Hackney Half

Ultra Martin

The Centurion NDW50 is a 50 miles ultra marathon trail event along the North Downs Way and Spartan MARTIN JACOB did it! The 50 miles point to point started in Farnham, Surrey and finished at Knockholt Pond on the outskirts of London.

Martin said he found the Box Hill stairs tough but he finished within the time limit with 12 hours 34 minutes 37 seconds (12:34:37).

Martin said, “I signed up for the NDW50 knowing it was only two weeks after my Milton Keynes marathon. I knew taking on a 50-mile ultra with such a short recovery would be tough, but I also saw it as an important mental test ahead of my 100-mile race later this year.

When the race began, I felt strong and quickly found a comfortable rhythm, running confidently for much of the first half. Then came the relentless climb at Box Hill, which really punished my legs. From that point on, every downhill felt brutal, and I had to back off the pace to let my legs recover.

Gradually, I found my strength again and pushed through to the finish, crossing the line in 12:34:37 with a strong sprint to the end.”

Ultra Lewis

LEWIS GREEN took on the Ultra Trail Snowdonia 25k Sunday morning (although due to a storm the course was altered).

Lewis was really pleased to finish in under three hours and said it’s the best he’s felt running in the mountains to date.

He finished in 2:55:29. It was the first time he’d run the 25k route after doing the 50k route three times before.

The 400s

Five of the 21 teams at the Gosling Stadium 400 metre relay events were from Fairlands Valley Spartans.

Their senior mixed team were fourth overall and WON their category with CHARLIE WHITE second equal fastest runner in 1:01; GEORGIE HOOPER and GAIL MACKIE fourth equal women runner, with each other in 1:13 and NICK GILL fourth man in 1:02. Making a team total of just 4 minutes 29 seconds only 2 seconds behind second place and four seconds behind the winners – a senior male team.

The FVS veteran male team were second in category with TERRY SAWYER 1:14; DANNY SCANLON 1:18; CHARLIE ARNOLD 1:24 and ANDY SHAW 1:10. The team finished in 5:06.

Meanwhile the FVS veteran women’s team were third with SHARON CROWLEY 1:32; JOYLYN SAUNDERS-MULLINS 1:33; JACKIE PERRY 1:37 and TESSA STEPHENSON 1:40. A total of 6 minutes 23 seconds.

Named Vintage Valley Spartans the second FVS veteran female team finished in a total of 6 minutes 50 seconds with JUDY KING 1:44; LORRAINE HILL 1:39: SAM GENTRY 1:48 and SAMANTHA SUTTON 1:38, a pleasing improvement of 19 seconds on last year.

And the “FVS very senior” team finished in 5:26 with MELVIN AUBURN 1:08; PETE COOK 1:28; MARTIN WOOD 1:29 and CRAIG BACON 1:19.

45 women and 39 men took part.

Hackney Half PB

On Sunday PETER SACH hit a half marathon personal best (PB) at the Hackney Half with 2 hours 16 minutes 3 seconds (2:16.03).

He’s over the moon to get a PB and this was his is third time in a row completing the Hackney Half. The event is always a great one with people lining the streets in support for virtually the entire course. Although rain was threatening this year, it held off, providing nicely temperate conditions for running.

Plymouth Half for Alice

ALICE WELCH completed Sunday’s Plymouth Half Marathon in 01:48:32. After being injured and it being a really tough course (mammoth hills in the middle and the finish is uphill on the hoe!) she said she can’t complain about her time really!

But Alice said it’s a very special city to her and it’s a very scenic route so really nice day. And the day after completing her 25th Parkrun at Central, Plymouth.

Charlie’s Outings

Recently CHARLIE ARNOLD ran 1500 metres in 6:36 at an EMAC (Eastern Masters) event in Milton Keynes. On Sunday he ran the Stort 5 in 44:40. The Stort 5 is an enjoyable and well organised five miles event run on farm trails (there is a 10 mile option) with a festival atmosphere and craft stalls at Cammas Hall Farm near Bishops Stortford.

Wheathampstead Wander

JIM BROWN “relaxed” with the Wheathampstead 10K Trail event. It wasn’t flat! He finished in 1 hour 6 minutes 16 seconds (1:06:16) for second in category. There were 308 finishers.

Relays in the Park.

Entries for the 33^rd FVS Relays in the Park have opened. They will be at 7.15p.m. on Thursday 16^th July. Each leg is three kilometres and teams will consist of four runners. The event incorporates the Hertfordshire AARC Senior & Veteran Championships

Below is the link for teams to enter. All entries must be completed 24 hours before the event; there will be no entries on the night. Lots of entries have been received so don’t delay.

https://my.raceresult.com/390611/registration

This is a great event to run and a great event to watch. It’s possible to see runners twice on each stage.

Mid Week is Go!

The first Mid Week League race of the season will be in Hemel Hempstead on Thursday evening 21^st May. Mid Week League races are about 10K. The Spartans will be aiming for promotion this year.

Parkrun Highlights

There were almost 600 at Saturday’s Stevenage parkrun with 49 from Fairlands Valley Spartans.

Spartan SIMON JACKSON was quickest of the 593 round the 5K with his 17 minutes 48 seconds.

Two Spartans celebrated big milestones. It was CALLIE FINDLAY’s 100^th parkrun which she finished in 33:52 and BRONYA BROWN’s 50^th in 26:35.

There were new parkrun personal bests from ANDY PRIOR 22:48; ADAM HILL 23:10; SARAH THOMAS 26:54; SALLY PICKLES 27:59 and SAM GENTRY 28:08.

Mini-milestones by LEE PICKERSGILL 130^th in 23:49; DANIEL VILJOEN 340^th in 24:28 and STEVE SMITHSON 130^th in 34:03.

FVS had three parkrun winners as 72 Spartans ran parkruns on Saturday. Those “away” included ANDREW PATTERSON winning the Milton Keynes parkrun with 17:15; KIRK NDUGU winning the Letchworth parkrun in 17:22; KELLY McHALE running her first parkrun in two years with 22:32 at Brook Leys, NW Cambridge; SUZY HAWKINS 26:13 at Wendover Woods; CHARLIE ARNOLD 25:51 at Great Denham; and ALICE WELCH 29:19 at Central parkrun, Plymouth.

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time
1	1	Simon JACKSON	17:48
3	3	Mike JEFFS	18:03
10	10	Simon FRASER	19:09
11	11	Perri GENTRY	19:10
15	15	Jay PAPA	19:53
41	38	Danny SCANLON	21:39
65	61	Andy PRIOR	22:48
75	70	Adam HILL	23:10
92	85	Lee PICKERSGILL	23:49
93	86	Matthew COOKE	23:50
108	100	Martin DUDLEY	24:18
114	106	Daniel VILJOEN	24:28
117	109	Brian WHITE	24:30
138	9	Gail MACKIE	25:04
139	10	Georgie HOOPER	25:14
152	13	Lorraine HILL	25:48
188	22	Bronya BROWN	26:35
195	23	Sarah THOMAS	26:54
202	172	Paul SHELLEY	27:01
219	28	Samantha SUTTON	27:36
232	32	Sally PICKLES	27:59
233	193	Graham HOARE	28:00
237	196	Peter SACH	28:06
241	34	Sam GENTRY	28:08
248	203	Nick GILL	28:17
251	205	Ryan DUNNING	28:21
295	54	Sarah ILLINGWORTH	29:23
316	64	Fiona CLARKE	29:55
325	68	Jo COOKSLEY	30:12
326	69	Julie SHADBOLT	30:13
328	245	Jim BROWN	30:18
344	78	Judy KING	30:41
368	264	Keith MANTON	31:49
385	275	Ahaan SHARMA	32:15
386	276	Kartik SHARMA	32:17
425	120	Callie FINDLAY	33:50
426	121	Alison SHELLEY	33:51
427	122	Claire EMMERSON	33:52
428	123	Kerstin WEINER	33:53
431	126	Hayley PEACH	33:54
434	289	Stephen SMITHSON	34:03
438	132	Penny SCHENKEL	34:07
454	139	Pamela VILJOEN	34:33
466	301	Luke SILVER	34:55
490	313	Lloyd DIAS	36:03
493	159	Angie KEELING	36:10
501	165	Zoe NEWELL	36:23
505	169	Sally PHILLIPS	36:41
534	324	Kris WESTCOTT	39:48

SPARTANS AT 400M RELAYS AND 5K HANDICAP

Fairlands Valley Spartans were busy on Wednesday.

Shorter, much shorter for some Spartans, at the 4 x 400 metre relay event in Welwyn Garden City on Thursday evening. Two FVS teams came out winners and 28 club members in seven teams were running.

MIKE JEFFS, MICHAEL FISHER, JAY PAPA and NICK GILL won senior male and overall with 4 minutes 6 seconds. Michael Fisher was third of the 104 runners with 58 seconds; Mike Jeffs and Nick Gill were fourth and fifth with 1 minute exactly.

Spartan women WON the veteran race with 6:11. Their team consisted of LIZ CROWLEY 1:24; SAM SUTTON 1:57; SHARON CROWLEY 1:36 and JO COOKSLEY 1:23.

It was second place in the senior race for TRACY JACKSON 1:35; GEORGIE HOOPER 1:17; MARIE COLUCCI 1:23 and GABRIELLE O’BRIEN 1:18. Georgie was tenth and Gabrielle eleventh out of all the women running.

Rank	Bib	Name	Cat	Team	M/F	Time
3.	5/B	Michael FISHER	MS	Magic Mike and Friends	M	00:58
4.	5/A	Mike JEFFS	MV40	Magic Mike and Friends	M	01:00
5.	5/D	Nick GILL	MS	Magic Mike and Friends	M	01:00
15.	7/B	Keith HOOKER	MV40	Sonic Boom Boys	M	01:05
22.	5/C	Jay PAPA	MS	Magic Mike and Friends	M	01:07
30.	10/A	Dave STEPHENSON	MV60	Mixed Relay Team	M	01:09
48.	10/D	Chris WAITLING	MS	Mixed Relay Team	M	01:15
49.	9/B	Georgie HOOPER	FV35	Spartans Ladies Team 3	F	01:17
51.	9/D	Gabrielle O’BRIEN	FS	Spartans Ladies Team 3	F	01:18
53.	4/A	Susan MCANANY	FV45	Female Relay Team 2	F	01:19
57.	7/C	Charlie ARNOLD	MV60	Sonic Boom Boys	M	01:21
58.	4/D	Annabelle WHITE	FS	Female Relay Team 2	F	01:21
62.	3/D	Jo COOKSLEY	FV35	Spartan Ladies 1	F	01:23
64.	10/C	Megan SUTTON	FS	Mixed Relay Team	F	01:23
66.	9/C	Marie COLUCCI	FV45	Spartans Ladies Team 3	F	01:23
68.	3/A	Liz CROWLEY	FV35	Spartan Ladies 1	F	01:24
69.	7/D	Brian WHITE	MV70	Sonic Boom Boys	M	01:25
76.	4/B	Vicky ARCHER	FV35	Female Relay Team 2	F	01:29
82.	7/A	Pete COOK	MV50	Sonic Boom Boys	M	01:32
83.	4/C	Hazel SMITH	FV45	Female Relay Team 2	F	01:35
86.	9/A	Tracy JACKSON	FV45	Spartans Ladies Team 3	F	01:35
88.	3/C	Sharon CROWLEY	FV65	Spartan Ladies 1	F	01:36
90.	11/D	Judy KING	FV55	360 + 1	F	01:37
91.	10/B	Tessa STEPHENSON	FV55	Mixed Relay Team	F	01:40
96.	11/C	Sally PICKLES	FV55	360 + 1	F	01:51
99.	11/A	Liz CARVEL	FV65	360 + 1	F	01:55
100.	3/B	Sam SUTTON	FV45	Spartan Ladies 1	F	01:57
101.	11/B	Rebecca RAYNER	FV35	360 + 1	F	02:00

Amanda Wins Handicap

AMANDA VICKERS won the Spartans handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday evening.

She smashed her PB (personal best) by 1:26 to finish in 32:46, with Alice Welch second woman (3rd overall) in a debut 5k time of 34:51 and Sam Gentry third woman (9^th overall) in a new PB of 29:03.

The first man was new member Nic Cashman in 23:53, with Karl Shreeve second man with 29:05 and Kartik Sharma the third man in a SB (season’s best) time of 28:04.

Nathan Kirley was fastest man on the night, 26 seconds quicker than his previous best time in 18:56, with Kris Westcott 2nd quickest with 20:18 and Perri Gentry 3rd fastest in 20:28.

Oli Lacigova was quickest lady in 22:57, with Sally Reeve second fastest in 25:04 and Jackie Perry third in 25:43.

Time difference between 1st and last position was just 3:42.

In handicap races the slowest runners, on recent form start first, and the others follow at intervals appropriate to the performances. In theory if no-one improves or slows down everyone will finish together.

Very well done the 19 Spartans who took part in this month’s Handicap 5k and a big thank you to Mark Freeman for his much appreciated assistance.

The next handicap 5K will be on Thursday 19^th June.

POS	NAME	SURNAME	TIME	H’cap
1	AMANDA	VICKERS	32:46	3:29
2	NIC	CASHMAN	23:53	3:07
3	ALICE	WELCH	34:51	2:54
4	KARL	SHREEVE	29:05	2:40
5	KARTIK	SHARMA	28:04	2:11
6	NICK	KLEANTHOUS	29:50	2:10
7	NATHAN	KIRLEY	18:56	2:04
8	PERRI	GENTRY	20:28	2:02
9	SAM	GENTRY	29:03	1:42
10	OLI	LACIGOVA	22:57	1:48
11	JO	COOK	36:20	1:25
12	JACKIE	PERRY	25:43	1:17
13	KRIS	WESTCOTT	20:18	1:12
14	TIM	ROBINSON	27:23	0:52
15	MIKE	REYNOLDS	28:15	0:30
16	MARTIN	DUDLEY	25:46	(0:01)
17	SALLY	REEVE	25:04	(0:19)
18	CRAIG	BACON	22:49	(0:04)
19	SAMANTHA	TOPHILL	26:43	(0:13)

Stort Five

CHARLIE ARNOLD ran the Stort 5 mile race at Cammas Farm, Hatfield Broad Oak

He was eighth in 37:25.

Colchester Zoo Duo

Jess Clarke and Jay Papa ran the Colchester Zoo Stampede 10K together.

They both finished in 55 minutes 24 seconds. There were 1,857 finishers.

PETER SACH completed the Hackney Half marathon in 2:27:35 (2 hours 27 minutes 35 seconds). He said the atmosphere as always was brilliant with people lining the streets in support, and thankfully the weather this year was much milder than last year. There were 20,901 finishers!

Parkrun Highlights – Saturday 17^th May

High numbers again at Stevenage parkrun with 572 finishers.

KIRK NDUGU was second in 17 minutes 15 seconds (17:15) and SIMON JACKSON fifth in 19:43. SHARON CROWLEY enjoyed herself continuing her recent improvement at 228^th with 28:35. JIM BROWN and PENNY SCHENKEL enjoyed the last time they could wear their Mayor and Mayoress T shirts with 29 minutes 11 seconds. Jim broke the unofficial world mayor chain record the previous week.

ANNABELLE WHITE was the fastest female from Fairlands with 27:57.

55 Spartans ran parkruns on Saturday. Spartans elsewhere included JOHN HARRIS at the Rothay Park parkrun, Ambleside. He finished 13^th in 21:18.

Stevenage parkrun will celebrate its ninth birthday on Saturday 24^th May. There’s a celebration and a Where’s Wally? theme.

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time
2	2	Kirk NDUGU	17:15
5	5	Simon JACKSON	19:43
23	21	Tony RANDFIELD	21:33
70	63	Lee PICKERSGILL	23:33
96	85	Martin DUDLEY	24:15
100	89	Daniel VILJOEN	24:41
153	130	Ryan DUNNING	26:43
204	37	Annabelle WHITE	27:57
228	49	Sharon CROWLEY	28:35
238	178	Matt CLARKE	28:51
252	186	Jim BROWN	29:11
251	60	Penny SCHENKEL	29:11
268	64	Fiona Clarke	29:31
295	212	Steve PLATT	30:15
326	92	Debbie BLANTERN	31:04
328	93	Ada JANUSIENE	31:05
333	96	Monica SMITHSON	31:13
398	133	Caroline CROFT	33:56
433	154	Hilary DAVIES	35:09
447	268	Nick KLEANTHOUS	35:58
453	170	Hannah MANTON	36:08
470	276	Lloyd DIAS	37:37
475	184	Tracy HAYGARTH	38:01
483	189	Jane WADEY	38:35
523	217	Nichola DURENT	45:06
530	285	Roger BIGGS	46:16
533	224	Emma CHAPMAN	47:22
553	238	Nikki Katherine NATION	53:02