Belfast Marathon - Fairlands Valley Spartans

32 Spartans made the short trip to Hitchin for the town’s 10K race.

CHARLIE WHITE was fastest for the club with 36:22. He said as always it was a fantastic event, with plenty of Spartans out running, marshalling and spectating.

There were four new personal bests for Spartans. TERRY SAWYER cut his by seven seconds to 40:25; ANITA WELTZ by 42 seconds to 50:10; SALLY REEVE by 1:13 to 50:15 and LEE POTTER by a massive 17:27 to 1:03:36.

JIM BROWN was third man 70 plus with 57:36. Others with good category positions included MIKE JEFFS fourth 40 plus with 37:45; GAIL MACKIE fastest female from Fairlands with a fourth woman 30 plus and 42:38; and SHARON CROWLEY fifth woman 60 plus with a pleasing 57:17.

There was a substantial season’s best by 3:21 for CAROLE SHELDRICK who finished in 56:09. MONICA SMITHSON cut her SB time by 1:59 to 62:07.

SARAH ILLINGWORTH finished in a season’s best 57:54 and said the Hitchin 10 was a lovely run – what’s not to like about running through Hitchin and the surrounding countryside with loads of Spartans support? Oh and a jelly fish too.

Running as a jellyfish PENNY SCHENKEL finished in 69:52.

24 Spartans took less than one hour.

This was a busy race with more than 1,000 finishers and including two one kilometre loops round the town centre before and after striking out into countryside around Charlton and Gosmore.

Pos	Cat Pos	MF	Bib	Name	Cat	Gun Time	Chip Time
16	6	16	2929	Charlie WHITE	MV30	36:23	36:22
25	4	25	2137	Mike JEFFS	MV40	37:47	37:45
50	12	48	5000	Andrew PATTERSON	MV40	39:30	39:27
67	14	65	4914	Terry SAWYER	MV40	40:27	40:25
91	4	8	7572	Gail MACKIE	FV30	42:43	42:38
116	10	105	4072	Andrew SHAW	MV50	43:18	43:07
151	31	134	5452	Danny SCANLON	MV40	44:25	44:21
158	47	139	5401	Toby ECCLESHALL	MV30	44:37	44:26
222	44	194	5436	Lewis GREEN	MV40	47:26	47:09
269	14	37	4016	Georgie HOOPER	FV30	48:36	48:22
308	99	258	7650	Jay PAPA	MV30	49:39	49:25
343	18	66	7800	Anita WELTZ	FV40	50:25	50:10
361	11	75	5707	Sally REEVE	FV50	50:55	50:15
364	10	289	2098	Kaison AALTONEN	MU20	50:58	50:40
583	22	178	5080	Carole SHELDRICK	FV50	56:52	56:09
636	5	207	3	Sharon CROWLEY	FV60	57:57	57:17
641	3	432	3570	Jim BROWN	MV70+	58:02	57:36
659	67	440	3931	Tim ROBINSON	MV50	58:29	57:46
661	68	441	5069	Karl SHREEVE	MV50	58:30	58:02
665	29	223	7204	Sarah ILLINGWORTH	FV50	58:36	57:54
667	83	224	5418	Annabelle WHITE	FV30	58:39	58:11
700	73	242	4796	Marie COLUCCI	FV40	59:13	58:30
716	7	254	7258	Sally PICKLES	FV60	59:39	58:57
722	125	465	5545	Matt TUTTON	MV40	59:49	59:08
797	11	309	6375	Monica SMITHSON	FV60	1:02:46	1:02:07
836	170	502	7733	Lee Francis POTTER	MV30	1:04:18	1:03:36
882	142	366	3340	Jade JENKINS	FV30	1:05:55	1:05:13
969	67	425	5426	Penny SCHENKEL	FV50	1:10:33	1:09:52
987	120	436	5765	Rebecca RAYNER	FV40	1:12:11	1:11:29
988	69	437	7758	Caroline AUCKLAND	FV50	1:12:11	1:11:31
1010	124	454	86	Jayne DYMOKE	FV40	1:15:02	1:14:19
1029	76	472	7622	Jane WADEY	FV50	1:18:57	1:18:15

Belfast Blur – Spartan Sub Three UK by David

Spartan DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT has run a sub three hours marathon in every country and province of the UK.

On Sunday he ran the Belfast Marathon in 2 hours 41 minutes 20 seconds. That’s fifth in his age category; 35^th in the whole race and a new marathon personal best. There were 5,088 finishers.

He’s over the moon and has now completed a UKSUB3 of marathons from 2023 to 2026 taking in Edinburgh, Milton Keynes, Stevenage, Newport and Belfast.

Lee’s Treble

LEE POTTER ran three personal bests in three days.

First he went sub 30 at Saturday’s Stevenage parkrun. After some tremendous improvements he ran his tenth parkrun in 29 minutes 46 seconds. He ran his first parkrun in 49:22 less than six months ago.

Then he improved his 10K by ten minutes as he ran the Hitchin 10K in 1:03:36 on Sunday.

Finally on May Day Holiday Monday a ten minute improvement in the Milton Keynes Half Marathon which he finished in 2:22:19.

Southampton Marathon

JOHN NELMS said “I had the privilege of running with my son JACOB NELMS for his first ever marathon on Sunday.

Despite not doing more than 13 miles in training he totally smashed this one .. and finished spot on our target of sub 5 hours.

Very hilly course, superb marshals and it didn’t rain!”

Jacob was 1213^th in 4:59:56 and John 1214^th in 4:59:58. 1,499 finishers.

Milton Keynes Monday

Five Spartans ran the Milton Keynes Marathon on Monday. SAM JARVIS in 3:46:05; MARTIN JACOB in 3:56:27; KARAN AHUJA in 4:18:10; LINDA GEORGE in 4:25:02 and JOHN NELMS in 4:52:34. So that’s two marathons in two days for John.

Shakespeare Jackie

JACKIE PERRY ran the Shakespeare Half Marathon in a time of 2 hours 5 minutes 28 seconds (2:05:28).

Rocket

CHARLIE ARNOLD ran the Milton Keynes ‘Rocket’ 5K in 22:45. He was first in his age category.

Parkrun Highlights

Lee goes sub 30 as 55 Spartans run the Stevenage parkrun. After some tremendous improvements he ran his tenth parkrun in 29 minutes 46 seconds. He ran his first parkrun in 49:22 less than six months ago.

There were 532 finishers with three Spartans in the fastest ten. SIMON JACKSON fresh from his double marathon epic was quickest in 17:47; KIRK NDUGU second in 18:01 and JAY PAPA fourth in a new parkrun personal best (PPB) of 18:13.

JODIE WILSON was second woman out of the 220 in the race with a new PPB of 23:16.

There were other parkrun personal bests from LINDSAY PATEMAN 29:16; JULIE MANTON running her 70^th parkrun in 37:30; and JULIE BUDDEN 42:05;

Other milestones included KAREN ELLIS 50^th parkrun in 26:22 and SARAH ILLINGWORTH, 240^th parkrun in 29:53 and EMMA CHAPMAN her tenth parkrun in 49:18.

New Spartan JAMES GUNN ran a parkrun PB of 21:56.

Altogether 80 Spartans ran parkruns on Saturday. 28 beat 30 minutes at Stevenage.

Fairlands Valley Spartans will be providing the volunteer pace setters at Stevenage parkrun this Saturday (9^th May).

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time
1	1	Simon JACKSON	17:47
2	2	Kirk NDUGU	18:01
4	4	Jay PAPA	18:13
17	16	Steve WELLS	20:16
43	41	James GUNN	21:56
61	57	Nick ANDREWS	23:11
63	2	Jodie WILSON	23:16
72	64	Richard MOORE	23:41
82	73	Lee PICKERSGILL	23:58
86	76	Ross GALLAGHER	24:05
87	77	Mike JEFFS	24:05
105	93	Paul MAGUIRE	24:43
114	100	Adam HILL	25:06
150	16	Karen ELLIS	26:22
164	135	Darren EMMERSON	26:42
166	23	Claire EMMERSON	26:44
198	159	Paul SHELLEY	27:35
201	32	Carole SHELDRICK	27:39
210	167	Brian WHITE	27:51
214	35	Alison SHELLEY	27:58
232	42	Sarah THOMAS	28:32
238	183	Ryan DUNNING	28:46
240	184	Jim BROWN	28:51
254	50	Sujatha ALEXANDER	29:15
256	52	Lindsay PATEMAN	29:16
274	202	Lee Francis POTTER	29:46
279	63	Sarah ILLINGWORTH	29:53
280	205	Maurice BALLARD	29:54
312	223	Steve PLATT	31:11
329	87	Debbie BLANTERN	31:45
343	96	Grace TURNER	32:21
361	105	Callie FINDLAY	33:38
372	114	Julie SHADBOLT	34:00
379	118	Mandi ALLEN	34:14
383	249	Keith MANTON	34:20
388	251	Paul HOLGATE	34:38
405	254	Luke SILVER	35:17
426	147	Hazel SMITH	36:09
430	149	Jayne DYMOKE	36:23
436	153	Hayley PEACH	36:47
444	160	Julie MANTON	37:30
445	161	Hannah MANTON	37:31
449	165	Tracey TOMLIN	37:38
450	166	Penny SCHENKEL	37:45
453	168	Niki PLUMB	38:01
455	169	Nikki Katherine NATION	38:07
472	180	Marleen VAN ZWIETEN	39:29
475	182	Tracy HAYGARTH	40:02
483	188	Pauline MILLBROW	41:58
484	189	Julie BUDDEN	42:05
512	207	Emma CHAPMAN	49:18
522	212	Caroline AUCKLAND	56:50
523	213	Sally PICKLES	56:51
529	217	Nichola DURENT	59:45
530	218	Sharon CROWLEY	59:46

TEAM WINNERS AT HITCHIN 10K

Fairlands Valley Spartans WON the team award at Sunday’s Hitchin 10K. They had 25 out of the 518 finishers with several top twenty positions.

JONATHAN PARR was second overall and first in his category with a fantastic 34 minutes 24 seconds. KELVIN BEYIOKU was fifth in 36:42.

In her first ever 10K race ASHLEY JOHNSON won her category and was fourth woman overall in 42 minutes 37 seconds.

NICK GILL took eight seconds off his 10K personal best finishing in 41 minutes 28 seconds and he was 18 seconds quicker than the same race last year.

ADRIAN DONNELLY was 13^th man in 39:33; MARIE COLUCCI 18^th woman in 47:51 and GEORGIE HOOPER was twentieth woman in 48:28.

SHARON CROWLEY ran her first official 10k in a very long time! She finished in 1 hour 5 minutes 21 seconds. JIM BROWN improved his St Albans 10K time by exactly one minute when he finished in 56:29. He said it was great seeing so many Spartans at an event again.

The 25 Spartans were JONATHAN PARR 34:23; KELVIN BEYIOKU 36:41; ADRIAN DONNELLY 39:33; ROSS GALLACHER 40:19; NICK GILL 41:28; ASHLEY JOHNSON (F) 42:37; MARIE COLUCCI (F) 47:51; GEORGIE HOOPER (F) 48:28; ANDY JAY 50:28; VISH SHAH 50:49; LUKE GURNEY 51:29; ZOE JACKSON (F) 51:43; NIKKI WILBY (F) 51:51; KARK SHREEVE 54:46; SARAH ILLINGWORTH (F) 55:52; STEVE PIKE 55:54; JIM BROWN 56:29; MONICA SMITHSON (F) 1:02:01; CHRISTINE ZVEREV (F) 1:03:27; NICOLA PATTMAN (F) 1:04:13; STEVEN DOBNER 1:04:14; SHARON CROWLEY (F) 1:05:21; JONATHAN JONES 1:09:38; DZENANA TOPIC (F) 1:10:10 and SAMANTHA SUTTON (F) 1:12:40.

Milton Keynes Sub Four and PBs (Personal Bests for Hazel and Rob)

TIM ROBINSON and HAZEL SMITH ran the Milton Keynes marathon which was hotter than expected and had some sneaky hills towards the end.
Both were very pleased with their times, Tim 4:35:22 and Hazel 3 hours 59 minutes 40 seconds. It was a massive PB (personal best) of around 24 minutes from Hazel’s last marathon in October. Hazel says that joining the Spartans peak performance group and following the training plan from Steffan Ford has improved her overall fitness and pace. Hazel was over the moon to dip under 4 hours for the first time ever.

Also TRICIA HOPPER, KAREN LIDDLE and BARRY KING ran and completed the Milton Keynes Marathon. As with many people/runners this was their first marathon since Covid.

Tricia Hopper ran the 26.2 miles in 4:28:30, this was her 87^th marathon.

Karen and Barry ran together in 5.55.34. Karen has now completed 76 marathons and Barry 56.

Happy Spartans pleased to be back racing again.

Spartan ROB WRIGHT ran a new personal best (PB) of 1:35:31 at the Milton Keynes Half Marathon 2022.

Belfast

CATHY CRAIG ran the Belfast Marathon on a cold dull day.
All went well until around mile 17 when she was a bit sick and the queasiness never really left her. Still, she managed a watch time of 5:29:47, which was just within her second target time of 5:30.

Vitality London 10k

DEBBIE BLANTERN ran the Vitality London 10K, her first race since December 2019. She was super happy with her time of 58 minutes 41 seconds.

She said this will give her a big confidence boost to get more races booked this year.

Having run the Hitchin 10K in 1:12:40 on Sunday SAMANTHA SUTTON ran the Vitality 10000 in a time of 1 hour 11 minutes 55 seconds.

Also in the London 10000 CHARLIE WHITE ran a new personal best (PB) of 38 minutes 46 seconds and ANNABELLE WHITE a “pregnant best” of 55:41.

Serpentine

JIM BROWN was at the Serpentine Last Friday of the Month 5K. Some amazing runners show up for these lunch-time races. Jim was 146^th out of 166 with 27 minutes 46 seconds. Slowly knocking off a few seconds since coming back from illness. It was dry but cold and breezy.

Good News for YUKO

YUKO GORDON is out of action at the moment but received some good news from British Masters last week. Her half marathon record has been ratified as a new British record for women over 70.

She ran a gun time of 1:40:02 (chip time 1:39:58) at Bedford on 27th March this year. Yuko did run 1:37:50 last summer but it was a chip time (and not ratified) as a gun time was not available with Covid restrictions. The previous record was 1:40:43 (chip time 1:40:33) held by Angela Copson.

Parkrun Highlights 30^th April

First Spartan home at Stevenage parkrun was TONY RANDFIELD on his 98^th parkrun in 20.59. 

SAM SIMMONS took a trip to Bedford and ran 25:51 on his first outing there. Sam may have clocked the longest “parkrun” this week running just over 16 miles with parkrun included.

A parkrun “first timer” event for JAMES MCSWEENEY at Letchworth (25:55)  

MIKE REYNOLDS was at Panshanger (25:12) and ED HARE was at Lee on the Solent (23:25).  DARRYL STEVENS was at Brockenhurst running 45.34.

Other parkrun results are below.

Stevenage parkrun

A total of 225 runners took part.

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time
12	11	Tony RANDFIELD	00:20:59
16	15	Thomas SAUKA	00:21:15
33	29	Matt CLARKE	00:23:14
92	75	Nick KLEANTHOUS	00:27:06
106	20	Claire EMMERSON	00:27:57
110	87	Jim BROWN	00:28:05
111	22	Debbie BLANTERN	00:28:08
112	88	Steven DOBNER	00:28:08
116	24	Mo WARRILLOW	00:28:21
117	91	David PATTMAN	00:28:22
131	34	Fiona CLARKE	00:29:37
165	49	Caroline CROFT	00:32:01
182	56	Samantha SUTTON	00:35:06

Tables.

Spartans at the Hitchin 10K.

Pos	Cat	MF	BiB	Name	Category	Time	Chip	Grade	Comments
2	1	2	435	Jonathan PARR	MV30	34:24	34:23	79.5%	2^nd overall. 1^st M30.
5	2	4	48	Kelvin BEYIOKU	M20	36:42	36:41	72.8%	5^th overall. 2^nd M20.
13	5	12	159	Adrian DONNELLY	MV40	39:38	39:33	71.5%
23	11	22	228	Ross GALLAGHER	MV30	40:23	40:19	67.7%
35	17	34	204	Nick GILL	MV30	41:33	41:28	64.5%	PB
42	1	4	203	Ashley JOHNSON	FV40	42:42	42:37	74.1%	Winner F40. 4^th woman.
117	4	18	116	Marie COLUCCI	FV40	48:05	47:51	66.8%
125	9	20	270	Georgie HOOPER	FV30	48:35	48:28	62.8%
167	16	139	629	Andy JAY	MV50	50:43	50:28	63.5%
172	66	143	579	Vishal SHAH	MV30	51:03	50:49	53.2%
187	68	156	221	Luke GURNEY	MV30	51:57	51:29	51.4%
191	14	33	284	Zoe JACKSON	FV30	52:12	51:43	59.5%
195	15	36	603	Nikki WILBY	FV30	52:20	51:51	58.7%
259	34	201	524	Karl SHREEVE	MV50	55:26	54:46	56.0%
283	7	70	281	Sarah ILLINGWORTH	FV50	56:33	55:52	61.3%
286	6	215	448	Stephen PIKE	MV60	56:35	55:54	59.6%
303	8	224	70	Jim BROWN	MV60	57:03	56:29	62.6%	PCPB
401	16	132	541	Monica SMITHSON	FV50	1:02:46	1:02:01	58.7%
413	52	140	625	Christine ZVEREV	FV30	1:03:55	1:03:27	48.3%
432	56	155	436	Nicola PATTMAN	FV40	1:05:02	1:04:13	49.0%
433	86	278	157	Steven DOBNER	MV40	1:05:03	1:04:14	45.4%
446	7	167	128	Sharon CROWLEY	FV60	1:06:06	1:05:21	61.3%
471	52	287	294	Jonathan JONES	MV50	1:10:23	1:09:38	45.3%
476	32	186	573	Dzenana TOPIC	FV50	1:10:55	1:10:10	51.3%
488	69	193	560	Samantha SUTTON	FV40	1:13:28	1:12:40	45.0%

518 finishers. 25 Spartans.