Sixty seven Fairlands Valley Spartans got 2019 off to a great start as sixty five of them joined CALLIE CHAPMAN and STEVE DOBNER running 5K in Stevenage as they celebrated their fiftieth parkrun.
Serpentine NYD 10K
A little further south JIM BROWN and PENNY SCHENKEL began the New Year in great form as they ran their fastest 10K races in more than twelve months at the Serpentine New Year’s Day 10K in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.
Despite it being his third race in five days Jim finished in 49 minutes 13 seconds, third in his age group and 232nd overall and Penny easily beat the hour with 57 minutes 48 seconds compared with 1 hour and 49 seconds (1:00:49) on New Year’s Day 2018.
Jim said it was a good way to blow the cobwebs away. He thought he was struggling but then saw his time at the first kilometre marker and thought let’s go for it despite residual tiredness left from the Buntingford ten mile event on Sunday. He said there was a bit of a northerly drift to contend with but it actually helped for the last mile which was along the east side of the Serpentine.
Ely New Year’s Eve 10K
PAUL HOLGATE said the Ely New Year’s Eve 10K was the perfect way to end the year.
Spartan SIMON JACKSON was ninth in 35 minutes 31 seconds. A best for 2018 by 39 seconds. He was third veteran (40 plus). Paul came in with 57 minutes 16 seconds. There were 616 finishers.
Peterborough NYE 10K
Others saw out the old year at the Peterborough 10K. HAZEL SMITH achieved a year’s best 55 minutes 22 seconds (277th); KAREN BROOM came in with 1:00:33 (390th); CALLIE CHAPMAN in 1:03:05 (435th) and TREVOR BROOM in 1:05:53 (490th).
Flitch Way Marathon NYE
TIM ROBINSON went a lot further. On New Year’s Eve he ran the Flitch Way Marathon. The marathon starts at Braintree in the Great Notley Country park and follows an out and back trail route along the disused railway track towards Bishops Stortford. Although the route sounds fairly flat the track continually rises and drops over its length. There was good support at the two ‘railway station platform’ cafés but for the most part fellow runners were the only company. He came in with 5 hours 1 minute 24 seconds, the last Spartan marathon of 2018.
Tough But Satisfying – County Cross Country
Complete and counting Fairlands Valley Spartans women’s and men’s teams completed the tough but satisfying county championships in Verulamium Park, St Albans on Sunday.
Only 88 finished the senior women’s race which was over eight kilometres. NATALIE LAWRENCE won County BRONZE in third place with a time of 30 minutes 36 seconds. RHIANNON GRIFFIN had a great time and beat her previous time on the same course by five minutes with 39:05, she was 54th. JULIE SHADBOLT and PENNY SCHENKEL completed the four woman team in 83rd with 45:44 and 86th in 48:55. They were 13th team out of 18 and had a reserve, SHARON CROWLEY who came in after 51 minutes 22 seconds.
The senior men, that’s age 20 and over, had to run three laps or about 12 kilometres. Although they were missing some of their faster runners they were determined to finish with a complete team of at least six men.
59th out of 150 PAUL HEWETT was first in for the Spartans in 45 minutes 21 seconds; then came RICHARD SPRINGALL 88th in 47:28 and PAUL SHELLEY 115th in 52:07. THOMAS SAUKA ran a well paced race to cut his time by about ten minutes for the same event, he was 134th in 56:44. One of the oldest in the race and decades older than many JIM BROWN was battling to avoid last place for the first two laps but overtook a handful on lap three to come in with 145th in 61:56 four minutes quicker than his last race on this course in 2015. TIM ROBINSON made it team complete and smiles all round at 146th in 62:39. Tough but satisfying and recommended for next year.
The next cross country race for the club will be a league race at Watford on Sunday 13th January. Dozens of Spartans are expected for that event.
Spartan of the Month
SOPHIE COWAN was awarded Spartan of the Month for December recognising her work which included organising the Stevenage Half Marathon and the cross country league fixture in Fairlands Valley Park.
Parkrun Highlights New Year’s Day
Lots of Spartans took advantage of being able to run two parkruns on New Year’s Day. There were plenty of options with start times of local events staggered to allow this. There were 67 Spartans who made up the 441 record breaking turnout at Stevenage.
So who did the double?
Erica GRAYSON (Barrow and Fell Foot)
Michael O’KEEFE (99th at Luton Wardown and 100th Stevenage).
Grant Ramsay (5th overall at Letchworth and Stevenage).
Tim Saban, Mark Goodwin, Paul Shelley, Thomas Sauka, Steven Dobner, Jonathan Jones, Ken Jude and Tim Robinson (Panshanger and Stevenage)
Maria Swift and Mylo, Caroline Croft, Carole Sheldrick and David Scott (Letchworth and Stevenage)
Ashley SCHOENWETTER was first lady at Stevenage (20:04) and Natalie Lawrence was first lady and 7th overall (19:00) at Houghton Hall.
Ruth Reilly ran in Panshanger then was kept very busy bar code scanning in Stevenage.
Congratulations to Michael O’Keefe running his 99th and 100th parkrun on New Year’s Day. Congratulations also go to Callie Chapman and Steven Dobner who completed their 50th parkruns both at Stevenage. Steven was at Panshanger for his 49th parkrun at 9 am.
Spartan men made up 3 of the top 10 at Stevenage with Jonathan Parr 3rd overall in (17:16), Grant Ramsay (5th 18:17) and running his first parkrun Martin Blackburn (8th in 18:55).
There were PBs for Ashley SCHOENWETTER (20:04), Jonathan Parr (17:16), Nigel STRONGITHARM(23:43), Maria SWIFT (and Mylo) at Stevenage (24:26), Carole SHELDRICK at Stevenage (26:35) and Sean MILWOOD (28:44).
Michael O’KEEFE got a PB at Luton Wardown (26:12) on his 99th parkrun. James SOUTH ran a new PB at Panshanger (27:14) and Ros INGRAM a new PB at Letchworth (25:46).
Saturday parkrun
There was another bumper turnout at Stevenage parkrun on Saturday with over 400 runners. There were PBs for James McSweeney (23:07) on his 49th parkrun. First Spartan man was Danny Scanlon (20:26). Kerry Flain finished his first Stevenage parkrun in 22:39.
Grant Ramsay was first overall at Letchworth in a new course PB of 20:42. Maria Swift (+ Mylo) was second lady in a new PB of 22:42. Also running Letchworth were Maddie Pritchard (25:52) and Karen Palmer (29:18).
John Roxborough ran at Victoria Dock in London (near the ExCel) finishing in 21:03.
Rowena Rutledge was at Gunpowder and ran 27:59.
Hannah Neale ran a new PB at Coldhams Common Cambridge (23:08).
Full Spartan results for all parkruns can be found at the end of this release.
Tables
Parkruns: New Year’s Day and Saturday 5th January
New Year’s Day:
Luton Wardown parkrun
A total of 339 runners took part.
| Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Run Time |
| 108 | 94 | Michael O’KEEFE | 00:26:12 |
Stevenage parkrun
A total of 441 runners took part including 67 Spartans.
| Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Run Time |
| 3 | 3 | Jonathan PARR | 00:17:16 |
| 5 | 5 | Grant RAMSAY | 00:18:17 |
| 8 | 8 | Martin BLACKBURN | 00:18:55 |
| 11 | 11 | Stuart ARCHER | 00:19:43 |
| 13 | 1 | Ashley SCHOENWETTER | 00:20:04 |
| 17 | 16 | Danny SCANLON | 00:20:36 |
| 20 | 19 | James KAY | 00:21:02 |
| 23 | 22 | Tim SABAN | 00:21:28 |
| 37 | 35 | Kieran FEETHAM | 00:22:09 |
| 38 | 36 | Graham BLACKBURN | 00:22:16 |
| 51 | 48 | Peter SMITH | 00:22:55 |
| 63 | 57 | Mark GOODWIN | 00:23:27 |
| 67 | 59 | James MCSWEENEY | 00:23:38 |
| 70 | 62 | Paul MAGUIRE | 00:23:42 |
| 71 | 63 | Nigel STRONGITHARM | 00:23:43 |
| 74 | 65 | Paul SHELLEY | 00:23:50 |
| 82 | 71 | Craig BACON | 00:24:15 |
| 85 | 13 | Maria SWIFT | 00:24:26 |
| 89 | 75 | Thomas SAUKA | 00:24:30 |
| 96 | 81 | David PATTMAN | 00:24:42 |
| 97 | 82 | Andrew SMITH | 00:24:44 |
| 106 | 90 | Steven DOBNER | 00:25:08 |
| 141 | 29 | Nikki WILBY | 00:26:04 |
| 145 | 115 | Michael O’KEEFE | 00:26:20 |
| 150 | 33 | Ann TRYSSESOONE | 00:26:27 |
| 154 | 121 | Jonathan JONES | 00:26:30 |
| 155 | 34 | Susan MCANENY | 00:26:30 |
| 156 | 122 | Ken JUDE | 00:26:31 |
| 157 | 35 | Carole SHELDRICK | 00:26:35 |
| 158 | 123 | Ciaran MCANENY | 00:26:36 |
| 170 | 39 | Alison SHELLEY | 00:27:05 |
| 188 | 142 | Paul HOLGATE | 00:27:44 |
| 193 | 47 | Karen PALMER | 00:27:49 |
| 194 | 147 | Tim ROBINSON | 00:27:50 |
| 204 | 152 | Robert SHAW | 00:28:15 |
| 213 | 158 | Simon SYPULA | 00:28:29 |
| 215 | 159 | Karl SHREEVE | 00:28:33 |
| 218 | 161 | Sean MILLWOOD | 00:28:44 |
| 228 | 62 | Monica SMITHSON | 00:29:13 |
| 233 | 170 | David ACKERY | 00:29:23 |
| 236 | 66 | Caroline CROFT | 00:29:31 |
| 237 | 171 | Stephen SMITHSON | 00:29:33 |
| 244 | 68 | Carol PAUL | 00:29:46 |
| 254 | 71 | Liz CARVELL | 00:30:07 |
| 260 | 76 | Catherine CRAIG | 00:30:24 |
| 283 | 89 | Andrea WESTCOTT | 00:31:45 |
| 307 | 105 | Debbie BLANTERN | 00:32:42 |
| 327 | 206 | Roger BIGGS | 00:34:22 |
| 335 | 127 | Callie CHAPMAN | 00:34:46 |
| 337 | 210 | Paul JENNINGS | 00:34:47 |
| 339 | 212 | David SCOTT | 00:34:48 |
| 340 | 128 | Bernadette MILLWOOD | 00:34:48 |
| 341 | 129 | Hazel SMITH | 00:34:48 |
| 342 | 130 | Rowena RUTLEDGE | 00:34:49 |
| 343 | 131 | Jenny GARRETT | 00:34:49 |
| 344 | 132 | Nicola HATHERLY | 00:34:50 |
| 345 | 133 | Claire EMMERSON | 00:34:50 |
| 348 | 134 | Chloe EMMERSON | 00:34:52 |
| 349 | 215 | Darren EMMERSON | 00:34:52 |
| 363 | 145 | Karen SMITH | 00:35:36 |
| 371 | 153 | Niki PLUMB | 00:36:05 |
| 394 | 224 | Matthew PATTMAN | 00:39:53 |
| 415 | 187 | Rhiannon GRIFFIN | 00:42:55 |
| 418 | 189 | Maggie MONTGOMERY | 00:43:04 |
| 427 | 195 | Yuko GORDON | 00:45:22 |
| 436 | 199 | Verity FISHER | 00:50:50 |
| 437 | 238 | Daniel SUTTON | 00:50:51 |
Barrow parkrun
A total of 196 runners took part.
| Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Run Time |
| 74 | 19 | Erica GRAYSON | 00:27:49 |
Houghton Hall parkrun
A total of 429 runners took part.
| Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Run Time |
| 7 | 1 | Natalie LAWRENCE | 00:19:00 |
Fell Foot parkrun, Newby Bridge
A total of 251 runners took part.
| Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Run Time |
| 123 | 37 | Erica GRAYSON | 00:29:38 |
Panshanger parkrun
A total of 521 runners took part.
| Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Run Time |
| 59 | 57 | Tim SABAN | 00:22:11 |
| 64 | 62 | John ROXBOROUGH | 00:22:21 |
| 71 | 69 | Mark GOODWIN | 00:22:42 |
| 153 | 138 | Paul SHELLEY | 00:25:27 |
| 157 | 140 | David PATTMAN | 00:25:32 |
| 162 | 143 | Thomas SAUKA | 00:25:39 |
| 165 | 146 | Steven DOBNER | 00:25:45 |
| 172 | 152 | Ken JUDE | 00:25:57 |
| 225 | 188 | James SOUTH | 00:27:14 |
| 353 | 254 | Tim ROBINSON | 00:31:03 |
| 354 | 100 | Ruth REILLY | 00:31:04 |
| 487 | 303 | Matthew PATTMAN | 00:39:15 |
Ellenbrook Fields parkrun
A total of 337 runners took part.
| Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Run Time |
| 38 | 36 | John ROXBOROUGH | 00:21:47 |
Letchworth parkrun
A total of 167 runners took part.
| Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Run Time |
| 5 | 5 | Grant RAMSAY | 00:19:22 |
| 41 | 5 | Maria SWIFT | 00:24:21 |
| 42 | 6 | Marie COLUCCI | 00:24:26 |
| 50 | 8 | Madeleine PRITCHARD | 00:25:37 |
| 52 | 9 | Ros INGRAM | 00:25:46 |
| 55 | 46 | Jonathan JONES | 00:26:03 |
| 87 | 19 | Carole SHELDRICK | 00:28:39 |
| 112 | 30 | Caroline CROFT | 00:31:06 |
| 124 | 89 | David SCOTT | 00:32:37. |
Saturday Parkruns – Spartan results:
Stevenage parkrun
A total of 408 runners took part.
| Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Run Time |
| 12 | 12 | Danny SCANLON | 00:20:26 |
| 33 | 33 | Martin DUDLEY | 00:22:39 |
| 34 | 34 | Kerry FLAIN | 00:22:39 |
| 44 | 44 | James MCSWEENEY | 00:23:07 |
| 60 | 57 | Ryan DUNNING | 00:23:37 |
| 71 | 66 | John NELMS | 00:24:22 |
| 72 | 67 | Darren EMMERSON | 00:24:23 |
| 76 | 71 | Daniel SUTTON | 00:24:38 |
| 84 | 79 | Lee PICKERSGILL | 00:24:54 |
| 109 | 97 | Chris HOLLAND | 00:26:26 |
| 110 | 98 | Nigel STRONGITHARM | 00:26:28 |
| 119 | 106 | Steven DOBNER | 00:26:44 |
| 151 | 133 | David PATTMAN | 00:27:52 |
| 152 | 19 | Claire EMMERSON | 00:27:52 |
| 153 | 20 | Jenny GARRETT | 00:27:53 |
| 154 | 21 | Alison SHELLEY | 00:27:53 |
| 160 | 136 | Paul HOLGATE | 00:27:59 |
| 190 | 151 | Jonathan JONES | 00:28:59 |
| 215 | 169 | Paul JENNINGS | 00:30:18 |
| 237 | 59 | Verity FISHER | 00:31:08 |
| 238 | 60 | Debbie BLANTERN | 00:31:09 |
| 273 | 80 | Sally MCBRIDE | 00:32:19 |
| 289 | 203 | Nick WITCOMBE | 00:33:05 |
| 290 | 87 | Chloe EMMERSON | 00:33:06 |
| 307 | 208 | Michael ANDREWS | 00:33:53 |
| 370 | 143 | Gemma PARKER | 00:37:56 |
| 391 | 236 | Simon JACKSON | 00:42:12 |
Gunpowder parkrun
A total of 264 runners took part.
| Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Run Time |
| 110 | 28 | Rowena RUTLEDGE | 00:27:59 |
Ellenbrook Fields parkrun
A total of 301 runners took part.
| Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Run Time |
| 8 | 8 | John HARRIS | 00:19:56 |
| 30 | 27 | Barry OSBORNE | 00:22:47 |
Letchworth parkrun
A total of 147 runners took part.
| Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Run Time |
| 1 | 1 | Grant RAMSAY | 00:18:42 |
| 10 | 2 | Maria SWIFT | 00:22:42 |
| 32 | 11 | Madeleine PRITCHARD | 00:25:52 |
| 51 | 17 | Karen PALMER | 00:29:18 |
Victoria Dock parkrun
A total of 160 runners took part.
| Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Run Time |
| 32 | 32 | John ROXBOROUGH | 00:21:03 |
Coldham’s Common parkrun
A total of 299 runners took part.
| Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Run Time |
| 72 | 10 | Hannah NEALE | 00:23:08 |