Tag: Bass Belle

LOTS OF SPARTAN BESTS AT HATFIELD

Post author By Peter Sach
Post date December 1, 2025
No Comments on LOTS OF SPARTAN BESTS AT HATFIELD

The Hatfield Five was advertised as fast and flat and despite a cool start it was for many Spartans.

David Harris-Cherguit’s result was 27:35 chip time and 27:38 gun time for a new personal best (PB), ninth place overall and third in the 45-49 age category. He was really pleased.

Nick Gill completed the Hatfield 5 in 28:55, going sub-30 for the first time and shaving almost 2 minutes off his PB (personal best) from the same event in 2022 (30:50). He found it tough, but was pleased with the effort in his first race since the Abingdon Marathon. Nick was 26th overall and third in his age category (M35-39).

Georgie Hooper finished in 34:00 – a big PB of more than 90 seconds (35:31, Hatfield 5 2022). She was third in her age category (W35-39).

GAIL MACKIE was back in 36:26 and new member JODIE KANTAS in 36:51.

LUCY PAUL was hoping for 9 minute miles so was pleased with a 43:17 finish. She thanks SUZY HAWKINS for supporting her near the finish after she had finished in 35:08.

And the Spartans won a county medal. JIM BROWN took SILVER. He was second in the men 70 plus race with 36 seconds to spare ahead of third place AND he achieved his main target of the day to get under 45 minutes which he did with 44:27. Jim said, “Unusually for me I was wearing three layers including long sleeves and gloves but it seemed to be right for the day and I was well happy with an unexpected silver.”

It was the first time LIAM WELLER represented FVS in an event! First time running an event with the club – and he said it was so lovely to have everyone to chat to before and after – and others out supporting on the course. He finished in 33 minutes 12 seconds!

SHARON CROWLEY’s 45 minutes 20 seconds was 8 minutes 32 seconds quicker than last year, BUT looking back through times for 5 mile races, she found it was her fastest for eight years. Obviously she was very happy with that!

LEANNE WILSON breezed around in a new personal best of 45:23. An improvement of 28 seconds.

SAM SUTTON completed Sunday’s Hatfield Five in 45:58 which was a 55 second PB. She commented it was a flat course but narrow and difficult to overtake but she was very pleased with her result! Now Sam has only the Buntingford 10 to go on 28th December and if she PBs that will be a PB in every distance from 5k to half marathon this year.

MATT TUTTON was surprised and pleased that he squeaked under 45 with 44:55.

It was a last marathon paced effort for ROSS GALLAGHER. He finished in 33:05.

After an enforced break PENNY SCHENKEL put on an extra jumper, took it steady and finished in 56:50.

It was a season best’s run for Jane WADEY and she was happy to finish under a hour in 59:11. She said she hadn’t run a 5 mile race since November 2022 and this was her second attempt.

26 Spartans ran and between them achieved eight PBs and nine SBs and seven were new to the distance.

Pos	No	Name	Gun Time	Net Time	Cat Pos
9	599	David HARRIS-CHERGUIT	27:38	27:35	3
26	647	Nick GILL	28:58	28:55	3
28	231	Charlie WHITE	29:09	29:05	6
59	655	Jay PAPA	30:34	30:30	12
121	922	Ross GALLAGHER	33:15	33:05	17
127	593	Liam WELLER	33:22	33:12	20
149	417	Andrew SHAW	33:59	33:35	13
154	615	Georgie HOOPER	34:09	34:00	3
171	641	Charles ARNOLD	34:48	34:28	4
176	138	Tony RANDFIELD	34:59	34:41	5
193	660	Suzy HAWKINS	35:31	35:08	5
210	583	Lewis GREEN	36:12	35:37	29
233	818	Gail MACKIE	36:56	36:26	6
255	331	Jodie KANTAS	37:30	36:51	10
419	892	Jackie PERRY	42:31	42:00	6
457	438	Gemma SMITH	43:51	42:55	28
480	830	Lucy PAUL	44:30	43:17	23
527	863	Jim BROWN	45:42	44:27	6
546	387	Sharon CROWLEY	45:59	45:20	9
566	72	Matt TUTTON	46:29	44:55	53
567	443	Karl SHREEVE	46:31	45:23	61
571	427	Leanne WILSON	46:36	45:23	30
618	198	Samantha SUTTON	48:27	45:58	42
627	621	Vishal SHAH	48:45	48:12	56
833	91	Penny SCHENKEL	59:21	56:50	64
842	97	Jane WADEY	60:35	59:11	65

Serpentine

It was a beautiful bright and breezy Friday lunchtime for the Serpentine Last Friday of the Month 5K in Hyde Park. Some of the pictures make it look like the runners were on a seaside prom on a summer’s day. Spartan JIM BROWN enjoyed his race with a 28 minutes 35 seconds which slightly improved his position in the Last Friday championship table.

The next event will be on Friday 19^th December. That’s a week earlier than usual to avoid Boxing Day.

Bass Belle

PAUL and ALISON SHELLEY ran in the Brainstrust Bass Belle 10 miler on Sunday. That was their fourth time running the race although the last time was back in 2022. It was well organised as always, and they were lucky with the weather! Unfortunately Paul’s Achilles gave up after six miles so he pretty much hobbled to the finish. Alison was 239^th in 1:35:59 and Paul 223^rd in 1:33:52.

Other Spartans ran the Bass Belle mixed terrain event. GRANT RAMSAY 35^th out of 359 in 1:10:54 and MONICA SMITHSON 342^nd in 1:56:16.

The Slopes of Finsbury Park

Four hilly laps constituted the Finsbury Park 10K. JOHN and JACOB NELMS ran together to finish in 56:06 and 56:10. They were 104^th and 105^th out of the 198 finishers.

JAYNE DYMOKE ran the Finsbury Park 5K in 34 minutes 53 seconds (34:53). She was 46^th out of the 83 finishers.

Parkrun Highlights – Saturday 29^th November 2025

It was miserable before the start of Saturday’s Stevenage parkrun which is probably why numbers were reduced to 301 though Fairlands Valley Spartans were up a bit on 26. Spartan SIMON JACKSON was third with 18:57. JULIE MANTON ran her 50^th parkrun in 38:57. LORRAINE HILL was the fastest female from Fairlands in Fairlands with 28:33.

PETER SMITH and SEAN MILLWOOD enjoyed some parkrun tourism at the Carlingwark Loch event at Castle Douglas in Kirkcudbrightshire. Peter came in with 25:17 and Sean in 37:13.

Altogether 42 Spartans were at parkruns. Others included ALICE WELCH and SAM GENTRY at the Bug Hunter Waters parkrun near Northstowe. Alice was round in 25:50 and Sam in 27:30.

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time
3	3	Simon JACKSON	00:18:57
26	23	Stuart ARCHER	00:23:08
32	29	Toby ECCLESHALL	00:23:21
34	31	Tony RANDFIELD	00:23:27
48	43	Charles ARNOLD	00:23:53
53	46	Lee PICKERSGILL	00:24:03
56	49	Paul MAGUIRE	00:24:11
76	65	Daniel VILJOEN	00:25:37
90	75	Peter SACH	00:26:52
91	76	Kris WESTCOTT	00:26:55
116	94	Ryan DUNNING	00:28:12
120	19	Lorraine HILL	00:28:33
161	118	Nick KLEANTHOUS	00:30:10
220	63	Caroline CROFT	00:33:17
228	68	Pamela VILJOEN	00:33:34
239	151	Ahaan SHARMA	00:34:21
240	152	Kartik SHARMA	00:34:22
244	75	Karen ELLIS	00:34:46
245	76	Julie SHADBOLT	00:34:47
248	156	Keith MANTON	00:35:10
264	88	Nicola HATHERLY	00:37:35
266	90	Niki PLUMB	00:38:19
269	92	Julie MANTON	00:38:57
273	95	Penny SCHENKEL	00:39:37
274	164	Michael O’KEEFE	00:39:38
300	114	Callie CHAPMAN	00:58:22

Tags Bass Belle, Finsbury Park 10k, Hatfield 5, parkrun, Serpentine

News Race Results

PATRICK AND ROSE WIN HANDICAP 5K

Post author By Peter Sach
Post date June 22, 2025
No Comments on PATRICK AND ROSE WIN HANDICAP 5K

A very warm evening made for a difficult run in Thursday’s Handicap 5K but that didn’t stop new member Patrick Anyadi storming round in 27:35, 2:40 better than handicap, to win the event, closely followed by Rose Sutton in a year best time of 29:56, Elizabeth Crowley was second woman in 30:01 and Jane Wadey third woman with 39:06. Karl Shreeve was second man in 28:42 and Matt Tutton third man with 25:13.

Jay Papa was fastest runner on the night in 19:36, with Paul Mould second quickest in 20:46 and Charles Arnold third fastest in 23:07. Marie Colucci was fastest lady with a year’s best (YB) 23:15, with Annabelle White 2^nd quickest (24:35) and Megan Sutton 3^rd fastest in 25:23.

There were also personal bests (PBs) for Alex Scofield (23:43) and Joseph Wasnock (24:05).

In handicap races the slower runners start first and chased by the others starting at intervals based on recent races.

Thank you to Mike Crowley, Mark Freeman, Keith Fenwick, Brian White and Hannah Sypula for their help and support.

The July handicap will be on Thursday evening 24^th July.

Pos	FIRST NAME	LAST NAME	Time	H’cap
1	PATRICK	ANYADI	27:35	2:40
2	ROSE	SUTTON	29:56	2:34
3	ELIZABETH	CROWLEY	30:01	2:14
4	KARL	SHREEVE	28:42	1:48
5	JANE	WADEY	39:06	1:24
6	SHARON	CROWLEY	39:06	1:24
7	MATT	TUTTON	25:13	1:17
8	SAMANTHA	SUTTON	32:50	1:10
9	JAY	PAPA	19:36	1:09
10	MEGAN	SUTTON	25:23	1:07
11	YUKO	GORDON	27:07	0:53
12	ALEX	SCOFIELD	23:43	0:47
13	LEE	PICKERSGILL	24:03	0:42
14	JOSEPH	WASNOCK	24:05	0:40
15	RICHARD	MOORE	24:23	0:22
16	TONY	VICKERS	26:44	0:16
17	MARIE	COLUCCI	23:15	0:15
18	PAUL	MOULD	20:46	0:14
19	JUDY	KING	30:35	0:10
20	PETE	COOK	26:23	0:07
21	JON	SYPULA	29:18	(0:03)
22	ANNABELLE	WHITE	24:35	(0:05)
23	PAUL	MAGUIRE	25:58	(0:13)
24	CHARLES	ARNOLD	23:07	(0:37)
25	TIM	ROBINSON	29:41	(0:56)
26	JAYNE	RIDDELL	27:35	(1:20)
27	CRAIG	BACON	24:20	(1:35)

Bedfordshire 10K

The Bedfordshire 10K was held in the evening of the longest day. Largely on cycleways and substantially flat. Four Spartans ran and three got under 39 minutes.

CHARLIE WHITE came in with 36:28.

MIKE JEFFS said it was a hot, sweaty, tough 10K. He didn’t think he’d ever been more exhausted after an event before like he was for this. However he ran a new four second personal best (PB) of 36 minutes 44 seconds (36:44).

ROSS GALLACHER got under 39 for the first time with 38:58, a ten second personal best and third in his age category and GRANT RAMSAY finished in 42:07.

And…. Mike Jeffs won the Shephalbury Park dads race on sports day

Beat the Sunset – Summer Solstice 10K

Two Spartans ran to “Beat the Sunset” in the Summer Solstice 10K on Friday evening. PAUL SHELLEY was twelfth out of the 262 finishers and first man 50 plus with 38:17 while ALISON SHELLEY was 230^th and fourth woman 55 plus with 55:17.

Serpentine Sizzled

Only 27 degrees in Hyde Park on Friday lunch-time. After a cautious first two kilometres in the heat JIM BROWN sped up a bit and was happy to complete the hot and humind Serpentine 5K in 27 minutes 31 seconds.

Longbridge 100 Backyard Ultra. Victory with 23 laps.

Spartan ADRIAN BUSOLINI says Longbridge is a wonderful backyard race with a community ethos and a focus on sustainability. The game is to run a 6.7km course with a lap every hour, every hour, with the victor being the last person standing. For those who have not taken part in a backyard ultra before it is a last-man/woman-standing event where you must begin a new lap on the hour, every hour. The race will only end when there is just one more runner remaining to start a lap.

It was the hottest day of the year, which caused many runners considerable difficulty when the sun rose on the second day. Being quite comfortable in hot conditions, Adrian was able to capitalise on this, knocking out a series of faster laps to stamp his authority on the race. Victory came sooner than he (or perhaps anyone) anticipated, at just 23 laps, in a race that usually runs to about 30 laps. Such was the effect of the afternoon temperatures. 23 laps worked out at 95.84 miles.

It was a great day out with the legendary Jan Voorspoels in support, and such a friendly group of runners, marshals and of course Darren, the race director, and family, in the beautiful setting of the South Downs. If you fancy giving a backyard race a go, I can’t think of a better recommendation than Longbridge.

Welwyn 10K

Sunday morning saw MATT TUTTON run the Welwyn 10K at Panshanger Park in 57:11. He was happy enough as he says he wilts at the first sign of warm weather. Not surprisingly it was hot and very dusty with the wind creating a dust bowl. Very different course conditions to the cold and frosty Panshanger Parkrun he ran in January!

Bass Belle Trail

The Bass Belle 10K is a trail event from Bassingbourn. Five or six degrees cooler than Saturday but still pretty warm.

MONICA SMITHSON’s time was 1 hour 13 minutes for the approximately 10K race.

Herts Hobble

Recently four Spartans enjoyed the Herts Hobble. This is a long distance cross country event from Baldock. KAREN LIDDELL and TRISHA HOPPER finished the 26.8 miles in 7 hours 39 minutes and SHARON and MIKE CROWLEY in 8 hours 27 minutes.

Parkrun Highlights – Saturday 21^st June.

At 9a.m. Saturday morning it was 22 degrees, not the really high temperatures later in the day, as 440 runners lined up for the 406^th Stevenage parkrun. Thirty were from Fairlands Valley Spartans. Indeed three of the first five finishers were FVS. They were KIRK NDUGU second in 17:44; SIMON JACKSON third in 17:55 and PERRI GENTRY fifth in 19:019.

This week GAIL MACKIE was the fastest female from Fairlands with her 27:02.

A total of 48 Spartans ran parkruns on Saturday. Those elsewhere included NICK KLEANTHOUS on the Isle of Wight with 35:02; PETER SACH at Jubilee, Bedford in 28:58 and three at Henlow Bridge Lakes – PAUL MOULD in 21:59; CHARLES ARNOLD in 24:01 and MATT GIFFORD in 25:56.

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time
2	2	Kirk NDUGU	17:44
3	3	Simon JACKSON	17:55
5	5	Perri GENTRY	19:19
68	66	Charlie WHITE	23:59
72	70	Matthew COOKE	24:06
87	83	Pete COOK	25:05
101	95	Daniel VILJOEN	25:41
109	102	Darren EMMERSON	25:59
126	116	Matt TUTTON	26:39
141	130	Toby ECCLESHALL	27:02
142	9	Gail MACKIE	27:02
153	136	Ryan DUNNING	27:25
160	18	Lorraine HILL	27:46
171	20	Linda GEORGE	28:05
190	159	Mark BEASLEY	28:56
194	162	Matt CLARKE	29:01
200	165	Jim BROWN	29:08
202	31	Claire EMMERSON	29:13
220	40	Penny SCHENKEL	29:48
247	52	Fiona CLARKE	30:46
266	201	Maurice BALLARD	31:36
308	79	Pamela VILJOEN	33:18
311	82	Debbie BLANTERN	33:25
320	226	Paul JENNINGS	33:49
352	103	Hilary DAVIES	36:40
372	112	Jane WADEY	38:25
390	255	Lloyd DIAS	40:24
428	271	Roger BIGGS	53:29
435	149	Callie CHAPMAN	58:01
436	150	Chloe CHAPMAN	1:02:57

Tags Bass Belle, Bedfordshire 10k, Handicap 5k, Herts Hobble, Longbridge Backyard Ultra, parkrun, Serpentine, Summer Solstice 10K, Welwyn 10k

Club News Race Results

SUNDAY BESTS FOR SPARTANS

Post author By Vicky Archer
Post date November 28, 2021
No Comments on SUNDAY BESTS FOR SPARTANS

21 Fairlands Valley Spartans competed in two races on Sunday. Despite the cold three ran new personal bests (PB) and 16 ran new season’s bests (SB).

Hatfield Five

At the Hatfield Five which started and finished at the University of Hertfordshire’s College Lane site DAN HUKIN ran well under thirty minutes to finish 40^th out of the 545 with 29 minutes 28 seconds. MARK GOODWIN was well up in the men 60 plus category with 37 minutes 34 seconds and 209^th overall.

VISH SHAH was pleased how fast his race was and his 42:26 finish time.

PENNY SCHENKEL improved her season’s best time to 47:55; MONICA SMITHSON to 48:45; and SHARON CROWLEY to 55:55 but DZENANA TOPIC took the limelight with a brand new personal best of 53 minutes 4 seconds. There were four Spartan women and four Spartan men.

There were 545 finishers who also included JIM BROWN with 47:55.

Five mile races are quite rare these days but there will be another one in Welwyn Garden City this Sunday – the Festive Five.

Bassingbourn Bass Belle

Thirteen Spartans ran the Bass Belle Ten. Two DARREN EMMERSON and JACKIE DOWNES ran new personal bests and ten others ran new season’s bests.

GRANT RAMSAY was first finisher for the club with 67 minutes 25 seconds (SB). He was 25^th out of the 331 finishers. YUKO GORDON was eighth women with 1:15:09 (SB).

Darren Emmerson’s new personal best is 1 hour 22 minutes 51 seconds and Jackie Downe’s new PB stands at 1:27:20.

HAZEL SMITH said, “It was bitterly cold with patches of ice. I’m super pleased with my time as it was my first long run in a few weeks.

KAREN ELLIS ran a season’s best (SB) of 1:28:53 and Hazel a SB of 1:28:54.

1:43:52 was good enough for PAUL HOLGATE to beat his Ware Ten time by 19 seconds to set a new season’s best. He said it was a bitterly cold bright day with lots of ice on the 1.5 miles off-road section so very pleased.

The others with new season’s bests for ten miles were CLAIRE EMMERSON 1:36:22; CATHY CRAIG 1:44:19; ERICA GRAYSON 1:45:08; SUE HAMER also 1:45:08 and JONATHAN JONES 1:52:51.

The 331 finishers also included JENNY GARRETT in 1:36:23.

Parkrun Highlights for Saturday 27^th November 2021

Storm Arwen caused havoc around the UK but it didn’t stop 19 Spartans completing their Parkruns. All their parkrun milestones and best positions were achieved at Stevenage on Saturday.

NIC PATTMAN and HARRIET PACE both achieved personal bests with 28:23 and 29:56 respectively. SUZY HAWKINS was first lady in the race finishing with a time of 20:05.

GRANT RAMSAY was the fastest of the 17 Spartans, completing in 19:14 and finishing third overall.

GRACE COVENTRY finished in 25:02 and was 5^th lady, achieving her best time this year (YB). THOMAS SAUKA (21:26) and CAROLE SHELDRICK (27:20) also ran year’s bests.

DEBBIE BLANTERN achieved an unofficial milestone of 70 Parkruns.

MIKE REYNOLDS was the only Spartan at Panshanger this time. He finished 43^rd in 24:44.

At the Kingdom Parkrun in Penshurst, Kent MICHAEL O’KEEFE was 48^th in 31:52.

Tables

Spartans at the Hatfield Five (Sunday 28^th):

Pos	Name	Gun	Chip	Category	Cat Pos	Gender	Gender Position	Comments
40	Dan HUKIN	29:33	29:28	Ages 40 – 49	9	Male	36	SB
209	Mark GOODWIN	38:02	37:34	Ages 60 – 69	11	Male	160	SB
304	Vishal SHAH	43:20	42:26	Ages 30 – 39	42	Male	213	SB
408	Jim BROWN	49:25	47:55	Ages 60 – 69	24	Male	238
409	Penny SCHENKEL	49:26	47:55	Ages 50 – 59	46	Female	162	SB
417	Monica SMITHSON	49:52	48:45	Ages 50 – 59	48	Female	168	SB
470	Dzenana TOPIC	54:22	53:04	Ages 50 – 59	65	Female	207	PB
500	Sharon CROWLEY	57:27	55:55	Ages 60 – 69	22	Female	233	SB

There were 545 finishers.

Spartans at the Bass Belle 10 Sunday 28^th November):

Pos	First Name	Last Name	Time	Comments
25	Grant	Ramsay	1:07:25	SB
57	Yuko	Gordon	1:15:09	SB. 8^th woman.
114	Darren	Emmerson	1:22:51	PB
161	Jackie	Downes	1:27:20	PB
177	Karen	Ellis	1:28:53	SB
178	Hazel	Smith	1:28:54	SB
237	Claire	Emmerson	1:36:22	SB
238	Jenny	Garrett	1:36:23	x
267	Paul	Holgate	1:43:52	SB
283	Cathy	Craig	1:44:19	SB
285	Erica	Grayson	1:45:08	SB
286	Sue	Hamer	1:45:08	SB
314	Jonathan	Jones	1:52:51	SB

There were 331 finishers.

Spartans at parkrun on Saturday 27^th November

Spartans (17) at Stevenage Parkrun

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time
3	3	Grant RAMSAY	00:19:14
6	1	Suzy HAWKINS	00:20:05
13	12	Thomas SAUKA	00:21:26	YB
24	22	Andrew MCGUINNESS	00:22:21
39	36	Toby ECCLESHALL	00:23:27
57	51	James MCSWEENEY	00:24:39
63	5	Grace COVENTRY	00:25:02	YB
74	63	Nick KLEANTHOUS	00:26:07
88	14	Carole SHELDRICK	00:27:20	YB
90	15	Gail MACKIE	00:27:35
101	79	Sam SIMMONS	00:27:59
102	20	Chloe CHAPMAN	00:28:00
110	25	Nicola PATTMAN	00:28:23	PB
123	30	Harriet PACE	00:29:56	PB
128	34	Debbie BLANTERN	00:30:07	70th
146	41	Caroline CROFT	00:31:23
171	51	Hilary DAVIES	00:33:55

Tags Bass Belle, Hatfield 5, parkrun