Storms Ciara and Dennis are history and it was a great morning for 32 Spartans at the Cambridge Half Marathon. Many came home with new personal bests (PB).
First Spartan and in a near two minutes personal best was SIMON JACKSON. He was 48th, top 50, overall out of 11,251 finishers in 1 hour 14 minutes 2 seconds.
STEFFAN FORD (left) ran his best time this season and was 154th in 1:19:42.
Another Spartan with a fast new PB was PAUL HEWETT in 1:20:21 beating his previous best of 1:20:21.
The club’s fastest woman was SAM PRETTY with 1 hour 26 minutes 11 seconds and 56 seconds off her personal best.
Only just behind her SUZY HAWKINS (right) was very happy to set a new half marathon PB in Cambridge 1:26:25. She said she didn’t think it was possible to better her December time, so the 40 or so seconds really do count. Suzy was 21st woman, and third in her age group out of 4,859 females on international woman’s day. As a bonus Suzy scored an age graded score of 80% for the first time, that’s been a target for a while. She said the course was really nice through the colleges, although it was still windy out there.
PAUL SHELLEY took 1 minute 17 seconds off his PB with 1:26:44 and STU ARCHER 1:29 off his with 1:27:13.
YUKO GORDON won the women 65 plus, beating the first aged 60 plus, with 1:36:20.
There was another PB from DAVID PATTMAN who ran the Cambridge Half in 1:43:52.
ED HARE said, “It was a great morning with loads of Stripes amongst the 10,000 or so Runners. After the Seville Marathon two weeks ago and The Big Half last week I was eyeing up this race up for a strong run but was concerned about tiring legs. After starting well with Steve Dobner, David Pattman and Matt Clarke and absorbing all the support from the crowd, with lots of Spartan high fives around the technical sections in the centre, I pushed on from five miles. After 10 miles I knew I had a big PB on the cards and I was delighted to finish in 1hr 43mins 23secs and well over a 3 minutes PB and a 7 minute improvement from the same race last year. The route has a bit of everything and the support around the course was fantastic and this race is one of the first in my diary. I already can’t wait for next year. With so many good results today there were loads of happy faces after an exhilarating mornings running, a great all round Spartan performance from everyone.”
Lovely morning in Cambridge with a large number of Spartans in attendance.
The weather was lovely and for the first time this year STEVE DOBNER was splashing water on his wrists and head. He finished in 1:52:33 a couple of minutes off his PB. He thoroughly recommends the race to anyone who hasn’t run it
FIONA CLARKE said, “Considering that we have had a lot of rain lately, the weather conditions were perfect for the Cambridge Half. The sun was shining but the temperature was just right.
My race went perfectly, just like the weather. I went in without any expectations and ran with how I felt. I completed the race in 1:54:02, which is a PB, an improvement of 3 minutes 45 seconds. I am chuffed to bits. I can’t say thank you enough to all the Spartans who have encouraged me and supported me so far.
The event was well organised and well supported throughout despite some confusion pre race with start/wave times and travel options. However I definitely recommend this race to everyone.”
MATT CLARKE ran and was aiming to run sub-1:45. He completed in 1:43:56 so he was very happy with that.
“I ran my third Cambridge Half and wow what a perfect day for it” said CAROLE SHELDRICK (left). I really enjoyed the new course. It was truly amazing getting to see the super speedy Spartans coming back the other way, heading towards the finish with only a few miles left. This was a very well organised event with amazing support out on the course. I wasn’t sure how my run would go today as I’ve been focusing on distance/comfortable pacing for the Virgin London Marathon but this race allowed me to see that my training is clearly going well as I managed a very comfortable PB of 1:54:48
Ann Tryssesoone beat two hours with 1 hour 59 minutes 45 seconds.
ADA JANUSIENE (right-centre) ran her first official half marathon race in 2:07:55.
HAZEL SMITH ran with Ada at Cambridge on her first half marathon. We both completed in 2:07:55, a fantastic time for Ada’s first ever 13.1!!
Mo Warrillow 2:02:45 6,663
(Times for all 32 Spartans can be found in a table near the end of this release).
Thanks to pic2go.co.uk for permission to use some of their photos above.
Alison Wins At County Cross Country
Postponed from 16th February by Storm Dennis the Hertfordshire Cross Country Championships for Veterans went ahead at Stanborough on Sunday. The three week delay didn’t bother Spartan ALISON WOOD (header photo) who won County GOLD for women 45 plus and was third female overall in 36 minutes 36 seconds in the 8K race.
New Spartan CRAIG WILSON raced for the first time in the club vest and was 13th veteran 40 plus in 42:05; MARTIN WOOD was 25th veteran 50 plus in 48:33 and ANDY JAY 33rd veteran 50 plus in 56:10. They were racing over 9.6 kilometres.
Mark Goodwin ran in the 60 plus men’s race and was eleventh in 40:15 for the 8K.
Hillingdon 20
Grant Ramsay completed the Hillingdon 20 mile race in 2 hours 19 minutes 31 seconds. The uneven surface which mainly involved running on pavements triggered sciatic nerve issues, resulting in reduced movement in the right hamstring. This contributed to Ramsay’s disappointing performance. However he said it was still good to make it round in sub seven minutes miling.
Thames Meander
With the Paris Marathon (5th April) cancelled SAM SIMMONS said he was absolutely gutted. At 3pm on Friday he decided he’d enter the Thames Meander Marathon with no taper or rest week. He badly wanted the elusive sub four in Paris and realise it may be a tough one for this one as in preparation. Sam started so well but fell short with 4:03.56 which in hindsight I should be very happy with. The course was brutal trails 13 miles out and back along a tow path with burst river that he had to wade through with waist high water and run along walls to miss mud and water.
Burghley Seven
ROB EVANS took part in the inaugural Burghley seven mile race that took place today in an around the Burghley House Estate in Stamford, Peterborough, which is best known for hosting the Burghley Horse Trials each year.
Burghley House is the ancestral home of the Cecil family and the house provided a stunning backdrop to the event. Weather conditions were perfect and Rob completed the seven mile race in 56:05.
VERITY FISHER also ran the Burghley 7 (7miles) in 57:32. It was a lovely new, road course through undulating grounds of Burghley House and Stamford countryside. The wind was very strong and there were a few hills but a lovely down hill mile to finish. Would recommend!
Letchworth 5K
In the first Saturday of the month 5K at Letchworth JOHN HARRIS was fifth in very muddy conditions with 20:49.
Surrey Half
TAHER THARANI said the Surrey Half was a nice event on quite a nice route. He thought they should rename it the Posh Half. The post race nosebag pretty good. He finished in 2 hours 30 minutes.
Parkrun Highlights 7th March 2020 – 100 for Tim, 50 for Jim
Saturday saw 48 Spartans running at 8 different locations. In recognition of International Women’s Day 2020 (8th March 2020) [#IWD2020 #EachforEqual] it is wonderful to report that 58% were female Spartans – well done ladies, wonderful achievements!
Fastest overall Spartan was Jonathan PARR with a PB time (Personal Best) and 1st at Stevenage [16:42]. Fastest female, running her 274th PR and coming in 1st lady in Stevenage was Alexandra Louise WATSON-USHER [21:42].
Other Spartans achieving top 10 placements were; Dean CARPENTER [19:24] 8th Stevenage. Grace Brown [24:40] 7th lady in Stevenage & Ros INGRAM [25:33] third lady in Haverfordwest.
PB times were recorded for Andrew MCGUINNESS [21:28] at Stevenage and Caren THAIN [37:41] at Gladstone.
Milestone PRs this week were achieved by Thomas SUKA 100 PRs [27:51] and Jim BROWN 50 PRs [32:02] both running at Stevenage.
Well done to all.
(All this week’s Spartan parkrun results can be found near the end of this release).
Tables
32 Spartans at the Cambridge Half Marathon
| Pos. | Bibno. | Participant | Chip time | Category | Comments |
| 48 | 5971 | Simon Jackson | 1:14:02 | (M) 40-44 | PB (nearly 2 mins) |
| 154 | 4638 | Steffan Ford | 1:19:42 | (M) 40-44 | SB |
| 173 | 5558 | Paul Hewett | 1:20:21 | (M) 30-34 | |
| 243 | 1514 | David Harris-Cherguit | 1:22:04 | (M) 40-44 | PB |
| 276 | 8114 | Ricky Pearce | 1:22:52 | (M) 30-34 | |
| 460 | 8082 | Sam Pretty | 1:26:11 | (F) 35-40 | PB (56 seconds) |
| 473 | 5466 | Suzy Hawkins | 1:26:23 | (F) 40-44 | PB (and 80%) |
| 501 | 394 | Paul Shelley | 1:26:44 | (M) 50 -54) | PB (1:17) |
| 534 | 14288 | Stuart Archer | 1:27:13 | (M) 35-39 | PB (1:29) |
| 935 | 5349 | Ella-May Hards | 1:31:49 | (F) 20-24 | |
| 1073 | 8575 | Michelle Reeves | 1:33:14 | (F) 30-34 | |
| 1190 | 471 | Brian White | 1:34:32 | (M) 60-64 | |
| 1400 | 5028 | Yuko Gordon | 1:36:22 | (F) 65-69 | 1st W60 and 65 |
| 1537 | 3724 | Richard Cowlishaw | 1:37:37 | (M) 45-49 | |
| 1564 | 8840 | John Roxborough | 1:37:47 | (M) 40-44 | |
| 2332 | 182 | Edward Hare | 1:43:23 | (M) 35-39 | PB (3:00) |
| 2677 | 337 | David Pattman | 1:43:52 | (M) 40-44 | PB |
| 2694 | 3440 | Matt Clarke | 1:43:56 | (M) 45-49 | |
| 2964 | 210 | Chris Holland | 1:45:08 | (M) 40-44 | |
| 3095 | 3588 | Marie Colucci | 1:48:39 | (F) 40-44 | |
| 3687 | 409 | Liz Smith | 1:51:46 | (F) 45-49 | |
| 4116 | 3429 | Fiona Clarke | 1:54:02 | (F) 40-44 | PB |
| 4301 | 9151 | Carole Sheldrick | 1:54:58 | (F) 45-49 | PB |
| 4456 | 11792 | Steven Dobner | 1:52:33 | (M) 45-49 | |
| 6101 | 10015 | Ann Tryssesoone | 1:59:48 | (F) 50-54 | |
| 6663 | 460 | Mo Warrillow | 2:02:45 | (F) 45-49 | |
| 6741 | 9313 | Hazel Smith | 2:07:55 | (F) 45-49 | |
| 6742 | 6007 | Ada Janusiene | 2:07:55 | (F) 35-39 | First Half |
| 6839 | 7150 | Ellie McDermott | 2:08:22 | (F) 20-24 | |
| 8491 | 233 | Jonathan Jones | 2:21:09 | (M) 50-54 | |
| 8814 | 380 | Rowena Rutledge | 2:24:38 | (F) 45-49 | |
| 9393 | 3330 | Calantha Chapman | 2:33:21 | (F) 35-39 |
Spartan Parkruns on Saturday 7th March:
Full results for all Spartans are listed below.
| Parkrun | Pos | Gen | Parkrunner | Time | Note |
| Stevenage | 1 | 1 | Jonathan PARR | 16:42 | PB |
| Stevenage | 8 | 7 | Dean CARPENTER | 19:24 | |
| Stevenage | 30 | 26 | Andrew MCGUINNESS | 21:28 | PB |
| Stevenage | 34 | 1 | Alexandra Louise WATSON-USHER | 21:42 | 274 PRs |
| Stevenage | 36 | 30 | Toby ECCLESHALL | 21:51 | 81 PRs |
| Exeter | 55 | 39 | Daniel SUTTON-FISHER | 22:59 | 259 PRs |
| Stevenage | 55 | 48 | Martin DUDLEY | 23:15 | 124 PRs |
| Stevenage | 58 | 51 | Matt CLARKE | 23:26 | 58 PRs |
| Panshanger | 66 | 7 | Grace BROWN | 24:50 | 57 PRs |
| Stevenage | 115 | 16 | Gail MACKIE | 25:27 | 67 PRs |
| Stevenage | 119 | 18 | Suzy HAWKINS | 25:32 | |
| Haverfordwest | 18 | 3 | Ros INGRAM | 25:33 | |
| Stevenage | 156 | 124 | Nick KLEANTHOUS | 27:02 | 83 PRs |
| Stevenage | 158 | 25 | Georgie HOOPER | 27:06 | |
| Stevenage | 159 | 125 | Nick GILL | 27:06 | 67 PRs |
| Stevenage | 163 | 27 | Marian MORLEY | 27:12 | |
| Stevenage | 184 | 144 | Thomas SAUKA | 27:51 | 100 PRs |
| Stevenage | 204 | 155 | Paul JENNINGS | 28:22 | 70 PRs |
| Stevenage | 210 | 41 | Erica GRAYSON | 28:35 | |
| Panshanger | 156 | 119 | Andy JAY | 28:37 | 113 PRs |
| Stevenage | 217 | 45 | Sofia CARPENTER | 28:50 | |
| Rutland Water | 142 | 33 | Verity SUTTON-FISHER | 28:51 | 303 PRs |
| Stevenage | 225 | 49 | Claire PULLEN | 29:06 | |
| Stevenage | 226 | 50 | Fiona CLARKE | 29:08 | 103 PRs |
| Stevenage | 229 | 168 | Kartik SHARMA | 29:12 | |
| Wimpole Estate | 167 | 119 | Barry KING | 29:29 | |
| Stevenage | 241 | 173 | Ken JUDE | 29:37 | 96 PRs |
| Stevenage | 243 | 58 | Debbie BLANTERN | 29:39 | 59 PRs |
| Stevenage | 253 | 63 | Vicky ARCHER | 30:00 | |
| Stevenage | 254 | 64 | Claire EMMERSON | 30:03 | 74 PRs |
| Stevenage | 255 | 179 | Darren EMMERSON | 30:03 | 106 PRs |
| Stevenage | 257 | 65 | Jenny GARRETT | 30:03 | |
| Stevenage | 280 | 78 | Monica SMITHSON | 31:04 | |
| Stevenage | 308 | 199 | Jim BROWN | 32:02 | 50 PRs |
| Stevenage | 309 | 93 | Penny SCHENKEL | 32:03 | |
| Stevenage | 319 | 102 | Helen HARRIS | 32:43 | 58 PRs |
| Stevenage | 322 | 105 | Mo WARRILLOW | 32:49 | 139 PRs |
| Stevenage | 329 | 109 | Karen PALMER | 33:15 | 91 PRs |
| Stevenage | 330 | 110 | Kerstin WEINER | 33:16 | |
| Stevenage | 383 | 222 | Lee PIROTH | 35:11 | |
| Minehead | 134 | 75 | Darryl STEVENS | 35:23 | 157 PRs, 3 at Minehead |
| Stevenage | 389 | 143 | Hilary DAVIES | 35:37 | |
| Stevenage | 416 | 230 | Peter CARPENTER | 36:54 | |
| Gladstone | 273 | 98 | Caren THAIN | 37:41 | PB |
| Stevenage | 424 | 168 | Melody BROWN | 37:47 | |
| Stevenage | 449 | 184 | Pam TAYLOR | 38:57 | |
| Panshanger | 321 | 122 | Emma MARTIN | 50:52 | |
| Stevenage | 498 | 223 | Eva RAMSEY | 59:32 |