Lots of Spartans enjoyed the club’s dinner and presentation evening at the Cromwell Hotel in Stevenage on Friday evening.
Photo credit Keith Fenwick
YUKO GORDON is the new overall club champion with amazing scores of 100.2% for the short distance and 102.8% for the long distance series.
ANDREW PATTERSON won the men’s open short distance with 79.0%, including winning the Hitchin 5K by 50 seconds, and the open long with 78.6%.
ASHLEY JOHNSON won the women’s race at Hitchin by a similar margin and won the club’s open short distance championship for women with 73.9%.
The age graded short championship for men went to SIMON JACKSON with 85.3%.
FIONA CLARKE won the club’s open long distance championship for women with 54.7% just ahead of HARRIET SMITH on 54.0%.
NICK GILL and VICKY ARCHER were the most improved Spartans.
The Starter of the Year was JUDY KING. The volunteer awards were Chair’s award MICHAEL O’KEEFE; Head Coach’s award JOHN HARRIS; President’s Award BRIAN WHITE; Cathy Craig Spartan of the Year CALLIE CHAPMAN.
Some of our amazing winners! Photo Credit Keith Fenwick
The full list of amazing winners are noted as follows:
Female Open Short
1st Ashley Johnson
2nd Vicky Archer
3rd Kerstin Prior
Female Age Graded Short
1st Yuko Gordon
2nd Sharon Crowley
3rd Nicola Andersson
Female Open Long
1st Fiona Clarke
2nd Harriet Smith
3rd Sam Maidens
Female Age Graded Long
1st Yuko Gordon
2nd Sharon Crowley
3rd Wendy Tharani
Male Open Short
1st Andrew Patterson
2nd Nick Gill
3rd Mike Jeffs
Male Age Graded Short
1st Simon Jackson
2nd Grant Ramsay
3rd John Harris
Male Open Long
1st Andrew Patterson
2nd Simon Fraser
3rd Grant Ramsay
Male Age Graded Long
1st Simon Jackson
2nd David Harris-Cherguit
3rd Pete Smith
Overall Champion – Male – Andrew Patterson
Overall Champion – Female – Yuko Gordon
Overall Club Champion – Yuko Gordon
Most Improved Spartan – Male – Nick Gill
Most Improved Spartan – Female – Vicky Archer
The Lisa Potter Starter of the Year Award – Judy King
Chairs Award – Michael O’Keefe
Head Coaches Award – John Harris
Captains Awards – Liz Crowley and Michael O’Keefe
Presidents Award – Brian White
The Cathy Craig Spartan of the Year Award – Callie Chapman
Photo credit Keith Fenwick
Essex 20
NICK GILL ran 2:17:10 at Sunday’s Essex 20. He decided to race it, aiming for sub 3-hour marathon pace (6:50 per mile/4:15 per km). Managed to do exactly that and even split all the laps, and really enjoyed running with two guys – Matt and Callum – pretty much the whole way. His last 20-mile race was back in 2019 at the Hillingdon 20 when he did 2:46:03 – so a big improvement on that.
Needing to up his miles from a half marathon in preparation for the London Marathon JIM BROWN thought the Essex 20 would be the ideal opportunity. He decided to chunk it up into 5Ks and see how long he could keep them under 30 minutes. It went a lot better than expected and he finished in 3 hours 6 minutes 31 seconds, a 7 minute 20 second improvement on the fastest 20 he raced last year.
Essex 20
Blickling Multi Terrain Half Marathon
The Blickling multi-terrain half marathon near Aylsham in Norfolk saw CAROL PAUL come third in her age group (60 – 64) with 2:08:36. She said the weather was ideal for running but underfoot it was a bit mucky.
Carol with her medal after her amazing run!
Milton Keyenes Festival
SOPHIE PARSONS ran in the 10k event at the Milton Keynes Festival. It was hillier than she expected but she managed to complete the course in a brilliant time of 57:43!
Sophie reunited with Chester after her run.
Parkrun
Total turnout at Stevenage parkrun went past 500 again on Saturday. This time to 518 and no doubt helped by the large number of Spartans who turned out to support Jane WADEY, Kerstin WEINER and Nicola HATHERLY for their fiftieth parkruns.
Fairlands Valley Spartans had a great club outing to Cambridge with seventeen running the half marathon and three of the fastest from Fairlands finishing within two seconds of each other.
Three personal bests came from the three who raced the event together. NICK GILL 1,011th in 1:27:16; MATTHEW NEWTON 1,013th in 1:27:27 and MIKE JEFFS 1,014th in 1:27:18. Nick improved by 3 minutes 49 seconds; Mike by 3:54 and Matthew by an enormous 38:37. All in the top ten per cent of the race.
The fourth PB was from SAM SIMMONS with 1:32:59.
STEVEN DOBNER improved his best half marathon time by 4 minutes 37 seconds when he finished in 1 hour 37 minutes 3 seconds (1:37:03). CHRIS WATLING came in at 1:51:38, an improvement of 1:46. MO WARRILOW ran a new pb of 1:53:26! She was so pleased as for a long time she didn’t think she could go sub 2 hours! CAROLYN LINSELL ran a new PB of 2:16:34.
SIMON JACKSON finished second in his age group and 83rd overall with 1:13:42. He said, “Unfortunately I never really found a group to run with but I was happy with my second fastest half marathon ever after some very average training and some niggles. He was the fastest from the club and in the top 1% in the race.
YUKO GORDON won her age category F70 in 1:37:22, over 9 minutes ahead of F65 winner. She said, “I pushed harder than usual to shake off my habit of running within my comfort zone but there was a little drop in pace here and there by losing concentration.”
CAROLE SHELDRICK ran her first half marathon in three years. Carole said, “The Cambridge Half has always been one of my favourites. My plan was to make it round and enjoy it, so I was very happy to come in under two hours (Official time 1 hour 59 minutes 47 seconds). Brilliant event, great support along the route and as always a fantastic medal.
Tokyo Marathon – Abbott world marathon 6 star finishers
Four Spartans endured the 14 hour flight to Japan to run the 2023 Tokyo marathon.
STUART HAYCROFT, JACKIE DOWNES and TODD GRAY were originally scheduled to run in 2020, but five days before they were due to board flights and after 16 weeks of intense training, the marathon was cancelled due to Covid. After several deferrals and foreign embargoes, they finally toed the start line this year for the original 2020 entry.
This race was the culmination of a several year journey to achieve the coveted Abbott world major six star finishers medal for Jackie Downes and Stuart Haycroft. This medal is only being awarded to people who have completed all the majors, comprising Boston, New York, Chicago, Berlin, Tokyo and London. The group of people in the world who have completed remains small as it’s incredibly difficult to gain entry to these races, and the logistics of running them is very problematic and difficult.
Stuart said, “Wow, what a city, what lovely people and such a great race. To finally receive my six star medal is one of my proudest moments of my life, the effort, resources, patience and money it has taken to here has been massive. It’s been such a long journey, but absolutely worth it. It was great to share this experience with three other Spartans”
ROSS GALLAGHER was the fastest Spartan on the day, breaking three hours for the first time in 02:59:26 (PB) with an amazing run through this amazing city.
Ross said of his run, “After what was tough training block it was fantastic to go under 3 hours for the first time and grab a 9 minute PB. Thanks to Stuart Haycroft for some consistent pacing and words of encouragement when I had to dig deep for the last three miles for what felt like the world’s longest ‘park run’.”
The other Spartans completing this race were: Stuart Haycroft: 02:59:27 (SB); Todd Gray: 3:24:21 and Jackie Downes: 04:42:14.
All four have commented on what an amazing place Tokyo is and should definitely be on the bucket list of anybody who enjoys running foreign races.
Ross and Stuart with his six star finishers medal
Berkhampstead Half Marathon
Four Spartans stayed in the county and were in Berkhamsted to help celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Berko Runs.
FIONA CLARKE had a brilliant run to finish in 1 hour 55 minutes 54 seconds. Fiona said, “It was a surprise sub-2 for me, as I simply haven’t been running well or with enough results to point to this result so I’m very happy. I really enjoyed the race, the organisation and support were amazing. I even enjoyed the undulating course, the long downhills were very rewarding.”
Fiona running strong
JIM BROWN improved by ten minutes on his most recent attempt at a half marathon and finished in 2:03:15 which gave him third in his age group. Coming back from injury WENDY THARANI wanted a trouble free long run which she did with 2:16:55.
In the five mile Berko race PENNY SCHENKEL went round in 48 minutes 22 seconds. She was 250th out of the 447 finishers.
Essex 20
ROB WRIGHT added to the variety with a former airfield based 20 mile race near Saffron Walden. He completed the race in 2 hours 36 minutes 36 seconds. That’s a personal best (PB) by 39 minutes 44 seconds.
Rob with his medal
Chiltern Kanter
Mike and Sharon Crowley completed the 26 mile Chiltern Kanter in 8 hours 49 minutes. The route included over 4700 feet of climbing. The challenge was to answer questions at 32 map references, self navigating round the route, not following written instructions.
TIM ROBINSON did an 18 mile version of the same event in 3 hours 36 minutes exactly.
Mike and Sharon on their Kanter
Wokingham
CRAIG BACON ran the Wokingham Half Marathon recently. He finished in 1:43:22.
The route took a two mile loop around the historic town centre, before heading out into the country roads of Royal Berkshire. The route was pretty flat, which was advertised as an opportunity for a PB, although with disruption to training due to minor ailments this was not very likely.
I was encouraged along for the first few miles by running with an old friend from Reigate Priory Athletics Club, before letting him push on and taking the sensible decision to stick with my own maintainable pace.
I was very pleased to come in with a chip time of 1:43:22 to finish 1135 of 2500 finishers and 143 of 330 Male Vet 50.
Parkrun Highlights
Saturday 4th March 2023
CHLOE CHAPMAN enjoyed her 100th parkrun with 30:14.
New PB for Michael O’Keefe of 26:15 at Henlow Bridge Lakes
There were some fantastic performances from many of the thirteen Fairlands Valley Spartans racing the Cambridge Half Marathon on Sunday morning.
The fastest from Fairlands, and wow it was fast – he set a phenomenal new personal best, was SIMON JACKSON with 1 hour 12 minutes 30 seconds. 90 seconds is a lot at that standard. He was 48th out of about 10,000 finishers in the whole race AND third in his age category. The fastest female from the club was MICHELLE REEVES in 1:30:24.
VICKY ARCHER took about ten minutes off her Half Marathon personal best (PB) which was set at Hampton Court two years ago. On Sunday she was well under two hours with 1 hour 56 minutes 18 seconds. She said she trained so hard and is feeling quite proud of herself.
MARIAN MORLEY was delighted to report a new half marathon PB of 1:58:35 – improving by over nine minutes. Her previous best HM was 2:07:36 at the London Big Half in 2021. She surprised herself by running without stopping with an even cadence throughout and splits that only varied by 30 seconds – perhaps helped by being a fairly flat course. Her son William volunteered as a helper for the event and cheered all the runners on from the side.
LINDA GEORGE had a great time. On her way to a new half marathon PB of 2 hours 8 minutes 27 seconds she ran her best time ever for 5K, under 30 minutes, and her best time ever for 10K, under 60 minutes.
Then ELLIE McDERMOTT improved by 24 minutes 27 seconds in a week. She ran the Welwyn Half in 2:43:04 but Cambridge in 2:18:37.
Want to improve? Fairlands Valley Spartans offer training sessions on five days a week and now can arrange one to one coaching sessions. All are free to members.
Meanwhile JIM BROWN was content to continue his recovery, proving to himself that he can again run 13.1 minutes without stopping and trimmed his 2022 time by 26 seconds to 2:02:25.
The other Spartans included STUART HAYCROFT in 1:28:55 and MARTIN JACOB in 1:54:14.
Spartans at Cambridge.
Essex 20
WENDY THARANI, CATHY CRAIG and HAZEL SMITH travelled to Debden Airfield, near Saffron Walden to compete in the Essex 20. Hazel said it was a lovely course with five loops of four miles each. Some sections were quite exposed with a chilly headwind but it was basically flat.
Hazel had a fantastic run. She cut her 20 mile time by 49 minutes and her personal best is now 2 hours 49 minutes 13 seconds.
Wendy Tharani had an outstanding run finishing in 3:45:39 after being ill all week and completing a 20 mile training run the previous week. Cathy Craig won her age category with 3:55:24.
Three happy ladies after doing fantastically well in Essex!
Silver for Andrew
It was silver for Spartan ANDREW PATTERSON in the British Masters Indoor Track and Field Championships on Sunday. He was taking part in the 1500m. It was Andrew’s first race back after a hamstring tear two weeks ago. He’d worked really hard with the physio to get to the start line, albeit he said he was being held together by tape.
He finished in 4:19.43, took the silver medal and said he was very happy to just get through the race and not to make the hamstring worse.
Speedy Andrew never ceases to amaze us!
Second in Surrey 5K
It was second in Surrey for JONATHAN PARR in the Surrey 5K at Woking on Saturday. Morning. He was second overall and first male 35 plus in 16 minutes 9 seconds.
Parkrun Highlights 5th March
Anticipation of some hard races on Sunday meant there were only Spartans at three parkrun venues on Saturday and 18 stripes at Stevenage. This week there was a total of 259 finishers.
NICK GILL got a new personal best PB) of 20:06 on the occasion of his 80th parkrun. GRANT RAMSAY was in eighth position in another nineteen (19:29). Another top ten and sub 20 at Stevenage.
SUZY HAWKINS was first female in 21:11 on her 18th parkrun.
Nick, Grant and Suzy at Parkrun
Further afield PETER CARPENTER was at Squerryes Winery parkrun running a new PB of 42:57. DARRYL STEVENS was in Minehead clocking at time of 37:11.
Smiling Parkrunners at Stevenage.
53 Times Round a Lake
A big shout out for Spartan ADRIAN BUSOLINI who, as this was being written on Monday, was setting out on his quest to run seven marathons in seven days. That’s round and round Willen Lake in Milton Keynes.
