The Hatfield Five was advertised as fast and flat and despite a cool start it was for many Spartans.
David Harris-Cherguit’s result was 27:35 chip time and 27:38 gun time for a new personal best (PB), ninth place overall and third in the 45-49 age category. He was really pleased.
Nick Gill completed the Hatfield 5 in 28:55, going sub-30 for the first time and shaving almost 2 minutes off his PB (personal best) from the same event in 2022 (30:50). He found it tough, but was pleased with the effort in his first race since the Abingdon Marathon. Nick was 26th overall and third in his age category (M35-39).
Georgie Hooper finished in 34:00 – a big PB of more than 90 seconds (35:31, Hatfield 5 2022). She was third in her age category (W35-39).
GAIL MACKIE was back in 36:26 and new member JODIE KANTAS in 36:51.
LUCY PAUL was hoping for 9 minute miles so was pleased with a 43:17 finish. She thanks SUZY HAWKINS for supporting her near the finish after she had finished in 35:08.
And the Spartans won a county medal. JIM BROWN took SILVER. He was second in the men 70 plus race with 36 seconds to spare ahead of third place AND he achieved his main target of the day to get under 45 minutes which he did with 44:27. Jim said, “Unusually for me I was wearing three layers including long sleeves and gloves but it seemed to be right for the day and I was well happy with an unexpected silver.”
It was the first time LIAM WELLER represented FVS in an event! First time running an event with the club – and he said it was so lovely to have everyone to chat to before and after – and others out supporting on the course. He finished in 33 minutes 12 seconds!
SHARON CROWLEY’s 45 minutes 20 seconds was 8 minutes 32 seconds quicker than last year, BUT looking back through times for 5 mile races, she found it was her fastest for eight years. Obviously she was very happy with that!
LEANNE WILSON breezed around in a new personal best of 45:23. An improvement of 28 seconds.
SAM SUTTON completed Sunday’s Hatfield Five in 45:58 which was a 55 second PB. She commented it was a flat course but narrow and difficult to overtake but she was very pleased with her result! Now Sam has only the Buntingford 10 to go on 28th December and if she PBs that will be a PB in every distance from 5k to half marathon this year.
MATT TUTTON was surprised and pleased that he squeaked under 45 with 44:55.
It was a last marathon paced effort for ROSS GALLAGHER. He finished in 33:05.
After an enforced break PENNY SCHENKEL put on an extra jumper, took it steady and finished in 56:50.
It was a season best’s run for Jane WADEY and she was happy to finish under a hour in 59:11. She said she hadn’t run a 5 mile race since November 2022 and this was her second attempt.
26 Spartans ran and between them achieved eight PBs and nine SBs and seven were new to the distance.
| Pos | No | Name | Gun Time | Net Time | Cat Pos |
| 9 | 599 | David HARRIS-CHERGUIT | 27:38 | 27:35 | 3 |
| 26 | 647 | Nick GILL | 28:58 | 28:55 | 3 |
| 28 | 231 | Charlie WHITE | 29:09 | 29:05 | 6 |
| 59 | 655 | Jay PAPA | 30:34 | 30:30 | 12 |
| 121 | 922 | Ross GALLAGHER | 33:15 | 33:05 | 17 |
| 127 | 593 | Liam WELLER | 33:22 | 33:12 | 20 |
| 149 | 417 | Andrew SHAW | 33:59 | 33:35 | 13 |
| 154 | 615 | Georgie HOOPER | 34:09 | 34:00 | 3 |
| 171 | 641 | Charles ARNOLD | 34:48 | 34:28 | 4 |
| 176 | 138 | Tony RANDFIELD | 34:59 | 34:41 | 5 |
| 193 | 660 | Suzy HAWKINS | 35:31 | 35:08 | 5 |
| 210 | 583 | Lewis GREEN | 36:12 | 35:37 | 29 |
| 233 | 818 | Gail MACKIE | 36:56 | 36:26 | 6 |
| 255 | 331 | Jodie KANTAS | 37:30 | 36:51 | 10 |
| 419 | 892 | Jackie PERRY | 42:31 | 42:00 | 6 |
| 457 | 438 | Gemma SMITH | 43:51 | 42:55 | 28 |
| 480 | 830 | Lucy PAUL | 44:30 | 43:17 | 23 |
| 527 | 863 | Jim BROWN | 45:42 | 44:27 | 6 |
| 546 | 387 | Sharon CROWLEY | 45:59 | 45:20 | 9 |
| 566 | 72 | Matt TUTTON | 46:29 | 44:55 | 53 |
| 567 | 443 | Karl SHREEVE | 46:31 | 45:23 | 61 |
| 571 | 427 | Leanne WILSON | 46:36 | 45:23 | 30 |
| 618 | 198 | Samantha SUTTON | 48:27 | 45:58 | 42 |
| 627 | 621 | Vishal SHAH | 48:45 | 48:12 | 56 |
| 833 | 91 | Penny SCHENKEL | 59:21 | 56:50 | 64 |
| 842 | 97 | Jane WADEY | 60:35 | 59:11 | 65 |
Serpentine
It was a beautiful bright and breezy Friday lunchtime for the Serpentine Last Friday of the Month 5K in Hyde Park. Some of the pictures make it look like the runners were on a seaside prom on a summer’s day. Spartan JIM BROWN enjoyed his race with a 28 minutes 35 seconds which slightly improved his position in the Last Friday championship table.
The next event will be on Friday 19th December. That’s a week earlier than usual to avoid Boxing Day.
Bass Belle
PAUL and ALISON SHELLEY ran in the Brainstrust Bass Belle 10 miler on Sunday. That was their fourth time running the race although the last time was back in 2022. It was well organised as always, and they were lucky with the weather! Unfortunately Paul’s Achilles gave up after six miles so he pretty much hobbled to the finish. Alison was 239th in 1:35:59 and Paul 223rd in 1:33:52.
Other Spartans ran the Bass Belle mixed terrain event. GRANT RAMSAY 35th out of 359 in 1:10:54 and MONICA SMITHSON 342nd in 1:56:16.
The Slopes of Finsbury Park
Four hilly laps constituted the Finsbury Park 10K. JOHN and JACOB NELMS ran together to finish in 56:06 and 56:10. They were 104th and 105th out of the 198 finishers.
JAYNE DYMOKE ran the Finsbury Park 5K in 34 minutes 53 seconds (34:53). She was 46th out of the 83 finishers.
Parkrun Highlights – Saturday 29th November 2025
It was miserable before the start of Saturday’s Stevenage parkrun which is probably why numbers were reduced to 301 though Fairlands Valley Spartans were up a bit on 26. Spartan SIMON JACKSON was third with 18:57. JULIE MANTON ran her 50th parkrun in 38:57. LORRAINE HILL was the fastest female from Fairlands in Fairlands with 28:33.
PETER SMITH and SEAN MILLWOOD enjoyed some parkrun tourism at the Carlingwark Loch event at Castle Douglas in Kirkcudbrightshire. Peter came in with 25:17 and Sean in 37:13.
Altogether 42 Spartans were at parkruns. Others included ALICE WELCH and SAM GENTRY at the Bug Hunter Waters parkrun near Northstowe. Alice was round in 25:50 and Sam in 27:30.
| Position | Gender Position | FVS parkrunner | Time |
| 3 | 3 | Simon JACKSON | 00:18:57 |
| 26 | 23 | Stuart ARCHER | 00:23:08 |
| 32 | 29 | Toby ECCLESHALL | 00:23:21 |
| 34 | 31 | Tony RANDFIELD | 00:23:27 |
| 48 | 43 | Charles ARNOLD | 00:23:53 |
| 53 | 46 | Lee PICKERSGILL | 00:24:03 |
| 56 | 49 | Paul MAGUIRE | 00:24:11 |
| 76 | 65 | Daniel VILJOEN | 00:25:37 |
| 90 | 75 | Peter SACH | 00:26:52 |
| 91 | 76 | Kris WESTCOTT | 00:26:55 |
| 116 | 94 | Ryan DUNNING | 00:28:12 |
| 120 | 19 | Lorraine HILL | 00:28:33 |
| 161 | 118 | Nick KLEANTHOUS | 00:30:10 |
| 220 | 63 | Caroline CROFT | 00:33:17 |
| 228 | 68 | Pamela VILJOEN | 00:33:34 |
| 239 | 151 | Ahaan SHARMA | 00:34:21 |
| 240 | 152 | Kartik SHARMA | 00:34:22 |
| 244 | 75 | Karen ELLIS | 00:34:46 |
| 245 | 76 | Julie SHADBOLT | 00:34:47 |
| 248 | 156 | Keith MANTON | 00:35:10 |
| 264 | 88 | Nicola HATHERLY | 00:37:35 |
| 266 | 90 | Niki PLUMB | 00:38:19 |
| 269 | 92 | Julie MANTON | 00:38:57 |
| 273 | 95 | Penny SCHENKEL | 00:39:37 |
| 274 | 164 | Michael O’KEEFE | 00:39:38 |
| 300 | 114 | Callie CHAPMAN | 00:58:22 |