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STORMY DARRAGH BUT SPARTANS KEEP ON RUNNING

Festive Five

Despite Stormy Darragh 30 Fairlands Valley Spartans ran the Festive Five in Welwyn Garden City and ANDREW PATTERSON won it!  His 27 minutes 5 seconds (27:05) was more than two minutes quicker than the next runner.

SAM GENTRY said despite it being harder with the rain and wind, she still really enjoyed it and was pleased with her time.  She finished in 51:35.

Spartan MIKE JEFFS was third man 40 plus and fourth overall with 30:12; ANNABELLE WHITE third senior woman (i.e. 18 plus) with 39:54 and VICKY ARCHER third woman 35 plus with 41:56.

BRIAN WHITE commented on the stormy conditions but still finished in exactly 38 minutes.

Fantastic to see so many Fairlands on a trip to a race.

PosCat PosMFBiBNameCategoryTimeComments
111462Andrew PATTERSONMV4027:05Winner
43441Mike JEFFSMV4030:123rd MV40
14814213Terry SAWYERMV4035:35 
32428523Brian WHITEMV6038:00 
45310120Annabelle WHITEFS39:543rd FS
47837245Dave STEPHENSONMV6040:13 
64317529Vicky ARCHERFV3541:563rd FV35
65718241Marie COLUCCIFV4541:56 
811560497Pete COOKMV5044:47 
911427505Tracy PEZFV4545:58 
921528548Hazel SMITHFV4545:58 
95630164Megan SUTTONFS46:12 
1091472447Andy JAYMV6048:53 
121154411Judy KINGFV5550:36 
122164598Nikki NATIONFV5550:38 
1251747525Monica SMITHSONFV5551:18 
1282149451Sam GENTRYFV4551:35 
1291850149Tessa STEPHENSONFV5552:06 
133653445Liz CROWLEYFV3553:02 
136188136Michael O’KEEFEMV6054:20 
1372456513Samantha SUTTONFV4554:24 
141760254Callie CHAPMANFV3555:07 
1432162506Liz CARVELLFV5555:19 
1552687553Peter SACHMS57:22 
1712784446Marleen VAN ZWIETENFV551:02:56 
1723685516Donna SEALY-BELLFV451:02:57 
1731286452Jo COOKFV351:02:56 
1833996508Nichola DURENTFV451:11:56 
184597448Sharon CROWLEYFV651:11:56 
1851598184Rebecca RAYNERFV351:11:55 

Winter Half

Four Spartans ran the Stevenage Winter Half.  SIMON JACKSON was fifth out of the 312 finishers and first man 40 plus in 1:20:23.  JAY PAPA was 27th in 1:32:15; MATT GIFFORD finished in 1:39:33 and LLOYD DIAS in 2:29:08.

Simon said “After many months of minimal training, Kieran somehow got me out racing.  Conditions were horrendous, with rain, wind and hills.”  There were 312 finishers.

Cross Country Coming Up

The next Sunday cross country league race will be in Fairlands Valley Park, Stevenage on Sunday morning 15th December.

Parkrun Highlights 7th December

Stormy Darragh did its worst and participation at the 376th Stevenage Parkrun was half many recent totals.  Windy, raining and generally unpleasant but there were still 234 who ran the Saturday morning 5K including ten Spartans including CAROLYN LINSELL and SHARON CROWLEY who were there as volunteer tailwalkers.

GRANT RAMSAY was top ten again with his 19 minutes 30 seconds. 

Altogether 14 Spartans ran parkruns which reflects the conditions and the cancellation of some events due to the conditions.  That didn’t stop NICK GILL who ran Letchworth in 24:58.

PositionGender PositionFVS parkrunnerTimeComments
99Grant RAMSAY19:30Top Ten
2927Jay PAPA22:32 
6358Martin JACOB25:03 
8775Ryan DUNNING27:00 
158115Paul JENNINGS31:50 
165118Nick KLEANTHOUS32:40 
21368Tracy HAYGARTH41:17 
232147Tony RANDFIELD55:32 
23382Carolyn LINSELL55:34Tail walker
23483Sharon CROWLEY55:35Tail walker
Categories
Club News Race Results

FAIRLANDS AT FESTIVE FIVE 

Three Spartans raced for their finishers chocolate Santa at the Festive Five in Welwyn Garden City on Sunday.  NICK KLEANTHOUS was 96th in 45 minutes 22 seconds. 

Nothing like “race fit” at the moment PENNY SCHENKEL and JIM BROWN enjoyed cruising round to beat 50 minutes with Jim coming in 126th with 49:44 and Penny 127th with 49:53.  Jim was second in his age group. 

Malaga Marathon 

There was a new personal best (PB) for Spartan MATTHEW NEWTON at the Malaga Marathon in Spain.  He finished in 3 hours 13 minutes 11 seconds (3:13:11) which got him 591st place out of 5,914. 

Matthew after landing himself a new PB!!

Twas The Run Before Christmas Ultra 

MICHAEL O’KEEFE ran the “Twas the Run before Christmas” ultra event completing nine laps, or 29 miles, in Brandon Country Park, near Bury St Edmunds, in 5 hours 54 minutes 14 seconds (5:54:14).  He said it was quite a hilly course and all off road. 

Michael’s awesome Ultra medal!

Parkrun Saturday 9th December 

Click the link for the Consolidated Results 

Categories
Club News Race Results

BEFORE THE SNOW HIT!

Spartan of the Month and Milton Keynes Half Marathon 

MICHAEL O’KEEFE was voted Spartan of the month for November.  He organised the Bryan Moore 10 and Paul Maguire 5 mile handicap events as well as putting a huge amount of effort into helping set up the Stevenage Half Marathon before running it! 

On Sunday Michael was at the Milton Keynes Winter Half Marathon which he finished in 2 hours 1 minute 41 seconds.  He said it was minus 3 degrees at start and minus one at the finish so a tad chilly.   

Goodwood Marathon 

GRANT RAMSAY ran the Goodwood Marathon in 3 hours 5 minutes 52 seconds which was a significant improvement on a couple of his previous marathons earlier in the year which he ran at Bedford in 3 hours 16 minutes and Milton Keynes in 3 hours 22 minutes.  

Welwyn Festive 5 miles  

Following on from the Festive 5 at Welwyn on the 11th December it has now been confirmed that ANDREW PATTERSON not only achieved a personal best but has also set a new course record of 26 minutes 34 seconds. Well done Andrew! 

Minsden Chapel Christmas Club Run 

The clubs pre-Christmas Minsden Chapel Run has been a favourite for Fairlands Valley Spartans for many years.  This year a group of Spartans ran the route braving chilly temperatures and freezing fog. 

This is a fantastic club run that brings all members and abilities together to enjoy a social Christmas run which always delivers on stunning views! Three different distances are covered with all runners ending up at the very pretty and recently renovated Minsden Chapel before they head back to Stevenage ‘dropping off’ different runners at the different meeting points.  

Parkrun     

Altogether there were four parkrun PB for Spartans.  STEVE DOBNER 20:39 and MO WARRILOW 24:31 at Great Denham; MICHAEL O’KEEFE at Henlow Bridge Lakes 27:10 and NIKKI NATION at Stevenage with 28:57.  

For the full results listing for all Spartans please following the link – Consolidated FVS Results 10th December 2022 

Categories
Club News Race Results

CHRISTMAS ARRIVED AT THE FESTIVE 5!

Festive maybe but for some it was fast.  ANDREW PATTERSON won the race in just 26 minutes 34 seconds.  And second was SIMON JACKSON in 28 minutes 26 seconds. 

HAZEL SMITH ran a new personal best of 40 minutes 53 seconds, an improvement by 1 minute 27 seconds, and NICK KLEANTHOUS a new PB by 6 seconds with 42:13.  Not bad considering both were dressed as Santa’s helpers. 

JIM BROWN and PENNY SCHENKEL ran together with Jim in 111th place winning the trophy for first man 70 plus with 47:06 and Penny 112th in the same time. 

Festive Spartans!
Pos Cat Pos MF Name Chip Time Cat AG% Comments 
Andrew PATTERSON 26:34 MV40 84.3% Winner 
Simon JACKSON 28:26 MV40 81.9% Second 
61 22 Hazel SMITH 40:53 FV45 65.8% PB (1:27) 
71 44 Nick KLEANTHOUS 42:13 MV60 62.0% PB (6 seconds) 
111 65 Jim BROWN 47:06 MV70+ 60.8% 1st MV70 
112 14 47 Penny SCHENKEL 47:06 FV45 59.6%  

Herts Santa Run 

In the Herts Santa Run over 10K MIKE JEFFS was third senior man and fourth overall with 44 minutes 37 seconds while JONATHAN JONES and DZENANA TOPIC were 29th and 30th in the 5K with 37:20 and 37:21.  Dzenana was third in her age category. 

Santa Canta 5K 

Spartan JOHN HARRIS was first reindeer in the North Herts Road Runners Santa Canta in Letchworth.  He was joined by TRACY PEZ and YUKO GORDON. 

John, Tracy and Yuko being very festive!

British Masters 5K Championships 

Spartan YUKO GORDON won Gold in the women aged 70 plus (W70) category at the British Masters 5K Championships in Battersea Park, London on Sunday.  Her time of 22 minutes 9 seconds was ahead of the W65 winner.  The field was very strong and the fastest was 15:01 by a man 40 plus (M40) and the oldest was 85+ years old. 

Goodwood Marathon 

GRANT RAMSAY ran the Goodwood Marathon in 3 hours 5 minutes 52 seconds a significant improvement on Bedford in 3 hours 16 minutes and Milton Keynes in 3 hours 22 minutes earlier this year.  He aims to run a sub 3 hours over 50 marathon next year. 

Parkrun – 3rd December 2022 

For the full consolidated results for Spartans at their stripey parkruns please click the following link – Consolidated Results for 3rd December 2022   

Categories
Club News Race Results

TWO WINS FOR FAIRLANDS

Spartan SIMON JACKSON won the Festive Five road race at Welwyn Garden City on Sunday morning.  He took just 27 minutes 56 minutes, a new personal best, to get round the tricky two lap course and finished nine seconds ahead of his nearest rival. 

Simon Jackson at the Festive 5

Next in was JOHN HARRIS at 23rd with 35:05. 

NICK KLEANTHOUS was one of many in fancy dress.  He said it was a very well organised event with great marshalling.  He finished in 43:47, that’s just over three minutes faster than last time, then enjoyed a lovely cake stall at end and the a box of chocolates handed out at the finish line. 

ANDY JAY was delighted to maintain an average of eight minutes per mile and finished 45th with 39 minutes 54 seconds. 

The fastest female from Fairlands was HAZEL SMITH in 42 minutes 20 seconds.  ERICA GRAYSON and SUE HAMER went round in 48:25 and 48:30.  Then there was a little Spartan procession of three with CATHY CRAIG in 50:40; PENNY SCHENKEL smiling in 50:50 and JIM BROWN in 50:51.  Soon along came JONATHAN JONES in 51:54 and DZENANA TOPIC in 51:56.  Twelve Spartans ran the event. 

Nick, Hazel and Andy looking pleased with their winning choclates!

Pretty miserable and damp on the way to the start but the rain held off during the race itself and only started again on the way home. 

(The full result for all twelve Spartans is near the end of this release). 

Andrew Wins At Goodwood 

Spartan ANDREW PATTERSON raced and WON the Goodwood Marathon on Sunday.  It consisted of a short out and back followed by 11 laps of the motor racing circuit.  

The wind was 18mph, whilst it was Glorious Goodwood with it behind him, the cross winds and facing the wind was tough going. The first nine laps were consistent at 13:59 to 14 minutes 12 seconds. But the last couple of laps were a slog.  He could feel his legs cramping so it wasn’t until the final mile that he knew he would finish with a new personal best (PB).  

The first half Andrew was in fourth place, but in the second half he moved up on to the podium and on the penultimate lap moved in to first.  He took the race victory in 2 hours 37 minutes 26 seconds (2:37:26) beating his previous best marathon time by 4 minutes 20 seconds. 

It was a great end to the race year for Andrew with PBs at 1500, 3000, 5K, 10K, 10 miles, half and marathon.  He won the Stevenage Half Marathon two weeks ago. 

Triumphant Andrew after his big win!

Yuko In Spain 

YUKO GORDON ran the Valencia marathon.  The course was flat, nice and warm but windier later in the morning.  She managed an amazing time of 3:29:02. 

Yuko had to run under 3 hours 48 minutes to claim the points she needed to qualify for next year’s Age Group World Championships, so she’s OK with 3:29.  Yuko says she will rest from marathons till next spring, hopefully have a good rest from the distance and back to basic conditioning over this winter.  

Three Canta With Santa 

JOHN HARRIS and deer friend took part in the Santa Canta 5K in Letchworth and ran it in 26:06. 

John and his friend Rudolph!

CAROLE SHELDRICK and new FVS member DAVID KENNEDY also enjoyed some festive fun at the NHRR Santa Canta 5K.  David ran as a Christmas cowboy with a time of 25:56 and Carole as a Christmas Elf with a time of 33:25. 

They said it was such a fun event and topped off with a medal and mince pie to finish. 

Spartans getting into the festive spirit!

Running in the Chapel 

A bit earlier than some years due to running calendar complications but many other Spartans enjoyed a festive Sunday trail run to Minsden Chapel.  There were three choices of distance – 11 miles; 8 miles or 4.5 miles. 

The annual Spartans ‘bench shot’ whilst running Minsden Chapel.

Parkrun Highlights for Saturday 4th December 2021 

As we head towards the end of another year, the first Saturday of December saw twenty-four Fairlands Valley Spartans head out to represent the club at Parkrun events. 

New personal best times were set by two runners on the Stevenage course.  ASHLEY JOHNSON finished as the first female, at only her third Parkrun, with a new parkrun personal best (PPB) time of 22 minutes and 22 seconds; and CHLOE CHAPMAN was the 12th female to complete the run in her new PPB of 26 minutes and 39 seconds. 

Also in Stevenage, both MARK BEASLEY and KAREN PALMER edged ever closer to attending 100 events with their 99th runs in times of 28 minutes and 47 seconds and 34 minutes and 31 seconds respectively. 

Other milestone runs saw JAMES MCSWEENEY complete the Littleport parkrun and his 80th event in 24 minutes and 23 seconds; MIKE REYNOLDS finish his 75th Parkrun in 27 minutes and 58 seconds on the Endcliffe, Sheffield course; MICHAEL O’KEEFE ran at Houghton Hall in 28 minutes and 40 seconds to complete 125 events; and, DARRYL STEVENS reached his 175th run at Lancing Beach Green, West Sussex in 37 minutes and 14 seconds. 

(You can find all the Spartan parkrun times near the end of this release). 

Spartans Committee for 2021 / 2022 

Fairlands Valley Spartans held their Annual General Meeting on Tuesday.  There was a tremendous enthusiastic turnout at Stevenage Hockey and Cricket Club.  The club’s chair David Scott reported that the Spartans recovery from the Covid period was good with 48 new members in just the last few months. 

It was possible to organise a very successful Stevenage Half Marathon and the club’s five and ten mile handicap races.  Now the Spartans are looking forward to two cross country leagues races before Christmas including the one they are hosting in Stevenage on 19th December.  Then next year they are already planning for the return of the mid week 10K league; the 3K Relays in the Park; the off road challenge; the remaining fixtures in the 21/22 cross country league and they already have a date for the 2022 Stevenage Half Marathon – Sunday 6th November. 

Brian White, head coach, added that despite the interruptions caused by COVID Fairlands Valley Spartans still organised 384 free coached sessions between 1st January and 30th November 2021.  The Spartans train at 7p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays with up to five groups going out.  Then there is the Spartan Starter group on Mondays; track based sessions on Saturday mornings and longer steady runs (typically about 10K and 10 miles) from various locations on Sunday mornings.  Plus access to a host of events including county championships some of which are free and many where club membership brings a discount. 

The new Fairlands Valley Spartans committee is Chair David Scott; Vice Chair Vicky Archer; Secretary Wendy Tharani; Treasurer Andrew Patterson; Head Coach Brian White; Men’s Team Captain & Committee Mark Freeman; Ladies’ Team Captain & Committee Callie Chapman; Press Officer & Committee Jim Brown (0793 968 7509); Membership Secretary Debbie Blantern; President Sophie Cowan with the additional committee members Steffan Ford, Sue Hamer, Paul Holgate, Tim Robinson, Hazel Smith, Tessa Stephenson and Hannah Sypula. 

Tables 

Full results for all Spartans when there are a lot at an event will be listed below.   

Spartans at the Festive Five 

Pos Name Cat Cat Pos Gen Pos Chip Time 
Simon JACKSON MV40 27:56 82.7% 
23 John HARRIS MV50 20 35:05 73.9% 
45 Andy JAY MV50 10 37 39:54 63.7% 
59 Hazel SMITH FV45 13 42:20 62.7% 
67 Nick KLEANTHOUS MV50 14 51 43:47 59.1% 
88 Erica GRAYSON FV45 28 48:25 57.4% 
90 Sue HAMER FV45 10 30 48:30 56.7% 
107 Catherine CRAIG FV55+ 44 50:40 68.7% 
108 Penny SCHENKEL FV45 19 45 50:50 54.7% 
109 Jim BROWN MV60+ 12 64 50:51 55.8% 
112 Jonathan JONES MV50 18 65 51:54 48.6% 
114 Dzenana TOPIC FV55+ 48 51:56 55.6% 

Spartans at parkruns on Saturday 4th December. 

  

Parkrun Position Gender Position Parkrunner Time  
Stevenage parkrun 25 Ashley JOHNSON 22:22 1st Fem. PPB 
 (18 Spartans) 27 24 Barry OSBORNE 22:46  
  33 30 Toby ECCLESHALL 22:59  
  42 37 Martin DUDLEY 24:16  
  48 42 Lee PICKERSGILL 24:43  
  87 12 Chloe CHAPMAN 26:39 PPB 
  88 70 Jim BROWN 26:42 1st Age 
  91 14 Gail MACKIE 26:57  
  101 18 Fiona CLARKE 27:11  
  119 87 Mark BEASLEY 28:47  
  121 88 Matt CLARKE 28:51 99th PR 
  132 32 Debbie BLANTERN 30:15  
  163 49 Sharon CROWLEY 32:12  
  168 109 Stephen SMITHSON 32:53  
  169 52 Judy KING 33:01  
  185 60 Karen PALMER 34:31 99th PR   
  227 84 Helen HARRIS 56:49  
  228 127 Roger BIGGS 58:04  
           
Endcliffe parkrun (Sheffield) 239 154 Mike REYNOLDS 27:58 75th PR  
           
Houghton Hall parkrun 60 49 Michael O’KEEFE 28:40  
           
Evesham parkrun 24 21 Nigel STRONGITHARM 24:37  
           
Letchworth parkrun Grant RAMSAY 20:22 2nd in race 
           
Littleport parkrun 16 15 James MCSWEENEY 24:23 80th PR  
           
Lancing Beach Green parkrun 62 34 Darryl STEVENS 37:14 175th PR  

(PPB = Parkrun personal best; 175th PR = 175th parkrun).