Tag: 3K Relays

66 AT NUMBER TWO

Another fantastic turnout by Fairlands Valley Spartans at the second Mid Week League event which was in Trent Park on Thursday evening. There were 18 clubs, 607 finishers and 66 of them were Spartans. That’s 29 women and 37 men this time. The Spartans were one of the few clubs with complete “A”, “B” and “C” teams finishing the race and, again, FVS had more runners than any other club.

Run over 8.5 kilometres this was a largely off tarmac event, two laps with two significant climbs in each lap so a bit of a tough one.

DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT was first Spartan at eighth overall with 30 minutes 19 seconds (30:19). Next came SIMON JACKSON first in his category and 21^st overall with 31:28.

New member MOLLY SHELLEY had a great time and finished in 41 minutes 27 seconds (41:27) giving her 39^th out of the 141 women and a place in the Spartan “A” team.

CHARLES ARNOLD was second in his category with 43:25.

GEORGIE HOOPER was the fastest female from Fairlands. She was 8^th woman overall out of 142 with 38 minutes exactly. ASHLEY KING was not very far behind. Ninth woman in 38:18.

The others in the eight person women’s “A” team were SUZY HAWKINS 40:10; ALICE WELCH 44:43; MEGAN SUTTON 45:35; MARIE COLUCCI 45:36 and JODIE WILSON 46:46. LEANNE WILSON led in the “B” team with 46:54.

JAY PAPA 32:16; MICHAEL FISHER 33:05; JONATHAN PARR 33:08; CHARLIE WHITE 33:10 and NICK GILL 34:30 all got round the undulating and partly rough course in under 35 minutes.

The next Mid Week League race will be in Harlow on Wednesday evening 17^th June. After two races the Spartans are mid-table but some of the margins are tight so they could move up in races three and four.

FVS	Position	First Name	Last Name	Time
1	8	David	Harris-Cherguit	30:19
2	21	Simon	Jackson	31:28
3	32	Jay	Papa	32:16
4	46	Michael	Fisher	33:05
5	48	Jonathan	Parr	33:08
6	49	Charlie	White	33:10
7	83	Nick	Gill	34:30
8	117	Mike	Jeffs	35:32
9	133	Pete	Gentle	36:18
10	143	David	Bennett-Halliday	36:34
11	159	Sam	Jarvis	37:23
12	178	Andrew	Shaw	37:59
13	179	Georgie	Hooper	38:00
14	191	Ashley	King	38:18
15	213	Alexey	Zherdev	39:03
16	225	Danny	Scanlon	39:21
17	245	Suzy	Hawkins	40:10
18	263	Toby	Eccleshall	40:53
19	269	Paul	Shelley	41:09
20	279	Molly	Shelley	41:27
21	280	Stephen	Massey	41:27
22	281	Matt	Gifford	41:30
23	288	Andy	Prior	41:41
24	291	Adam	Hill	41:48
25	308	Craig	Bacon	42:26
26	310	Keith	Hooker	42:27
27	315	Tom	Grieveson	42:36
28	336	Charlie	Arnold	43:25
29	355	Tony	Vickers	43:56
30	372	Alice	Welch	44:43
31	382	Simon	Haigh	44:59
32	392	Brian	White	45:17
33	401	Megan	Sutton	45:35
34	402	Marie	Colucci	45:36
35	427	Martin	Dudley	46:35
36	430	Matthew	Cooke	46:38
37	435	Jodie	Wilson	46:46
38	440	Leanne	Wilson	46:54
39	448	Matt	Clarke	47:27
40	470	Bronya	Brown	48:38
41	471	Lorraine	Hill	48:38
42	478	Lucy	Paul	48:58
43	493	Claire	Emmerson	49:32
44	506	Sue	Hamer	50:09
45	512	Pete	Cook	50:23
46	515	Karl	Shreeve	50:30
47	517	Fiona	Clarke	50:30
48	521	Samantha	Sutton	50:43
49	527	Alison	Shelley	50:57
50	531	Sally	Pickles	51:07
51	537	Jim	Brown	51:27
52	540	Sam	Gentry	51:34
53	541	Sharon	Crowley	51:51
54	543	David	Ackery	52:05
55	551	Tim	Robinson	53:17
56	557	Elizabeth	Crowley	53:57
57	559	Penny	Schenkel	54:13
58	565	Judy	King	54:54
59	582	Callie	Chapman	58:12
60	597	Amanda	Vickers	62:35
61	598	Paul	Holgate	62:38
62	599	Jane	Wadey	63:13
63	600	Caroline	Auckland	63:43
64	601	Hayley	Peach	63:44
65	606	Julie	Budden	69:04
66	607	Nichola	Durent	69:05

The Last Hard One – and a Win for Jim

Two Spartans, ADRIAN DONNELLY and JIM BROWN, ran in what will probably have been the last ever Hitchin Hard Half Marathon.

It’s exactly what it says and you get a tour of the hills between Hitchin and Lilley Bottom including the concave Charlton Hill; Pinnacle Hill; Preston and Kings Walden.

JIM BROWN says there have been different starts and finishes over the years. And some evolution of the course. This year runners were surprised by a long section of trail.

Adrian had a good run and finished in 1:34:22. Have a look at the gradient profile and you’ll see that was a great run. He was 26^th overall.

Jim said he slightly exceeded his theoretical maximum heart rate at one point on those hills and decided to maybe ease off a bit.

It took him 2 hours 15 minutes 54 seconds with a bit of a wobble near the end but he did win the men 70 plus category with a margin of 8 minutes 58 seconds. Nice wooden trophy.

It was hard. There were 155 finishers.

Spartan women lead Track and Field League

Provisional results from the Eastern Masters (EMAC) track and field league in Wednesday on Bedford show the Spartan women retaining first place and the club’s men in a strong third place. EMAC is for those over 35.

Here Come the Relays in the Park – Almost Full

Entries for the 33^rd FVS Relays in the Park have opened. They will be at 7.15p.m. on Thursday 16^th July. Each leg is three kilometres and teams will consist of four runners. The event incorporates the Hertfordshire AARC (County) Senior & Veteran Championships

Below is the link for teams to enter. All entries must be completed 24 hours before the event; there will be no entries on the night. There is capacity for 150 teams. 133 entries (532 people) had been received at the time of writing so don’t delay if you want to run.

https://my.raceresult.com/390611/registration

This is a great event to run and a great event to watch. It’s possible to see runners twice on each stage.

Parkrun Highlights

Not quite the giddy heights of the previous week’s tenth birthday celebration but despite some light rain 530 runners enjoyed the 457^th Stevenage parkrun on Saturday morning. They included 41 Spartans.

BRIAN WHITE achieved his first milestone, 25 parkruns, and was first man 70 plus with 25:54. ZOE NEWELL also ran her 25^th milestone parkrun with 38:45. DANNY SCANLON moved up to 170 finishes with his 21:51 and JULIE BUDDEN ran a new parkrun personal best (PPB) with 40:59.

This time the fastest female from Fairlands was SUZY HAWKINS with 23:43.

JIM BROWN ran his fastest parkrun so far this year with 28 minutes 49 seconds (28:49).

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time
25	24	Steve WELLS	21:11
41	40	Danny SCANLON	21:51
46	44	Jay PAPA	22:06
62	59	Graham HOARE	22:29
73	70	David BENNETT-HALLIDAY	23:12
88	4	Suzy HAWKINS	23:43
104	95	Martin DUDLEY	24:42
108	99	Matthew COOKE	24:53
113	103	Daniel VILJOEN	25:01
127	113	Nick GILL	25:24
130	116	Matt CLARKE	25:33
143	126	Brian WHITE	25:54
150	14	Georgie HOOPER	25:58
155	135	Paul MAGUIRE	26:06
167	141	James SOUTH	26:28
176	23	Fiona CLARKE	26:43
186	155	Paul SHELLEY	27:23
197	28	Lorraine HILL	27:40
217	34	Carole SHELDRICK	28:16
232	185	Ryan DUNNING	28:41
237	187	Jim BROWN	28:47
251	48	Samantha SUTTON	29:15
255	199	Lee PICKERSGILL	29:19
266	53	Lindsay PATEMAN	29:29
286	60	Alice WELCH	30:10
288	219	Steve PLATT	30:16
308	229	Stephen SMITHSON	30:48
310	231	Maurice BALLARD	30:50
314	72	Sally PICKLES	30:56
341	86	Pamela VILJOEN	31:47
350	248	Nick KLEANTHOUS	32:01
366	105	Alison SHELLEY	32:27
376	111	Karen PALMER	32:50
398	123	Debbie BLANTERN	33:42
432	280	Keith MANTON	35:40
469	165	Zoe NEWELL	38:45
475	168	Sam GENTRY	39:50
486	176	Elizabeth CROWLEY	40:49
487	177	Julie BUDDEN	40:59
488	178	Sharon CROWLEY	41:04
513	194	Penny SCHENKEL	45:24

Tags 3K Relays, Hitchin Hard Half, Mid Week League, parkrun

News Race Results

TWO ULTRAS

Ultra Martin

The Centurion NDW50 is a 50 miles ultra marathon trail event along the North Downs Way and Spartan MARTIN JACOB did it! The 50 miles point to point started in Farnham, Surrey and finished at Knockholt Pond on the outskirts of London.

Martin said he found the Box Hill stairs tough but he finished within the time limit with 12 hours 34 minutes 37 seconds (12:34:37).

Martin said, “I signed up for the NDW50 knowing it was only two weeks after my Milton Keynes marathon. I knew taking on a 50-mile ultra with such a short recovery would be tough, but I also saw it as an important mental test ahead of my 100-mile race later this year.

When the race began, I felt strong and quickly found a comfortable rhythm, running confidently for much of the first half. Then came the relentless climb at Box Hill, which really punished my legs. From that point on, every downhill felt brutal, and I had to back off the pace to let my legs recover.

Gradually, I found my strength again and pushed through to the finish, crossing the line in 12:34:37 with a strong sprint to the end.”

Ultra Lewis

LEWIS GREEN took on the Ultra Trail Snowdonia 25k Sunday morning (although due to a storm the course was altered).

Lewis was really pleased to finish in under three hours and said it’s the best he’s felt running in the mountains to date.

He finished in 2:55:29. It was the first time he’d run the 25k route after doing the 50k route three times before.

The 400s

Five of the 21 teams at the Gosling Stadium 400 metre relay events were from Fairlands Valley Spartans.

Their senior mixed team were fourth overall and WON their category with CHARLIE WHITE second equal fastest runner in 1:01; GEORGIE HOOPER and GAIL MACKIE fourth equal women runner, with each other in 1:13 and NICK GILL fourth man in 1:02. Making a team total of just 4 minutes 29 seconds only 2 seconds behind second place and four seconds behind the winners – a senior male team.

The FVS veteran male team were second in category with TERRY SAWYER 1:14; DANNY SCANLON 1:18; CHARLIE ARNOLD 1:24 and ANDY SHAW 1:10. The team finished in 5:06.

Meanwhile the FVS veteran women’s team were third with SHARON CROWLEY 1:32; JOYLYN SAUNDERS-MULLINS 1:33; JACKIE PERRY 1:37 and TESSA STEPHENSON 1:40. A total of 6 minutes 23 seconds.

Named Vintage Valley Spartans the second FVS veteran female team finished in a total of 6 minutes 50 seconds with JUDY KING 1:44; LORRAINE HILL 1:39: SAM GENTRY 1:48 and SAMANTHA SUTTON 1:38, a pleasing improvement of 19 seconds on last year.

And the “FVS very senior” team finished in 5:26 with MELVIN AUBURN 1:08; PETE COOK 1:28; MARTIN WOOD 1:29 and CRAIG BACON 1:19.

45 women and 39 men took part.

Hackney Half PB

On Sunday PETER SACH hit a half marathon personal best (PB) at the Hackney Half with 2 hours 16 minutes 3 seconds (2:16.03).

He’s over the moon to get a PB and this was his is third time in a row completing the Hackney Half. The event is always a great one with people lining the streets in support for virtually the entire course. Although rain was threatening this year, it held off, providing nicely temperate conditions for running.

Plymouth Half for Alice

ALICE WELCH completed Sunday’s Plymouth Half Marathon in 01:48:32. After being injured and it being a really tough course (mammoth hills in the middle and the finish is uphill on the hoe!) she said she can’t complain about her time really!

But Alice said it’s a very special city to her and it’s a very scenic route so really nice day. And the day after completing her 25th Parkrun at Central, Plymouth.

Charlie’s Outings

Recently CHARLIE ARNOLD ran 1500 metres in 6:36 at an EMAC (Eastern Masters) event in Milton Keynes. On Sunday he ran the Stort 5 in 44:40. The Stort 5 is an enjoyable and well organised five miles event run on farm trails (there is a 10 mile option) with a festival atmosphere and craft stalls at Cammas Hall Farm near Bishops Stortford.

Wheathampstead Wander

JIM BROWN “relaxed” with the Wheathampstead 10K Trail event. It wasn’t flat! He finished in 1 hour 6 minutes 16 seconds (1:06:16) for second in category. There were 308 finishers.

Relays in the Park.

Below is the link for teams to enter. All entries must be completed 24 hours before the event; there will be no entries on the night. Lots of entries have been received so don’t delay.

https://my.raceresult.com/390611/registration

This is a great event to run and a great event to watch. It’s possible to see runners twice on each stage.

Mid Week is Go!

The first Mid Week League race of the season will be in Hemel Hempstead on Thursday evening 21^st May. Mid Week League races are about 10K. The Spartans will be aiming for promotion this year.

Parkrun Highlights

There were almost 600 at Saturday’s Stevenage parkrun with 49 from Fairlands Valley Spartans.

Spartan SIMON JACKSON was quickest of the 593 round the 5K with his 17 minutes 48 seconds.

Two Spartans celebrated big milestones. It was CALLIE FINDLAY’s 100^th parkrun which she finished in 33:52 and BRONYA BROWN’s 50^th in 26:35.

There were new parkrun personal bests from ANDY PRIOR 22:48; ADAM HILL 23:10; SARAH THOMAS 26:54; SALLY PICKLES 27:59 and SAM GENTRY 28:08.

Mini-milestones by LEE PICKERSGILL 130^th in 23:49; DANIEL VILJOEN 340^th in 24:28 and STEVE SMITHSON 130^th in 34:03.

FVS had three parkrun winners as 72 Spartans ran parkruns on Saturday. Those “away” included ANDREW PATTERSON winning the Milton Keynes parkrun with 17:15; KIRK NDUGU winning the Letchworth parkrun in 17:22; KELLY McHALE running her first parkrun in two years with 22:32 at Brook Leys, NW Cambridge; SUZY HAWKINS 26:13 at Wendover Woods; CHARLIE ARNOLD 25:51 at Great Denham; and ALICE WELCH 29:19 at Central parkrun, Plymouth.

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time
1	1	Simon JACKSON	17:48
3	3	Mike JEFFS	18:03
10	10	Simon FRASER	19:09
11	11	Perri GENTRY	19:10
15	15	Jay PAPA	19:53
41	38	Danny SCANLON	21:39
65	61	Andy PRIOR	22:48
75	70	Adam HILL	23:10
92	85	Lee PICKERSGILL	23:49
93	86	Matthew COOKE	23:50
108	100	Martin DUDLEY	24:18
114	106	Daniel VILJOEN	24:28
117	109	Brian WHITE	24:30
138	9	Gail MACKIE	25:04
139	10	Georgie HOOPER	25:14
152	13	Lorraine HILL	25:48
188	22	Bronya BROWN	26:35
195	23	Sarah THOMAS	26:54
202	172	Paul SHELLEY	27:01
219	28	Samantha SUTTON	27:36
232	32	Sally PICKLES	27:59
233	193	Graham HOARE	28:00
237	196	Peter SACH	28:06
241	34	Sam GENTRY	28:08
248	203	Nick GILL	28:17
251	205	Ryan DUNNING	28:21
295	54	Sarah ILLINGWORTH	29:23
316	64	Fiona CLARKE	29:55
325	68	Jo COOKSLEY	30:12
326	69	Julie SHADBOLT	30:13
328	245	Jim BROWN	30:18
344	78	Judy KING	30:41
368	264	Keith MANTON	31:49
385	275	Ahaan SHARMA	32:15
386	276	Kartik SHARMA	32:17
425	120	Callie FINDLAY	33:50
426	121	Alison SHELLEY	33:51
427	122	Claire EMMERSON	33:52
428	123	Kerstin WEINER	33:53
431	126	Hayley PEACH	33:54
434	289	Stephen SMITHSON	34:03
438	132	Penny SCHENKEL	34:07
454	139	Pamela VILJOEN	34:33
466	301	Luke SILVER	34:55
490	313	Lloyd DIAS	36:03
493	159	Angie KEELING	36:10
501	165	Zoe NEWELL	36:23
505	169	Sally PHILLIPS	36:41
534	324	Kris WESTCOTT	39:48

Tags 3K Relays, Centurion NDW50, EMAC, Gosling Stadium 400m Relays, Hackney Half, Mid Week League, parkrun, Plymouth Half, Ultra Trail Snowdonia 25k, Wheathampstead 10K

News Race Results

SPARTANS KEEP THE RUNNERS RUNNING

Post author By Peter Sach
Post date July 20, 2025
No Comments on SPARTANS KEEP THE RUNNERS RUNNING

Fairlands Valley Spartans organised events for hundreds of runners over the last few days.

There was a beautiful evening for the Relays in the Park on Thursday with 431 running. No so great on Sunday but many enjoyed the Fairlands Valley Challenge.

Each team in the relay had to run four 3K legs. 48 Spartans ran. Some quick individual runs by Spartans included SIMON FRASER 09:56; DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT 10:09; NICK GILL 10:21; GEORGIE HOOPER 12:29; MARIE COLUCCI 13:16 and JESSICA CLARKE 14:04.

Entrants could choose one of five different distances – 10K, Half Marathon, 18 miles, Marathon or 50K Ultra – in the Fairlands Valley Challenge. All were multi-terrain and self-guided.

Rank	BiB	Name	Time	Cat	Team
20.	54/A	Simon FRASER	09:56	MS	FVS {One of}
30.	55/D	David HARRIS-CHERGUIT	10:09	MV40	Callies Sprint ish Sisters + 2
43.	2/B	Nick GILL	10:21	MS	Magic Mike & Friends
56.	2/D	Mike JEFFS	10:28	MV40	Magic Mike & Friends
65.	54/C	Ross GALLAGHER	10:36	MV40	FVS {One of}
67.	2/A	Michael FISHER	10:38	MS	Magic Mike & Friends
69.	54/B	Nathan KIRLEY	10:42	MS	FVS {One of}
70.	15/C	Perri GENTRY	10:43	MS	FVS Pioneers
90.	15/A	Paul SHELLEY	11:00	MV50	FVS Pioneers
91.	54/D	Jason ANDERSON	11:01	MV40	FVS {One of}
103.	15/B	Pete GENTLE	11:07	MV40	FVS Pioneers
108.	2/C	Jay PAPA	11:10	MS	Magic Mike & Friends
137.	29/C	Terry SAWYER	11:40	MV40	Mankini Boys
142.	29/A	Ralph DADSWELL	11:46	MV60	Mankini Boys
144.	110/D	Grant RAMSEY	11:49	MV50	M,N,P,G
148.	15/D	Kris WESTCOTT	11:53	MV40	FVS Pioneers
173.	8/A	Keith HOOKER	12:21	MV40	Whizzy Rascals
179.	33/B	Georgie HOOPER	12:29	FV35	Blister Sisters
182.	55/C	Matt COOKE	12:33	MS	Callies Sprint ish Sisters + 2
209.	29/B	Danny SCANLAN	13:05	MV40	Mankini Boys
213.	110/A	Matt GIFFORD	13:13	MV50	M,N,P,G
217.	33/D	Marie COLUCCI	13:16	FV45	Blister Sisters
232.	3/D	Charlie ARNOLD	13:30	MV60	Supercallis….
236.	8/C	Lee PICKERSGILL	13:33	MV40	Whizzy Rascals
267.	33/A	Jessica CLARKE	14:04	FS	Blister Sisters
277.	29/D	Richard MOORE	14:11	MV40	Mankini Boys
293.	3/A	Chris WAITING	14:30	MS	Supercallis….
295.	28/B	Megan SUTTON	14:32	FS	The Fairlands Four
298.	110/C	Patrick ANYADI	14:37	MS	M,N,P,G
299.	55/B	Jo COOKSLEY	14:40	FV35	Callies Sprint ish Sisters + 2
304.	8/B	Pete COOK	14:42	MV50	Whizzy Rascals
307.	8/D	Tony VICKERS	14:44	MV50	Whizzy Rascals
309.	33/C	Yuko GORDON	14:45	FV65	Blister Sisters
319.	28/A	Peter SACH	15:01	MS	The Fairlands Four
355.	110/B	Nick KLEANTHOUS	16:12	MV60	M,N,P,G
359.	4/C	Carole SHELDRICK	16:18	FV45	2 fast 2 furious
362.	28/C	Rose SUTTON	16:26	FS	The Fairlands Four
364.	28/D	Karl SHREEVE	16:28	MV50	The Fairlands Four
366.	3/C	Linda NOLAN	16:33	FV55	Supercallis….
370.	4/D	Liz CROWLEY	16:55	FV35	2 fast 2 furious
380.	55/A	Hannah MANTON	17:15	FS	Callies Sprint ish Sisters + 2
387.	91/C	Sam GENTRY	17:34	FV45	JuSSSt runners
390.	91/D	Judy KING	17:35	FV55	JuSSSt runners
402.	3/B	Callie CHAPMAN	18:16	FV35	Supercallis….
404.	91/A	Sally PICKLES	18:19	FV55	JuSSSt runners
413.	4/A	Liz CARVELL	19:25	FV65	2 fast 2 furious
415.	91/B	Sally PHILLIPS	19:37	FV55	JuSSSt runners
431.	4/B	Nichola DURENT	26:44	FV45	2 fast 2 furious

St Albans Summer 10K

So different to some recent weekends it was a bit damp at St Albans for the Summer 10K.

Two Spartans were there. JIM BROWN and HANNAH MANTON. Raining at the start and some signs of Saturday’s deluge but no great problems. Jim finished in 57:06 and Hannah in 1:16:05. There were 456 finishers.

Parkrun Highlights, Saturday 19^th July – a wet one

The heavens opened and it poured on Saturday morning but there were still 345 at Stevenage parkrun and 18 of them were Spartans. NICK KLEANTHOUS achieved a major milestone, his 250^th parkrun and got to wear a very wet green cape to celebrate his achievement. Nick said “250th Park Run completed. Started park running in January 2018. Joined FVS 2019. No parkruns during Lockdown, continued July 2021. Milestone T-shirt now ordered. Not the best day for it today and cape got a little heavy.”

CHARLIE WHITE was third in 18 minutes 47 seconds (18:47).

Spartans elsewhere included PAUL MOULD 22:04 and MATT GIFFORD 22:47 at Henlow Bridge Lakes; SUZY HAWKINS first woman 24:55; MARIE COLUCCI 30:19; GEORGIE HOOPER 31:26; and NICK GILL 34:13 at Letchworth; ALISON SHELLEY 26:32 and PAUL SHELLEY 26:33 at Great Denham; JESSICA CLARKE 29:12 at Tewkesbury and SAMANTHA SUTTON 31:25 at Jersey Farm.

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time
3	3	Charlie WHITE	18:47
8	8	Perri GENTRY	19:21
59	52	Tony RANDFIELD	23:25
68	61	Lee PICKERSGILL	24:06
70	63	Matthew COOKE	24:09
87	75	Martin DUDLEY	24:56
93	81	Daniel VILJOEN	25:10
98	84	Tony VICKERS	25:29
126	104	Martin JACOB	26:42
129	107	Ryan DUNNING	26:47
148	123	Jay PAPA	27:33
155	127	Toby ECCLESHALL	27:41
156	19	Gail MACKIE	27:42
237	47	Pamela VILJOEN	31:07
241	180	Steve PLATT	31:28
255	185	Nick KLEANTHOUS	32:32
282	70	Caroline CROFT	34:47
283	71	Carole SHELDRICK	34:48

Tags 3K Relays, parkrun, St Albans 10k

Club Fairlands Valley Challenge Fairlands Valley Relays News Race Results Races

SPARTANS HOST RELAYS IN THE PARK

Post author By Peter Sach
Post date July 21, 2024
No Comments on SPARTANS HOST RELAYS IN THE PARK

Just days after a successful takeover of a Stevenage parkrun Fairlands Valley Spartans ORGANISED and provided dozens of volunteer marshals for Thursday evening’s Relays in the Park in Fairlands Valley.

What’s more 41 Spartans ran. Their successes included WINNING the veteran mixed team with ANDREW PATTERSON (09:39), SAM PRETTY (11:23), ASHLEY JOHNSON (11:29) and JONATHAN PARR (10:05) and their veteran women’s team coming second.

The fastest Spartan over the 3K were Andrew Patterson 10^th out of 432 in 9 minutes 39 seconds (9:39) and KIRK NDUGU 15^th with 9:50. Both under 10 minutes. Their fastest women were SAM PRETTY 11:23 and ASHLEY JOHNSON 11:29. Both under 11:30.

The Relays in the Park included the Hertfordshire County Championships. Every team – men, women, mixed, open or veteran – had to run four stages of exactly three kilometres.

Pos	Team	Name	Category	Team	Time
10.	35/A	Andrew PATTERSON	MV40	FVS Mix 1	09:39
15.	39/A	Kirk NDUGU	MS	FVS M3	09:50
23.	35/D	Jonathan PARR	MV40	FVS Mix 1	10:05
25.	39/C	Simon JACKSON	MV40	FVS M3	10:05
39.	39/D	Adrian BUSOLINI	MS	FVS M3	10:21
55.	36/B	Charlie COOK	MS	FVS M1	10:36
57.	39/B	Brian BRACKSTONE	MV50	FVS M3	10:38
78.	36/D	Jason ANDERSON	MV40	FVS M1	10:56
87.	36/A	Ross GALLAGHER	MV40	FVS M1	11:02
90.	36/C	Jay PAPA	MS	FVS M1	11:04
109.	35/B	Sam PRETTY	FV35	FVS Mix 1	11:23
119.	35/C	Ashley JOHNSON	FV35	FVS Mix 1	11:29
128.	61/C	Ross GALLAGHER	MV40	FVS M6	11:40
157.	53/D	Ashley JOHNSON	FV45	FVS W1	12:11
162.	95/A	Ralph DADSWELL	MV50	FVS M5	12:17
168.	38/B	Craig BACON	MV50	FVS M2	12:19
172.	38/A	Robert WRIGHT	MV40	FVS M2	12:22
185.	38/D	Danny SCANLON	MV40	FVS M2	12:33
193.	37/B	Ryan RIDDELL	MS	FVS Mix 2	12:40
195.	37/A	David RIDDELL	MV50	FVS Mix 2	12:40
201.	53/B	Alison WOOD	FV45	FVS W1	12:45
220.	53/C	Suzy HAWKINS	FV45	FVS W1	13:04
234.	38/C	Andy PRIOR	MV50	FVS M2	13:20
238.	56/B	Liam HERBERT	MV40	FVS M4	13:23
257.	53/A	Marie COLUCCI	FV45	FVS W1	13:38
283.	61/A	Ben TORREGGIANI	MV40	FVS M6	14:14
302.	61/B	David ACKERY	MS	FVS M6	14:38
310.	95/D	David ACKERY	MS	FVS M5	14:53
313.	95/B	Martin DUDLEY	MV60	FVS M5	14:56
320.	56/C	Lloyd DIAS	MS	FVS M4	15:03
327.	37/D	Sophie PARSONS	FS	FVS Mix 2	15:12
355.	37/C	Jayne RIDDELL	FV55	FVS Mix 2	15:46
356.	95/C	Vish SHAH	MS	FVS M5	15:48
359.	61/D	Peter COOK	MV50	FVS M6	15:50
360.	56/A	Simon SYPULA	MV50	FVS M4	15:50
367.	56/D	Nick KLEANTHOUS	MV60	FVS M4	16:01
386.	88/D	Megan SUTTON	FS	FVS W2	16:52
398.	41/C	Peter SACH	MS	FVS Mix 3	17:44
403.	41/D	Judy KING	FV55	FVS Mix 3	18:03
407.	88/C	Rose SUTTON	FS	FVS W2	18:10
414.	41/A	Liz CARVELL	FV55	FVS Mix 3	19:03
415.	41/B	Paul HOLGATE	MV60	FVS Mix 3	19:03
429.	88/A	Sally PICKLES	FV55	FVS W2	21:45
430.	88/B	Samantha SUTTON	FV45	FVS W2	21:47

FVS 3k Relay Times

Three Gold Medals

Three Fairlands Valley Spartans won GOLD medals in the County 10K track championships on Wednesday night.

After 25 laps YUKO GORDON won GOLD for women 70 plus in 47 minutes 24 seconds (47:24.70); DAVID BOWKER won GOLD for men 65 plus in 48:09 and JIM BROWN won GOLD for men 70 plus in 53:50.

No hills and no wind. What was there not to like said Jim. A great outing for three Spartan veterans.

Memorial 5K

Also on Wednesday MATT TUTTON ran his fastest 5K this year with his 24:49 at the Doug Anderson 5K in Bedford. JAY PAPA beat 20 with 19:21; CHARLIE ARNOLD came in with 22:52 and PAUL HOLGATE with 32:20.

St Albans Summer 10K

JIM BROWN ran the St Albans Summer 10K in exactly 56 minutes (56:00). Good enough for third place in his category.

Three Events Organised in Nine Days

Not only did Fairlands take over the local parkrun on Saturday 13^th July and organise the Relays in the Park on Thursday 18^th July then they organised the Fairlands Valley Challenge off road event on Sunday 21^st July. More on the challenge soon.

Tags 3K Relays, County Championships, Doug Anderson 5k, St Albans 10k

Club News Race Results

RELAYS IN THE PARK!

The 3k Relays in the Park, organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans in Fairlands Valley Park, were brilliant. The 3K course was covered 473 times by runners enjoying a great summer’s evening on Thursday.

As well as organising the event the local club enjoyed some success with their women taking BRONZE in the County Championships in 48 minutes 13 seconds and their veteran women also winning BRONZE with 54:32.

All teams – men, women, mixed, senior or veteran – consisted of four runners so ran a total of 12 kilometres.

The medal winners were ASHLEY JOHNSON (11:38); SAM PRETTY (11:50), GABRIELLE O’BRIEN (12:16) and GAIL MACKIE (12:29) in the senior county championships and SUZY HAWKINS (12:45); MARIE COLUCCI (13:07); TRACEY JACKSON (13:53) and YUKO GORDON (14:47) in the veterans race.

Our winning ladies! – Photo Credit Callie Chapman

The FVS male team were fourth in the open and county races in 38:42 just eight seconds off bronze. They were JON PARR (9:20); ANDREW PATTERSON (9:31); ADRIAN BUSOLINI (9:55) and KIRK NDUGU (9:56).

The fastest Spartan was in the top ten individuals – JON PARR in 9 minutes 20 minutes (9:20). ASHLEY JOHNSON was the fastest female from Fairlands with her 11 minutes 38 seconds, twelve seconds ahead of SAM PRETTY with 11:50.

The first woman in the race finished in 9 minutes 28 seconds!

There were 119 teams. Luton AC won the open men’s race in 36:57 (for 12 kilometres) and the open mixed race with 41:03; St Albans Striders won the open women’s race in 43:46.

Doug Anderson 5K – 20^th Anniversary

Last Wednesday MATT TUTTON ran at the Bedford Harriers organised Doug Anderson 5k at Bedford Park. This was two and half laps of the park on a cool and dry evening. Matt finished in a personal best time of 24:54. 

This was the 20^th anniversary of the event. PAUL HOLGATE has now run 17 of the 20. The only missing ones were two that fell on his wife’s birthday and one when he was in Mount Vernon Hospital. He finished in 31 minutes 19 seconds.

ROGER BIGGS came in with 38:38.

Bedford Blues Half Marathon

Spartan JIM BROWN ran the Bedford Blues Foundation Half Marathon on Sunday.

He was 86th and second MV70 with 2:04:16 (64%).

Jim said it was nice after recent form to properly run all the way.

He added it was an almost perfect morning for running. Only 132 on the half marathon but another 202 on the 10K. The short out and back sections actually made it a better experience as runners smiled and encouraged each other as they passed.

Jim with some of the lovely Stevenage Striders ladies – Photo Credit Stevenage Striders

Parkrun Highlights Saturday 22^nd July 2023

MATT TUTTON ran a new parkrun personal best of 24:20. He was 84^th out of the 394 finishers.

For all the Consolidated Results please click the link.

Tags 3K Relays, Bedford Blues Half Marathon, Doug Anderson 5k

Club News Race Results

RELAYS IN THE PARK

The FVS 3K Relays returned for the first time since 2018 on Thursday with 115 teams taking part. Fortunately the temperature had dropped from the previous few days, meaning the 460 runners and 30 marshals didn’t get roasted! It was great to see so many clubs taking part, with male, female and mixed teams all entering. 

In the men’s senior race Luton Athletics Club took first place, with North Herts Road Runners winning for the veterans. North Herts took the senior women’s title, with St Albans Striders winning the womens vets. Ware Joggers took both titles for the mixed race.

Fairlands Valley Spartans were third in the women’s over 35 race with SAM PRETTY 12 minutes 14 seconds; SUZY HAWKINS 11:20; ASHLEY KING 12:15 and MICHELLE REEVES 11:19 running the team’s 47 minutes 8 seconds.

Sam, Suzy, Ashley and Michelle in action.

The fastest Spartans men’s team took 38 minutes 49 seconds with SIMON JACKSON 9:29; SIMON FRASER 9:23; JONATHAN PARR 9:40 and ADRIAN BUSOLINI 10:17.

Simon J, Simon F, Jonathan and Adrian all concentrating on their run.

Every team consisted of four runners covering a total of 12 kilometres. There were two men and two women in mixed teams.

The relays in Fairlands Valley Park were great to run and to watch on a lovely sunny evening.

A selection of our lovely Spartan teams!

They included the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire road relay championships.

Full results are now available here

Wimpole Hall Trail 10K

In the Wimpole Hall Trail 10K JOHN HARRIS was 12^th in 43:45.

Brandon Country

Roger Biggs travelled to Brandon Country Park near Thetford, for a 10km trail event.

It was hilly, rough in places, a bit over-distance, and very warm. Roger completed the two lap course in 2:02:48.

Parkrun Highlights Saturday 23^rd July – Nicola’s 100^th at the Stevenage 250^th

Stevenage Parkrun 250th, Nicola’s 100th and little furry Marlo’s 100th on his 10th birthday!

It was a big week at Stevenage parkrun with the venue celebrating its 250^th parkrun. There was a Spartan ladies 1 and 2 with Gail Mackie first female (22:14) and Suzy Hawkins second female (22:15). Stuart Archer was third overall (18:44), Grant Ramsay fifth (18:55) and Tony Randfield 10^th overall (20:24) won his age group and achieved a magnificent age related score of 81.45% Congrats to  Nikki Nation with a new parkrun PB (30:31). Many congratulations to Nicola Andersson celebrating her 100^th parkrun. There were 23 Spartans amongst the 252 runners.

72,801 people have run the 250 Stevenage parkruns since 2016.

Gail, Suzy, Stuart and Grant at Stevenage Parkrun.

Further afield, Maria Swift was a first timer at Sandringham parkrun (29:36). There was a new parkrun PB for Michael O’Keefe at Kingdom parkrun near Tonbridge (29:38) in his third run there. Also a PB for Darryl Stevens at Lymington Woodside (35:57).

A tale of two Paul’s at Letchworth parkrun: Paul Maguire (25:08) and Paul Jennings (34:10).

A posse of Spartans took a trip to Westmill: Paul Shelley (26:14), Alison Shelley ran a new PB (29:22), David Pattman (32:17), Mo Warrillow (32:21) and Steve Dobner (32:18).

Mike Reynolds ran the Panshanger parkrun in 25:26.

The full Spartans at Stevenage results are below.

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time	Comments
3	3	Stuart ARCHER	00:18:44	Third overall
5	5	Grant RAMSAY	00:18:55
10	9	Tony RANDFIELD	00:20:24	81.45%. Age group winner.
33	1	Gail MACKIE	00:22:14	1^st woman
34	2	Suzy HAWKINS	00:22:15	2^nd woman
63	59	Martin DUDLEY	00:24:10
78	70	Matt CLARKE	00:25:38
82	74	James MCSWEENEY	00:25:55
101	88	Jim BROWN	00:26:46	Age group winner
110	94	Mark BEASLEY	00:27:31
126	107	Nick KLEANTHOUS	00:29:04
137	20	Debbie BLANTERN	00:29:12
155	32	Nikki NATION	00:30:31	New parkrun PB
157	120	Darren EMMERSON	00:30:36
158	34	Chloe CHAPMAN	00:30:37
159	35	Fiona CLARKE	00:30:39
160	36	Claire EMMERSON	00:30:39
164	122	James SOUTH	00:31:03
177	45	Nicola ANDERSSON	00:32:07
197	55	Jane WADEY	00:33:26
206	59	Hilary DAVIES	00:34:16
238	151	Roger BIGGS	00:45:48
246	83	Helen HARRIS	00:55:32

Tags 3K Relays, Brandon Country, Parkrun 250, Wimpole Hall Trail 10K

The Last Hard One – and a Win for Jim

Spartan women lead Track and Field League

Here Come the Relays in the Park – Almost Full

Parkrun Highlights

Ultra Martin

Ultra Lewis

The 400s

Hackney Half PB

Plymouth Half for Alice

Charlie’s Outings

Wheathampstead Wander

Relays in the Park.

Mid Week is Go!

Parkrun Highlights

Three Gold Medals

Memorial 5K

St Albans Summer 10K

Three Events Organised in Nine Days

Doug Anderson 5K – 20th Anniversary

Bedford Blues Half Marathon

Parkrun Highlights Saturday 22nd July 2023

Wimpole Hall Trail 10K

Brandon Country

Parkrun Highlights Saturday 23rd July – Nicola’s 100th at the Stevenage 250th

Doug Anderson 5K – 20^th Anniversary

Parkrun Highlights Saturday 22^nd July 2023

Parkrun Highlights Saturday 23^rd July – Nicola’s 100^th at the Stevenage 250^th