News Release 24th June 2012
BIG PUSH NEEDED IN MID WEEK LEAGUE
Getting in the Olympic Mood
Fairlands Valley Spartans will have to work hard in Thursday evening’s fourth and last counting event in the Mid Week Road Race League after a mishap in the Harlow race on Wednesday. In order to avoid relegation the club is calling on all who can to run the seven mile event in St. Albans on the 28th.
A slightly reduced but still impressive contingent of sixty two Spartans lined up for Wednesday’s Mid Week League race which was on a largely cross country 10K course in Harlow. The running surface and undulating terrain did not seem to worry some as their were several personal best times.
ROB WILLIS (35th) ran his first 10K for the club in 38 minutes 14 seconds; DARREN WILBY (135th) improved to 45:09; JON SYPULA (152nd) to 45:54; JULIE SIMMONS (175th) to 47:21; RHIANNON GRIFFIN (180th) to 47:38; JENNIFER ROBERTSON (195th) to 48:44; VISHAL SHAH (201st) to 49:05; TONY VICKERS (204th) to 49:14; TRACY BULLOT (226th) to 51:19; and SARAH SAPSTEAD (312th) to 1:04:46. Many improved on their times on the faster Welwyn Garden City course!
TRUDIE MOLLOY and SIMON STEWART ran their first 10Ks in 52:19 and 52:49 respectively.
SIMON JACKSON (11th in 35:56); SHAW PYE (16th in 36:20); ANDY NEATHAM (17th and fourth “vet” in 36:22); GRANT RAMSAY (30th in 37:42) and ANDREW PATTERSON (31st in 37:53) were the fastest men for the club. TRACY PEZ (150th in 45:51); Julie Simmons (above); Rhiannon Griffin (above); Jennifer Robertson (above) and DAWN EASBY (198th in a season’s best 48:48) were the quickest Spartan women.
IRIS HORNSEY was the first woman vet (65 plus) in a season’s best 59:35; BEV HARLOW was second woman vet (55 plus) in 52:22: and BARRY OSBORNE was third vet man (60 plus) in 43:42.
A club casualty on a bridleway just over 5K stopped or delayed several Spartans who were in the top half of the field. This inevitably had an effect on the team result.
The Spartan men came fourth out of the six teams but unfortunately their women, more dramatically affected by the incident and missing some of their faster runners, came last. This meant the club were fifth on the night and in the same position in the league. They must improve to at least fourth to survive in division one.
The results for all sixty Spartan finishers will be found at the very end of this release.
Hadrians Wall
This weekend Spartans TRICIA HOPPER and KAREN LIDDLE took part in the Hadrians Wall ultra 69 mile race over 2 days, finishing in a total 16 hours and 57 minutes.
They both feel tired but fab and even had a little left to break into a sort of sprint over the Millenium bridge. Tricia and Karen quite rightly really chuffed at their achievement.
Roger’s a Winner in Hardest Marathon
ROGER BIGGS took part in possibly the hardest road marathon in the UK on Sunday — the Lancaster Castle Marathon. There was a long climb out Lancaster into the surrounding countryside, then several stiff climbs before a monster hill at 18 miles. Despite this, Roger ran the whole 26.2 miles in good conditions. Roger’s time was good enough over a tough course to place as the first vet 60, winning £50 for his troubles, with a time of 4 hours 8 minutes 10 seconds.
Herts Hobble
Nine Spartans slipped and slid their way around a not surprisingly extremely muddy Hertfordshire Hobble which this year took in the Hertfordshire villages of Bramfield, Chapmore End, Westmill, Thunderidge, Sacombe, Dane End, Little Munden, Green End, Great Munden, Ardeley, Walkern, Benington and Watton-at-Stone.
Their times for the 26.4 miles were Carol Paul 5 hours 35 minutes 24 seconds; Mike Newbitt 5:35:24; Sharon Crowley 6:14:42; Paul Holgate 6:14:42; Dave Paul 6:18:11; Rob Hardy 6:23:54; Chas Avis 7:14:41 and Dave Carter 8:00:00.
Ramsay’s Recovery
GRANT RAMSAY continued his road to recovery with an impressive sixth place in the Colworth 8.1 mile trail race and a time of 56 minutes 50 seconds. There were 200 finishers.
Olympic Warm Up
Fairlands Valley Spartans got in the Olympic mood with their own torch procession and games at Ridlins Track on Sunday afternoon.
Coming Events
Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks including the:
- Mid Week Road Race League Seven Miles in St. Albans on Thursday 28th June.
- Mob Match at Trent Park on Wednesday 11th July.
- EVAC Track and Field event in Milton Keynes on Wednesday 11th July.
- Fairlands Valley Challenge (Off Road) on Sunday 15th July.
- Relays in the Park (3K legs) on Thursday evening 19th July.
- County 5K Championships in Stevenage on Sunday 9th September.
- County 5 Miles Championship in Stevenage on Sunday 23rd September.
- Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 4th November.
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 over 400 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 drama studio next to the gymnastics centre at Marriotts School — a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 0AN) 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 9.30a.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 done very much running yet might prefer to start with a Thursday, Saturday or Monday session.
Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £27 per year. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.
If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (01438 354505 or 0793 968 7509), Stephanie Mayfield 01438 815859 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk
E N D S
More from Jim Brown (Press Officer) 01438 354505 / 0793 968 7509 or Stephanie Mayfield (Secretary) 01438 815859
***********
Full Mid Week League result for all 60 Spartans:
|
Race |
Pos |
Name | Surname |
Cat. |
Time |
PB |
|
11 |
11 |
Simon | Jackson |
S |
35:56 |
|
|
16 |
16 |
Shaw | Pye |
S |
36:20 |
YB |
|
17 |
17 |
Andy | Neatham |
V 40 |
36:22 |
PB |
|
30 |
29 |
Grant | Ramsay |
S |
37:42 |
|
|
31 |
30 |
Andrew | Patterson |
S |
37:53 |
|
|
35 |
34 |
Rob | Willis |
S |
38:14 |
1st 10K |
|
40 |
39 |
Chris | Westcott |
S |
38:29 |
|
|
55 |
52 |
Danny | Hukin |
S |
39:18 |
YB |
|
71 |
65 |
Todd | Gray |
S |
40:57 |
|
|
86 |
78 |
Pete | Smith |
V 50 |
42:20 |
|
|
88 |
80 |
Barry | Osborne |
V 60 |
42:21 |
3rd MV60 |
|
110 |
97 |
Steve | Mayfield |
V 40 |
43:42 |
YB |
|
135 |
116 |
Darren | Wilby |
S |
45:09 |
PB |
|
140 |
119 |
Steve | Elder |
V 50 |
45:16 |
YB |
|
144 |
122 |
Lee | Lawrence |
S |
45:29 |
|
|
150 |
24 |
Tracy | Pez |
V 35 |
45:51 |
|
|
151 |
127 |
Matt | Gill |
S |
45:48 |
|
|
152 |
128 |
Jon | Sypula |
S |
45:54 |
PB |
|
157 |
131 |
Jody | Flett |
S |
46:13 |
YB |
|
159 |
133 |
Mark | Goodwin |
V 50 |
46:10 |
|
|
162 |
136 |
Robert | Evans |
S |
46:25 |
|
|
175 |
30 |
Julie | Simmons |
V 45 |
47:21 |
PB |
|
177 |
146 |
Roger | Biggs |
V 60 |
47:24 |
|
|
180 |
33 |
Rhiannon | Griffin |
S |
47:38 |
PB |
|
195 |
40 |
Jennifer | Robertson |
S |
48:44 |
PB |
|
198 |
43 |
Dawn | Easby |
S |
48:48 |
SB |
|
201 |
158 |
Vishal | Shah |
S |
49:05 |
PB (equal) |
|
204 |
159 |
Tony | Vickers |
V 40 |
49:14 |
PB |
|
220 |
165 |
Andy | Jay |
V 40 |
50:31 |
|
|
221 |
166 |
James | Day |
S |
50:31 |
|
|
222 |
167 |
Matthew | Palacio |
S |
50:54 |
|
|
226 |
57 |
Tracy | Bullot |
V 35 |
51:19 |
PB |
|
231 |
60 |
Trudie | Molloy |
V 35 |
52:19 |
1st 10K |
|
233 |
172 |
Robert | Shaw |
V 60 |
52:26 |
|
|
235 |
62 |
Beverley | Harlow |
V 55 |
52:22 |
2nd FV55 |
|
236 |
173 |
Simon | Stewart |
S |
52:49 |
1st 10K |
|
238 |
174 |
Paul | Holgate |
V 50 |
52:47 |
|
|
243 |
65 |
Sarah | Pike |
S |
53:38 |
|
|
245 |
66 |
Karen | Ellis |
V 35 |
53:57 |
|
|
247 |
179 |
Steve | Pike |
V 50 |
54:15 |
|
|
250 |
181 |
Steve | Carter |
V 40 |
54:46 |
|
|
251 |
182 |
Mark | Cheadle |
S |
54:54 |
|
|
252 |
69 |
Stephanie | Mayfield |
V 35 |
54:50 |
|
|
260 |
72 |
Sharon | Crowley |
V 45 |
55:37 |
|
|
266 |
188 |
Nick | Witcombe |
V 40 |
56:06 |
|
|
267 |
189 |
Chris | Leigh |
V 40 |
56:05 |
|
|
268 |
190 |
Barry | King |
V 40 |
56:05 |
YB |
|
271 |
79 |
Julie | Twomey |
V 45 |
56:19 |
|
|
272 |
192 |
Roger | Hardman |
V 60 |
56:10 |
|
|
280 |
86 |
Lorraine | Thomas |
V 45 |
58:12 |
YB |
|
281 |
87 |
Victoria | Sealy |
S |
58:15 |
|
|
287 |
91 |
Jeanette | Collins |
V 45 |
59:14 |
|
|
288 |
92 |
Iris | Hornsey |
V 65 |
59:35 |
1st FV65 SB |
|
293 |
97 |
Lisa | Gavigan |
V 35 |
1:00:22 |
|
|
296 |
100 |
Andrea | Westcott |
V 35 |
1:00:48 |
|
|
304 |
107 |
Claire | Drake |
S |
1:02:01 |
1st 10K |
|
311 |
111 |
Tracy | Stiles |
V 35 |
1:04:45 |
|
|
312 |
112 |
Sarah | Sapstead |
S |
1:04:46 |
PB (equal) |
|
318 |
201 |
Jim | Brown |
V 60 |
1:13:50 |
|
|
319 |
202 |
Mick | Connell |
V 50 |
1:13:50 |
There were 320 finishers. 203 men and 117 women.