RECORDS TUMBLE IN ATHLETICS LEAGUE
Spartans Win Hitchin Relays
Records tumbled in the second match of this year’s Eastern Veterans Athletics League due to some fine individual performances from the Spartans Vets team. On her EVAC debut YUKO GORDON produced the most outstanding performance in winning the W60 (women aged 60 plus) 1500 metres in 6:03.4. Not only did this beat the previous club age best by over a minute, it set a new EVAC league record by nine seconds (subject to confirmation). Her age grading of 92.6% was the best by any athlete in the match.
MONICA BROWN got her evening off to a flying start winning the W50 80metres hurdles in a personal best (PB) of 15.4 seconds and breaking her own club record. She also won the high jump in 1.30m and the 100m in 14.1 seconds (87.0% age grading). Second places in the Triple Jump and Javelin and fifth in the Discus meant she collected 36 points out of ladies team’s total score of 127. Her seventh event of the night came in the 400/200/200/400 relay, helping the W50 team to a comfortable 2nd place.
JULIE SIMMONS broke the club record for the 1 mile walk in 9:17.5, coming third in the A string race against some very strong opposition. Previous record holder SHARON CROWLEY won the B string in 11:09.6. Further ladies wins came from IRIS HORNSEY in the W60 javelin and CATHY CRAIG in the W60 high jump. Cathy also produced a fantastic finish to snatch 2nd place in the W60 400 metres. PETA WLSON, ANDREA WESTCOTT and STEPH MAYFIELD made up the W35 team and boosted the overall points total by ensuring every event in the ladies programme was covered.
In the men’s match, CHRIS WESTCOTT ran a fine 400 metres coming 3
rd in 57.1 seconds, a club M35 age best. An hour later he ran even faster (unofficially 55.8) with a brilliant lead leg in the men’s relay; STEVE MAYFIELD and MARK CHEADLE continued the good work and GRANT RAMSAY held on to second place, bringing the baton home in a new club record of 2:57.4, over 6 seconds inside the previous mark.
The club record also fell in the Javelin, with STEVE MAYFIELD throwing a new personal best (PB) of 28.98 metres for second place in the M35 category. He followed up with another PB and 2nd place in the triple jump (8.81m) and achieved season’s bests in the Discus, 400m and 100m. His 100m time of 13.1 seconds was an 83.2% age grading, the highest of the match for the Spartans men’s team.
DAVE BOWKER secured the only first place of the night for the men, winning the A string walk in 9:13.6. Dave then came third in the M50 1500 metres (5:13.1) as did GRANT RAMSAY in the M35 (4:32.4) and JIM BROWN in the M60 (6:49.0). JOHN HARRIS equalled his PB of 1.30m taking 2nd in the M50 High Jump and broke his PB in the M50 Triple Jump with 6.83m. MARK GLADING was 4th in both M50 throws, including a PB of 22.98m in the Discus. Team captain MARK FREEMAN completed the men’s line up.
Host club Bedford & County were comprehensive winners of the men’s match with 152 points, taking their total to 239 points and lifting them to the top of the league. Spartans were third with 97 and slipped to third overall after the two matches, with their combined total of 198 points leaving them 24 behind second placed Milton Keynes.
The Spartans women were a close second, just six points behind match winners Milton Keynes, but with 245 points to 228 Spartans remain first in the league. With third place Luton AC back on 98 points, FVS and Milton Keynes look well placed to earn the two female finalist positions.
Spartans Win The Hitchin Relays
Fairlands Valley Spartans A”, consisting of Grant Ramsay, Samantha Pretty & Ian Yenney won the Hitchin Relay Race competition.
Despite being one athlete down, the Spartans “A” team performed exceptionally well, to beat
forty other teams and win with a combined time of 40mins and 12 secs. A new course record. This was over a total distance of 12K, with each leg consisting of 1000m.
The Spartans entered a second team consisting of Nick Witcombe, Tracy Pez, Andrew Jay and Ken Jude, who finished 21st overall”.
Regent’s Park
KEITH COUGHLIN competed in the Regents Park 10k yesterday, finishing sixth out of 777 with a new personal best of 36 minutes 48 seconds
Marathon Quest
ROGER BIGGS continued his quest to run a 100 marathons in the United States, with a trail marathon in the Great River Bluffs State Park in Minnesota. This State Park is 20 miles from the Minnesota City of Winona, which borders the mighty Mississippi River.
The marathon started in a thunderstorm, making the trails very muddy & slippery, encouraging the organisers to change the 16 lap course to a better surface and now 17 laps!
By halfway the storm changed to humid conditions as the sun started to come into view. Even in the storms the temperature was around 15C, by the end this has soared to 30C.
Considering the conditions, Roger was pleased to complete the marathon in 5:40:42.
Whipsnade Zoo Stampede 10K
After three hot laps in the Whipsnade Zoo Stampede 10K PAUL HOLGATE was 321st in 58:51; AMY POTTER 413th in 62:52 and LISA POTTER 519tyh in 69:10. There were 645 finishers.
Poppyline Marathon
On Sunday Carol Paul and Mike Newbitt ran the off road Poppyline Marathon from Sheringham in Norfolk. It was a lovely sunny day with a bit of a breeze taking in the lovely North East country side of Norfolk. Carol completed the off road marathon in 5 hours 35 minutes and Mike’s time was 6:41.
Parkrun Reports
Down at Panshanger Parkrun, Mark Beasley finished 34th out of 260 runners in a time of 22:27 which is now a Parkrun PB. John Roxborough wasn’t very far behind in 44th place and gained a Parkrun PB in a time of 22:49. There was one more Parkrun PB with Tim Robinson finishing 53rd in 23:49.
Coming Events
Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks including the:
St. Albans Half Marathon on Sunday 14th June.
Midweek Road Race League race in Harlow (10K) on Wednesday 17th June.
EVAC Track & Field League in Biggleswade on Wednesday 1st July.
Midweek Road Race League race in Hitchin (10K) on Thursday 2nd July.
Bushey 10K including Herts Veterans road championships on Sunday 5th July.
County 10000 metres track championship in Biggleswade on Thursday 9th July.
Midweek Mob Match in Welwyn Garden City (10K) on Thursday 16th July.
Fairlands Valley Off Road Challenge on Sunday 19th July.
EVAC Track & Field League on Wednesday 29th July.
County and Open 3K Relay Championship in Stevenage on Thursday 30th July.
County 5K Senior Championships on 2nd September.
County 5K Veterans Championship on 16th September.
Club Handicap 10 mile race on Sunday 20th September.
Standalone 10K (inc. country senior champs) in Letchworth on Sunday 4th October.
Great Eastern Run in Peterborough on Sunday 11th October.
Kingston Marathon on Sunday 11
th October.
Stevenage Half Marathon (includes County Veterans) on Sunday 1st November.
St. Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 15th November.
County 10 miles Veterans Championship at Buntingford on 27th December.
Join The Spartans
Live in or near Stevenage? Like running? Fairlands Valley Spartans is your local running club and is on the up! The club was voted the UK’s Best Running Club in 2010. It now has hundreds of members and encourages participation by all. The Spartans have a varied training programme to suit those who want to run 5 kilometres through to full marathons.
The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!
The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.
Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 9a.m. sharp. Spartan track training sessions are held at Ridlins Athletics Track, Woodcock Road, Stevenage most Saturdays from 9.15a.m. There are events to enter every Sunday. Newcomers are very welcome – those who have not yet done very much running might prefer to start with a Thursday, Saturday or Monday session.
Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only ÂŁ37 per year, ÂŁ25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy. You can also join online.
If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (0793 968 7509), Karen Palmer (07734678566) or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk
E N D S
More from Jim Brown (Press Officer) 0793 968 7509 or Karen Palmer (Secretary) 07734678566
www.fvspartans.org.uk
Grant and Ian collecting the team prize for themselves and Samantha Pretty – congratulations to you all.