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NEWS RELEASE: TEN GOLDS, FOUR SILVERS, TWO BRONZES

A medal rush at the EVAC track and field champs in Sandy, a hot midweek 5K in Bedford and marathon runs in Northampton and Milton Keynes, plus more … check out the latest news release!

TEN GOLDS, FOUR SILVERS, TWO BRONZES

Rogerā€™s Night Fever * Hot In Bedford

Fairlands Valley Spartans won ten GOLD medals, four SILVER medals and two BRONZE medals in regional championships on Sunday.Ā  Five women and two men travelled up to Sandy in Bedfordshire to compete in the Eastern Veterans Athletic Club (EVAC) track and field championships.

EVAC is the area club most veterans in the East of England belong to, which allows them to compete for their clubs in the league matches.

The Spartan group of Monica Brown, Dave Bowker, Sharon Crowley, Iris Hornsey, Steph Mayfield, Steve Mayfield and Tessa Stephenson battled against the inclement weather and came home with ten golds, four silvers, two bronze medals and three club records between them.

Monica Brown who used the championships as a warm up to next weekā€™s British Masters Heptathlon Championships at Oxford by winning 100m, 200m, High Jump and Long Jump in a seasonā€™s best length in her age group.

Steve Mayfield had to fight the elements to win the male 45 age group Javelin with a new personal best and club record along with Dave Bowker who improved his own club record in the 2000 metre walk.

Full results

Monica Brown 1st W45 (GOLD women 45 plus) 100 metres 14.1 seconds; 1st W45 200 metres 29.6 seconds; 1st W45 Long Jump 4 metres 55; and 1st W45 High Jump 1 metre 35

Iris Hornsey 1st W70 (GOLD women 70 plus) 400 metres; and 1st W70 800 metres

Sharon Crowley 1st W50 (GOLD women 50 plus) 2k Walk 14 minutes 18 seconds; and 3rd W50 1500 metres

Stephanie Mayfield 1st W35 (GOLD women 35 plus) Hammer 16 metres 51; 2nd W35 100 metre Hurdles 24.1 seconds; and 3rd W35 Pole Vault 1 metre 70

Tessa Stephenson 2nd W50 (SILVER women 50 plus) Discus 14 metres 35; and 2nd W50 Shot Putt and club record (for 3kg weight) 7 metres 53

Dave Bowker 1st M50 (GOLD men 50 plus) 2000 metre Walk and club record 11 minutes 17.5 seconds

Steve Mayfield 1st M45 (GOLD men 45 plus) Javelin and club record 28.11 metres; 2nd M45 Long Jump 4 metres 42 centimetres; and 3rd M45 100 metres 13.7 seconds

Bedford

On the hottest day of the year so far, evening temperatures were perfect for running at the Doug Anderson 5k in Bedford on Wednesday, with 5 Spartans competing:

LIAM HERBERT was 38th of the 351 finishers equalling his personal best (PB) time of 18 minutes 29 seconds; KEVIN SMYTH was 108th in a seasonā€™s best (SB) 21 minutes 1 second; ANDREW HULL 119th in a SB 21:26; PAUL HOLGATE 214th in 25:13 and IRIS HORNSEY was first Vet 70 plus in 28 minutes 24 seconds.

Madeyarun Marathon x2

On Saturday 28th July in brilliant sunshine CAROL PAUL and Mike Newbitt took part in day one of the Madeyarun around the reservoir trail marathon. Ā This was a trailĀ  marathon consisting of seven laps around Brackmills reservoir in Northampton. Ā Finishing with superb sun tans Carol completed the course in 4 hours 42 minutes and Mike completed it in 5 hours and 3 minutes. Ā Not content with doing one marathon over the weekend they toed the line again on Sunday morning to run it again but this time it started in sunshine then there were showers and then heavy rain and strong winds with thunder and lightning. Ā Mike completed the course in 4 hours 56 minutes and Carol finished in exactly 5 hours.

Enigma Night Fever Marathon

With forthcoming marshal duties at the Olympics, ROGER BIGGS took the opportunity to fit in a midweek marathon on Wednesday.Ā  On a lovely warm evening the runners in the Enigma Night Fever Marathon had to complete 17 laps of Furzton Lake, Milton Keynes.Ā  Roger completed the marathon in 4:14:30.

Enter Now!

The club host the County Championship 5K road race on Sunday 9th September, Championship Five Miles on 23rd September and Championship Half Marathon on Sunday 4th November.Ā  All are in Stevenage and all are for seniors and veterans.Ā  The championships are within open races ā€” everyone can have a go.Ā  Enter now.Ā  There are details on www.fvspartans.org.uk

With the numerous sporting events taking place during the next couple of months now is a good time to remind you about entering two Fairlands Valley Spartan races.

Both of these events also incorporate the Hertfordshire Country Champs ā€” Vets and Seniors ā€” so donā€™t miss out.

Fairlands Valley Spartans 5K – 10:30am, Sunday 9 September 2012

(This year we are only holding one 5K race ā€” DONā€™T MISS OUT!)

Run on the usual Spartans course but in complete daylight, you will be able to see every inch of this undulating but fast course. Ā Entries will be capped at 300 runners and it incorporates the Vets and Senior Herts County Champs ā€” so it is bound to fill up fast.

Enter online at:

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/events/viewevent.asp?sp=&v=2&EN=71675&ms=

Further event details, plus postal entry forms, are available from the Spartans website here:

http://fvspartans.org.uk/ai1ec_event/5k-race-incorporating-the-herts-county-championships/?instance_id=

ā€˜Likeā€™ this event on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FV5kSeries

The Paul Maguire Memorial 5 Mile – 10:30am, Sunday 23 September 2012

Re-launched this year on a new fast undulating course that takes in some of the lakes and our famous cycle-ways. Ā This event is to remember Paul Maguire, a much admired Spartan, who passed away in 2008 after a long battle with cancer. Ā Profits from the race will be donated to the Garden House Hospice in Letchworth.

Entries will be capped at 300 runners and it incorporates the Vets and Senior Herts County Champs ā€” so, again, it is bound to fill up fast.

Enter online at:

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/events/viewevent.asp?sp=&v=2&EN=71094&ms=

Further event details, plus postal entry forms, are available from the Spartans website here:

http://fvspartans.org.uk/ai1ec_event/paul-maguire-5-mile-race-incorporating-the-herts-county-championships/?instance_id=

Please support your local running events.

 

Coming Events

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

  • Serpentine 5K on Friday 24th August (note different Friday and starting point due to the Olympics and Paralympics)
  • 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.
  • Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 4th November.

 

Join The Spartans

Live in or near Stevenage?Ā  Like running?Ā  Fairlands Valley Spartans is your local running club and is on the up!Ā  The club was voted the UKā€™s Best Running Club in 2010.Ā  It now has over 400 members and encourages participation by all.Ā  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.Ā  Go along to drama studio next to the gymnastics centre at Marriotts School ā€” a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 0AN) at 7p.m.Ā  Up to five running groups go out on training nights ā€” 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.Ā  Spartan track training sessions are held at Ridlins Athletics Track, Woodcock Road, Stevenage most Saturdays from 9.15a.m.Ā  There are events to enter every Sunday.Ā  Newcomers are very welcome ā€” 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.Ā  Membership is only Ā£27 per year.Ā  Concessions are available.Ā  Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.ukĀ  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

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