Tag: Cross Country

SPARTANS AND THE BEAST

Spartans and the Baldock Beast.

The Baldock Beast Half Marathon really is a beast, hilly with some off road sections but Spartan SAM SUTTON was first woman 50 plus and ran a new half marathon personal best (PB) by 13:59 with 2:08:11. She said it was a hilly and windy course so not the easiest to get a pb on but she thinks she enjoyed it though

A total of eleven Spartans ran including ADAM HILL who was running his first ever half marathon. He said the race went really well. Adam was originally aiming for a sub 2 hour 30, but seven miles in, seeing the opportunity to go for a sub two hour, he went for it! 1:59:14. Not bad for a first half on that course!

The fastest female from Fairlands was JAYNE RIDDELL with 2:01:15.

SHARON CROWLEY tamed the Beast was tamed with a chip time of 2:14:04. That’s almost 20 minutes faster than she’s ever run that course.

LEE POTTER beat his personal best by about 37 minutes.

The quickest Fairlands Valley Spartans were TERRY SAWYER in 1:38:22 and DANNY SCANLON in 1:43:44.

Pos	BiB	Name	Cat	Gun Time	Chip Time
28	2720	Terry SAWYER	MV40	1:38:24	1:38:22
46	2975	Danny SCANLON	MV40	1:43:48	1:43:44
103	2822	Keith HOOKER	MV40	1:54:22	1:54:08
130	2816	Adam HILL	MS	1:59:35	1:59:14
137	2992	Jayne RIDDELL	FV60	2:01:28	2:01:15
162	2936	Samantha SUTTON	FV50	2:08:26	2:08:11
184	2938	Sharon CROWLEY	FV60	2:14:20	2:14:04
205	2934	Pete COOK	MV50	2:20:26	2:20:11
227	2729	Jim BROWN	MV70+	2:29:28	2:28:57
233	2716	Tim ROBINSON	MV50	2:36:16	2:35:49
247	2939	Lee POTTER	MS	2:58:50	2:58:02

Winning Natalie at the Bedford Half

Spartan NATALIE LAWRENCE was the first woman in Sunday’s Bedford Half Marathon with a superb time of 1 hour 23 minutes 11 seconds. She was in the top ten overall in a race with 600 finishers.

JAY PAPA took a group round and was 44^th in 1:29:21. JESS CLARKE squeaked under two hours with 1:59:34; SOPHIE PARSONS with 2:00:20 and SAM TOPHILL, fourth in her category, finished in 2:00:32.

Position	Name	Gun	Chip	Cat Pos
10	NATALIE LAWRENCE	1:23:11	1:23:03	1
44	JAY PAPA	1:29:45	1:29:21	20
344	SAMANTHA TOPHILL	2:03:59	2:00:32	4
364	JESS CLARKE	2:05:20	1:59:34	25
377	SOPHIE PARSONS	2:07:42	2:00:20	28

Bedford 10K

TOBY ECCLESHALL was 47^th in 45:43 and EMMA CHAPMAN 389^th in 1:38:19.

Over the Ridge With Jodie

It was further than a marathon for JODIE KANTAS on Sunday. She ran the North Downs Ridge 50K, a trail event near Dorking, in 6 hours 11 minutes 11 seconds. Total elevation 3,000 feet. Jodie said it was a training run for a bigger distance so took it nice and easy, any excuse, but she thought the mud would have prevented her going much faster anyway. She was eighth female and second in her age group which was a nice surprise.

Obviously building up. Jodie did a 20 mile event on the North Downs in January.

Cross Country League Update

The results are out. Fairlands Valley Spartans were fifth out of the eighteen clubs in the series of five cross country races run between September and February.

After last weekend when 21 “hardcore” Spartans finished the last race, the “big squelch” at Watford, in this season’s cross country league they found they had some trophy winners in the series.

Spartan DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT and GEORGIE HOOPER were trophy winners in the cross country league. David was second man 40 plus just eleven points behind the winner and Georgie second woman 35 plus just nine points behind the winner.

JIM BROWN was a near miss in the medals at fourth in the men 70 plus category. He missed out by four points. Although he was one of only two in the category to finish all five races it was the best of four to count.

SHARON CROWLEY was fifth woman 65 plus.

Six Spartans ran all five races in the league. They were Charles Arnold; Jim Brown; Matt Cooke; Callie Chapman; Sharon Crowley and Mark Freeman.

Position	Name	Official Time	Own Time	Category
7	DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT	37:19	37:18	M
29	ADRIAN BUSOLINI	39:44	39:43	M
64	MIKE JEFFS	43:54	44:30	M
107	GEORGIE HOOPER	48:11	48:09	F
123	DANNY SCANLON	49:42	49:39	M
141	CHARLES ARNOLD	51:21	51:19	M
164	MATT COOKE	53:02	53:00	M
178	JODIE KANTAS	53:40	53:40	F
186	TONY VICKERS	54:21	54:20	M
187	STEPHEN MASSEY	54:22	54:22	M
198	JO COOKSLEY	55:11	55:03	F
251	MARK FREEMAN	62:27	62:29	M
252	SHARON CROWLEY	62:29	62:37	F
273	CLAIRE EMMERSON	66:00	65:59	F
274	LIZ CROWLEY	66:02	65:59	F
275	PENNY SCHENKEL	66:03	66:00	F
278	SAMMIE SUTTON	66:49	66:49	F
279	LLOYD DIAS	67:13	67:17	M
289	JIM BROWN	71:09	71:07	M
295	CALLIE CHAPMAN	74:39	74:15	F
300	JANE DYMOKE	81:07	81:09	F

Parkrun Highlights

Club Champion SIMON JACKSON ran his 100^th parkrun on his 50^th birthday. He took his balloons and fancy dress round the Stevenage parkrun in 28 minutes 55 seconds.

555 people including 210 women finished the 442^nd local parkrun and they included 29 Spartans. Many Spartans ran new parkrun personal bests (PPBs) or achieved new milestones.

The PPBs were by ADAM HILL at 81^st in 24:42; SALLY PICKLES 219^th in 28:32; BECKY BIRT 348^th in 32:03; KEITH MANTON 373^rd in 32:55 and JULIE BUDDEN 528^th in 45:59.

The mini-milestones were ANDREW PATTERSON running his 20^th parkrun as part of Simon the century runner’s “escort” in 28:57; PENNY SCHENKEL 140^th parkrun in 43:53; NIKI PLUMB 80^th parkrun tail walking in 59:57; NICHOLA DURENT 40^th parkrun in 39:40; and HAYLEY PEACH 30^th parkrun in 39:40

KIRK NDUGU was second overall in the event with 17:39 just eight seconds off the winner. GAIL MACKIE was fastest female from Fairlands in 26:52 and LORRAINE HILL second in 27:11.

Recently JAY PAPA won a parkrun. The first time he’s done that. He won the Wisbech parkrun with 18 minutes 23 seconds. Thirty seconds ahead of the next runner. JESSICA CLARKE was at the same event and finished in 29:09. There were 204 finishers. Well done Jay!

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time
2	2	Kirk NDUGU	00:17:39
81	74	Adam HILL	00:24:42
115	101	Daniel VILJOEN	00:25:35
131	113	Peter SACH	00:26:05
141	122	James SOUTH	00:26:20
165	20	Gail MACKIE	00:26:52
173	22	Lorraine HILL	00:27:11
219	38	Sally PICKLES	00:28:32
229	181	Simon JACKSON	00:28:55
233	185	Andrew PATTERSON	00:28:57
260	201	Jim BROWN	00:29:31
285	215	Stephen SMITHSON	00:30:14
317	72	Alison SHELLEY	00:31:07
348	84	Rebecca BIRT	00:32:03
355	255	Nick KLEANTHOUS	00:32:15
364	94	Lindsay PATEMAN	00:32:35
367	260	Andy JAY	00:32:38
373	265	Keith MANTON	00:32:55
405	119	Callie CHAPMAN	00:34:13
411	275	Paul HOLGATE	00:34:30
422	131	Pamela VILJOEN	00:35:18
479	164	Julie MANTON	00:39:32
482	166	Hayley PEACH	00:39:40
481	165	Nichola DURENT	00:39:40
493	173	Tracy HAYGARTH	00:40:51
523	192	Penny SCHENKEL	00:43:53
528	196	Julie BUDDEN	00:45:59
554	209	Samantha SUTTON	00:59:56
555	210	Niki PLUMB	00:59:57

Tags Baldock Beast, Bedford 10K, Bedford Half Marathon, Cross Country, north downs ridge 50k, parkrun

News Race Results

GOING WELL AT PANSHANGER

Panshanger Cross Country

It was looking a bit doubtful in the days leading up to the weekend but despite a cold start Sunday’s cross country league race went ahead. 38 Spartans, 22 men and 16 women, finished. That’s more than two complete men’s and women’s teams and a great turnout for an away event after some difficult days.

Spartan DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT was top ten with just 31 minutes 45 seconds for the undulating two lap 8.6 kilometre course in Panshanger Park. ADRIAN BUSOLINI was not far behind at 18^th in 32:24. Men’s teams consisted of the first eight runners from a club.

The male “A” team was completed by NICK GILL 71^st in 35:57; ADRIAN DONNELLY 79^th in 36:37; DECLAN TRAYNER 82^nd in 36:44; MIKE JEFFS club captain 86^th in 37:00; STUART ARCHER in 40:26; STEVE MAYFIELD in 41:48.

GEORGIE HOOPER was a strong leader for the Spartan women. She was 141^st overall in 40 minutes 25 seconds with new member SHAUNA LAWLESS second in 42:10. There were five runners in women’s teams. The other three in the female “A” team were ALICE WELCH who after a slow start over the first kilometre romped away to finish in 49:41; JAYNE RIDDELL 50:12 and LINDA GEORGE 52:27.

Three of the FVS Wednesday Daylight Runner regulars featured at the front of the women’s “B” team with CLAIRE EMMERSON 353^rd overall, PENNY SCHENKEL 354^th and LUCY PAUL 358^th. They were within 30 seconds of each other at around 54 minutes.

Not all the ice had cleared from the course before the 10.30a.m. start but that did not present any major problems to the more than 400 runners from eighteen clubs who finished.

Times for all 38 Spartans can be found in the tables near the end of this release. The women’s positions and team results should be available from the league organisers in a few days.

The fifth and final league race this season will be in Watford on 15^th February.

Position	Name	Own Time	Gender
10	DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT	31:45*	M	Team “A” (M)
18	ADRIAN BUSOLINI	32:24	M	Team “A” (M)
71	NICK GILL	35:57	M	Team “A” (M)
79	ADRIAN DONNELLY	36:37	M	Team “A” (M)
82	DECLAN TRAYNER	36:44	M	Team “A” (M)
86	MIKE JEFFS	37:00	M	Team “A” (M)
141	GEORGIE HOOPER	40:25	F	Team “A” (W)
143	STUART ARCHER	40:26	M	Team “A” (M)
163	STEVE MAYFIELD	41:48	M	Team “A” (M)
168	DANNY SCANLON	42:03	M	Team “B” (M)
171	CHARLIE ARNOLD	42:15	M	Team “B” (M)
172	SHAUNA LAWLESS	42:10	F	Team “A” (W)
249	DAVID RIDDELL	45:29	M	Team “B” (M)
250	MATT COOKE	45:40	M	Team “B” (M)
259	TONY VICKERS	46:05	M	Team “B” (M)
270	JAY PAPA	46:38*	M	Team “B” (M)
271	ANDY PRIOR	46:41*	M	Team “B” (M)
275	STEPHEN MASSEY	46:59	M	Team “B” (M)
311	ALICE WELCH	49:41	F	Team “A” (W)
318	PETE COOK	50:01	M
319	JAYNE RIDDELL	50:12	F	Team “A” (W)
328	MARK FREEMAN	51:27	M
339	LINDA GEORGE	52:27	F	Team “A” (W)
344	SIMON SYPULA	53:19	M
349	JIM BROWN	53:59	M
353	CLAIRE EMMERSON	53:58	F	Team “B” (W)
354	PENNY SCHENKEL	54:03	F	Team “B” (W)
358	LUCY PAUL	54:31	F	Team “B” (W)
363	SHARON CROWLEY	55:05	F	Team “B” (W)
370	STEVE TINGLEY	56:01	M
381	BECKY RAYNER	57:38	F	Team “B” (W)
384	CALLIE CHAPMAN	58:46	F
389	SAMANTHA SUTTON	58:56	F
390	SAM GENTRY	58:56*	F
391	HAZEL SMITH	58:56*	F
402	PAUL HOLGATE	65:21	M
404	LIZ CROWLEY	66:31	F
405	AMANDA VICKERS	66:39	F

Gerry’s Ultra

Three Spartans; GERRY ROSEN, JOHN NELMS and MARTIN JACOB took on the arduous Country to Capital Ultra Marathon on Saturday. This was the traditional first ultra marathon of the year.

The country to capital ultra is a 43 mile (69 kilometres) race starting from the top of the Chilterns in Wendover and finishing at Paddington station in central London.

The route covers 20 miles of hills and trails across the Chilterns before joining the Grand Union Canal at Denham for 23 miles of canal path into London.

Conditions couldn’t have been better – blessed with glorious sunshine and lightly frozen ground there was very little of the expected mud on the trails.

After eight months preparation but Spartan GERRY ROSEN finished Saturday’s 43 miles Country to Capital Ultra in eleven hours. His longest ever race. He was delighted.

Gerry said “I took part in the Country to Capital Ultra, a race of 43 miles that starts in Wendover in the Chiltern Hills and winds its way down to Denham before picking up the Grand Union Canal, the first part in the Chilterns is 21 miles and the relentless slog on the Canal 22 miles.

My own particular race started ominously, my back pack broke before the start but luckily a temporary repair was done and at 8.45am we were off, all was going well, through the first two checkpoints without a hitch, a change of shoes and clothes. I was feeling good, then slipped over and the backpack broke again, losing more time, we eventually made it to Checkpoint 3 inside the cut off time by 15 minutes, the organisers had asked that we buddied up in pairs as from here on in, the light would fade and for safety as well, I buddied up with a lady from Germany (She was a veteran of the previous 11 C2C’s) who lived in London, we were now both tired but determined to finish, we walked very quickly, we talked and put the world to rights, it was hard going, endless long straights of nothing in pitch darkness, we made it to Checkpoint 4 bang on the cut off time. A quick refuel stop and on our way, we were told not to worry about cut off times, just to get home ASAP, checkpoint 5 came and went and it was a straight run to the finish, never has the sight of the A40 flyover at Paddington seem so beautiful and at bang on 7.30pm 11 hours after the start, 43 miles covered in 86000+ steps we crossed the line. I saw a friendly Spartan face in John Nelms who briefly waited to welcome me back .

I’m completely in bits as I write this, I’m having to replace a backpack and a new rain jacket as it got torn to shreds by brambles and thorns in the dark, I’ve lost my headphones as well. Simply put, it’s a day I won’t forget in a hurry, would I do it again? Watch this space……….”

That’s a fantastic achievement. The change in Gerry over the last year has been amazing.

John Nelms finished in 9 hours 16 minutes in his ninth finish at this event.

Martin Jacob finished just behind John in 9:42:11.

Parkrun Highlights

It was great to be back at the Stevenage parkrun after last week’s cancellation due to bad weather and unsafe conditions. Care was needed on a couple of sections which slowed the times for many but 546 including 32 Spartans were obviously keen to go and did.

Spartan ADAM HILL ran a new parkrun personal best (PPB) of 25:51 while LORRAINE HILL ran her 370^th in 28:18 and JIM BROWN his 230^th in 32:17.

Many other parkruns were cancelled but the Spartans who ran “away” included GRANT RAMSAY at Milton Country in 20:08; MATT COOKE at Mile End in 23:25; LEWIS GREEN 25:03, CHARLES ARNOLD 26:23, GEORGIE HOOPER 28:29 and YUKO GORDON 29:11 at Letchworth; CHRIS HOLLAND 26:38 at Rutland Water; JAY PAPA 28:03 and WAYNE SIMMONS 28:14 at Dunstable Downs; SUZY HAWKINS 28:05 at Wendover Woods and KARL SHREEVE 29:38 at Brook Leys.

Altogether 48 Spartans ran parkruns on Saturday.

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time	Comments
22	21	Mike JEFFS	21:15
34	31	Simon JACKSON	21:52
42	38	Steve WELLS	22:20
56	50	Toby ECCLESHALL	23:09
68	62	Tony RANDFIELD	23:37	Volunteer
137	119	Adam HILL	25:51	New PPB
147	125	Daniel VILJOEN	26:13
168	141	Darren EMMERSON	26:54
179	25	Karen ELLIS	27:16	Fastest Female From Fairlands
202	166	Ryan DUNNING	28:11
208	30	Lorraine HILL	28:18	370 parkruns
212	172	James SOUTH	28:21
258	199	Nick KLEANTHOUS	29:32
290	63	Carole SHELDRICK	30:49
317	75	Alice WELCH	31:19
362	248	Jim BROWN	32:17	230 parkruns
398	122	Erica GRAYSON	33:17
397	121	Debbie BLANTERN	33:17
410	129	Samantha SUTTON	33:36
411	130	Annabelle WHITE	33:37
445	153	Hilary DAVIES	35:07
449	155	Nicola PATTMAN	35:16
456	160	Hannah MANTON	35:40
488	288	Keith MANTON	38:35
505	190	Sally PICKLES	40:21
507	192	Hayley PEACH	40:47
509	194	Julie MANTON	40:48
508	193	Niki PLUMB	40:48
532	298	Thomas SAUKA	52:03
542	303	Roger BIGGS	59:41
543	218	Sharon CROWLEY	59:42	Volunteer
544	219	Rebecca RAYNER	59:43	Volunteer

Tags Country to Capital Ultra, Cross Country, panshanger, parkrun

News Race Results

NEW YEAR RESOLVED

Fairlands Valley Spartans had a fantastic few days over Christmas and New Year including:

A boost in the Sunday cross country league.
57 Spartans were among 911 finishers in the record breaking Christmas Day parkrun in Fairlands Valley Park.
GOLDS and SILVER as 32 Spartans ran the Hertfordshire 10 mile championship.
Great turnout on a sunny day for the FVS Daylights Run on New Year’s Eve.
KIRK NDUGU won the Stevenage New Year’s Day parkrun.
JIM BROWN was the first Spartan to finish a licensed race in 2026. He raced round the New Year’s Day 10K in Hyde Park.
47 Spartans ran the New Year’s Day parkrun in Stevenage.

Resolved To Run On New Year’s Day.

JIM BROWN and PENNY SCHENKEL got themselves out of bed, onto the train and were the first Spartans to complete a licensed race in 2026. They ran the New Year’s Day 10K in Hyde Park, London.

It was very cold before the start and Jim decided it was a gloves and long sleeves morning but once he got going he ran a 52 second negative split to finish in 54:55. That’s 25 seconds faster than two years ago. He was second in his age group. The race was not held on New Year’s Day in 2025 due to bad weather.

The NYD 10K was on an interesting course in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens which went close to the Albert Memorial.

Penny finished in 69:52. One on the board for 2026 plus medals and free socks! There were 563 finishers.

Then they both went to see the 8,000 performers in the London Parade. The New Year’s Day parade which started at Green Park. Only a short walk from the finish line. 10K and a New Year celebration. Not a bad day out.

A Last One

Squeezing in a last race of the year 2025 four Spartans made a New Year’s Eve trip to St Albans. SIMON JACKSON was top ten at ninth in 36 minutes 5 seconds. He was first man 45 plus. JAY PAPA and NICK GILL finished in 39:04 and 39:05 and KARL SHREEVE came in at 57:44. There were 942 finishers.

County Cross Country

Two Spartan women ran in the Hertfordshire County Cross Championships on Saturday. Over 8,000 metres (about five miles) JACKIE PERRY was 35^th in 42:29 and SHARON CROWLEY 38^th in 47:02.

In the senior men’s race over 11,750 metres (about 7.3 miles) ADRIAN BUSOLINI was 20^th in 40:48 and RALPH DADSWELL 38^th in 45:52. There were 64 finishers.

That event was not affected by the icy conditions in the same way as for some road runs though there were some very cold volunteer marshals in Fairlands Valley Park!

Parkrun Highlights

Spartan KIRK NDUGU won the New Year’s Day Stevenage parkrun in 18 minutes 19 seconds. This time NATALIE WHITE was the fastest female from Fairlands with her 25:20.

SAMANTHA SUTTON ran a new parkrun personal best of 27:34.

There was a big milestone for JAY PAPA who ran his 100^th parkrun in a celebratory 32:27.

47 Spartans ran the 435^th Stevenage parkrun. There were 598 finishers including 294 men and 276 women (some names unknown).

Stevenage parkrun saw its 150,000 finisher on New Year’s Day. That run brought the total up to 150,215.

Visits to family and friends helped encourage some parkrun tourism over the holiday period. Parkruns visited on New Year’s Day included Barnstaple (Sally Pickles 29:27); Blickling, Norwich (Becky Rayner 34:33); Holkham, Wells-next-the-Sea (Claire and Darren Emmerson 29:49 and 27:33); Letchworth (Charles Arnold 23:46 and Lewis Green 28:24); Panshanger (Nicola Pattman 36:42); Rotherham (Sharon and Mike Crowley 29:42 and 44:47); Sizewell (Nick Kleanthous 33:07) and Stanborough (Mark Goodwin 30:57).

Icy patches forced the cancellation of several parkruns, including Stevenage, on Saturday 3^rd January. However ten Spartans made their way to Henlow Bridge Lakes, an off road course, where SIMON JACKSON was second in 18:45. New parkrun personal bests were run by TONY RANDFIELD 24:42 and SAMANTHA SUTTON 28:40. The other Spartans were CHARLES ARNOLD 24:28; JOHN NELMS 24:39; SUZY HAWKINS 25:23; NICK GILL 30:17; GEORGIE HOOPER 30:18; ALICE WELCH 32:55 and MICHAEL O’KEEFE 43:58.

Four Spartans were at Letchworth KRIS WESTCOTT 22:32; JOHN HARRIS 24:56; LEWIS GREEN 25:30 and YUKO GORDON getting back to running and very pleased to dip under 30 minutes with 29:37.

Meanwhile STEVE TINSLEY ran Great Notley, Essex in 29:09; CHARLIE WHITE Oakland College in 19:26; LORRAINE HILL ran Panshanger in 30:40; JAY PAPA Pymmes, Edmonton in 20:08; CHRIS HOLLAND Rutland Water in 29:59; STEVE WELLS Snowden Field, Peterborough in 23:03; JAMES SOUTH Stanborough in 30:10; GRANT RAMSAY 20:26 and JONATHAN JONES 35:29 were at Wimpole Hall

Position	parkrunner	Gender	Age Group	Time
1	Kirk NDUGU	Male	VM35-39	18:19
1	86 parkruns \| Member of the 50 Club	1/294	73.98% age grade	PB 16:39
8	Simon JACKSON	Male	VM45-49	19:08
8	96 parkruns \| Member of the 50 Club	8/294	76.48% age grade	PB 16:53
26	Charlie WHITE	Male	SM30-34	20:53
26	161 parkruns \| Member of the 100 Club	25/294	62.49% age grade	PB 17:53
54	Kris WESTCOTT	Male	VM40-44	22:42
54	95 parkruns \| Member of the 50 Club	49/294	61.53% age grade	PB 18:14
69	Toby ECCLESHALL	Male	VM35-39	23:23
69	193 parkruns \| Member of the 100 Club	63/294	56.74% age grade	PB 20:56
81	Matthew COOKE	Male	SM30-34	24:12
81	244 parkruns \| Member of the 100 ClubMember of the Volunteer 50 Club	69/294	54.20% age grade	PB 18:33
117	Natalie WHITE	Female	VW35-39	25:20
117	22 parkruns	18/276	59.41% age grade	PB 20:53
125	Peter SACH	Male	SM30-34	25:50
125	135 parkruns \| Member of the 100 Club	106/294	50.52% age grade	PB 25:41
129	Lloyd DIAS	Male	VM35-39	25:58
129	60 parkruns \| Member of the 50 Club	108/294	51.41% age grade	PB 25:32
142	Tanya BRAZIER	Female	VW45-49	26:37
142	10 parkruns	25/276	59.67% age grade	PB 24:25
143	Susan MCANENY	Female	VW45-49	26:37
143	32 parkruns \| Member of the 25 Club	26/276	61.49% age grade	PB 24:09
150	Martin JACOB	Male	VM40-44	26:56
150	47 parkruns \| Member of the 25 Club	120/294	51.42% age grade	PB 21:52
160	Jodie WILSON	Female	SW25-29	27:09
160	28 parkruns	30/276	54.51% age grade	PB 26:14
178	Samantha SUTTON	Female	VW50-54	27:34
178	207 parkruns \| Member of the 100 ClubMember of the Volunteer 50 Club	40/276	60.82% age grade	New PPB!
192	Lorraine HILL	Female	VW55-59	27:57
192	368 parkruns \| Member of the 250 ClubMember of the Volunteer 25 Club	48/276	66.55% age grade	PB 25:15
199	Andy PRIOR	Male	VM55-59	28:09
199	44 parkruns \| Member of the 25 Club	146/294	55.54% age grade	PB 23:28
200	Lucy PAUL	Female	VW45-49	28:12
200	20 parkruns	51/276	57.45% age grade	PB 27:18
201	Kerstin WEINER	Female	VW55-59	28:14
201	59 parkruns \| Member of the 50 Club	52/276	63.28% age grade	PB 24:16
205	Karen ELLIS	Female	VW55-59	28:27
205	40 parkruns \| Member of the 25 Club	54/276	64.50% age grade	PB 24:38
208	Lee PICKERSGILL	Male	VM40-44	28:31
208	118 parkruns \| Member of the 100 Club	151/294	48.98% age grade	PB 22:41
216	Mike REYNOLDS	Male	VM60-64	28:39
216	131 parkruns \| Member of the 100 Club	158/294	58.00% age grade	PB 23:37
232	Suzy HAWKINS	Female	VW45-49	29:03
232	95 parkruns \| Member of the 50 Club	59/276	57.03% age grade	PB 19:38
234	Claire PULLEN	Female	VW55-59	29:10
234	60 parkruns \| Member of the 50 Club	60/276	64.69% age grade	PB 22:03
237	Georgie HOOPER	Female	VW35-39	29:14
237	72 parkruns \| Member of the 50 Club	62/276	52.00% age grade	PB 23:24
272	Erica GRAYSON	Female	VW55-59	30:24
272	41 parkruns \| Member of the 25 Club	78/276	59.54% age grade	PB 26:50
318	Steve PLATT	Male	VM50-54	31:42
318	103 parkruns \| Member of the 100 Club	206/294	47.27% age grade	PB 25:25
346	Harriet PACE	Female	SW20-24	32:19
346	17 parkruns \| Member of the 10 Club	119/276	45.80% age grade	PB 29:56
352	Jay PAPA	Male	SM30-34	32:27
352	100 parkruns \| Member of the 100 Club	218/294	39.86% age grade	PB 18:43
353	Wayne SIMMONS	Male	VM60-64	32:27
353	47 parkruns \| Member of the 25 Club	219/294	50.28% age grade	PB 24:08
355	Nick GILL	Male	VM35-39	32:29
355	145 parkruns \| Member of the 100 Club	221/294	41.10% age grade	PB 18:14
364	Ada JANUSIENE	Female	VW40-44	32:41
364	28 parkruns \| Member of the 25 Club	129/276	47.78% age grade	PB 28:36
370	Debbie BLANTERN	Female	VW55-59	32:50
370	191 parkruns \| Member of the 100 Club	133/276	55.13% age grade	PB 27:47
417	Carole SHELDRICK	Female	VW50-54	34:10
417	52 parkruns \| Member of the 50 Club	163/276	50.29% age grade	PB 26:35
418	Caroline CROFT	Female	VW50-54	34:11
418	131 parkruns \| Member of the 100 Club	164/276	51.58% age grade	PB 28:28
427	Linda GEORGE	Female	VW40-44	34:21
427	22 parkruns	169/276	44.78% age grade	PB 26:34
463	Jayne DYMOKE	Female	VW45-49	36:09
463	10 parkruns	194/276	45.83% age grade	PB 35:11
472	Paul HOLGATE	Male	VM65-69	36:47
472	86 parkruns \| Member of the 50 Club	262/294	46.90% age grade	PB 26:27
481	Sam GENTRY	Female	VW45-49	37:18
481	14 parkruns	205/276	44.41% age grade	PB 30:13
504	Hannah MANTON	Female	SW25-29	38:48
504	40 parkruns \| Member of the 25 Club	220/276	38.14% age grade	PB 28:00
526	Jane WADEY	Female	VW55-59	41:37
526	73 parkruns \| Member of the 50 ClubMember of the Volunteer 50 Club	233/276	45.33% age grade	PB 31:31
533	Tracy HAYGARTH	Female	VW55-59	42:09
533	182 parkruns \| Member of the 100 Club	239/276	43.53% age grade	PB 28:30
534	Julie MANTON	Female	VW60-64	42:13
534	53 parkruns \| Member of the 50 Club	240/276	45.32% age grade	PB 38:03
540	Michael O’KEEFE	Male	VM60-64	42:43
540	233 parkruns \| Member of the 100 ClubMember of the Volunteer 25 Club	282/294	37.89% age grade	PB 25:07
570	Thomas SAUKA	Male	VM50-54	49:30
570	177 parkruns \| Member of the 100 ClubMember of the Volunteer 25 Club	287/294	29.80% age grade	PB 19:39
577	Julie BUDDEN	Female	VW45-49	54:30
577	3 parkruns	268/276	29.72% age grade	PB 46:38
584	Yuko GORDON	Female	VW70-74	59:10
584	54 parkruns \| Member of the 50 Club	273/276	40.25% age grade	PB 22:33
588	Jessica CLARKE	Female	SW25-29	59:41
588	76 parkruns \| Member of the 50 Club	276/276	24.80% age grade	PB 24:47

Tags Cross Country, New Year's Day 10k, parkrun, St Albans

News Race Results

A RECORD BREAKING CHRISTMAS

Post author By Peter Sach
Post date December 28, 2025
No Comments on 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.	Bib	Name	Net Time
10	311	David Harris-Cherguit	57:39
31	266	Nick Gill	1:01:22
52	772	Charlie White	1:03:45
59	537	Jay Papa	1:05:15
71	256	Ross Gallagher	1:06:18
74	203	Adrian Donnelly	1:06:39
110	632	Terry Sawyer	1:09:31
135	614	Sam Simmons	1:11:50
146	634	Danny Scanlon	1:12:21
167	148	Mark Collins	1:13:29
175	366	Simon Jackson	1:14:18
188	25	Charles Arnold	1:15:17
231	342	Keith Hooker	1:18:07
232	259	Pete Gentle	1:18:07
233	369	Mike Jeffs	1:18:08
318	579	Claire Pullen	1:24:37
363	736	Tony Vickers	1:28:51
389	101	Jim Brown	1:30:35
418	143	Matt Clarke	1:32:16
445	721	Ann Tryssesoone	1:34:29
455	686	Samantha Sutton	1:35:11
477	662	Hazel Smith	1:37:06
483	142	Fiona Clarke	1:37:27
495	418	Karen Liddle	1:38:57
506	346	Tricia Hopper	1:39:45
558	170	Sharon Crowley	1:45:36
572	590	Rebecca Rayner	1:47:43
590	635	Penny Schenkel	1:49:42
610	150	Hayley Peach	1:54:19
619	735	Amanda Vickers	1:58:27
634	339	Paul Holgate	2:08:36
641	210	Nichola Durent	2:27:20

Christmas Day Record Breaker – Thursday 25^th 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 50^th parkrun in 30:23 and MARK GOODWIN, coming back to running, his 25^th in 33:49. Those with mini-milestones included CAROLINE CROFT 130^th in 38:51; CALLIE CHAPMAN 90^th in 39:06; KARL SHREEVE 30^th in 40:23 and TRACY HAYGARTH her 180^th 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!

Position	FVS parkrunner	Gender	Age Group	Time
6	Adrian BUSOLINI	Male	VM35-39	17:37
7	Andrew PATTERSON	Male	VM40-44	17:52
13	Simon JACKSON	Male	VM45-49	18:39
17	William MORLEY	Male	SM20-24	19:08
43	Stuart ARCHER	Male	VM40-44	20:54
60	Charlie WHITE	Male	SM30-34	22:00
61	Mike JEFFS	Male	VM40-44	22:01
88	Danny SCANLON	Male	VM40-44	23:11
91	Charles ARNOLD	Male	VM70-74	23:18
104	Kris WESTCOTT	Male	VM40-44	23:45
108	Keith HOOKER	Male	VM45-49	23:49
139	Tony RANDFIELD	Male	VM65-69	24:25
141	Daniel VILJOEN	Male	VM45-49	24:25
267	Claire PULLEN	Female 43/360	VW55-59	27:40
297	Jayne RIDDELL	Female 53/360	VW60-64	28:33
298	David RIDDELL	Male	VM60-64	28:35
337	Ryan DUNNING	Male	VM50-54	29:26
352	Samantha SUTTON	Female	VW50-54	29:59
354	Perri GENTRY	Male	SM25-29	30:02
374	Marian MORLEY	Female	VW60-64	30:23
391	Vishal SHAH	Male	VM40-44	30:57
397	Jay PAPA	Male	SM30-34	31:10
398	Richard MOORE	Male	VM45-49	31:10
404	Kerstin WEINER	Female	VW55-59	31:15
432	Nick KLEANTHOUS	Male	VM60-64	31:56
438	Shauna LAWLESS	Female	SW25-29	32:05
475	Andy PRIOR	Male	VM55-59	32:50
485	Monica SMITHSON	Female	VW60-64	33:03
486	Ada JANUSIENE	Female	VW40-44	33:05
496	Jim BROWN	Male	VM70-74	33:16
510	Mark GOODWIN	Male	VM65-69	33:49
532	Steve PLATT	Male	VM50-54	34:20
536	Debbie BLANTERN	Female	VW55-59	34:27
542	Claire EMMERSON	Female	VW50-54	34:37
543	Darren EMMERSON	Male	VM55-59	34:37
548	Jodie WILSON	Female	SW25-29	34:59
549	Leanne WILSON	Female	SW25-29	35:00
560	Georgie HOOPER	Female	VW35-39	35:15
561	Tracy PEZ	Female	VW50-54	35:16
592	Alice WELCH	Female	SW25-29	35:58
611	Andy JAY	Male	VM60-64	36:32
612	Nick GILL	Male	VM35-39	36:36
639	Lucy PAUL	Female	VW45-49	37:32
671	Stephen SMITHSON	Male	VM55-59	38:12
692	Caroline CROFT	Female	VW50-54	38:51
700	Hilary DAVIES	Female	VW60-64	39:03
703	Callie CHAPMAN	Female	VW40-44	39:06
744	Karl SHREEVE	Male	VM55-59	40:23
754	Jane WADEY	Female	VW55-59	40:41
756	Hazel SMITH	Female	VW50-54	40:44
763	Sam GENTRY	Female	VW45-49	40:52
853	Tracy HAYGARTH	Female	VW55-59	43:40
867	Mike CROWLEY	Male	VM65-69	45:57
873	Rebecca RAYNER	Female	VW40-44	47:39
876	Elizabeth CROWLEY	Female	VW35-39	48:18
877	Sharon CROWLEY	Female	VW65-69	48:26
904	Thomas SAUKA	Male	VM50-54	58:04

A Couple of Charlies and other parkrun highlights

On Saturday 27^th 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 27^th December.

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

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time
5	5	Simon JACKSON	18:37
15	15	Perri GENTRY	20:36
65	61	Matthew COOKE	23:56
87	7	Claire PULLEN	25:13
100	88	Daniel VILJOEN	25:50
123	16	Jodie WILSON	26:33
132	113	Darren EMMERSON	26:51
207	47	Claire EMMERSON	29:12
209	49	Carole SHELDRICK	29:14
249	69	Ada JANUSIENE	31:04
256	74	Fiona CLARKE	31:24
257	177	Matt CLARKE	31:24
260	76	Sophie PARSONS	31:38
263	179	Ryan RIDDELL	31:42
272	186	Nick KLEANTHOUS	32:07
275	83	Alice WELCH	32:19
285	189	Chris HOLLAND	33:16
313	110	Hilary DAVIES	34:41
345	133	Sam GENTRY	36:44
387	222	Tony RANDFIELD	42:44
396	225	Michael O’KEEFE	46:14
411	233	Thomas SAUKA	52:20
412	234	Roger BIGGS	53:30
414	170	Samantha SUTTON	54:36
415	235	Matthew PATTMAN	54:37
424	240	Jim BROWN	60:21

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 21^st 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 15^th in 28:59.

The next two Spartans were also under 30 minutes. ADRIAN BUSOLINI 18^th in 29:18 and DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT 30^th 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 11^th January.

Position	Name	Official	Category
15	GEORGE HALFPENNY	28:59	MSenior
18	ADRIAN BUSOLINI	29:18	MSenior
30	DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT	29:55	M40
54	NATALIE LAWRENCE	31:36	W35
58	DAN HUKIN	31:56	M40
75	JAY PAPA	32:54	MSenior
76	NICK GILL	32:56	MSenior
92	ADRIAN DONNELLY	33:19	M40
106	GRANT RAMSAY	34:05	M50
138	LIAM WELLER	36:10	MSenior
139	ANDY SHAW	36:12	M50
158	CHARLIE ARNOLD	36:50	M60
159	SHAUNA LAWLESS	36:51	WSenior
161#	SUZY HAWKINS	36:56	W45
163	LEWIS GREEN	37:11	M40
166	GEORGIE HOOPER	37:23	W35
189	GRAHAM HOARE	38:18	M50
190	KEITH HOOKER	38:21	M40
201	MELVIN AUBURN	38:42	MSenior
202	MATT COOKE	38:43	MSenior
247	CHLOE SIMPSON	41:21	W35
250	ALICE WELCH	41:25	WSenior
265	ANDY PRIOR	42:13	M50
272	CRAIG BACON	42:36	M50
275	CHRIS WATLING	42:43	MSenior
278	JO COOKSLEY	42:50	W35
295	DARREN EMMERSON	43:35	M50
300	PETE COOK	43:47	M50
304	JACKIE PERRY	43:59	W55
315	SIMON SYPULA	44:36	M40
319	LINDA GEORGE	44:56	W35
321	ADAM HILL	45:23	MSenior
322	MARK FREEMAN	45:27	M60
335	SAM SUTTON	46:39	W45
336	JON SYPULA	46:46	M40
338	JACOB NELMS	46:54	MSenior
341	JIM BROWN	46:58	M70
346	SAM GENTRY	47:44	W45
350	CLAIRE EMMERSON	48:16	W45
351	SHARON CROWLEY	48:24	W65
352	EMILY GRIEVES	48:47	WSenior
353	STEVE TINSLEY	48:56	M40
355	ANNABELLE WHITE	48:59	WSenior
357	SALLY PICKLES	49:09	W55
370	LIZ CROWLEY	51:01	W35
375	BECKY RAYNER	51:31	W35
381	CALLIE CHAPMAN	53:44	W35
384	BECCA BIRT	54:13	W45
393	AMANDA VICKERS	57:05	W45
394	JAYNE DYMOKE	57:16	W45
395	PAUL HOLGATE	59:03	M60
399	JANE WADEY	62:56	W55

Tags Buntingford 10, Cross Country, parkrun

News Race Results

SPECIAL FOR SPARTANS AT ST NEOTS

Post author By Peter Sach
Post date November 16, 2025
No Comments on SPECIAL FOR SPARTANS AT ST NEOTS

A magnificent seven Spartans had a great time, or times, at the St Neots Half Marathon.

LINDA GEORGE from Fairlands Valley Spartans completed the St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday with a chip time of 1:57:15, which is a 2 minute 43 second personal best (PB) from her 2024 Cambridge Half. This also marks her third consecutive PB in the last three weeks – starting with the cross country race, followed by the FVS 10 Mile Handicap, and now the half marathon.

Linda said a big shout-out to MARTIN JACOB, who paced her throughout the race and finished just behind her in 1:57:16.

Goodness said JIM BROWN. I started further back but finished in 1 hour 57 minutes 6 seconds (1:57:06).

It took me twelve attempts this year to get under two hours now I’ve beaten last week’s time by another 1 minute 11 seconds and looking at the official result it looks like I’ve hit a magic round number age target of 70% which I thought was unachievable.

That’s a new season’s best (SB). Jim’s fastest half in 2024 was 1:58:59 and until now his fastest half in 2025 was 1:58:17. Certainly shows that the Wednesday daylight runs haven’t done any harm. Jim said it was great to have Linda and Martin a few seconds ahead or behind for a lot of the race after the first climb through Abbotsley and me nearly stalling on Pitsdean Road after the brook. To compensate for those climbs the last 5K was wonderful. Despite being tired it took me 27:18 – faster than I’ve run a parkrun this year!

What’s happening? Jim said it’s a pity the year is running out particularly for road races. Maybe I should have lined up a second marathon (quiver, quiver) to make up a bit for the roasting experience in April……

It was BECKY RAYNER’s first time doing the St Neots Half Marathon. She didn’t even remember entering it. In fact she was certain that she hadn’t entered due to the 2.5 hour cut off, which would mean improving on her year’s best from the Stevenage Half just one month ago by over 20 minutes. Imagine her surprise when she realised two weeks ago that she had obviously had a moment of madness and had actually entered.

After being reassured that they were not too strict on the cut off and checking previous years’ results Becky decided to give it a go and just try my best.

It was a lovely course, and not only did she beat her time at Stevenage by 26 minutes and 54 seconds, but she also beat her PB from 2023 by 11 minutes and 4 seconds! Coming in under the cut off in 2:24:03. Something she did not think was possible. Absolutely over the moon

JAY PAPA was the fastest Spartan with 1:26:31. He was 62^nd. Jay said he had a very enjoyable morning. That was his third year doing it. He loves this race. This was his fastest on this course by two minutes and his second quickest half marathon time overall. He was really chuffed with how it went this morning. Felt strong.

ROSS GALLAGHER included his race in a long 21 mile training run and finished 72^nd with 1:27:04. And KARL SHREEVE should be very pleased with his 2:11:43.

There were 1015 finishers.

Pos	BiB	Name	Cat Pos	Category	Gun Time	Chip Time
62	879	Jay Papa	33.	MS 17-39	1:26:36	1:26:31
72	1370	Ross Gallagher	1	MV50-59	1:27:08	1:27:04
647	458	Linda George	50.	FV35 -44	1:57:47	1:57:15
648	626	Martin Jacob	120.	MV40-49	1:57:49	1:57:16
655	171	Jim Brown	4.	MV70+	1:58:02	1:57:06
868	1057	Karl Shreeve	144.	MV50-59	2:12:52	2:11:43
956	966	Rebecca Rayner	82.	FV35 -44	2:25:32	2:24:03

Brighton 10K

JODIE KANTAS ran the popular Brighton 10K race in 45 minutes 37 seconds. She was 831^st out of the 2933 finishers.

Gerry Goes Ultra for Ultra

GERRY ROSEN had a 32 miles dress rehearsal for the Country to Capital on Saturday. The full ultra marathon event will be 43 miles but he ran from Wendover to West Drayton via Chesham, Chorleywood and Uxbridge fortified with peanut butter sandwiches and sausage rolls with some mud to keep him entertained.

Wish him well for 10^th January 2026.

Cross Country Update

Detailed results just released by the Sunday Cross Country League show that Fairlands Valley Spartans maintained their sixth out of 18 position after the second fixture. Their men are sixth and women eighth.

240 men and 173 women ran in the second race. The third race will be in Stevenage on Sunday 21^st December.

Two Mikes and a Sharon at Sundon

Sharon Crowley, Mike Crowley and Mike Newbitt, took part in the Sundon Saunter, starting and finishing from Barton -le-Clay. They were pleasantly surprised how firm the ground was after all the rain!

They all completed the long route of 27.89 miles. Sharon and Mike Crowley in 8 hours 35 minutes. Mike Mewbitt in 9 hours 36 minutes.

Parkrun Highlights – Saturday 15^th November 2025

Thirty Spartans ran the Stevenage parkrun. After Saturday CLAIRE EMMERSON is only one short of her century so a 100 milestone celebration will be along very soon. JOSHUA WELCH was a first timer with 30:17 and ALICE WELCH also 30:17 ran a new parkrun personal best (PPB). JULIE SHADBOLT ran her 20^th parkrun in 36:27.

Julie Manton ran a new Parkrun PPB on Saturday at Stevenage 38.03 with the help of Hannah Manton 38:04 keeping her going! Together with Keith (35:48) it was a family outing. And she said she had loads of support from the lovely FVS Run Together Group too!

Suttons in Hove

Megan, Rose and Samantha Sutton all ran at Hove Promenade parkrun. Both Megan and Samantha got a parkrun 5K PB. Samantha’s was a 58 second PB with a time of 27.37 and Megan’s around 1 and a half minutes with a time of 23.13. Rose ran an excellent time of 32.34 having not run for a couple of months.

HAYLEY PEACH was in Wales running the Aberystwyth parkrun. She was visiting her son at university. This was her second park run here. It’s a pancake flat course on tarmac. She first did the course on 13 September 2025 with a time of 37.35. This week it was a park run pb of 32.10, an improvement of 5 minutes 25 seconds. MICHAEL O’KEEFE pushed the parkrun tourism a little further with 33:34 at the Zuiderpark event in Den Haag.

Altogether there were 57 Spartans running parkruns in the UK and in the Netherlands.

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time
35	34	Tony RANDFIELD	21:59
64	59	Stuart ARCHER	23:19
89	81	Daniel VILJOEN	24:19
110	101	Martin DUDLEY	24:48
115	104	Charles ARNOLD	24:58
144	130	Darren EMMERSON	26:18
149	15	Annabelle WHITE	26:23
153	135	Martin JACOB	26:28
192	27	Lorraine HILL	27:33
203	31	Fiona CLARKE	27:47
212	174	Ryan DUNNING	28:00
224	181	Matt CLARKE	28:24
268	62	Elizabeth CROWLEY	30:01
269	63	Claire EMMERSON	30:02
278	206	Joshua WELCH	30:17
279	69	Alice WELCH	30:17
337	99	Ada JANUSIENE	31:44
373	121	Caroline CROFT	32:52
390	132	Erica GRAYSON	33:09
391	250	Ahaan SHARMA	33:11
392	251	Kartik SHARMA	33:12
394	133	Pamela VILJOEN	33:19
399	136	Lindsay PATEMAN	33:32
443	269	Keith MANTON	35:48
447	270	Stephen SMITHSON	36:14
449	271	Jim BROWN	36:25
450	170	Julie SHADBOLT	36:27
451	171	Penny SCHENKEL	36:28
479	186	Julie MANTON	38:03
480	187	Hannah MANTON	38:04

Tags Brighton 10k, Country to the Capital, Cross Country, hove parkrun, parkrun, St Neots Half, Sundon Saunter

Club News Race Results

TRENT PARK CROSS COUNTRY

Going to bed with a miserable forecast including light rain 30 Spartans woke up to a lovely morning to tackle the second in the season of cross country league races. This one was in Trent Park near Cockfosters.

The club were delighted two complete men’s and women’s teams finished. The 18 men and 12 women from Fairlands Valley Spartans were among more than 400 runners on the undulating 4.7 miles (7.58 kilometres) course.

In a very competitive race at the fast end Spartan DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT won a top ten place with eighth in just 28 minutes 5 seconds (28:05).

The third Spartan to finish and first female from Fairlands was NATALIE LAWRENCE having a great run for 48^th overall in 31 minutes 21 seconds (31:21).

The second Spartan was MICHAEL FISHER at 23^rd in 29:49.

The women’s “A” team was Natalie (31:21); SUZY HAWKINS (43:39); JACKIE PERRY (44:00); JAYNE RIDDELL (45:04) and LINDA GEORGE (45:52). SAM GENTRY led in the “B” team with 47:24.

The others in the top 100 were ADRIAN DONNELLY (33:11); DANNY SCANLON (33:54) and DECLAN TRAYNER (34:36).

Position	Name	Time	Cat	Comments
8	DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT	28:05	M40	Men “A” team.
23	MICHAEL FISHER	29:49	Male Senior	Men “A” team
48	NATALIE LAWRENCE	31:21	W35	Women “A”
74	ADRIAN DONNELLY	33:11	M40	Men “A”
75	DANNY SCANLON	33:54	M40	Men “A”
98	DECLAN TRAYNER	34:36	M40	Men “A”
123	CHARLIE ARNOLD	35:49	M60	Men “A”
134	ANDY SHAW	36:24	M50	Men “A”
139	DELVIN AUBURN	36:35	Male Senior	Men “A”
165	STEPHEN MASSEY	37:50	M50	Men “B”
176	MARTIN WOOD	38:15	M60	Men “B”
198	MATT COOKE	39:05	Male Senior	Men “B”
287	SUZY HAWKINS	43:39	W45	Women “A”
292	JACKIE PERRY	44:00	W55	Women “A”
294	NICK GILL	44:11	Male Senior	Men “B”
303	PETE COOK	44:34	M50	Men “B”
306	MARK FREEMAN	44:50	M60	Men “B”
309	JAYNE RIDDELL	45:04	W55	Women “A”
320	LINDA GEORGE	45:52	W35	Women “A”
341	SAM GENTRY	47:24	W45	Women “B”
359	JIM BROWN	48:51	M70	Men “B”
365	SHARON CROWLEY	49:47	W65	Women “B”
372	SAMANTHA SUTTON	50:02	W45	Women “B”
391	CALLIE CHAPMAN	52:10	W35	Women “B”
398	BECKY RAYNER	56:07	W35	Women “B”
400	PAUL HOLGATE	56:27	M60	Men “B”
401	NICK KLEANTHOUS	57:07	M60
404	JAYNE DYMOKE	59:39	W45
409	MICHAEL O’KEEFE	60:46	M60
410	JANE WADEY	62:58	W55

Bedford

Spartan MELANIE STALEY was 33^rd out of the 267 finishers in the Bedford Half Marathon with 1:38:05 which got her third woman 45 plus. There were three from Fairlands Valley Spartans in the Bedford 10K – ELLOTT WHTE and NATALIE WHITE finished together in 52:35 and LEE POTTER was successful in 1:44:22. 343 finishers in the 10K.

Knebworth House

Nine Spartans ran at Knebworth House on Sunday morning.

Hertfordshire 10K

In the Hertfordshire 10K ADAM HILL was really happy with his result as he was aiming for a sub 1 hour and got a personal best (PB) in for 10K! He finished in 58:20.

The first from Fairlands Valley to finish was CHRIS WATLING with 52:12. ALICE WELCH came in with an excellent 57:21; RYAN RIDDELL with 59:21 and SALLY PICKLES with 64:14.

There were 661 finishers.

Hertfordshire Half Marathon

Over 13.1 miles WAYNE SIMMONS came in with 2 hours 6 minutes 29 seconds (2:06:29) and JESS CLARKE, organiser of the Stevenage Half Marathon, with 2:06:30.

SOPHIE PARSONS finished in 2:12:03 and JUDY KING in 2:21:19.

There were 1271 finishers.

New York Marathon

Paul Shelley reports. We ran NYC Marathon!! Alison and our daughter Molly ran an amazing race, running the whole thing together finishing in 4.29.18. Molly had a 15 minute PB (personal best). I ran in the Abbott world age group championship in 3.29.46, struggled from mile 21, it was brutal from there until park lane. Proud to have collected two medals. Crowds were fab and with our other daughter, Daisy, spectating made it very special. It was let down by the bus queue in the morning one hour and getting through security, another hour which meant I nearly missed my wave. But what an amazing experience.

Yuko Gordon beat four hours with 3:52:47. She was fourth woman 70 plus.

She said she probably shouldn’t have run with her recent injuries (knee and Achilles), too soon after Berlin too, but too much to give away to withdraw so late, particularly all expenses spent were considerable, which are not refundable.

Nevertheless, she’s glad it’s over without dropping out. Yuko said “It was a hell of a battle for me. Marathon is a monster after all. I need some rest before London.”

Serpentine

It was noticeably warmer in Hyde Park than Stevenage on Friday and despite the light rain and breeze JIM BROWN enjoyed the Last Friday 5K run at the Serpentine and the café stop afterwards. He was happy with his 27:37 and improved a little in the year long overall championship table.

MARTIN WOOD was 124^th in 23:08.

Parkrun Highlights – Saturday 1^st November 2025

First parkrun of GMT and there were 501 finishers at Stevenage. There was a Halloween theme and a stripes day for Spartans.

PERRI GENTRY was second at Stevenage with a new parkrun personal best (PPB) of 18:22 and MEGAN SUTTON the fastest female from Spartans with a new parkrun personal best of 24:50. SAMANTHA SUTTON was another with a PPB – 28:55.

The 501 Stevenage parkrunners included 216 women. 17 FVS women and 14 FVS men.

LLOYD DIAS got his Saturday morning parkrun in at Leavesden Country! He clocked a 26:00. It’s a nice, easy course, but it was super slippery out there today – his road shoes were not the best choice. Lloyd to power-walk a few bits to avoid a slide!

53 Spartans ran parkruns around the country. CHARLIE WHITE ran at the Stanborough parkrun. A first timer he was sixth in 19:40. There were 292 runners.

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time
2	2	Perri GENTRY	18:22
27	22	Jay PAPA	21:56
84	65	Martin DUDLEY	24:48
87	16	Megan SUTTON	24:50
89	68	Matt CLARKE	24:52
102	79	Martin JACOB	25:35
109	84	Daniel VILJOEN	25:54
133	98	Darren EMMERSON	26:39
169	128	Ryan DUNNING	27:43
181	39	Susan MCANENY	28:13
208	45	Samantha SUTTON	28:55
216	47	Lorraine HILL	29:08
225	160	Jim BROWN	29:28
250	64	Sarah ILLINGWORTH	30:14
290	89	Sally PICKLES	31:29
303	192	Nick KLEANTHOUS	32:00
307	194	Stephen SMITHSON	32:05
314	101	Alice WELCH	32:19
347	210	Michael O’KEEFE	33:39
357	125	Pamela VILJOEN	33:57
364	130	Caroline CROFT	34:07
365	131	Carole SHELDRICK	34:08
388	146	Jayne DYMOKE	35:20
395	227	Keith MANTON	35:49
424	166	Nicola HATHERLY	38:03
448	182	Annabelle WHITE	40:58
454	187	Nichola DURENT	42:02
455	188	Hayley PEACH	42:03
458	190	Julie MANTON	43:17
464	196	Emma CHAPMAN	47:26
469	252	Roger BIGGS	50:05

Tags Bedford 10K, Cross Country, Hertfordshire Half and 10K, New York Marathon, parkrun, Serpentine, Trent Park Cross Country

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

Club News

SPARTANS END YEAR WITH BUNTINGFORD TEN

Post author By Peter Sach
Post date December 29, 2024
No Comments on 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 38^th 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.

Position	First name	Last name	Net time	category
38	Mike	Jeffs	1:00:31	MV40
66	Paul	Shelley	1:03:57	MV55
77	David	Harris-Cherguit	1:05:22	MV45
90	Nick	Gill	1:06:34	MV35
97	Adrian	Donnelly	1:07:43	MV45
170	Jay	Papa	1:15:01	MSEN
189	Charles	Arnold	1:17:11	MV65
204	Yuko	Gordon	1:18:09	FV70
217	Keith	Hooker	1:18:50	MV45
290	Annabelle	White	1:25:20	FSEN
317	Samantha	Tophill	1:28:06	FV55
322	Jo	Cooksley	1:28:37	FV35
353	Tim	Robinson	1:31:33	MV55
355	Jim	Brown	1:32:02	MV70
369	Wendy	Tharani	1:34:07	FV50
376	Ann	Tryssesoone	1:34:34	FV55
379	Thomas	Sauka	1:34:27	MV45
399	Alison	Shelley	1:37:18	FV55
420	Karen	Liddle	1:39:57	FV65
439	Megan	Sutton	1:42:15	FSEN
451	Penny	Schenkel	1:43:22	FV55
504	Sharon	Crowley	1:57:00	FV65
505	Paul	Holgate	1:58:20	MV65
510	Rose	Sutton	2:01:46	FSEN
511	Samantha	Sutton	2:01:47	FV45
517	Rebecca	Rayner	2:08:25	FV40
525	Nichola	Durent	2:27:01	FV45

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 100^th parkrun which he ran in a celebratory 34 minutes 51 seconds.

THOMAS SAUKA ran his 160^th in 26:13 and WILLIAM MORLEY his 30^th in 19:42. He was 15^th 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 28^th December

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

41 Spartans ran parkruns on Saturday 28^th. 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 11^th and 12^th in the race. That was Ashley’s 25^th parkrun.

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

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

Tags Buntingford 10, Cross Country, Frozen Pheonix, parkrun, Serpentine

News

SIXTY TURNOUT FOR FAIRLANDS CROSS COUNTRY

Post author By Peter Sach
Post date December 15, 2024
No Comments on SIXTY TURNOUT FOR FAIRLANDS CROSS COUNTRY

The temperature reached double figures and the sun came out for the cross country league fixture in Fairlands Valley on Sunday morning. And it was Fairlands Valley Spartans enjoying themselves in Fairlands Valley Park as about 60 from the club ran the race and many others volunteered to make it a success.

ANDREW PATTERSON from FVS was second in the race in 27 minutes 42 seconds (27:42). ADRIAN BUSOLINI also beat 30 minutes for the almost five miles. He was eleventh in 29:29. CHARLIE WHITE, BRIAN BRACKSTONE and SIMON JACKSON chased each other in at 22^nd, 23^rd and 24^th with 30:15; 30:20 and 30:23. New club captain MIKE JEFFS was 31^st in 31:01.

MARIE COLUCCI led in the Spartan women with 40:08. TRACY PEZ 41:47; YUKO GORDON 42:12; JESS CLARKE 43:47 and JAYNE RIDDELL 46:07 completed the FVS women’s “A” team.

A fantastic turnout and wonderful running by Fairlands Valley Spartans which will no doubt boost them in the team standings when they are published.

Altogether about 400 runners from 20 clubs ran three laps, a total of 7.8 kilometres, around the south field.

The full accurate results including team results should be available from the league organisers in the next day or two.

The next cross country league race will be in Watford on Sunday 16^th February.

Position	Name	Time	Category	Comments
2	ANDREW PATTERSON	27:42	M40	M team “A”
11	ADRIAN BUSOLINI	29:29	MS	M team “A”
22	CHARLIE WHITE	30:15	MS	M team “A”
23	BRIAN BRACKSTONE	30:20	M50	M team “A”
24	SIMON JACKSON	30:23	M40	M team “A”
31	MIKE JEFFS	31:01	M40	M team “A”
33	CHRIS WESTCOTT	31:09	M50	M team “A”
35	DECLAN TRAYNOR	31:21	M40	M team “A”
44	PAUL SHELLEY	31:39	M50	M team “B”
73	NICK GILL	33:58	MS	M team “B”
81	ROSS GALLAGHER	34:21	M40	M team “B”
87	ADRIAN DONNELLY	34:47	M40	M team “B”
89	STUART ARCHER	34:37	MS	M team “B”
99	JAY PAPA	35:13	MS	M team “B”
125	TERRY SAWYER	36:44	M40	M team “B”
126	JOHN HARRIS	36:50	M60	M team “B”
147	STEVE MAYFIELD	37:30	M50	M team “C”
155	BRIAN WHITE	39:03	M60	M team “C”
177	MELVIN AUBURN	39:27	MS	M team “C”
180	DANNY SCANLON	39:38	M40	M team “C”
213	JOE WASNOCK	41:17*	MS	M team “C”
214	ALEX SCOFIELD	41:20*	MS	M team “C”
235	MARTIN WOOD	42:23	M60	M team “C”
241	TONY VICKERS	42:30	M50	M team “C”
244	DARREN EMMERSON	42:58	M50
250	THOMAS SAUKA	43:10	M40
266	DAVID RIDDELL	44:03	M50
276	DAVID ACKERY	44:30	MS
286	LLOYD DIAS	45:32	MS
319	JIM BROWN	47:43	M70
329	STEVE TINSLEY	48:43*	M40
333	SIMON SYPULA	49:09	M40
334	ROBERT WRIGHT	49:09	M40
353	ANDY JAY	49:24*	M50
357	MARK FREEMAN	49:27	M60
364	STEVE PLATT	51:46	M50
367	TIM ROBINSON	52:09	M50
384	NICK KLEANTHOUS	59:25	M60
387	PAUL HOLGATE	64:00	M60

Fairland Cross Country Results (Men)

Position	Name	Time	Category	Comments
190	MARIE COLUCCI	40:08	W45	W team “A”
	TRACY PEZ	41:47	W45	W team “A”
227	YUKO GORDON	42:12	W65	W team “A”
	JESS CLARKE	43:47		W team “A”
294	JAYNE RIDDELL	46:07	W55	W team “A”
	TRACEY JACKSON	46:35		W team “B”
	HAZEL SMITH	46:39		W team “B”
	ANNABELLE WHITE	46:44		W team “B”
	GEORGIE HOOPER	46:44		W team “B”
325	PENNY SCHENKEL	48:40*	W55	W team “B”
331	KIRSTEN LIGHTBODY	49:11	W45	W team “C”
341	MEGAN SUTTON	49:33	WS	W team “C”
354	LIZ CROWLEY	50:42	W35	W team “C”
357	CLAIRE EMMERSON	50:36	W45	W team “C”
365	JUDY KING	51:09	W55	W team “C”
379	SHARON CROWLEY	56:26	W65
380	SAM SUTTON	57:04	W45
382	CALLIE CHAPMAN	58:09	W35
388	BECKY RAYNER	64:00	W35
396	NICHOLA DURENT	76:01	W45

Fairlands Cross Country Results (Women)

Parkrun Highlights 14^th December

With less crazy weather participation in the Stevenage parkrun jumped up to 421 and this Saturday 27 Spartans were running.

Spartan JAY PAPA got to wear the bright red milestone cape as he was running his 50^th parkrun. He celebrated in 31 minutes 21 seconds.

CRAIG BACON achieved a new parkrun personal best with 21 minutes 58 seconds and GRANT RAMSAY was in the top five at fourth with 18:31.

Mini-milestones were run by DANIEL VILJOEN 270^th parkrun in 25:20; JIM BROWN 180^th parkrun and category winner in 27:34; and MATT CLARKE 150^th parkrun in 28:35.

A total of 421 parkrunners took part in the Stevenage race.Many other Spartans were running parkruns elsewhere including MATT NEWTON 20:47 at Gunpowder; KEITH HOOKER 25:35 at Edgbaston Reservoir; MARTIN WOOD 27:40 at St. Albans; TIM ROBINSON 29:22 at Panshanger; CHLOE CHAPMAN 30:30 at Great Denham

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time	Comments
4	4	Grant RAMSAY	18:31	Top Five
34	32	Craig BACON	21:58	New PPB
59	53	Tony RANDFIELD	23:13
62	55	David RIDDELL	23:19
81	71	Martin JACOB	24:22
105	93	Daniel VILJOEN	25:20	270^th parkrun
110	97	Ryan DUNNING	25:33
136	15	Jayne RIDDELL	26:55	Fastest female from Fairlands
153	128	Jim BROWN	27:34	180^th parkrun. 1^st MV70.
178	142	Matt CLARKE	28:35	150^th parkrun
179	29	Fiona CLARKE	28:36
184	146	Toby ECCLESHALL	28:45
185	31	Gail MACKIE	28:46
226	169	Maurice BALLARD	30:35
233	53	Annabelle WHITE	30:49
235	55	Penny SCHENKEL	30:52
241	175	Nick KLEANTHOUS	31:14
242	59	Monica SMITHSON	31:15
246	178	Jay PAPA	31:21	50^th parkrun – milestone!
253	182	Paul JENNINGS	31:47
255	183	Michael O’KEEFE	31:56
267	189	Peter SACH	32:19
304	201	Stephen SMITHSON	33:58
313	97	Caroline CROFT	34:42
377	138	Hilary DAVIES	39:56
391	147	Pamela VILJOEN	41:48
401	234	Roger BIGGS	48:19

Tags Cross Country, fairlands cross country, parkrun

News Race Results

PAUL EXCELS AT DEBDEN

It was three laps for four Spartans on Saturday morning and PAUL SHELLEY was an amazing third overall in the Remembrance Runs Half Marathon at Carver Barracks near Debden in Essex.

He finished in 1 hour 23 minutes 18 seconds, a new personal best (PB) by three minutes, and WON his category. JIM BROWN won his category beating his nearest rival by three minutes. His 1 hour 56 minutes exactly (1:56:00) was his best this year by 2 minutes 59 seconds.

SAM TOPHILL ran an excellent 1:53:12 and DAVE ACKERY ran a well paced event to beat two hours with 1:59:43.

Jim said it was a bit chilly but no wind and no rain. Almost ideal. He was quite pleased to put it mildly. Jim’s recent parkruns have been 28:42 and 28:12. On Saturday his 5Ks were 27:36; 27:26; 27:22 and 27:34 taking him to 20K and the last 1.1K was at the same rate. And only six days after running a half at Knebworth in 2:02:15.

Gran Canaria Night Run

JAY PAPA ran the Night Run 10K at Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. He finished in 56:40. There were a huge number of runners.

Spartan Sam’s Achievement

SAM GENTRY started with the Fairlands Valley Spartans run together group at the end of August and started her Spartans membership in September this year. Last Sunday she ran her first ever race, a 10K. It was the Hertfordshire race at Knebworth House. Her chip time result was 1 hour 7 minutes 15 seconds. As her aim was to do it in 1 hour 10 minutes she was very happy with her result.

Cross Country Update

28 Fairlands Valley Spartans – eleven women and 17 men – turned out for the third cross country league race in four weeks on Sunday 3^rd November. That’s a much stronger women’s team than last time and helped the club’s performance. The race was in Trent Park. The detailed results showed that FVS have moved up to sixth out of 20 in the combined score and fifth in the men’s competition.

At Trent Park DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT ran 19 seconds faster than seven days earlier and moved up from 10^th to sixth overall. This time ADRIAN BUSOLINI was one second faster with his 29:12 and he was 15^th.

TRACEY JACKSON led in the Spartan women with her 39:33 for 40^th woman with YUKO GORDON second Spartan and 45^th in 40:40.

It seemed warmer and drier in Trent Park than previous years when the event has been a bit of a mudfest. There were 405 finishers including 152 women.

The next Cross Country League race, race four, will be in Stevenage on Sunday 15^th December.

Parkrun Highlights 9^th November

26 of the 449 at the 372^nd Stevenage parkrun were Spartans. GRANT RAMSAY moved up to second, only missing out on the top sport by nine seconds, with his 18:30.

KAREN ELLIS ran her 30^th parkrun and was the fastest female from Fairlands with 25:30. PAUL JENNINGS ran his 90^th in 30:34 but PAMELA VILJOEN is only one away from a very special milestone. She ran her 249^th in 29:24.

Elsewhere at Henlow Bridge Lakes JOHN HARRIS finished in 22:45 and SUZY HAWKINS in 28:23; YUKO GORDON ran Letchworth in 26:02; MEGAN SUTTON 27:54 and SAMANTHA SUTTON 34:09 at Panshanger; CHRIS HOLLAND 28:14 at Rutland Water; JONATHAN JONES 36:30 and DZENANA TOPIC 36:33 were at the Wimpole Estate and DARRYL STEVENS was in Cranleigh with 39:03.

Tags Cross Country, Knebworth House, parkrun, Rememberance Runs Half

News Race Results

BOOST AT TRENT PARK CROSS COUNTRY

Post author By Peter Sach
Post date November 3, 2024
No Comments on BOOST AT TRENT PARK CROSS COUNTRY

28 Fairlands Valley Spartans – eleven women and 17 men – turned out for the third cross country league race in four weeks. That’s a much stronger women’s team than last time and helped the club’s performance. The race was in Trent Park.

This Sunday DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT ran 19 seconds faster than seven days earlier and moved up from 10^th to sixth overall. This time ADRIAN BUSOLINI was one second faster with his 29:12 and he was 15^th.

TRACEY JACKSON led in the Spartan women with her 39:33 with YUKO GORDON second in 40:40.

It seemed warmer and drier in Trent Park than previous years.

The Spartan men improved to fourth out of 20 in the men’s race at Barley only a week ago.

The next Cross Country League race, race four, will be in Stevenage on Sunday 15^th December.

Spartan One Two At Bedford

Spartan ASHLEY JOHNSON was first female in Sunday’s Bedford 10K with a brilliant sub 40 time of 39:50 chip time and Spartan MARIE COLUCCI was sixth with 48:52.

Ashley and Marie were first and second in the women 40 plus category and 11^th and 34^th out of all the 263 finishers.

Ashley said, “It was a twisty, turny course. Some muddy, cross country parts. So not as fast as I’d hoped but a win is a win.”

Knebworth – A Win by 15 seconds and Penny was Early

Six Spartans ran the Hertfordshire Half Marathon from Knebworth House.

Spartan KRISTIAN ATANASOV had a top ten run finishing in 1:20:33. He was ninth out of 1,362 finishers and second senior male.

CHRIS WATLING said it was a tough course, very undulating. He didn’t feel overly prepared for today coming off the back of two injuries and only two x 5km treadmill runs during recovery over the last two weeks, but he was very happy with his time! 1:53:45.

Chris added it was good preparation for the Baldock Beast in Feb! Great event and support. Good to see a few Spartans out there today too!

JIM BROWN reckons he’s still trying to get out of marathon mode and didn’t think there was a sensible chance of getting under two hours on the rolling course but, but with a reasonable last four kilometres he got sight of the leading runner in his category, caught him after going through the gate into the grounds of Knebworth House and dug in to be first man 70 plus by a margin of 15 seconds.

PENNY SCHENKEL was early. Clearly delighted she beat her predicted time by more than 28 minutes and finished in 2 hours 31 minutes 55 seconds (2:31:55). The London plan is clicking in.

MARK COLLINS was 80^th in 1:33:47 and CLAIRE EMMERSON finished in 2:15:05.

New York Marathon – a Spartan in the Big Apple

Spartan ROSS GALLAGHER ran the New York Marathon in 3 hours 2 minutes 43 seconds (3:02:43).

He ran on Sunday to complete his Abbott World Marathon Majors 6 Stars.

Ross said it was a fantastic race and up there with some of the best crowds at any race with the Bronx a personal favourite. The bridges were just as tough as people say… and he thought parks were flat… Central Park isn’t.

Resolution Track 5K

Five Spartans were among the 39 runners who went 12.5 times round Ridlins Track on Wednesday evening. This was the Resolution 5K, a guaranteed no hills event.

After spinning around for 19 minutes 15 seconds JAY PAPA was the first Spartan to finish. SIMON JACKSON wasn’t far behind in 19:27 then MATT GIFFORD 20:49; BRIAN WHITE 22:31 and KARL SHREEVE in 27:12.

Pos	MF	CatPos	Name	Cat	Time	Age Gd
7	7	3	Jay PAPA	MS	19:15	66.7 %
10	10	4	Simon JACKSON	MV40	19:27	73.9 %
19	19	6	Matt GIFFORD	MV50	20:49	72.5 %
26	24	1	Brian WHITE	MV60	22:31	76.5 %
35	30	10	Karl SHREEVE	MV50	27:12	56.4 %

39 ran.

Parkrun Highlights 2^nd November

Exactly the same number of runners, 527, finished the award winning Stevenage parkrun this week as the previous Saturday. There were 227 women and 300 men.

This time Spartan GRANT RAMSAY was well in the top ten at fourth with his 18:33. KAREN ELLIS was fastest female from Spartans with 25:38.

PAUL SHELLEY has just one parkrun to go before a major milestone. He finished his 99^th in 24:49. MARTIN JACOB ran his 20^th in 26:20.

So far there have been 117,694 finishes by 15,674 different people at the 371 Stevenage parkruns. They won the top award at the Recent Stevenage Together awards.

Spartans running parkrun 5Ks elsewhere included SIMON JACKSON 19:59 at Great Denham; ADRIAN DONNELLY tenth at Henlow Bridge Lakes in 22:15; YUKO GORDON 23:09 at Storey’s Field; SUZY HAWKINS was first woman at Wendover Woods in 23:34; MEGAN SUTTON 27:07 and SAM SUTTON 32:45 at Bedford; LUCY FIELD 27:43 at Sandhurst Memorial; CHRIS HOLLAND 30:20 at Rutland Water; CHLOE CHAPMAN 30:57 at the Pocket parkrun; and STEVE SMITHSON who was the lonesome Spartan at Panshanger. He said he had a slightly slippy and challenging powerwalk. He finished in 255th place out of a field of 317 parkrunners in 34:13

Recently Spartans ASHLEY JOHNSON and NIKKI NATION ran the South Norwood parkrun.

South Norwood parkrun ran an event for Black History Month and one of the local running groups called Emancipated Run Crew did a take over.

Ashley was first woman out of 82 in 20:47 and NIKKI NATION 28^th in 30:03. 215 ran and Ashley as fifth overall!

An official ParkRun film crew were there and they interviewed both Nikki and I.

It’s on Facebook if you want to watch it:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/4Q61SH4SanLStP7y/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Tags Bedford 10K, Cross Country, Knebworth House, New York Marathon, parkrun, Resolution 5k, Trent Park Cross Country

Half Marathon News Race Results Races

WET, WINDY, WONDERFUL STEVENAGE MARATHON

Post author By Peter Sach
Post date October 20, 2024
No Comments on WET, WINDY, WONDERFUL STEVENAGE MARATHON

Despite strong winds and rain more than 700 runners completed Sunday 40^th anniversary Stevenage Marathon and Half organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans.

From the start at the corner of Grace Way and Martins Way to the finish in Hampson Park it was a windswept run, particularly going south with some black numbers in the wind speeds in the weather forecast, and undulating but there were some fantastic runs.

The marathon was won by Stephen Buckle from St Albans in 2 hours 40 minutes 32 seconds (2:40:32) but, by 14 seconds, Fairlands Valley Spartans’ Suzy Hawkins was first woman in 3:32:21.

And the Spartans were third and fourth in the men’s race. David Harris-Cherguit third in 2:50:20 and Adrian Busolini fourth and first senior (over 18) in 2:55:17.

There were 303 finishers in the marathon and 413 in the half. The Spartans were wearing their stripes with pride – 38 first claim Spartans finished the full 26.2 miles marathon and 30 the half marathon.

ALISON and PAUL SHELLEY were incredible. They ran the Chicago Marathon last week and came home to run Stevenage this week. Just home so sending our results although pretty sure you will have them all.

Alison said, “That was pretty brutal today – tough course and tough conditions on tired legs. But we are super proud to have both completed the decennial FVS Stevenage Marathon as a ‘Chicago Chaser’!!!”

Paul’s time was 3:42:06 and Alison 4:54:22.

Despite the conditions there were marathon personal bests by CRAIG BACON 3:39:10; MARTIN JACOB 3:57:30 and GERRY ROSEN 5:33:36

There was a clean sweep GOLD, SILVER and BRONZE for Fairlands Valley Spartans in the County team championships for veteran men (over 40s) and veteran women (over 35s).

The male winners were DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT (2:05:20), CRAIG BACON (3:39:10), PAUL SHELLEY (3:42:06) and MARTIN JACOB (3:57:30). Silvers went to LIAM HERBERT (3:57:47), ROBERT WRIGHT (4:17:32), MATT GIFFORD (4:18:40) and MATT CLARKE (4:49:11) and Bronzes to MARTIN DUDLEY (4:53:19), JIM BROWN (4:55:05), TIM ROBINSON (5:02:06) and PAUL HOLGATE (6:10:35). (Teams of four).

The women team winners were:

GOLD – SUZY HAWKINS (3:32:25); CLAIRE PULLEN (4:08:04) and SAM TOPHILL (4:19:44). SILVER – ALISON SHELLEY (4:54:58); TRICIA HOPPER (4:57:06) and LINDA GEORGE (5:11:37). BRONZE – KAREN LIDDLE (5:17:15); FIONA CLARKE (5:23:06) and SHARON CROWLEY (6:14:16). (Teams of three).

Fairlands Valley Spartans are a local community running club in Stevenage and are celebrating their 40^th anniversary this year. The half is organised every year but the full 26.2 miles marathon is a bit special. It only takes place every ten years.

Apart from 68 finishers FVS organised the event including dozens of volunteers including marshals, lead bikes and finish funnel.

Big thanks to the Hertfordshire Sports Partnership and the University of Hertfordshire who brought 14 volunteers – mostly overseas students and UH staff. Ten different nationalities. John O’Callaghan from HSP said, “Great event despite at times, atrocious weather conditions.” The Hertfordshire Sports and Active Recreation Partnership are one of the Mayor’s good causes this year.

ALL the proceeds from Sunday’s events will go to charity. This year it is Pancreatic Cancer UK which was chosen by the club in memory of a much loved member.

There was huge Spartan success in the Hertfordshire County Marathon Championships.

The Spartan men won GOLD and BRONZE in the male senior (over 18) team county championships. The club’s women won GOLD and SILVER in the female senior team competition.

LINDA GEORGE (5:11:37) won BRONZE for women 35 plus; SUZY HAWKINS (3:32:25) for women 45 plus; CLAIRE PULLEN (4:08:04), Sam TOPHILL (4:19:44) and ALISON SHELLEY (4:54:58) GOLD, SILVER and BRONZE for women 55 plus; and KAREN LIDDLE (5:17:15) and SHARON CROWLEY (6:14:16) GOLD and SILVER for women 65 plus).

DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT (2:50:20) was GOLD for men 40 plus and JIM BROWN (4:55:05) GOLD for men 70 plus.

Civic Team

Irrespective of time JIM BROWN was delighted to finish the Stevenage Marathon. It was his first marathon back in 1994 and this time he became the first Stevenage Mayor, as Mayor, to complete the Stevenage Marathon. And he won a County GOLD medal for his age group. Jim got round in 4:55:05. He was lead bike in 2014.

The Mayoress, Penny Schenkel, was the lead bike this time.

Stevenage Half

There were 413 finishers in Sunday’s 40^th anniversary Stevenage Half Marathon. It was won by BEN TACEY in 1:13:48. FREYA WEDDELL from St Albans was first woman with 1:20:02, more than ten minutes ahead of her nearest rival.

SIMON FRASER was the first Spartan finisher. Sub 90 minutes with 1 hour 28 minutes 17 seconds (1:28:17) for 17^th position.

YUKO GORDON was the fastest female from Fairlands. She won her category and a county GOLD medal with 1:45:44.

There were new personal bests from DAVID ACKERY 2:01:52; JUDY KING 2:22:51; SAMANTHA SUTTON 2:46:29.

There were some great Spartan results in the county half marathon championships for veteran runners, part of the race. The women’s team consisting of Yuko (above); JAYNE RIDDELL 1:57:51 and SUE HAMER 2:05:00 won SILVER only one point behind the gold medallists AND SARAH ILLINGWORTH 2:17:53; Judy (above) and JO COOKSLEY 2:27:25 won BRONZE in the female veterans’ team championship (women over 35, teams of three).

The Spartan veterans were also second in the veteran men’s championship with SILVER going to TERRY SAWYER (1:38:45), BRIAN WHITE (1:43:58), MATT TUTTON (2:02:17) and BEN TORREGIANI (2:03:12) (males over 40, teams of four).

Jayne won individual bronze for women 55 plus and BRIAN WHITE individual silver for men 60 plus with his 1:43:58.

303 finishers in marathon – 38 first claim Spartans; 413 finishers in half – 29 first claim FVS.

Super PB in Amsterdam

Spartan ANDREW PATTERSON ran a new marathon personal best in the Amsterdam Marathon. A fantastic 2 hours 34 minutes 9 seconds. A personal best by more than two minutes. He was top 100, 95^th out of 16,763 finishers.

SIMON JACKSON did 2.46.10 at the Amsterdam marathon on Sunday. He finished sixth in his age group and said there was amazing crowd, nice course and a good weekend with friends.

Go Georgie at the Abingdon Marathon

Spartan GEORGIE HOOPER ran the Abingdon Marathon and broke her personal best by 43 minutes!! She finished in 3:46:02. CHARLES COOK ran the same race in 3:02:53.

York 10 Miles

CHRIS WATLING ran the York 10 miler for the third year in a row. 1.24:24

Results Out For Cross Country

The official results are now in for last week’s cross country, the first league race this season. Only six clubs beat 1,000 points and FVS were sixth out of the 20 clubs with 880 making them the best club from Stevenage. The Spartans three leading women were TRACY PEZ 19^th in 38:14 for the 7.6 kilometres; ZOE JACKSON 37^th in 40:42 and ELODIE MOAKES in 41:56. The club’s leading three men were GRANT RAMSAY 25^th in 30:33; JAY PAPA 40^th in 31:46 and ADRIAN DONNELLY 53^rd in 32:48.

The club were delighted to finish two complete teams in both the men’s and women’s races.

There were 288 finishers. 109 women and 178 men. The next cross country league race will be near Royston on Sunday 27^th October.

Ashley Beats 20 Year Record

Spartan ASHLEY JOHNSON beat a 20 year record at the Great Eastern Run. Her 1 hour 24 minutes 25 seconds beat the club record for women 35 plus and was a personal best by 33 seconds.

Chicago Extra

There was a big personal best (PB) of 10 minutes 6 seconds (10:06) achieved by PAUL SHELLEY at the Chicago Marathon. ALISON SHELLEY said it was definitely was Fairlands Fortitude for her – She said she couldn’t fuel enough and hit the wall but still super proud of the finish and time, coming back from injury, after a one year deferral.

Alison continued. “An amazing experience and trip, having both qualified for ‘good for age’ entry …and we wore our FVS stripes with pride!”

Paul went through half way in 1:31:42 and maintained that pace to finish in 3 hours 3 minutes 30 seconds (3:03:30). Alison went through a half marathon in 2:08:12 and then demonstrated Fairlands fortitude to finish in 4:28:14.

Parkrun Highlights 19^th October

Yuko beat 100%. Yes Spartan YUKO GORDON beat an age related score of 100% at Saturday morning’s Stevenage parkrun. Her 23:24 gave her a score of 100.07%.

The weather and the Stevenage marathon the following day kept the numbers down a bit but there were still 337 runners including 16 Spartans at the Stevenage parkrun.

Tags Abingdon, Amsterdam Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Cross Country, Great Eastern Run, parkrun, Stevenage half marathon, Stevenage Marathon, York 10 Miles

Events News Newsletter Race Results Races Racing Training

GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE

Hatfield 5 Wins

Fairlands Valley Spartans came home with GOLD, SILVER and BRONZE from the Hertfordshire County Five Mile Championships for veterans which were incorporated in the Hatfield Five on Sunday morning.

GEORGIE HOOPER (35:32 – a personal best PB by 11 minutes 39 seconds!); MARIE COLUCCI (37:18 – a season’s best SB by 3:01) and YUKO GORDON (37:42) won BRONZE in the women’s team competition.

Yuko took individual SILVER in the championship for women aged 65 plus.

The GOLD medal went to JIM BROWN who won the county championship for men aged 70 plus with exactly two minutes to spare in a year’s best (YB) time of 42 minutes 39 seconds.

Good fast five-mile races are pretty rare, and 22 Spartans took the opportunity. There were some outstanding performances in the open race as well as the county event. Every single Spartan that ran achieved a milestone. NICK GILL was fastest from Fairlands, 53^rd out of the 655 finishers in 30 minutes 50 seconds – an outstanding personal best by 16 minutes 21 seconds.

SAM SIMMONS improved his PB by 4:13 to 33:40. PETE SMITH took 3:05 off his SB to 35:12. SUSAN McANENY reduced her PB by five seconds to 39:27 and NICK KLEANTHOUS by 58 seconds to 42:19. NICOLA ANDERSSON sliced 1:17 off her life-time best with 43:38 and PENNY SCHENKEL improved her SB by 1:42 to 45:14.

MATT TUTTON took 37 seconds off his PB with 46:46 and JANE WADEY ran the PB bell with her new personal best of 52 minutes 26 seconds. An improvement of 1:48.

SHARON CROWLEY took her season’s best down by 52 seconds to 55:03 and BRIAN WHITE, JONATHAN JONES and DZENANA TOPIC ran their best five-mile times this year with 36:51; 56:55 and 57:40.

Three Spartans were running their first ever five-mile races – MIKE JEFFS in 35:32; MARCUS RIDLEY in 37:34 and HARRIET SMITH 38:59.

MARK GOODWIN equalled his five-mile time with 37:34 and DANNY SCANLON was in the top 100 with a year’s best time of 32:49.

Bests At Bass Belle Ten

Another ten Spartans were at the Bass Belle Ten, a partly off-road event based in Bassingbourn.

STEVEN DOBNER said “Rain greeted us but luckily had passed through before the start. After setting an unofficial PB in last week’s half marathon in Gosport I had a time to aim at and felt comfortable throughout. Starting quickly to find some space and to try to get the best of the tricky 1.5miles muddy and slippery off-road section in road shoes, we settled into our rhythm ticking off the kilometers and judging the effort. The little hill proved less of an obstacle this year and I was very happy to come home in a time of 1:15:05, knocking 5 minutes 31 off my previous best 10-mile race.”

DAVE PATTMAN also came home with a new personal best of 1:15:41 shaving 2 minutes off his PB. MO WARRILOW said she enjoyed the run, finished with a smile on her face and beat 90 minutes by 22 seconds.”

PAUL and ALISON SHELLEY ran Bass Belle again and said as always it was well organised and well supported. The 1:5 mile off road section was a bit tricky but otherwise a nice route. It was great to see so many Spartans.

Paul was 27^th 1:11:35 – 27th overall. Alison finished in 1:27:41.

The other Spartans were MATT CLARKE 1:25:11; MICHAEL O’KEEFE 1:35:00 in his first ten-mile race; FIONA CLARKE 1:37:39; CHLOE CHAPMAN 1:37:53 and MONICA SMITHSON 1:51:24.

Serpentine

Runners were so lucky with the conditions again for the Serpentine Last Friday of the Month 5K in Hyde Park, London. It was sunny, mild and with a light breeze for the lunch-time event. JIM BROWN ran his best 5K of the year with 26 minutes 8 seconds and second in his age category.

Canicross

TRACY PEZ (and her dog) enjoyed a Canicross event at Grafham Water which they completed in 1 hour 21 minutes 7 seconds.

Parkrun Highlights 26^th November 2022 – Penny in the Cape

Numbers were back over 300 for the 266^th Stevenage with 314 completing the 5K Saturday morning run in Fairlands Valley Park. 24 were Spartans.

In Stevenage PENNY SCHENKEL ran her 50^th parkrun in the red celebration cape with a time of 30 minutes 49 seconds. MATTHEW NEWTON ran new PB of 20:14. ADRIAN BUSOLINI was 3^rd overall in 18:15 and GRANT RAMSAY 4^th in 18:58.

Elsewhere DARRYL STEVENS continues his tour of many different parkruns. He was a first timer at Eastville, Bristol and finished in 39:30. MATT and FIONA CLARKE were first timers at Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire with 31:07 and 31:11.

JULIET FULLWOOD was a first timer at Alexandra, Moss Side in Manchester on her first parkrun. She was fourth women in 21:59.

22 Spartans at the Hatfield Five:

Position	Name	Net Time	Open Category	Cat Pos	Gender	Gen Pos	Comments
53	Nick GILL	30:50	Senior	24	Male	49	PB (16:21)
86	Danny SCANLON	32:49	M40	30	Male	75	YB (year best)
106	Sam SIMMONS	33:40	Senior	37	Male	92	PB (4:13)
138	Peter SMITH	35:12	M60	8	Male	120	SB (3:05)
152	Mike JEFFS	35:32	Senior	50	Male	133	First 5 miles
153	Georgie HOOPER	35:32	Senior	4	Female	19	Team Bronze. PB (11:39)
181	Brian WHITE	36:51	M60	14	Male	151	YB
205	Marie COLUCCI	37:18	W40	10	Female	33	Team Bronze. SB (3:01)
210	Yuko GORDON	37:42	W70	1	Female	35	County Silver. Team Bronze. YB.
211	Marcus RIDLEY	37:34	Senior	61	Male	175	First five miles
213	Mark GOODWIN	37:34	M60	17	Male	177	SB (equal)
242	Harriet SMITH	38:59	Senior	12	Female	41	First five miles
266	Susan MCANENY	39:27	W40	17	Female	54	PB (0:05)
317	Nick KLEANTHOUS	42:19	M60	24	Male	230	PB (0:58)
334	Jim BROWN	42:39	M70	3	Male	239	County Gold. YB
354	Nicola ANDERSSON	43:38	W50	27	Female	105	PB (1:17)
414	Penny SCHENKEL	45:14	W50	36	Female	137	SB (1:42)
448	Matt TUTTON	46:46	Senior	80	Male	287	PB (0:37)
551	Jane WADEY	52:26	W50	65	Female	227	PB (1:48)
587	Sharon CROWLEY	55:03	W60	31	Female	257	SB (0:52)
596	Jonathan Clive JONES	56:55	M50	95	Male	331	YB
604	Dzenana TOPIC	57:40	W50	84	Female	271	YB

PB = personal best (lifetime); SB = season’s best; YB = year’s best. 655 finishers.

10 Spartans at the Bass Belle:

Position	Name	Time	Comments	BIB
27	PAUL SHELLEY	1:11:35	“SB” (2:50)	61
52	STEVEN DOBNER	1:15:04	“PB” (5:30)	19
56	DAVE PATTMAN	1:15:41	“PB” (1:50)	20
126	MATT CLARKE	1:25:11	“YB”	448
140	ALISON SHELLEY	1:27:41	“SB”	62
164	MO WARRILOW	1:29:38	“SB” (6:15)	84
206	MICHAEL O’KEEFE	1:35:00	First 10 miles	418
235	FIONA CLARKE	1:37:39	“YB”	447
236	CHLOE CHAPMAN	1:37:53	“PB” (6:19)	49
313	MONICA SMITHSON	1:51:24	“SB”	172

356 finishers

24 Spartans at the Stevenage parkruns on Saturday 26^th November:

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time
3	3	Adrian BUSOLINI	00:18:15	Top ten
4	4	Grant RAMSAY	00:18:58	Top ten
11	10	Matthew NEWTON	00:20:14
32	29	Paul SHELLEY	00:22:08
54	47	Martin DUDLEY	00:23:58
89	12	Gail MACKIE	00:25:43
90	75	Toby ECCLESHALL	00:25:44
95	78	Neal MUGGLETON	00:26:08
99	81	Michael O’KEEFE	00:26:15
100	82	Steven DOBNER	00:26:16
108	17	Mo WARRILLOW	00:26:41
109	87	David PATTMAN	00:26:42
134	107	Thomas SAUKA	00:27:47
161	121	Nick KLEANTHOUS	00:29:03
162	33	Alison SHELLEY	00:29:05
169	39	Chloe CHAPMAN	00:29:12
170	123	Sam SIMMONS	00:29:13
179	43	Nicola ANDERSSON	00:29:41
194	139	Jim BROWN	00:30:48
195	47	Penny SCHENKEL	00:30:49	50^th parkrun in the cape
203	53	Nikki Katherine NATION	00:31:08
234	71	Sheryl HANN	00:33:42
257	163	Stephen SMITHSON	00:34:55
264	84	Samantha SUTTON	00:35:56

314 finishers.

Tags Cross Country, parkrun

Club News Race Results

CROSS COUNTRY LAUNCHES

The cross country league season started off surprisingly early in the year on what seemed like a summer’s day but thirty Spartans travelled to Cheshunt to enjoy the sunny conditions.

The team results won’t be available for a while but the Spartan women’s “A” team consisted of ZOE JACKSON 251^st overall in 41:44; KELLY McHALE 267^th in 42:35; CLAIRE EMMERSON 347^th in 48:13, VICKY ARCHER 348^th in 48:15 and JANE WADEY 392^nd in 55:17.

The men’s teams consisted of eight runners. First in for the Spartans was ADRIAN BUSOLINI 25^th in 31 minute 9 seconds. CHARLIE WHITE 30^th in 31:40 and GRANT RAMSAY 38^th in 32:21 were next in. They were supported by PAUL HEWETT 65^th in 33:27; STUART ARCHER 75^th in 33:50; DANNY SCANLON 96^th in 34:49; STEVEN DOBNER 151^st in 37:11 and DAVID PATTMAN 152^nd in 37:14.

(All the Spartan times and the team results should be included in next weeks news!)

A selection of our Cross Country Spartans in the sun!

International Selection and a Record for Yuko

There was an amazing double for YUKO GORDON at the weekend.

There was a selection race for the England Team for the Masters International Cross Country at Markeaton Park, Derby on Saturday afternoon. YUKO GORDON won her age group and was selected to represent England for the forthcoming international championships to be held in Dublin in November.

Returning from Derby late in the evening, she finished a quick pizza dinner and had a short sleep before heading south for another race, the Great South Run ten miles in Portsmouth on Sunday morning.

Yuko said, “I anticipated a very exciting event by just looking at the number and colourful coffee coupons they sent me and it was as fantastic as I had expected.  Number 1 reason for that was the sheer number of loos, absolutely no queues! Car parking space for any thousands of cars in the waterfront adjacent to start/finish area. The course was truly flat, my racing form has been this season only around 8 minutes per mile pace even at Parkruns but the course tuned my legs into 7:20 minutes pace while I kept worrying if I’m over pacing but I managed the even pace till the end after all. I went through 5K and 10K both in my season’s best time. My 74 minutes 7 seconds (74:07) gives me the UK’s all time best record for a woman aged over 70.
If I put more effort into Tuesday club sessions and had no selection race the day before, I might be able to improve more, hopefully.
I’m glad to know that I am finally recovering from the lengthy distraction of a hamstring injury and Covid.”

Great Eastern Run

The Great Eastern Run is a popular half marathon in Peterborough which attracts over 2000 runners. This year, its 30^th year, 2301 finished

DAN HUKIN said his confidence was a bit low as he had not run for 10 days prior to the race with a small injury but decided to go for it anyway, he suffered towards the end but hung in there for a new PB with an official chip time of 1:21:17. He was 72^nd overall.

STEVE WELLS was 289^th and fourth man 60 plus in 1:31:58.

JIM BROWN decided to go into the sub two hour starting area and thought if he could maintain an average of nine minutes per mile he should come under the 2 hours. He did with 1 hour 57 minutes 25 seconds and was second man 70 plus.

Running the furthest distance that he’s done in a while was PAUL HOLGATE and he came in with 3:15.13.

Paul enjoying his first half marathon in a while.

York Marathon

Spartans NICK GILL and JOHN HARRIS ran the York Marathon.

Nick Gill improved his marathon personal best (PB) by a massive 21 minutes with 3 hours 21 minutes 58 seconds. His previous best was 3:43:27 at the Great Welsh Marathon in 2019.

Nick ran with John Harris for the first half and then Adrian Sherwood from NHRR from mile 14 until mile 21… when he got cramp!

He had been running at 3:15:00 pace and feeling good, but his legs had other ideas. A painful finish after getting cramp in the other leg at mile 24 meant he had to walk, but was able to get going again and was super happy with the time.

JOHN HARRIS said his York Marathon was a marathon of two halves. He ran well for the first half then an ankle injury hampered him in the second half. However he still finished in 3:37:08 which is a Good For Age qualifying time.

Great South Run

The Great South Run is a ten mile race in Portsmouth.

In addition to YUKO GORDON’s record breaking 1:14:07, PHILIP POTTER finished in 1:20:29. JUDY KING 2:08:31; NICOLA HATHERLY 2:08:43 and SALLY PICKLES 2:11:16 all three ladies had a fabulous day and love their new medals!

Our Starter ladies proudly showing off their medals!

Birthday Half

ABBIE WHITROW celebrated her 21^st birthday by running her first half marathon in Amsterdam! She finished in 3 hours and 37 seconds (3:00:37) with JANE WHITROW (3:00:36).

Parkrun

For all the Parkrun Spartan results from the weekend please follow this link – Parkrun 15th October 2022

Tags Amsterdam Half, Cross Country, Great Eastern Run, Great South Run, York MArathon, Yuko Gordon

Club News Race Results

CHRISTINE WINS

The individual results are out for the cross country league and Spartan CHRISTINE LATHWELL won the women 45 plus (45 to 54) category with just five points. She won all but one of the races she ran, in the other one she was second. TRACEY JACKSON was eighth with 51 points.

In the senior race (up to 39) JONATHAN PARR was fifth with 26 points and ADRIAN BUSOLINI eighth with 56.

(In these league events those with the lowest scores are the winners as your positions in your four best counting events are added up).

In Memory Of Lisa

Fairlands Valley Spartans past and present walked ten kilometres on Sunday in memory of Lisa Potter.

Lisa Potter was a very kind hearted Spartans who sadly lost her battle with cancer last year.

The starters award which will be given out at Friday’s presentation evening has been renamed The Lisa Potter Starters Award in her memory. Lisa attended the very first Spartan starters session and was a keen to be there every week. She was always friendly and very welcoming with new members. 

Parkrun Highlights 19^th February

The aftermath of Storm Eunice cancelled the Stevenage parkrun as there just wasn’t time to clear and check the course.

So this week’s roundup of Spartans on the Parkrun circuit consists of a few stripes on tour. The biggest result comes from South Africa as STUART HAYCROFT took on the Grey Goose course at the Grey Goose Game Lodge in the North-East of the country. Stuart completed the 5km course in 20-33 finishing first out of 126 runners. 

Other away day results:

St Albans (Hertfordshire): DAVID PATTMAN 25-06 (52nd out of 207 runners), MO WARRILLOW 33-33 (170th) and STEVEN DOBNER 33-34 (171st).

Letchworth (Hertfordshire); GEORGIE HOOPER 30-38 (65th out of 108 runners), NICK GILL 30-39 (66th).

Panshanger (Hertford, Hertfordshire): TONY RANDFIELD 42-13 (184th out of 193 runners).

Westmill (Ware, Hertfordshire): ANDY JAY 26-13 (14th out of 76 runners).

Ifield Mill Pond (Crawley, East Sussex): DARRYL STEVENS 383-9 (108th out of 117 runners).

Tags Cross Country, Lisa Potter, parkrun

Club News Race Results

ABI WINS AT FRED HUGHES

Fairlands Valley Spartans sent men’s and women’s teams to the county road 10 mile championships for veterans in St Albans on Sunday. Veterans start at age 35 for women and 40 for men with age category breaks every ten years. The championships were incorporated into the open Fred Hughes 10 race.

There were 415 women and 410 men in the race.

Clearly ABIGAIL PEZ could not count towards a veterans’ team but she did WIN the race for women under 20 with a new personal best (PB) of 1 hours 18 minutes 53 seconds. That’s seven and a half minutes faster than her previous ten miles PB!

The fastest Spartan was ADRIAN DONNELLY in the first 100 of the 825 finishers with 67 minutes 16 seconds. At 99^th he led in the Spartan men’s team with JOHN HARRIS 135^th in 1:09:49; PETE SMITH 193^rd in 1:13:01; and MARK GOODWIN 293^rd in 1:18:32.

It was teams of three in the women’s race and YUKO GORDON and ASHLEY JOHNSON were well up there at 54^th and 62^nd out of 415 women. Yuko, running against people several years younger than her, was second in the 65 plus category in 1 hour 15 minutes 35 seconds and took SILVER in the County Championships. She had a higher age related score which was 95.00%! MARIE COLUCCI impressed at 83^rd woman and was the Spartans third counter with 1:18:45.

A selection of our 10 milers with Abi winning in the first square!

Ten women were running for the Spartans. The others were TRACY PEZ, 90^th woman in 1:19:26; WENDY THARANI 1:31:37; CAROL PAUL 1:35:45; SUE HAMER and ERICA GRAYSON both in 1:42:37 and SHARON CROWLEY 1:51:10.

The other three men were ANDY JAY 1:31:40; JIM BROWN happy to get round “steady state” in 1:33:48 and recovering after recent mishaps and PAUL HOLGATE 1:49:26.

In addition ANN TRYSSESOONE was not eligible for the Spartan teams but finished in 1 hour 26 minutes 40 seconds.

All this on the undulating roads and lanes to the south west of St. Albans including Potters Crouch, Chiswell Green and a favourite climb up past mile six to the edge of Bedmond. So good to see this classic club organised race back.

These were the mildest conditions many veterans of the Fred Hughes Ten could remember. It’s usually notorious for icy patches, snowing during the event, freezing winds or just chucking down large amounts of very cold rain.

The next county road championships will be at the Watford Half Marathon on Sunday 6^th February.

(The Spartans results table can be found near the end of this release).

Spartan Women Jump In Cross Country

Much greater participation helped boost the Fairlands Valley Spartans women’s team to fourth out of nineteen clubs in the latest cross country league race which was at Watford. They won the veteran women’s team race.

This time there were five Spartan women in the top fifty and eighteen running. They were twelfth, eleventh and eleventh in the first three races so this is a tremendous improvement. The women’s “A” team were CHRIS LATHWELL, SUZY HAWKINS, TRACEY JACKSON, YUKO GORDON and HAZEL SMITH.

The Spartan men were seventh at Watford with JONATHAN PARR in the top ten out of 405 finishers. In the combined scores over the series so far the Spartans are seventh. The final event will be on Therfield Heath, Royston on Sunday 13^th February.

A WIN for Jonathan – RunThrough Olympic Park 5k

On Saturday morning Spartan JONATHAN PARR WON the Olympic Park 5K with a time of 16 minutes 9 seconds.

Ciaran At Peddars

CIARAN MCANENY got fifth place overall at the 48 mile Peddars Way Ultra in a time of 6 hours 52 minutes.

The race follows the Peddars Way Trail from Knettishall Heath, just north of Bury St Edmunds, to Holme-next-the-Sea on the North Norfolk coast; on a mix of forest path, bridleways and road.

Beautiful, crisp, sunny weather kept the trails firm and the late morning sun was just warm enough to make for comfortable running temperatures.

All went to plan in terms of pacing and nutrition with Ciaran finishing 24 minutes faster than his previous outing on the course.

Ciaran was very happy and, after missing most of last year’s racing due to niggling injuries, it was great to be back on such a nice course and in a really well run and friendly event 

Ciaran still smiling after an impressive 48 miles!

Fast Five for Feetham

Three laps 33:40 52^nd out of 680.

KIERAN FEETHAM did the Romsey 5 mile race on Sunday. Although it’s classed as multi-terrain with a 700 metres non-tarmac section for each of the three laps it’s flat and fast.

The race was delayed by 15 minutes and Kieran had to warm up again as it was cold. He said he found a good group to stay with for the first three miles but then unfortunately got held up trying to pick his way through some back markers and lost that group. So he ended up on his own into a headwind. The last mile marker was in the wrong place so Kieran was slightly panicking why it was taking so long to complete it but he was happy to hold on for a new PB (personal best) of 33 minutes 40 seconds. An improvement of 1 minute 42 seconds. He was 52^nd out of the 680 finishers.

Speedy Kieran with his well earned medal!

Parkrun Highlights 22^nd January 2022

Yet another record was set at Saturday’s Stevenage parkrun. This was the 27^th since parkrun restarted for the 200^th local run and this time there were 365 finishers. The highest number since lock down. Despite some holding back for a ten mile championship race on Sunday twenty five Spartans completed a Parkrun this week, on a cold, crisp, sunny morning.

GRACE COVENTRY ran a parkrun personal best (PB) of 24 minutes 22 seconds at Stevenage, also taking the title of fastest Spartan lady this week. GRANT RAMSAY was the fastest Spartan crossing the line at 19:24 at Stevenage.

DARRYL STEVENS ran at Great Salterns Parkrun, Portsmouth, for the first time finishing with a time of 40:00. Astonishingly, this was the 94^th venue he has tried out!

ANTON McCALLA (27:46 at Market Harborough) and PETER CARPENTER (44:29, Squerryes Winery) completed their first parkruns of the year.

JIM BROWN (28:45) won his category and KARL SHREEVE (28:47) achieved a year best at Stevenage.

Although there were no official milestones achieved by members this week, three Spartans have reached 70 runs at Stevenage with LEE PICKERSGILL finishing at 24:23, TRACY HAYGARTH at 31:51 and HELEN HARRIS finishing at 52:44.

It’s stripy Saturday on Saturday, 5^th February.

Tables

Spartans at the Fred Hughes 10 (including a county championship).

Pos	Name	Time	Category	Cat Pos	Gender	Gen Pos	%	Comments
99	Adrian DONNELLY	1:07:16	40 – 49	28	Male	86	68.68
135	John HARRIS	1:09:46	50 – 59	13	Male	117	76.11
193	Peter SMITH	1:13:01	50 – 59	28	Male	159	72.29
235	Yuko GORDON	1:15:35	65 +	2	Female	54	95.00	Second in category
252	Ashley JOHNSON	1:16:37	35 – 44	22	Female	62	66.71
293	Mark GOODWIN	1:18:32	60 – 69	9	Male	214	70.55
299	Marie COLUCCI	1:18:45	35 – 44	33	Female	83	65.76
303	Abigail PEZ	1:18:53	Under 20	1	Female	85	62.91	PB (7:30). Under 20 winner.
313	Tracy PEZ	1:19:26	45 – 54	26	Female	90	67.76
547	Andy JAY	1:31:40	50 – 59	97	Male	340	56.29
555	Wendy THARANI	1:31:37	45 – 54	67	Female	211	58.79
586	Jim BROWN	1:33:48	60 – 69	19	Male	353	61.71
610	Carol PAUL	1:35:45	55 – 64	32	Female	252	64.76
702	Sue HAMER	1:42:37	45 – 54	109	Female	318	53.99
703	Erica GRAYSON	1:42:37	45 – 54	110	Female	319	54.63
762	Paul HOLGATE	1:49:26	60 – 69	35	Male	400	50.75
776	Sharon CROWLEY	1:51:10	55 – 64	64	Female	374	57.51	First ten mile race in 3 years.

These are chip times, the time from when the runner crosses the start line to when they cross the finish line. Gun times are “bang” to finish line and it can take those at the back several minutes to start.

Spartans at parkruns Saturday 22^nd January

Stevenage parkrun
Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time
9	9	Grant RAMSAY	19:24
78	72	Lee PICKERSGILL	24:22	70th
79	7	Grace COVENTRY	24:23	PB
152	125	Wills JENNINGS	27:47
166	136	David PATTMAN	28:17
168	137	Nick KLEANTHOUS	28:20
180	141	Jim BROWN	28:45	1^st in category
182	142	Matt CLARKE	28:46
183	143	Karl SHREEVE	28:47	YB
228	57	Caroline CROFT	30:37
232	59	Fiona CLARKE	30:53
234	60	Chloe CHAPMAN	30:58
235	165	Stephen SMITHSON	31:00
239	63	Claire EMMERSON	31:06
256	73	Tracy HAYGARTH	31:51	70th
344	196	Steven DOBNER	41:15
345	137	Mo WARRILLOW	41:15
362	202	Roger BIGGS	49:42
364	149	Helen HARRIS	52:44	70th
Gunpowder parkrun
Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time
175	67	Karen BROOM	39:54	First parkrun since 2019
Letchworth parkrun
Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time
10	9	Nick GILL	22:40
32	4	Georgie HOOPER	26:55
Squerryes Winery parkrun
Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time
89	49	Peter CARPENTER	44:29	First parkrun in 2022
Great Salterns parkrun
Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time
212	127	Darryl STEVENS	40:00	New venue (of 94)
Westmill parkrun
Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time	Comments
7	7	Danny SCANLON	22:01
Market Harborough parkrun
Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Run Time
117	86	Anton MCCALLA	27:47	First parkrun in 2022

Tags Cross Country, Fred Hughes 10, Olympic park 5K, parkrun, Peddars Way Ultra, Romsey 5 mile

Club News Race Results

ONE AND TWO ON CHRISTMAS DAY

Post author By Vicky Archer
Post date December 26, 2021
No Comments on ONE AND TWO ON CHRISTMAS DAY

All twenty seven Fairlands Valley Spartans wanted for Christmas was to join in the festive Parkrun fun at six different locations around the country on Christmas Day.

Christmas number one goes to JONATHAN PARR finishing as first man with a time of 16:51. Spartans took one two at Stevenage with ADRIAN BUSOLINI (18:16) taking second place.

Adrian in his stripes had Jonathan’s green elf vest in his sights

The fastest female Spartan this week was TRACEY JACKSON who finished with a time of 23:43 and was the fifth fastest lady also at Stevenage.

Tracey leading the pack of Christmas cheer!

There were Santa, elves, Christmas crackers, little helpers, even grinches and most of the 22 Spartans at Stevenage stepped into Christmas Parkrun fun, dressed in festive clothing with a special shout out to CAROL SHELDRICK and CAROLINE CROFT dressed as elves.

Other Spartans were parkrun volunteers to help make it a special morning. There were 325 parkrunners in Stevenage.

Visiting relations GRANT RAMSAY enjoyed the Edinburgh parkrun which he finished in less than twenty minutes with 19:47 and 40^th position out of 568.

All smiles for Grant after a sub 20 in Edinburgh!

There will be a New Year’s Day parkrun in Fairlands Valley Park, Stevenage at 9a.m. on Saturday. It’s free but you need to register with parkrun beforehand.

Andrew Wins On Boxing Day

There was a lower attendance than usual at the Pirton Boxing Day run and miserable weather but spirits were high. Spartan ANDREW PATTERSON won the very muddy 3.2 mile event in 17 minutes 48 seconds.

Speedy Spartan Andrew never ceases to amaze us!

Cross Country Update

Fairlands Valley Spartans finished the cross country league fixture in Stevenage with more than three complete men’s and three complete women’s teams. In the participation table the club swept into second place with 45 with only Garden City Runners getting more round with 63. This time FVS overtook Royston Runners 42 and got well ahead of Trent Park 35; North Herts Road Runners 33; St Albans Striders 26; Team Trident 25 and Watford also 25. There are 19 clubs in the league.

This time in the race the Spartan men were again fifth out of nineteen but not far behind Garden City Runners. Their women were eleventh but only three points behind Ealing who were tenth. Now the Spartans are seventh out of nineteen in the combined team score following three races.

It was a murky and misty morning on 19^th December but that didn’t stop more than 400 people enjoying five miles of cross country running around Fairlands Valley Park in the race which was organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans.

Let’s see what the club can do at the next league fixture which will be in Watford on Sunday 16^th January.

The county cross country championships are in Welwyn Garden City on 9^th January.

Paul Completes His Coasts and Borders

With more than four days of the year still to go PAUL HOLGATE completed his virtual coast of England challenge running the full 2,970 kilometres in a moving time of 383 hours, 53 minutes and 43 seconds.

Tables

Spartans at parkruns on Christmas Day:

Position	Gender Position	Name	Run Time
Stevenage parkrun
1	1	Jonathan PARR	16:51
2	2	Adrian BUSOLINI	18:16
20	18	Steve WELLS	20:27
60	5	Tracey JACKSON	23:43
61	53	Thomas SAUKA	23:44
70	59	Andy JAY	24:10
138	100	Tim ROBINSON	27:29
174	43	Ann TRYSSESOONE	29:05
176	119	Ken JUDE	29:09
184	48	Jo BOWDERY	29:31
189	126	Matt CLARKE	29:35
190	51	Fiona CLARKE	29:36
192	53	Claire EMMERSON	29:38
193	127	Darren EMMERSON	29:38
194	54	Debbie BLANTERN	29:45
235	72	Monica SMITHSON	31:51
236	73	Tracy HAYGARTH	31:58
242	77	Carole SHELDRICK	32:15
243	78	Caroline CROFT	32:15
244	79	Harriet PACE	32:19
272	96	Sharon CROWLEY	34:51
317	123	Helen HARRIS	44:53
Edinburgh parkrun
40	33	Grant RAMSAY	19:47
Houghton Hall parkrun
87	63	Michael O’KEEFE	29:30
Panshanger parkrun
83	72	Mike REYNOLDS	26:02
Lee-on-the-Solent parkrun
174	119	Edward HARE	27:24
Bartley Park parkrun
117	64	Darryl STEVENS	39:51

All 45 Spartan finishers at the Stevenage cross country (19^th December):

Position	Name	Official	Gender	Category	Team
4	ANDREW PATTERSON	27:33	M	40	MA
9	SIMON JACKSON	28:30	M	40	MA
10	JONATHAN PARR	28:32	M	S	MA
46	CHARLIE WHITE	30:56	M	S	MA
57	KELVIN BEYOKU	31:32	M	S	MA
70	STUART ARCHER	32:27	M	S	MA
99	STEVE WELLS	33:30	M	50	MA
104	DANNY SCANLON	33:34	M	40	MA
142	MARK COLLINS	35:23	M	40	MB
146	JOHN HARRIS	35:30	M	50	MB
150	PETE SMITH	35:37	M	50	MB
164	THOMAS SAUKA	36:33	M	40	MB
186	STEVE MAYFIELD	37:27	M	50	MB
201	MARTIN WOOD	38:00	M	50	MB
210	YUKO GORDON	38:20	F	65	FA
218	TRACEY JACKSON	38:34	F	45	FA
226	CRAIG BACON	38:56	M	50	MB
236	MARK GOODWIN	39:15	M	60	MB
249	ANNABELLE WHITE	39:38	F	S	FA
273	MATT CLARKE	40:50	M	40	MC
276	TIM ROBINSON	41:02	M	50	MC
280	LUKE GURNEY	41:07	M	S	MC
284	TRACEY PEZ	41:16	F	45	FA
291	DAVID KENNEDY	42:02	M	S	MC
300	ZOE JACKSON	42:27	F	35	FA
301	DARREN EMMERSON	42:28	M	50	MC
306	ANDY JAY	42:44	M	50	MC
319	CAROLE SHELDRICK	43:47	F	45	FB
325	JON SYPULA	44:02	M	40	MC
326	MARK FREEMAN	44:04	M	60	MC
335	NICK KLEANTHOUS	44:55	M	50
338	FIONA CLARKE	45:12	F	35	FB
345	MARIAN MORLEY	45:49	F	55	FB
346	NICOLA ANDERSSON	45:50	F	45	FB
360	SIMON SYPULA	47:04	M	40
368	ROGER HARDMAN	48:01	M	70
382	MICHAEL O’KEEFE	49:43	M	50
396	CATHY CRAIG	52:11	F	65	FB
399	SHARON CROWLEY	53:07	F	55	FC
400	PAUL HOLGATE	53:18	M	60
411	JENNY GARRETT	56:03	F	45	FC
412	CALLIE CHAPMAN	56:12	F	35	FC
418	CHRISTINE ZVEREV	57:05	F	35	FC
419	HAZEL SMITH	57:05	F	45	FC
420	CLAIRE EMMERSON	57:06	F	45

16 women and 29 men. There were 421 finishers, 165 women and 256 men, altogether.

Tags Christmas parkrun, Coasts and Borders, Cross Country, Pirton Boxing Day Run

Club News Race Results

CROSS COUNTRY IS BACK !

Cross Country is back and despite many other races elsewhere 27 Spartans, 15 men and 12 women, ran the first Sunday League fixture of 2021 at Cheshunt on Sunday morning. A little bit of rain loosened up what is usually a very dry event at the start of the season.

The fastest Spartan, eleventh of about 400 runners, was JONATHAN PARR who raced around the just under five miles event in 28 minutes 48 seconds. Four other Spartans were in the top one hundred overall. They were ADRIAN BUSOLINI (25^th in 30:31); STEVE WELLS (81^st in 32:53); DANNY SCANLON (88^th in 33:18); and GRANT RAMSAY (98^th in 33:41). The men’s “A” team of eight was completed by JOHN HARRIS (36:04); TOM SAUKA (37:03) and TOBY ECCLESHALL (37:50).

It was teams of five for the women’s race and the Spartans “A” team were CHRISTINE LATHWELL (32:30); TRACEY JACKSON (38:19); WENDY THARANI (43:44); NICOLA ANDERSSON (45:06) and PENNY SCHENKEL (47:47).

FVS men at cross country (teams of eight):

Overall Position	Name	Time	Comments
11	JON PARR	28:48	A team
25	ADRIAN BUSOLINI	30:31	A team
81	STEVE WELLS	32:53	A team
88	DANNY SCANLON	33:18	A team
98	GRANT RAMSAY	33:41	A team
145	JOHN HARRIS	36:04	A team
164	TOM SAUKA	37:03	A team
178	TOBY ECCLESHALL	37:50	A team
213	DAVE PATTMAN	39:35
214	STEVE DOBNER	39:36
290	ANDY JAY	43:19
303	NICK KLEANTHOUS	44:26
336	JIM BROWN	47:36
351	KEN JUDE	48:29
368	SIMON SYPULA	51:30*

FVS women at cross country (teams of five):

Overall Position	Name	Time	Comments
74	CHRISTINE LATHWELL	32:30	A team
195	TRACEY JACKSON	38:19	A team
293	WENDY THARANI	43:44	A team
309	NICHOLA ANDERSSON	45:06	A team
341	PENNY SCHENKEL	47:47	A team
371	CATHY CRAIG	53:19	B team
375	SHARON CROWLEY	54:33	B team
384	CALLIE CHAPMAN	57:11	B team
385	KAREN ELLIS	57:11	B team
386	HAZEL SMITH	57:11	B team
387	BETH FOLEY	57:11
390	JANE WHITROW	59:27

Callie, Hazel & Karen are all smiles as usual!

The next cross country league race will be in Trent Park, North London on Sunday 12^th December.

Chelmsford Marathon

PETE SMITH said the Chelmsford Marathon was a well organised race, great marshals (like ours) a touch undulating and with a few tight turns, but generally a good course. Pete was well happy with his 3 hours 26 minutes 24 seconds. MARIE COLUCCI just wanted to get round but got a brilliant 4:03:10.

Marie & Pete both ran a fabulous marathon!

Paris Marathon

JOHN NELMS travelled to Paris to run his 102nd lifetime marathon and his 16th and probably last of 2021.

Hot, sunny and surprisingly humid conditions slowed the times and he finished in a comfortable 4 hours 19 minutes. A beautiful course passing most of the famous Parisian sights and a VIP tent at the finish line (thank you Tom Robinson )

Bedford Autodrome

STUART ARCHER ran Bedford Autodrome on Sunday. He did the half marathon distance in 1:29:15, under one and a half hours. He said that it was a breezy course but he enjoyed it and even got a picture with the Stig afterwards.

Stuart was all smiles after meeting The Stig!

Oxford Half

Spartan RICHARD COWLISHAW completed the Oxford Half on Sunday in 1 hour 33 minutes and 32 seconds. That’s his fastest ever competitive half marathon. He was 491^st out of 12932 runners.

Richard said, “This is one of the best half marathons I have run. It was flat, perfect weather, great crowds and a good wide route, with a park run towards the end. I would recommend this event to anyone.”

Cambridge Half

CAROLYN LINSELL ran the Cambridge Half Marathon in 2 hours 26 minutes 12 seconds. Carolyn said, “On Sunday I ran my fourth Cambridge Half Marathon with my friend Hannah Morgan Gray (we ran the virtual VLM – Virtual London Marathon together two weeks ago). We were going well when Hannah felt a niggle in her ankle/foot & we had to slow right down & she had to walk several times. I kept running & zig zagging as I promised we would run this together & I would not leave her.”

Great South Run

JENNY GARRETT ran the Great South Run ten miles event in 1 hour 31 minutes 33 seconds.

She said there were perfect running conditions on Sunday with lots of support around the whole course and it was nice to be out showing off the Spartan stripes. ED HARE finished in 1 hour 26 minutes 17 seconds and JONATHAN JONES in 2:00:51.

Inspired by the London and Manchester Marathons? Here Comes The Stevenage Half!

Inspired by the London and Manchester Marathons? Now you can be one of hundreds running in Stevenage on Sunday 21^st November as entries for the town’s half marathon are open.

With only five weeks to go to the Stevenage Half Marathon it’s time to start getting ready and entered. This year the race will be on Sunday 21^st November (a couple of weeks later than usual).

Entries for the Stevenage Half Marathon are open. Go to https://stevenagehalfmarathon.org.uk/ This club and community event has a history going back 37 years and is organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans. With a break due to Covid 19 in 2020 it’s back for 2021.

Parkrun report for Saturday 9^th October 2021

In this week’s roundup of Spartans on the Parkrun circuit, SUZY HAWKINS just missed out on a sub-20 minute at Stevenage and was second female to finish (finishing eight seconds behind the first female runner).

Stevenage Parkrun Results where 327 runners took part. SUZY HAWKINS 20-05 (8th), ASHLEY SCHOENWETTER 22-14 (24^th and 4^th female), CRAIG BACON 23-38 (47th), MARTIN DUDLEY 23-48 (51st), HAZEL SMITH 24-22 (63rd), DANIK BATES 25-14 (83rd and with a buggy), MATT CLARKE 26-46 (126th), NICK KLEANTHOUS 27-34 (137th), JIM BROWN 28-01 (141st), PENNY SCHENKEL 28-11 (142nd), TOBY ECCLESHALL 28-35 (150th), CHLOE CHAPMAN 28-42 (155th), ERICA GRAYSON 29-13 (172nd), JO BOWDERY 29-18 (176th), STEVE SMITHSON 29-34 (184th), PAUL JENNINGS 30-16 (195th), TRACEY HAYGRATH 31-34 (231st), CAROLINE CROFT 31-41 (237th) and BETH FOLEY 33-53 (266th). 

Parkrun Away days: 

Gunpowder (Waltham Abbey): STEVEN DOBNER 23-34 (40th out of 152 runners), DAVID PATTMAN 23-34 (41st). 

Letchworth (Hertfordshire): NICK GILL 21-48 (12th out of 94 runners), GEORGIE HOOPER 26-01 (38th).

Panshanger (Hertford): MIKE REYNOLDS 25-06 (62nd out of 207 runners). 

Rushmere (Bedfordshire): MICHAEL O’KEEFE 29-31 (73rd out of 141 runners). 

Rutland Water (Rutland): DARRYL STEVENS 41-39 (210th).

Tags Bedford Autodrome, Cambridge Half, Chelmsford Marathon, Cross Country, Great South Run, Oxford Half, Paris Marathon

Spartans and the Baldock Beast.

Winning Natalie at the Bedford Half

Bedford 10K

Over the Ridge With Jodie

Cross Country League Update

Parkrun Highlights

Panshanger Cross Country

Gerry’s Ultra

Parkrun Highlights

Resolved To Run On New Year’s Day.

A Last One

County Cross Country

Parkrun Highlights

Christmas Day Record Breaker – Thursday 25th December.

A Couple of Charlies and other parkrun highlights

Cross Country Update

Brighton 10K

Gerry Goes Ultra for Ultra

Cross Country Update

Two Mikes and a Sharon at Sundon

Parkrun Highlights – Saturday 15th November 2025

Suttons in Hove

Bedford

Knebworth House

Hertfordshire 10K

Hertfordshire Half Marathon

New York Marathon

Serpentine

Parkrun Highlights – Saturday 1st November 2025

Cross Country

Berlin Station

Ouse Valley Way Marathon

Letchworth 5K

Marmite Creative juices 10k Canicross

Century Celebration – Parkrun Highlights, Saturday 20th September 2025

Gerry’s Frozen Phoenix

50 Plus Spartans At Record Breaking Christmas Day Parkrun

Misty, Mild and Still at the Serpentine

Parkrun Highlights – Saturday 28th December

Santa Canta

Spartans Star in Herts Annual Runners Awards

Cross Country

Parkrun Highlights 14th December

Gran Canaria Night Run

Spartan Sam’s Achievement

Cross Country Update

Parkrun Highlights 9th November

Spartan One Two At Bedford

Knebworth – A Win by 15 seconds and Penny was Early

New York Marathon – a Spartan in the Big Apple

Resolution Track 5K

Parkrun Highlights 2nd November

Civic Team

Stevenage Half

Super PB in Amsterdam

Go Georgie at the Abingdon Marathon

York 10 Miles

Results Out For Cross Country

Ashley Beats 20 Year Record

Chicago Extra

Parkrun Highlights 19th October

Hatfield 5 Wins

Bests At Bass Belle Ten

Serpentine

Canicross

Parkrun Highlights 26th November 2022 – Penny in the Cape

International Selection and a Record for Yuko

Great Eastern Run

York Marathon

Great South Run

Birthday Half

Parkrun

In Memory Of Lisa

Parkrun Highlights 19th February

Spartan Women Jump In Cross Country

A WIN for Jonathan – RunThrough Olympic Park 5k

Ciaran At Peddars

Fast Five for Feetham

Parkrun Highlights 22nd January 2022

Tables

Christmas Day Record Breaker – Thursday 25^th December.

Parkrun Highlights – Saturday 15^th November 2025

Parkrun Highlights – Saturday 1^st November 2025

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

Parkrun Highlights – Saturday 28^th December

Parkrun Highlights 14^th December

Parkrun Highlights 9^th November

Parkrun Highlights 2^nd November

Parkrun Highlights 19^th October

Parkrun Highlights 26^th November 2022 – Penny in the Cape

Parkrun Highlights 19^th February

Parkrun Highlights 22^nd January 2022

Parkrun report for Saturday 9^th October 2021