Tag: Buntingford 10

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News Race Results

A RECORD BREAKING CHRISTMAS

Golds and Silver for Fairlands Valley Spartans as 32 ran in the County 10 Championships

A superb run by DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT won him a great GOLD medal in the Hertfordshire County Ten Mile Championships for veteran runners.  He finished in 57:39, tenth overall compared with 1:05:27 in the same race in December 2024 and reduced his all-time personal best (PB) by 1:59.

David said, “The Spartans were out in force today! 

Really pleased with today’s race, especially after last year’s race not going at all to plan. Super proud with a new 10 mile PB, picking up both race and Herts Vets wins in the MV40 age category with really strong competition from St Albans Striders and Ware Joggers, and helping to win the Men’s Team silver.”

JIM BROWN won the male 70 plus GOLD by improving by 1 minute 40 seconds on his 2024 time on the same course in the same race.  He finished in 1:30:35 (90:35).

He said, “That was a surprise.  Delighted to get ahead of some people I haven’t beaten for at least twelve years.  A little chilly but no sign of Saturday’s frost and nothing like some previous years with their snow and ice.  The descent from six mile marker was wonderful.”

Silver Spartans.  In addition to the gold individual medals the Spartan men’s team of David Harris-Cherguit; ROSS GALLAGHER with a season’s best 1:06:18; ADRIAN DONNELLY with a new PB of 1:06:39 and TERRY SAWYER running his first “10” in 1:09:31 won SILVER.

The County Championships were included in the Buntingford End of Year 10 open to all aged 16 or more event.  Although not eligible for the county event Spartan CHARLIE ARNOLD was easily the fastest 70 in the open race.  He finished in 1:15:17, a new season’s best by 1:54, and a margin of almost six minutes (5:56).

NICK GILL was second Spartan home in 1:01:22 – 2 minutes 37 seconds quicker than his previous 10-mile PB on the same course in 2023.  He was really pleased with the effort and the time as he builds up towards a half marathon PB attempt in March, and loved seeing so many Spartans wearing their stripes with pride!

CLAIRE PULLEN was the fastest female from Fairlands with 1:24:37.  Next were ANN TRYSSESOONE 1:34:29 and SAM SUTTON achieving a tremendous 20 minutes 2 seconds personal best with 1:35:11.  The next largest gain was 12 minutes 16 seconds for BECKY RAYNER who had a great finish to the year taking her PB to 1:47:43.

Between them the 32 Spartans produced eight new personal bests (PB) and eight new season’s bests (SB).

There were 641 finishers.

Pos.BibNameNet Time
10311David Harris-Cherguit57:39
31266Nick Gill1:01:22
52772Charlie White1:03:45
59537Jay Papa1:05:15
71256Ross Gallagher1:06:18
74203Adrian Donnelly1:06:39
110632Terry Sawyer1:09:31
135614Sam Simmons1:11:50
146634Danny Scanlon1:12:21
167148Mark Collins1:13:29
175366Simon Jackson1:14:18
18825Charles Arnold1:15:17
231342Keith Hooker1:18:07
232259Pete Gentle1:18:07
233369Mike Jeffs1:18:08
318579Claire Pullen1:24:37
363736Tony Vickers1:28:51
389101Jim Brown1:30:35
418143Matt Clarke1:32:16
445721Ann Tryssesoone1:34:29
455686Samantha Sutton1:35:11
477662Hazel Smith1:37:06
483142Fiona Clarke1:37:27
495418Karen Liddle1:38:57
506346Tricia Hopper1:39:45
558170Sharon Crowley1:45:36
572590Rebecca Rayner1:47:43
590635Penny Schenkel1:49:42
610150Hayley Peach1:54:19
619735Amanda Vickers1:58:27
634339Paul Holgate2:08:36
641210Nichola Durent2:27:20

Christmas Day Record Breaker – Thursday 25th December.

At least 57 Fairlands Valley Spartans were in Fairlands Valley Park for the record breaking Stevenage parkrun on Christmas Day.  Record breaking!!  911 completed the 5K course beating the previous record by 161.  There were also 49 volunteers helping to make the event a success.  Some of those were also Spartans.

That was spectacular.  A bit chilly but a beautiful sunny morning with loads of santas, a lot of elves and little helpers, and huge variety including penguins; Kiwi Christmas; grinch; reindeer; turkeys; Christmas trees; snowmen and crackers.  Even the bollards had Santa hats.

Spartan times ranged from 17:37 to 58:04.  ADRIAN BUSOLINI and ANDREW PATTERSON were top ten at sixth with 17:37 and seventh with 17:52.  WILLIAM MORLEY ran a new parkrun personal best of 19:08 and CHARLIE ARNOLD was first man over 70 with 23:18 – a winning margin of 6:34!

This time the fastest female from Fairlands was CLAIRE PULLEN in 27:40 with JAYNE RIDDELL in 28:33 and SAMANTHA SUTTON also sub 30 with 29:59.  Great times considering how congested the course was in places for this very popular event.

MARIAN MORLEY ran her milestone 50th parkrun in 30:23 and MARK GOODWIN, coming back to running, his 25th in 33:49.  Those with mini-milestones included CAROLINE CROFT 130th in 38:51; CALLIE CHAPMAN 90th in 39:06; KARL SHREEVE 30th in 40:23 and TRACY HAYGARTH her 180th in 45:57.  Meanwhile MIKE CROWLEY completed his very first parkrun in 45:57.

More than 236,000 people ran a parkrun on Christmas Day!

PositionFVS parkrunnerGenderAge GroupTime
6Adrian BUSOLINIMaleVM35-3917:37
7Andrew PATTERSONMaleVM40-4417:52
13Simon JACKSONMaleVM45-4918:39
17William MORLEYMaleSM20-2419:08
43Stuart ARCHERMaleVM40-4420:54
60Charlie WHITEMaleSM30-3422:00
61Mike JEFFSMaleVM40-4422:01
88Danny SCANLONMaleVM40-4423:11
91Charles ARNOLDMaleVM70-7423:18
104Kris WESTCOTTMaleVM40-4423:45
108Keith HOOKERMaleVM45-4923:49
139Tony RANDFIELDMaleVM65-6924:25
141Daniel VILJOENMaleVM45-4924:25
267Claire PULLENFemale 43/360VW55-5927:40
297Jayne RIDDELLFemale 53/360VW60-6428:33
298David RIDDELLMaleVM60-6428:35
337Ryan DUNNINGMaleVM50-5429:26
352Samantha SUTTONFemaleVW50-5429:59
354Perri GENTRYMaleSM25-2930:02
374Marian MORLEYFemaleVW60-6430:23
391Vishal SHAHMaleVM40-4430:57
397Jay PAPAMaleSM30-3431:10
398Richard MOOREMaleVM45-4931:10
404Kerstin WEINERFemaleVW55-5931:15
432Nick KLEANTHOUSMaleVM60-6431:56
438Shauna LAWLESSFemaleSW25-29 32:05
475Andy PRIORMaleVM55-5932:50
485Monica SMITHSONFemaleVW60-6433:03
486Ada JANUSIENEFemaleVW40-4433:05
496Jim BROWNMaleVM70-7433:16
510Mark GOODWINMaleVM65-6933:49
532Steve PLATTMaleVM50-5434:20
536Debbie BLANTERNFemaleVW55-5934:27
542Claire EMMERSONFemaleVW50-5434:37
543Darren EMMERSONMaleVM55-5934:37
548Jodie WILSONFemaleSW25-29 34:59
549Leanne WILSONFemaleSW25-2935:00
560Georgie HOOPERFemaleVW35-3935:15
561Tracy PEZFemaleVW50-5435:16
592Alice WELCHFemaleSW25-2935:58
611Andy JAYMaleVM60-6436:32
612Nick GILLMaleVM35-3936:36
639Lucy PAULFemaleVW45-4937:32
671Stephen SMITHSONMaleVM55-5938:12
692Caroline CROFTFemaleVW50-5438:51
700Hilary DAVIESFemaleVW60-6439:03
703Callie CHAPMANFemaleVW40-4439:06
744Karl SHREEVEMaleVM55-5940:23
754Jane WADEYFemaleVW55-5940:41
756Hazel SMITHFemaleVW50-5440:44
763Sam GENTRYFemaleVW45-4940:52
853Tracy HAYGARTHFemaleVW55-5943:40
867Mike CROWLEYMaleVM65-6945:57
873Rebecca RAYNERFemaleVW40-4447:39
876Elizabeth CROWLEYFemaleVW35-3948:18
877Sharon CROWLEYFemaleVW65-6948:26
904Thomas SAUKAMaleVM50-5458:04

A Couple of Charlies and other parkrun highlights

On Saturday 27th CHARLIE ARNOLD broke the 70 plus age group record at Henlow Bridge Lakes parkrun with 23 minutes 8 seconds (23:08).  Meanwhile Spartan CHARLIE WHITE finished in 22:52.

MIKE REYNOLDS ran the Princes Park, Liverpool parkrun in 28:01 and SARAH ILLINGWORTH Tyne Green, Hexham in 28:25 but JENNY GARRETT wins the prize for parkrun tourism this week.  She was one of 1,053 finishers at the Albert Park, Melbourne parkrun which she ran in 39:19 and got an “A” for her parkrun alphabet.

Cold enough for one or two slippery patches and only two days after the record busting Thursday but still 424 including 26 Spartans turned out for the regular Saturday Stevenage parkrun on 27th December.

For a selection of other events coming up soon see Coming Events later in this release.

PositionGender PositionFVS parkrunnerTime
55Simon JACKSON18:37
1515Perri GENTRY20:36
6561Matthew COOKE23:56
877Claire PULLEN25:13
10088Daniel VILJOEN25:50
12316Jodie WILSON26:33
132113Darren EMMERSON26:51
20747Claire EMMERSON29:12
20949Carole SHELDRICK29:14
24969Ada JANUSIENE31:04
25674Fiona CLARKE31:24
257177Matt CLARKE31:24
26076Sophie PARSONS31:38
263179Ryan RIDDELL31:42
272186Nick KLEANTHOUS32:07
27583Alice WELCH32:19
285189Chris HOLLAND33:16
313110Hilary DAVIES34:41
345133Sam GENTRY36:44
387222Tony RANDFIELD42:44
396225Michael O’KEEFE46:14
411233Thomas SAUKA52:20
412234Roger BIGGS53:30
414170Samantha SUTTON54:36
415235Matthew PATTMAN54:37
424240Jim BROWN60:21

Cross Country Update

A great turnout and some real efforts have moved Fairlands Valley Spartans up in the Sunday League cross country.  Their women’s team were ninth in the second event but jumped up to fourth in the third fixture.  The women’s over 35 team jumped from tenth to second!  In the combined scores for men and women FVS are now fifth out of the 18 clubs with some other clubs not far in front.

In the run up to Christmas more than fifty, 23 women and 29 men, Fairlands Valley Spartans ran the cross country league race in Stevenage on Sunday morning 21st December.  21 other Spartans volunteered as marshals or helped in other ways.

On an undulating three lap course in the south field of Fairlands Valley Park GEORGE HALFPENNY was the fastest Spartan over the 7.75 kilometres.  He was 15th in 28:59.

The next two Spartans were also under 30 minutes.  ADRIAN BUSOLINI 18th in 29:18 and DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT 30th in 29:55.

NATALIE LAWRENCE was the fastest female from Fairlands, and third woman overall, with her 31:36 lapping many of the men.  Next came SHAUNA LAWLESS in 36:51 and SUZY HAWKINS in 36:56. 

Celebrating his birthday didn’t slow CHARLIE ARNOLD who ran round in 36:50.

This was a first cross country league race for many Spartans including George Halfpenny (28:59), Graham Hoare (38:18), Shauna Lawless (36:51), Sally Pickles (49:09), Amanda Vickers (57:05) and Chris Watling (42:43).

There were 403 finishers.  The next and fourth Sunday League race will be in Panshanger Park on Sunday 11th January.

PositionNameOfficialCategory
15GEORGE HALFPENNY28:59MSenior
18ADRIAN BUSOLINI29:18MSenior
30DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT29:55M40
54NATALIE LAWRENCE31:36W35
58DAN HUKIN31:56M40
75JAY PAPA32:54MSenior
76NICK GILL32:56MSenior
92ADRIAN DONNELLY33:19M40
106GRANT RAMSAY34:05M50
138LIAM WELLER36:10MSenior
139ANDY SHAW36:12M50
158CHARLIE ARNOLD36:50M60
159SHAUNA LAWLESS36:51WSenior
161#SUZY HAWKINS36:56W45
163LEWIS GREEN37:11M40
166GEORGIE HOOPER37:23W35
189GRAHAM HOARE38:18M50
190KEITH HOOKER38:21M40
201MELVIN AUBURN38:42MSenior
202MATT COOKE38:43MSenior
247CHLOE SIMPSON41:21W35
250ALICE WELCH41:25WSenior
265ANDY PRIOR42:13M50
272CRAIG BACON42:36M50
275CHRIS WATLING42:43MSenior
278JO COOKSLEY42:50W35
295DARREN EMMERSON43:35M50
300PETE COOK43:47M50
304JACKIE PERRY43:59W55
315SIMON SYPULA44:36M40
319LINDA GEORGE44:56W35
321ADAM HILL45:23MSenior
322MARK FREEMAN45:27M60
335SAM SUTTON46:39W45
336JON SYPULA46:46M40
338JACOB NELMS46:54MSenior
341JIM BROWN46:58M70
346SAM GENTRY47:44W45
350CLAIRE EMMERSON48:16W45
351SHARON CROWLEY48:24W65
352EMILY GRIEVES48:47WSenior
353STEVE TINSLEY48:56M40
355ANNABELLE WHITE48:59WSenior
357SALLY PICKLES49:09W55
370LIZ CROWLEY51:01W35
375BECKY RAYNER51:31W35
381CALLIE CHAPMAN53:44W35
384BECCA BIRT54:13W45
393AMANDA VICKERS57:05W45
394JAYNE DYMOKE57:16W45
395PAUL HOLGATE59:03M60
399JANE WADEY62:56W55
Categories
News Race Results

SPARTANS STAY UP

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

74 Fairlands Valley Spartans made absolutely sure the club stayed in division two of the Mid Week League when they raced 10K near Buntingford on Wednesday evening.  This was the fourth and final counting race in the series and 28 FVS women and 46 FVS men took part.  In fact over the series they did so well they came close to promotion to division one.

More than 600 tackled the undulating and sometimes quite narrow course with a brute of a climb from 9K to the finish.

That did not seem to worry two Spartan Olivias too much.  OLIVIA HAMILTON and OLIVIA LACIGOVA were ninth and 18th women in the race with 44:30 and 46:13.  In between came GEORGIE HOOPER tenth woman with 44:47 and second in her age category.  In fact there were THREE Olivias in the Spartans “A” team of eight runners.  OLIVIA NATION finished her first 10K race in 54:31.  The others in the top Spartan eight were MARIE COLUCCI, third in her age category with 47 minutes exactly; JAYNE RIDDELL 53:08; JO COOKSLEY in 53:25 and JESSICA CLARKE in 54:06. 

Just outside the “A” team there was an impressive 54:51 by MEGAN SUTTON and YUKO GORDON was second woman 65 plus with 55 minutes exactly.  LINDA NOLAN finished in a personal best (PB) 56:28 and LINDA GEORGE in a PB 57:24 with CLAIRE EMMERSON chasing down runners from other clubs to give herself 58:36, her best time this year.

HANNAH MANTON improved by 11 minutes 10 seconds from the Stevenage race to finish in 1:01:31.

The Spartan men got ten runners under 40 minutes with SIMON FRASER showing the way at fifth overall with 34:48.  ANDREW PATTERSON was 12th man with 36:04 and ADRIAN BUSOLINI 22nd in 37:16.

PAUL SHELLEY was third man 50 plus with 38:59; RALPH DADSWELL first man 60 plus with 40:55 and JIM BROWN third man 70 plus in 59:01.

PERRI GENTRY 39:25 and MARTIN JACOB 47:37 both ran new personal bests.

On the night the Spartan men were third out of the seven division two clubs racing.  Altogether there were 16 clubs in the event.  The FVS women were fourth.  Overall Fairlands Valley Spartans were third in the series with 42 points which compares with Royston second on 47 and Ware winners with 51 but well ahead of Bishops Stortford who were fourth with 28.  Stevenage Striders and Harlow were relegated.

Another amazing turnout meant the Spartans had three complete men’s teams, three complete women’s teams and 14 other runners!

Now the Spartans can look forward to the “mob match” which will be in Welwyn Garden City on Wednesday 9th July and to the Relays in the Park which the Spartans are hosting on Thursday evening 17th July.

RaceWomenFirst NameLast NameTimeCat.
1599OliviaHamilton44:30S
16710GeorgieHooper44:47V 35
21318OliviaLacigova46:13V 35
22821MarieColucci47:00V 45
36951JayneRiddell53:08V 55
37353JoCooksley53:25V 35
39260JessicaClarke54:06S
40063OliviaNation54:31S
40967MeganSutton54:51S
41569YukoGordon55:00V 65
43674SallyReeve56:08V 45
44577LindaNolan56:28V 55
45080AlisonShelley56:41V 55
46382LindaGeorge57:24V 35
49093ClaireEmmerson58:36V 45
505101CaroleSheldrick59:46V 45
507103AnnabelleWhite59:50S
523110HannahManton1:01:31S
539118JudyKing1:02:45V 55
568130SharonCrowley1:06:31V 65
576134LizCarvell1:08:32V 65
579136SamanthaSutton1:09:19V 45
592141AmandaVickers1:11:03V 45
595142AdaJanusiene1:11:32V 35
597143CallieChapman1:12:07V 35
598144PennySchenkel1:12:08V 55
599145HazelSmith1:12:09V 45
601146SallyPhillips1:15:21V 55
RaceMenFirst NameLast NameTimeCat.
54SimonFraser34:48S
1412AndrewPatterson36:04V 40
2822AdrianBusolini37:16S
4935SteffanFord38:55V 40
5237PaulShelley38:59V 50
6043MichaelFisher39:17S
6244NickGill39:22S
6345PerriGentry39:25S
6446NathanKirley39:28S
7049RossGallagher39:56V 40
8359JayPapa40:45S
8460KirkNdugu40:46S
8861RalphDadswell*40:55V 60
10672TerrySawyer41:44V 40
14091PeteGentle43:46V 40
168102StuartArcher44:48V 40
173104PaulMould44:57V 40
198113CharlieArnold45:45V 60
203116AlexeyZherdev45:53V 40
222125KeithHooker46:38V 40
226127PeterOrton46:56V 60
227128CraigBacon46:57V 50
241136MatthewCooke47:36S
242137MartinJacob47:37V 40
244139TonyRandfield47:42V 60
272148MelvinAuburn48:49S
291152LeePickersgill49:28V 40
316161SimonHaigh50:51V 50
349171MattTutton52:33V 40
351172DarrenEmmerson52:39V 50
354174AlexScofield52:43S
357176MartinWood52:47V 60
364178JosephWasnock52:55S
370181MartinDudley53:11V 60
372182TonyVickers53:23V 50
387186JohnNelms53:53V 50
439199LloydDias56:14S
452204SimonSypula56:43V 50
453205PeteCook56:46V 50
496210JimBrown59:01V 70
504211KarlShreeve59:44V 50
524217TimRobinson1:01:32V 50
527218DavidAckerley1:01:35S
552224SteveTinsley1:04:04V 40
583232PaulHolgate1:10:00V 60
588233NickKleanthous1:10:32V 60

Eastern Masters!

The Eastern Masters Athletic Club held its Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Sandy on Saturday.  Temperatures were up to 34C with a very blustery wind.  Five Spartan athletes were competing in their FVS Stripes across a range of age groups, with many medals being won.

On the track, Gold Medals were won by Roger Head in the 400 metres for men over 80 (in 1:51.0) and Sharon Crowley for 1500 metres and 2km Race Walk (7:58.5 & 16:42.4) meanwhile Tessa Stephenson was happy with her season best times in the 100m & 200m (18.9s & 38.7s) as she continued her return to competition after two years off through injury.

In the field events Joylyn & Tim Saunders-Mullins led the way in the over 70 age group.  Tim won Gold in the Hammer (29.36m), Bronze in the Shot Putt (8.03m) and was fourth in the Discus (14.28m), whilst Joylyn also won Golds in the Shot Putt (6.32m) and Javelin (19.45m).

Fairlands Valley Spartans masters athletes next head out to Corby for the third meeting in the Eastern Masters League on Wednesday evening (2nd July).

Parkrun Highlights Saturday 28th June.

Not quite as hot as last week but another warm parkrun in Stevenage.  At 9a.m. Saturday morning it was about 21 degrees but this time numbers jumped back up to beyond 500 with 517.  There were 26 Spartans and three of them including the fastest runner were in the top five.

SIMON FRASER was first with 17:17; KIRK NDUGU third with 17:31 and SIMON JACKSON fourth with 17:40.

TONY VICKERS ran his tenth parkrun in a new parkrun personal best (PPB) of 25:50.  Running her 130th parkrun GAIL MACKIE was the fastest female from Fairlands with 26:42 and HAZEL SMITH ran her 60th parkrun in 29:12.

Altogether 49 Spartans ran parkruns.  Those elsewhere included CHARLIE WHITE coming sixth with 17:48 at Heslington; JAY PAPA 18:51, KEITH HOOKER 21:46, ANNABELLE WHITE 22:26 and JESSICA CLARKE 23:59 at Storeys Field; MATTHEW COOKE 22:20 at Jubilee, Bedford; MATT GIFFORD 22:58, CHARLES ARNOLD 25:55 and CAROLINE BARTER 26:46 at Henlow Bridge Lakes; PAUL SHELLEY 23:38 and ALISON SHELLEY 32:54 at Lanhydrock; SUZY HAWKINS 24:51 and NICK GILL 28:24 at Letchworth; DARREN EMMERSON 25:44 and CLAIRE EMMERSON 28:28 at Pocket; JANE McFARLANE 28:43 at Hafan Pwllheli; KEITH ABRAHAMS 29:10 at Salisbury; MATTHEW NEWTON 31:06 at Gunpowder and ROGER BIGGS 50:49 at Medina, Isle of Wight.

PositionGender PositionFVS parkrunnerTime
11Simon FRASER17:17
33Kirk NDUGU17:31
44Simon JACKSON17:40
1111Ciaran MCANENY19:15
1616Grant RAMSAY19:38
8579Thomas SAUKA24:20
9790Pete COOK24:49
130118Tony VICKERS25:50
153135Toby ECCLESHALL26:42
15412Gail MACKIE26:42
177150Ryan DUNNING27:11
19623Susan MCANENY27:39
213174Jim BROWN28:06
24142Fiona CLARKE29:12
24243Hazel SMITH29:12
269205Maurice BALLARD30:02
30968Debbie BLANTERN31:37
315231Nick KLEANTHOUS31:45
36195Monica SMITHSON33:18
387109Carole SHELDRICK34:12
388110Caroline CROFT34:14
409126Chloe CHAPMAN35:33
410264Paul JENNINGS35:35
436141Hilary DAVIES36:49
497300Lloyd DIAS48:11
504304Tony RANDFIELD50:44
Categories
Club News

SPARTANS END YEAR WITH BUNTINGFORD TEN

New Fairlands Valley Spartans club captain MIKE JEFFS ran a new personal best of one hour and just 31 seconds (1:00:31) in Sunday’s Buntingford 10.  He was fourth man 40 plus and 38th out of the 524 finishers.  Mike said he took on the very difficult hilly End of Year 10, beat his ten mile personal best (PB) by 1 minute 28 seconds with a start line to finish off the year beating PBs in 1500 metres; 5k; 10k; 10 miles; half marathon and full marathon.

A great turnout of 27 Spartans tackled the race on a chilly, misty but calm and dry morning.

DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT said his time on Sunday was 1:05:22 which had to be dug deep for and it was great to see so many Spartans racing.

PAUL SHELLEY was third man 55 plus with his 1:03:57 and NICK GILL came in with 1:06:34.  Nick said he was very happy with a season’s best and getting closer to his 1:03:59 PB at the 2023 Buntingford 10… maybe he can beat that in 2025!

YUKO GORDON was second woman 70 plus with 1:18:09 and a 96.55% age score.

The race incorporated the British Masters Athletics Federation championships and the Hertfordshire championships for seniors (18 plus).

Fairlands Valley did well amongst those running in the county championships.  Paul Shelley was fastest man 55 plus with his 1:03:57; Jo Cooksley fastest woman 35 plus with her 1:28:37 and Jim Brown fastest man 70 plus with 1:32:02.  Also Mike Jeffs was second fastest 40 plus with 1:00:31 and Wendy Tharani third fastest woman 50 plus with 1:34:07.

There were five Spartan personal bests (Mike Jeffs, Paul Shelley, Charlie Arnold 1:17:11, Keith Hooker 1:18:50 and Annabelle White 1:25:20) and three season’s bests (Sam Tophill 1:28:06, Tim Robinson 1:31:33 and Penny Schenkel 1:43:22) in the race.

PositionFirst nameLast nameNet timecategory
38MikeJeffs1:00:31MV40
66PaulShelley1:03:57MV55
77DavidHarris-Cherguit1:05:22MV45
90NickGill1:06:34MV35
97AdrianDonnelly1:07:43MV45
170JayPapa1:15:01MSEN
189CharlesArnold1:17:11MV65
204YukoGordon1:18:09FV70
217KeithHooker1:18:50MV45
290AnnabelleWhite1:25:20FSEN
317SamanthaTophill1:28:06FV55
322JoCooksley1:28:37FV35
353TimRobinson1:31:33MV55
355JimBrown1:32:02MV70
369WendyTharani1:34:07FV50
376AnnTryssesoone1:34:34FV55
379ThomasSauka1:34:27MV45
399AlisonShelley1:37:18FV55
420KarenLiddle1:39:57FV65
439MeganSutton1:42:15FSEN
451PennySchenkel1:43:22FV55
504SharonCrowley1:57:00FV65
505PaulHolgate1:58:20MV65
510RoseSutton2:01:46FSEN
511SamanthaSutton2:01:47FV45
517RebeccaRayner2:08:25FV40
525NicholaDurent2:27:01FV45

Gerry’s Frozen Phoenix

On Sunday Spartan GERRY ROSEN took part in the ‘Frozen Phoenix’ a running event organised by Phoenix Running

Gerry said it was his sort of event.  Low key, turn up, grab your ‘ankle’ timing chip and away you go.  It was an out and back of 1.6 miles each way alongside the River Thames, totally pan flat, he completed six laps and a bit more for a total of 20 miles in a respectable time of 3 hours 48 minutes.

He said you can take your own supplies or use what’s provided and Gerry said it was very well stocked, all those household sweets we love and know, right up his street, and they know their runner.  ‘Would you like some crisps’ he was asked after he finished, very welcome.

Gerry will be back there after his holiday for the annual doughnut dash on the 12th January and as you might guess there’s doughnuts which he guesses can be eaten during the run……

50 Plus Spartans At Record Breaking Christmas Day Parkrun

We said watch out for the special on Christmas Day and wow.  The record for Stevenage parkrun was broken by 107 as 750 enjoyed the festive fun on Wednesday morning.

The 750 included more than 53 Spartans including PAUL SHELLEY who achieved a major milestone with his 100th parkrun which he ran in a celebratory 34 minutes 51 seconds.

THOMAS SAUKA ran his 160th in 26:13 and WILLIAM MORLEY his 30th in 19:42.  He was 15th in the race.

ANNABELLE WHITE was the fastest female from Spartans with her 23:37.

Misty, Mild and Still at the Serpentine

It was misty, mild and still in Hyde Park as Spartan JIM BROWN tried to up his pace a little for the first time in weeks at the Last Friday of the Month 5K.  He was reasonably successful for the first 3K and finished third man 70 plus in 28:30.  Jim was keen to take part and finish as he became one of only three runners to do all of the twelve races in the Serpentine series this year.  The lunch-time event continues to amaze in many ways.  The winner finished in 14 minutes 56 seconds and the first woman in 17:04!

Parkrun Highlights – Saturday 28th December

After a wonderful record breaking Christmas Day 467 ran parkrun on a grey Saturday morning 28th December.

41 Spartans ran parkruns on Saturday 28th.  The majority, 26, were at Stevenage.

ASHLEY JOHNSON was second woman and first Spartan in 20:01, just eighteen seconds behind the first woman.  They were 11th and 12th in the race.  That was Ashley’s 25th parkrun.

Other mini-milestones included MIKE REYNOLDS running his 220th parkrun in 28:57; PAUL JENNINGS his 190th in 29:46 and HILARY DAVIES her 60th in 36:20.

Elsewhere TIM ROBINSON was at Panshanger running his 190th parkrun in 33:24 and ANDY JAY at Westmill for his 160th parkrun which he ran in 30:24.

Santa Canta

Some Spartans including Mike Jeffs as The Grinch, Callie Chapman, Nick Gill, Ross Gallagher and Georgie Hopper ran the postponed Santa Canta in Letchworth.  The storm got in the way the previous weekend.

Spartans Star in Herts Annual Runners Awards

Fairlands Valley Spartans did well in the Herts Annual Runners Awards with someone nominated in every category.

Mike Jeffs won male runner of the year.  The Stevenage Marathon, organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans, was second in race of the year.  Keith Fenwick was second in volunteer of the year.  Yuko Gordon was second and Ashley Johnson third in female runner of the year.

Cross Country

The team results are in and as predicted by the much greater Spartan participation and performance the club did much better in the recent cross country league race.  On the day the men’s “A” team were third out of 20 clubs and the “B” team were also third in that category.  The men’s masters (veterans) were second.  In the series the FVS men have moved up to fifth and the male masters up to third.

The women’s team were ninth out of 20 clubs on the day helping to give the club a combined fifth that morning.

Categories
Club News Race Results

BUNTINGFORD 10 MILES, PB’s and A GOLD MEDAL!

Spartan YUKO GORDON is a British Champion! 

Four Spartans entered the British Masters Athletic Federation ten mile championships which were held in Hertfordshire on 30th December as part of the Buntingford end of the year race.  Yuko won GOLD in the women 70 plus race with 1 hour 18 minutes exactly. 

Yuko at Buntingford 10 – Photo Credit Keith Fenwick

DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT was the first of 18 Spartans.  He beat one hour finishing in 59 minutes 38 seconds to be 34th out of the 487 finishers.  He said it was great to see so many Spartans. He was followed by our first Spartan championship runner JOHN HARRIS with 1:12:02. 

A great race but shouldn’t have worn white trainers said STUART ARCHER who finished with a new personal best (PB) of 1:05:08. 

JIM BROWN ran a satisfying negative split with his second five miles almost two minutes quicker than the first.  He came in with 1 hour 31 minutes 43 seconds.  Jim said it was a fantastic club organised event. 

WENDY THARANI said it was a great race.  Her time was 1:31:58. 

Photo Credit – Keith Fenwick

In the women’s veteran 65 category SHARON CROWLEY finished in 1:46:30. 

NICHOLA DURENT was delighted to beat the cut off by nearly eight minutes with her 2 hours 22 minutes 19 seconds. 

Position. Bib Name 10YR Rank 10YR Category Net Time 
34 1283 David Harris-Cherguit 16/86 MV40 59:38 
58 1236 Nick Gill 20/75 MSEN 1:03:59 
69 1015 Stuart Archer 28/86 MV40 1:05:08 
125 1496 Abbie Pez 7/50 FSEN 1:11:45 
126 1231 Ross Gallagher 36/86 MV40 1:11:45 
132 1281 John Harris 11/28 MV60 1:12:02 
191 1246 Yuko Gordon 1/7 FV70 1:18:00 
213 1562 Danny Scanlon 52/86 MV40 1:19:38 
214 1338 Mike Jeffs 43/75 MSEN 1:19:38 
256 1497 Tracy Pez 19/72 FV50 1:23:26 
337 1087 Jim Brown 7/12 MV70 1:31:43 
341 1620 Wendy Tharani 30/72 FV50 1:31:58 
346 1642 Ann Tryssesoone 31/72 FV50 1:32:41 
369 1110 Chloe Chapman 35/50 FSEN 1:35:40 
398 1337 Andrew Jay 64/70 MV50 1:39:13 
400 1384 Karen Liddle 22/30 FV60 1:39:50 
432 1154 Sharon Crowley 26/30 FV60 1:46:30 
487 1190 Nichola Durent 59/59 FV40 2:22:19 
Buntingford 10 mile finishers

St Albans 10K 

Getting back into racing after injury ALISON SHELLEY ran the New Year’s Eve 10K at St Albans in one hour and 58 seconds (1:00:58).  There were 535 finishers. 

Ely 10k 

PAUL HOLGATE and ROGER BIGGS ran the Ely 10k which they said was a flat course with one climb between 8-9k but they had their heads down between 5 and 9k with the usual courses headwind! Paul finished in 1:13:21 and Roger in 1:32:10 

Hyde Park 10k 

JIM BROWN was up early enough on New Year’s Day to catch the train to London and run the Hyde Park 10K event. 

He finished in 55 minutes 20 seconds (55:20) which considering he hasn’t managed to finish a 5K recently in under 28 minutes 40 seconds was pretty satisfying. 

Parkrun Saturday 23rd December 

SHARON CROWLEY ran her 50th parkrun.  Running and celebrating with a group of friends. 

For the Consolidated Results please click the link

Sharon in her 50th Parkrun cape! – Photo Credit – Karl Shreeve

Parkrun Christmas Day, Monday 25th December 

ADRIAN BUSOLINI won with a new parkrun personal best of 16 minutes 55 seconds.  WILLIAM MORLEY was 15th out of the 499 on Christmas Day with a new parkrun PB of 19 minutes 44 seconds and in the same race PAUL JENNINGS ran a new parkrun PB of 26 minutes 42 seconds. 

Christmas Day Spartans! – Photo Credit Nikki Nation

Parkrun Saturday 30th December 

ASHLEY JOHNSON was first woman at Green Denham in a new parkrun personal best (PPB) of 19 minutes 18 seconds. 

For the Consolidated Results please click the link 

Parkrun New Year’s Day Monday 1st January 

LINDA GEORGE ran a new parkrun personal best of 28:23. 

 

Categories
Club News Race Results

RUNNING INTO THE NEW YEAR

Buntingford Ten 

ROSS GALLAGHER was fastest of the seven from Fairlands with 63 minutes 58 seconds and 34th out of the 437 who finished.  Next came PAUL HEWETT 56th in 66:51; then MARCUS RIDLEY in 84:12. 

DANNY SCANLON ran the soggy but well organised Buntingford 10 on Friday.  He finished in a time of 1hour 11 minutes which was exactly 3 minutes faster than his last visit in 2018! 

Position BiB Name Category Category Position Time 
34 216 Ross Gallagher MV35 5/26 1:03:58 
56 272 Paul Hewett MV35 8/26 1:06:51 
77 490 Danny Scanlon MV40 13/43 1:11:00 
197 468 Marcus Ridley MSEN 37/47 1:24:12 
299 286 Tricia Hopper FV55 14/32 1:34:58 
418 154 Sharon Crowley FV60 9/9 1:57:07 
424 281 Paul Holgate MV65 10/11 2:01:45 

Witham Boxing Day Five 

It was a last minute decision to run but Fairlands Valley Spartans YUKO GORDON won her category at the Boxing Day Five in Witham, Essex.  Her time of 37 minutes 1 second placed her 100th out of the 321 finishers. 

Yuko said she just decided to run the race late on Christmas Day.  She had run the race once before and responded to a reminder from the organisers.  Without much running for a whole week she expected her fresh legs would do a good run.  It was a sunny morning and the course was a quiet and beautiful on a rural undulating road.  Yuko finished in 37:01 and 1st in 70-99 age category (they classified her as such, together with 99!)   

Yuko enjoying her Boxing Day run

Hyde Park 5k 

JIM BROWN enjoyed the last Friday 5K of the year in Hyde Park which he ran in 28 minutes 5 seconds. He was 161 out of the 192 finishers.   

Serpentine organise a 5K at the end of every month and Jim finished the event every month in 2022 – 12 out of 12.   

Ely 10k 

PAUL HOLGATE ran the last competitive race of 2022 on New Years Eve.  He finished in 69 minutes 46 seconds. 

Flitch Way Marathon 

TIM ROBINSON ran the Flitch Way Marathon on New Years Eve.  The marathon started in Felsted, Essex and followed the Flitch Way disused railway line. It first went east with a turn around at 4.5 miles and then west with a turn aroud at 16.6 miles.  As usual for a winter trail Marathon, there was wind, rain and mud, but the route was fairly sheltered.  Tim reached the 16.5 mile turnaround check point in around 3 hours and completed in 5:20:13, 46th overall and 6th in age.  

Tim at the 5 mile mark

Parkruns – Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day 

Christmas Eve 

There were milestone runs for Claire EMMERSON and Hazel SMITH.  Claire finished her 100th event in 38:10. Hazel her 50th time in 38 minutes and 10 seconds (38:10). 

For the full results please click the link – Christmas Eve Parkrun Results 

Claire and Hazel celebrating their milestones

On Christmas Day, Andrew PATTERSON won the race.  He was the first to finish the Stevenage course in a parkrun PB time of 17 minutes and 7 seconds.  Georgie HOOPER ran her 50th parkrun event in 28 minutes and 11 seconds.  

At Lee-on-Solent, Sharon FLAHERTY ran a parkrun PB time of 36 minutes and 2 seconds.   

For the full results please click the link – Christmas Day Round Up 

New Years Day 

PAUL HOLGATE was running his 50th parkrun which he finished in 34 minutes 51 seconds.   

For the full results please click the link – New Years Eve Parkrun Results 

For the full results please click the link – New Years Day Round Up