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NEWS RELEASE: SIMON AND KAREN WIN 5K

In the news: Forty in our handicap 5K, Grant’s fast 5000 on track, Ann’s PB at Bedford, Peter’s first Tri, Natalie’s podium and the Kent Coastal Marathon. Read all about it here!

SIMON AND KAREN WIN 5K

Track and Tri Wins by Grant and Natalie

 

August Handicap 5K

There were many excellent times from the forty runners in Fairlands Valley Spartans’ Handicap 5K on Thursday night.  They included seven new personal bests, four season’s bests and eight year best times for 2012.  There were nine people running their first 5K.

SIMON HARRIS was first to finish, recording his third Handicap 5K victory.  He ran a new year best time of 27 minutes 39 seconds (27:39), 41 seconds quicker than previously.  Newcomer Khil Shah was second in 27:49, 3:26 quicker than handicap, and Ian Simpson 3rd just 10 seconds behind, in his first 5K in just 22:59.

KAREN ELLIS finished first female, 2:29 ahead of handicap, in 25;01, with Claire Coker 2nd in a new PB of 23:57, 43 seconds quicker than her previous PB, and Rhiannon Griffin 3rd in a PB time of her own of 21 minutes 2 seconds.

In handicap events the slower runners, on previous form, start first and if everyone runs to handicap everyone finishes together.  However the fastest runner on the night was GRANT RAMSAY, overtaking 34 runners to finish 6th overall in 17 minutes 11 seconds.  Christopher Westcott was second quickest in a new personal best (PB) time of 17:55, and Liam Herbert third fastest with 18:27, just 19 seconds outside his own PB time despite the increased difficulty of the Stevenage 5K course.

LISA BURGESS was the fastest female in a new PB of 20:29, with Rhiannon 2nd quickest (21:02) and Tracy Pez 3rd fastest in 22:51.

Other PBs included Sai Naidoo, +2:13 to 27:25, Peter Carpenter +1:12 to 29:28, Vishal Shah +0:32 to 22:54 and Maddie Pritchard + 0:11 to 23:08, while the Season’s Best times were by Steve Gough (+1:26), Mark Goodwin (+0:29), Dawn Easby (+0:28) and Mark Cheadle (+0:03), and the year best times included Nick Witcombe (+6:38), Adrian Donnelly (+2:42) and Selvan Naicker (+0:12).

A big thank you to Chris Leigh, Mark Beasley, Christine Sharman and Mike & Sharon Crowley gave excellent support and assistance on the night.

There is a perfect opportunity to compete again on the Handicap 5k course in the Stevenage 5k on Sunday 9th September and the first Autumn Handicap 5k of 2012 will be on the 25th October.

Full 5K Results:

Pos

Name

Time

Time Position

Female Position

Comments

1

SIMON HARRIS

27:39

32

Event winner.  Year’s best by 41 seconds.

2

KHIL SHAH

27:49

33

1st 5K

3

IAN SIMPSON

22:59

17

1st 5K

4

ADRIAN DONNELLY

19:53

6

YB

5

SAI NAIDOO

27:25

31

PB (2:13)

6

GRANT RAMSAY

17:11

1

7

DAVID BOWKER

18:42

4

YB

8

OLLY TEW

22:44

12

1st 5K

9

TODD GRAY

18:47

5

10

VISHAL SHAH

22:54

14

PB (0:32)

11

CHRISTOPHER WESTCOTT

17:55

2

PB (0:23)

12

KAREN ELLIS

25:01

27

9

First woman.

13

STEVE GOUGH

28:10

35

SB

14

MARK CHEADLE

24:38

24

SB

15

CLAIRE COKER

23:57

22

7

PB (0:43)

16

RUSS ANDREWS

27:58

34

1st 5K

17

RHIANNON GRIFFIN

21:02

9

2

1st 5K

18

MARK GOODWIN

21:31

10

SB

19

ANDY JAY

23:24

20

20

DEREK WOOD

22:55

15

1st 5K

21

LIAM HERBERT

18:27

3

22

NICK WITCOMBE

26:00

29

YB

23

DAWN EASBY

23:37

21

6

SB

24

SELVAN NAICKER

24:08

23

YB

25

MADDIE PRITCHARD

23:08

19

5

PB (0:11)

26

LISA BURGESS

20:29

7

1

PB (0:14)

27

PETER CARPENTER

29:28

37

PB (1:12)

28

ROGER BIGGS

22:58

16

29

JULIE SIMMONS

23:03

18

4

1st 5K

30

MARIA THORNE

26:39

30

10

31

NICOLA LORIMER

24:48

25

8

YB

32

GRAHAM HILL

29:29

38

1st 5K

33

RYAN DUNNING

22:33

11

34

BARRY OSBORNE

20:40

8

1st 5K

35

ANDREA WESTCOTT

28:26

36

11

YB

36

PAUL HOLGATE

25:40

28

37

TRACY PEZ

22:51

13

3

38

ROBERT SHAW

25:01

26

39

CHAS AVIS

36:05

40

YB

40

SARAH SAPSTEAD

31:01

39

12

PB = personal best; SB = season’s best; YB = year best.

 

Grant Wins In Southern League

GRANT RAMSAY won Sunday’s Southern League 5,000 metres track race in 16 minutes 25 seconds, his fastest time for over three years.  He was also fourth in the 2,000 metres steeple chase in 7 minutes 28 seconds.

 

PB Ann At Bedford 10K

Ann Tryssesoone reduced her personal best by over a minute when she ran Sunday’s Bedford 10K in 50 minutes 26 seconds.  It was a well organised race making use of the local cycle paths and taking in the local scenery and river.

 

Peter’s First Tri

PETER CARPENTER has completed his first triathlon and was second in his age group (65-69) at the Thames Turbo Triathlon 4.

He took 10 minutes 31 seconds for the 426 metres swim; 47 minutes 45 seconds for the 21.5 kilometres cycle and took 30 minutes 50 seconds for the 5K run.  With transitions his total time was 1 hour 33 minutes 1 second.

There were 500 entries.  Overall Peter was 347th out of the 418 who finished.

 

Barnard’s First Ever Podium At Ironman Debut

NATALIE BARNARD was third in the Galway 70.3 Triathlon.  Her first podium placing at the ironman distance.  She was the youngest pro by 5-9yrs!

It was her fastest swim by 5 minutes; had a strong but hard bike and ran 13.25miles in 1 hour 35 minutes exactly.

 

Kent Coastal Marathon.

On a hilly first half and a flat second half ROGER BIGGS and CAROL PAUL ran the Kent Coastal Marathon with its hilly first half and a flat second half. Roger completed the course in 3 hours 56 minutes 48 seconds and Carol in 4:43:24.  DAVE PAUL did the supporting half marathon in 2:25:20

 

Enter Now!

The club host the County Championship 5K road race THIS Sunday 9th September.  See www.fvspartans.org.uk

Then there is the Paul Maguire Memorial Five on 23rd September which includes the County Championship Five and Championship Half Marathon on Sunday 4th November.  All three races are in Stevenage and all are for seniors and veterans.  The championships are within open races — everyone can have a go.  Enter now.  There are details on www.fvspartans.org.uk

 

Coming Events

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

  • County 5K Championships and Open 5K in Stevenage on Sunday 9th September.
  • Paul Maguire Memorial and County 5 Miles Championship in Stevenage on Sunday 23rd September.
  • Serpentine 5K on Friday 28th September.
  • Standalone 10K in Letchworth on Sunday 7th October.
  • Handicap 5K on Thursday evening 25th October.
  • 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

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