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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