marie COLUCCI | 23:41 |
| 113 | 97 | Charlie WHITE | 24:17 |
| 118 | 101 | Martin DUDLEY | 24:25 |
| 135 | 115 | Daniel VILJOEN | 25:03 |
| 146 | 125 | Lee PICKERSGILL | 25:23 |
| 149 | 127 | Darren EMMERSON | 25:25 |
| 158 | 135 | Mark BEASLEY | 25:36 |
| 167 | 144 | Matthew COOKE | 25:56 |
| 172 | 149 | Ryan DUNNING | 26:01 |
| 218 | 183 | Steve TINSLEY | 27:27 |
| 222 | 186 | Peter SACH | 27:31 |
| 234 | 192 | Charles ARNOLD | 27:45 |
| 269 | 48 | Judy KING | 28:37 |
| 278 | 218 | Vishal SHAH | 28:43 |
| 298 | 59 | Claire EMMERSON | 29:16 |
| 303 | 62 | Carole SHELDRICK | 29:29 |
| 308 | 66 | Jessica CLARKE | 29:35 |
| 336 | 76 | Sophie PARSONS | 30:47 |
| 339 | 251 | Ryan RIDDELL | 30:52 |
| 350 | 86 | Pamela VILJOEN | 31:10 |
| 355 | 89 | Debbie BLANTERN | 31:15 |
| 361 | 258 | Steve PLATT | 31:23 |
| 366 | 97 | Nikki NATION | 31:30 |
| 376 | 105 | Annabelle WHITE | 31:45 |
| 385 | 265 | Nick KLEANTHOUS | 32:11 |
| 386 | 111 | Elizabeth CROWLEY | 32:13 |
| 426 | 275 | Paul HOLGATE | 33:35 |
| 435 | 141 | Yuko GORDON | 33:58 |
| 478 | 171 | Hazel SMITH | 36:00 |
| 482 | 172 | Hannah MANTON | 36:08 |
| 498 | 298 | Maurice BALLARD | 37:24 |
| 526 | 307 | Lloyd DIAS | 40:02 |
| 552 | 216 | Melody BROWN | 42:50 |
| 581 | 235 | Emma CHAPMAN | 49:20 |
| 583 | 325 | Roger BIGGS | 50:02 |
| 590 | 242 | Rebecca RAYNER | 54:56 |
| 597 | 248 | Alison SHELLEY | 62:10 |
| 598 | 249 | Sharon CROWLEY | 62:12 |