Women Win EMAC * Here Comes London
Twenty two Spartans raced around the Standalone 10K in Letchworth on Sunday and their women won prizes at opposite ends of the age spectrum. ABBIE PEZ was first junior lady (under 20) with 50 minutes 2 seconds and YUKO GORDON was first woman over 65 with 45 minutes 53 seconds. CLAIRE PULLEN was first woman over 55 with 47:12.
The Standalone 10K included the Hertfordshire County Championships for veteran runners and the Fairlands Valley Spartans first team of four consisted of DEAN CARPENTER 100th out of 747 overall (including seniors) in 44 minutes 10 seconds; JON FILBY 110th in 45:06; MARK GOODWIN 157th in 47:19 and ANDY JAY 227th in 50:21.
Yuko Gordon led in the Spartan women in 120th in 45:53 with Claire Pullen 153rd in 47:12; TRACY PEZ 171st in 47:47. It was teams of three for the women’s event. A second women’s team was brought in by KAREN ELLIS and NICOLA ANDERSSON 326th and 327th in 53 minutes 31 seconds and completed by CAROL PAUL 401st in 56:29.
(All the Fairlands Valley Spartan times can be found in a table towards the end of this release).
Spartan Women Win In The East
The ladies track and field team saw off competition from the best athletics clubs across the East of England to regain the masters (veterans) championship trophy they last won in 2017. The team dominated from start to finish, cruising to victory with 255 points. Second placed Peterborough/Nene Valley AC scored 235.5 points, and Marshal Milton Keynes AC placed third with 232.5 points.
The team were out in force, fourteen Spartan women, and really enjoyed the competition and great conditions.
Wins came from JOYLYN SAUNDERS-MULLINS (once again dropping down an age group) – W50 (women aged 50 plus) 100 metres and W50 javelin throw (also finishing a very close second in the W50 200m). TESSA STEPHENSON – W60 200 metres (also finished 2nd placed W60 100m and W60 shot put). ALISON WOOD – W50 800m (also 2nd placed W50 in the 1500m). CHRISTINE LATHWELL – winning both W35 1500m and W35 3k. NIKKI WILBY – W35 high jump (also 2nd W35 pole vault, 2nd W35 triple jump, and 2nd W35 400mH). ANDREA WESTCOTT – W50 triple jump (also 4th place W50 high jump and 6th place W50 long jump).
YUKO GORDON won an additional trophy having clocked an amazing age graded 99.5% in the W60 3km and also easily won the W60 800m.
The team’s strength in depth meant that all events were covered, earning vital points.
Team members bolstering the tally were CALLIE ‘Cocktail’ CHAPMAN – third place W35 long jump, 5th placed W35 100m, and 6th place W35 200m. SUZY HAWKINS – 3rd place in both W35 400m and W35 800m. KAREN DODSWORTH – dropping down an age group to cover W50 400m and finishing 5th, also placed 5th in W60 discus throw and W60 long jump, and 4th place in W60 triple jump. SHERYL HANN – also dropped down to cover W50 3km and placed 7th. SHARON CROWLEY – first place B string 2km walk and 6th placed W60 hammer throw. CATHY CRAIG – fourth place in the A string 2km walk (also bravely covered the W50 300mH, finishing in 5th place). STEPHANIE BIGGAR – 2nd place W35 hammer throw, 3rd place W35 shot put, 4th place W35 javelin throw, and 5th place W35 discus throw. MARIAN MORLEY – 2nd place in both W50 shot put and discus throw, and 4th place W50 hammer throw.
A full day of events, which started at 10:30 am, finished with the (usually) all important relay races. In reality, victory had already been sealed! The W35 team (Suzy Hawkins, Cocktail Chapman, Nikki Wilby, and Christine Lathwell) still battled well and finished second. The W50 team (Joylyn Saunders-Mullins, Sharon Crowley, Karen Dodsworth, and Tessa Stephenson) finished third.
It was a truly excellent day, with great team spirit and support throughout. Mike Crowley and Chris Westcott should also get a mention for their help and support during a very long day.
Jonathan Second In Surrey
JONATHAN PARR finished 2nd in the Mercer Surrey 5k at Woking on Sunday morning with a time of 16 minutes 18 seconds.
Happy Spartan at Bedford Autodrome
CAROLE SHELDRICK was the solo Spartan at the Bedford Autodrome 10K on Sunday.
She said, “What an amazing event they put on. I have got to say, I wasn’t too sure how this run would go for me. I felt under trained, so was just hoping I’d manage to get round in one piece so I was very happy with my time of 56:28. One happy Spartan.”
Running Through The Glen
ZOE JACKSON was celebrating in the sun after completing the Robin Hood Half Marathon. Pacing someone with a target time of 125 minutes she finished, on target, in 2 hours 3 minutes 16 seconds. Zoe said it was a great course with fantastic support the whole way round the city, and we were very lucky with the weather!
Serpentine 5K
Sunny, warm, light breeze, the odd parakeet and a cafe near the finish. “What’s not to like?” said JIM BROWN after finishing the second of the revived Last Friday of the Month 5Ks – the Serpentine 5K?
Jim achieved a marginal improvement on last month in this lunch-time race in Hyde Park.
His official time was 26:53 and 123rd. Last month was 26:58. Both on the two lap version of the Serpentine course.
Jim commented it was very enjoyable, more should try it, but I seem to be the wrong sort of consistent at the moment.
Parkrun Highlights 25th September 2021
Members of Fairlands Valley Spartans took part across 10 different UK parkruns this week. There were PBs for ANTON McCALLA on his second appearance at Market Harborough (26:30). It was PB o’clock for ED HARE at Lee-on-the-Solent (23:03) in his fourth run at that venue.
In Stevenage ADRIAN DONNELLY clocked a new PB of 20:26. Eighteen Spartans were running in Stevenage while several others were helping this week.
(The full list of Spartan parkrun times will be near the end).
The 72nd Fly 5K – Saturday 25th September.
Lots of “real” races going on including the London Marathon this Sunday (3rd) but the virtual Fly 5K races continue and two Spartans were in the action. NICOLA ANDERSSON was 65th in 28:34 and PAUL HOLGATE 78th in 30:27. He was third veteran man 60 plus and this was his 70th Fly 5K.
Fly 5K was one of the stars of lockdown keeping runners moving and in touch during the restrictions. The first of the free virtual races was in June 2020.
Entries Open for the Stevenage Half Marathon
With only eight 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 21st November (a couple of weeks later than usual).
Entries for the Stevenage Half Marathon are open. You can enter by following this link: Stevenage Half Marathon
Tables
Full results for all Spartans when there are a lot at an event will be listed below.
Spartans at Standalone:
Place | Gun Time | Name | Chip Time | Category | Number | Comments |
100 | 00:44:28 | DEAN CARPENTER | 44:10 | Vet Men 40-49 | 781 | |
110 | 00:45:24 | JON FILBY | 45:06 | Vet Men 40-49 | 68 | |
120 | 00:45:56 | YUKO GORDON | 45:53 | Vet Ladies 65+ | 379 | 1st 65+ |
153 | 00:47:30 | CLAIRE PULLEN | 47:12 | Vet Ladies 55-64 | 677 | 1st 55+ |
157 | 00:47:37 | MARK GOODWIN | 47:19 | Vet Men 60-69 | 58 | |
171 | 00:48:06 | TRACY PEZ | 47:47 | Vet Ladies 45-54 | 864 | |
219 | 00:50:21 | ABBIE PEZ | 50:02 | Junior Ladies U20 | 872 | 1st U20 |
227 | 00:50:40 | ANDY JAY | 50:21 | Vet Men 50-59 | 767 | |
291 | 00:52:57 | MARTIN DUDLEY | 52:06 | Vet Men 50-59 | 782 | |
326 | 00:54:26 | KAREN ELLIS | 53:31 | Vet Ladies 45-54 | 512 | |
327 | 00:54:26 | NICOLA ANDERSSON | 53:31 | Vet Ladies 45-54 | 403 | |
401 | 00:57:12 | CAROL PAUL | 56:29 | Vet Ladies 55-64 | 432 | |
443 | 00:58:18 | JIM BROWN | 57:27 | Vet Men 60-69 | 111 | |
473 | 00:59:36 | BARRY KING | 58:36 | Vet Men 50-59 | 139 | |
483 | 00:59:56 | ERICA GRAYSON | 57:49 | Vet Ladies 45-54 | 106 | |
501 | 01:00:43 | MICHAEL O’KEEFE | 60:02 | Vet Men 50-59 | 67 | |
539 | 01:02:59 | SELVAN NAICKER | 62:17 | Vet Men 50-59 | 717 | |
549 | 01:03:43 | PAUL HOLGATE | 63:01 | Vet Men 60-69 | 735 | |
620 | 01:08:01 | MARIAN MORLEY | 66:45 | Vet Ladies 55-64 | 333 | |
744 | 01:33:15 | HAYLEY PEACH | 90:58 | Vet Ladies 35-44 | 127 | |
745 | 1:34:24 | NICHOLA DURENT | 92:07 | VL 35-44 | 104 | |
746 | 1:34:24 | SHARON CROWLEY | 92:08 | VL 55-64 | 661 |
Other Spartans ran but did not count in the county veteran championships (e.g. too young or do not live in Hertfordshire).
Spartan Parkrun Results:
Stevenage parkrun
A total of 307 runners took part.
Houghton Hall parkrun
A total of 158 runners took part.
Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Club | Run Time |
73 | 49 | Michael O’KEEFE | Fairlands Valley Spartans RC | 00:28:43 |
Brockenhurst parkrun
A total of 141 runners took part.
Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Club | Run Time |
141 | 77 | Darryl STEVENS | Fairlands Valley Spartans RC | 01:02:16 |
Market Harborough parkrun
A total of 276 runners took part.
Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Club | Run Time |
108 | 80 | Anton MCCALLA | Fairlands Valley Spartans RC | 00:26:30 |
Wimpole Estate parkrun
A total of 276 runners took part.
Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Club | Run Time |
99 | 17 | Trudie MOLLOY | Fairlands Valley Spartans RC | 00:28:13 |
258 | 147 | Barry KING | Fairlands Valley Spartans RC | 00:42:47 |
Lee-on-the-Solent parkrun
A total of 383 runners took part.
Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Club | Run Time |
61 | 51 | Edward HARE | Fairlands Valley Spartans RC | 00:23:03 |
Letchworth parkrun
A total of 101 runners took part.
Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Club | Run Time |
87 | 22 | Caren THAIN | Fairlands Valley Spartans RC | 00:37:21 |
Littleport parkrun
A total of 115 runners took part.