Tag: Bedford Half Marathon

MEDALS AT HATFIELD BESTS in 5K

Post author By Peter Sach
Post date September 7, 2025
No Comments on MEDALS AT HATFIELD BESTS in 5K

Nikon Z8

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

Bedford 20

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

Tags Bedford 20, Bedford Half Marathon, Bedford Running Festival, Big Half, EMAC, Great north run, Hatfield 5K, Twilight 10K

News Race Results

SPARTANS WOMEN SOAR TO EMAC FINALS

Post author By Peter Sach
Post date August 3, 2025
No Comments on SPARTANS WOMEN SOAR TO EMAC FINALS

Following her personal best in the Stevenage parkrun on Sunday SAMMIE SUTTON ran her second fastest parkrun ever. She ran the Run Through Foundation 10K on Sunday in 64 minutes 25 seconds. That’s only 14 seconds slower than her 10K PB which she set in 2018.

JAY PAPA was in the Olympic Park, Stratford for the same event and was 101^st out of the 3,025 finishers with 39:16.

Yuko Wins On The Autodrome

Spartan YUKO GORDON was the first woman 70 plus in Sunday’s Half Marathon on the Bedford Autodrome. Her time was 1:48:39.

Yuko said “the wind was much stronger than I hoped and it was strong head wind for two thirds of the course. I was so sluggish for first 5 miles today and almost wanted to stop and go home.

After that, I felt suddenly more settled and my legs and breathing started working.

Still, the final mile was tough, tough and tough with the head wind. And wasn’t it quite warm too? I was 9 minutes slower than my last race here 3 years ago.”

EMAC 2025

Fairlands Valleys Spartans women’s team has qualified for the final of the East of England Masters (EMAC). As a result of the fourth and final counting district event and on provisional results winning the League by an amazing 81 points (this could change very slightly but will not affect their qualification).

The last district event was held in Milton Keynes on Wednesday 30^th July.

The final is being held at Thurrock on Saturday 6th September and I am sure you will all join me in wishing them the best of luck.

The Spartan Men finished a very credible third.

Parkrun Highlights, Saturday 2^nd August

More than 53 Spartans ran parkruns on Saturday.There were 560 parkrunners at Stevenage event 412 up 100 on the previous week and up 215 on the week before that. 32 Spartans ran the 5K in Fairlands Valley Park.

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time
1	1	David HARRIS-CHERGUIT	17:01
6	5	Simon JACKSON	18:14
36	33	Alexey ZHERDEV	20:55
44	40	Mike JEFFS	21:29
56	51	Craig BACON	22:10
69	61	Lee PICKERSGILL	22:46
106	92	Martin DUDLEY	24:27
117	101	Stuart ARCHER	24:57
132	112	Darren EMMERSON	25:23
157	128	Jay PAPA	26:03
172	138	Ryan DUNNING	26:28
183	147	Toby ECCLESHALL	26:52
184	29	Gail MACKIE	26:52
267	61	Claire EMMERSON	29:00
288	68	Sophie PARSONS	29:28
290	207	Ryan RIDDELL	29:30
310	82	Samantha SUTTON	29:51
311	214	Jim BROWN	29:51
322	89	Annabelle WHITE	30:17
347	232	Steve TINSLEY	30:57
360	241	Steve PLATT	31:32
362	106	Sally PICKLES	31:34
393	256	Paul JENNINGS	33:17
405	130	Carole SHELDRICK	33:41
406	131	Caroline CROFT	33:42
435	148	Chloe CHAPMAN	35:37
492	186	Hilary DAVIES	38:56
495	189	Tracy HAYGARTH	39:26
518	207	Melody BROWN	42:23
528	215	Nichola DURENT	44:27
531	218	Carolyn LINSELL	45:33
534	219	Emma CHAPMAN	46:07

Tags Bedford Half Marathon, EMAC, parkrun, Run Through Foundation 10K

News Race Results

NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY

A cross country on Parliament Hill is always tough. Usually muddy and the climbs start from the gun. Finishing there in a national championship is a major achievement and Fairlands Valley Spartans finished with complete teams in the men’s and women’s senior championship.

For the men it was a 12 kilometre test while the women ran 8 kilometres (about five miles).

JAYNE RIDDELL was first female for Fairlands. She finished in 56 minutes 38 seconds. HAZEL SMITH was next in 59:33 with SOPHIE PARSON not far behind her in 59:42.

MICHAEL FISHER was first Spartan in the men’s race with 1:01:57 and CHARLIE WHITE next in for FVS with 1:03:14.

Teams of four were needed in the women’s race, six in the men’s competition.

Taming the Baldock Beast

The Baldock Beast is a very demanding half marathon. Hills, off road sections and almost always a strong wind. Seventeen Spartans tamed the beast this year.

NICK GILL said 1:40:38 for me today in one of my favourite races – been doing the Beast since 2013! Completed the race as part of a 16.5-mile training run which included easy, steady and goal half marathon pace… which proved interesting in the uphill sections!

MARTIN JACOB and LINDA GEORGE tamed the beast — they felt strong. Martin had this run planned as part of his training for the South Downs Way 50 race, and Linda jumped in last minute, because she didn’t want to miss out. Linda said Martin ran ahead to take some of the head wind, making it just that little bit easier for me. They took it easy on the uphills, walking them, and ran the flats and downhills. They both finished with the same gun time which is 2:12:25

What can we say about TIM ROBINSON? He ran the national cross country championships on Saturday and then the Baldock Beast on Sunday. He finished in 2:24:09.

GERRY ROSEN finished in 2:24:05. He was totally surprised as he expected to finish nearer to 2 hours 40 minutes. He guesses good training pays off!!

PENNY SCHENKEL was another thinking 2:40 before the start so she was happy with her 2:27:14. The last hundred metres to the finish line was tough.

Place	Name	Category	Chip Time	Cat Pos
14	Melanie Bate	FV35	01:31:10	1
17	Paul Shelley	MV50	01:33:11	3
42	Adrian Donnelly	MV40	01:40:04	10
49	Nick Gill	Senior Men	01:40:38	24
67	Terry Sawyer	MV40	01:44:38	18
160	Chris Watling	Senior Men	02:00:35	60
164	Elliott White	Senior Men	02:01:09	62
177	Pete Cook	MV50	02:03:28	31
200	Yuko Gordon	FV55+	02:06:39	5
217	Martin Jacob	MV40	02:12:25	51
227	Simon Sypula	MV50	02:15:35	42
243	John Nelms	MV50	02:19:46	46
244	Samantha Tophill	FV55+	02:20:17	10
263	Gerry Rosen	MV50	02:24:05	50
264	Tim Robinson	MV50	02:24:06	51
269	Jim Brown	MV60	02:25:09	13
270	Penny Schenkel	FV55+	02:27:14	13

Bedford 10K

Olivia Hamilton had a great run in the Bedford 10K on Sunday. She was first women 23 – 35 in 46 minutes 16 seconds (46:16) and 39 out of the 285 finishers.

Sophie Parsons was the third female aged under 23 in 58:50. She was 140^th so top half overall.

Bedford Half Marathon

Spartan BRIAN WHITE was first veteran man (65-69) in the Bedford Half Marathon with 1 hour 44 minutes 19 seconds, which is a new hip PB! He was 85^th in the race. Brian said it was a very nice two lap course and the weather was kind. Bedford Half Marathon (23.02.2025).

JOSEPH WASNOCK finished in 1:48:45; ANNABELLE WHITE in 1:49:21 and ANN TRYSSESOONE in 1:58:18.

SHE HAMER ran the Bedford Half, in under 2 hours… just, by the skin of her teeth, in 1:59:58. That’s PB (personal best) for her. She’s on a roll. PBs so far this year 5K, 10K and now the half marathon.

Olympic Park Half Marathon

DANNY SCANLON ran his first half marathon in near on 18 months at the Olympic Park Half Marathon.

It was a twisting turning run taking in all of the main Olympic venues.

He managed a 1:38:05 and said it was great to be running a half again!

London Winter 10K

It was fun to run the 10th anniversary of the London Winter Run. PETER SACH did it in 1:04:45.

Royal Norwich

On Sunday Carol Paul ran the Royal Norwich half marathon which was from the royal Norwich golf course. The course was around the country lanes to the north west of Norwich. The course was very undulating and reminded Carol of the Watford half marathon. It was a very blustery day and Carol completed the course in 2:06:13, she was 516th out of 815 runners and was 3rd in the w60-64 age group.

Watford X/C Update

Two weeks after the Watford Half Marathon and it was still chilly and hilly in Cassiobury Park but Fairlands Valley Spartans had a great turnout for Sunday’s cross country league race.

Racing over six miles ADRIAN BUSOLINI was first in for FVS and top 5% in the race with his 37 minutes 32 seconds (37:32) for 15^th position. It was tight between MIKE JEFFS 27^th in 39:40 and NICK GILL 28^th in 39:41.

OLIVIA HAMILTON was first woman for the club in 48:42 with GEORGIE HOOPER and ELLA CERAULO not far behind in 50:19 (171^st overall) and 51:05 (182^nd).

Olivia was running her first cross country for FVS and it was great to see Ella back.

17 women and 17 men ran for Fairlands Valley Spartans at the event, one of the highest totals for any of the twenty clubs participating.

Their greater numbers and some good performances mean the club has moved up various tables in the league after a slow start.

On the day their combined team was fifth out of 20.

Pos.	Name	Official
15	ADRIAN BUSOLINI	37:32
27	MIKE JEFFS	39:41
28	NICK GILL	39:42
52	PAUL SHELLEY	41:21
65	ADRIAN DONNELLY	42:14
114	STEVE MAYFIELD	46:21
127	MATT GIFFORD	47:09
135	CHARLIE ARNOLD	47:32
145	BRIAN WHITE	47:57
156	OLIVIA HAMILTON	48:46
168	SIMON HAIGH	49:57
171	GEORGIE HOOPER	50:21
182	ELLA CERAULO	51:00
184	DAVID RIDDELL	51:03
262	LLOYD DIAS	56:56
271	HAZEL SMITH	57:36
286	JANE RIDDELL	58:39
294	THOMAS SAUKA	59:39
300	DAVID ACKERY	1:00:38
310	KIRSTEN LIGHTBODY	1:01:39
315	MEGAN SUTTON	1:02:08
316	PENNY SCHENKEL	1:02:18
320	TIM ROBINSON	1:02:56
328	MARK FREEMAN	1:04:29
332	JUDY KING	1:05:28
336	JIM BROWN	1:05:54
341	NIKKI NATION	1:07:39
348	SHARON CROWLEY	1:12:41
351	SAM SUTTON	1:13:02
352	CALLIE CHAPMAN	1:13:57
361	BECKY RAYNER	1:18:27
364	SALLY PHILLIPS	1:20:53
369	NICHOLA DURRANT	1:36:38
370	NIKI PLUMB	1:36:39

Parkrun Highlights Saturday 22^nd February

Despite all the other attractions there were fifty Spartans at parkruns on Saturday 22^nd February. 33 were among the 564 parkrunners in Stevenage where SIMON JACKSON was second with 17:32 and STEVE SMITHSON completed his 100^th in 39:28.

There was a bit of parkrun tourism with Spartan KIRK NDUGU. He WON the Caffarella run in Rome with 17:10.

YUKO GORDON was first woman in the Great Denham parkrun with 22:47.

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time
2	2	Simon JACKSON	17:32
40	37	Matthew COOKE	22:16
56	52	Tony RANDFIELD	23:18
80	74	Toby ECCLESHALL	24:00
93	85	Martin DUDLEY	24:34
101	92	Daniel VILJOEN	24:44
142	125	Ryan DUNNING	25:54
150	133	Matt TUTTON	26:00
179	22	Megan SUTTON	27:07
226	184	Jim BROWN	28:52
230	187	Jay PAPA	28:59
232	189	Nick KLEANTHOUS	29:01
250	199	Mark BEASLEY	29:27
251	46	Jessica CLARKE	29:28
300	65	Lorraine HILL	30:54
339	244	Steve PLATT	32:04
349	92	Debbie BLANTERN	32:21
356	99	Pamela VILJOEN	32:42
385	122	Annabelle WHITE	33:38
398	131	Samantha SUTTON	34:24
423	146	Caroline CROFT	35:12
452	161	Hannah MANTON	36:21
473	173	Monica SMITHSON	37:56
475	175	Beverley HARLOW	38:04
490	185	Callie CHAPMAN	39:26
491	294	Stephen SMITHSON	39:28
492	186	Sally PHILLIPS	39:29
494	187	Tracy HAYGARTH	39:34
506	194	Karen PALMER	40:03
532	214	Niki PLUMB	44:15
538	217	Nichola DURENT	44:48
545	308	Roger BIGGS	48:17
559	226	Hayley PEACH	55:09

Tags Baldock Beast, Bedford 10K, Bedford Half Marathon, London Winter 10k, National Cross Country, Olympic Park Half Marathon, parkrun, Watford Cross Country