ONE AND TWO ON CHRISTMAS DAY

Post author By Vicky Archer
Post date December 26, 2021
No Comments on ONE AND TWO ON CHRISTMAS DAY

All twenty seven Fairlands Valley Spartans wanted for Christmas was to join in the festive Parkrun fun at six different locations around the country on Christmas Day.

Christmas number one goes to JONATHAN PARR finishing as first man with a time of 16:51. Spartans took one two at Stevenage with ADRIAN BUSOLINI (18:16) taking second place.

Adrian in his stripes had Jonathan’s green elf vest in his sights

The fastest female Spartan this week was TRACEY JACKSON who finished with a time of 23:43 and was the fifth fastest lady also at Stevenage.

Tracey leading the pack of Christmas cheer!

There were Santa, elves, Christmas crackers, little helpers, even grinches and most of the 22 Spartans at Stevenage stepped into Christmas Parkrun fun, dressed in festive clothing with a special shout out to CAROL SHELDRICK and CAROLINE CROFT dressed as elves.

Other Spartans were parkrun volunteers to help make it a special morning. There were 325 parkrunners in Stevenage.

Visiting relations GRANT RAMSAY enjoyed the Edinburgh parkrun which he finished in less than twenty minutes with 19:47 and 40^th position out of 568.

All smiles for Grant after a sub 20 in Edinburgh!

There will be a New Year’s Day parkrun in Fairlands Valley Park, Stevenage at 9a.m. on Saturday. It’s free but you need to register with parkrun beforehand.

Andrew Wins On Boxing Day

There was a lower attendance than usual at the Pirton Boxing Day run and miserable weather but spirits were high. Spartan ANDREW PATTERSON won the very muddy 3.2 mile event in 17 minutes 48 seconds.

Speedy Spartan Andrew never ceases to amaze us!

Cross Country Update

Fairlands Valley Spartans finished the cross country league fixture in Stevenage with more than three complete men’s and three complete women’s teams. In the participation table the club swept into second place with 45 with only Garden City Runners getting more round with 63. This time FVS overtook Royston Runners 42 and got well ahead of Trent Park 35; North Herts Road Runners 33; St Albans Striders 26; Team Trident 25 and Watford also 25. There are 19 clubs in the league.

This time in the race the Spartan men were again fifth out of nineteen but not far behind Garden City Runners. Their women were eleventh but only three points behind Ealing who were tenth. Now the Spartans are seventh out of nineteen in the combined team score following three races.

It was a murky and misty morning on 19^th December but that didn’t stop more than 400 people enjoying five miles of cross country running around Fairlands Valley Park in the race which was organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans.

Let’s see what the club can do at the next league fixture which will be in Watford on Sunday 16^th January.

The county cross country championships are in Welwyn Garden City on 9^th January.

Paul Completes His Coasts and Borders

With more than four days of the year still to go PAUL HOLGATE completed his virtual coast of England challenge running the full 2,970 kilometres in a moving time of 383 hours, 53 minutes and 43 seconds.

Tables

Spartans at parkruns on Christmas Day:

Position	Gender Position	Name	Run Time
Stevenage parkrun
1	1	Jonathan PARR	16:51
2	2	Adrian BUSOLINI	18:16
20	18	Steve WELLS	20:27
60	5	Tracey JACKSON	23:43
61	53	Thomas SAUKA	23:44
70	59	Andy JAY	24:10
138	100	Tim ROBINSON	27:29
174	43	Ann TRYSSESOONE	29:05
176	119	Ken JUDE	29:09
184	48	Jo BOWDERY	29:31
189	126	Matt CLARKE	29:35
190	51	Fiona CLARKE	29:36
192	53	Claire EMMERSON	29:38
193	127	Darren EMMERSON	29:38
194	54	Debbie BLANTERN	29:45
235	72	Monica SMITHSON	31:51
236	73	Tracy HAYGARTH	31:58
242	77	Carole SHELDRICK	32:15
243	78	Caroline CROFT	32:15
244	79	Harriet PACE	32:19
272	96	Sharon CROWLEY	34:51
317	123	Helen HARRIS	44:53
Edinburgh parkrun
40	33	Grant RAMSAY	19:47
Houghton Hall parkrun
87	63	Michael O’KEEFE	29:30
Panshanger parkrun
83	72	Mike REYNOLDS	26:02
Lee-on-the-Solent parkrun
174	119	Edward HARE	27:24
Bartley Park parkrun
117	64	Darryl STEVENS	39:51

All 45 Spartan finishers at the Stevenage cross country (19^th December):

Position	Name	Official	Gender	Category	Team
4	ANDREW PATTERSON	27:33	M	40	MA
9	SIMON JACKSON	28:30	M	40	MA
10	JONATHAN PARR	28:32	M	S	MA
46	CHARLIE WHITE	30:56	M	S	MA
57	KELVIN BEYOKU	31:32	M	S	MA
70	STUART ARCHER	32:27	M	S	MA
99	STEVE WELLS	33:30	M	50	MA
104	DANNY SCANLON	33:34	M	40	MA
142	MARK COLLINS	35:23	M	40	MB
146	JOHN HARRIS	35:30	M	50	MB
150	PETE SMITH	35:37	M	50	MB
164	THOMAS SAUKA	36:33	M	40	MB
186	STEVE MAYFIELD	37:27	M	50	MB
201	MARTIN WOOD	38:00	M	50	MB
210	YUKO GORDON	38:20	F	65	FA
218	TRACEY JACKSON	38:34	F	45	FA
226	CRAIG BACON	38:56	M	50	MB
236	MARK GOODWIN	39:15	M	60	MB
249	ANNABELLE WHITE	39:38	F	S	FA
273	MATT CLARKE	40:50	M	40	MC
276	TIM ROBINSON	41:02	M	50	MC
280	LUKE GURNEY	41:07	M	S	MC
284	TRACEY PEZ	41:16	F	45	FA
291	DAVID KENNEDY	42:02	M	S	MC
300	ZOE JACKSON	42:27	F	35	FA
301	DARREN EMMERSON	42:28	M	50	MC
306	ANDY JAY	42:44	M	50	MC
319	CAROLE SHELDRICK	43:47	F	45	FB
325	JON SYPULA	44:02	M	40	MC
326	MARK FREEMAN	44:04	M	60	MC
335	NICK KLEANTHOUS	44:55	M	50
338	FIONA CLARKE	45:12	F	35	FB
345	MARIAN MORLEY	45:49	F	55	FB
346	NICOLA ANDERSSON	45:50	F	45	FB
360	SIMON SYPULA	47:04	M	40
368	ROGER HARDMAN	48:01	M	70
382	MICHAEL O’KEEFE	49:43	M	50
396	CATHY CRAIG	52:11	F	65	FB
399	SHARON CROWLEY	53:07	F	55	FC
400	PAUL HOLGATE	53:18	M	60
411	JENNY GARRETT	56:03	F	45	FC
412	CALLIE CHAPMAN	56:12	F	35	FC
418	CHRISTINE ZVEREV	57:05	F	35	FC
419	HAZEL SMITH	57:05	F	45	FC
420	CLAIRE EMMERSON	57:06	F	45

16 women and 29 men. There were 421 finishers, 165 women and 256 men, altogether.

Tags Christmas parkrun, Coasts and Borders, Cross Country, Pirton Boxing Day Run

Club News Race Results

MOVING UP AT CROSS COUNTRY

Post author By Vicky Archer
Post date December 19, 2021
No Comments on MOVING UP AT CROSS COUNTRY

It was a murky and misty morning on Sunday but that didn’t stop more than 400 people enjoying five miles of cross country running around Fairlands Valley Park in a race organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans.

Increased participation by club members between races one and two in the Sunday cross country league lifted Fairlands Valley Spartans from tenth to seventh out of the 19 clubs taking part. Then on Sunday at the third race, in Stevenage, there was a season’s record of 45 Spartans finishing the race and dozens of others helping.

With well over 400 finishers it was easily the biggest turnout so far in this season’s league as well the biggest for the Spartans.

This time there were three Spartans in the top ten – ANDREW PATTERSON fourth in 27 minutes 32 seconds; SIMON JACKSON ninth in 28 minutes 29 seconds and JONATHAN PARR tenth in 28:36. Their eighth counter for the men’s “A” team was only just outside the top one hundred.

The Fairlands women put in a good performance with YUKO GORDON 210^th overall (women and men) at 38 minutes 17 seconds; TRACEY JACKSON 218^th at 38:21; ANNABELLE WHITE 249^th at 39:35; TRACEY PEZ 284^th at 41:12 and ZOE JACKSON completing the women’s “A” team of five in 300^th at 42:26.

A good women’s “B” team is coming together as there was CAROLE SHELDRICK at 43:38; FIONA CLARKE at 45:00; NICOLA ANDERSSON at 45:40; and MARIAN MORLEY at 45:44. Others were helping with the event.

The other counters in the men’s “A” team were CHARLIE WHITE 46^th at 30:54; KELVIN BEYOKU 57^th at 31:40; STUART ARCHER 70^th at 32:27; STEVE WELLS 99^th at 33:23 and DANNY SCANLON 104^th at 33:33.

Not everyone can be in the “A” team but the way the league works having a good turnout means many Spartan runners can push other clubs back by getting in front of their slower “A” runners.

With the start and finish near the showground the eight kilometre race consisted of three laps of the southern part of Fairlands Valley Park. Not the liquid mud of the previous week but by hugging the park boundary runners found some tough climbs to test them.

It was good to welcome some new members trying their first cross country. A great event organised by race director WENDY THARANI and a good team of volunteers.

Our fantastic race director Wendy and her megaphone!

(All the Spartan finishers can be found in a table near the end of this release).

It’s unfortunate there is a delay waiting for the team results to be published but at Trent Park the combined Spartans jumped from tenth to seventh and their women from twelfth to eleventh (though only two points off tenth) while the men leapt from tenth to fifth. Let’s see what Sunday’s results bring and what the club can do at the next league fixture which will be in Watford on Sunday 16^th January.

The county cross country championships are in Welwyn Garden City on 9^th January.

Parkrun Highlights for Saturday 18^th December 2021

It was a relatively quiet week for Spartans at Saturday’s parkrun the day before the cross country league race and as we approach Christmas and the end of 2021.  

DARRYL STEVENS was a first timer at Bath Skyline parkrun (with a challenging uphill flight of 37 steps to negotiate!) in his 177^th parkrun which he finished in 39:05. PAUL MAGUIRE was another first timer, this time at Exmouth parkrun completing the course in 26:01.

ED HARE was at his “home” parkrun of Lee-on-the Solent finished in 23:07. Just one Spartan representing FVS at Panshanger: MIKE REYNOLDS clocking 26:28.

Stevenage parkrun (14 Spartans; 221 runners)

There were 14 Spartans at the Stevenage parkrun. GRANT RAMSAY won a top ten place at sixth, and fifth man, with 20 minutes 33 seconds.

A selection of our Stevenage Parkrunners

The others were:

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time
30	27	Sam SIMMONS	00:23:37
38	34	Martin DUDLEY	00:24:17
54	47	Nick KLEANTHOUS	00:25:37
94	77	Matt CLARKE	00:28:11
101	13	Fiona CLARKE	00:28:37
103	14	Nicola ANDERSSON	00:28:46
131	29	Debbie BLANTERN	00:30:13
159	41	Chloe CHAPMAN	00:32:19
160	42	Vicky ARCHER	00:32:19
170	49	Tracy HAYGARTH	00:32:59
171	112	Stephen SMITHSON	00:33:15
218	77	Helen HARRIS	00:49:28
220	131	Roger BIGGS	00:58:59

MIKE REYNOLDS ran the Panshanger parkrun in 26 minutes 28 seconds. He was 80^th out of the 210 finishers.

There will be parkruns on Christmas Day including Stevenage. No doubt there will be a good turnout of Santas, elves, reindeers……

Tables

All 45 Spartan finishers at the Stevenage cross country (19^th December):

Position	Name	Est. Time	Gender	Category	Team
4	ANDREW PATTERSON	27:32	M	40	MA
9	SIMON JACKSON	28:29	M	40	MA
10	JONATHAN PARR	28:36	M	S	MA
46	CHARLIE WHITE	30:54	M	S	MA
57	KELVIN BEYOKU	31:40	M	S	MA
70	STUART ARCHER	32:27	M	S	MA
99	STEVE WELLS	(33:23)	M	50	MA
104	DANNY SCANLON	33:33	M	40	MA
142	MARK COLLINS	35:29	M	40	MB
146	JOHN HARRIS	35:27	M	50	MB
150	PETE SMITH	35:35	M	50	MB
164	THOMAS SAUKA	36:32	M	40	MB
186	STEVE MAYFIELD	37:25	M	50	MB
201	MARTIN WOOD	(37:59)	M	50	MB
210	YUKO GORDON	38:17	F	65	FA
218	TRACEY JACKSON	38:21	F	45	FA
226	CRAIG BACON	38:53	M	50	MB
236	MARK GOODWIN	39:12	M	60	MB
249	ANNABELLE WHITE	39:35	F	S	FA
273	MATT CLARKE	40:47	M	40	MC
276	TIM ROBINSON	41:02	M	50	MC
280	LUKE GURNEY	41:02	M	S	MC
284	TRACEY PEZ	41:12	F	45	FA
291	DAVID KENNEDY	40:57	M	S	MC
300	ZOE JACKSON	(42:26)	F	35	FA
301	DARREN EMMERSON	42:28	M	50	MC
306	ANDY JAY	42:33	M	50	MC
319	CAROLE SHELDRICK	43:38	F	45	FB
325	JON SYPULA	43:59	M	40	MC
326	MARK FREEMAN	43:30	M	60	MC
335	NICK KLEANTHOUS	44:47	M	50
338	FIONA CLARKE	45:00	F	35	FB
345	MARIAN MORLEY	45:44	F	55	FB
346	NICOLA ANDERSSON	45:40	F	45	FB
360	SIMON SYPULA	47:03	M	40
368	ROGER HARDMAN	47:47	M	70
382	MICHAEL O’KEEFE	49:42	M	50
396	CATHY CRAIG	52:08	F	65	FB
399	SHARON CROWLEY	(52:58)	F	55	FC
400	PAUL HOLGATE	53:07	M	60	FC
411	JENNY GARRETT	55:51	F	45	FC
412	CALLIE CHAPMAN	56:00	F	35	FC
418	CHRISTINE ZVEREV	57:01	F	35	FC
419	HAZEL SMITH	57:01	F	45
420	CLAIRE EMMERSON	57:01	F	45

16 women and 29 men.

All 37 Spartans at the Trent Park cross country (12^th December):

Position	Name	Official Time	Gender	Category	Team
16	SIMON JACKSON	28:24	M	40	MA
25	JONATHAN PARR	29:19	M	S	MA
26	ADRIAN BUSOLINI	29:28	M	S	MA
52	KELVIN BEYOKU	31:22	M	S	MA
54	PAUL HEWETT	31:25	M	S	MA
74	CHRIS LATHWELL	32:08	F	45	FA
79	STUART ARCHER	32:29	M	S	MA
88	STEVE WELLS	33:08	M	60	MA
123	DANNY SCANLON	34:33	M	40	MA
138	PETE SMITH	35:16	M	50	MB
142	THOMAS SAUKA	35:32	M	40	MB
150	JOHN HARRIS	35:47	M	50	MB
203	TRACEY JACKSON	38:10	F	45	FA
206	YUKO GORDON	38:14	F	65	FA
255	MATT CLARKE	41:16	M	40	MB
266	LUKE GURNEY	41:31	M	S	MB
292	ANDY JAY	43:27	M	50	MB
298	TIM ROBINSON	44:30	M	50	MB
306	WENDY THARANI	45:19	F	45	FA
320	FIONA CLARKE	46:08	F	35	FA
329	NICK KLEANTHOUS	46:56	M	50	MB
338	MARK FREEMAN	47:47	M	60
339	CHLOE CHAPMAN	47:49	F	S	FB
340	VICKY ARCHER	47:49	F	35	FB
357	MARIAN MORLEY	49:53	F	55	FB
358	TAHER THARANI	50:04	M	50
366	JIM BROWN	51:11	M	60
371	LIZ CROWLEY	52:40	F	S	FB
375	MICHAEL O’KEEFE	53:45	M	50
381	SHARON CROWLEY	56:00	F	55	FB
385	JONATHAN JONES	56:29	M	50
386	CATHY CRAIG	56:33	F	65	FC
389	JUDY KING	57:55	F	55	FC
390	MONICA SMITHSON	58:48	F	55	FC
391	JANE WHITROW	59:26	F	55	FC
396	SALLY PHILLIPS	1:02:39	F	55	FC
397	STEPH BIGGAR	1:02:50	F	35

Spartan men fifth out of 19.

Tags parkrun, Stevenage Cross Country

Club News Race Results

TRENT PARK TREMENDOUS

A big increase in Fairlands Valley Spartans participation meant the club did much better in race two of the Sunday Cross Country League which was in Trent Park, north London.

This time five of the first seven Spartans were seniors, the 18 to 34 age category, and there were eight Spartans in the first 100 finishers in the race. There were about 400 finishers from nineteen clubs and 37 of the 400 were Spartans.

Two complete Spartan men’s teams, teams of eight, and three complete women’s teams, teams of five, finished having survived Trent Park’s traditional helpings of liquid mud.

Muddy Spartan feet after the run – We wonder if they all clean their own shoes…

SIMON JACKSON led in the Spartan men’s “A” team. He was 16^th taking 28 minutes 24 seconds for the 7.5 kilometres event. It was tight between JONATHAN PARR and ADRIAN BUSOLINI but Jonathan got it by nine seconds at 25^th in 29:19 while Adrian was 26^th in 29:28. New member KELVIN BEYOKU and PAUL HEWETT were racing round together. Kelvin was 52^nd in 31:22 and Paul 54^th in 31:25.

STUART ARCHER came in with 32:29 and 79^th and STEVE WELLS was 88^th with 33:08. DANNY SCANLON made it count in the “A” team at 123^rd in 34:33.

CHRISTINE LATHWELL was the fastest female from Fairlands at 32 minutes 8 seconds and 74^th. Christine was the sixth woman out of 154 in the race. TRACEY JACKSON came in next, 203^rd at 38:10, with YUKO GORDON close up behind her, 206^th at 38:14. WENDY THARANI came in at 306^th with 45:19 and FIONA CLARKE completed the women’s “A” team at 320^th with 46:08.

CHLOE CHAPMAN and VICKY ARCHER have improved hugely recently. Chloe was 339^th in 47:49 and Vicky 340^th also in 47:49. The last time Vicky ran this course, it was before the first lock down, she took over 50 minutes. They were the first two in the women’s “B” team.

(The team results are not yet available from the league organisers).

The next cross country league race will be this Sunday (!) and it’s in Stevenage. It will be three laps of Fairlands Valley south park (the showground end) and starts at 10.30a.m.

Happy smiling Spartans despite the lovely mud!

Harriet Chases The Moon

Wednesday evening new Spartan HARRIET PACE ran the Chase the Moon 5km at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, finishing in 29 minutes and 12 seconds – a 35 second PB (personal best).

Massive congratulations on your PB Harriet!

Yuko Won In Spain!

It’s been confirmed that Spartan YUKO GORDON won her age category at the Valencia Marathon with her 3 hours 29 minutes 2 seconds. That’s a big boost to her chances of qualifying for next year’s Age Group World Championships.

Apparently the woman originally declared the winner in the 70 plus category did not complete the full 26.2 miles.

A Track Half

53 laps of Wodson Park running track in Ware saw PAUL HOLGATE complete the Ware Track Half Marathon in 2:24:16.

Parkrun Highlights for Saturday 11^th December 2021 – centuries

Three Spartans KEN JUDE, NICK KLEANTHOUS and KAREN PALMER ran their 100^th parkruns on Saturday morning. Ken was 101^st in 27:25; despite a penguin outfit Nick was 111^th in 28:03 while Karen was showing off the century cape and was 179^th in 33:44.

ASHLEY JOHNSON ran a new personal best (PB) of 22 minutes 10 seconds and was second woman in the race and 23^rd out of the 224 runners. She almost certainly would have got under 22 minutes for the first time if it were not for the intervention of a loose dog at a critical moment.

BARRY OSBORNE won his age category with 22:22 and was 26^th in the race. JIM BROWN won his with 27 minutes exactly achieving a target to get in the first hundred with 85^th.

New member HARRIET PACE was first junior woman (15 to 17) in 31 minutes 16 seconds.

VICKY ARCHER new parkrun PB of 27:24 and was 100^th.

The fastest Spartan was JOHN HARRIS with 21 minutes 2 seconds and 16^th place. This week there were 28 Spartans.

Stevenage Parkrun Results where 224 runners took part.

John Harris 21-02 (16th), Ashley Johnson 22-10 (23rd), Barry Osborne 22-22 (26th), Sam Simmons 23-40 (40th), Martin Dudley 23-58 (46th), James McSweeney 24-39 (56th), Lee Pickersgill 26-30 (76th), Jim Brown 27-00 (85th), Vicky Archer 27-24 (100th), Ken Jude 27-25 (101st), Claire Pullen 27-38 (104th), Gail Mackie 27-40 (105th), Nick Kleanthous 28-03 (111th), Fiona Clarke 28-33 (120th), Matt Clarke 28-34 (121st), Chloe Chapman 28-57 (124th), Nicola Andersson 29-41 (133rd), Debbie Blantern 30-05 (139th), Andy Prior 30-19 (145th), Harriet Pace 31-16 (156th), Caroline Croft 21-21 (157th), Tracy Haygarth 32-11 (171st), Karen Palmer 33-44 (179th), Kerstin Weiner 33-45 (181st), Claire Emmerson 33-46 (182nd), Jenny Garrett 33-46 (183rd), Tim Robinson 37-05 (198th) and Helen Harris 51-26 (219th).  

Cranbrook County (Devon): Darryl Stevens 37-19 (78th out of 86 runners).

Tables

Full results for all Spartans when there are a lot at an event will be listed below.

All 37 Spartans at the Trent Park cross country:

Position	Name	Time	Official	Gender	Category	Team
16	SIMON JACKSON	28:23	28:24	M	40	MA
25	JONATHAN PARR	29:24	29:19	M	S	MA
26	ADRIAN BUSOLINI	29:27	29:28	M	S	MA
52	KELVIN BEYOKU	31:21	31:22	M	S	MA
54	PAUL HEWETT	31:22	31:25	M	S	MA
74	CHRIS LATHWELL	32:07	32:08	F	45	FA
79	STUART ARCHER	32:49	32:29	M	S	MA
88	STEVE WELLS	33:10	33:08	M	60	MA
123	DANNY SCANLON	34:32	34:33	M	40	MA
138	PETE SMITH	35:16	35:16	M	50	MB
142	THOMAS SAUKA	35:31	35:32	M	40	MB
150	JOHN HARRIS	35:46	35:47	M	50	MB
203	TRACEY JACKSON	38:07	38:10	F	45	FA
206	YUKO GORDON	38:14	38:14	F	65	FA
255	MATT CLARKE	41:15	41:16	M	40	MB
266	LUKE GURNEY	41:20	41:31	M	S	MB
292	ANDY JAY	43:20	43:27	M	50	MB
298	TIM ROBINSON	44:29	44:30	M	50	MB
306	WENDY THARANI	45:14	45:19	F	45	FA
320	FIONA CLARKE	45:57	46:08	F	35	FA
329	NICK KLEANTHOUS	46:52	46:56	M	50	MB
338	MARK FREEMAN	(47:31)	47:47	M	60
339	CHLOE CHAPMAN	47:35	47:49	F	S	FB
340	VICKY ARCHER	47:38	47:49	F	35	FB
357	MARIAN MORLEY	49:51	49:53	F	55	FB
358	TAHER THARANI	50:02	50:04	M	50
366	JIM BROWN	51:07	51:11	M	60
371	LIZ CROWLEY	52:06	52:40	F	S	FB
375	MICHAEL O’KEEFE	53:41	53:45	M	50
381	SHARON CROWLEY	55:45	56:00	F	55	FB
385	JONATHAN JONES	56:21	56:29	M	50
386	CATHY CRAIG	56:22	56:33	F	65	FC
389	JUDY KING	57:48	57:55	F	55	FC
390	MONICA SMITHSON	(58:48)	58:48	F	55	FC
391	JANE WHITROW	59:48	59:26	F	55	FC
396	SALLY PHILLIPS	1:00:38	1:02:39	F	55	FC
397	STEPH BIGGAR	1:02:30	1:02:50	F	35

Tags Chase the Moon, Parkrun 100, Trent Park, Wodson Park, Yuko in Spain

Club News Race Results

TWO WINS FOR FAIRLANDS

Spartan SIMON JACKSON won the Festive Five road race at Welwyn Garden City on Sunday morning. He took just 27 minutes 56 minutes, a new personal best, to get round the tricky two lap course and finished nine seconds ahead of his nearest rival.

Next in was JOHN HARRIS at 23^rd with 35:05.

NICK KLEANTHOUS was one of many in fancy dress. He said it was a very well organised event with great marshalling. He finished in 43:47, that’s just over three minutes faster than last time, then enjoyed a lovely cake stall at end and the a box of chocolates handed out at the finish line.

ANDY JAY was delighted to maintain an average of eight minutes per mile and finished 45^th with 39 minutes 54 seconds.

The fastest female from Fairlands was HAZEL SMITH in 42 minutes 20 seconds. ERICA GRAYSON and SUE HAMER went round in 48:25 and 48:30. Then there was a little Spartan procession of three with CATHY CRAIG in 50:40; PENNY SCHENKEL smiling in 50:50 and JIM BROWN in 50:51. Soon along came JONATHAN JONES in 51:54 and DZENANA TOPIC in 51:56. Twelve Spartans ran the event.

Nick, Hazel and Andy looking pleased with their winning choclates!

Pretty miserable and damp on the way to the start but the rain held off during the race itself and only started again on the way home.

(The full result for all twelve Spartans is near the end of this release).

Andrew Wins At Goodwood

Spartan ANDREW PATTERSON raced and WON the Goodwood Marathon on Sunday. It consisted of a short out and back followed by 11 laps of the motor racing circuit. 

The wind was 18mph, whilst it was Glorious Goodwood with it behind him, the cross winds and facing the wind was tough going. The first nine laps were consistent at 13:59 to 14 minutes 12 seconds. But the last couple of laps were a slog. He could feel his legs cramping so it wasn’t until the final mile that he knew he would finish with a new personal best (PB). 

The first half Andrew was in fourth place, but in the second half he moved up on to the podium and on the penultimate lap moved in to first. He took the race victory in 2 hours 37 minutes 26 seconds (2:37:26) beating his previous best marathon time by 4 minutes 20 seconds.

It was a great end to the race year for Andrew with PBs at 1500, 3000, 5K, 10K, 10 miles, half and marathon. He won the Stevenage Half Marathon two weeks ago.

Yuko In Spain

YUKO GORDON ran the Valencia marathon. The course was flat, nice and warm but windier later in the morning. She managed an amazing time of 3:29:02.

Yuko had to run under 3 hours 48 minutes to claim the points she needed to qualify for next year’s Age Group World Championships, so she’s OK with 3:29. Yuko says she will rest from marathons till next spring, hopefully have a good rest from the distance and back to basic conditioning over this winter.

Three Canta With Santa

JOHN HARRIS and deer friend took part in the Santa Canta 5K in Letchworth and ran it in 26:06.

CAROLE SHELDRICK and new FVS member DAVID KENNEDY also enjoyed some festive fun at the NHRR Santa Canta 5K. David ran as a Christmas cowboy with a time of 25:56 and Carole as a Christmas Elf with a time of 33:25.

They said it was such a fun event and topped off with a medal and mince pie to finish.

Spartans getting into the festive spirit!

Running in the Chapel

A bit earlier than some years due to running calendar complications but many other Spartans enjoyed a festive Sunday trail run to Minsden Chapel. There were three choices of distance – 11 miles; 8 miles or 4.5 miles.

The annual Spartans ‘bench shot’ whilst running Minsden Chapel.

Parkrun Highlights for Saturday 4^th December 2021

As we head towards the end of another year, the first Saturday of December saw twenty-four Fairlands Valley Spartans head out to represent the club at Parkrun events.

New personal best times were set by two runners on the Stevenage course. ASHLEY JOHNSON finished as the first female, at only her third Parkrun, with a new parkrun personal best (PPB) time of 22 minutes and 22 seconds; and CHLOE CHAPMAN was the 12th female to complete the run in her new PPB of 26 minutes and 39 seconds.

Also in Stevenage, both MARK BEASLEY and KAREN PALMER edged ever closer to attending 100 events with their 99th runs in times of 28 minutes and 47 seconds and 34 minutes and 31 seconds respectively.

Other milestone runs saw JAMES MCSWEENEY complete the Littleport parkrun and his 80th event in 24 minutes and 23 seconds; MIKE REYNOLDS finish his 75th Parkrun in 27 minutes and 58 seconds on the Endcliffe, Sheffield course; MICHAEL O’KEEFE ran at Houghton Hall in 28 minutes and 40 seconds to complete 125 events; and, DARRYL STEVENS reached his 175th run at Lancing Beach Green, West Sussex in 37 minutes and 14 seconds.

(You can find all the Spartan parkrun times near the end of this release).

Spartans Committee for 2021 / 2022

Fairlands Valley Spartans held their Annual General Meeting on Tuesday. There was a tremendous enthusiastic turnout at Stevenage Hockey and Cricket Club. The club’s chair David Scott reported that the Spartans recovery from the Covid period was good with 48 new members in just the last few months.

It was possible to organise a very successful Stevenage Half Marathon and the club’s five and ten mile handicap races. Now the Spartans are looking forward to two cross country leagues races before Christmas including the one they are hosting in Stevenage on 19^th December. Then next year they are already planning for the return of the mid week 10K league; the 3K Relays in the Park; the off road challenge; the remaining fixtures in the 21/22 cross country league and they already have a date for the 2022 Stevenage Half Marathon – Sunday 6^th November.

Brian White, head coach, added that despite the interruptions caused by COVID Fairlands Valley Spartans still organised 384 free coached sessions between 1^st January and 30^th November 2021. The Spartans train at 7p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays with up to five groups going out. Then there is the Spartan Starter group on Mondays; track based sessions on Saturday mornings and longer steady runs (typically about 10K and 10 miles) from various locations on Sunday mornings. Plus access to a host of events including county championships some of which are free and many where club membership brings a discount.

The new Fairlands Valley Spartans committee is Chair David Scott; Vice Chair Vicky Archer; Secretary Wendy Tharani; Treasurer Andrew Patterson; Head Coach Brian White; Men’s Team Captain & Committee Mark Freeman; Ladies’ Team Captain & Committee Callie Chapman; Press Officer & Committee Jim Brown (0793 968 7509); Membership Secretary Debbie Blantern; President Sophie Cowan with the additional committee members Steffan Ford, Sue Hamer, Paul Holgate, Tim Robinson, Hazel Smith, Tessa Stephenson and Hannah Sypula.

Tables

Full results for all Spartans when there are a lot at an event will be listed below.

Spartans at the Festive Five

Pos	Name	Cat	Cat Pos	Gen Pos	Chip Time	%
1	Simon JACKSON	MV40	1	1	27:56	82.7%
23	John HARRIS	MV50	5	20	35:05	73.9%
45	Andy JAY	MV50	10	37	39:54	63.7%
59	Hazel SMITH	FV45	4	13	42:20	62.7%
67	Nick KLEANTHOUS	MV50	14	51	43:47	59.1%
88	Erica GRAYSON	FV45	8	28	48:25	57.4%
90	Sue HAMER	FV45	10	30	48:30	56.7%
107	Catherine CRAIG	FV55+	7	44	50:40	68.7%
108	Penny SCHENKEL	FV45	19	45	50:50	54.7%
109	Jim BROWN	MV60+	12	64	50:51	55.8%
112	Jonathan JONES	MV50	18	65	51:54	48.6%
114	Dzenana TOPIC	FV55+	8	48	51:56	55.6%

Spartans at parkruns on Saturday 4^th December.

Parkrun	Position	Gender Position	Parkrunner	Time
Stevenage parkrun	25	1	Ashley JOHNSON	22:22	1^st Fem. PPB
(18 Spartans)	27	24	Barry OSBORNE	22:46
	33	30	Toby ECCLESHALL	22:59
	42	37	Martin DUDLEY	24:16
	48	42	Lee PICKERSGILL	24:43
	87	12	Chloe CHAPMAN	26:39	PPB
	88	70	Jim BROWN	26:42	1^st Age
	91	14	Gail MACKIE	26:57
	101	18	Fiona CLARKE	27:11
	119	87	Mark BEASLEY	28:47
	121	88	Matt CLARKE	28:51	99^th PR
	132	32	Debbie BLANTERN	30:15
	163	49	Sharon CROWLEY	32:12
	168	109	Stephen SMITHSON	32:53
	169	52	Judy KING	33:01
	185	60	Karen PALMER	34:31	99^th PR
	227	84	Helen HARRIS	56:49
	228	127	Roger BIGGS	58:04

Endcliffe parkrun (Sheffield)	239	154	Mike REYNOLDS	27:58	75^th PR

Houghton Hall parkrun	60	49	Michael O’KEEFE	28:40

Evesham parkrun	24	21	Nigel STRONGITHARM	24:37

Letchworth parkrun	2	2	Grant RAMSAY	20:22	2^nd in race

Littleport parkrun	16	15	James MCSWEENEY	24:23	80^th PR

Lancing Beach Green parkrun	62	34	Darryl STEVENS	37:14	175^thPR

(PPB = Parkrun personal best; 175^th PR = 175^th parkrun).

Tags Festive 5, Goodwood Marathon, Minsden Chapel, parkrun, Santa Canta, Valencia Marathon

Club News Race Results

SUNDAY BESTS FOR SPARTANS

Post author By Vicky Archer
Post date November 28, 2021
No Comments on SUNDAY BESTS FOR SPARTANS

21 Fairlands Valley Spartans competed in two races on Sunday. Despite the cold three ran new personal bests (PB) and 16 ran new season’s bests (SB).

Hatfield Five

At the Hatfield Five which started and finished at the University of Hertfordshire’s College Lane site DAN HUKIN ran well under thirty minutes to finish 40^th out of the 545 with 29 minutes 28 seconds. MARK GOODWIN was well up in the men 60 plus category with 37 minutes 34 seconds and 209^th overall.

VISH SHAH was pleased how fast his race was and his 42:26 finish time.

PENNY SCHENKEL improved her season’s best time to 47:55; MONICA SMITHSON to 48:45; and SHARON CROWLEY to 55:55 but DZENANA TOPIC took the limelight with a brand new personal best of 53 minutes 4 seconds. There were four Spartan women and four Spartan men.

There were 545 finishers who also included JIM BROWN with 47:55.

Five mile races are quite rare these days but there will be another one in Welwyn Garden City this Sunday – the Festive Five.

Bassingbourn Bass Belle

Thirteen Spartans ran the Bass Belle Ten. Two DARREN EMMERSON and JACKIE DOWNES ran new personal bests and ten others ran new season’s bests.

GRANT RAMSAY was first finisher for the club with 67 minutes 25 seconds (SB). He was 25^th out of the 331 finishers. YUKO GORDON was eighth women with 1:15:09 (SB).

Darren Emmerson’s new personal best is 1 hour 22 minutes 51 seconds and Jackie Downe’s new PB stands at 1:27:20.

HAZEL SMITH said, “It was bitterly cold with patches of ice. I’m super pleased with my time as it was my first long run in a few weeks.

KAREN ELLIS ran a season’s best (SB) of 1:28:53 and Hazel a SB of 1:28:54.

1:43:52 was good enough for PAUL HOLGATE to beat his Ware Ten time by 19 seconds to set a new season’s best. He said it was a bitterly cold bright day with lots of ice on the 1.5 miles off-road section so very pleased.

The others with new season’s bests for ten miles were CLAIRE EMMERSON 1:36:22; CATHY CRAIG 1:44:19; ERICA GRAYSON 1:45:08; SUE HAMER also 1:45:08 and JONATHAN JONES 1:52:51.

The 331 finishers also included JENNY GARRETT in 1:36:23.

Parkrun Highlights for Saturday 27^th November 2021

Storm Arwen caused havoc around the UK but it didn’t stop 19 Spartans completing their Parkruns. All their parkrun milestones and best positions were achieved at Stevenage on Saturday.

NIC PATTMAN and HARRIET PACE both achieved personal bests with 28:23 and 29:56 respectively. SUZY HAWKINS was first lady in the race finishing with a time of 20:05.

GRANT RAMSAY was the fastest of the 17 Spartans, completing in 19:14 and finishing third overall.

GRACE COVENTRY finished in 25:02 and was 5^th lady, achieving her best time this year (YB). THOMAS SAUKA (21:26) and CAROLE SHELDRICK (27:20) also ran year’s bests.

DEBBIE BLANTERN achieved an unofficial milestone of 70 Parkruns.

MIKE REYNOLDS was the only Spartan at Panshanger this time. He finished 43^rd in 24:44.

At the Kingdom Parkrun in Penshurst, Kent MICHAEL O’KEEFE was 48^th in 31:52.

Tables

Spartans at the Hatfield Five (Sunday 28^th):

Pos	Name	Gun	Chip	Category	Cat Pos	Gender	Gender Position	Comments
40	Dan HUKIN	29:33	29:28	Ages 40 – 49	9	Male	36	SB
209	Mark GOODWIN	38:02	37:34	Ages 60 – 69	11	Male	160	SB
304	Vishal SHAH	43:20	42:26	Ages 30 – 39	42	Male	213	SB
408	Jim BROWN	49:25	47:55	Ages 60 – 69	24	Male	238
409	Penny SCHENKEL	49:26	47:55	Ages 50 – 59	46	Female	162	SB
417	Monica SMITHSON	49:52	48:45	Ages 50 – 59	48	Female	168	SB
470	Dzenana TOPIC	54:22	53:04	Ages 50 – 59	65	Female	207	PB
500	Sharon CROWLEY	57:27	55:55	Ages 60 – 69	22	Female	233	SB

There were 545 finishers.

Spartans at the Bass Belle 10 Sunday 28^th November):

Pos	First Name	Last Name	Time	Comments
25	Grant	Ramsay	1:07:25	SB
57	Yuko	Gordon	1:15:09	SB. 8^th woman.
114	Darren	Emmerson	1:22:51	PB
161	Jackie	Downes	1:27:20	PB
177	Karen	Ellis	1:28:53	SB
178	Hazel	Smith	1:28:54	SB
237	Claire	Emmerson	1:36:22	SB
238	Jenny	Garrett	1:36:23	x
267	Paul	Holgate	1:43:52	SB
283	Cathy	Craig	1:44:19	SB
285	Erica	Grayson	1:45:08	SB
286	Sue	Hamer	1:45:08	SB
314	Jonathan	Jones	1:52:51	SB

There were 331 finishers.

Spartans at parkrun on Saturday 27^th November

Spartans (17) at Stevenage Parkrun

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time
3	3	Grant RAMSAY	00:19:14
6	1	Suzy HAWKINS	00:20:05
13	12	Thomas SAUKA	00:21:26	YB
24	22	Andrew MCGUINNESS	00:22:21
39	36	Toby ECCLESHALL	00:23:27
57	51	James MCSWEENEY	00:24:39
63	5	Grace COVENTRY	00:25:02	YB
74	63	Nick KLEANTHOUS	00:26:07
88	14	Carole SHELDRICK	00:27:20	YB
90	15	Gail MACKIE	00:27:35
101	79	Sam SIMMONS	00:27:59
102	20	Chloe CHAPMAN	00:28:00
110	25	Nicola PATTMAN	00:28:23	PB
123	30	Harriet PACE	00:29:56	PB
128	34	Debbie BLANTERN	00:30:07	70th
146	41	Caroline CROFT	00:31:23
171	51	Hilary DAVIES	00:33:55

Tags Bass Belle, Hatfield 5, parkrun

Club News Race Results

GOLD AND SILVER FOR SPARTANS

Post author By Vicky Archer
Post date November 21, 2021
No Comments on GOLD AND SILVER FOR SPARTANS

Sunday’s Stevenage Half Marathon was a huge success and Fairlands Valley Spartans took first and second in the 13.1 miles races.

Spartan ANDREW PATTERSON won the event overall in a new personal best (PB) of 1 hour 12 minutes 53 seconds and also took GOLD in the Hertfordshire County Championships. SIMON JACKSON was second in 1 hour 15 minutes 48 seconds and took SILVER in the county champs. Together with DAVID HARRIS CHERGUIT (PB 1:19:25) and STUART ARCHER (PB 1:26:27) they won GOLD in the County team competition and won the team contest in the race.

The Spartans won GOLD in the county team competition with LIZ SMITH after a rapid acceleration in the last five miles finishing with 1 hour 53 minutes 59 seconds; ALISON SHELLEY (PB 1:57:22) and WENDY THARANI (1:57:50). Three to count in the women’s competition.

Our smiling Ladies Gold County team winners!

And Bronze for Women and Men

Then there were County team BRONZE medals for the women’s team of ANN TRYSSESOONE (2:01:14), CHLOE CHAPMAN (improving her PB by more than nine minutes to 2:01:39) and KERSTIN WEINER (2:04:07) and the men’s team of GRANT RAMSEY (1:27:32); DANNY SCANLON (1:28:56); TONY RANDFIELD (1:33:34) and PAUL SHELLEY (1:36:57).

David Harris Cherguit was first man aged 40 plus in the race and Tony Randfield, running his first half as a Spartan, was first man aged 60 plus.

The Spartans topped and tailed the event with a total of 38 runners. Dozens more Spartans and their friends marshaled, rode lead and sweep bikes, provided water stations, supervised the shuttle buses and did the other jobs that made it a success.

A handful of our wonderful marshals, chief marshal, lead bike and yummy cakes that were for sale (there were lots more!)

On a cold but mainly sunny morning the race started on Ridlins Athletics track then followed two equal laps on cycleway and footpaths via Gresley Way, Six Hills Way, Fairlands Valley Park north and south, football club, Broadhall Way to cross Woodcock Road and into the second lap before finishing on the track.

This time there was a welcome tailwind in the south part of Fairlands Valley Park. After a one year gap due to Covid it was back and it was great.

There were several half marathon first timers including MIKE JEFFS (1:31:22); NICK KLEANTHOUS (1:57:45); CHRIS SAUNDERS (2:12:32); NICHOLA DURENT (3:16:32) and JUDY KING (3:18:39). LEE PICKERGILL ran a new PB of 1:47:45; NIGEL STRONGITHARM ran a new PB of 1:48:08, and NICHOLA ANDERSSON a new PB of 2:04:48. STEPH BIGGAR ran her first ever real race, everything else has been virtual, and finished in 3:16:32.

TIM ROBINSON was aiming for sub 2 hours and managed to improve on his target and achieve 1:54:33 in his fastest half since 2017. The long incline at mile 8 was hard going, sapped a lot of energy and lost some time but was the only part of the course that presented any real difficulty.

JIM BROWN was apprehensive after two recent disaster half marathons including a DNF (did not finish) but improved his time from August (2:04:05) by 5 minutes 56 seconds to 1:58:09 to get under two hours by maintaining almost exactly nine minute miles all the way round.

The first woman in the race was ELIZABETH PARRY from Garden City Runners in 1 hour 22 minutes 45 seconds with KERRIE HAMLIN from Ampthill and Flitwick Flyers second in 1:26:38 and JUSTINE LYNCH from Belgrave Harriers third in 1:26:50.

The Last Fly

Fairlands Valley Spartans were represented in the last Fly 5K in the current series on Saturday. This virtual free run anywhere event on a Saturday morning helped to get a lot of people through lockdown when all in person events were cancelled. More than 15,000 Fly 5K runs have been recorded since the series was launched. This was race 80.

In the MARIAN MORLEY was 55^th and first woman aged 55 plus in 26 minutes 41 seconds; NICOLA ANDERSSON was 71^st in 29:02 and PENNY SCHENKEL and JIM BROWN went round together to finish 100^th equal in 30:56. This was Jim’s 58^th Fly 5K and he received a special not (virtual) T-shirt for running at least fifty.

There will be a Christmas edition and a real reunion in 2022.

St Neots

CRAIG BACON said, “Sunday at the St Neots Half Marathon was my first mass event since February 2020. There have been months of solo running and virtual events since the last time I lined up at the start of a race with over 1000 people ready to complete the 13.1 miles.

There was a chill in the air as I made my way to the start and so I was glad that I had put my woolly hat and gloves in my kit bag. We gathered at the line and at 10 o’clock we were sent on our way out of St Neots and along the Huntingdonshire country roads. The route was a figure of eight course with a rise at about 3 miles, another before half way and then a final hill at 9 miles. The hills did mean there was an opportunity to go downhill too, so every cloud has a silver lining.

I finished in a time of 1 hour 41 minutes 16 seconds, which is 2 minutes 19 seconds faster than my pre-pandemic Half in 2020. It was also my fastest Half since May 2016. I finished 303rd overall, 233rd male and 54th male vet 50.”

Fellow Spartan John Harding finished in 2:11:10 to finish 823rd overall and 535th male.

Parkrun Highlights

This week 30 Spartans participated across 8 different parkrun venues.

A couple of first timer mentions: KIERAN FEETHAM at Plymvalley in 23:18 and EVA RAMSEY at Cassiobury in 23:21.

PETER CARPENTER was at Squerryes Winery parkrun at Westerham running a new PB of 44:19. GRAHAM HOARE also got himself a new PB 23:29 at Southsea parkrun and YUKO GORDON was second female at Letchworth in 23:50.

GRANT RAMSAY was first Spartan home out of the 21 Spartans at Stevenage in 19:06. KEN JUDE was running his 99th parkrun at Stevenage. MARK GOODWIN was the sole Spartan at Panshanger this week clocking 23:43.

Tables

Full results for all Spartans when there are a lot at an event will be listed below.

Spartan Gun Times At The Stevenage Half Marathon

Pos	Race No	Name	GunTime	Category	Cat Pos	Gender	Gen Pos
1	321	Andrew PATTERSON	01:12:55	Top3	1	Male	1	PB
2	218	Simon JACKSON	01:15:50	Top3	2	Male	2	YB
8	179	David HARRIS-CHERGUIT	01:19:30	Ages 40 – 49	1	Male	8	PB
26	13	Stuart ARCHER	01:26:33	Ages 20 – 39	12	Male	25	PB
29	346	Grant RAMSAY	01:27:35	Ages 40 – 49	8	Male	26
31	369	Danny SCANLON	01:29:00	Ages 40 – 49	10	Male	28
37	224	Mike JEFFS	01:31:22	Ages 20 – 39	15	Male	33	New
46	347	Tony RANDFIELD	01:33:39	Ages 60 – 69	1	Male	42	New
79	375	Paul SHELLEY	01:37:02	Ages 50 – 59	17	Male	69	YB
82	384	Peter SMITH	01:37:07	Ages 50 – 59	18	Male	71	SB
87	178	John HARRIS	01:37:29	Ages 50 – 59	20	Male	75	SB
100	277	Reece McCULLAGH	01:40:42	Ages 20 – 39	32	Male	65	SB
121	140	Nick GILL	01:44:47	Ages 20 – 39	33	Male	102	SB
135	110	Toby ECCLESHALL	01:48:06	Ages 20 – 39	36	Male	112	YB
136	399	Nigel STRONGITHARM	01:48:08	Ages 50 – 59	31	Male	113	PB
137	329	Lee PICKERSGILL	01:48:08	Ages 20 – 39	37	Male	114	PB
184	387	Liz SMITH	01:54:30	Ages 40 – 49	16	Female	38	YB
189	357	Tim ROBINSON	01:54:56	Ages 50 – 59	38	Male	150	SB
206	376	Alison SHELLEY	01:57:42	Ages 50 – 59	7	Female	47	PB
211	241	Nick KLEANTHOUS	01:58:10	Ages 50 – 59	41	Male	163	New
218	411	Wendy THARANI	01:58:26	Ages 40 – 49	20	Female	50	SB
219	50	Jim BROWN	01:58:27	Ages 60 – 69	9	Male	169
222	118	Robert EVANS	01:58:37	Ages 40 – 49	59	Male	170	SB
243	419	Ann TRYSSESOONE	02:01:30	Ages 50 – 59	8	Female	59	YB
244	62	Chloe CHAPMAN	02:02:15	Ages 20 – 39	20	Female	60	PB
254	437	Kerstin WEINER	02:04:30	Ages 50 – 59	9	Female	67	SB
257	406	Jon SYPULA	02:05:10	Ages 40 – 49	66	Male	189	SB
259	12	Nicola ANDERSSON	02:05:23	Ages 50 – 59	11	Female	70	PB
270	323	Carol PAUL	02:07:41	Ages 50 – 59	13	Female	75	SB
288	367	Chris SAUNDERS	02:13:02	Ages 20 – 39	59	Male	207	New
309	202	Paul HOLGATE	02:23:16	Ages 60 – 69	15	Male	216	SB
312	362	Gerry ROSEN	02:27:19	Ages 50 – 59	60	Male	218	SB
313	458	Robert WRIGHT	02:27:19	Ages 20 – 39	62	Male	219
320	378	Karl SHREEVE	02:32:46	Ages 50 – 59	62	Male	223	SB
334	444	Jane WHITROW	03:17:05	Ages 50 – 59	22	Female	109	SB
335	36	Steph BIGGAR	03:17:09	Ages 40 – 49	49	Female	110
336	107	Nichola DURENT	03:17:10	Ages 40 – 49	50	Female	111	New
337	236	Judy KING	03:18:39	Ages 50 – 59	23	Female	112	New

Chip times were not available at the time of writing.

Spartans at parkrun  

Stevenage parkrun

A total of 291 runners took part including 21 Spartans.

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time
5	4	Grant RAMSAY	00:19:06
21	20	Andrew MCGUINNESS	00:21:53
68	59	James MCSWEENEY	00:24:33
80	68	Darren EMMERSON	00:25:04
118	21	Fiona CLARKE	00:27:11
127	101	Ken JUDE	00:27:37
156	117	Matt CLARKE	00:28:57
159	37	Nicola ANDERSSON	00:29:00
169	41	Debbie BLANTERN	00:29:36
175	128	Toby ECCLESHALL	00:30:10
176	44	Gail MACKIE	00:30:14
177	45	Ashley SCHOENWETTER	00:30:17
180	47	Catherine CRAIG	00:30:29
190	131	Jim BROWN	00:30:55
191	54	Penny SCHENKEL	00:30:56
201	60	Tracy HAYGARTH	00:31:54
210	66	Karen PALMER	00:32:55
215	69	Beth FOLEY	00:33:43
226	142	Stephen SMITHSON	00:34:37
289	113	Helen HARRIS	00:53:51
290	166	Roger BIGGS	00:59:19

Plymvalley parkrun

A total of 110 runners took part.

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time
9	8	Kieran FEETHAM	00:23:18

Southsea parkrun

A total of 357 runners took part.

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time
86	76	Graham HOARE	00:23:29

Brockenhurst parkrun

A total of 138 runners took part.

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time
138	62	Darryl STEVENS	00:45:09

Panshanger parkrun

A total of 247 runners took part.

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time
34	32	Mark GOODWIN	00:23:43

Cassiobury parkrun

A total of 407 runners took part.

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time
77	7	Eva RAMSEY	00:23:21

Letchworth parkrun

A total of 97 runners took part.

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time
17	2	Yuko GORDON	00:23:50

Squerryes Winery parkrun (Westerham)

A total of 86 runners took part.

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time
84	47	Peter CARPENTER	00:44:19

Tags County Championships, parkrun, St Neots, Stevenage half marathon

Club News Race Results

YUKO A WINNER AT SAFFRON WALDEN

Post author By Vicky Archer
Post date November 14, 2021
No Comments on YUKO A WINNER AT SAFFRON WALDEN

The Remembrance Runs were held at Debden Airfield near Saffron Walden around the perimeter of the airfield. The airfield is in remote rural countryside in Essex and it was a challenging drive to get there.

The course was flat, mainly dry and the surface was concrete and tarmac. Five Spartans joined the run, Jonathan Jones, Paul Shelley, David Pattman, Dzenana Topic and Yuko Gordon.

Yuko Gordon running the 5K finished first in her age category with 22 minutes 25 seconds The other four Spartans ran the 10K. Paul was sixth overall and second man 50 plus in 39 minutes 21 seconds. David came in with 49:27, Jonathan 1:01:16 and Dzenana 1.04.55

The Stevenage Half is this Sunday, 21^st November.

The Stevenage Half Marathon is this Sunday and it’s full but you can turn out to cheer on the hundreds of runners on 21^st November. The race starts at 10am and is two laps of the course noted in the picture below.

Choose your favourite spot to cheer on the runners!

Escape From Meriden, the Centre of England

Spartan ADRIAN BUSOLINI has escaped from Meriden. Starting from the stone cross in Meriden which marks the traditional centre of England, he was given a bright orange boiler suit, and 24 hours to ‘escape’ from Meriden – to get as far as one can, as the crow flies. Adrian wound up at Heathrow Airport; quite a way short of his target, but nonetheless a novel self-supported run along a mix of roads, towpaths and trails for 100+ miles. The canal sections were a highlight, along with various cries of “what the **** is he wearing” in Coventry city centre (the orange boiler suit was a hit!) 

Adrian looking extremely happy in his boiler suit!

Alton Towers

FIONA, MATT, ETHAN and TALA CLARKE had a great family weekend at Alton Towers. On Saturday they all did the 10K race.

The lead up to the race was a bit messy but once they got going it was a fun race, passing all the major attractions through the theme park.

The entry fee got them a medal, a t-shirt and park entry for the rest of the day. Great value if like them you enjoy running and rollercoasters. Best of all said Fiona it was easy to get the kids involved.

Someone recognised their Spartan vests and acknowledged that they were a long way from Stevenage. It was lovely to get a shout out 130 miles from home.

Ethan and Tala both finished with new personals bests (PBs) – Tala with 57 minutes 40 seconds and Ethan with 1:06:59. Tala was 619^th and Matt 621^st in 57:41. Ethan was 1,107^th and Fiona 1,110^th in 1:07:03. Fiona added it was so good to have this shared experience.

On Sunday Matt ran the half marathon in 1 hour 49 minutes 37 seconds and was 395^th out of the 1,865 finishers.

The Clarke family enjoying their adventure at Alton Towers.

Blesma 11K

CAROLYN LINSELL should have been running the BLESMA 11k Remembrance Day virtual event with NICOLA ANDERSSON.

However due to her little ‘misadventure’ last Sunday she could no longer take part. KAREN ELLIS very kindly took her place and ran with Nicola. Carolyn met them at the start for two minutes silence and to cheer them on.

Carolyn’s son pushed her in the wheelchair to the football ground side of the park and then she hobbled on her crutches all the way back to the start point. The girls caught her right near the end so they finished together! 

Well done ladies! Happy smiles all round and we wouldn’t expect to see anything less!

The Last Fly

The last Fly 5K in the current series will be the 80^th on Saturday 20^th November. This virtual free run anywhere event on a Saturday morning helped to get a lot of people through lockdown when all in person events were cancelled. More than 15,000 Fly 5K runs have been recorded since the series was launched. There will be a Christmas edition and a real reunion in 2022.

In the penultimate and 79^th Fly 5K JIM BROWN was second in his age group and 25^th overall in 26 minutes 31 seconds; NICK KLEANTHOUS was just behind at 26^th in 26:33 and NICOLA ANDERSSON 48^th in 27:15.

Nick and Jim ‘flying’ round their Fly 5K at Stevenage Parkrun.

Parkrun Highlights

In this week’s roundup of Spartans on the Parkrun circuit, Grant Ramsay grabs a top five finish and Ashley Schoenwetter was first female home at Stevenage.

Stevenage Parkrun Results where 283 runners including 17 Spartans took part. GRANT RAMSAY 19 minutes 18 seconds (4th), TOBY ECCLESHALL 22:04 (20th), ASHLEY SCHOENWETTER 22:43 (33rd), JAMES McSWEENEY 24:45 (65th), SUSAN McANENY 25:34 (84th), GRACE COVENTRY 25:47 (88^th); JIM BROWN, first in age group with 26:31 (105th), NICK KLEANTHOUS 26:33 (106th), MARK BEASLEY 26:43 (110th), NICOLA ANDERSSON 27:15 (121st), GAIL MACKIE 27:19 (123rd), CATHY CRAIG 30:39 (173rd), TRACY HAYGARTH 31:02 (179th), BETH FOLEY 33:10 (210th), SALLY PHILLIPS 33:50 (217th), ROGER BIGGS 57:37 (280th), HELEN HARRIS, the volunteer tailwalker 61:01 (283rd).

Away days:

Brockenhurst (Dorset): Darryl Stevens 47-56 (133rd out of 133 runners)

Gunpowder (North London): Paul Jennings 31-40 (101st out of 152 runners).

Letchworth (Hertfordshire): John Harris 21-46 (11th out of 108 runners), Georgie Hooper 29-23 (67th), Nick Gill 29-24 (68th). 

Panshanger (Hertfordshire): Mike Reynolds 27-31 (95th out of 229 runners).

Squerryes Winery (Kent): Peter Carpenter 44-46 (90th out of 98 runners).

Tags Alton Towers, Blesma 11K, Escape from Meridien, Remembrance run

Club News Race Results

ROBERT AND VICKY WIN 10 AND 5 MILE RACES

Post author By Vicky Archer
Post date November 7, 2021
No Comments on ROBERT AND VICKY WIN 10 AND 5 MILE RACES

Fairlands Valley Spartans woke up to sunshine but a moderate breeze from the west for their Bryan Moore Shield and Paul Maguire Memorial 10 and 5 mile handicap road race events in Stevenage on Sunday morning.

48 Spartans took part. 28 in the 10 and 20 in the five mile race. 21 women recorded a time. There were some close finishes between people who may have started more than half an hour apart.

ROBERT EVANS beat his handicap time by a substantial 6 minutes 36 seconds to win the 10 mile Bryan Moore event just 18 seconds ahead of his nearest rival with a net time of 1 hour 30 minutes 24 seconds.

In the five mile race VICKY ARCHER beat her handicap by 2 minutes 14 seconds to win the Paul Maguire trophy. She beat second placed PAUL SHELLEY by just 28 seconds. Vicky completed her run in 45 minutes 46 seconds.

In the ten CHARLIE WHITE came in second with a 6:18 improvement and a total time of 68 minutes 42 seconds. Two others were less than two minutes behind – ANDREW PATTERSON with a fantastic time of 55 minutes 33 seconds, the fastest on the day and an improvement of 5 minutes 27 seconds, 1 minute 9 seconds behind the winner and JIM BROWN improving by 4:41 to 1:26:19 and 1:55 behind Robert.

KELLY EVANS was first woman in the ten and eighth overall. She improved by 1 minute 18 seconds to 1:31:12. TRACY PEZ was second female and tenth overall almost matching her handicap time of 1:22:30 with 1:22:27. SUZY HAWKINS was third and 14^th overall but went round in a rapid 1 hour 11 minutes 21 seconds.

Bryan Moore was a founding, in 1984, and life member of Fairlands Valley Spartans.

First Ten in Ten – Bryan Moore Shield

Position	Name	1^st lap	2^nd lap	Total	Behind Winner
1	ROBERT EVANS	45:01	45:23	1:30:24	Zero
2	CHARLIE WHITE	35:28	33:14	1:08:42	@ 18 seconds
3	ANDREW PATTERSON	27:48	27:45	55:33	@ 1:09
4	JIM BROWN	42:52	43:27	1:26:19	@ 1:55
5	ADRIAN DONNELLY	32:32	34:59	1:07:31	@ 2:07
6	SIMON JACKSON	28:14	29:02	57:16	@ 2:52
7	ADRIAN BUSOLINI	30:00	31:10	1:01:10	@ 4:16
8.	KELLY EVANS (1^st F)	46:46	44:26	1:31:12	@ 5:18
9.	JON SYPULA	46:27	46:36	1:33:03	@ 6:19
10.	TRACY PEZ (2^nd F)	41:50	40:37	1:22:27	@ 6:43
14.	SUZY HAWKINS (3^rd F)	35:23	35:58	1:11:21	@ 7:57

Paul Shelley’s time in the five was 32 minutes 14 seconds. Three others were less than a minute behind the winner – THOMAS SAUKA at 36 seconds with 36:52; STUART ARCHER at 42 seconds in 32:28 and STEVE MAYFIELD at 58 seconds in 38:44.

ALISON SHELLEY was second woman and seventh to finish. She was 2 minutes 17 seconds behind the winner in 41:03. The third woman and tenth overall was PENNY SCHENKEL at 3:03 with 48 minutes 19 seconds.

First Ten in Five – Paul Maguire Memorial Five

Position	Name	Time	Behind Winner	Comments
1.	VICKY ARCHER (1^st F)	45:46	Zero	1^st woman
2.	PAUL SHELLEY	32:14	@ 28 seconds
3.	THOMAS SAUKA	36:52	@ 36 seconds
4.	STUART ARCHER	32:28	@ 42 seconds
5.	STEVE MAYFIELD	38:44	@ 58 seconds
6.	BARRY OSBORNE	35:31	@ 1:15
7.	ALISON SHELLEY (2^nd F)	41:03	@ 2:17	2^nd woman
8.	VISHAL SHAH	46:11	@ 2:25
9.	MICHAEL O’KEEFE	47:35	@ 2:49
10.	PENNY SCHENKEL (3^rd F)	48:19	@ 3:03	3^rd woman

In handicap events estimated times are based on recent performances. The slowest runners start first with others following at intervals that should, in theory, get everyone over the finish line together. First over the line, the best improver, is the winner even if they weren’t the fastest in the race.

This is not an easy event to organise. A huge thanks to STEFFAN FORD and the event team for making it happen. And it raised hundreds of pounds for Feed Up, Warm Up.

Paul Maguire was an inspirational Spartan, a former Spartan of the Year, who passed away a few years ago. He lost a long battle with cancer, still running for several years following his diagnosis, in 2008 at the age of 42.

Chilly looking Spartans at the end of the Handicap races – The sun shone and the wind even helped drive them up the hills!

Here Comes The Stevenage Half! It’s on 21^st November

The Stevenage Half Marathon is almost full.

Entries for the Stevenage Half Marathon are open but going fast! To secure your place please follow this link to enter Stevenage Half Marathon

Fast Parr At Dorney Lake

JONATHAN PARR came second at the Dorney Lake 5K Sunday morning with a time of 16 minutes 20 seconds.

The Last Fly

The last Fly 5K in the current series will be the 80^th on Saturday 20^th November. This virtual free run anywhere event on a Saturday morning helped to get a lot of people through lockdown when all events were cancelled. More than 15,000 Fly 5K runs have been recorded since the series was launched. There will be a Christmas edition and a real reunion in 2022.

This time JIM BROWN was third in his age category with 26 minutes 43 seconds. Wonder how many people will register with Fly 5K and run on the 20^th.

Knebworth House

Five Spartans were at the Knebworth House events.

Luke casually showing us all how a PB is achieved!

ROBERT WRIGHT; LUKE GURNEY, MARK WILLIAMS and new member TONY RANDFIELD ran the Hertfordshire Half Marathon. Tony was 80^th out of the 1,065 runners with a new personal best (PB) of 1 hour 35 minutes 54 seconds. He was second man 60 plus. Robert was 190^th in a new course best 1 hour 43 minutes 55 seconds and Luke was 477^th in a new PB of 1:56:08. Mark Williams ran round the half at what he called a gentle pace for 1:58:46 and was 559^th but then he had run the Thames Meander Marathon the previous day, Saturday, which he finished in a new personal best of 3 hours 46 minutes 1 second.

JANE McFARLANE was encouraging friends new to running and ran the 10K in 68 minutes 20 seconds. The Stevenage Half Marathon is on Sunday 21^st November.

Tony and Robert proudly showing off their medals after both getting a PB!

Parkrun Highlights

On Spartan stripey Saturday, the first Saturday of November, thirty Fairlands Valley Spartans ventured out to represent their club at Parkrun events around the country.

EVA RAMSEY was the first female to finish the Stevenage course in 22 minutes and 42 seconds, closely followed by ASHLEY JOHNSON, running her second Parkrun, who was the fourth in a time of 23 minutes and 2 seconds. ANDREW MCGUINNESS was the fastest of the 23 Spartans, finishing in 22 minutes and 18 seconds.

Continuing the trend, in Letchworth GEORGIE HOOPER was the third female to finish with a time of 26 minutes and 22 seconds. A Top 20 finish was also recorded by TIM SABAN in 23 minutes and 48 seconds on the Bideford course (19th male).

CATHY CRAIG did the Brockenhurst parkrun, a New Forest trail which is described as undulating. Although there were lots of horses hanging around at the start, luckily none were actually on the gravel path route. Since she was on my holidays, she just walked up the hills, and finished first in her age group in 32 minutes exactly.

(You can find all the Spartan parkrun times near the end of this release).

Tables

Spartans at parkrun on Saturday 6^th November:

	Position	Gender Position	Parkrunner	Time
Stevenage parkrun	30	29	Andrew MCGUINNESS	00:22:18
	35	1	Eva RAMSEY	00:22:42
	45	4	Ashley JOHNSON	00:23:03
	54	48	Martin DUDLEY	00:23:46
	71	59	Lee PICKERSGILL	00:24:53
	75	63	Tim ROBINSON	00:25:09
	76	64	David PATTMAN	00:25:11
	87	73	Chris SAUNDERS	00:25:49
	90	75	Danik BATES	00:25:54
	94	79	James SOUTH	00:26:11
	106	86	Jim BROWN	00:26:44
	108	87	Nick KLEANTHOUS	00:26:51
	110	89	Mark BEASLEY	00:26:54
	119	25	Fiona CLARKE	00:27:14
	120	94	Matt CLARKE	00:27:14
	127	96	Barry OSBORNE	00:27:35
	139	36	Nicola ANDERSSON	00:27:57
	179	125	Paul JENNINGS	00:29:32
	199	63	Caroline CROFT	00:30:59
	201	64	Debbie BLANTERN	00:31:04
	233	85	Theresa KEAST	00:32:49
	237	88	Beth FOLEY	00:33:03
	304	129	Helen HARRIS	01:03:44

Houghton Hall parkrun	79	56	Michael O’KEEFE	00:28:33

Brockenhurst parkrun	118	31	Catherine CRAIG	00:32:00

Pomphrey Hill parkrun	230	134	Darryl STEVENS	00:40:29

Lee-on-the-Solent parkrun	183	136	Edward HARE	00:27:53

Bideford parkrun	21	19	Tim SABAN	00:23:48

Letchworth parkrun	24	3	Georgie HOOPER	00:26:22
	25	21	Nick GILL	00:26:22

Tags Bryan Moore 10 mile, Dorney Lake, handicap, Knebworth House, Paul Maguire 5 mile, Stevenage half marathon

Club News Race Results

BRUTAL BALDOCK BEAST

Baldock Beast Half Marathon

It was brutal for the beast on Sunday. Fairlands Valley Spartans NEIL ROBINSON, KAREN ELLIS, TIM ROBINSON, MICHAEL O’KEEFE, TRISH HOPPER and KAREN LIDDLE ran the Baldock Beast half marathon.

Weather conditions were terrible with a yellow warning issue by the Met office, the organisers were considering cancelling the event but the forecast was for it to clear at around 11am and with five minutes to go, the runners were called to the start line.

The first mile and a half are up hill and the runners were exposed to horizontal rain and high winds, with ankle deep water, but once over the brow of the hill and into Wallington the conditions improved and running was easier.

Tim still had the Beachy Head Marathon in his legs and adopted a strategy of walking up the steep hills.

The last couple of miles the sun came out and the rain stopped but the wind still made running very difficult.

Tim said it was another superbly organised event by local runners.

Neil Robinson was first back for the Spartans with 1 hour 58 minutes 58 seconds. The first female from Fairlands was Karen Ellis in 2:05:23. Tim Robinson came in with 2:07:35 and Michael O’Keefe with 2:20:28. Tricia Hopper and Karen Liddle finished together in 2:31:47 and 2:31:48. Not a race for personal bests!


Place	Name	Category	Chip Time	Grading

119	NEIL ROBINSON	MV40	1:58:58	51.60
150	KAREN ELLIS	FV45	2:05:23	60.75
160	TIM ROBINSON	MV50	2:07:35	52.38
191	MICHAEL O’KEEFE	MV50	2:20:28	49.67
211	TRICIA HOPPER	FV45	2:31:47	50.75
212	KAREN LIDDLE	FV55+	2:31:48	55.85

Baldock Beast Half results

Lulworth Cove Marathon – and a bit

“Actually the hardest things I’ve ever done” said WENDY THARANI about Sunday’s Lulworth Cove Marathon. This was off road either going steeply uphill or steeply downhill for almost 30 miles. She said there was typical coastal changeable weather weather but some lovely sunshine and stunning scenery including Lulworth’s Cove and Durdle Door. Wendy completed the 29.41 miles in 8 hours 58 minutes 20 seconds.

Serpentine

There were two Spartans at the Serpentine Last Friday of the Month 5K in Hyde Park.

Spartan YUKO GORDON scored the highest age graded score in the race 94.2% with 22 minutes 25 seconds.

The fastest woman raced round in 18:28. She was an FV50 but that ONLY scored 93.5%.

The fastest man went round in 15:26 but that was only good enough for 85.5%.

The Last Friday 5K can be an amazing event at the top end but also a great way to spend a Friday lunch-time. Of course several went for coffee in the Serpentine Kitchen afterwards.

Conditions were described by the organisers as mild, dry but wet underfoot and windy.

Compared with recently JIM BROWN made a marginal gain of seven seconds to finish with 26 minutes 44 seconds. A bit disappointing but his quickest “real” 5K for a long time (real in the sense of an accurately measured and properly timed race with other people).

Position	Name	Time	Comments
75	YUKO GORDON	22:25	Best age graded
115	JIM BROWN	26:44	Seven second improvement

Two Weeks To Go! Here Comes The Stevenage Half! It’s on 21^st November.

Inspired by the London and Manchester Marathons? Now you can be one of hundreds running in Stevenage on Sunday 21^st November as entries for the town’s half marathon are open. This year the race is a couple of weeks later than usual.

Entries for the Stevenage Half Marathon are open but are going fast! To make sure that you secure your place visit the following link to enter the race! Go to https://stevenagehalfmarathon.org.uk/

Parkrun Highlights for Saturday 30^th October 2021

Twenty two Spartans headed out to run at seven different Parkrun venues on Saturday.

Congratulations to JONATHAN PARR who came first at Stevenage with a time of 17 minutes 7 seconds. This was Jonathan’s 16^th win. He is currently at third place for the most first place finishes at Stevenage.

There were four other top ten gender positions this week with GRANT RAMSAY third (19:20, Stevenage), KELLY EVANS 6^th(26:34, Erddig, near Wrexham), DAVID PATTMAN 10^th(19:58, Gunpowder, Waltham Abbey) and GAIL MACKIE 10^th (26:30 , Stevenage).There were no official Parkrun milestones this week but MONICA SMITHSON and BETH FOLEY have both reached an unofficial milestone of 40 Parkruns at Stevenage.Well done and congratulations to all.(You can find all the Spartan parkrun times near the end of this release).

The rain doesn’t stop play at Stevenage Parkrun.

Tables

Spartans at parkrun on Saturday 30^th October:

Position	Gender position		Time	Comments
Stevenage parkrun
1	1	Jonathan PARR	17:07
3	3	Grant RAMSAY	19:20
17	17	Thomas SAUKA	21:38
28	28	Toby ECCLESHALL	23:06
35	33	Andrew MCGUINNESS	23:37
78	10	Gail MACKIE	26:30
79	11	Ashley SCHOENWETTER	26:30
111	87	Nick KLEANTHOUS	28:41
140	31	Monica SMITHSON	30:15	40th
154	39	Caroline CROFT	31:28
178	53	Beth FOLEY	34:07	40th
Gunpowder parkrun
11	10	David PATTMAN	19:58
74	22	Nicola PATTMAN	28:16
Houghton Hall parkrun
73	51	Michael O’KEEFE	28:36
Erddig parkrun (Wrexham)
46	6	Kelly EVANS	26:34
Higginson parkrun, Marlow
76	20	Tracy HAYGARTH	33:34
The Great Field parkrun
336	174	Darryl STEVENS	41:26
Westmill parkrun
19	16	Andy JAY	25:37
Ferry Meadows parkrun
75	61	Steve WELLS	23:44

Tags Baldock Beast, Lulworth Cove Marathon, parkrun, Serpentine 5K, Stevenage half marathon

Club News Race Results

BEACHY HEAD MARATHON

On Saturday 23rd October, Fairlands Valley Spartans TIM ROBINSON and ROBERT WRIGHT ran the Beachy Head Marathon. They were joined by Tony Randfield who is one of the Stevenage parkrun event directors.

Due to heavy flooding in the Alfriston area, the course was modified to be two laps of the half marathon course. This gave the trio an ideal opportunity to examine the course on fairly fresh legs before the hills made their full effects felt.

The first lap was taken at an easy pace and the 15 miles were covered in three hours. This included four of the Seven Sisters. A long down hill between 4.4 miles and 8 miles could only mean one thing, all the serious hill work would be between 8 and 12 miles, even worse as it would be two laps, the last four miles were going to be tough. But confident they could finish in well under their 6 hour target, the three continued to eat into the mileage with tales of their previous marathons.

Sausage rolls were served at 18 miles, and a steep hill shortly after gave some time to recover and consume the rolls before the long downhill section.

The last four miles were tough, but all three stuck together and the gathering clouds threatening rain, cleared. In the final downhill section, the finish line band could be heard playing Sweet Caroline, and there was just enough energy to join in singing the chorus as all three crossed the line together in 5 hours 26 minutes 55 seconds (5:26:55).

The 2850ft of elevation gain was obviously not enough for the day and Robert and Tony then ran round the school field to make up their Garmin distance to 26.2 miles. Robert could now claim his New York marathon virtual marathon which had to be run the same day.

Jonathan Wins At EMAC 5K

Two Spartans ran in the EMAC 5K championship which was around Willen Lake in Milton Keynes on Saturday. 12 degrees with a chilly wind made for some fast times with the winner crossing the line in 15:51. JONATHAN PARR was third overall and first man over 35 (M35) in 16 minutes 16 seconds. PAUL HOLGATE finished 47^th of the 48 finishers in his fastest time of his last 17 5K races, 28:41, 1:29 quicker than his Stevenage Parkrun time earlier in the day and 54 seconds faster than his previous season best time.

EMAC run competitions for veteran athletes in the East of England.

Cross Country Teams

Cross Country teams. Numbers were down a bit due to so many Spartans being distracted by other races which had been rescheduled from earlier in the year due to the pandemic but the club finished mid-table in the first race. The team results were published after the individual scores.

In the combined scores the Spartans were tenth out of the 19 qualifying clubs with 1,024 points, only just behind East London runners with 1,002. The women were 12^th and the men tenth. The Spartan female and male veterans were both ninth. There were 395 finishers giving an average of 21 per club. Fairlands Valley had 27.

The Spartan men’s “A” team included five who were in the top one hundred overall. They were JONATHAN PARR eleventh who raced around the just under five miles event in 28 minutes 48 seconds, ADRIAN BUSOLINI (25^th in 30:31); STEVE WELLS (81^st in 32:53); DANNY SCANLON (88^th in 33:18); and GRANT RAMSAY (98^th in 33:41). The men’s “A” team of eight was completed by JOHN HARRIS (36:04); TOM SAUKA (37:03) and TOBY ECCLESHALL (37:50).

It was teams of five for the women’s race and the Spartans “A” team were CHRISTINE LATHWELL (10^th woman in 32:30); TRACEY JACKSON (38:19); WENDY THARANI (43:38); NICOLA ANDERSSON (45:06) and PENNY SCHENKEL (47:47)

The next cross country league race will be in Trent Park, North London on Sunday 12^th December.

Parkrun Highlights for Saturday 23^rd October 2021

There were plenty of personal bests (PBs) this weekend for Spartans at parkrun.

ANDY JAY ran a new PB in Teignmouth (22:48) in his fifth run there. At Fareham, MIKE REYNOLDS clocked a new PB of 22:27 in his second run there.

MICHAEL O’KEEFE ran at Houghton Hall and ran a PB of (27:42) on his 8^th run there. DAVID PATTMAN was at Gunpowder registering a new PB of 22:07 at his 101th parkrun and third run at that venue.

In Stevenage, there were PBs for JACKIE DOWNES (26:25) and VICKY ARCHER (28:34). FIONA CLARKE was at Dudley parkrun (26:42) and regular tourist DARRYL STEVENS was a first timer at the birthplace of parkrun in Bushy (41:12).

ASHLEY JOHNSON is one of the very few Spartans to have raced outside the UK in the last 18 months. She ran the Amsterdam Bos parkrun in 22 minutes 14 seconds. She was second woman and ninth overall in her first ever parkrun. Ashley said it was beautiful but cold. A great course.

	Position	Gender Position	Parkrunner	Run Time
Bushy	1016	580	Darryl STEVENS	00:41:12
Dudley	56	9	Fiona CLARKE	00:26:32
Stevenage	7	6	Grant RAMSAY	00:18:55
Stevenage	42	38	Toby ECCLESHALL	00:22:20
Stevenage	70	64	Martin DUDLEY	00:23:56
Stevenage	99	85	Danik BATES	00:25:25
Stevenage	111	96	Mark BEASLEY	00:25:46
Stevenage	118	16	Ashley SCHOENWETTER	00:25:59
Stevenage	119	17	Gail MACKIE	00:26:00
Stevenage	133	19	Jackie DOWNES	00:26:25
Stevenage	136	113	Nick KLEANTHOUS	00:26:33
Stevenage	139	115	Darren EMMERSON	00:26:36
Stevenage	143	117	Jim BROWN	00:26:41
Stevenage	154	27	Jenny GARRETT	00:27:05
Stevenage	163	30	Chloe CHAPMAN	00:27:30
Stevenage	172	35	Penny SCHENKEL	00:28:19
Stevenage	177	37	Vicky ARCHER	00:28:34
Stevenage	178	38	Claire EMMERSON	00:28:34
Stevenage	211	155	Paul HOLGATE	00:30:10
Stevenage	255	73	Theresa KEAST	00:32:18
Stevenage	273	85	Beth FOLEY	00:33:16
Stevenage	325	125	Helen HARRIS	00:55:42
Teignmouth Promenade	25	31	Andy Jay	00:22:48
Fareham	28	27	Mike Reynolds	00:22:27
Houghton Hall	85	67	Michael O’Keefe	00:27:42
Gunpowder	24	20	David Pattman	00:22:07

Club News Race Results

CROSS COUNTRY IS BACK !

Cross Country is back and despite many other races elsewhere 27 Spartans, 15 men and 12 women, ran the first Sunday League fixture of 2021 at Cheshunt on Sunday morning. A little bit of rain loosened up what is usually a very dry event at the start of the season.

The fastest Spartan, eleventh of about 400 runners, was JONATHAN PARR who raced around the just under five miles event in 28 minutes 48 seconds. Four other Spartans were in the top one hundred overall. They were ADRIAN BUSOLINI (25^th in 30:31); STEVE WELLS (81^st in 32:53); DANNY SCANLON (88^th in 33:18); and GRANT RAMSAY (98^th in 33:41). The men’s “A” team of eight was completed by JOHN HARRIS (36:04); TOM SAUKA (37:03) and TOBY ECCLESHALL (37:50).

It was teams of five for the women’s race and the Spartans “A” team were CHRISTINE LATHWELL (32:30); TRACEY JACKSON (38:19); WENDY THARANI (43:44); NICOLA ANDERSSON (45:06) and PENNY SCHENKEL (47:47).

FVS men at cross country (teams of eight):

Overall Position	Name	Time	Comments
11	JON PARR	28:48	A team
25	ADRIAN BUSOLINI	30:31	A team
81	STEVE WELLS	32:53	A team
88	DANNY SCANLON	33:18	A team
98	GRANT RAMSAY	33:41	A team
145	JOHN HARRIS	36:04	A team
164	TOM SAUKA	37:03	A team
178	TOBY ECCLESHALL	37:50	A team
213	DAVE PATTMAN	39:35
214	STEVE DOBNER	39:36
290	ANDY JAY	43:19
303	NICK KLEANTHOUS	44:26
336	JIM BROWN	47:36
351	KEN JUDE	48:29
368	SIMON SYPULA	51:30*

FVS women at cross country (teams of five):

Overall Position	Name	Time	Comments
74	CHRISTINE LATHWELL	32:30	A team
195	TRACEY JACKSON	38:19	A team
293	WENDY THARANI	43:44	A team
309	NICHOLA ANDERSSON	45:06	A team
341	PENNY SCHENKEL	47:47	A team
371	CATHY CRAIG	53:19	B team
375	SHARON CROWLEY	54:33	B team
384	CALLIE CHAPMAN	57:11	B team
385	KAREN ELLIS	57:11	B team
386	HAZEL SMITH	57:11	B team
387	BETH FOLEY	57:11
390	JANE WHITROW	59:27

Callie, Hazel & Karen are all smiles as usual!

The next cross country league race will be in Trent Park, North London on Sunday 12^th December.

Chelmsford Marathon

PETE SMITH said the Chelmsford Marathon was a well organised race, great marshals (like ours) a touch undulating and with a few tight turns, but generally a good course. Pete was well happy with his 3 hours 26 minutes 24 seconds. MARIE COLUCCI just wanted to get round but got a brilliant 4:03:10.

Marie & Pete both ran a fabulous marathon!

Paris Marathon

JOHN NELMS travelled to Paris to run his 102nd lifetime marathon and his 16th and probably last of 2021.

Hot, sunny and surprisingly humid conditions slowed the times and he finished in a comfortable 4 hours 19 minutes. A beautiful course passing most of the famous Parisian sights and a VIP tent at the finish line (thank you Tom Robinson )

Bedford Autodrome

STUART ARCHER ran Bedford Autodrome on Sunday. He did the half marathon distance in 1:29:15, under one and a half hours. He said that it was a breezy course but he enjoyed it and even got a picture with the Stig afterwards.

Stuart was all smiles after meeting The Stig!

Oxford Half

Spartan RICHARD COWLISHAW completed the Oxford Half on Sunday in 1 hour 33 minutes and 32 seconds. That’s his fastest ever competitive half marathon. He was 491^st out of 12932 runners.

Richard said, “This is one of the best half marathons I have run. It was flat, perfect weather, great crowds and a good wide route, with a park run towards the end. I would recommend this event to anyone.”

Cambridge Half

CAROLYN LINSELL ran the Cambridge Half Marathon in 2 hours 26 minutes 12 seconds. Carolyn said, “On Sunday I ran my fourth Cambridge Half Marathon with my friend Hannah Morgan Gray (we ran the virtual VLM – Virtual London Marathon together two weeks ago). We were going well when Hannah felt a niggle in her ankle/foot & we had to slow right down & she had to walk several times. I kept running & zig zagging as I promised we would run this together & I would not leave her.”

Great South Run

JENNY GARRETT ran the Great South Run ten miles event in 1 hour 31 minutes 33 seconds.

She said there were perfect running conditions on Sunday with lots of support around the whole course and it was nice to be out showing off the Spartan stripes. ED HARE finished in 1 hour 26 minutes 17 seconds and JONATHAN JONES in 2:00:51.

Inspired by the London and Manchester Marathons? Here Comes The Stevenage Half!

Inspired by the London and Manchester Marathons? Now you can be one of hundreds running in Stevenage on Sunday 21^st November as entries for the town’s half marathon are open.

With only five weeks to go to the Stevenage Half Marathon it’s time to start getting ready and entered. This year the race will be on Sunday 21^st November (a couple of weeks later than usual).

Entries for the Stevenage Half Marathon are open. Go to https://stevenagehalfmarathon.org.uk/ This club and community event has a history going back 37 years and is organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans. With a break due to Covid 19 in 2020 it’s back for 2021.

Parkrun report for Saturday 9^th October 2021

In this week’s roundup of Spartans on the Parkrun circuit, SUZY HAWKINS just missed out on a sub-20 minute at Stevenage and was second female to finish (finishing eight seconds behind the first female runner).

Stevenage Parkrun Results where 327 runners took part. SUZY HAWKINS 20-05 (8th), ASHLEY SCHOENWETTER 22-14 (24^th and 4^th female), CRAIG BACON 23-38 (47th), MARTIN DUDLEY 23-48 (51st), HAZEL SMITH 24-22 (63rd), DANIK BATES 25-14 (83rd and with a buggy), MATT CLARKE 26-46 (126th), NICK KLEANTHOUS 27-34 (137th), JIM BROWN 28-01 (141st), PENNY SCHENKEL 28-11 (142nd), TOBY ECCLESHALL 28-35 (150th), CHLOE CHAPMAN 28-42 (155th), ERICA GRAYSON 29-13 (172nd), JO BOWDERY 29-18 (176th), STEVE SMITHSON 29-34 (184th), PAUL JENNINGS 30-16 (195th), TRACEY HAYGRATH 31-34 (231st), CAROLINE CROFT 31-41 (237th) and BETH FOLEY 33-53 (266th). 

Parkrun Away days: 

Gunpowder (Waltham Abbey): STEVEN DOBNER 23-34 (40th out of 152 runners), DAVID PATTMAN 23-34 (41st). 

Letchworth (Hertfordshire): NICK GILL 21-48 (12th out of 94 runners), GEORGIE HOOPER 26-01 (38th).

Panshanger (Hertford): MIKE REYNOLDS 25-06 (62nd out of 207 runners). 

Rushmere (Bedfordshire): MICHAEL O’KEEFE 29-31 (73rd out of 141 runners). 

Rutland Water (Rutland): DARRYL STEVENS 41-39 (210th).

Tags Bedford Autodrome, Cambridge Half, Chelmsford Marathon, Cross Country, Great South Run, Oxford Half, Paris Marathon

Club News Race Results

MAGNIFICENT MANCHESTER

Eight Spartans In Manchester! Entries are open for our own Stevenage Half Marathon!

Eight Spartans excelled themselves by finishing the Manchester Marathon on Sunday.

For PAUL and ALISON SHELLEY it was their second ever marathon. It was warmer than they’d expected it to be and they both gave it their all. Paul improved his personal best by 14 minutes and finished in 3 hours 13 minutes 36 seconds. He was 1,098 out of the 9,473 men and 61^st out of 929 men aged 50 plus. Alison took 23 minutes off her personal best (PB) with 4 hours 13 minutes 16 seconds and was 84^th out of the 415 women aged 50 plus.

MATT CLARKE was pleased to get under four hours, 3:58:01, despite disruptions to his preparation. For FIONA CLARKE it was an emotional run but she completed her target of three marathons this year with 4 hours 52 minutes 21 seconds. Fiona was raising money for the East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust. She said that for her it was an ugly race, very scrappy, the hardest of the three but she did it!

WENDY THARANI ran the London Marathon only a week earlier but she still finished Manchester in 4 hours 38 minutes 55 seconds. DAVID PATTMAN came in with 4:01:07 and STEVEN DOBNER with 4:12:53.

Wendy and Fiona are all smiles at the Manchester finish line!

For LIZ SMITH it was an experiment to see if her prodigious cycling fitness could get her round a marathon. It did. She finished with a smile in 5 hours 10 minutes 34 seconds.

Position	Name	Time	Comments
1148	PAUL SHELLEY	3:13:36	PB (13 minutes)
4948	MATT CLARKE	3:58:01
5366	DAVID PATTMAN	4:01.07
6476	STEVEN DOBNER	4:12:53
6527	ALISON SHELLEY	4:13:16	PB (23 minutes)
9036	WENDY THARANI	4:38:55	Ran London
10130	FIONA CLARKE	4:52:21	Three Done
11402	LIZ SMITH	5:10:34

Metropolis

On Sunday, ADRIAN BUSOLINI participated in the inaugural running of Metropolis, a story-driven night time ultra experience through central London. Starting with some properly engaging & atmospheric immersive theatre, runners were given new identities and tasked with completing a range of mandatory and optional missions to help the RUN resistance network. 

Guided by What 3 Words locations, they had to devise optimised route choices on the fly, accounting for factors such as time windows, deadlines, water supply, and the practicalities of navigating around London on a Saturday night; all the while evading ‘The Eyes’ who were trying to hunt us down with the help of GPS tracking. Ultimately we had to connect with a resistance leader to learn of our extraction location, and make it to the rendezvous point before ‘the last transport from Metropolis’. Billed as a 50 kilometres race, Adrian ended up exceeding 75 from targeting a number of the bonus missions.

The race directors Richard and Mark put a lot of effort into devising this experience, crafting the backstory, preparing the theatrical elements & actor roles, the technological live tracking for the missions, and practicalities of the Eyes hunting participants; down to the details such as the witty mission locations, origami birds, and the extraction location embedded in a fortune cookie. If you fancy a memorable, immersive experience that also happens to involve a fair amount of running, then keep an eye out for what Richand and Mark come up with next.

Results are yet to be finalised, but according to the current state of the leaderboard I finished in second, somehow…

Jonathan Second At Windsor

Spartan JONATHAN PARR was second at the Windsor Autumn 5K around Dorney Lake in 16 minutes 7 seconds.

Yuko Is World Champion

YUKO GORDON from Fairlands Valley Spartans is a marathon world champion. She won the World Age Group Championships which were incorporated in the London Marathon. Her time was 3 hours 25 minutes 30 seconds. She was 6 minutes 54 seconds ahead of her nearest rival Sharon Smith (3:32:24) and 13 minutes 8 seconds ahead of third placed Jeannie Rice from the USA 3:38:380.

Having cleaned up Yuko went straight back into London for the WANDA age group marathon party.

(Yuko’s victory was confirmed after last week’s release had been distributed. Twenty Spartans finished the race).

Yuko, our very proud World Champion celebrating in style!

Royal Parks Half

GERRY ROSEN has had a really difficult year with Covid and other issues but he beat his half marathon personal best by seven minutes with 2 hours 35 minutes 30 seconds at the Royal Parks Half Marathon.

Run With Willow

Two Spartans CAROLYN LINSELL and JIM BROWN ran the Willow Foundation 10K at Hatfield House on Sunday. Jim said it was a really relaxed and friendly wind down after the previous week’s London Marathon though he was woken up by a cattle grid at about five kilometres. Carolyn finished in 55 minutes 26 seconds, her third fastest 10K, and Jim in 58:20. Carolyn was 39^th and Jim 51^st out of the 131 runners. This was a mixed terrain event with the start very close to Hatfield Station.

Inspired by the London and Manchester Marathons? Here Comes The Stevenage Half!

Inspired by the London and Manchester Marathons? Now you can be one of hundreds running in Stevenage on Sunday 21^st November as entries for the town’s half marathon are open.

With only six weeks to go to the Stevenage Half Marathon it’s time to start getting ready and entered. This year the race will be on Sunday 21^st November (a couple of weeks later than usual).

Entries for the Stevenage Half Marathon are open. Go to https://stevenagehalfmarathon.org.uk/

Parkrun Highlights – Saturday 9^th Oct 2021

Although many were enjoying an England Athletics track training session at Ridlins or preparing for races the next day a warm October morning saw twenty two Fairlands Valley Spartans attend Parkrun events.

In Stevenage, CHARLOTTE KEARNEY ran a personal best (PB) time of 29 minutes and 44 secondss, completing the course in the top 40 females. On her 75th Parkrun outing, GAIL MACKIE finished as the 8th female in 25 mins and 32 secs closely followed by ASHLEY SCHOENWETTER in 25 mins and 33 secs (9th female). TOBY ECCLESHALL was the first male Spartan to complete the course in 22 minutes and 13 seconds.

Elsewhere MICHAEL O’KEEFE and JAMES McSWEENY respectively ran the Henlow Bridge Lakes and Hillsborough Forest routes for the first time in 28 mins and 48 secs and 24 mins and 08 secs.

HELEN HARRIS and JIM BROWN were both running their 60^th parkruns.

(All the Spartans running parkruns on Saturday are included near the end of this release).

Time To Get Muddy

The cross country season starts this Sunday 17^th October with a Sunday League race at Cheshunt.

Tables

Full results for all Spartans when there are a lot at an event will be listed below.

Spartan Parkrun Results:

	Position	Gender Position	Parkrunner	Time
Stevenage parkrun	27	24	Toby ECCLESHALL	00:22:13
	72	8	Gail MACKIE	00:25:32
	73	9	Ashley SCHOENWETTER	00:25:33
	94	81	Jim BROWN	00:26:37
	97	83	Mark BEASLEY	00:26:43
	119	96	Matt CLARKE	00:27:47
	133	24	Nicola ANDERSSON	00:28:31
	145	112	Paul JENNINGS	00:29:04
	146	28	Penny SCHENKEL	00:29:08
	149	31	Fiona CLARKE	00:29:17
	159	117	Danik BATES	00:29:41
	160	37	Charlotte KEARNEY	00:29:44	PB!
	161	38	Chloe CHAPMAN	00:29:44
	218	62	Theresa KEAST	00:32:58
	221	65	Beth FOLEY	00:33:15
	284	102	Helen HARRIS	00:51:01
	286	163	Roger BIGGS	01:06:49

Wimpole Estate parkrun	233	87	Sally PHILLIPS	00:35:21

Canons Park parkrun	18	15	Tim SABAN	00:22:27

Henlow Bridge Lakes parkrun	83	66	Michael O’KEEFE	00:28:48

Hillsborough Forest parkrun	22	18	James MCSWEENEY	00:24:08

Westmill parkrun	23	17	Andy JAY	00:26:06

www.fvspartans.org.uk

Tags Manchester Marathon, Metropolis, parkrun, Royal Parks Half, Stevenage half marathon, Willow 10k, Windsor, World Champion, Yuko Gordon

Club News Race Results

SPARTANS IN LONDON

Inspired by London? Now run in Stevenage!

After an absence of 889 days the massed start London Marathon returned to the streets of London on Sunday and dozens of Fairlands Valley Spartans were there either running or helping as volunteers in the finish area. The Spartan finish line volunteers were still handing out bags at 6.45p.m!

Twenty Spartans finished the 26.2 miles race.

Among them was YUKO GORDON who missed a world record by less than a minute. Yuko’s time was 3:25:30 and she beat the current world W70 record holder Jeannie Rice (USA) who was also running. She missed the world record by 43 seconds but she said the London course is not easy particularly from the red start which is hillier. Having cleaned up Yuko went straight back into London for the marathon party.

SUZY HAWKINS enjoyed her run. She set a new record of 3 hours 11 minutes 36 seconds for women over 45 and has qualified for another championship place. Her mum Eileen said… “This amazing young woman has just completed the London Marathon in 3 hours 11 minutes even though she said she was not fit having completed a ¾ Ironman triathlon two weeks ago and a full Ironman just a few weeks before that. We are so proud of you. You are truly awesome Suzy Hawkins.”

New Spartan ASHLEY JOHNSON was delighted to beat her 3 hours 40 minutes target with 3:39:09 in her first “real” marathon. She ran the virtual London Marathon in the rain last year.

DANNY SCANLON ran 3 hours 6 minutes 22 seconds in his first ever marathon.

There was a new personal best (PB) by 23 seconds for HAZEL SMITH with 4 hours 23 minutes 24 seconds. It’s unusual for a mother and daughter to come out of the same London Marathon ballot but Hazel’s mum CATHY CRAIG went round in 5 hours 40 minutes 21 seconds.

JIM BROWN also qualified for the Age Group World Championships but after some running setbacks in the last few weeks he adopted a “sensible” get round strategy. He was determined to get round his twentieth London Marathon.

ADA JANUSIENE said her first London Marathon was a truly wonderful experience. She finished in 5 hours 3 minutes 5 seconds.

Three Spartans beat the three hour barrier – SIMON JACKSON in 2:44:54; ANDREW PATTERSON in 2:47:58 and ADRIAN BUSOLINI in 2:48:52.

This was a different London Marathon with changed starting and finish arrangements and many entries dating back to 2019 but it was great to see the thousands back to running the usual course from Blackheath, past the Cutty Sark, over Tower Bridge, around East London, then back passing the Tower of London to finish on the Mall. All the Spartan runner were extremely grateful to the volunteers, many from running clubs, that worked for many hours to make the event possible.

ADA JANUSIENE 5.03.05, ADRIAN BUSOLINI 2.48.52, ANDREW PATTERSON 2.47.48, ASHLEY JOHNSON 3.39.09, CATHY CRAIG 5.40.21, DANNY SCANLON 3.06.22, DAVID PRICE 4:38:32 , HAZEL SMITH 4.23.24, JAN FRY 5.49.14, JIM BROWN 4.44.11, JOHN NELMS 4.19.57, JON SYPULA 4.19.20, MARTIN DUDLEY 4.40.50, PAUL JENNINGS 5:32:59, SIMON JACKSON 2.44.54, STUART HAYCROFT 3.01.44, SUE HAMER 4.40.38, SUZY HAWKINS 3.11.36, WENDY THARANI 5.00.22, YUKO GORDON 3.25.30

(A table of all the Spartan finishers can be found near the end of this release).

Inspired by the London Marathon? Here Comes The Stevenage Half!

Inspired by the London Marathon? Thousands running round London. Now you can be one of hundreds running in Stevenage on Sunday 21^st November as entries for the town’s half marathon are open.

With only seven weeks to go to the Stevenage Half Marathon it’s time to start getting ready and entered. This year the race will be on Sunday 21^st November (a couple of weeks later than usual).

Entries for the Stevenage Half Marathon are open. Go to https://stevenagehalfmarathon.org.uk/

Dorney Marathon

Three Spartan ran the Dorney Marathon on Sunday.

SUSAN and CIARAN McANENY ran Dorney Lakes Marathon together, coming in pretty much bang on the 4 hour mark; 4:00:08. Annoyingly close to that attractive sub 4 hour for Susan (Ciaran is usually a sub 3 when he’s not keeping his wife company on a course!!) but still a 36 minute PB (personal best) for her!

It’s well organised and a great spectator course. They said it was good to see friendly Spartan Ken Jude working there for the event too! 

ROBERT WRIGHT ran the same event in 3 hours 47 minutes 11 seconds.

Virtual Carolyn and Marian

CAROLYN LINSELL and MARIAN MORLEY ran Sunday’s virtual London Marathon nearer home. Despite some problems with the tracking app Carolyn and Marian both completed the 42.2 kilometres.

Marian Morley ran her virtual London Marathon at a 5.3k laps event run by ZigZag at Hinchingbrooke Country Park. She said, “The course was mostly trail and in parts was very muddy. I could have done with trail shoes as some areas very slippery after the rain. The London Marathon App didn’t work properly. The GPS was faulty and my time was filed as 4 hours 12 minutes. The more realistic reality was 5 hours 30 minutes – I’m not sure I could have done better as I’ve had a bad cold all week, although at the half way point I was on track for a sub 5 hour run but faded in the second half – the glitching with the Marathon App was not emotionally helpful once I’d realised it was faulty.

Parkrun Highlights – Saturday 2^nd Oct 2021

This week saw a less than usual number of Spartans running at various Parkrun likely due to a packed Autumn racing calendar, with the London Marathon and many others taking place on Sunday3rd October. Despite the reduced number, the enthusiasm for the ones who turned up was as high as usual.

NIC and DAVID PATTMAN were tourists at Sizewell Norfolk, taking on this scenic seaside parkrun finishing in 22:55 and 31:37 respectively.

MICHAEL O’KEEFE tried out Banbury parkrun for the first time (30:36), having tried out 35 different venues previously.

The fastest Spartan was STEVE WELLS finishing with a time of 19:44 (10th male) at Stevenage. The fastest Spartan lady was ASHLEY KING (4th female) also at Stevenage, completing in 22:27.

(All the Spartans running parkruns on Saturday are included near the end of this release).

Tables

Full results for all Spartans when there are a lot at an event will be listed below.

Spartans at the London Marathon

First Name	Last Name	Time	Position
SIMON	JACKSON	02:44:54	631
ANDREW	PATTERSON	02:47:48	791
ADRIAN	BUSOLINI	02:48:52	3,574
STUART	HAYCROFT	03:01:44	2,163
DANNY	SCANLON	03:06:22	2,586
SUZY	HAWKINS	03:11:36	299
YUKO	GORDON	03:25:30	766
ASHLEY	JOHNSON	03:39:09	1,539
JON	SYPULA	04:19:20	12,084
JOHN	NELMS	04:19:57	12,174
HAZEL	SMITH	04:23:24	5,093
DAVID	PRICE	04:38:32	14,670
SUE	HAMER	04:40:38	6,679
MARTIN	DUDLEY	04:40:50	14,968
JIM	BROWN	04:44:11	15,375
WENDY	THARANI	05:00:22	8,625
ADA	JANUSIENE	05:03:05	8,884
PAUL	JENNINGS	05:32:59	49,353
CATHY	CRAIG	05:40:21	11,552
JAN	FRY	05:49:14	11,995

(Women’s positions are gender positions)

Spartan Parkrun Results:

There were eighteen Spartans at the Stevenage parkrun.

11 10 Steve WELLS 19:44

29 4 Ashley KING 22:27

48 39 Mike REYNOLDS 23:52

59 48 James MCSWEENEY 24:20

87 70 Barry OSBORNE 25:47

88 71 Steven DOBNER 25:48

133 106 Nick KLEANTHOUS 27:57

142 23 Fiona CLARKE 28:13

158 29 Chloe CHAPMAN 29:20

179 36 Erica GRAYSON 30:12

182 138 Tim ROBINSON 30:25

185 140 Toby ECCLESHALL 30:31

187 141 Stephen SMITHSON 30:33

188 39 Gail MACKIE 30:39

189 40 Monica SMITHSON 30:41

203 48 Tracy HAYGARTH 31:31

231 67 Karen PALMER 33:04

239 72 Beth FOLEY 34:14

MICHAEL O’KEEFE completed the Banbury parkrun in 30 minutes 36 seconds which gave him 113rd place.

Ed HARE was 89^th at the Lee-on-the Solent parkrun in 26 minutes 7 seconds.

In Sizewell DAVID PATTMAN was eighth in 22:55 and NICOLA PATTMAN 47^th (and eighth woman) in 31:37 and at the Charlton parkrun DARRYL STEVENS was 320^th in 44 minutes 14 seconds.

Tags Dorney Marathon, parkrun, Stevenage half marathon, Virtual VLM, VLM London Marathon

Club News Race Results

SPARTANS AT STANDALONE

**Women Win EMAC * Here Comes London**

Twenty two Spartans raced around the Standalone 10K in Letchworth on Sunday and their women won prizes at opposite ends of the age spectrum. ABBIE PEZ was first junior lady (under 20) with 50 minutes 2 seconds and YUKO GORDON was first woman over 65 with 45 minutes 53 seconds. CLAIRE PULLEN was first woman over 55 with 47:12.

The Standalone 10K included the Hertfordshire County Championships for veteran runners and the Fairlands Valley Spartans first team of four consisted of DEAN CARPENTER 100^th out of 747 overall (including seniors) in 44 minutes 10 seconds; JON FILBY 110^th in 45:06; MARK GOODWIN 157^th in 47:19 and ANDY JAY 227^th in 50:21.

Yuko Gordon led in the Spartan women in 120^th in 45:53 with Claire Pullen 153^rd in 47:12; TRACY PEZ 171^st in 47:47. It was teams of three for the women’s event. A second women’s team was brought in by KAREN ELLIS and NICOLA ANDERSSON 326^th and 327^th in 53 minutes 31 seconds and completed by CAROL PAUL 401^st in 56:29.

(All the Fairlands Valley Spartan times can be found in a table towards the end of this release).

Spartan Women Win In The East

The ladies track and field team saw off competition from the best athletics clubs across the East of England to regain the masters (veterans) championship trophy they last won in 2017. The team dominated from start to finish, cruising to victory with 255 points. Second placed Peterborough/Nene Valley AC scored 235.5 points, and Marshal Milton Keynes AC placed third with 232.5 points.

The team were out in force, fourteen Spartan women, and really enjoyed the competition and great conditions.

Wins came from JOYLYN SAUNDERS-MULLINS (once again dropping down an age group) – W50 (women aged 50 plus) 100 metres and W50 javelin throw (also finishing a very close second in the W50 200m). TESSA STEPHENSON – W60 200 metres (also finished 2nd placed W60 100m and W60 shot put). ALISON WOOD – W50 800m (also 2nd placed W50 in the 1500m). CHRISTINE LATHWELL – winning both W35 1500m and W35 3k.  NIKKI WILBY – W35 high jump (also 2nd W35 pole vault, 2nd W35 triple jump, and 2nd W35 400mH). ANDREA WESTCOTT – W50 triple jump (also 4th place W50 high jump and 6th place W50 long jump).

YUKO GORDON won an additional trophy having clocked an amazing age graded 99.5% in the W60 3km and also easily won the W60 800m.

The team’s strength in depth meant that all events were covered, earning vital points.

Team members bolstering the tally were CALLIE ‘Cocktail’ CHAPMAN – third place W35 long jump, 5th placed W35 100m, and 6th place W35 200m. SUZY HAWKINS – 3rd place in both W35 400m and W35 800m. KAREN DODSWORTH – dropping down an age group to cover W50 400m and finishing 5th, also placed 5th in W60 discus throw and W60 long jump, and 4th place in W60 triple jump. SHERYL HANN – also dropped down to cover W50 3km and placed 7th.  SHARON CROWLEY – first place B string 2km walk and 6th placed W60 hammer throw.  CATHY CRAIG – fourth place in the A string 2km walk (also bravely covered the W50 300mH, finishing in 5th place).  STEPHANIE BIGGAR – 2nd place W35 hammer throw, 3rd place W35 shot put, 4th place W35 javelin throw, and 5th place W35 discus throw.  MARIAN MORLEY – 2nd place in both W50 shot put and discus throw, and 4th place W50 hammer throw.

A full day of events, which started at 10:30 am, finished with the (usually) all important relay races. In reality, victory had already been sealed! The W35 team (Suzy Hawkins, Cocktail Chapman, Nikki Wilby, and Christine Lathwell) still battled well and finished second. The W50 team (Joylyn Saunders-Mullins, Sharon Crowley, Karen Dodsworth, and Tessa Stephenson) finished third.

It was a truly excellent day, with great team spirit and support throughout. Mike Crowley and Chris Westcott should also get a mention for their help and support during a very long day.

Jonathan Second In Surrey

JONATHAN PARR finished 2nd in the Mercer Surrey 5k at Woking on Sunday morning with a time of 16 minutes 18 seconds.

Happy Spartan at Bedford Autodrome

CAROLE SHELDRICK was the solo Spartan at the Bedford Autodrome 10K on Sunday.

She said, “What an amazing event they put on. I have got to say, I wasn’t too sure how this run would go for me. I felt under trained, so was just hoping I’d manage to get round in one piece so I was very happy with my time of 56:28. One happy Spartan.”

Running Through The Glen

ZOE JACKSON was celebrating in the sun after completing the Robin Hood Half Marathon. Pacing someone with a target time of 125 minutes she finished, on target, in 2 hours 3 minutes 16 seconds. Zoe said it was a great course with fantastic support the whole way round the city, and we were very lucky with the weather!

Serpentine 5K

Sunny, warm, light breeze, the odd parakeet and a cafe near the finish. “What’s not to like?” said JIM BROWN after finishing the second of the revived Last Friday of the Month 5Ks – the Serpentine 5K?

Jim achieved a marginal improvement on last month in this lunch-time race in Hyde Park.

His official time was 26:53 and 123^rd. Last month was 26:58. Both on the two lap version of the Serpentine course.

Jim commented it was very enjoyable, more should try it, but I seem to be the wrong sort of consistent at the moment.

Parkrun Highlights 25th September 2021

Members of Fairlands Valley Spartans took part across 10 different UK parkruns this week. There were PBs for ANTON McCALLA on his second appearance at Market Harborough (26:30).  It was PB o’clock for ED HARE at Lee-on-the-Solent (23:03) in his fourth run at that venue.

 In Stevenage ADRIAN DONNELLY clocked a new PB of 20:26. Eighteen Spartans were running in Stevenage while several others were helping this week.

 (The full list of Spartan parkrun times will be near the end).

The 72^nd Fly 5K – Saturday 25^th September.

Lots of “real” races going on including the London Marathon this Sunday (3^rd) but the virtual Fly 5K races continue and two Spartans were in the action. NICOLA ANDERSSON was 65^th in 28:34 and PAUL HOLGATE 78^th in 30:27. He was third veteran man 60 plus and this was his 70^th Fly 5K.

Fly 5K was one of the stars of lockdown keeping runners moving and in touch during the restrictions. The first of the free virtual races was in June 2020.

Entries Open for the Stevenage Half Marathon

With only eight weeks to go to the Stevenage Half Marathon it’s time to start getting ready and entered. This year the race will be on Sunday 21^st November (a couple of weeks later than usual).

Entries for the Stevenage Half Marathon are open. You can enter by following this link: Stevenage Half Marathon

Tables

Full results for all Spartans when there are a lot at an event will be listed below.

Spartans at Standalone:


Place	Gun Time	Name	Chip Time	Category	Number	Comments

100	00:44:28	DEAN CARPENTER	44:10	Vet Men 40-49	781
110	00:45:24	JON FILBY	45:06	Vet Men 40-49	68
120	00:45:56	YUKO GORDON	45:53	Vet Ladies 65+	379	1^st 65+
153	00:47:30	CLAIRE PULLEN	47:12	Vet Ladies 55-64	677	1^st 55+
157	00:47:37	MARK GOODWIN	47:19	Vet Men 60-69	58
171	00:48:06	TRACY PEZ	47:47	Vet Ladies 45-54	864
219	00:50:21	ABBIE PEZ	50:02	Junior Ladies U20	872	1^st U20
227	00:50:40	ANDY JAY	50:21	Vet Men 50-59	767
291	00:52:57	MARTIN DUDLEY	52:06	Vet Men 50-59	782
326	00:54:26	KAREN ELLIS	53:31	Vet Ladies 45-54	512
327	00:54:26	NICOLA ANDERSSON	53:31	Vet Ladies 45-54	403
401	00:57:12	CAROL PAUL	56:29	Vet Ladies 55-64	432
443	00:58:18	JIM BROWN	57:27	Vet Men 60-69	111
473	00:59:36	BARRY KING	58:36	Vet Men 50-59	139
483	00:59:56	ERICA GRAYSON	57:49	Vet Ladies 45-54	106
501	01:00:43	MICHAEL O’KEEFE	60:02	Vet Men 50-59	67
539	01:02:59	SELVAN NAICKER	62:17	Vet Men 50-59	717
549	01:03:43	PAUL HOLGATE	63:01	Vet Men 60-69	735
620	01:08:01	MARIAN MORLEY	66:45	Vet Ladies 55-64	333
744	01:33:15	HAYLEY PEACH	90:58	Vet Ladies 35-44	127
745	1:34:24	NICHOLA DURENT	92:07	VL 35-44	104
746	1:34:24	SHARON CROWLEY	92:08	VL 55-64	661

Other Spartans ran but did not count in the county veteran championships (e.g. too young or do not live in Hertfordshire).

Spartan Parkrun Results:

Stevenage parkrun

A total of 307 runners took part.

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Club	Run Time

6	6	Steve WELLS	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:19:43
10	10	Adrian DONNELLY	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:20:26
51	47	Barry OSBORNE	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:23:07
67	58	Sam SIMMONS	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:24:13
116	96	Danik BATES	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:26:33
118	98	Nick KLEANTHOUS	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:26:41
121	17	Julie SIMMONS	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:26:52
155	29	Nicola ANDERSSON	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:28:32
170	131	Matt CLARKE	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:29:01
185	40	Natalie WHITE	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:29:33
197	45	Debbie BLANTERN	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:30:14
202	148	Paul JENNINGS	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:30:38
233	61	Carole SHELDRICK	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:32:14
236	63	Dzenana TOPIC	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:32:22
239	66	Caroline CROFT	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:32:37
257	75	Beth FOLEY	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:33:47
270	80	Fiona CLARKE	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:34:37
274	83	Theresa KEAST	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:35:23

Houghton Hall parkrun

A total of 158 runners took part.

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Club	Run Time
73	49	Michael O’KEEFE	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:28:43

Brockenhurst parkrun

A total of 141 runners took part.

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Club	Run Time
141	77	Darryl STEVENS	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	01:02:16

Market Harborough parkrun

A total of 276 runners took part.

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Club	Run Time
108	80	Anton MCCALLA	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:26:30

Wimpole Estate parkrun

A total of 276 runners took part.

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Club	Run Time
99	17	Trudie MOLLOY	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:28:13
258	147	Barry KING	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:42:47

Lee-on-the-Solent parkrun

A total of 383 runners took part.

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Club	Run Time
61	51	Edward HARE	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:23:03

Letchworth parkrun

A total of 101 runners took part.

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Club	Run Time
87	22	Caren THAIN	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:37:21

Littleport parkrun

A total of 115 runners took part.

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Club	Run Time
19	17	James MCSWEENEY	Fairlands Valley Spartans RC	00:23:38

Tags Bedford Autodrome, Fly 5K, Ladies win EMAC, parkrun, Robin Hood Half Marathon, Serpentine 5K, Standalone 10K, Stevenage half marathon

Club News Race Results

SPARTAN IMPROVERS

**Team Medals * Handicap 5K**

28 Spartans took part in Thursday evening’s Handicap 5K around Stevenage.

Winner on the night was DAVID PRICE in a time of 24 minutes 34 seconds 3:26 better than handicap with FIONA CLARKE firstfemale in 26:14, 2:46 better than handicap. NICOLA HATHERLY was second female in 34:44 and CAROLYN LINSELL third female in 26:24, while CHLOE CHAPMAN was fourth female in 26:58. MATT CLARKE was 2^nd male in 23:02 with DANNY HUKIN 3^rd male in 18:34 and STUART ARCHER 4^th male in 19:27.

The winners are, in effect, the best improvers. In a handicap event the slowest go off first with the faster ones following according to recent performances. In theory if everyone runs to form they will all finish together. In practice the first ones over the finish line will be those that have improved the most, or those that have slowed down the least.

DANNY HUKIN was fastest on the night with his 18:34 and STUART ARCHER second quickest with his 19:27, while BRIAN WHITE was third quickest in 21:15 and PETE SMITH fourth fastest in 21:40. MARIE COLUCCI was quickest female in 22:56, with TRACEY JACKSON & TRACY PEZ second and third fastest in 23:32 and FIONA CLARKE fourth quickest with her 26:14.

There were Season Best times for Chloe Chapman, Matt Clarke, Danny Hukin, Andy Jay, Marie Colucci, Jane McFarlane, Tracey Jackson, Tracy Pez, Peter Smith, Nigel Strongitharm and Sharon Crowley, and Year Best times for Fiona Clarke, Nicola Hatherly, Stuart Archer, Dean Carpenter, Mark Beasley, Sally Pickles, Nick Kleanthous, Kelly Evans and Dzenana Topic.

The race was in Stevenage on the Fairlands, Verity, Martins, Grace and back to Fairlands Way course with the start near Webb Rise and the finish under Douglas Drive.

The club thanked Paul Holgate, Cathy Craig, Mark Freeman, Angie Keeling and Adrian Busolini for their much appreciated support, assistance and photos which made the event a success.

Spartans at the Stevenage 10K

After months of cancellations and postponements it was great to enjoy the company of others at a “real” race in Stevenage. Twenty Spartans ran the Stevenage 10K on Sunday.

The Spartan men’s team of four consisted of BRIAN WHITE in 42 minutes 21 seconds; LUKE GURNEY 50:12; JAMES McSWEENEY 51:19 and, to his surprise, JIM BROWN in 55:21.

Brian was third runner aged 60 plus and 23^rd out of the 393 finishers. Luke said it was hilly but worth it for the cake and was 100^th. James was 118^th and Jim 171^st.

NICOLA ANDERSSON was the fastest female from Fairlands. She was 168^th in 55 minutes 11 seconds. CAROLYN LINSELL was second woman aged 65 plus and 177^th with her 56 minutes 8 seconds. SARAH ILLINGWORTH was third Spartan woman and 188^th overall with 56:59. Sarah said “It was certainly not a PB (personal best) but given the lack of races over the last 17 months and sporadic training not too bad. Great race, well organised, friendly and only five minutes from my front door. Post race cake is always a bonus!” PENNY SCHENKEL was fourth female from Spartans in 1:02:15. Penny, SUE HAMER and ERICA GRAYSON were 262^nd, 263^rd and 264^th.

CHRISTINE ZVEREV recorded a chip time of 1 hour 8 minutes 40 seconds for the Stevenage 10K. She said, “The course was a bit hilly in places but I still kept the time under 1 hour 10minutes and I did manage a 5K PB of 29 minutes 5 seconds on the way round. That’s a win in my book.”

The County Championships for veteran runners (those aged 35 and over will be in the Standalone 10K this Sunday.

(All the Spartan results from the Stevenage 10K can be found near the end of this release.

Adrian’s Century Run

ADRIAN BUSOLINI ran the Cotswold Way Century, finishing in 25 hours, in ninth place. The Cotswold Way Century is a 102 miler along the Cotswold Way walking path, which runs north to south through the hills and villages of the Cotswolds, finishing outside the Abbey in Bath. It’s incessantly hilly, and navigation requires constant vigilance; however, weather conditions were favourable, there was great camaraderie out on the course, and the vegan chili at Painswick aid station was awesome.

Swansea 10K

Spartan ROBERT EVANS had a good run in the Swansea 10K with 52 minutes 54 seconds.

Parkrun Highlights 18th September 2021

In this week’s roundup of Spartans on the Parkrun circuit, there was a first finisher (event winner) at Exmouth in Devon where Jonathan Parr powered home in a time of 16-46 whilst Steve Wells took on the Great Notley course near Braintree, Essex and tackled the ‘big hill’ twice to finish in third with a time of 20-11

Stevenage Parkrun Results: SAM SIMMONS 21-50 (31st) – Parkrun PB, EVA RAMSEY 23-02 (49th), PAUL SHELLEY 23-14 (56th), ASHLEY KING 23-16 (57th), CLIVE CANNON 23-40 (65th), DARREN EMMERSON 24-44 (83rd), GAIL MACKIE 25-23 (98th), JULIE SIMMONS 26-10 (117th), DAVID PATTMAN 26-52 (137th), STEVE DOBNER 26-52 (138th), JIM BROWN 27-41 (157th), MATT CLARKE 29-00 (183rd), CHLOE CHAPMAN 29-05 (187th), NICOLA ANDERSSON 29-07 (192nd), DEBBIE BLANTERN 29-31 (202nd), STEPHEN SMITHSON 31-51 (254th), FIONA CLARKE 33-28 (281st) and BETH FOLEY 33-34 (286th). In its ninth week back Stevenage parkrun was up to 358 runners.

The Spartans on parkrun away days were:

Brockenhurst (Dorset): DARRYL STEVENS 53-47 (156th out of 156 runners).

Canons Park (North London): TIM SABAN 24-46 (37th out of 192 runners).

Exmouth (Devon): JONATHAN PARR 16-46 (1st out of 313 runners).

Great Notley (Essex): STEVE WELLS 20-11 (3rd out of 221 runners).

Lee-on-the Solent (Hampshire): ED HARE 27-39 (175th out of 418 runners).

Letchworth (Hertfordshire): NICK GILL 21-49 (14th out of 128 runners), GEORGIE HOOPER 25-11 (33rd), CAREN THAIN 38-31 (113th).

Luton Wardown (Bedfordshire): MICHAEL O’KEEFE 28-18 (94th out of 280 runners).

Medina (Isle of Wight), NICK KLEANTHOUS 28-29 (83rd out of 199 runners).

University of Stirling (Stirlingshire, Scotland): STUART STABLES 22-31 (18th out of 131 runners).

The 71^st Fly 5K – Saturday 18^th September.

Four regular Spartans competed in the 71^st run anywhere Fly 5K on Saturday. JIM BROWN was 70^th in 27 minutes 41 seconds; NICK KLEANTHOUS 79^th in 28:23; NICOLA ANDERSSON 86^th in 29:05 and PAUL HOLGATE 97^th in 30:55.

Fly 5K was one of the stars of lockdown keeping runners moving and in touch during the restrictions. The first of the free virtual races was in June 2020.

Entries Open for the Stevenage Half Marathon

With only two months to go to the Stevenage Half Marathon it’s time to start getting ready and entered. This year the race will be on Sunday 21^st November (a couple of weeks later than usual).

Entries for the Stevenage Half Marathon are open and you can enter by clicking this link: Stevenage Half Marathon. This club and community event has a history going back 37 years and is organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans. With a break due to Covid 19 in 2020 it’s back for 2021.

Each Year the Spartans nominate a charity to support and the chosen charity for 2021 is Feed Up Warm Up.

Tables

Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday 16^th September

Pos	FIRST NAME	LAST NAME	OWN TIME	R	F	H’CAP	TIME	COMP H’CAP	PB	Impr
1	DAVID	PRICE	24:34	12		17:00	41:32	3:26	PB
2	FIONA	CLARKE	26:14	15	4	16:00	42:17	2:46	YB	1:52
3	NICOLA	HATHERLY	34:44	26	13	7:30	42:20	2:46	YB
4	CAROLYN	LINSELL	26:24	17	6	16:15	42:33	2:21
5	CHLOE	CHAPMAN	26:58	19	8	15:45	42:43	2:17	SB	0:33
6	MATT	CLARKE	23:02	7		19:45	42:45	2:13	SB	0:13
7	DANNY	HUKIN	18:34	1		24:15	42:51	2:11	SB
8	STUART	ARCHER	19:27	2		23:30	42:59	2:03	YB	0:22
9	ANDY	JAY	23:46	10		19:30	43:19	1:44	SB	1:40
10	DEAN	CARPENTER	21:53	5		21:30	43:23	1:37	YB
11	MARK	BEASLEY	25:39	13		18:00	43:41	1:21	YB	0:04
12	MARIE	COLUCCI	22:56	6	1	20:45	43:42	1:19	SB
13	SALLY	PICKLES	36:12	27	14	7:30	43:43	1:18	YB
14	JANE	McFARLANE	27:42	21	9	16:00	43:45	1:18	SB
15	TRACEY	JACKSON	23:32	8	2	20:15	43:47	1:13	SB
16	TRACY	PEZ	23:32	9	3	20:15	43:48	1:13	SB	1:09
17	PETER	SMITH	21:40	4		22:15	43:56	1:05	SB	0:54
18	NICK	KLEANTHOUS	25:58	14		18:00	43:58	1:02	YB	0:04
19	BRIAN	WHITE	21:15	3		22:45	44:00	1:00
20	VISHAL	SHAH	27:26	20		16:30	44:19	1:04
21	NICOLA	ANDERSSON	26:21	16	5	18:00	44:22	0:39
22	NIGEL	STRONGITHARM	24:07	11		20:15	44:22	0:38	SB	0:33
23	STEPHANIE	BIGGAR	36:45	28		7:45	44:30	0:30
24	JUDY	KING	33:29	25	12	11:30	45:05	0:01
25	KELLY	EVANS	26:54	18	7	18:30	45:24	(0:24)	YB
26	DZENANA	TOPIC	31:52	23	10	14:45	46:37	(1:37)	YB
27	SHARON	CROWLEY	32:20	24	11	14:45	46:53	(2:05)	SB	2:21
28	TIM	ROBINSON	28:29	22		18:45	47:13	(2:14)

Stevenage 10K – Sunday 19^th September (394 finishers)

Post	Cat	Name	Cat	Gun Time	Chip Time	AGrade	Comments
23.	3	Brian WHITE	MV60	0:42:22	0:42:21	81.9%	3MV60 3^rd Team
100.	29	Luke GURNEY	MS	0:50:45	0:50:12	52.6%	3^rd Team
109.	25	Nigel STRONGITHARM	MV50	51:20	50:03	62.7%
118.	33	James MCSWEENEY	MS	0:52:00	0:51:19	51.8%	3^rd Team
168.	19	Nicola ANDERSSON	FV45	0:55:34	0:55:11	62.4%
171.	11	Jim BROWN	MV60	0:55:45	0:55:21	61.6%	3^rd Team
177.	2	Carolyn LINSELL	FV65	0:56:31	0:56:08	73.7%	2FV65
188.	21	Sarah ILLINGWORTH	FV45	0:57:12	0:56:59	59.9%
219.	51	John HARDING	MS	0:59:38	0:58:24	44.8%
255.	19	Paul HOLGATE	MV60	1:02:30	1:01:56	54.4%
262.	36	Penny SCHENKEL	FV45	1:02:59	1:02:15	55.0%
263.	37	Sue HAMER	FV45	1:03:01	1:01:50	54.3%
264.	38	Erica GRAYSON	FV45	1:03:01	1:01:49	55.7%
296.	19	Monica SMITHSON	FV55	1:06:14	1:05:30	55.7%
313.	23	Angie KEELING	FV35	1:07:54	1:06:40	46.2%
320.	26	Toni NICHOLS	FV35	1:08:35	1:07:20	45.2%
326.	27	Christine ZVEREV	FV35	1:09:12	1:08:40	44.4%
337.	54	Tracy HAYGARTH	FV45	1:11:15	1:10:31	49.2%
342.	56	Carole SHELDRICK	FV45	1:12:03	1:10:49	45.9%
344.	24	Karen PALMER	FV55	1:12:03	1:10:50	50.5%

Tags Handicap 5k, parkrun, Stevenage 10K, Stevenage half marathon

Club News Races

LUKE COMPLETES HIS FIRST MARATHON!

Post author By Hazel Smith
Post date September 12, 2021
No Comments on LUKE COMPLETES HIS FIRST MARATHON!

LUKE GURNEY thoroughly enjoyed his first marathon which was at Brighton. He said it was a difficult final few miles but the gorgeous sea views and the mass crowds kept him going. He finished in 4 hours 28 minutes 6 seconds.

Tom Happy in the New Forest

Spartan THOMAS SAUKA said “I’ll have that” after running the off road New Forest Marathon in 5 hours 41 minutes 53 seconds. He added, “43.13 kilometres of beautiful New Forest trails, well happy and they even had beer at the finish line.”

Great North Run Half Marathon

STEVEN DOBNER said the Great North Run was an awesome race. He loved every second and really enjoyed this year’s out and back course. He ran at his planned marathon pace but kicked on as he felt good and finished in 1 hour 54 minutes 47 seconds.

ADRIAN DONNELLY ran 1:28:01 in the Great North Run, and was thrilled to beat my personal best (PB) by four minutes. The route was changed to an out and back finishing back in Newcastle so we had the added bonus of crossing the iconic Tyne bridge twice. He said, “It was great to get also get unexpected cheer from another Spartan going in the opposite direction.”

Baldock Rat Run 5K

Spartan JOHN HARRIS ran the Baldock Rat Run 5K in 21 minutes 59 seconds. He was 11^th overall whilst TIM ROBINSON completed in 30:27.

SUE HAMER and ERICA GRAYSON also did the Baldock Rat Run.

Sue finished in 29 minutes and 32 seconds and Erica in 29:35.

Sue said it was an interesting run, the dark tunnel being an interesting challenge, especially if you were still wearing sunglasses!!

Richmond Run Festival

FIONA CLARKE ran her second road marathon finishing in 5:48:55 whilst SAM SIMMONS finished in 3:41:58.

MATT CLARKE and CHLOE CHAPMAN completed the half marathon in 1:31:58 and 2:13:38 respectively.

Parkrun Highlights

Thirty Fairlands Valley Spartans ran in Parkrun Events across the UK this week. A total of 324 people ran at Stevenage.

ANDREW PATTERSON dominated the Hove Promenade event coming first overall in a time of 16 minutes 18 seconds. While JONATHAN PARR demonstrated similar flair coming second, in 17 mins 13 secs, at the Cassiobury run. Finishing in the top 20 on the Sandy water course, CRAIG BACON ran a time of 21 mins and 33 secs (16th).

In Stevenage, four Spartans finished in the top 40 females, GAIL MACKIE was 13th in 25 minutes 51 seconds closely followed by JULIE SIMMONS (17th) in 26 minutes and 14 seconds, DEBBIE BLANTERN (28:45) and PENNY SCHENKEL (29:34).

NICK KLEANTHOUS ran his 90^th parkrun.

(You can find all the Spartan parkrunners in a table near the end of this release).

The 70^th Fly 5K

Four Spartans enjoyed the 70^th Fly 5K on Saturday. They were NICK KLEANTHOUS 70^th in 28:02; JIM BROWN 84^th in 29:30; PENNY SCHENKEL 85^th in 29:34 and PAUL HOLGATE 87^th in 29:50.

Fly 5K was one of the stars of lockdown keeping runners moving and in touch during the restrictions. The first virtual race was in June 2020.

Entries Open for the Stevenage Half Marathon

Only just over two months to go to the Stevenage Half Marathon and it’s time to start getting ready and entered. This year the race will be on Sunday 21^st November (a couple of weeks later than usual). You can enter here: Stevenage Half Marathon

Each Year the Spartans nominate a charity to support and the chosen charity for 2021 is Feed Up Warm Up.

Tables

Full results for all Spartans when there are a lot at an event will be listed below.

Spartans at Parkruns on Saturday 11^th September.

	Position	Gender Position	Parkrunner	Time
Stevenage parkrun
	51	48	Toby ECCLESHALL	00:23:11
	55	52	Barry OSBORNE	00:23:18
	67	61	James MCSWEENEY	00:24:12
	70	63	Clive CANNON	00:24:22
	83	73	Darren EMMERSON	00:24:57
	98	85	Mark BEASLEY	00:25:43
	102	13	Gail MACKIE	00:25:51
	114	17	Julie SIMMONS	00:26:14
	150	119	Nick KLEANTHOUS	00:28:01
	160	125	Mike GREEN	00:28:29
	165	32	Debbie BLANTERN	00:28:45
	182	137	Jim BROWN	00:29:33
	183	38	Penny SCHENKEL	00:29:34
	197	149	Paul SHELLEY	00:29:53
	199	150	David PATTMAN	00:29:56
	200	151	Edward HARE	00:29:57
	201	152	Steven DOBNER	00:29:58
	224	50	Chloe CHAPMAN	00:31:21
	231	56	Fiona CLARKE	00:31:35
	232	166	Matt CLARKE	00:31:36
	254	69	Beth FOLEY	00:33:20
	303	189	Paul JENNINGS	00:38:53

Brockenhurst parkrun
	112	68	Darryl STEVENS	00:41:35

Wimpole Estate parkrun
	286	101	Sally PHILLIPS	00:35:00

Cassiobury parkrun
	2	2	Jonathan PARR	00:17:13

Hove Promenade parkrun
	1	1	Andrew PATTERSON	00:16:18

Dunstable Downs parkrun
	44	32	Michael O’KEEFE	00:28:59

Sandy Water parkrun
	16	16	Craig BACON	00:21:33

Tags Brighton marathon, Great north run, New forest, Park run, Rat run, Stevenage half marathon

Club News Race Results

100 FOR JOHN AT THE STAMPEDE

Post author By Vicky Archer
Post date September 5, 2021
No Comments on 100 FOR JOHN AT THE STAMPEDE

Spartan JOHN NELMS has run one hundred marathons. That’s 100 full marathons of 26.2 miles (42.2 kilometres) or even longer Ultra Marathons. He ran his 100^th at the St Albans Stampede on Saturday. John was escorted across the finish line by his wife Sharon and son Jacob then welcomed to the 100 Club reception by a large number of Spartans.

St Albans Stampede

Altogether twenty Spartans completed at least four four mile laps at the St Albans Stampede.

The Stampede was a 12 hour event around a four mile loop. Runners completed as many laps as they could within the time limit.

TRICIA HOPPER was the leading Spartan with an incredible 11 laps (44 miles).

ADRIAN BUSOLINI ran nine laps or 36 miles in 6 hours 16 minutes 34 seconds while KAREN LIDDLE and BARRY KING did eight (32 miles). Not surprisingly four Spartans did seven as that got them past the significant 26.2 miles. They were YUKO GORDON, JOHN NELMS, HAZEL SMITH and SHARON CROWLEY.

Six laps (24 miles) were completed by CLAIRE EMMERSON, NEAL MUGGLETON and JACQUELINE DOWNES. SUE HAMER, ERICA GRAYSON and DARREN EMMERSON did five (20 miles) while JENNY GARRETT and GERRY ROSEN did four (16 miles).

(Times for all the Fairlands Valley Spartans can be found in a table near the end of this release).

Fairlands Fantastic 4 at the Stampede

There was also a relay team, the Fairlands Fantastic Four at the St Albans Stampede. In the four person team relay event TRACY PEZ (4 laps), ANDY JAY (4), CHRIS HOLLAND (4) and TIM ROBINSON (5) came in 12th out of 28 teams. A total of 17 laps with a time of 11 hours 50 minutes 5 seconds.

The course was four mile lap over undulating off road terrain. Chris started the team off with his first lap under 36 minutes followed by Tim with another 36 minutes lap. Then Andy Jay, who is training for the Manchester Marathon ran four consecutive laps in just under three hours through the hottest part of the day. The team took a short break to greet John Nelms as he finished his 100th marathon, before resuming with more laps. Tim finished his last running lap at 7:50 and it was agreed that two more sub 40min laps would not be achievable to finish before 9pm. The decision was taken to walk one final lap all together as a team by torchlight. Tracy, Chris and Tim completed the lap to finish just inside the cut off – in time for pizza and beer refreshments. A superb local event, recommended.

Bedford Twenty and Half

In the Bedford Running Festival ALISON and PAUL SHELLEY ran their first official twenty mile race. Paul finished in 2 hours 49 minutes 43 seconds and Alison in 3:15:07. They said it was a tough, hot race. DANNY SCANLON was 28^th in 2:23:21 and DAVID PATTMAN ran a new personal best (PB) of three hours and thirty seconds (3:00:30).

STEVEN DOBNER came in with 3:03:18; MATT CLARKE with 3:15:43 and FIONA CLARKE with 3:23:12.

In the Bedford “Spring” half marathon KAREN ELLIS said she started too fast but she was third in her age category with 2:07:54.

Spartan Ladies Finish On Top – East of England Track and Field

The Fairlands Valley Spartans women’s team consisting of SUZY HAWKINS, CHRISTINE LATHWELL, STEPHANIE BIGGAR, CALLIE CHAPMAN, ASHLEY JOHNSON, NIKKI WILBY, MONICA BROWN, MARION MORLEY, ALISON WOOD, ANDREA WESTCOTT, TESSA STEPHENSON, CATHY CRAIG, JOYLYN SAUNDERS-MULLINS, KAREN DODSWORTH, SHERYL HANN, IRIS HORNSEY, SHARON CROWLEY and YUKO GORDON have WON their division in the East of England track and field league for veterans (35 plus, EMAC).

Spartan Ladies sealed victory in the EMAC Central Division on Wednesday by winning the last league fixture at Milton Keynes. It was a close run thing, but gutsy performances and the return of two stalwarts saw the team win on the evening by 4 points and take the division by a 77 point margin.

Christine Lathwell and Alison Wood both returned from injury to run the mile, with Christine finishing second woman 35 plus (W35) and Alison winning the W50. Cathy Craig won the W60 mile race after warming up with a victory in the W60 300 metres hurdles! Sharon Crowley also used the hurdles as a warm up, finishing second in the W50 before throwing the hammer and finishing third W60.

Joylyn Saunders-Mullins and Tessa Stephenson continue to dominate the sprint events, both winning the 200m and Joylyn once again dropping an age group to compete in the W50 category. Joylyn also scored points in the javelin, finishing 2nd in W60 with a throw that would have won the W50 category!

Regular training sessions at the track are paying off for Stephanie Biggar, who threw personal bests (PBs) in both hammer (second place) and javelin (third place). Marion Morley also threw a new PB in the hammer (second place) and also finished second in the javelin.

Other individual points were won on the night by Nikki Wilby, who stayed true to form by winning the W35 high jump, and Callie Chapman, who finished second in the W35 200m.

The ladies relay teams – Nikki, Callie, Cathy, Christine and Tessa, Sharon, Marian, Alison rounded off the evening in style, winning both races and setting us up nicely for the final on 25th September.

A slightly depleted men’s team battled bravely, finishing fourth on the night and fourth overall in the Central Division. Wins on the night came from DAVE STEPHENSON (M50 200m) and TIM SAUNDERS-MULLINS (M60 hammer). Other points were scored by ANTON McCALLA (third placed in M35 200m, javelin, and triple jump), GRANT RAMSAY (4th placed M35 mile), BARRY OSBORNE (3rd placed M60 mile), PAUL HOLGATE (5th placed M60 200m and 4th placed M60 mile), STEVE GOUGH (4th placed M50 javelin). The relay team finished 4th.

Parkrun Highlight 4^th September 2021

Thirty three Spartans headed out to run at seven different Parkrun venues.

Congratulations to SUZY HAWKINS who got a new PB at Stevenage with a time of 19:38. Suzy also claimed the titles of the Fastest Lady at Stevenage and the Fastest Spartan of the week.

DARRYL STEVENS was in Rosliston (Swadlincote) to try out Parkrun at a new venue to him.

There were no official Parkrun milestones this week but JOHN HARRIS has reached an unofficial milestone of 60 Parkruns at Letchworth.

PETE SMITH was sixth at the East Brighton parkrun in 23:34 and STEVE WELLS won the Ferry Meadows parkrun in 19:49.

Well done and congratulations to all.

Fly 5k

JIM BROWN ran his 50^th Fly 5K on Saturday. This was the 69^th Fly 5K. There were 147 runners from 38 clubs. He was second in his category and 53^rd overall in 26 minutes exactly

PENNY SCHENKEL was 79^th in 28:54 and PAUL HOLGATE 103^rd in 31:04.

Entries Open for the Stevenage Half Marathon

Only just over two months to go to the Stevenage Half Marathon it’s time to start getting ready and entered. This year the race will be on Sunday 21^st November

Entries are open and so please follow the link to enter: Stevenage Half Marathon

Tables

Spartans at the Stampede

Pos	Race No	Name	Laps	Dist Done	Time	Fastest Lap	Slowest Lap	Average Lap	Start
18	27	Tricia HOPPER	11	44	11:14:14	00:44:46	01:39:58	01:01:17	08:59:59
29	36	Adrian BUSOLINI	9	36	06:16:34	00:27:25	01:15:52	00:41:50	08:59:59
40	28	Karen LIDDLE	8	32	11:14:14	00:49:27	02:38:26	01:24:16	08:59:59
41	26	Barry KING	8	32	11:14:16	00:49:28	02:38:27	01:24:17	08:59:59
43	50	Yuko GORDON	7	28	04:35:53	00:37:57	00:41:48	00:39:24	08:59:59
54	58	John NELMS	7	28	06:16:58	00:38:44	01:13:54	00:53:51	08:59:59
55	52	Hazel SMITH	7	28	06:17:00	00:39:51	01:11:50	00:53:51	08:59:59
59	16	Sharon CROWLEY	7	28	06:57:07	00:49:28	01:09:07	00:59:35	08:59:59
65	37	Claire EMMERSON	6	24	06:17:00	00:40:06	01:29:12	01:02:50	08:59:59
66	29	Neal MUGGLETON	6	24	06:17:01	00:40:08	01:28:58	01:02:50	08:59:59
69	54	Jacqueline DOWNES	6	24	07:03:46	00:39:49	03:05:09	01:10:37	08:59:59
76	49	Sue HAMER	5	20	04:27:02	00:47:40	01:07:12	00:53:24	08:59:59
77	48	Erica GRAYSON	5	20	04:27:03	00:47:40	01:07:11	00:53:24	08:59:59
79	38	Darren EMMERSON	5	20	04:39:20	00:39:53	01:16:15	00:55:52	08:59:59
82	56	Jenny GARRETT	4	16	04:47:47	00:40:06	02:10:23	01:11:56	08:59:59
83	41	Gerry ROSEN	4	16	05:12:52	00:46:47	02:10:30	01:18:13	08:59:59

There was also a four person relay team consisting of CHRIS HOLLAND (4); ANDY JAY (4); TRACY PEZ (4) and TIM ROBINSON (5) who completed a total of 17 laps in 11:50:05.

Spartans at Parkruns, 4^th September

	Position	Gender Position	Parkrunner	Time
Rosliston
	164	95	Darryl STEVENS	00:41:40	New Venue

Stevenage
	9	1	Suzy HAWKINS	00:19:38	PB
	53	46	Andrew MCGUINNESS	00:23:24
	61	52	Barry OSBORNE	00:23:45
	67	56	James MCSWEENEY	00:24:05
	70	59	Clive CANNON	00:24:20
	93	74	Toby ECCLESHALL	00:25:40
	96	77	Thomas SAUKA	00:25:55
	98	79	Jim BROWN	00:26:00
	107	87	Nick KLEANTHOUS	00:26:34
	116	18	Caroline BARTER	00:27:07
	141	25	Penny SCHENKEL	00:28:33
	151	31	Gail MACKIE	00:29:28
	155	33	Debbie BLANTERN	00:29:42
	163	39	Fiona CLARKE	00:30:12
	164	117	Matt CLARKE	00:30:13
	217	67	Georgie HOOPER	00:33:06
	218	142	Nick GILL	00:33:07
	255	72	Beth FOLEY	00:33:28
	244	84	Carole SHELDRICK	00:34:31
	245	85	Caroline CROFT	00:34:32
	246	86	Karen PALMER	00:34:33
	269	99	Shelbe MOONBEAM	00:37:00

Houghton Hall
	83	67	Michael O’KEEFE	00:27:55

Wimpole Estate
	259	65	Sally PHILLIPS	00:34:59

Letchworth
	84	58	John Harris	00:30:42	60th
	120	44	Caren THAIN	00:36:53

Tags Bedford 20, EMAC, Fly 5K, parkrun, stampede

Club News Race Results

ADRIAN CONQUERS THE CCC

Entries Open for the Stevenage Half Marathon

Only eleven weeks to go to the Stevenage Half Marathon and it’s time to start getting ready. This year the race will be on Sunday 21^st November (a couple of weeks later than usual).

Entries for the Stevenage Half Marathon are open. This club and community event has a history going back 37 years and is organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans. With a break due to Covid 19 in 2020 it’s back for 2021. You have got time to get fit to run and you can train with www.fvspartans.org.uk Once you join all the many training sessions each week and the advice is free.

The Stevenage Half Marathon began in 1984 and takes place annually with a full marathon every 10 years (the next Stevenage marathon is due 2024).Race headquarters is at Ridlins Athletic Stadium, with the race itself comprising of two loops taking in Fairlands Valley Park, Stevenage Showground, before passing Stevenage Football Club before returning to Ridlins Stadium for your second lap and then the race to the finish on the track at Ridlins.The route is completely road or cycle way based, so there are no muddy sections to worry about and is completely signposted and marshalled so you can be sure of a warm welcome and encouragement all the way around the 13.1 miles.Although designed as a charity fundraising event, the course is officially measured and previously has hosted the Hertfordshire Road Running Half Marathon and Marathon championships, attracting some of the top local elite athletes and the occasional World Record Holder.The event is a charity fundraiser, with volunteers from Fairlands Valley Spartans Running Club, The Rotary Club of Stevenage, Grange Rotary Club, Stevenage Scouts and Stevenage Air Cadets giving their time freely to make the event a huge success. All proceeds go to local charities. The 2019 event provided in excess of £3000 in donations to worthy causes and the Spartans hope the Stevenage Half Marathon 2021 is even more successful.

Each Year the Spartans nominate a charity to support and the chosen charity for 2021 is Feed Up Warm Up.To enter have a look at https://stevenagehalfmarathon.org.uk/

CCC

‘After years of dreaming’ ADRIAN BUSOLINI was in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France for the CCC (Cormayeur; Champex; Chamonix) this weekend. This Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc is a run through Italy, Switzerland and France around the Mont Blanc massif. Just before the start the cold weather mandatory kit extensions were unexpectedly triggered so he’s got more clothing than in any other event.

With the 100k course having over 6k of ascent it made for the most climbing that Adrian has ever done in a day (possibly even a week!) and it was the first time he had raced with poles.

Starting in Courmayeur (Italy) the course worked its way through Champex-Lac (Switzerland) and finished in Chamonix (France). Adrian said, ‘The course was beautiful and brutal in equal measure. The support from the locals was unparalleled and the nightmare finish in Chamonix was a moment to savour.’ He finished 227^th of 2011 participants of which 433 did not finish. Final running time was 16 hours 45mins 47 seconds.

Hitchin 5K

A number of Spartans took to Hitchin town centre on Sunday to race 5K. STUART ARCHER was first Spartan home in 19.49 and came 7^th overall, winning his age category. BRIAN WHITE came in with a time of 21.21 and was also 1^st in his age category. YUKO GORDON gained a time of 22.25 and was 3^rd over all woman. She said that she’d hoped to run it inside the British W70 record of 22.12 but it was not the case on the day but it was a nice feeling to have won an open prize. VISHAL SHAH ran it in 27.29 and ERICA GRAYSON ran the course in 27.38 having gone straight to the race from a night shift! SUE HAMER swiftly followed her in 28.52. MONICA SMITHSON looked strong at the finish coming in with 30.05.

Velo Park 10K

On Saturday SHELBE MOONBEAM ran 10K at London’s Velo Park. Having never been to the course before she thought the course was flat until she arrived and saw the hills! It is a lap course of 6 one mile loops. Shelbe said ‘It was the hardest run I think that I have ever done. By mile 4 I was ready to give up but I carried on and am so proud of myself!’

She wanted to complete the race in 1 hour 20mins but her finished time was actually 1.18.16.

Last Fridays are back

Despite being made to work very hard coaching on Thursday evening JIM BROWN was determined to make it to Hyde Park for the first Last Friday of the Month 5K since February 2020. With a slow start he went round in 26 minutes 58 seconds which was good enough to get him in the top 100. This was on the two lap course. The lunch-time events have been organised by the Serpentine Running Club since 1992.

Flying On Number 68 – Saturday 28^th August.

Fly 5K was one of the stars of lockdown keeping runners moving and in touch during the restrictions.

Two Spartans recorded times this week. JIM BROWN with a time of 26.58. He was 81^st and 3^rd in the V65 age category. PAUL HOLGATE was 118^th recording a time of 31.11, he was 4^th in the V60 category. 160 times in total were recorded for the Fly 5k this week.

Parkrun Highlights 28^th August 2021 – sixth week back

The end Summer holiday season saw Spartans travelling a little further afield for their parkrun fix.

There were plenty of first time runs: JENNY GARRETT at St Albans in 28:14, TRACY STILES at Sedgefield (32.13), BETH FOLEY at Blickling in Norfolk (33:59), MARIAN MORLEY at Sherwood Pines near Mansfield (26:53) and JAMES McSWEENEY at Soham Village College (24:22).

A trio of Spartans at Wimpole Estate: BARRY KING (27:32), NICK WITCOMBE (35:25) and SALLY PHILLIPS in a new PB of 35.26. MICHAEL O’KEEFE was at Houghton Hall near Dunstable (29.07). VERITY FISHER and DANNY SUTTON were at their now “home” parkrun of Rutland Water running 31:38 and 31:39 respectively. KAREN PALMER took a short trip to Letchworth (33:56).

Back in Stevenage, there was a speedy field with the male course record narrowly missed. There were PBs for SUZY HAWKINS (19:52) and ANDREW McGUINESS (21:01).

Tables

Full results for all Spartans when there are a lot at an event will be listed below.

Spartans in parkruns. Full results for 28^th August are below:

St Albans parkrun

A total of 417 runners took part

Position	Gender Position	Parkrunner	Run Time
1	1	Jonathan SCOTT	00:17:59
4	1	Rebecca FLAHERTY	00:18:54
201	40	Jenny GARRETT	00:28:14

Stevenage parkrun

A total of 287 runners took part

Position	Gender Position	Parkrunner	Run Time
1	1	Oscar BELL	00:15:29
5	5	Jonathan PARR	00:16:55
11	1	Harriet KEALY	00:19:31
13	12	Steve WELLS	00:19:45
15	2	Suzy HAWKINS	00:19:52
27	23	Andrew MCGUINNESS	00:21:01
51	46	Toby ECCLESHALL	00:23:04
63	55	Martin DUDLEY	00:23:50
69	58	Sam SIMMONS	00:24:22
73	62	Matt CLARKE	00:24:26
97	79	Tim ROBINSON	00:25:57
101	83	Mark BEASLEY	00:26:02
124	99	Steven DOBNER	00:27:13
125	100	Nick GILL	00:27:13
127	21	Georgie HOOPER	00:27:17
145	111	David PATTMAN	00:28:37
176	132	Roger HEAD	00:30:54
177	133	Paul JENNINGS	00:30:59
211	141	Stephen SMITHSON	00:32:57
234	70	Fiona CLARKE	00:35:10
244	154	Kartik SHARMA	00:36:10

Sedgefield Parkrun

A total of 234 runners took part

Position	Gender Position	Parkrunner	Run Time
1	1	Andy HARDY	00:18:09
25	1	Izzy MORGAN	00:23:13
162	40	Tracy STILES	00:32:16

Houghton Hall parkrun

A total of 182 runners took part

Position	Gender Position	Parkrunner	Run Time
1	1	Perry PAYNE	00:16:45
2	1	Rosie MCNABOLA	00:18:25
87	68	Michael O’KEEFE	00:29:07

Wimpole Estate parkrun

A total of 333 runners took part

Position	Gender Position	Parkrunner	Run Time
1	1	Chris DARLING	00:17:18
24	1	Carla BROWN	00:21:07
144	117	Barry KING	00:27:32
269	170	Nick WITCOMBE	00:35:25
270	88	Sally PHILLIPS	00:35:26

Blicking parkrun

A total of 235 runners took part

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time
1	1	Neil ADAMS	00:16:57
22	1	Amy MARTIN	00:21:18
182	65	Beth FOLEY	00:33:59

Sherwood Pines parkrun

A total of 273 runners took part

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time
1	1	Peter UDALL	00:17:47
27	1	Cheralynne TODD MCINTRYE	00:22:17
100	10	Marian MORLEY	00:26:53

Rutland Water parkun

A total of 311 runners took part

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time
1	1	Mark POPPLE	00:17:12
4	1	Hannah LORD	00:18:40
213	74	Verity FISHER	00:31:38
214	130	Daniel SUTTON	00:31:39

Letchworth parkrun

A total of 155 runners took part

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time
1	1	Peter CLARKE	00:19:08
45	1	Frances STANTON	00:26:05
127	41	Karen PALMER	00:33:56

Soham Village College parkrun

A total of 115 runners took part

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time
1	1	James SMITH	00:17:01
5	1	Bethan EVERSON	00:19:03
33	28	James MCSWEENEY	00:24:22

Club News Race Results

SPARTANS RUNNERS UP

Mid Week League

Fairlands Valley Spartans were runners up in the 2021 series of Mid Week Road Race League 10K races. They were comfortably in second place in the top division with 27 points and a score of 1,624 positions. Trent Park won with 31 points and a score of 1,158 while North Herts were third with 25 points and a score of 1,850. (A low score is a good score as, for example, first place scores only one point). The Spartan men WON while the club’s women were second.

The result was confirmed in the fourth race when the Spartans men and women were both third but overall the club came second. FVS kept up their participation rates compared with other clubs. There are six clubs in division one. In race four 21 of the 76 women were Spartans and 36 of the 94 men were from the Stevenage based club.

Spartan highlights from race four included SIMON JACKSON second overall in 34 minutes 51 seconds; ANDREW PATTERSON third overall in 35:13 and ADRIAN BUSOLINI sixth overall in 36:16.

BRIAN WHITE was first man over 60 with 44:26; BARRY OSBORNE first man over 70 with 44:36 and WILLIAM MORLEY first male under 20 with 55:12. SIMON JACKSON was also second man over 40.

In the women’s race YUKO GORDON was in the top ten and first over 65 with 46 minutes 19 seconds and CAROLYN LINSELL second over 65 with 57:25.

JO BOWDERY was eleventh in 46:58 and TRACY PEZ fifteenth in 48:40. ZOE JACKSON just missed the top twenty at 21^st in 51:46.

As the league has not had any massed start races this year all these times were recorded virtually; in the Spartans specially organised wave 10K event or in open and accurately measured 10K races.

24 Spartans ran all four midweek 10K races.

(Look near the end of this release for tables giving results for all 57 Spartans).

Big Half

In the Vitality Big Half Marathon YUKO GORDON was first in her age category, 70 plus, with 1 hour 38 minutes 35 seconds.

Spartan ASHLEY JOHNSON ran an excellent 1 hour 42 minutes 21 seconds in the event which attracted nearly 10,000 runners.

MARIAN MORLEY was running her first race in London and her first half other than the New Forest Virtual Half Marathon in 2020.

She said it was really enjoyable and finished in 2 hours 7 minutes 36 seconds which is a half marathon personal best (PB) and added there was good entertainment on the route and quite a few spectators.

SUE HAMER and ERICA GRAYSON finished together in 2:15:55.

Entries Open for the Stevenage Half Marathon

Entries for the Stevenage Half Marathon are open. This club and community event has a history going back 37 years and is organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans. With a break due to Covid 19 in 2020 it’s back for 2021. This year the race will be on Sunday 21^st November (a couple of weeks later than usual).

To enter have a look at https://stevenagehalfmarathon.org.uk/

Tessa Takes Gold at National Championships

In a very close race, TESSA STEPHENSON became National 200 metres Gold Medallist in the race for Women aged 60 to 64 at the British Masters Championships, held in Derby at the weekend. After trailing the leader all the way, Tessa raised herself to take the lead in the last few metres in a time of 32.58 seconds. Earlier in the day, she had finished in sixth place in the 100m in a time of 15.86 seconds, using this as a warm up for her preferred event. In the category for men aged 55 to 59, her husband DAVE competed in the 400 metres finishing in second for the Silver Medal in a time of 65.45 seconds.

At the same championships GRANT RAMSAY was third man 45 plus in the 3,000 metres steeplechase with 12 minutes 10.84 seconds.

Parkrun Highlights 21^st August 2021 – fifth week back

Stevenage Parkrun hit a new post lockdown record with 341 finishers in the fifth week back. 24 of them were Spartans.

Parkrun report by Danik Bates

Steve Wells was the only Spartan to manage a sub-20-minute 5km on Saturday morning at the course in Stevenage whilst Suzy Hawkins was spot on twenty minutes. 341 runners took part in this week’s event.

Results: STEVE WELLS 19-52 (10th), SUZY HAWKINS 20-00 (13th), BARRY OSBORNE 21-26 (32nd), JAMES MCSWEENY 23-53 (71st), MARTIN DUDLEY 24-07 (79th), CLIVE CANNON 24-29 (92nd), DARREN EMMERSON 24-40 (102nd), KAREN ELLIS 25-29 (118th), SAM SIMMONS 25-55 (132nd), NICK KLEANTHOUS 26-14 (139th), JIM BROWN 26-34 (144th), DANIK BATES 26-38 (147th and with a stroller), NICOLA ANDERSSON 27-26 (164th), STEVEN DOBNER 27-46 (172nd), DAVID PATTMAN 27-47 (173rd), TOBY ECCLESHALL 28-04 (180th), PAUL HOLGATE 29-47 (200th), FIONA CLARKE 32-11 (241st), MATT CLARKE 32-12 (242nd), CHLOE CHAPMAN 32-28 (244th), TRACEY STILES 32-56 (247th), HILARY DAVIES 33-01 (248th), BETH FOLEY 34-30 (267th) and SHELBE MOONBEAM 41-27 (312th).

Away days:

Upton House (near Poole, Dorset): JOHN ROXBOROUGH 26-29 (128th), KEN JUDE 26-47 (138th). There were 337 runners.

Wimpole Estate (Cambs): BARRY KING 28-38 (144th), NICK WITCOMBE 35-47 (242nd). There were 295 runners.

Rutland Water (Rutland): DANIEL SUTTON 25-56 (90th), VERITY FISHER 32-18 (197th). There were 265 runners.

Millennium County – Forest of Marston (Beds): MICHAEL O’KEEFE 29-02 (68th). There were 129 runners.

Littlehampton Promenade (West Sussex): DARRYL STEVENS 36-53 (162nd). There were 179 runners.

CAROLYN LINSELL enjoyed her first run in her Spartans stripes! She ran the Hunstanton Promenade parkrun was first in her age group and took two seconds of her parkrun PB with 25:57.

A total of 33 Spartans.

Flying On Number 66 and 67

In anticipation of Sunday’s celebration numbers were down a bit for Saturday’s 66^th virtual Fly 5K. However there were 151 runners including three Spartans. JIM BROWN was 68^th and second in category with 26 minutes 34 seconds; NICOLA ANDERSSON 78^th in 27:24 and PAUL HOLGATE second in his category and 99^th with 29:46.

Fly 67 was the live celebration on Sunday. It was at Drift Limits, Bovingdon near Berkhamsted on Sunday 22^nd August to bring people together who had not seen each other through months of virtual racing. The same three Spartans took part. NICOLA ANDERSSON in a new Fly 5K personal best of 25:43; JIM BROWN in 26:04 and PAUL HOLGATE in 29:36.

Fly 5K was one of the stars of lockdown keeping runners moving and in touch during the restrictions.

Sharon Sprints for Bronze in the Virtual Coast Challenge

After nearly 3,000 kilometres SHARON CROWLEY “sprinted” for club bronze in the Virtual Coast Challenge. She “crossed the line” in Bristol on Tuesday evening having followed an anticlockwise route starting from Bristol and following the coasts and borders of England. As she completed the 2,970 kilometres fourth placed BRIAN WHITE was on 2,921.7 kilometres, less than 50 behind.

The other Spartans through the 2,000 kilometre mark by Tuesday evening were JON SYPULA 2,327.2; KEN JUDE 2,255.6; CATHY CRAIG 2,191.9; HAZEL SMITH 2,174.8, LIZ CROWLEY 2,083.4 and PAUL HOLGATE on 2011.3. They and four other Spartans have until the end of the year to finish the event but the “podium” is complete.

Tags Big Half, Fly 5K, Mid Week League, National Championships

Club Events Races

LEE VALLEY * ABBATHON

Six Spartans raced in the Lee Valley regional park near Waltham Cross on Sunday. Starting and finishing by the White Water Rafting Centre in the half marathon DANNY SCANLON was 20^th out of the 227 finishers in 1 hour 30 minutes 34 seconds. SAM SIMMONS was 52^nd in 1:41:22.

JIM BROWN “got the miles in” with 2:04:07 and PAUL JENNINGS came in with 2:19:50.

In the 10K Spartan THOMAS SAUKA ran a sub fifty with 48 minutes 38 seconds and NICK KLEANTHOUS got within seconds of a new personal best with 53:36.

Nick said, “The course was quite hilly and uneven in places. However the event was very well organised and I was only 11 seconds away from a personal best. I’m happy with that.”

There were 227 finishers in the half marathon and 129 in the 10K.

Burnham Beeches Half Marathon

Spartans WENDY and TAHER THARANI were at the scenic Burnham Beeches Half Marathon. Wendy finished in 2 hours 1 minute 49 seconds and Taher in 2:38:18. There were 453 finishers.

Abbathon – Thank You For The Music

JENNY GARRETT and HAZEL SMITH had a fantastic time singing their way around the Abbathon trail marathon in Cambridge. Undulating with difficult terrain, they both finished with a respectable time of 5 hours 14 minutes 1 second, including completing one 5.3 kilometre lap in full Abba costumes.

The event was run by Zigzag, they were fantastic organisers. Jenny came away with a special Happy Birthday badge after being sung to by all competitors whilst Hazel won the lucky race number with free entry to a future event – winner takes it all!!!

Letchworth 5K

JOHN HARRIS ran the North Hertfordshire first Saturday of the month 5K in 21 minutes 16 seconds on 7^th August. He was seventh out of 52 runners. The event is run monthly by NHRR with the next event taking place on 4^th September.

10K Times

Many Spartans spent the week recording 10K times for the fourth and final round of this year’s Mid Week League. So far there are 57. The full results and league standings in a few days but it’s looking pretty certain that Fairlands Valley Spartans are comfortably in second place in Division One. Second place in the top division – pretty good going.

24 Spartans have run all four midweek 10K races.

Parkrun Highlights 14^th August 2021 – fourth week back

This week there were 19 Spartans out of the 290 finishers at the Stevenage Parkrun.

Staying close to home with the rest of the country, twenty-nine Fairlands Valley Spartans ran at seven UK Parkrun Events this week.

Impressively parkrun PBs were recorded for four runners from the group. The Stevenage course saw SAM SIMMONS record a time of 22 minutes and 3 seconds, STEVE ELDER run in 26 minutes and 58 seconds and STEPHANIE GAJIC in 35 minutes and 37 seconds, on her second ever parkrun. In addition, SALLY PHILLIPS conquered the Wimpole Estate event in 36 minutes and 37 seconds.

In other achievements STEVE WELLS (19:48) was 9th overall in Stevenage and recorded an impressive age related score over 80%. GAIL MACKIE (25:42) and KAREN ELLIS (25:49) finished as the 11th and 12th females, respectively. EVA RAMSEY (23:11) was the first female to finish the Aldenham course and JONATHAN PARR (16:54) finished fourth at the Norwich event.

(All the times for all 29 Spartan parkrunners can be found near the end of this release).

Flying On Number 65

Just one Spartan ran in last week’s Fly 5K. JIM BROWN finished in 28:57 and was second his age category. He was 95^th out of the 159 finishers (83 women and 76 men) and this was his 46^th virtual Fly 5K.

Battle for Bronze in the Virtual Coast Challenge

With less than 100 of the 2,970 kilometres to go SHARON CROWLEY has edged ahead of BRIAN WHITE and is now in bronze medal position amongst the Spartans in the club’s virtual race around the coasts and borders of England. On Wednesday Sharon was on 2,850.7 kilometres and Brian on 2845.6 – “only a parkrun” apart, by Saturday Sharon opened the gap a little more by reaching 2885.4 when Brian was on 2859.7. However, on Sunday the battle for bronze tightened up again with Sharon on 2890.9 and Brian on 2888.2 only 2.7 kilometres behind.

PENNY SCHENKEL and JIM BROWN have completed and were seventh and tenth nationally.

The other Spartans through the 2,000 kilometre mark by Sunday were JON SYPULA 2,291.2; KEN JUDE 2,255.6; CATHY CRAIG 2,160.8 and HAZEL SMITH 2,154.3.

Tables

Spartans in parkruns. Full results for 14^th August are below:

	Position	Gender Position	Parkrunner	Time	Comments
Norwich parkrun	4	4	Jonathan PARR	00:16:54


Stevenage parkrun	9	9	Steve WELLS	00:19:48	80.3%
	27	26	Sam SIMMONS	00:22:03	PB
	57	50	David PATTMAN	00:24:07
	58	51	Steven DOBNER	00:24:08
	63	56	Matt CLARKE	00:24:30
	83	11	Gail MACKIE	00:25:42
	85	12	Karen ELLIS	00:25:49	67.46%
	92	18	Georgie HOOPER	00:25:57
	93	73	Nick GILL	00:25:58
	114	90	Steve ELDER	00:26:58	PB
	124	98	Jonathan JONES	00:27:33
	151	33	Fiona CLARKE	00:28:43
	152	34	Debbie BLANTERN	00:28:45
	155	116	Jim BROWN	00:28:58
	159	119	Nick KLEANTHOUS	00:29:14
	179	126	Paul JENNINGS	00:30:35
	239	80	Karen PALMER	00:35:03
	240	81	Beth FOLEY	00:35:04
	247	85	Stephanie GAJIC	00:35:37	PB


Houghton Hall parkrun	65	55	Michael O’KEEFE	00:28:46


Wimpole Estate parkrun	181	135	Barry KING	00:28:22
	316	110	Sally PHILLIPS	00:36:37	PB
	325	195	Nick WITCOMBE	00:37:25
	344	129	Helene FOUCOURT	00:39:31


Aldenham parkrun	16	1	Eva RAMSEY	00:23:11


Rutland Water parkrun	95	79	Daniel SUTTON	00:25:56
	196	63	Verity FISHER	00:31:11


Seven Fields parkrun	97	64	Darryl STEVENS	00:39:04

MWL results

FVS Position	Name	Time	Gen	Where	Comments
1	SIMON JACKSON	34:51	M	Wave 4
2	ANDREW PATTERSON	35:13	M	Virtual
3	ADRIAN BUSOLINI	36:16	M	Wave 4
4	JONATHAN PARR	40:34	M	Virtual
5	ANDREW VAUGHAN	40:43	M	St Albans	SB
6	STUART ARCHER	41:47	M	Wave 4	SB
7	STEVE WELLS	41:53	M	Wave 4
8	KELVIN BEYIOKU	42:00	M	Wave 4	1^st 10K
9	ADRIAN DONNELLY	42:54	M	Wave 4
10	MATTHEW NEWTON	43:14	M	Virtual
11	BRIAN WHITE	44:26	M	Wave 4
12	BARRY OSBORNE	44:36	M	St Albans	SB
13	PETE SMITH	45:17	M	Wave 4
14	YUKO GORDON	46:19	F	Wave 4
15	JO BOWDERY	46:58	F	Wave 4
16	CRAIG BACON	47:36	M	Virtual
17	MARK GOODWIN	47:36	M	Wave 4
18	TOBY ECCESHALL	47:40	M	Wave 4
19	JOHN NELMS	48:12	M	Virtual	SB
20	THOMAS SAUKA	48:38	M	Lee Valley
21	TRACEY PEZ	48:40	F	Wave 4
22	JON SYPULA	48:53	M	Wave 4
23	LUKE GURNEY	49:25	M	Wave 4	PB (0:08)
24	SAM SIMMONS	49:39	M	Wave 4
25	ANDY JAY	49:42	M	Wave 4	SB
26	LEE PICKERSGILL	50:50	M	Wave 4
27	TIM ROBINSON	51:20	M	Virtual	SB
28	DARREN EMMERSON	51:21	M	Wave 4
29	ZOE JACKSON	51:46	F	Wave 4
30	JOHN HARRIS	51:56	M	Virtual
31	NICK KLEANTHOUS	53:36	M	Lee Valley
32	NIKKI WILBY	53:42	F	Wave 4	SB
33	MATT CLARKE	54:03	M	Virtual
34	HAZEL SMITH	54:26	F	Treadmill
35	JIM BROWN	54:56	M	St Albans
36	DANIEL BATES	54:57	M	Poland
37	WILL MORLEY	55:12	M	Virtual
38	LIZ SMITH	56:05	F	Virtual
39	CHLOE CHAPMAN	57:24	F	Wave 4
40	DEBBIE BLANTERN	57:25	F	Wave 4
41	CAROLYN LINSELL	57:25	F	Wave 4
42	NICOLA ANDERSSON	58:16	F	Wave 4
43	JOHN HARDING	59:01	M	Virtual
44	PAUL HOLGATE	59:43	M	Milton Keynes	SB
45	WENDY THARANI	60:00	F	Mill Green
46	FIONA CLARKE	61:11	F	Virtual
47	JAN FRY	61:31	F	Virtual
48	VISH SHAH	61:54	M	Wave 4	SB
49	CATHY CRAIG	63:44	F	St Albans	SB
50	SHARON CROWLEY	63:50	F	Wave 4	SB
51	JAMES KILROY	66:03	M	Wave 4	SB
52	ANGIE KEELING	67:23	F	Virtual
53	TONI NICOLS	69:08	F	Virtual
54	CARMEL THORNTON	70:33	F	Wave 4	PB (12:31)
55	GERRY ROSEN	71:06	M	Virtual	SB
56	PENNY SCHENKEL	72:00	F	Wave 4 (TBC)
57	STEPHANIE BIGGAR	78:01	F	Virtual

Club News Race Results

DEFIB FROM SPARTANS

August 7th, being the first Saturday of the month, saw a number of Fairlands Valley Spartans attending the recently returned Stevenage parkrun in their club vests – the Spartan stripes, and the presentation of a defibrillator which was part funded by a donation made by the club. Richard Glaister, Event Director, said “We really appreciate the £500 donation we have received from Fairlands Valley Spartans. We used to be able to access the defibrillator in the park’s office, but having our own one means we can respond quickly to any incidents.”

David Scott, Chair of Fairlands Valley Spartans added “there has always been a close link between FVS and Stevenage parkrun, with many of our committee members and runners being run directors, volunteers or participants. We are really pleased to be able to help support this event which has, and will continue to have, such a positive impact on the local running community.”

32 Spartans ran Saturday’s event and many others were helping as volunteers. This week there was a total of 327 parkrunners in Stevenage which compares with 256 on restart day (24^th July) and 296 last week

Stevenage parkrun takes place from Fairlands Valley lakes at 9am every Saturday morning. Fairlands Valley Spartans have sessions available for runners of all abilities five days a week.

Parkrun Highlights 7^th August 2021

Forty four Spartans headed out on the third week of UK Parkrun’s return, to run at 11 different Parkrun venues.

DAN BATES was the furthest travelled Spartan, completing the Dąbrówka Parkrun in Poland with a time of 23:26.

Congratulations to MARION MORLEY got a new PB (personal best) at Stevenage on her 40^th parkrun with a time of 26:30. The Fastest Spartan was STEVE WELLS (Stevenage, 20:04) and fastest Spartan lady was EVA RAMSEY (Stevenage, 23:07).

STEPHANIE GAJIC and KAREN HOWLAND were in Stevenage to try out Parkrun for the very first time.

There were no official Parkrun milestones this week but several Spartans reached unofficial milestones including Marion MORLEY (40^th), Matt CLARKE (60^th), Michael O’Keefe (110^th) and Tim ROBINSON (160^th). This was FIONA CLARKE’s 100^th parkrun in Stevenage. Well done and congratulations to all.

(All the times for all 44 Spartans can be found near the end of this release).

Summer 10K

Four Spartans tackled the St Albans Summer 10K on Sunday. Not so much summer as there was rain for parts of the race and some parts of the course were slippery but perhaps a welcome change for some from the extremely hot conditions at Drift Limits on 18^th July.

In the “A” race ANDREW VAUGHAN was 30^th in 40 minutes 43 seconds a 1:37 improvement on three weeks earlier.

BARRY OSBORNE won the men 70 plus race with 44:36. He was 73^rd.

After a very slow start JIM BROWN “bullied” himself round the “B” race. He was 195^th overall in 54 minutes 56 seconds and CATHY CRAIG came in 288^th in 63:44. There were 342 finishers.

MK10K and loadsa 10Ks

With Milton Keynes Open University not yet available for sporting events, this year’s Milton Keynes East Midlands Grand Prix (EMGP) 10K moved to a new venue around Willen Lake on Tuesday evening. In almost perfect weather conditions PAUL HOLGATE finished in 200^th position of the 219 finishers in a Season’s Best time of 59:43, his fastest 10 kilometre race since the 31^st December 2018.

Also on Tuesday 3^rd August JAN FRY ran 10K in 61 minutes 31 seconds.

These 10K times matter as the Spartans are now into the “window” for recording times for the fourth Mid-Week Road Race League fixture.

Fairlands Valley Spartans are in second place in Division One (the top division) of the Mid Week Road Race League.

Like the other league fixtures there will not be a single massed start event. Runners race their own accurate 10K and then submit times. The window for race four is between Monday 2^nd August and Sunday 15^th August (inclusive). There will be a “wave” opportunity for Spartans to record a time on Tuesday 10^th August but members can record a time for an accurate 10K on any day and submit it up to 15^th August.

Flying On Number 64

Three Spartans took part in the 64^th Fly 5K. JIM BROWN was third in his category with 25:59; NICOLA ANDERSSON 28:58 and PAUL HOLGATE second in his category with 29:17.

Fly 5K was one of the stars of lockdown keeping runners moving and in touch during the restrictions. There will be a celebration live Fly 5K at Drift Limits, Bovingdon on Sunday 22^nd August.

Entries Open for the Stevenage Half Marathon

Entries for the Stevenage Half Marathon are open. This club and community event has a history going back 37 years and is organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans. With a break due to Covid 19 in 2020 it’s back for 2021. This year the race will be on Sunday 21^st November (a couple of weeks later than usual).

To enter have a look at https://stevenagehalfmarathon.org.uk/

Battle for Bronze in the Virtual Coast Challenge

With only about 100 of the 2,970 kilometres to go SHARON CROWLEY has edged ahead of BRIAN WHITE and is now in bronze medal position amongst the Spartans in the club’s virtual race around the coasts and borders of England. Sharon is now on 2,844.1 kilometres and Brian on 2826.5.

Other Spartans through the 2,000 kilometre mark are JON SYPULA 2274.0; KEN JUDE 2256.6; CATHY CRAIG 2,100.5 and HAZEL SMITH 2049.9.

Club News Race Results

SPARTAN WOMEN STAY ON TOP

Post author By Hazel Smith
Post date August 1, 2021
No Comments on SPARTAN WOMEN STAY ON TOP

Spartan ladies stay on top! The third of four Eastern Masters Track and Field league competitions was held in Bedford on Wednesday, with the Spartan ladies extending their lead over rivals Marshall Milton Keynes once again. A spot in the final, to be held in September, is pretty much guaranteed.

The team welcomed another new joiner, the fifth new member this season! ASHLEY JOHNSON bravely fought through an injury to finish fourth in the W35 (women aged 35 plus) 400 metres. CALLIE CHAPMAN (third place long jump) and CATHY CRAIG (2km walk B string winner) both recorded personal bests (PBs) with Callie also finishing third in the W35 100 metres sprint.

Wins on the night included JOYLYN SAUNDERS-MULLINS, again dropping down to a younger age group (W50) and winning both 100 and 400 metres. TESSA STEPHENSON won both W60 400m and shot put. SUZY HAWKINS (W35) and YUKO GORDON (W60) continue to dominate the distance events in their age groups, both winning their 1500m races. SHARON CROWLEY came close to a PB and won the 2km A String walk.

The remaining points were scored by SHERYL HANN (third place W60 100m and second place W50 1500m), STEPHANIE BIGGAR (4^th place W35 shot put and 5^th place discus), MARIAN MORLEY (3^rd place W50 shot put and second place discus), IRIS HORNSEY made a welcome return to competition (3^rd place W60 discus), ANDREA WESTCOTT (2^nd place W50 long jump) and NIKKI WILBY (second place W35 pole vault). The women also had two relay teams – Callie, Suzy, Nikki and Cathy finished third in the W35 category. Sharon, Yuko, Joylyn, and Tessa won the W50+ race.

The men’s team had a much improved turn out, finishing in fourth place, just six points behind third spot! Andy Patterson broke the club 1500m record, finishing second in the M35 race. Andy also tried his hand at discus (4^th place). ANTON MCCALLA returned to the team, earning points in M35 100m, shot put, long jump, and relay. STEVE MAYFIELD also multi-tasked, earning points in M50 100m, discus, long jump, and relay.

PAUL HOLGATE seemed to be on the track every time you looked, running the M60 100m, 400m, and 1500m! The other point scorers were CHRIS WESTCOTT (M35 400m and relay), DAVE STEPHENSON (M50 400m, shot put, and relay), BARRY OSBORNE (M60 1500m and relay), STEVE GOUGH (B string 2km walk and relay), RON WESTCOTT (M60 shot put and discus). GRANT RAMSAY completed the relay team and also took the opportunity to non-score in 1500m and long jump while he was there. TIM SAUNDERS-MULLINS also decided on the night to get some practice in by throwing but non-scoring in the discus.

London Landmarks Half Marathon (LLHM)

Some of the really big city events are coming back and five Spartan women were among about 11,000 runners at the London Landmarks Half Marathon on Sunday. This is London’s central half marathon through Westminster and the City.

Spartan SHELBE MOONBEAM was there doing her very first half marathon. She was running for Tommy’s Charity who help families who have lost a child. She did it for Little Moonbeam who was born sleeping in Oct 2009 at 21 weeks and has raised £395 so far.

Shelbe wanted to run a sub 3 hours half – that’s 15 minutes or under each mile. The first ten miles were all under 15 minutes but by mile 11 she was running on empty. Her finish time was 3 hours 2 minutes and 4 seconds. She is very happy and proud of that.

JACKIE DOWNES finished in 2 hours 1 minute 27 seconds, 3735^th.

LINDA NOLAN finished in a time of 2 hours 5 minutes 25 seconds for 4,337^th.

FIONA CLARKE came in at 2 hours 7 minutes 13 seconds and was 4,643^rd, ADA JANUSIENE finished in 2:19:09. Ada was 6,440^th, Jackie, Linda and Fiona were all in the top half. Shelbe had 574 finishers behind her.

Spartan Sets a New British Record at the Running Grand Prix

Spartan YUKO GORDON broke a British record by nearly three minutes in the Running Grand Prix at the Bedford Autodrome recently. She reduced the half marathon record for women aged 70 and over to just 1 hour 37 minutes 50 seconds and only missed the world record by 12 seconds.

Mid-Week Road Race League race four coming up

Fairlands Valley Spartans are in second place in Division One (the top division) of the Mid Week Road Race League and race four is coming up fast.

Like the other fixtures this year runners will race in their localities and then submit times. The window for race four is between Monday 2^nd August and Sunday 15^th August (inclusive). There will be a “wave” opportunity for Spartans to record a time on Tuesday 10^th August but members can record a time for an accurate 10K on any day and submit it up to 15^th August.

Parkrun Returns Week Two – 296 in Stevenage

On the second week since the long awaited return of parkrun, Spartans took part across seven different locations, many taking part as “first timers” making their debut at new venues.

First timers were: SALLY PHILLIPS was at Wimpole Hall (39:44), CAREN THAIN at Letchworth (37:13) and TIM ROBINSON (28:53) joining regular Rutland Water parkrunners DANNY SUTTON (28:54) and VERITY FISHER (35:20). DARRYL STEVENS was at Prospect parkrun near Reading (42:25) and JO BOWDRY ran a speedy new parkrun personal best of 22:36 at Tetbury Goods Shed.

Back at “home base” in Stevenage, 24 Spartans ran. There were two personal bests (PBs): ADRIAN DONNELLY in 20:30 and ANDREW MCGUINNESS in 21:24. STEVEN DOBNER completed his longest run ever of 20 miles with the last three at the Stevenage parkrun.

(Full results are below near the end of this news release).

Bedford Paul – Storm Eva

138 runners braved Storm Eva to compete in a Bedford 10K on Friday. The rain stopped in time for the run but it was still slippery underfoot in patches around the country park course. PAUL HOLGATE finished in 128^th position in one hour and 57 seconds (1:00:57).

Flying On Number 63

168 runners from 46 clubs ran in the 63^rd virtual Fly 5K on Saturday morning. Fairlands Valley Spartans qualified in the team competition and came sixth with MARIAN MORLEY second woman 55 plus and 75^th with 26 minutes 24 seconds; PAUL HOLGATE 121^st in 30:08; JIM BROWN 123^rd in 30:13 and PENNY SCHENKEL 124^th in 30:14.

Fly 5K was one of the stars of lockdown keeping runners moving and in touch during the restrictions. There will be a celebration live Fly 5K at Drift Limits on Sunday 22^nd August.

Parkrun results

24 Spartans were among the 296 enjoying the second Stevenage parkrun since the restart. 296 is up 40 from race one which was the 200^th Stevenage parkrun.

Position	Gender Position	Parkrunner	Run Time	Comments
15	13	Adrian DONNELLY	00:20:30	Parkrun PB
25	20	Andrew MCGUINNESS	00:21:24	Parkrun PB
43	34	Toby ECCLESHALL	00:22:29
62	52	Barry OSBORNE	00:23:55
65	54	Danik BATES	00:24:13
68	9	Eva RAMSEY	00:24:19
90	73	Nick KLEANTHOUS	00:26:02
94	15	Natalie WHITE	00:26:12
109	83	Darren EMMERSON	00:26:48
110	20	Jenny GARRETT	00:26:48
122	24	Chloe CHAPMAN	00:27:31
138	28	Fiona CLARKE	00:28:19
153	112	Steven DOBNER	00:29:51	End of 20 miles
161	114	Jim BROWN	00:30:16	3^rd VM 65-69
164	41	Penny SCHENKEL	00:30:20
176	49	Catherine CRAIG	00:31:14
183	52	Charlotte SMITH	00:31:50
184	53	Gail MACKIE	00:31:51
192	126	Paul JENNINGS	00:32:29
193	57	Hazel SMITH	00:32:35
194	58	Callie CHAPMAN	00:32:35
202	64	Tracy STILES	00:33:05
214	74	Karen PALMER	00:33:44
251	90	Beth FOLEY	00:36:31

Club News Race Results

PARKRUN IS BACK

Spartan Sets a New British Record at the Running Grand Prix

Spartan YUKO GORDON broke a British record by nearly three minutes in the Running Grand Prix at the Bedford Autodrome on Sunday. She reduced the half marathon record for women aged 70 and over to just 1 hour 37 minutes 50 seconds and only missed the world record by 12 seconds.

The world record of 1:37:38 was set by Lavinia Petrie of Australia, the old British record was held by Angela Copson in 1:40:33. Yuko said she was a little tired. “I didn’t taper for this race. Apart from the 10K at Drift Limits, I ran the Doug Anderson 5Km at Bedford Park on Wednesday, both races were pretty hot and humid.”

Two other Spartans competed in the event.

JIM BROWN tackled the twenty mile race and got rain early on. He said a “20” was probably a bit ambitious at the moment but he won the male 65 plus category and was 18^th overall with 3 hours 6 minutes 37 seconds.

In the half marathon GRANT RAMSAY was 26^th and second man 45 plus with 1:26:42.

Wednesday 5K

Warm temperatures did not stop the Doug Anderson 5K from making its return after a two year absence on Wednesday evening. With an improved wider start position and run in the opposite direction to usual YUKO GORDON finished an impressive 95^th in 22:46 and PAUL HOLGATE ran 30:16 for 226^th position out of the 291 finishers just three days after completing the previous Sunday’s very hot Off-Road challenge.

Huge Smiles In Fairlands Valley as Parkrun is Back!!

Parkrun is back for the first time since March 2020 and there were a lot of Spartans out in force for the 5km events which were held all around the country on Saturday morning (24th July). Stevenage Parkrun, located at Fairlands Valley Lakes saw twenty-four Spartans among the 256 runners taking part. Fastest on the day and first one to cross the finish line was JONATHAN PARR in 16-56 and not far behind him was ADRIAN BUSOLINI in 17-34 which gives him a Parkrun-personal best time. STEVE WELLS was just outside the top ten finishers, coming in 11th at 20-08. There was a Parkrun PB (personal best) for NICOLA ANDERSSON who finished in 27-07 (109th).

Other Spartan results: TOBY ECCLESHALL 22-28 (33rd), DAVID PATTMAN 23-28 (49th), CLAIRE PULLEN 23-44 (53rd), THOMAS SAUKA 23-47 (55th), MARTIN DUDLEY 23-48 (57th), STEVEN DOBNER 24-06 (59th), DANIK BATES 25-13 (81st and with a buggy), JONATHAN JONES 27-01 (106th), MARK BEASLEY 27-14 (112nd), CHLOE CHAPMAN 28-37 (125th), JIM BROWN 28-50 (129th), DEBBIE BLANTERN 28-53 (130th), PAUL JENNINGS 28-56 (131st), FIONA CLARKE 30-42 (155th), MONICA SMITHSON 30-53 (159th), PAUL HOLGATE 32-00 (176th), HILARY DAVIES 32-44 (181st), TRACY STILES 33-26 (190th), KAREN PALMER 33-56 (194rd) and BETH FOLEY 38-01 (219th).

This was the 200^th Stevenage parkrun. Several of the helpers on the day were from Fairlands Valley Spartans many of whom were in fancy dress to mark the occasion. The Mayor of Stevenage, Councillor Sandra Barr, came along to see everyone off.

Parkrun away days:

Lee-on-the-Solent (Hampshire): EDWARD HARE 23-38 (45th out of 310 runners).

Panshanger (Hertford): KEN JUDE 27-29 (105th out of 187 runners).

Market Harborough (Northamptonshire): ANTON MCCALLA finished in 28-21 (130th out of 231 runners).

Houghton Hall (Bedfordshire): MICHAEL O’KEEFE 32-52 (94th out of 133 runners).

Letchworth (Hertfordshire): JOHN HARRIS 33-17 (73rd out of 111 runners).

Itchen Valley Country (Hampshire): DARRYL STEVENS 44-08 (9th out of 116 runners).

Fairland Valley Challenge

Fairlands Valley Spartans hosted the Fairlands Valley Challenge in warm conditions recently. This was a mostly off road trail event with a choice of four distances – half marathon; 18 miles; marathon (42.2 km) and a 50K ultra marathon. With a Covid secure wave start participants left Marriotts School between 8a.m. and 9.30a.m. Altogether 145 took part and had great fun. There were intermediate checkpoints at Watton-at-Stone; Tewin and Datchworth with several runners making an unofficial lolly and smiles stop in Broadwater. The last finisher came back at 6.40p.m. A huge number of volunteer Spartans made the event possible.

143 completed one of the four events and 29 of those were Spartans. In the half marathon with 42 finishers the 12 Spartans were led in by JENNY GARRATT and CLAIRE EMMERSON at 23^rd and 24^th in 3 hours 18 minutes 44 seconds. The full marathon, 26.2 miles of mostly off road trails was the most popular choice. It had 58 finishers. STUART WONFOR, at 24^th was first Spartan with 6 hours 18 minutes 44 seconds.

Spartan ADRIAN BUSOLINI was second in the 50 kilometres Ultra event coming in at 4 hours 34 minutes 9 seconds and STUART ARCHER sixth with 6:02:33. There were 24 finishers including three Spartans.

In the 18 miles events there were 21 finishers including 7 Spartans. ZOE JACKSON, LEE PICKERSGILL and SUSAN McANENY were second, third and fourth with 3:56:09; 3:56:09 and 3:56:10. All on a scorching hot day.

TIM ROBINSON, event organiser on behalf of the club, gave massive thanks to all the helpers. A large team of people assembled under very difficult circumstances. They included:

SHARON CROWLEY and LIZ CROWLEY who sourced food and juice. Liz also put on Mike (Crowley’s) boots and transported food and helpers around.
CATHY CRAIG, NICOLA HATHERLY and JUDY KING
ANDY PRIOR, KERSTIN WEINER and TONY RANDFIELD.
NICK KLEANTHOUS, FIONA CLARKE, CHLOE CHAPMAN, JENNY GARRETT – the Datchworth Dream Team.
STEVE SMITHSON who organised the start table.
HANNAH SYPULA, JAN FRY and NICK FRY who stayed all day in the heat at the finish line.

145 runners and walkers started and 143 finished.

Mid-Week Road Race League race three

Spartans second in Division One race three. Fairlands Valley Spartans tied with St Albans Striders on nine race points but beat them on individual scores by 535 to 545 to take second spot. Just one runner turning up can make all that difference. In the race the Spartan men were second on 312 and the women third on 223.

63 Spartans recorded a time for race three in the Mid Week Road Race League 10K series. There were 21 women and 42 men. There will be a fourth fixture. Like the others runners will race in their localities and then submit times. The window for race four is between Saturday 2^nd August and Sunday 15^th August (inclusive). There will be a “wave” opportunity for Spartans to record a time on Tuesday 10^th August.

Flying On Number 62

Despite the return of parkrun over 170 runners took part in the 62^nd virtual Fly 5K. JIM BROWN was 113^th and second in his age group with 28 minutes 33 seconds and PAUL HOLGATE 146^th in 31:53.

Fly 5K and (not) parkrun were two of the stars of lockdown keeping runners moving and in touch during the restrictions. Parkrun is back but Fly 5K continues.

(Not) Parkrun

In addition to those using the same effort to record Fly 5K times on Saturday mornings some other Spartans ran (not) parkruns on other days. For example this week JIM BROWN ran 27:26 on Sunday.

(Not) Parkruns can be run on any day of the week.

Tables

Spartan Results Mid Week 10K Race Three – Women

Pos	Cat	Vet	Time	First Name	Surname	Cat.	FVS Team
10	2	8	43:12	Suzy	Hawkins	V 45	A
14	1	11	46:41	Yuko	Gordon	V 65	A
27	12	22	52:16	Alison	Shelley	V 45	A
28	9	23	52:21	Michelle	Reeves	V 35	A
29	13	24	52:45	Wendy	Tharani	V 45	A
36	2	30	55:35	Carolyn	Linsell	V 65	A
39			56:24	Chloe	Chapman	S	A
40	17	33	56:34	Claire	Emmerson	V 45	A
41	12	34	56:46	Vicky	Archer	V 35	B
42	13	35	56:58	Fiona	Clarke	V 35	B
47	19	40	58:15	Nicola	Andersson	V 45	B
51	21	44	1:01:00	Kerstin	Weiner	V 45	B
52	22	45	1:01:06	Hazel	Smith	V 45	B
55	3	48	1:01:57	Jan	Fry	V 65	B
57	18	50	1:02:06	Linda	George	V 35	B
63	4	56	1:05:24	Cathy	Craig	V 65	B
67	25	59	1:06:26	Dzenana	Topic	V 45
70	10	60	1:08:31	Monica	Smithson	V 55
75	22	64	1:10:00	Angie	Keeling	V 35
79	14	68	1:15:02	Sharon	Crowley	V 55
83	24	72	1:21:31	Stephanie	Biggar	V 35

Spartan Results Mid Week 10K Race Three – Men

Pos	Cat	Vet	Time	First Name	Surname	Cat.	FVS Team
5	2	2	35:07	Simon	Jackson	V 40	A
6			35:34	Adrian	Busolini	S	A
7			35:38	Andrew	Patterson	S	A
8			35:40	Jonathan	Parr	S	A
21	9	11	38:41	Danny	Hukin	V 40	A
30	5	16	41:03	Paul	Shelley	V 50	A
31	6	17	41:13	Steve	Wells	V 50	A
34	13	20	41:32	Andrew	Vaughan	V 40	A
37			41:43	Matthew	Newton	S	A
43			43:58	Stuart	Archer	S	A
44	2	28	44:01	Brian	White	V 60	A
46			44:05	Nick	Gill	S	A
48			44:30	Ronan	Maguire	S	B
50	12	31	44:48	Pete	Smith	V 50	B
52			45:18	Todd	Gray	S	B
53	19	33	45:24	David	Pattman	V 40	B
59			47:11	Ben	Peachey	S	B
60			47:58	Andrew	McGuinness	S	B
63			48:12	Dan	McAlpine	S	B
64	23	40	48:13	Steven	Dobner	V 40	B
66	4	42	48:18	Mark	Goodwin	V 60	B
68	24	44	49:08	Jon	Sypula	V 40	B
70	17	46	49:15	Craig	Bacon	V 50	B
71			49:27	Lee	Pickersgill	S	B
72	18	47	49:41	Darren	Emmerson	V 50	C
73	19	48	49:48	Nigel	Strongitharm	V 50	C
77			50:48	Martin	Jacob	S	C
78			51:09	Luke	Gurney	S	C
83	7	54	52:20	Jim	Brown	V 60	C
85			52:33	Edward	Hare	S	C
88	23	58	53:39	Tim	Robinson	V 50	C
90	27	60	56:24	Matt	Clarke	V 40	C
91			56:37	Mick	Andrews	S	C
92			56:43	Daniel	Bates	S	C
95	25	63	57:37	Ken	Jude	V 50	C
98	30	66	59:26	Kartik	Sharma	V 40	C
99	27	67	1:00:24	Jonathan	Jones	V 50
100	10	68	1:00:57	Paul	Holgate	V 60
101	31	69	1:01:01	Simon	Sypula	V 40
102	32	70	1:01:19	Paul	Jennings*	V 40
107	28	75	1:06:54	Taher	Tharani	V 50
110			1:10:00	John	Harding	S

Fairlands Valley Challenge 18th July 2021

Half Marathon Distance – Spartan Times

Pos	Bib	First Name	Surname	Category	Time
23	22	Jenny	Garratt	WV45	03:18:44
24	23	Claire	Emmerson	WV45	03:18:44
25	132	Ada	Janusiene	F	03:40:06
26	134	Sam	Simmons	M	03:40:07
27	135	Calantha	Chapman	WV35	03:40:07
28	138	Carolyn	Linsell	WV55	03:40:17
31	21	Vicky	Archer	WV35	03:44:02
32	131	Linda	Nolan	WV55	03:44:03
33	133	Hazel	Smith	WV45	03:45:28
37	16	Darryl	Stevens	MV50	04:09:48
41	106	Pauline	Hardy	WV65	05:40:17
42	107	Robert	Hardy	MV70	05:40:17

Fairlands Valley Challenge 18th July 2021

18 Mile Distance – Spartan Times

Pos	Bib	First Name	Surname		Start
2	50	Zoe	Jackson	F	03:56:09
3	51	Lee	Pickersgill	M	03:56:09
4	52	Susan	McAneny	WV35	03:56:10
5	24	Wendy	Tharani	WV35	04:02:05
6	123	Robert	Wright	M	04:11:56
20	108	Christine	Zverev	F	06:39:36
21	116	Luke	Gurney	M	06:39:36

Marathon Distance – Spartan Times

Pos	Bib	First Name	Surname		Start
24	66	Stuart	Wonfor	MV40	06:18:44
33	42	Daniel	Bates	M	06:58:54
35	15	Paul	Holgate	MV60	07:28:55
52	14	Sharon	Crowley	WV55	08:34:22
55	1	Tricia	Hopper	WV45	10:24:24
56	2	Barry	King	MV50	10:24:24
57	3	Karen	Liddle	WV55	10:24:24

50K Ultra Distance – Spartan Times

Pos	Bib	First Name	Surname		Start
2	63	Adrian	Busolini	M	04:34:09
6	17	Stuart	Archer	M	06:02:33
11	5	Jon	Sypula	MV40	06:58:20

145 started across the four distances, 143 finished including 29 Spartans.

Club News Race Results

FAIRLANDS CHALLENGE IN THE SUNSHINE

Post author By Hazel Smith
Post date July 18, 2021
No Comments on FAIRLANDS CHALLENGE IN THE SUNSHINE

Fairlands Valley Spartans hosted the Fairlands Valley Challenge in warm conditions on Sunday. This was a mostly off road trail event with a choice of four distances – half marathon; 18 miles; marathon (42.2 km) and a 50K ultra marathon. With a Covid secure wave start participants left Marriotts School between 8a.m. and 9.30a.m. Altogether 145 took part and had great fun. There were intermediate checkpoints at Watton-at-Stone; Tewin and Datchworth with several runners making an unofficial lolly and smiles stop in Broadwater. The last finisher came back at 6.40p.m. A huge number of volunteer Spartans made the event possible.

TIM ROBINSON, event organiser on behalf of the club, gave massive thanks to all the helpers. A large team of people assembled under very difficult circumstances. They included:

Sharon Crowley and Liz Crowley who sourced food and juice. Liz also put on Mike (Crowley’s) boots and transported food and helpers around.
Cathy Craig, Nicola Hatherly and Judy King
Andy Prior, Kerstin Weiner and Tony Randfield.
Nick Kleanthous, Fiona Clarke, Chloe Chapman, Jenny Garrett – the Datchworth Dream Team.
Steve Smithson who organised the start table.
Hannah Sypula, Jan and Nick Fry who stayed all day in the heat at the finish line.

145 runners and walkers started and 143 finished.

The results will be published soon.

Three Firsts for Spartans at Drift Limits

Five Fairlands Valley Spartans went to the Drift Limits races at Bovingdon on Sunday. They came away with THREE first and TWO second places!

Spartan JIM BROWN said it was seriously way too hot, certainly for me, on those runways but five Spartans went to Drift Limits and three WON their categories; another one was second in theirs. One was second overall in their race.

It was officially 27 degrees in the shade but there was no shade and those old airfield runways, now a motor racing circuit were like huge tarmac radiators. The effective or “feels like” temperature was estimated at 33 degrees (91.4F).

In the 5K race JONATHAN PARR WON the M35 category and second overall with 16 minutes 47 seconds. STUART HAYCROFT was second in the M40 with 18:13.

Things were really heating up by the time the 10K race got underway but ANDREW VAUGHAN was 25th overall in 42:20; YUKO GORDON was FIRST woman 70 plus and 33rd in 46:40; and JIM BROWN was FIRST man 65 plus and 43rd in 53:42.

The 10K runners included the postponed and deferred entries from a 10K that would have been in February. In cooler conditions this would have been a very fast event.

Ultra 5K

Three Spartans ran an Ultra 5K at Box End Park near Kempston, Bedford.

Basically it was a 5K race every hour for five hours. The first race was at 9am, then at 10a.m., 11a.m., 12 noon, and 1p.m. All on a very technical off-road course. Spartan BRIAN WHITE said the weather conditions for each 5K were 1. Warm; 2. Hot. 3; Very hot; 4. extremely hot and 5. Mad Dogs and Englishmen (go out in the midday sun).

His series of races were completed in 1. 23 minutes 35 seconds; 2. 24:17; 3. 24:42; 4. 2:.41 and 5. 26:20. His total time was 2 hours 4 minutes 36 seconds giving him sixth position overall and first aged 50 plus.

SUE HAMER was 49^th in a total of 3:25:09 and ERICA GRAYSON 50^th in 3:25:12.

Nikki for the High Jump

NIKKI WILBY represented EMAC (Eastern veterans) in the high jump at the inter area track and field competition in Nuneaton at the weekend.

It was very competitive and there were some amazing performances in all of the events!

She was very happy to clear 1.30 on her first attempt but couldn’t continue to due to injury. She was fifth. Nikki also jogged 100 metres to get some points for the team.

Mid-Week Road Race League race three

So far 63 Spartans have recorded a time for race three in the Mid Week Road Race League 10K series. These can be found at the end of the release. Full story when the league result is published in a few days.

Entries Open for the Stevenage Half Marathon

Entries for the Stevenage Half Marathon are open. This club and community event has a history going back 37 years and is organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans. With a break due to Covid 19 in 2020 it’s back for 2021 and this year the race will be on Sunday 21^st November, a couple of weeks later than usual.

To enter have a look at https://stevenagehalfmarathon.org.uk/

Flying On Number 61

38 clubs participated in Saturday morning’s Fly 5K and there were five Spartans – NICOLA ANDERSSON was 63^rd in 27:11; MARIAN MORLEY second woman 55 plus and 75^th in 27:56 for her tenth Fly 5K; PAUL HOLGATE 118^th in 29:52 for his 60^th Fly 5K; PENNY SCHENKEL and JIM BROWN hugging the shade around the King George V playing fields and Town Centre Gardens for 144^th equal in 32 minutes 5 seconds. Jim was second in his age group.

(Not) Parkrun

In addition to those using the same effort to record Fly 5K times on Saturday mornings some other Spartans ran (not) parkruns on other days. For example this week JIM BROWN ran 26:00 on Thursday.

(Not) Parkruns can be run on any day of the week.

Parkrun Coming 24^th July 2021

Fairlands Valley Spartans and many others are looking forward to the 200^th Stevenage Parkrun which will be the first local parkrun when the events can restart. It will be at 9a.m. on Saturday 24^th July. The 199^th Stevenage parkrun was on Saturday 14^th March 2020.

(Normally all the week’s Spartan parkrun results can be found near the end of our release).

Racing Round England

The Spartans have a winner in their Bristol to Bristol virtual run, cycle and walk challenge around the coasts and borders of England. PENNY SCHENKEL crossed the finish line during the Spartans Wave 10K run on Tuesday 25^th May with all 2,970 kilometres done. She was seventh overall in the whole country with a total time of 170 hours 25 minutes and 12 seconds.

She was 434 kilometres ahead of JIM BROWN (2536) and 789 ahead of BRIAN WHITE (2181). At 7.15p.m. on Monday 21^st June JIM BROWN ran across the virtual finish line in Bristol to claim second place. He was tenth overall in 231 hours 7 minutes and 54 seconds.

The Spartan podium is almost complete but the race for third sport could be close. On Monday morning 19^th July third placed BRIAN WHITE was on 2671 kilometres but fourth placed SHARON CROWLEY was on 2620 as they headed back to Bristol.

The other ten Spartans are still clicking up the kilometres and have until December to finish the event. Many other clubs are participating in the Virtual Coast Challenge.

Tables

Full results for all Spartans when there are a lot at an event will be listed below. It’s back!

MWRRL Race Three 10K Times

Name	M/F	Time	Note
SUZY HAWKINS	F	43:12	Thursday 15^th July
YUKO GORDON	F	46:40	Drift Limits Sunday 18^th
ALISON SHELLEY	F	52:16	Wave Tuesday
MICHELLE REEVES	F	52:21	Wednesday 14th
WENDY THARANI	F	52:45	Wave Tuesday
CAROLYN LINSELL	F	55:35	Wave Tuesday added
CHLOE CHAPMAN	F	56:24	Wave Tuesday adjusted
CLAIRE EMMERSON	F	56:34	Wave Tuesday added
VICKY ARCHER	F	56:46	Wave Tuesday added
FIONA CLARKE	F	56:58	Wave Tuesday
NICOLA ANDERSSON	F	58:15	Wave Tuesday
KERSTIN WEINER	F	61:00	PH
HAZEL SMITH	F	61:06	Wave Tuesday
JAN FRY	F	61:57	Wave Tuesday
LINDA GEORGE	F	62:06	Wave Tuesday
CATHERINE CRAIG	F	65:24	Wave Tuesday added
DZENANA TOPIC	F	66:26	Hatfield 10K
MONICA SMITHSON	F	68:31	Saturday 17^th July
ANGIE KEELING	F	70:00	Saturday 17^th July
SHARON CROWLEY	F	75:02	Saturday 10^th July
STEPHANIE BIGGAR	F	81:31	PH
SIMON JACKSON	M	35:07	Thursday 15^th
ADRIAN BUSOLINI	M	35:34	Wave Tuesday
ANDREW PATTERSON	M	35:38	Thursday 15^th
JONATHAN PARR	M	35:40	Hatfield 10K
DAN HUKIN	M	38:41	Thursday 15^th
PAUL SHELLEY	M	41:03	Wave Tuesday added
STEVE WELLS	M	41:13	Wave Tuesday
ANDY VAUGHAN	M	41:32	Wave Tuesday
MATTHEW NEWTON	M	41:43	Wave Tuesday
STUART ARCHER	M	43:58	Wave Tuesday
BRIAN WHITE	M	44:01	Wave Tuesday
NICK GILL	M	44:05	Wave Tuesday
RONAN MAGUIRE	M	44:30	Wave Tuesday
PETE SMITH	M	44:48	Saturday 17^th track
TODD GRAY	M	45:18	PH
DAVE PATTMAN	M	45:24	Wave Tuesday
BEN PEACHEY	M	47:11	PH
ANDY McGUINNESS	M	47:58	Hatfield 10K
DAN McALPINE	M	48:12	PH
STEVEN DOBNER	M	48:16	Wave Tuesday
MARK GOODWIN	M	48:18	Wave Tuesday
JON SYPULA	M	49:08	Wave Tuesday
CRAIG BACON	M	49:15	Saturday 17^th July
LEE PICKERSGILL	M	49:27	Wave Tuesday
DARREN EMMERSON	M	49:41	Wave Tuesday
NIGEL STRONGITHARM	M	49:48	Wave Tuesday
MARTIN JACOB	M	50:48	Wave Tuesday
LUKE GURNEY	M	51:09	Wave Tuesday
JIM BROWN	M	52:20	Thursday 15^th
ED HARE	M	52:33	Monday 12^th
TIM ROBINSON	M	53:39	Wave Tuesday
MATT CLARKE	M	56:24	Wave Tuesday adj
MICHAEL ANDREWS	M	56:37	Wave Tuesday
DANIEL BATES	M	56:43	PH
KEN JUDE	M	57:37	Wave Tuesday
KARTIK SHARMA	M	59:26	Saturday 17^th July
JONATHAN JONES	M	60:24	Hatfield 10K
PAUL HOLGATE	M	60:55	Wave Tuesday
SIMON SYPULA	M	61:01	Wave Tuesday
PAUL JENNINGS	M	61:19	PH
TAHER THARANI	M	66:54	Hatfield 10K
JOHN HARDING	M	70:00	Saturday 17^th July

63 (21F and 42M)

Club News Race Results

VITALITY SPARTANS

The Vitality London 10K was relocated to Hatfield House and Spartan JONATHAN PARR excelled with sixth out of the 1,428 finishers in just 35 minutes 40 seconds. He was third male senior (18-39). Club Secretary WENDY THARANI said the race was on a gorgeous undulating course through the beautiful Hatfield House gardens. She was 584^th in 56:19.

ANDY McGUINNESS was 250^th in 47:58 while JONATHAN JONES came in with 1:00:24; DZENANA TOPIC with 1:06:26 and TAHER THARANI with 1:06:54.

Get Your 10K Done

The third remote Mid Week Road Race League 10K is underway and members have up to Sunday 18^th July to run an accurate 10K either alone, in a small group or as part of another event. Another “wave” event in Stevenage on Tuesday 13^th July has been organised to give another opportunity for members to run.

Entries Open for the Stevenage Half Marathon

Entries for the Stevenage Half Marathon are open. This club and community event has a history going back 37 years and is organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans. With a break due to Covid 19 in 2020 it’s back for 2021 and this year the race will be on Sunday 21^st November.

To enter have a look at https://stevenagehalfmarathon.org.uk/

Before that the club’s Fairlands Valley Challenge (off road) is coming up fast and will be this Sunday 18^th July. It’s a classic trail event with several distance options – half marathon, 18 miles, marathon or a 50 kilometre ultra. See http://www.fvchallenge.org.uk/

Flying On Number 60

43 clubs participated in Saturday morning’s Fly 5 and there were three Spartans – JIM BROWN 59^th and third male 60 plus in 26:20; MARIAN MORLEY won the women 55 plus category with 27:39 at 73^rd and PAUL HOLGATE 115^th with 30:54.

(Not) Parkrun

In addition to those using the same effort to record Fly 5K times on Saturday mornings some other Spartans ran (not) parkruns on other days. For example this week NICOLA ANDERSSON ran a 26:46 5K on Sunday.

(Not) Parkruns can be run on any day of the week.

Racing Round England

She was 434 kilometres ahead of JIM BROWN (2536) and 789 ahead of BRIAN WHITE (2181).

The Spartan podium is almost complete but the race for third sport could be close. On Sunday 11^th July evening third placed BRIAN WHITE and fourth placed SHARON CROWLEY were both in Wales as they followed the border south. Brian was in Penley on 2582 and Sharon in Connah’s Quay on 2544 just 38 kilometres, less than a marathon, behind.

The other ten Spartans are still clicking up the kilometres and have until December to finish the event. Many other clubs are participating in the Virtual Coast Challenge.

Club News Race Results

WARE TENS * EMAC WIN

Sunday’s Ware Ten mile race was a tough multi-terrain event with a few hills in the five mile lap. That didn’t stop Spartan DANNY SCANLON improving his ten mile personal best (PB) by 2 minutes 15 seconds to come 14^th out of the 242 finishers and sixth senior man (up to 35) with 1 hour 5 minutes 57 seconds.

Danny said, “I ran the Ware 10 today and finished 14th in a time of 1.05.57, which included a stumble with 500 metres to go!!! This is a new 10 mile PB, beating my previous 10 Mile PB of 1:08:12 back in 2018! It was a well organised race and great to see so many Spartan Stripes out there today!!”

PAUL SHELLEY was next in for the Spartans with 1:14:25, with BRIAN WHITE close behind at 1:14:39 to take second place in the men age 60 plus competition.

MATT CLARKE was another taking a chunk out of his PB, this time 6 minutes 11 seconds, for 1:18:37. MARK GOODWIN had him in sight at the end, 1:18:54 gave him third place in the men 60 plus category.

The club’s fastest woman was JO BOWDERY in 1:21:54 for sixth senior woman (up to 35). GRACE COVENTRY was running her first ten mile race and did it with ease finishing in 1:27:53 and tenth female senior.

ANDY JAY and ALISON SHELLEY neatly straddled the mid point in the race. Andy was 121^st in 1:28:30 – a season’s best improvement of six seconds and Alison 122^nd in 1:28:31 for sixth in her category.

PAUL HOLGATE, CHLOE CHAPMAN and CHARLOTTE KEARNEY raised a cheer with their sprint finish. In their first ten miler Chloe was 204^th in 1:44:12 and Charlotte 206^th in 1:44:13 but Paul just squeaked ahead in 1:44:10 for 203^rd.

The other Spartans were DAVID PATTMAN 1:21:19; STEVE DOBNER 1:22:53; JIM BROWN 1:26:00; LEE PICKERSGILL 1:30:00; FIONA CLRKE 1:33:31 and PAUL JENNINGS 1:45:05.

YUKO GORDON ran an amazing age score of 93.5%, was 22^nd out of 193 in the whole race and won the women 65 plus category. She said, “It was lovely, wasn’t it? The course had a bit of everything and interesting. The atmosphere was one of the friendliest. I was fourth woman in 48:01.”

KIERAN FEETHAM was leading the 10K for a while but faded in the second half. However he reduced his season’s best time by 7 minutes 46 seconds and finished twelfth in 46:00. JONATHAN JONES was 103^rd in 1:00:27 and DZENANA TOPIC 144^th in 1:07:22.

For many people these were their first open races since February 2020. Full Spartan results can be found in the table at the end of this release.

Mid Week League 10Ks

Eighty Spartans helped Fairlands Valley to fourth place in the second Mid Week Road Race League event. The Spartans contributed 38 of the 142 women and 52 of the 175 men in the race. There were FIVE Spartans women’s teams and FOUR men’s teams. Brilliant participation!

Several Spartans achieved in podium positions – SUZY HAWKINS first woman 45 plus, and fifth overall, with 40 minutes 39 seconds; YUKO GORDON first woman 65 plus with 45:18; CLAIRE PULLEN first woman over 55 with 46:28; CAROLYN LINSELL 3^rd woman over 65 with 51:48. The leading senior (20 to 35) was HEATHER JONES with 44:28.

Amongst the men SIMON JACKSON was first man 40 plus and fifth overall in 34:05; BRIAN WHITE was second man 60 plus in 42:30; BARRY OSBORNE first man 70 plus in 46:29 and WILLIAM MORLEY first under 20 in 50:35. ANDREW PATTERSON was the Spartans leading senior man at fourth overall in 34 minutes exactly.

Participation in the Mid Week Road Race League is an important free benefit when members join Fairlands Valley Spartans.

Times for the third race can be recorded between 5^th and 18^th July or in the club’s “Wave 10K” event on Tuesday 13^th July.

All the Spartan times for the second race can be found near the end of this release.

East of England Track and Field – FVS Ladies Win Again

The ladies track and field team extended their lead in the EMAC (East of England veterans) Central division with a convincing win at Cambridge on Wednesday. The team welcomed another new joiner, NIKKI WILBY, who won both the high jump (HJ and pole vault (PV) competitions in the women’s 35 plus (W35) category. Fairlands Valley Spartans won three 3 HJ events, with ANDREA WESTCOTT in the W50 (who also won the W35 hurdles) and KAREN DODSWORTH in the W60 age group. Other wins on the night included JOYLYN SAUNDERS-MULLINS, who not only dropped down an age group to race in the W50 200m, but beat everyone in the W35 age category too! Joylyn added to the points tally, finishing a close runner up in the W60 javelin throw (JT). TESSA STEPHENSON focussed on the 200 metres and won the W60 by a massive margin. SUZY HAWKINS continues to impress in the distance events, easily winning the W35 3K having lead from the start.
MARIAN MORLEY won the W50 JT which is amazing as she only recently started training in that event. Marian also competed in the W50 high jump (HT), finishing third.

The remaining points were picked up by CALLIE CHAPMAN (second place in W35 200m), YUKO GORDON (competing against younger athletes in the W50 3K and finishing third), SHERYL HANN (second place in both the W60 3K and 80 metres hurdles), SHARON CROWLEY (second place in both the 1500 metres A string walk and W60 HT), CATHY CRAIG (first place in 1500m B string walk), STEPHANIE BIGGAR recently took up JT and HT and finished third in both events for W35. The relay races made a welcome return to the competition with Suzy, Callie, Nikki, and Cathy finishing second in the W35 category and Tessa, Joylyn, Yuko, and Karen winning the W50 age group.

The men’s team improved on their previous performance, finishing fourth on the night. JON PARR made his debut for the team, finishing second in the M35 200m. The team welcomed back DAVE BOWKER (3k and 1500m A string walk), BARRY OSBORNE (3k), and GRANT RAMSAY (relay), bolstering the points tally earned by STEVE MAYFIELD (HT and JT) DAVE STEPHENSON (200m and HJ), Andrew Patterson (3k, HT, and HJ), Ron Westcott (1500m B string walk and JT), TIM SAUNDERS-MULLINS (HT) and STEVE GOUGH (JT). Several of the team also completed events as non-scorers. The M35 relay team (Jon, Andy, Grant, and Chris Westcott) had a decent crack at the club record, but couldn’t beat the time recorded in 2018

Suffolk Trail Festival

JENNY GARRETT, VICKY & STUART ARCHER, NEAL MUGGLETON, KERSTIN WEINER, DARREN and CLAIRE EMMERSON took part in the 24 hour run at the Suffolk Trail Festival this weekend. They all had a great time clocking up the 5 mile laps.

Stuart completed 10; Neal 9; Claire 7; Jenny, Vicky and Darren 6 each; Kerstin 5 giving a total of 245 miles.

Cathy’s Four in Two

CATHY CRAIG fourth event in two weeks was the Holkham 10k and she finished in 1:06:36. It was on an undulating route and it was very humid on the day. Cathy was quite happy with the result after completing a 55 mile Ultra two weeks ago and being part of the EMAC relay and completing a race walk in Cambridge on Wednesday.

Fen Gallop

Spartan JAMES McSWEENEY ran the Fen Gallop 10K on Sunday.

He said, “Really nicely organised race in Willingham, Cambridgeshire. Quite a lot of uneven trails which made it trickier than expected so I was happy enough with my time of 52 minutes 2 seconds.”

First Saturday

Following two back to back Marathons in the previous days, JOHN HARRIS incorporated the North Herts First Saturday of the month 5K, as part of an 11 mile progressive run. He clocked 22.52 for the 5k distance.

Entries Open for the Stevenage Half Marathon

Entries for the Stevenage Half Marathon are open. This club and community event has a history going back 37 years and is organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans. With a break due to Covid 19 in 2020 it’s back for 2021 and this year the race will be on Sunday 21^st November.

The Stevenage Half Marathon began in 1984 and takes place annually with a full marathon every 10 years (the next Stevenage marathon is due 2024).

Race headquarters is at Ridlins Athletic Stadium, with the race itself comprising of two loops taking in Fairlands Valley Park, Stevenage Showground, before passing Stevenage Football Club before returning to Ridlins Stadium for your second lap and then the race to the finish on the track at Ridlins.

The route is completely road or cycle way based, so there are no muddy sections to worry about and is completely signposted and marshalled so you can be sure of a warm welcome and encouragement all the way around the 13.1 miles.

Although designed as a charity fundraising event, the course is officially measured and previously has hosted the Hertfordshire Road Running Half Marathon and Marathon championships, attracting some of the top local elite athletes and the occasional World Record Holder.

The event is a charity fundraiser, with volunteers from Fairlands Valley Spartans Running Club, The Rotary Club of Stevenage, Grange Rotary Club, Stevenage Scouts and Stevenage Air Cadets giving their time freely to make the event a huge success. All proceeds go to local charities. The 2019 event provided in excess of £3000 in donations to worthy causes and the Spartans hope the Stevenage Half Marathon 2021 is even more successful.

Each Year the Spartans nominate a charity to support and the chosen charity for 2021 is Feed Up Warm Up.

To enter have a look at https://stevenagehalfmarathon.org.uk/

Before that the club’s Fairlands Valley Challenge (off road) is coming up fast and will be on Sunday 18^th July. It’s a classic trail event with several distance options – half marathon, 18 miles, marathon or a 50 kilometre ultra. See http://www.fvchallenge.org.uk/

Flying On Number 59 – Spartans Have A Team

Fairlands Valley Spartans had a team compete in Saturday morning’s Fly 5K inter-club competition. This was the 18^th inter club event and was part of the 59^th Fly 5K.

The team were NICOLA ANDERSSON 85^th out of the 185 finishers in 27 minutes 19 seconds – she was eighth in her age category; MARIAN MORLEY 97^th and third in her category with 28:11; PENNY SCHENKEL 104^th equal in her 30^th Fly 5K with 28:33 and top ten in her category; JIM BROWN also 104^th equal in his 40^th Fly 5K – he was second in his category; NICK KLEANTHOUS 130^th in 30:03 and PAUL HOLGATE 141^st in 31:33. To qualify the club had to have at least six finishers including at least one woman and one man. FVS had three of each.

The club were sixth in the event which attracted 185 runners from dozens of clubs.

(Not) Parkrun

In addition to those using the same effort to record Fly 5K times on Saturday mornings some other Spartans ran (not) parkruns on other days. For example this week JIM BROWN ran a 25:53 during a longer event on Sunday morning; NICK KLEANTHOUS 29:21 on Thursday; ALISON SHELLEY 29:42 and PAUL JENNINGS 34:39 both on Saturday.

(Not) Parkruns can be run on any day of the week.

Racing Round England

The Spartan podium is almost complete. By Sunday 4^th July third placed BRIAN WHITE was on 2509 kilometres and in Widnes but SHARON CROWLEY was not far behind. She’s in Southport with 2450.

The other ten Spartans are still clicking up the kilometres and have until December to finish the event. Many other clubs are participating in the Virtual Coast Challenge.

Tables

All Eighteen Spartans in the Ware 10 (ten miles):

Pos	Name	Cat	Cat Pos	Time	Grade	FVS
14.	Danny SCANLON	MS	6	1:05:57	68.3%	PB (2:15) & 6^th MS
39.	Paul SHELLEY	MV50	10	1:14:25	67.3%	YB (New)
41.	Brian WHITE	MV60	2	1:14:39	76.4%	2^nd MV60
56.	Matt CLARKE	MV40	13	1:18:37	62.1%	PB (6:11)
59.	Mark GOODWIN	MV60	3	1:18:54	70.2%	3^rd MV60 & YB
73.	David PATTMAN	MV40	14	1:21:19	57.1%	YB (New)
77.	Jo BOWDERY	FS	6	1:21:54	60.6%	6^th FS & SB (New)
86.	Steven DOBNER	MV40	18	1:22:53	57.9%	YB (4:29)
110.	Jim BROWN	MV60	6	1:26:00	68.4%	YB (1:40) 6^th MV60
119.	Grace COVENTRY	FS	10	1:27:53	56.1%	10^th FS 1^st attempt
121.	Andy JAY	MV50	25	1:28:30	59.1%	SB (0:06)
122.	Alison SHELLEY	FV45	6	1:28:31	64.9%	6^th FV45
130.	Lee PICKERSGILL	MS	42	1:30:00	50.1%	YB (New)
151.	Fiona CLARKE	FV35	16	1:33:31	55.7%
203.	Paul HOLGATE	MV60	10	1:44:10	53.7%	SB (New)
204.	Chloe CHAPMAN	FS	17	1:44:12	47.4%	First attempt.
206.	Charlotte KEARNEY	FS	18	1:44:13	47.3%	First attempt.
208.	Paul JENNINGS	MV40	33	1:45:05	45.6%	PB (2:15)

MWRRL – All 38 Spartan Women (38 women out of 142)

SCOTT’s TRAVEL MIDWEEK ROAD RACE LEAGUE – DIVISION 1

FVS

RACE 2 – Virtual 10k – 14th-27th June 2021

159

Pos

Cat

Vet

Time

Name

Surname

Cat.

Club

M/F

Team

40:39

Suzy

Hawkins

V 45

FVS

1st Vet 45

44:28

Heather

Jones

FVS

44:40

Michelle

Reeves

V 35

FVS

45:18

Yuko

Gordon

V 65

FVS

1st Vet 65

46:28

Claire

Pullen

V 55

FVS

1st Vet 55