RETURN OF THE 5K

The Spartans club handicap 5K returned on Thursday evening and there were 41 runners.   

Running round the Fairlands, Grace, Martins, Verity, Fairlands Ways course the winner on the night was a very quick SIMON FRASER in a new PB (personal best) time of 16:48, with CHRIS WATLING second in 23:54 and ADRIAN BUSOLINI third in 17:52. 

ANNA SWANEPOEL won the women’s handicap with a new personal best (PB) of 27 minutes 48 seconds.  PENNY SCHENKEL was second across the line with a year’s best 34:20 and KAREN ELLIS just two seconds behind third with a year’s best (YB) 25:11 which was 1:42 quicker than her previous fastest 5K time this year. 

Fastest runner on the night was Simon Fraser with Adrian Busolini second quickest in 17:52 and Charlie White third quickest (19:18).  GRANT RAMSAY continued his return to form at fourth fastest with 19:22.  Tracy Pez was quickest female (24:15) with Karen Ellis second quickest and Nikki Wilby, 25:41, third quickest. 

In handicap races the slower runners, on recent performance, start first and if everyone runs exactly to form they will all finish together.  So a pursuit race and the best improver wins. 

Thus SIMON FRASER was first across the line 36 seconds of CHRIS WATLING.  Chris finished 12 seconds ahead of ADRIAN BUSOLINI in third even though Chris’ net time was 23:54 and Adrian’s 17:52 

The next handicap 5K will be on Thursday 1^st September 2022 and it would be fantastic if the Spartans can get even more than 41 taking part next time. 

A big thank you to helpers and supporters: Vicky and Stuart Archer and boys; Sharon and Mike Crowley; Jan and Nick Fry; Tony Randfield; Hannah Sypula and Tony Willson. 

EMAC – East of England track and field hit by downpour 

The last Eastern Masters central division competition at Bedford on 20^th July was cut short due to a downpour which left the track and field completely flooded and unsafe.  Some events took place before the heavens opened, with our women’s team completing another clean sweep, this time in the distance hurdles – W35 400m Nikki Wilby, W50 300m Andrea Westcott, and W60 300m Sharon Crowley. 

Stephanie Biggar won the W35 javelin competition, marking her last appearance for the team with a new PB!  Christine Lathwell also scored top points, winning the W35 mile in horrendous conditions with race bibs disintegrating before crossing the line!  Monica Brown won the W50 long jump, making a brave return to the event that caused her injury last year.  Other points scored on the evening – Wendy Tharani (third W50 mile), Carolyn Linsell (third W60 mile), Marian Morley (second W50 javelin), Joylyn Saunders-Mullins (second W60 javelin), Fiona Clarke (fourth W35 long jump and a new PB!), and Karen Dodsworth (second W50 long jump).  Tracey Jackson was due to make her debut for the team, but the weather had other ideas!  

The men’s team had wins from Chris Westcott (M35 mile) and Grant Ramsay (M50 mile) with other points from Pete Smith (second M60 mile and second M60 300m hurdles), Anton McCalla (third M35 discus), Nick Kleanthous (fifth M50 discus), Ron Westcott (third M60 discus) 

The final will be held at the Bedford International stadium on Sunday 4^th September.  The Spartans women’s team will be attempting to retain their championship title. 

Three in Three for Jim 

It was three 5K races in three days for JIM BROWN.  His second was at the Serpentine Last Friday of the Month 5K in Hyde Park on a dry, sunny, warm with a light breeze Friday lunch time.  He finished in a reasonable 27 minutes 8 seconds and was second in his age group.  His first was the Spartans handicap 5K on Thursday evening and his third in the Stevenage parkrun where his previous exploits came to haunt him a bit in the last 1.5 kilometres. 

Parkrun Highlights Saturday 30^th July 

GRANT RAMSAY wearing his Team GB top from the recent world masters championships WON the Stevenage parkrun in 18 minutes 21 seconds. 

Fairlands Valley Spartan members were out in force on Saturday with thirty seven members taking part at ten different parkrun venues across the country.  It was a bumper weekend of achievements with personal bests, year bests, first finishes and top tens. 

Congratulations to Sam SIMMONS running his 50^th Parkrun at Stevenage, coincidently finishing at 50^th place with a time of 23:45.  Congratulations also go to Adrian DONNELLY (19:58 at Stevenage) and Michael O’KEEFE (27:18 at Henlow Bridge Lakes) who both achieved personal bests this weekend. 

Grant RAMSAY was fastest at Stevenage, coming first with a year best (YB) time of 18:21. Alison WOOD and Sam PRETTY (who made her debut at Stevenage Parkrun) took home first and second lady with times of 21:42 (YB) and 21:55 respectively. 

There were three other top ten finishers this week, with Adrian DONNELLY fifth, Ashley KING eighth lady both at Stevenage (25:15) and Karen ELLIS sixth lady at Sheringham (26:41 YB). 

Four more year bests were achieved with Chloe CHAPMAN (27:15) and Claire EMMERSON (27:20) both running at Stevenage, Peter CARPENTER (43:17) at Squerryes Winery and Maria SWIFT (29:13) at Sandringham. 

25 of the 229 finishers at Stevenage were Spartans.  Last but not least, five Spartans reached unofficial milestones with Nicola PATTMAN completing her 20^th Parkrun, Jonathan JONES (80^th), Alison SHELLEY (90^th), Thomas SAUKA (110^th) and Martin DUDLEY (150^th) all at Stevenage. 

Tables 

All the Spartan handicap 5K runners in finish line order 

Pos	NAME	SURNAME	Time	Fem. Pos	Comments	Speed Pos	F. Speed Pos
1	SIMON	FRASER	16:48		PB (0:03)	1
2	CHRIS	WATLING	23:54		First 10K	10
3	ADRIAN	BUSOLINI	17:52		YB (New)	2
4	ROGER	HARDMAN	28:30		SB (0:01)	24
5	ANNA	SWANEPOEL	27:48	1	First 10K	22	5
6	GRANT	RAMSAY	19:22			4
7	JOHN	NELMS	24:05			11
8	JIM	BROWN	34:20			36
9	PENNY	SCHENKEL	34:20	2	YB (New)	37	12
10	KAREN	ELLIS	25:11	3	YB (1:42)	16	2
11	JON	SYPULA	26:17		SB (New)	19
12	BRIAN	WHITE	23:18		YB (1:04)	7
13	MICHAEL	O’KEEFE	28:24			23
14	LUKE	GURNEY	23:41		PB (2:41)	8
15	MARK	GOODWIN	23:43			9
16	CRAIG	BACON	23:02			6
17	CHARLIE	WHITE	19:18			3
18	NICOLA	NATION	29:30	4	SB (0:31)	26	6
19	TIM	ROBINSON	24:54		SB (0:15)	14
20	NIKKI	WILBY	25:41	5	SB (1:50)	18	3
21	TRACY	PEZ	24:15	6	YB (New)	13	1
22	STEVE	PIKE	29:32		SB (New)	27
23	GRANT	MURPHY	29:40		First 10K	29
24	JANE	WADEY	32:45	7		34	10
25	MARK	FREEMAN	27:44		SB (New)	20
26	CHLOE	CHAPMAN	27:45	8	YB (0:30)	21	4
27	MARTIN	DUDLEY	25:06			15
28	NICK	GILL	21:52			5
29	AMANDA	VICKERS	39:34	9	SB (New)	39	14
30	VISHAL	SHAH	25:12			17
31	SALLY	PHILLIPS	34:59	10		38	13
32	DAVID	KENNEDY	24:13			12
33	MONICA	SMITHSON	30:32	11		31
34	ANNABELLE	WHITE	33:53	12		35	11
35	JONATHAN	JONES	31:57			32
36	TONY	ARGYROU	32:07		SB (New)	33	9
37	KELLY	EVANS	29:55	13	YB (New)	30	8
38	YUKO	GORDON	29:36	14		28	7
39	ANDY	JAY	28:56			25
40	SUSAN	MURPHY	45:20	15	First 10K	41	15
41	ROGER	BIGGS	43:47			40

All the Spartan parkrun results 

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Time	Comments
Stevenage parkrun (25 FVS)
1	1	Grant RAMSAY	18:21	YB
5	5	Adrian DONNELLY	19:58	PB
12	12	Tony RANDFIELD	20:26	1st in age group
15	1	Alison WOOD	21:42	First woman and YB
20	19	William MORLEY	21:53	First SM 18 – 19
21	2	Sam PRETTY	21:55	First visit to Stevenage PR
28	25	David PATTMAN	22:49
30	27	Steven DOBNER	22:58
42	38	Thomas SAUKA	23:35	110th
48	43	Martin DUDLEY	23:49	150th
50	45	Sam SIMMONS	23:54	50th
66	8	Ashley KING	25:15
70	60	Toby ECCLESHALL	25:32
75	65	Nick KLEANTHOUS	25:47
79	67	Darren EMMERSON	26:03
88	74	Simon JACKSON	26:31
89	15	Alison SHELLEY	26:42	90th
95	17	Chloe CHAPMAN	27:15	YB
96	18	Claire EMMERSON	27:20	YB
99	81	Jim BROWN	27:34	1st in age group
130	33	Debbie BLANTERN	29:29
159	113	Jonathan JONES	31:27	80th
177	54	Marian MORLEY	33:29
187	60	Nicola PATTMAN	35:04	20th
227	87	Helen HARRIS	54:36
Sheringham parkrun
64	6	Karen ELLIS	26:41	YB
Clair parkrun (W. Sussex)
116	77	Darryl STEVENS	37:15
Panshanger parkrun
67	57	Mike REYNOLDS	25:20
Rutland Water parkrun
62	48	Chris HOLLAND	25:33
Squerryes Winery parkrun
152	91	Peter CARPENTER	41:37	YB
Land’s End parkrun
83	23	Mo WARRILLOW	29:35
Henlow Bridge Lakes parkrun
62	54	Michael O’KEEFE	27:18	PB
102	26	Monica SMITHSON	32:49
121	40	Tracy HAYGARTH	37:08
Sandringham parkrun
87	19	Maria SWIFT	29:13	YB
Southport parkrun
45	39	Matt CLARKE	24:14
91	19	Fiona CLARKE	27:18