Club Championships

5K Improvers – Pete is the Third Man

22 Fairlands Valley Spartans tackled the club’s handicap 5K race on Thursday evening.

The first finisher and winner of the event was newcomer Aimee Barrett smashing her 5K personal best (PB) to 40:29, 4:31 ahead of handicap with Sally Pickles second in 28:55 and Julie Budden third in a new PB of her own with 39:49.

Jacob Nelms was first male in a PB of 24:50 with Kris Westcott second man in 27:33 and Pete Cook third man with 26:47.

Quickest runner on the night was Stuart Archer in 20:33, with Lewis Green second fastest in 22:22 and Stephen Massey third fastest with a PB of 22:48.

Lucy Paul was fastest female in a SB 26:29, with Sally Pickles second quickest in 28:55 and Amanda Vickers third fastest in 34:35.

How does it work? Everyone has an expected time based on recent races. The likely slowest runners start first with others following at intervals based on performance. In theory if the handicapping is accurate and everyone runs to form everyone will finish at exactly the same time. In practice the first over the line is the best improver.

Next month’s Handicap 5k will be on Thursday 20^th August.

POS	FIRST NAME	LAST NAME	TIME	PB	IMPR	R
1	AIMEE	BARRETT	40:29	PB	0:43	18
2	SALLY	PICKLES	28:55		0:41	11
3	JULIE	BUDDEN	39:49	PB	1:10	17
4	JACOB	NELMS	24:50	PB	1:48	5
5	LUCY	PAUL	26:29	SB	0:49	6
6	KRIS	WESTCOTT	27:33			9
7	JANE	WADEY	36:06			14
8	PETE	COOK	26:47			8
9	STEPHEN	MASSEY	22:48	PB	0:32	3
10	STUART	ARCHER	20:33			1
11	SIMON	SYPULA	28:01	26		10
12	AMANDA	VICKERS	34:35			13
13	DEBORAH	AKERS	38:49			16
14	LEWIS	GREEN	22:22		0:08	2
15	LEE	PICKERSGILL	23:33			4
16	ANDREW	FENWICK	32:09		0:26	12
17	NIKI	PLUMB	41:12			19
18	NICOLA	HATHERLY	41:13			20
19	MARTIN	DUDLEY	26:42			7
20	NICHOLA	DURENT	47:34			21
21	HAYLEY	PEACH	47:35			22
22	TIM	ROBINSON	36:08			15

Seven Races In Seven Days – the Guernsey All Terrain Challenge. And A Five!

Recently JUDY KING completed the All Terrain Challenge in Guernsey – seven races in seven days!

The races were:

5k cliff path with 100s of steps
3k hilly road race
3k park race on path and gravel
Track event
8k cliff path and a bit of road and 100s of steps
700m Hill Climb
3k race round Herm Island followed by award ceremony, meal and party which continued on the boat back to Guernsey.

Judy says it’s an awesome event. After the first two races everyone is put into six divisions. There were some amazing runners and such camaraderie. She would thoroughly recommend it.

Her total time was 3:06.38. However the fastest person took 2:24:58

The cliff path races are very rough terrain – narrow paths, loose stones and rocks and at least 350 steep steps down and up.

The track event was The Devil takes the Hindmost elimination race. 350 metres jog 50 metres sprint and the last two are knocked out each lap. Runners are in their divisions so they are racing with similar paced runners.

The 700m Hill Climb was very tough. It’s on a road used for cars / bikes hill climb races because it very steep and twisting up out of St Peter Port. Slower divisions were sent up first. It took Judy 5 minutes 42 seconds. The fastest runner did it in 2:38!

Judy’s favourites were the 5 miles cliff path and the Herm race. Each division had a slightly different race distance up to 5k and ran on sandy path, common and along a steep sandy beach.

Everyone then stayed on Herm and jumped in the sea from the harbour (a small jetty!)

Next year the event will be from 18^th to 24^th July.

This Sunday Judy ran the Guernsey Athletics Summer 5 mile cross country – very hot – sandy, pebbles, common (with many rabbit holes to jump over / run around) undulating course. She finished in 49:38.

EMAC in Milton Keynes

Fairlands Valley Spartans women’s team of CALLIE CHAPMAN, SHARON CROWLEY, REBECCA RAYNER, JOYLYN SAUNDERS-MULLINS and ANDREA WESTCOTT were third in Match 4 of the EMAC West Division League at Milton Keynes on Wednesday. Joylyn won her discus contest by a good margin. After four matches the Spartans were third in the league with 323 points, not far behind second Milton Keynes (350) or the leader Corby/Northampton (361).

Eastern Masters (EMAC) provide competition opportunities for veteran athletes from 35 to 70 and above.

Bedford Autodrome 10K

Four Spartans made a trip to run on a motor racing circuit! They were at the Bedford Autodrome 10K which LIZ CROWLEY finished in 1:01:23. Next came ANDY FENWICK in 1:17:56 and LEE POTTER in 1:18:01. JULIE BUDDEN finished in 1:23:29. There were 313 finishers.

Hyde Park Hussle

The Serpentine Last Friday of the Month 5Ks have been running since 1992. For the July event there was another warm sunny day in Hyde Park. The 22 degrees was a bit easier to run in than some recent events.

JIM BROWN was waving the Spartans flag at the lunch-time event and enjoyed a relaxed run finishing in 30:55 and then heading for the café.

Many Spartans have already completely full sets of qualifying races in the short or long or both series of club championship races. Now some will be trying to improve on the distances where they have the lowest percentage so far.

The long series consists of the best three out of 10 miles; half marathon; 20 miles and full marathon. The short series the best three out of 1500 metres; 5 kilometres; five miles and 10 kilometres. All to be done by 31^st December. There will be “absolute” winners and age related winners.

A Thank You For Niki

NIKI PLUMB was Spartan of the Month for July. Nike was chief marshal at the Relays in the Park and assisted with the Fairlands Valley Challenge.

Parkrun Highlights including Century Kris

First Saturday stripes for Spartans and there were a lot of them, and even more were volunteering at Stevenage parkrun in Fairlands Valley Park.

More than 50 Spartans ran in Stevenage.

JODIE WILSON was fastest female from Fairlands and 10^th woman in 25:54, BRONYA BROWN 13^th in 26:48 and SUSAN McANENY 15^th in 26:54. LINDSAY PATEMAN achieved a new parkrun personal best of 28:59 – a string of improvements in the past few months. AIMEE BARRETT finished in a new best of 36:15.

After a serious illness KRIS WESTCOTT wore the celebration parkrun cape to run his 100^th parkrun. And he did it in 26:32. Amazing.

There were 507 finishers including at least 195 women and 42 volunteers including several Spartans at Stevenage.

74 Spartans were running parkruns around the country. Amongst those elsewhere were JONATHAN PARR who was second on Teignmouth Promenade in 18 minutes 5 seconds; MIKE REYNOLDS running Panshanger in 28:50; ADAM HILL Stanborough in 22:44; plus KAREN PALMER 34:09 and CAROLINE CROFT 34:25 at Wimpole Estate.

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time
2	2	Simon JACKSON	18:07
15	14	Steve WELLS	20:22
21	20	Stuart ARCHER	20:56
27	26	Ralph DADSWELL	21:26
58	56	Lee PICKERSGILL	23:00
62	60	Paul SHELLEY	23:10
66	63	Toby ECCLESHALL	23:17
94	87	Daniel VILJOEN	24:45
99	91	Martin DUDLEY	24:54
115	102	Brian WHITE	25:38
126	10	Jodie WILSON	25:54
140	123	Kris WESTCOTT	26:32
142	125	Paul MAGUIRE	26:35
149	13	Bronya BROWN	26:48
154	15	Susan MCANENY	26:54
184	26	Alison SHELLEY	27:52
198	31	Sharon CROWLEY	28:13
199	32	Suzy HAWKINS	28:13
206	36	Lorraine HILL	28:24
215	171	Ryan DUNNING	28:35
230	41	Lindsay PATEMAN	28:59
238	188	Peter SACH	29:25
240	44	Fiona CLARKE	29:33
269	203	Steve PLATT	30:44
271	60	Monica SMITHSON	30:46
281	62	Julie SHADBOLT	31:13
285	66	Linda GEORGE	31:21
294	217	David ACKERY	31:36
296	219	Simon HAIGH	31:37
303	73	Alice WELCH	31:51
311	79	Debbie BLANTERN	32:18
318	227	Maurice BALLARD	32:33
320	84	Callie FINDLAY	32:38
324	87	Hayley PEACH	32:51
334	93	Pamela VILJOEN	33:10
389	120	Jane WADEY	35:30
391	121	Angie KEELING	35:38
397	124	Aimee BARRETT	36:15
399	125	Zoe NEWELL	36:28
402	126	Sally PICKLES	36:32
405	264	Tim ROBINSON	36:51
411	267	Michael O’KEEFE	37:30
415	134	Samantha SUTTON	37:51
418	137	Jayne DYMOKE	38:20
427	141	Niki PLUMB	39:07
442	278	James SOUTH	40:44
446	154	Gemma BARRETT	41:10
450	155	Nicola HATHERLY	41:47
471	169	Tracy HAYGARTH	45:27
481	176	Emma CHAPMAN	50:16
493	182	Emma WELCH	54:30

DOUG IN FOR A FAST TIME

Doug Anderson

Six Spartans made a Wednesday evening trip to Bedford for the Doug Anderson 5K. This took place in the beautiful grounds of Bedford Park. The race was on a measured two and a half lap course on wide asphalt paths, with redwoods, a lake, bandstand and vintage cafe.

MIKE JEFFS was first Spartan at 19^th with 17 minutes 54 seconds. He was third man 40 plus with an age score of 77.6%. JAY PAPA was 21^st with 18:07.

ALICE WELCH was the fastest female from Fairlands in 23:07 and CHARLES ARNOLD second man 70 plus in 23:36. An impressive 73.7% for Charlie.

MATT TUTTON came in with 27:25 and CALLIE FINDLAY in 30:56

The race was won in 15:36. There were 392 finishers.

Sprint and Middle Distance Opens – Ridlins 1500

Three Spartans enjoyed SNHAC’s sprint and middle distance opens at Ridlins Track in Stevenage on Tuesday.

ANDREW PATTERSON won the 1500 metres with 4:23.04 (4 minutes 23.04 seconds); CHARLES WHITE ran a personal best 4:40.50 and MONICA SMITHSON a season’s best 8:03.87.

There were 228 entrants across the whole programme of events.

There will be other opportunities for Spartans to run 1500 metres at Ridlins on Saturday mornings 15^th August and 5^th December.

Fairlands Valley Challenge – The Times Are Out

Fairlands Valley Challenge, organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans was held on Sunday July 19th. The self navigated multi terrain course had multiple distances for runners and walkers to choose from. It has been a mainstay for the club for nearly 30 years. Checkpoints were manned by Spartans at Watton-at-Stone, Chapmore End, Stapleford, Tewin, and Datchworth where the runners could get water and juice and a whole host of snacks to fuel them. This year 173 runners took on the challenge.

Sam Paul from Fairlands Valley Spartans was the first 50k runner just a shade over four hours in a time of 4:00:13. The fastest Spartan in the half marathon off road event was Susan McAneny with 2:17:06. Martin Jacob was first Spartan back in the 18 miles with 3:33:50; Callie Findlay and Mike Jeffs were the quickest round the 10K in 1:35:54 and Samantha Tophill was the fastest in the marathon in 5:33:38. All on classic trail routes.

In total there were 38 Spartans running. Times for all the Spartans can be found in the table later in this release.

Distance	Bib	First Name	Last Name	Time
10 km	90	Callie	Findlay	01:35:54
10 km	96	Mike	Jeffs	01:35:54
10 km	173	Jane	Wadey	01:44:26
10 km	170	Liz	Carvell	01:45:45
10 km	171	Sally	Phillips	01:45:45
10 km	155	Monica	Smithson	01:45:45
10 km	172	Nikki	Nation	01:45:45
10 km	126	Jenny	Garrett	01:54:13
10 km	125	Julie	Shadbolt	01:54:13
10 km	122	Nichola	Durent	01:59:56
10 km	143	Zoe	Newell	02:15:16
10 km	154	Emma	Chapman	02:15:47
10 km	144	Jayne	Dymoke	02:15:47
13 mile	151	Susan	Mcaneny	02:17:06
13 mile	132	Tony	Randfield	02:28:26
13 mile	51	Vicky	Archer	02:34:13
13 mile	50	Kerstin	Prior	02:34:13
13 mile	109	Rebecca	Rayner	03:28:07
13 mile	130	Ahaan	Sharma	03:36:30
13 mile	131	Kartik	Sharma	03:36:30
13 mile	165	Jon	Sypula	03:42:35
13 mile	166	Hannah	Sypula	03:42:35
18 mile	119	Martin	Jacob	03:33:50
18 mile	112	Sue	Hamer	04:27:30
18 mile	89	Adam	Hill	04:27:30
18 mile	123	Linda	Nolan	04:27:30
18 mile	113	Samantha	Sutton	04:27:30
18 mile	38	Alice	Welch	04:27:30
26 mile	53	Samantha	Tophill	05:33:38
26 mile	27	Sharon	Crowley	07:05:23
26 mile	20	Paul	Holgate	07:55:10
26 mile	31	Mike	Newbit	08:56:38
26 mile	4	Claire	Pullen	09:00:46
26 mile	1	Barry	King	09:00:46
26 mile	2	Tricia	Hopper	09:00:46
26 mile	3	Karen	Liddle	09:00:46
50 km	5	Samuel	Paul	04:00:13
50 km	36	Jay	Papa	05:40:10

Seven Races In Seven Days – the Guernsey All Terrain Challenge

JUDY KING completed the All Terrain Challenge in Guernsey – seven races in seven days!

The races were:

5k cliff path with 100s of steps
3k hilly road race
3k park race on path and gravel
Track event
8k cliff path and a bit of road and 100s of steps
700m Hill Climb
3k race round Herm Island followed by award ceremony, meal and party which continued on the boat back to Guernsey.

Judy says it’s an awesome event. After the first two races everyone is put into six divisions. There were some amazing runners and such camaraderie. She would thoroughly recommend it.

Club Championships

Parkrun Highlights – A Win For Samuel

Spartan SAMUEL PAUL was in Brigg, Lincolnshire and WON the Ancholme Valley parkrun in 16 minutes 38 seconds.

More than 40 Spartans ran in Stevenage.

SIMON JACKSON was in the top three with his 18:29 and GAIL MACKIE in the top ten women with her 25 minutes exactly. SOPHIE PARSONS was second fastest female from Fairlands with 26:55 and BRONYA BROWN third with 27:12.

BRIAN WHITE ran his 30^th parkrun in 25:43 and MICHAEL O’KEEFE completed his 240^th in 37:26.

JIM BROWN finished his 242^nd Stevenage parkrun in 242^nd position with 29 minutes 59 seconds and KARL SHREEVE volunteered for the 100^th time.

There were 67 Spartans at various parkruns on Saturday. Some others included DARREN and CLAIRE EMMERSON at the Pocket parkrun with 26:21 and 28:26; LLOYD DIAS at the Eden Project in 29:22; MARTIN JACOB at Letchworth in 28:47 and ADAM HILL ran Jersey Farm in 24:09 and MARTYN DOWLING at St Albans park run with 24:47.

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time
3	3	Simon JACKSON	18:29
11	11	Steve WELLS	19:49
27	27	Ralph DADSWELL	21:49
33	33	Tony RANDFIELD	22:00
68	63	Lee PICKERSGILL	23:59
70	65	Keith HOOKER	24:02
74	67	David RIDDELL	24:12
78	70	Charlie WHITE	24:24
85	76	Richard MOORE	24:43
93	10	Gail MACKIE	25:00
94	83	Paul SHELLEY	25:01
102	91	Daniel VILJOEN	25:07
105	94	Martin DUDLEY	25:09
118	106	Brian WHITE	25:43
120	108	Matt CLARKE	25:46
137	120	Matthew COOKE	26:15
159	20	Sophie PARSONS	26:55
167	24	Bronya BROWN	27:12
182	30	Jayne RIDDELL	27:50
219	177	Ryan DUNNING	29:14
227	44	Samantha SUTTON	29:25
242	190	Jim BROWN	29:59
246	192	Jay PAPA	30:08
248	53	Alice WELCH	30:09
249	54	Sarah ILLINGWORTH	30:18
262	57	Alison SHELLEY	30:48
281	212	Nick KLEANTHOUS	31:24
303	225	Steve PLATT	31:56
334	90	Debbie BLANTERN	32:50
341	93	Linda GEORGE	33:10
345	95	Caroline CROFT	33:28
364	104	Hayley PEACH	34:10
385	116	Pamela VILJOEN	35:35
403	124	Zoe NEWELL	36:27
409	127	Jayne DYMOKE	36:43
412	269	Luke SILVER	37:00
420	132	Penny SCHENKEL	37:26
421	273	Michael O’KEEFE	37:26
438	138	Tracey TOMLIN	39:03
456	287	James SOUTH	41:27
460	289	Tim ROBINSON	41:48
497	174	Emma WELCH	52:44
503	301	David SCOTT	56:03