Bedford 20

MEDALS AT HATFIELD BESTS in 5K

Great North Run, Bedford Running Festival, Big Half, a Twenty, 5K PBs, an Enduro, sprinting, jumping, throwing and at least 59 Spartans ran parkruns on Saturday. Fairlands Valley have been busy the last few days.

Many runners were so pleased that the heavy rain during the day stopped before the start of Wednesday’s Hatfield 5K. That meant the daylight lasted a little longer into the evening.

This was race 2 of the series and there were another TEN personal bests plus a season’s best and a county SILVER and BRONZE medal for Spartans.

28 Spartans finished. There were ten new personal bests (PB) for the second week running. A new season’s best (SB) and two county medals.

MIKE JEFFS said after last week’s unforeseen stop by the local authorities this week nothing was going to stop him. He joked “I’d even practiced sliding across the Mrs car bonnet just in case. I set a new PB of 16:55 joining the sub 17 club betting my last time by 13 seconds.

The personal bests were by Mike Jeffs 16:55; Ross Gallagher 17:15; Perri Gently 17:18; Nathan Kirley 17:24; Michael Fisher 17:29; Jay Papa 18:41; Terry Sawyer 19:34; Matthew Jackson 2012; Andy Prior 22:06 and Samantha Sutton 28:55. The SILVER medal was won by Andrew Patterson 16:28 for men 40 plus; the BRONZE by Sharon Crowley 27:55 for women 65 plus and the season’s best was by Jim Brown 27:10.

PL	MF	AG	Name	Cat	Time
8	8	2	Andrew PATTERSON	MV40	16:28
20	19	7	Mike JEFFS	MV40	16:55
26	25	10	Simon JACKSON	MV40	17:10
28	27	11	Ross GALLAGHER	MV40	17:15
31	30	17	Perri GENTRY	MS	17:18
35	34	18	Nathan KIRLEY	MS	17:24
37	36	20	Michael FISHER	MS	17:29
65	61	28	Nick GILL	MS	18:38
66	62	29	Jay PAPA	MS	18:41
92	84	31	Mark COLLINS	MV40	19:30
94	86	32	Terry SAWYER	MV40	19:34
105	95	35	Matthew JACKSON	MS	20:12
111	99	7	Tony RANDFIELD	MV60	20:25
129	112	12	Charles ARNOLD	MV60	21:13
134	116	41	Matthew COOKE	MS	21:23
151	127	25	Andy PRIOR	MV50	22:06
154	26	12	Annabelle WHITE	FS	22:11
155	27	7	Georgie HOOPER	FV35	22:12
176	43	12	Jo COOKSLEY	FV35	23:35
203	56	22	Megan SUTTON	FS	25:31
206	58	13	Hazel SMITH	FV45	25:50
214	151	30	Karl SHREEVE	MV50	27:08
215	152	6	Jim BROWN	MV70	27:10
217	64	16	Sam GENTRY	FV45	27:20
221	67	3	Sharon CROWLEY	FV65	27:55
223	69	17	Samantha SUTTON	FV45	28:36
236	77	8	Liz CARVELL	FV65	31:29
243	82	16	Rebecca RAYNER	FV35	40:16

Famous Fairlands Five at Great North Run

Spartan CHLOE SIMPSON ran the Great North Run in a fantastic new personal best (PB) of 1 hour 42 minutes 59 seconds for the 13.1 miles from Town Moor Newcastle to South Shields. She was raising funds for Guide Dogs.

Also among the 60,000 runners was KELLY McHALE. Her hard work paid off with a tremendous 1:50:31. Kelly is collecting for the British Heart Foundation.

ZOE JACKSON was really happy to finish in just under two hours with 1:59:28. Zoe was sponsored for the Alzheimer’s Society.

So three Fairlands Valley Spartans under two hours. They were 4,569^th, 7,724^th and 12,911^th. All well within the first quarter of finishers. Tremendous.

In addition MICHELLE HOLTON was 23,154^th in 2:17:23 and CHRIS WATLING 28,049^th in 2:26:03.

Bedford Running Festival

Starting with the longest race, the 20 miles which warmed up as it went on. There were two Spartans. NICK GILL finished 33^rd in 2:27:08 and MARTIN JACOB 114^th in 3:08:14. There were 197 finishers.

Nick said he ran 10 miles easy/steady with Jay Papa and then 15 seconds faster/slower than marathon pace every half mile. Tough going and got warm, but nailed almost every split. Marathon training continues!

His Sunday effort followed the Hatfield 5k on Wednesday pacing Jay to a new 5K PB!

Bedford Half

Another famous five Spartans tackled the Bedford Half Marathon. GEORGIE HOOPER had a great run with 1 hour 53 minutes 41 seconds and was 257^th out of the 1071 finishers. LINDA GEORGE was in the top half with 2:08:28.

JIM BROWN was a bit off delighted with his 2:12:11 but he was second in his age group and well a bit too warm, Considering he failed to get beyond 10K in his last attempt at a half marathon it was progress so he was happy.

Spartan MARIE COLUCCI went round with a friend and came in a with 2:25:10 and JESSICA CLARKE came in at 2:31:19,

The five avoided the pressures of the thousands in the big city half marathons on the same day but there were some trip hazards to look out for.

Twilight 10K

Saturday evening was time for the Twilight 10K at Bedford. CRAIG BACON finished in 46:01. He was 87^th out of 944 finishers.

And JESSICA CLARKE whizzed round the Bedford 5K in 23:53. Fourth in her category and 84^th out of 493.

Big Half in London

More than 17,000 runners were in London for the Big Half on Sunday. Eight of them were Spartans.

First in, and in the first thousand, was SIMON FRASER at 876^th in 1 hour 28 minutes 39 seconds (1:28:39). A well earned sub 90 minutes.

SALLY PICKLES ran a new personal best (PB) of 2:41:27.

Sammie Sutton’s time for Sunday’s Big Half in London was 2.38.10 not a pb but best for the year and for a few years and she managed a 10k pb for the first 10k!

Jane Wadey said it was her first half marathon since October 2024 and her first ever run in London! It was so lovely to be supported by Amanda Vickers who tried her hardest to get us to under three hours but I was in pain from mile 10 / 11 and every time I tried even a jog, my calf muscles flared up in pain. But really enjoyed it and I had several runners from other deaf groups encouraging me as well. (I now have DEAF printed on the back of my vest). Jane finished in 3:19:03.

The other Spartans were Wayne Simmons 1:58:40; Linda Nolan 2:12:10; Vishal Shah 2:39:33 and Amanda Vickers 3:16:51.

Enduro Stampede

Three Fairlands Valley Spartans were at the St Albans Stampede a 12 hour enduro event. TRICIA HOPPER was 31^st, BARRY KING 39^th and KAREN LIDDLE 41^st.

EMAC

Six Spartan women were in Thurrock for the East of England track and field championships for veteran athletes. They were ELIZABETH CROWLEY, SHARON CROWLEY, KAREN DODSWORTH, CHRISTINE LATHWELL, JOYLYN SAUNDERS- MULLINS and TESS STEPHENSON. Organised by EMAC.

Stripey Saturday – Parkrun Highlights, Saturday 7^th September 2025

Another Stevenage Saturday morning with more than 500 people enjoying the local 5K parkrun. First of the month so stripes for Spartans and 41 joined in the fun for 518.

TONY VICKERS ran a new parkrun PB of 23:55 and LINDSAY PATEMAN got a new PPB o 36:42.

At least 59 Spartans ran a parkrun somewhere on Saturday.

Several Spartans helped at Stevenage. The next Spartan “takeover” of Stevenage parkrun will be at 9a.m. on Saturday 13^th September. Takeovers are when a club takes on most of the volunteering roles including marshals and pacers.

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time
7	7	Charlie WHITE	18:42
21	21	Perri GENTRY	20:56
23	23	Jay PAPA	21:00
25	25	Tony RANDFIELD	21:14
35	34	David RIDDELL	22:03
63	60	Matthew COOKE	23:05
66	63	Martin JACOB	23:08
73	69	Daniel VILJOEN	23:34
76	72	Grant RAMSAY	23:37
82	77	Tony VICKERS	23:55
89	84	Martin DUDLEY	24:20
98	92	Darren EMMERSON	24:52
131	12	Natalie WHITE	25:56
149	19	Jayne RIDDELL	26:25
168	144	Mark BEASLEY	27:12
176	151	Ryan DUNNING	27:33
185	27	Carole SHELDRICK	27:45
198	164	Keith ABRAHAMS	27:59
214	37	Claire EMMERSON	28:24
222	181	Peter SACH	28:42
234	189	Jim BROWN	28:54
237	46	Ada JANUSIENE	29:03
287	63	Debbie BLANTERN	30:37
294	224	Chris HOLLAND	30:47
335	241	Kartik SHARMA	32:14
336	242	Ahaan SHARMA	32:14
339	91	Pamela VILJOEN	32:20
384	115	Caroline CROFT	34:26
393	265	Michael O’KEEFE	34:59
399	124	Karen PALMER	35:11
417	271	Paul JENNINGS	35:53
420	272	Lloyd DIAS	36:25
428	144	Lindsay PATEMAN	36:42
439	151	Jayne DYMOKE	37:32
459	168	Tracy HAYGARTH	38:24
474	176	Melody BROWN	40:04
478	178	Hayley PEACH	40:20
483	181	Rebecca RAYNER	41:19
504	299	Roger BIGGS	49:57
517	203	Niki PLUMB	58:39
518	204	Sally PICKLES	58:41

100 FOR JOHN AT THE STAMPEDE

Spartan JOHN NELMS has run one hundred marathons. That’s 100 full marathons of 26.2 miles (42.2 kilometres) or even longer Ultra Marathons. He ran his 100^th at the St Albans Stampede on Saturday. John was escorted across the finish line by his wife Sharon and son Jacob then welcomed to the 100 Club reception by a large number of Spartans.

St Albans Stampede

Altogether twenty Spartans completed at least four four mile laps at the St Albans Stampede.

The Stampede was a 12 hour event around a four mile loop. Runners completed as many laps as they could within the time limit.

TRICIA HOPPER was the leading Spartan with an incredible 11 laps (44 miles).

ADRIAN BUSOLINI ran nine laps or 36 miles in 6 hours 16 minutes 34 seconds while KAREN LIDDLE and BARRY KING did eight (32 miles). Not surprisingly four Spartans did seven as that got them past the significant 26.2 miles. They were YUKO GORDON, JOHN NELMS, HAZEL SMITH and SHARON CROWLEY.

Six laps (24 miles) were completed by CLAIRE EMMERSON, NEAL MUGGLETON and JACQUELINE DOWNES. SUE HAMER, ERICA GRAYSON and DARREN EMMERSON did five (20 miles) while JENNY GARRETT and GERRY ROSEN did four (16 miles).

(Times for all the Fairlands Valley Spartans can be found in a table near the end of this release).

Fairlands Fantastic 4 at the Stampede

There was also a relay team, the Fairlands Fantastic Four at the St Albans Stampede. In the four person team relay event TRACY PEZ (4 laps), ANDY JAY (4), CHRIS HOLLAND (4) and TIM ROBINSON (5) came in 12th out of 28 teams. A total of 17 laps with a time of 11 hours 50 minutes 5 seconds.

The course was four mile lap over undulating off road terrain. Chris started the team off with his first lap under 36 minutes followed by Tim with another 36 minutes lap. Then Andy Jay, who is training for the Manchester Marathon ran four consecutive laps in just under three hours through the hottest part of the day. The team took a short break to greet John Nelms as he finished his 100th marathon, before resuming with more laps. Tim finished his last running lap at 7:50 and it was agreed that two more sub 40min laps would not be achievable to finish before 9pm. The decision was taken to walk one final lap all together as a team by torchlight. Tracy, Chris and Tim completed the lap to finish just inside the cut off – in time for pizza and beer refreshments. A superb local event, recommended.

Bedford Twenty and Half

In the Bedford Running Festival ALISON and PAUL SHELLEY ran their first official twenty mile race. Paul finished in 2 hours 49 minutes 43 seconds and Alison in 3:15:07. They said it was a tough, hot race. DANNY SCANLON was 28^th in 2:23:21 and DAVID PATTMAN ran a new personal best (PB) of three hours and thirty seconds (3:00:30).

STEVEN DOBNER came in with 3:03:18; MATT CLARKE with 3:15:43 and FIONA CLARKE with 3:23:12.

In the Bedford “Spring” half marathon KAREN ELLIS said she started too fast but she was third in her age category with 2:07:54.

Spartan Ladies Finish On Top – East of England Track and Field

The Fairlands Valley Spartans women’s team consisting of SUZY HAWKINS, CHRISTINE LATHWELL, STEPHANIE BIGGAR, CALLIE CHAPMAN, ASHLEY JOHNSON, NIKKI WILBY, MONICA BROWN, MARION MORLEY, ALISON WOOD, ANDREA WESTCOTT, TESSA STEPHENSON, CATHY CRAIG, JOYLYN SAUNDERS-MULLINS, KAREN DODSWORTH, SHERYL HANN, IRIS HORNSEY, SHARON CROWLEY and YUKO GORDON have WON their division in the East of England track and field league for veterans (35 plus, EMAC).

Spartan Ladies sealed victory in the EMAC Central Division on Wednesday by winning the last league fixture at Milton Keynes. It was a close run thing, but gutsy performances and the return of two stalwarts saw the team win on the evening by 4 points and take the division by a 77 point margin.

Christine Lathwell and Alison Wood both returned from injury to run the mile, with Christine finishing second woman 35 plus (W35) and Alison winning the W50. Cathy Craig won the W60 mile race after warming up with a victory in the W60 300 metres hurdles! Sharon Crowley also used the hurdles as a warm up, finishing second in the W50 before throwing the hammer and finishing third W60.

Joylyn Saunders-Mullins and Tessa Stephenson continue to dominate the sprint events, both winning the 200m and Joylyn once again dropping an age group to compete in the W50 category. Joylyn also scored points in the javelin, finishing 2nd in W60 with a throw that would have won the W50 category!

Regular training sessions at the track are paying off for Stephanie Biggar, who threw personal bests (PBs) in both hammer (second place) and javelin (third place). Marion Morley also threw a new PB in the hammer (second place) and also finished second in the javelin.

Other individual points were won on the night by Nikki Wilby, who stayed true to form by winning the W35 high jump, and Callie Chapman, who finished second in the W35 200m.

The ladies relay teams – Nikki, Callie, Cathy, Christine and Tessa, Sharon, Marian, Alison rounded off the evening in style, winning both races and setting us up nicely for the final on 25th September.

A slightly depleted men’s team battled bravely, finishing fourth on the night and fourth overall in the Central Division. Wins on the night came from DAVE STEPHENSON (M50 200m) and TIM SAUNDERS-MULLINS (M60 hammer). Other points were scored by ANTON McCALLA (third placed in M35 200m, javelin, and triple jump), GRANT RAMSAY (4th placed M35 mile), BARRY OSBORNE (3rd placed M60 mile), PAUL HOLGATE (5th placed M60 200m and 4th placed M60 mile), STEVE GOUGH (4th placed M50 javelin). The relay team finished 4th.

Parkrun Highlight 4^th September 2021

Thirty three Spartans headed out to run at seven different Parkrun venues.

Congratulations to SUZY HAWKINS who got a new PB at Stevenage with a time of 19:38. Suzy also claimed the titles of the Fastest Lady at Stevenage and the Fastest Spartan of the week.

DARRYL STEVENS was in Rosliston (Swadlincote) to try out Parkrun at a new venue to him.

There were no official Parkrun milestones this week but JOHN HARRIS has reached an unofficial milestone of 60 Parkruns at Letchworth.

PETE SMITH was sixth at the East Brighton parkrun in 23:34 and STEVE WELLS won the Ferry Meadows parkrun in 19:49.

Well done and congratulations to all.

Fly 5k

JIM BROWN ran his 50^th Fly 5K on Saturday. This was the 69^th Fly 5K. There were 147 runners from 38 clubs. He was second in his category and 53^rd overall in 26 minutes exactly

PENNY SCHENKEL was 79^th in 28:54 and PAUL HOLGATE 103^rd in 31:04.

Entries Open for the Stevenage Half Marathon

Only just over two months to go to the Stevenage Half Marathon it’s time to start getting ready and entered. This year the race will be on Sunday 21^st November

Entries are open and so please follow the link to enter: Stevenage Half Marathon

Tables

Spartans at the Stampede

Pos	Race No	Name	Laps	Dist Done	Time	Fastest Lap	Slowest Lap	Average Lap	Start
18	27	Tricia HOPPER	11	44	11:14:14	00:44:46	01:39:58	01:01:17	08:59:59
29	36	Adrian BUSOLINI	9	36	06:16:34	00:27:25	01:15:52	00:41:50	08:59:59
40	28	Karen LIDDLE	8	32	11:14:14	00:49:27	02:38:26	01:24:16	08:59:59
41	26	Barry KING	8	32	11:14:16	00:49:28	02:38:27	01:24:17	08:59:59
43	50	Yuko GORDON	7	28	04:35:53	00:37:57	00:41:48	00:39:24	08:59:59
54	58	John NELMS	7	28	06:16:58	00:38:44	01:13:54	00:53:51	08:59:59
55	52	Hazel SMITH	7	28	06:17:00	00:39:51	01:11:50	00:53:51	08:59:59
59	16	Sharon CROWLEY	7	28	06:57:07	00:49:28	01:09:07	00:59:35	08:59:59
65	37	Claire EMMERSON	6	24	06:17:00	00:40:06	01:29:12	01:02:50	08:59:59
66	29	Neal MUGGLETON	6	24	06:17:01	00:40:08	01:28:58	01:02:50	08:59:59
69	54	Jacqueline DOWNES	6	24	07:03:46	00:39:49	03:05:09	01:10:37	08:59:59
76	49	Sue HAMER	5	20	04:27:02	00:47:40	01:07:12	00:53:24	08:59:59
77	48	Erica GRAYSON	5	20	04:27:03	00:47:40	01:07:11	00:53:24	08:59:59
79	38	Darren EMMERSON	5	20	04:39:20	00:39:53	01:16:15	00:55:52	08:59:59
82	56	Jenny GARRETT	4	16	04:47:47	00:40:06	02:10:23	01:11:56	08:59:59
83	41	Gerry ROSEN	4	16	05:12:52	00:46:47	02:10:30	01:18:13	08:59:59

There was also a four person relay team consisting of CHRIS HOLLAND (4); ANDY JAY (4); TRACY PEZ (4) and TIM ROBINSON (5) who completed a total of 17 laps in 11:50:05.

Spartans at Parkruns, 4^th September

	Position	Gender Position	Parkrunner	Time
Rosliston
	164	95	Darryl STEVENS	00:41:40	New Venue

Stevenage
	9	1	Suzy HAWKINS	00:19:38	PB
	53	46	Andrew MCGUINNESS	00:23:24
	61	52	Barry OSBORNE	00:23:45
	67	56	James MCSWEENEY	00:24:05
	70	59	Clive CANNON	00:24:20
	93	74	Toby ECCLESHALL	00:25:40
	96	77	Thomas SAUKA	00:25:55
	98	79	Jim BROWN	00:26:00
	107	87	Nick KLEANTHOUS	00:26:34
	116	18	Caroline BARTER	00:27:07
	141	25	Penny SCHENKEL	00:28:33
	151	31	Gail MACKIE	00:29:28
	155	33	Debbie BLANTERN	00:29:42
	163	39	Fiona CLARKE	00:30:12
	164	117	Matt CLARKE	00:30:13
	217	67	Georgie HOOPER	00:33:06
	218	142	Nick GILL	00:33:07
	255	72	Beth FOLEY	00:33:28
	244	84	Carole SHELDRICK	00:34:31
	245	85	Caroline CROFT	00:34:32
	246	86	Karen PALMER	00:34:33
	269	99	Shelbe MOONBEAM	00:37:00

Houghton Hall
	83	67	Michael O’KEEFE	00:27:55

Wimpole Estate
	259	65	Sally PHILLIPS	00:34:59

Letchworth
	84	58	John Harris	00:30:42	60th
	120	44	Caren THAIN	00:36:53