SERPIE SPARTANS

Owing to an emergency diversion Friday’s Serpentine 5K was slightly long but Fairlands Valley Spartan DAVID BOWKER ran an excellent 21 minutes 8 seconds for a 75% score.  MADDIE PRITCHARD was not far behind with 21:24.  JIM BROWN was second in his category with 24:49.  The race round London’s Hyde Park was in cool, dry but breezy conditions.

There were 279 finishers.  The next Serpentine 5K will be on Thursday 16^th February, one week earlier than usual.

Presentation Evening, Dinner and Disco

The championship and other awards will be presented at the Fairlands Valley Spartans Champions Night in the Cromwell Hotel, Old Stevenage at 7p.m. on Friday 23rd February.  Tickets £25.  You can find more information on www.fvspartans.org.uk

Coach to London

Do you have an entry to the London Marathon on 22^nd April 2018?  Have you thought how you will get to London from Stevenage on the big day? Fairlands Valley Spartans have a coach from Stevenage and there are spare places.  The cost is just £10.  If you would like to join us, please contact Roger Biggs on roger@thebiggs.net.

Parkrun Highlights

Fastest Spartan of the parkrun weekend was ASHLEY SCHOENWETTER who was first woman, and third overall, at Cassiobury Park in Watford in a time of 19:36.  Spartans running at other parkruns away from Stevenage included GARETH COWELL (15^th at Rosliston in 22:30), BARRY OSBORN (18^th at Oak Hill in 21:13). EMMA POULTER (24^th at Westmill in 41:32) and NICK GILL (8^th at Wanstead Flats in 20:50).  At St Albans, DAVE SMITH ran the only Spartan course PB of the weekend, finishing 25^th in 20:19.

At Stevenage DANNY SCANLON was first Spartan finisher, in 9^th place in a time of 20:21. THOMAS SAUKA and TIM SABAN were next in 15^th and 17^th respectively. NIKKI WILBY was best Spartan woman, 23^rd in 27:49 with VERITY FISHER one second behind in 24^th place and SHARON CROWLEY the third Spartan woman in 30:08.

Hertfordshire gained another new parkrun this weekend as Letchworth opened for business and attracted a large field of 388 for its inaugural event.  Four Spartans headed over there and JOHN HARRIS finished 14^th in 21:43 with the others being MICHAEL O’KEEFE (31:23), MONICA SMITHSON (34:30) and TRACY STILES (36:25).

Coming Events

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

• UKA Club Run at Fairlands Valley Spartans on Thursday 1^st February.
• Watford Half Marathon including veteran county championships on Sunday 4^th February.
• Bramley 20/10 (20 miles or 10 miles) on Sunday 11^th February.
• St Valentine’s 30K at Stamford on Sunday 11^th February.
• Serpentine 5K on Friday 16^th February (please note change of date).
• Cross Country League at Royston on Sunday 18^th February.
• Fairlands Valley Spartans Champions Night on Friday 23^rd February.
• National Cross Country Championships, Parliament Hill Fields on Saturday 24^th February.
• Baldock Beast on Sunday 25^th February.
• Welwyn Half Marathon on Sunday 4^th March.
• Big London Half Marathon on Sunday 4^th March.
• Milton Keynes 5K and 10K on Sunday 11^th March.
• Finchley 20 miles (including Herts County) on Sunday 18^th March.
• Oakley 20 miles on Sunday 18^th March.
• Serpentine 5K on Friday 23^rd March (please note change of date).
• Orion 15 classic cross country at Chingford (Epping Forest) on Saturday 24^th March.
• County Cross Country Championships for Veterans at Royston on Sunday 25^th March.
• Maidenhead Easter Ten on Friday 30^th March.
• Sandy Ten on Sunday 8^th April.
• London Marathon on Sunday 22^nd April.
• Flitwick 10K on Sunday 29^th April.
• Stirling Marathon on Sunday 29^th April.
• EMAC track and field event one on Wednesday 2^nd May.
• County 1500 and veteran track and field championships on Monday 7^th May.
• Pednor Five including county championships for veterans on Monday 7^th May.
• Mid Week Road Race League 10K in St. Albans on Thursday 24^th May.
• EMAC track and field event two on Wednesday 6^th June.
• Welwyn 10K including senior county championships on Sunday 24^th June.
• EMAC track and field event three on Wednesday 4^th July.
• Fairlands Valley Challenge off road on Sunday 15^th July.
• EMAC track and field event four on Wednesday 1^st August.
• Standalone 10K on Sunday 7^th October.
• Peterborough Half Marathon (GER) on Sunday 14^th October.

Tables

Full Spartan Parkrun results from Saturday 27^th January were as follows: