Tag: Berlin Marathon

CROSS COUNTRY STARTS

Summer may have officially just ended but that was an amazingly busy weekend for Fairlands Valley Spartans. Where have the Spartans been in the last few days? Belladrum parkrun (Scotland); Berlin Marathon; Ealing Half Marathon; Europapark parkrun (Austria); Hitchin Town Centre 5K; Loch Ness Marathon; Lucy Warren cross country; Mura di Lucca parkrun (Italy); Serpentine Hyde Park 5K; Stevenage parkrun; Swindon Half Marathon; Vitality 10K; the Willow 10K and fourteen other parkruns.

Early Start To Cross Country Season – Four Full Teams For Spartans

It was a warm and early start to the cross country season which together with a very busy race calendar perhaps kept the overall numbers down a bit at the first race but 22 Spartans, 13 men and 9 women, were among about 320 who enjoyed a sunny and dry run around Lucy Warren in Hoddesdon.

With most wearing road shoes there were some rapid times around the 4.8 miles (7.72 kilometres). SAMUEL PAUL was fourth in 27 minutes 24 seconds (27:24). Next for the Spartans was ADRIAN BUSOLINI 23^rd in 30:28 then ADRIAN DONNELLY 50^th in 32:23.

GAIL MACKIE was the Spartans’ fastest woman with 33:46* for 75^th overall. JODIE KANTAS was second for the club with 41:02 and NATALIE BROWNE third with 42:23.

The FVS women’s “A” team was completed by new member JO PLUMB in 42:54 and CAROLE SHELDRICK with 45:28.

Attempting his third race in three days JIM BROWN was happy with his progress at 5K but it all came back to hit him on the third of the three laps. However he was pleased to fulfil his ambition of beating 50 minutes when he finished in 49:09.

It was close but by finishing complete men’s and women’s “A” and “B” teams in the first race – needing 21 of their 22 finishers – the Spartans will field “A” and “B” teams in the rest of the series.

The next Sunday League cross country race will be in Trent Park on Sunday 1^st November.

Position	Name	Own Time	Category
4	SAMUEL PAUL	27:24	SM
23	ADRIAN BUSOLINI	30:28	SM
50	ADRIAN DONNELLY	32:23	M40
75	GAIL MACKIE	33:46*	SW
145	DAVID BENNETT-HALLIDAY	39:19*	SM
169	MATT COOKE	39:21*	SM
197	ANDY PRIOR	40:47	M50
199	SIMON HAIGH	40:55	M50
202	JODIE KANTAS	41:02	W40
215	TONY VICKERS	41:57	M50
229	NATALIE BROWNE	42:23	SW
234	JO PLUMB	42:54	W50
259	CAROLE SHELDRICK	45:28	W50
264	PETE COOK	45:58	M50
273	NICK GILL	46:46	SM
292	SHARON CROWLEY	49:03	W60
293	JIM BROWN	49:09	M70
302	SAMANTHA SUTTON	51:16	W50
304	MARK FREEMAN	52:24	M70
305	PENNY SCHENKEL	52:26	W50
307	CALLIE FINDLAY	53:30*	W40
311	PAUL HOLGATE	55:50	M60

Hitchin 5K

Six Spartans ran Sunday’s Hitchin Town Centre 5K. MOLLY SHELLEY was second female 20 with 22 minutes 35 seconds; BRIAN WHITE second male 70 plus with 25:01.

The fastest from Fairlands was LEWIS GREEN in 21:20 with PAUL SHELLEY not far behind in 21:46. SALLY REEVE came in with 24:54 and MATT TUTTON with 27:34. There were About 340 finishers.

Pos	Cat Pos	MF	Bib	Name	Cat	Chip Time	Age Grade
47	12	43	263	Lewis GREEN	MV40	21:20	66.1%
51	8	47	278	Paul SHELLEY	MV50	21:46	71.6%
66	2	8	270	Molly SHELLEY	F20	22:35	65.4%
119	5	22	4234	Sally REEVE	FV50	24:54	70.1%
121	2	98	400	Brian WHITE	MV70+	25:01	70.6%
170	35	123	402	Matt TUTTON	MV40	27:34	50.4%

Berlin Marathon

ROSS GALLAGHER ran the Berlin Marathon in 3:26:49. He ran the first half in just under 1 hour 30 minutes (1:29:42) but faded a bit in the second half.

Loch Ness

In rather different conditions to Hertfordshire TIM ROBINSON ran the Loch Ness Marathon. He finished in 5 hours 38 minutes 26 seconds having gone through halfway in 2:35:16.

Ealing Half Marathon

Spartan RALPH DADSWELL ran the Ealing Half Marathon. He was second man 60 plus and 224^th out of about 4,400 runners in 1 hour 30 minutes 50 seconds (1:30:50.7).

Swindon Half

2,046 ran the Swindon Half Marathon and Spartan GEORGIE HOOPER was there finishing in 1 hour 43 minutes 36 seconds (1:43:36) for 263^rd position.

She said “I ran the Swindon Half in 1:43:36. It was very undulating and had a few massive hills. So I didn’t get much marathon pace practice (which was the aim), but decided to try an average goal marathon pace overall. 7:50 was the goal. I managed 7:51 so not too bad an attempt!”

Handicap 5K

The darker evenings meant Thursday’s Handicap 5K was the last for 2026. Eleven Spartans gave it a go.

First over the finish and winner was Steve Smithson 3:12 better than handicap in 30:48, with Lee Potter second man (fourth overall) in 33:30 and Simon Haigh third with 24:01.

Jade Jenkins was first woman (second overall) in a new personal best (PB) of 43:25 with Natalie Browne second lady in a new PB of 25:29 and Megan Sutton third lady in 26:22.

Simon Haigh was fastest runner of the evening with Craig Bacon 2^nd quickest in 24:58 and Martin Dudley 3^rd fastest man in 26:01.

Natalie Browne was fastest lady with Bronya Brown second quickest in 26:20 and Megan Sutton third fastest.

In handicap races the slower runners start first and the others follow at intervals based on recent form. First to finish, not necessarily the fastest runner, is the winner.

On this occasion the time difference between second and eleventh position was just 1 minute 48 seconds, with finishers all within 1:46 of their calculated handicap.

POS	First Name	Last Name	TIME	R	F	PB	IMPR	H’CAP	Adj	Elapsed Time	Comp. H’Cap
1	STEVE	SMITHSON	30:48	9				11:00	0:05	41:53	3:12
2	JADE	JENKINS	29:55	8	4	PB	0:14	13:30		43:25	1:35
3	NATALIE	BROWNE	25:29	3	1	PB	0:32	17:45	0:22	43:36	1:46
4	LEE	POTTER	33:30	11				10:30		44:00	1:00
5	SIMON	HAIGH	24:01	1				19:45		43:46	1:14
6	MEGAN	SUTTON	26:22	6	3			17:45	0:01	44:08	0:53
7	PETE	COOK	27:10	7				17:00	0:01	44:11	0:50
8	BRONYA	BROWN	26:20	5	2			18:00		44:20	0:40
9	CRAIG	BACON	24:58	2				19:30	0:01	44:29	0:32
10	MARTIN	DUDLEY	26:01	4				19:00		45:01	(0:01)
11	HAYLEY	PEACH	33:13	10	5			12:00		45:13	(0:13)

Gorgeous Day In Hyde Park

Running wearing race number one JIM BROWN enjoyed great conditions for running in Hyde Park on Friday lunch-time. He finished in 28 minutes 27 seconds (64.21%) giving him a small but satisfying improvement in the calendar year long championship.

Vitality 10K, A PB in London

MIKE JEFFS was absolutely over the moon with Sunday’s Vitality 10K! He finished in 36:12, taking 32 seconds off his previous personal best (PB).

Mike went into the race with an A goal in mind, but fairly early on realised it wasn’t going to be achievable today. Rather than forcing it and potentially blowing up, he switched his focus to his B goal, settled into the right pace and managed to achieve it.

Mike was really pleased with how he adapted during the race and kept pushing right through to the finish. A 32-second PB over 10K is something he’s incredibly happy with.

CHARLES ARNOLD finished in 49:41.

Willow 10K

And half a dozen Spartans were at the Willow 10K fundraising event.

Parkrun Highlights

Another sunny, dry Saturday morning and 488 completed the Stevenage parkrun. Amongst the 35 Spartans TONY VICKERS ran a new parkrun personal best of 23:44 during his 20^th parkrun.

SALLY PICKLES and GRAHAM HOARE crossed the border from Slovenia to Austria to the Europapark parkrun. That’s near Lake Worthersee in Austria. Graham finished in 22:47 and Sally in 28:48.

Italy’s Mura di Lucca parkrun is around the city walls. NIKKI NATION went round in 32:38.

Position	Gender Position	FVS Parkrunner	Time
2	2	William MORLEY	18:21
5	5	Simon JACKSON	19:11
24	22	Jay PAPA	21:09
25	23	Nick GILL	21:10
27	25	Toby ECCLESHALL	21:16
32	30	Grant RAMSAY	21:36
68	59	Tony VICKERS	23:44
73	64	Ralph DADSWELL	23:57
90	81	Daniel VILJOEN	24:25
92	83	Matthew COOKE	24:29
95	86	Charlie WHITE	24:37
131	114	Matt WALTON	26:00
200	39	Lorraine HILL	28:17
212	166	Ryan DUNNING	28:47
229	175	Jim BROWN	29:22
257	61	Sarah ILLINGWORTH	30:03
262	195	Maurice BALLARD	30:15
266	198	Steve PLATT	30:23
307	83	Debbie BLANTERN	32:08
311	87	Caroline CROFT	32:11
312	88	Carole SHELDRICK	32:11
332	99	Sophie KEEBLE	32:51
335	101	Penny SCHENKEL	33:02
347	107	Pamela VILJOEN	33:40
351	110	Karen PALMER	33:47
379	121	Angie KEELING	35:55
388	251	Paul HOLGATE	36:26
394	132	Hayley PEACH	36:49
395	133	Tracey TOMLIN	36:50
414	146	Zoe NEWELL	37:49
418	258	Keith MANTON	38:12
431	262	Lloyd DIAS	40:27
456	175	Julie MANTON	44:07
487	198	Niki PLUMB	1:04:41
488	199	Sharon CROWLEY	1:04:42

Tags Berlin Marathon, Cross Country, Ealing Half Marathon, Handicap 5k, Hitchin 5k, Hyde Park, Loch Ness Marathon, parkrun, Swindon Half Marathon, Vitality 10k, Willow 10k

News Race Results

Andrew and Eloise Win Handicap 5K

Post author By Peter Sach
Post date September 21, 2025
No Comments on Andrew and Eloise Win Handicap 5K

The Spartans held their last evening handicap 5K of the year on Thursday.

First to finish was Andrew Fenwick in 36:11, 4:19 ahead of handicap, closely followed by Andrew Gardner returning to the club with a SB 22:37 and new member Stephen Massey in 24:14. Eloise Hind was first woman in 24:58 with Rebecca Rayner 2^nd lady in in a SB 37:29 and Jayne Dymoke 3^rd with a new PB of 35:35.

Adrian Busolini was fastest runner on the night in 17:55 with Matthew Jackson 2^nd quickest in 20:34 and Charlie Arnold 3^rd fastest in 21:58. Oli Lacigova was fastest lady in 22:15 with Eloise 2^nd quickest and Sam Gentry 3^rd fastest lady in 28:02.

The handicap 5Ks will return in the Spring but there will be a choice of Handicap 5 miles or 10 miles on Sunday morning 9^th November. Further details to follow later in the year.

Pos	First Name	Last Name	Own Time	H’CAP	Finish Time	Comp HCAP
1	ANDREW	FENWICK	36:11	4:30	40:41	4:19
2	ANDREW	GARDNER	22:37	18:15	40:52	4:08
3	STEPHEN	MASSEY	24:14	16:45	40:59	4:01
4	ELOISE	HIND	24:58	16:45	41:43	3:17
5	AHAAN	SHARMA	31:04	11:00	42:04	2:56
6	KARTIK	SHARMA	31:05	11:00	42:05	2:55
7	PAUL	MAGUIRE	24:41	17:45	42:26	2:34
8	REBECCA	RAYNER	37:29	5:15	42:44	2:16
9	JAYNE	DYMOKE	35:35	7:15	42:50	2:10
10	ADRIAN	BUSOLINI	17:55	25:15	43:10	1:50
11	HAYLEY	PEACH	37:54	5:30	43:24	1:36
12	ADAM	HILL	31:52	11:45	43:37	1:23
13	NICHOLA	DURENT	43:53	0:00	43:53	1:07
14	SHARON	CROWLEY	43:54	0:00	43:54	1:06
15	CHARLES	ARNOLD	21:58	22:00	43:58	1:02
16	JOHN	NELMS	23:32	20:30	44:02	0:58
17	JUDY	KING	30:18	13:45	44:03	0:57
18	MATTHEW	JACKSON	20:34	23:30	44:04	0:56
19	AMANDA	VICKERS	33:54	10:15	44:09	0:51
20	JANE	WADEY	39:11	5:00	44:11	0:49
21	CRAIG	BACON	23:14	21:00	44:14	0:46
22	OLI	LACIGOVA	22:15	22:00	44:15	0:45
23	PETE	COOK	26:01	18:15	44:16	0:44
24	TONY	VICKERS	24:16	20:00	44:16	0:44
25	LEANNE	WILSON	30:14	14:15	44:29	0:31
26	FIONA	CLARKE	31:21	13:15	44:36	0:24
27	MATT	TUTTON	25:58	18:45	44:43	0:17
28	CHRIS	WATLING	26:28	18:15	44:43	0:17
29	SAM	GENTRY	28:02	16:45	44:47	0:13
30	MATTHEW	COOKE	22:36	22:15	44:51	0:09
31	KARL	SHREEVE	28:36	16:30	45:06	(0:06)
32	MARTIN	DUDLEY	25:54	19:30	45:24	(0:24)
33	MATT	CLARKE	28:58	17:15	46:13	(1:13)
34	MICHAEL	O’KEEFE	37:08	9:15	46:23	(1:23)
35	LIZ	CARVELL	36:04	11:45	47:49	(2:49)
36	TIM	ROBINSON	31:10	17:15	48:25	(3:25)

Cross Country

There was very early, and very sunny, start to the cross country season on Sunday. 34 Spartans, 15 women and 19 men, finished the first of five races which was at the Lucy Warren open space in Hoddesdon.

About 350 runners ran one small and three large laps to cover approximately 7.8 kilometres.

The first two Spartan men were both under 30 minutes with ADRIAN BUSOLINI 15^th in 29:05 and MIKE JEFFS 23^rd in 29:55.

CHLOE SIMPSON and GEORGIE HOOPER were the first two females from Fairlands. Chloe 120^th overall with 36:05 and Georgie 122^nd in 36:13.

Lots more details should be available from the race organisers in the next couple of days.

The second race will be in Trent Park on Sunday 2^nd November.

Position	Name	Time	Category
15	ADRIAN BUSOLINI	29:05	MS
23	MIKE JEFFS	29:55	M40
40	JAY PAPA	31:14	MS
62	ADRIAN DONNELLY	32:48	M40
97	DAVID RIDDELL	35:03	M60
109	CHARLIE ARNOLD	35:38	M60
120	CHLOE SIMPSON	36:05	W35
122	GEORGIE HOOPER	36:13	W35
142	STEPHEN MASSEY	38:01	M50
147	MARTIN WOOD	37:31	M60
156	MATT COOKE	37:57	MS
165	MARTIN JACOB	38:46	M40
173	ANITA WELTZ	39:08	W35
176	SIMON HAIGH	39:12	M50
179	TONY VICKERS	39:22	M50
193	ANNABELLE WHITE	39:53	WS
207	DARREN EMMERSON	40:26	M50
212	NICK GILL	41:00**	MS
254	JAYNE RIDDELL	43:30	W55
263	JACKIE PERRY	44:02	W55
266	MARK FREEMAN	44:09	M60
285	SAM GENTRY	46:05	W45
286	JODIE WILSON	46:06	WS
290	LEANNE WILSON	46:22	WS
295	JIM BROWN	46:31	M70
296	CLAIRE EMMERSON	46:41	W45
317	SHARON CROWLEY	51:30	W65
321	KARTIK SHARMA	52:30	M40
323	CALLIE CHAPMAN	52:50	W35
328	MICHAEL O’KEEFE	56:07	M60
329	AMANDA VICKERS	56:17	W45
335	BECKY RAYNOR	60:50	W35
339	AHAAN SHARMA	62:32**	MS
341	JANE WADEY	65:37	W55

Berlin Station

Spartan YUKO GORDON won her category in the Berlin Marathon by 1 minute 46 seconds. She was the first woman aged 70 plus with 3 hours 52 minutes 28 seconds (3:52:28). Under four hours at 70 plus is good going! In a race of over 50,000 people she was 14,353^rd.

Ouse Valley Way Marathon

On Sunday 21st September Tim Robinson ran the Ouse Valley Way Marathon organised by BRJ Run & Tri. The route is from St Neots along the Ouse River through St Ives and finishes a few miles up the river in Earith

The ground was hard and uneven along the river. Tree roots and gravel, and herds of cows made the running tricky. Tim finished in 6:45:43.

Letchworth 5K

Three Spartans made the short trip to the Letchworth 5K. Carole Sheldrick was third woman 50 plus in 26:20; Karl Shreeve finished in 28:10 and Monica Smithson was second woman 60 plus with 29:54.

Marmite Creative juices 10k Canicross

Marmite made his Spartans and race debut Sunday in the Creative Juices 10K Canicross near Rickmansworth. It was a really fun 10k which cost £31 and included a medal which is also a bottle opener, a free cup and free beer! Marmite took 53 minutes 51 seconds but it was really about managing his human – Spartan TERRY SAWYER.

Century Celebration – Parkrun Highlights, Saturday 20^th September 2025

54 Spartans ran parkruns. Thirty were at the 419^th Stevenage parkrun where there were almost 500 finishers.

There was a big caped centenary celebration for SHARON CROWLEY. She planned her campaign so that she ran a parkrun for the 100^th time and volunteered for the 50^th time on the same day. She milked it finishing in 46 minutes 21 seconds.

Returning to fitness GRANT RAMSAY was in the top twenty with 20:47. SAMANTHA SUTTON was the fastest female from Fairlands with a new parkrun personal best of 28:58.

EVA RAMSEY ran her 40^th parkrun in 30:33 and JANE WADEY her 70^th in 45:45.

And proving you need never stop ROGER HEAD was first man 80 plus with 36:35; ROGER BIGGS third man 75 plus with 49:05 and JIM BROWN first man 70 plus with 28:59.

Spartans away from Stevenage on Saturday included SIMON FRASER 17:47 at Yarborough Leisure Centre (Lincoln); PETE COOK 25:40 at Southwick Country (Trowbridge, Wiltshire); CHARLES ARNOLD 22:12 at Great Denham; SIMON HAIGH 25:47 at Westmill; MARK BEASLEY 26:27 at Blickling (Norwich); ANDY PRIOR 26:36 and KERSTIN PRIOR 26:38 at Clare Castle (Sudbury); DANIEL SUTTON 29:25 and JESSICA CLARKE 29:38 at Rutland Water; RYAN DUNNING 29:35 at Hastings; and SALLY PICKLES whoop, whoop with a sub thirty 29:59 at Flegg High (Great Yarmouth).

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time
18	18	Grant RAMSAY	20:47
44	42	Tony RANDFIELD	22:35
78	71	Daniel VILJOEN	24:09
80	73	Lee PICKERSGILL	24:15
99	90	Jay PAPA	24:51
112	98	Matthew COOKE	25:19
206	32	Samantha SUTTON	28:58
207	166	Jim BROWN	28:59
239	177	Matt CLARKE	30:00
242	53	Fiona CLARKE	30:06
259	61	Eva RAMSEY	30:33
310	84	Pamela VILJOEN	32:25
330	222	Michael O’KEEFE	33:17
331	96	Carole SHELDRICK	33:17
341	100	Elizabeth CROWLEY	33:35
381	247	Lloyd DIAS	35:54
397	252	Roger HEAD	36:35
415	139	Marleen VAN ZWIETEN	37:35
420	142	Beverley HARLOW	38:19
444	265	Paul HOLGATE	41:27
455	168	Liz CARVELL	44:18
457	170	Jane WADEY	45:45
462	174	Sharon CROWLEY	46:21
463	175	Niki PLUMB	46:42
465	177	Nicola HATHERLY	46:43
464	176	Hayley PEACH	46:43
466	178	Emma CHAPMAN	46:44
474	275	Roger BIGGS	49:05
475	182	Nichola DURENT	049:11
476	183	Rebecca RAYNER	49:21

Tags Berlin Marathon, Cross Country, Handicap 5k, Letchworth 5K, Ouse Valley Way Marathon, parkrun

News Newsletter Race Results Racing

HITCHIN & BERLIN WINNERS

Spartan ANDREW PATTERSON won the Hitchin 5K in 16 minutes 10 seconds.

Other Spartan highlights included – on the basis of one runner one prize MIKE JEFFS took the male 40 plus award with his 18:01. He was eighth overall. BRIAN WHITE was second man 60 plus in 22:28 and ANDY JAY third in 27:36. JACKIE PERRY was second woman 60 plus in 27:36.

MARIE COLUCCI was the fastest female from Fairlands with 23:05 while HARRIET SMITH was not far behind with 23:45.

Pos	CatPos	MF	BiB	Name	Category	Time	Grade	Comments
1	1	1	3739	Andrew PATTERSON	MV40	16:10	86.5%	Winner!
8	2	8	4848	Mike JEFFS	MV40	18:01	76.0%	2^nd MV40
29	8	28	4579	Mark COLLINS	MV40	19:49	72.6%
36	16	35	2653	Nick GILL	MV30	19:56	66.8%
87	2	73	2713	Brian WHITE	MV60	22:28	76.6%	2^nd MV60
106	6	20	3072	Marie COLUCCI	FV40	23:05	68.9%
116	6	25	3697	Harriet SMITH	FV30	23:45	61.9%
137	37	103	1558	Daniel VILJOEN	MV40	24:25	58.8%
141	2	36	4021	Jackie PERRY	FV60	24:52	76.1%	2^nd FV60
194	3	129	2797	Andy JAY	MV60	27:36	57.5%	3^rd MV60
257	16	100	1469	Pamela VILJOEN	FV50	30:01	55.7%
306	39	134	1528	Callie CHAPMAN	FV40	32:29	46.3%
345	47	166	3686	Rebecca RAYNER	FV40	37:59	39.9%

Yuko’s A Winner In Berlin

At the Berlin Marathon Spartan YUKO GORDON won her age category, women 70 plus, in 3:34:45.

That makes it her third time winning out of three outings in Berlin.

SIMON FRASER was easily under three hours with 2:48:09 and KEITH HOOKER had an excellent run to come in with 4:12:02. There were tens of thousands of runners.

Great Shelford 5K

CHARLES ARNOLD took his Spartan stripes to South Cambs and the 11th annual Great Shelford 5K. An England Athletics (EA) certified out-and-back road race, flat and picturesque so no excuses for not getting at least a season’s best (SB) of 21:28.

Tags Berlin Marathon, Great Shelford 5k, Hitchin 5k