NEWS RELEASE, MASSIVE 38 SPARTANS FINISH LONDON MARATHON

TWO SPARTANS SUB THREE AT LONDON

Massive 38 Spartans finish London Marathon

Lyndsey and James win 5K

 Spartans GRANT RAMSAY and SIMON JACKSON both beat the three hour barrier in Sunday’s London Marathon.  Grant was in the top 1% of the 37,000 plus runners.  He was 314^th overall in a magnificent championship qualifying time of 2 hours 43 minutes 57 seconds – his best time for three years.  Simon was 687^th in 2 hours 53 minutes 38 seconds.

They were among a massive thirty eight Fairlands Valley Spartans who completed the 26.2 miles.  Sixteen were running their first marathon and eight others ran new personal bests by big margins — a real demonstration of how well the club helps runners prepare for the marathon.

STEPHEN BIGGS was running his first marathon and beat his dad, ROGER by 43 seconds.  Stephen was 9,851^st in 3:56:08 and Roger 10,068^th in 3:56:51.  That 217 runners crossed the line in those 43 seconds shows how busy the finish is at that time.

The other first timers in the Virgin London Marathon were DICLUM LOY (2,783^rd in 3:02:11); PAUL WADESON (11,082^nd in 4:00:05); GARY CRETTON (18,823^rd in 4:30:49); KAREN PALMER (19,207^th in 4:32:24); ANNE-MARIE NEATHAM (21,724^th in 4:42:11); SALLY BEASLEY (22,302^nd in 4:44:37); LEE POTTER (22,665^th in 4:46:04); RODGER McPHERSON (24,069^th in 4:51:44); ANDY INGRAM-TEDD (25,748^th in 4:58:56); MARIA RUSHTON (26,589^th in 5:03:26); LARYA BARTON (27,638^th in 5:08:31); ELEANOR GLADING (28,819^th in 5:10:42); JO CAHILL (31,921^st in 5:39:13): HILARY DAVIES (32,601^st in 5:45:23); and DAWN TAYLOR (36,631^st in 8:001:11).

Two Spartan women improved their personal bests by more than eleven minutes to beat 3 hours 30 minutes for the first time.  They were KERRY JAMES (4,296^th in 3 hours 28 minutes 32 seconds, an improvement of 11 minutes 13) and SAM PRETTY (4,316^th in 3:28:38, an improvement of 11:01).

The other Spartan personal bests (PBs) were by MICHAEL GREEN (2,864^th in 3:17:17, an improvement of 4:13); ROB EVANS (7,075^th in 3:44:14, an improvement of 10:46); HELENE MILLER (8,524^th in 3:51:02, an improvement of 10:43); JON SYPULA (11,890^th in 4:03:34, an improvement of 26:57); STEVE KEMP who improved by more than an hour to 4 hours 15 minutes 34 seconds (14,781^st); and KAREN LIDDLE (24,124^th in 4:52:02, an improvement of 22:44).

SHARON CROWLEY (20,837^th in 4:38:42) was running her 14^th London Marathon.

Results for all the Spartans in the London Marathon:

Position	Name	Time	Comments
314	GRANT RAMSAY	2:43:57	Champ time.  Top 1%.
687	SIMON JACKSON	2:53:38
1379	SIMON BELL	3:02:11
2783	DICLUM LOY	3:16:33	First marathon
2864	MICHAEL GREEN	3:17:17	PB (4:13)
3334	GRAHAM BLACKBURN	3:21:33
4296	KERRY JAMES (F)	3:28:32	PB (11:13)
4316	SAM PRETTY (F)	3:28:38	PB (11:01)
7075	ROB EVANS	3:44:14	PB (10:46)
8236	RICHARD HAZLEDENE	3:49:47
8524	HELENE MILLER (F)	3:51:02	PB (10:43)
9851	STEPHEN BIGGS	3:56:08	Son beats father in 1st marathon
10068	ROGER BIGGS	3:56:51
11082	PAUL WADESON	4:00:05	First marathon
11840	AMANDA BROOK (F)	4:03:22
11890	JON SYPULA	4:03:34	PB (26:57)
14070	KEVIN SMYTH	4:12:44
14395	BEV HARLOW (F)	4:13:59
14781	STEVE KEMP	4:15:34	PB (over an hour)
16006	MARK GLADING	4:20:05
18592	TRICIA HOPPER (F)	4:29:46
18823	GARY CRETTON	4:30:39	First marathon
19207	KAREN PALMER (F)	4:32:24	First marathon
19238	RICHARD MOORE	4:32:29
20837	SHARON CROWLEY (F)	4:38:42
21724	ANNE-MARIE NEATHAM (F)	4:42:11	First marathon
22302	SALLY BEASLEY (F)	4:44:37	First marathon
22665	LEE POTTER	4:46:04	First marathon
24069	RODGER McPHERSON	4:51:44	First marathon
24124	KAREN LIDDLE (F)	4:52:02	PB (22:44)
24748	CRAIG SNOWDEN	4:54:45
25748	ANDY INGRAM-TEDD	4:58:56	First marathon
26589	MARIA RUSHTON (F)	5:03:26	First marathon
27638	LARYA BARTON (F)	5:08:31	First marathon
27819	ELEANOR GLADING (F)	5:10:42	First marathon
31921	JO CAHILL (F)	5:39:13	First marathon
32601	HILARY DAVIES (F)	5:45:23	First marathon
36631	DAWN TAYLOR (F)	8:00:11	First marathon

Dozens of other Spartans helped at the finish.  Without the volunteers the London Marathon would be impossible to organise.

Lyndsey and James Win 5K

Thirty one runners braved the weather on Thursday night to take part in the 63^rd running of the Fairlands Valley Spartans’ Handicap 5K.

 LYNDSEY CARLISLE was first to finish.  She claimed her second Handicap 5K victory by running a new personal best (PB) time of 31 minutes 51 seconds, 1:40 quicker than her previous PB and 4:39 ahead of handicap.  LOUISA BILL was second female, and third overall in her first race with a time of 28 minutes 46 seconds and VICTORIA SEALY was third woman, in a new PB of 27:33 – 53 seconds faster than before.

The winning man, in second position overall, was newcomer JAMES COOPER in 27:33, 3:26 faster than handicap.  Another first timer, CHRIS HILTON, set a handicap new course record time of 16 minutes 33 seconds to finish second male and fifth overall.  This was three seconds quicker than the previous record.

RICHARD BATE was third man in a new seasons best (SB) time of 16:57, five seconds quicker than previously.

Chris and Richard were also fastest and second fastest runners on the night, with ROB WILLIS third quickest in a new PB time of 18:31.  LIAM HERBERT (18:41 YB) and STEVE WILLIAMSON (19:11) were also inside 20 minutes.

TRACY PEZ was the fastest female equalling her year’s best (YB) time of 22:22, with MADDIE PRITCHARD second quickest in a new YB time 23:21, and SARAH PIKE third fastest in 26:03.

In addition to those already mentioned above, Sarah Sapstead also took 29 seconds off her PB time to 30:05 and Amanda Vickers 0:51 to 36:58, while there were SB times for Steve Pike (+0:05) and James Day (+0:07), and YB times for Selvan Naicker (+0:26), Matthew Holgate (+0:38) and Andy Jay (+0:16).

The start and finish was superbly organised by Graham Blackburn, Mike Crowley, Jim Brown and Jayne Pinner.  Barry King, Sharon Crowley, Kerry Setterfield and Lee Reynolds supported runners around the course, and the Spartan Starter Group provided lots of vocal encouragement.

Next up is the first midweek league race, in Stevenage, on Tuesday 15^th May.  The Handicap 5Ks will return at the end of this year’s league races in the Summer.

Madrid Marathon

 For the first time in twenty years CAROL PAUL was not running the London Marathon.  But she was running 26.2 miles in Madrid.  On a hot day and on a hilly course Carol’s third marathon in two weeks was completed in 4 hours 28 minutes 50 seconds.  KEVIN LAWLOR finished in 5:18:43.  MIKE NEWBITT and DAVE PAUL came in together in 5:19:24.

Mayor of Hertford’s 10K

Eight Spartans competed in the recent Mayor of Hertford’s charity race which was over about 10 kilometres.  DUNCAN MARSHALL was third overall in 37 minutes 5 seconds.  The others were SIMON BELL (40:30); ANDY JAY (51:55); DYFED THOMPSON-SMITH (53:29); JEANETTE COLLINS (1:00:27); TRACY STILES (1:02:30); and KATIE and ANNETTE BELL finishing together in 1:03:40.  This was Katie’s first 10K.

They said it was a lovely run, along trails and road, well organised with some nice goodies at the finish.

Coming Events

Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks including the:

• EVAC track and field league match in Stevenage on Wednesday evening 25^th April.
• Serpentine Last Friday 5K on Friday 27^th April.
• Herts County Track and Field Championships on Saturday 12^th May.
• Mid Week Road Race League 10K in Stevenage on Tuesday 15^th May.
• Fairlands Valley Challenge (Off Road) on Sunday 15^th July.
• Relays in the Park (3K legs) on Thursday evening 19^th July.
• County 5K Championships in Stevenage on Sunday 9^th September.
• County 5 Miles Championship in Stevenage on Sunday 23^rd September.
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 4^th 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

www.fvspartans.org.uk