Categories
Club News Race Results

SPARTANS AT STANDALONE 10K

A good number of Fairlands Valley Spartans ran the 35th anniversary Standalone 10K in Letchworth on Sunday. 

GRANT RAMSAY was fastest of the 29 Spartans.  He was 35th out of the 820 finishers in 39 minutes 29 seconds.  ADRIAN DONNELLY also beat 40 with 39 minutes 41 seconds.  The third Spartan was DANNY SCANLON in 41:22 and fourth DEAN CARPENTER in 44:22. 

JOHN HARRIS was third man 60 plus in 44 minutes 58 seconds. 

Three Spartan women beat 50 minutes.  TRACY PEZ in 48:14; MARIE COLUCCI in 48:29 and PAULA DUNNE who improved by 55 seconds to 49:26. 

There were personal bests by STEVE DOBNER, by 20 seconds to 46:44, and LUKE GURNEY, by 1:07, to 47:10.  MARTIN DUDLEY improved his season’s best (SB) by a significant 2 minutes 12 seconds to 49 minutes 54 seconds. 

JIM BROWN was delighted to improve his 10K time by nearly five minutes in a week to 53 minutes 11 seconds.  His best 10K this year and good enough for second in his age group. 

MICHAEL O’KEEFE and NIKKI NATION improved their season’s best (SB) times to beat the hour with 58 minutes 10 seconds and 59 minutes 54 seconds respectively. 

Well done JON FILBY (47:17), MARK LACY (54:15) and ABIGAIL WHITROW (81:48) who were running their first 10K races. 

Spartans at Standalone 10K.
Position Name Time Comments Grade 
35 GRANT RAMSAY 39:29 5th MV50 77.59% 
39 ADRIAN DONNELLY 39:41  73.64% 
54 DANNY SCANLON 41:22 YB (1:35) 69.01% 
93 DEAN CARPENTER 44:22  67.88% 
113 JOHN HARRIS 44:58 3rd Vet 60 73.97% 
116 NICK GILL 45:10  60.21% 
152 STEVEN DOBNER 46:44 PB (0:20) ?? 
159 LUKE GURNEY 47:10 PB (1:07) 56.99% 
172 JON FILBY 47:17 1st 10K 60.77% 
188 TRACY PEZ 48:14 4th FV45.  YB (0:06) 69.97% 
197 MARIE COLUCCI 48:29 5th FV45 66.76% 
219 PAULA DUNNE 49:26 PB (0:55) 61.84% 
234 MARTIN DUDLEY 49:54 SB (2:12) 65.85% 
289 BEN SNOWDEN 51:41  55.40% 
333 JIM BROWN 53:11 2nd Vet 70.  YB (2:10) 68.50% 
370 MARK LACY 54:15 1st 10K 55.35% 
430 ANN TRYSSESOONE 56:04  65.64% 
489 MICHAEL O’KEEFE 58:10 SB (0:09) 56.05% 
495 ANDREA WESTCOTT 57:41 SB 59.36% 
507 ANDY JAY 58:13  55.36% 
534 NIKKI NATION 59:49 SB 62.50% 
611 MONICA SMITHSON 62:46  58.91% 
658 SHARON CROWLEY 64:59 YB (0:22) 62.50% 
660 JANE WADEY 65:03  55.80% 
759 MO WARRILOW 74:10  45.29% 
801 JANE WHITROW 81:28  44.68% 
802 ABIGAIL WHITROW 81:48 1st 10K 36.38% 
817 PAUL HOLGATE 86:34  39.65% 
819 ROGER BIGGS 94:08 YB (2:59) 40.74% 

Goodwood Marathon  

Spartan SIMON FRASER had a great run in the Goodwood Marathon.  He was second man 35 plus and eleventh overall in a fantastic sub three time of 2 hours 52 minutes 35 seconds. 

Simon celebrating his brilliant finish!

The Great Bristol Run 

JOHN NELMS travelled to his home city of Bristol to run the Big Bristol half marathon.  A really well organised event on a fantastic city course with big supporting crowds helped him finish in 1:53:51 

Norfolk Coastal Marathon 

THOMAS SAUKA did the Norfolk coastal marathon on Saturday, he found it tough as he did not had a great lead up to this.  Tom said he had a niggle with his left leg feeling tight which stopped him running properly in the last six miles but never the less he prevailed and finished 76th in 5:16:15 official time, that’s another great trail marathon ticked off.  It was flat but challenging as well 

Tom with his well earned medal!

Hatfield 5K – race three 

After the three races in the Hatfield 5K series Spartan TONY RANDFIELD was a trophy winner.  Third in the men 60 plus category.  He ran 20 minutes 9 seconds on Wednesday evening for a score of 81.3%.  The fastest Spartan was NICK GILL with a new personal best of 19 minutes 8 seconds – an improvement of 39 seconds. 

Tony looking very pleased with his trophy – well done Tony!

There were also PBs by PAULA DUNNE who improved by 22 seconds to 22:53 and was fourth in the series for her category; GEORGIE HOOPER by 11 seconds to 23:13 and JANE WADEY by 13 seconds to 31:15. 

MARK GOODWIN ran a season’s best of 22:33.  There were also season’s bests from ANDREA WESTCOTT 26:09 and NIKKI NATION 28 minutes exactly. 

Club Handicap 5K 

In a very busy week for racing 28 runners finished Thursday evening’s Handicap 5K. 

Winner on the night was Penny Schenkel, 2:03 quicker than her handicap in a year best time of 29:57, closely followed by the first man to finish, Chris Watling, 2:00 ahead of handicap in 24:15.  Amanda Vickers (aided by Sharon Crowley) was second lady 1:50 better than handicap in a season best time of 37:40, followed by Anna Swanepoel in a new personal best time of 27:27.  Andy Jay was second man 1:34 quicker than handicap in 26:56 and Matt Tutton was third man, 1:15 ahead of handicap in 29:45. 

Pete Smith was quickest runner in 21:48 with Luke Gurney 2nd fastest, 23:19 and Chris Watling 3rd fastest, 24:15.  Karen Ellis was quickest lady in 25:14 with Harriet Smith second fastest in 25:27, 20 seconds quicker than her previous season best and Tracy Pez third fastest in 26:57. 

Judy King and Sally Pickles both beat their previous fastest 5k of this year and there were also improvements by Monica Smithson, Michael O’Keefe and Roger Biggs. 

Total time difference between the 1st and last finisher was less than 3 minutes and all runners finished within 2:03 of their handicap.  Thanks to Paul Holgate and Mike Crowley for organising the event. 

Spartans at the start of the Club Handicap

Parkrun – 24th September

For all the Spartan Parkrun results please head to the following link – Spartan Parkruns 24th September

Tables 

Spartans at the Hatfield 5K race (race 3 in a series of 3). 

Pos Name Time Cat Cat Pos Grade Comments 
46 NICK GILL 19:08 MS 18th 67.6% PB (0:39) 
60 TONY RANDFIELD 20:09 MV60 3rd 81.3% 3rd category in series 
89 MARK GOODWIN 22:33 MV60 8th 72.6% SB (0:10) 
94 PAULA DUNNE 22:53 FV35 5th 64.5% 4th in series.  PB (0:22) 
97 GEORGIE HOOPER 23:13 FV35 6th 63.6% PB (0:11) 
117 NICK KLEANTHOUS 24:26 MV60 12th 64.6%  
132 ANDREA WESTCOTT 26:09 FV45 10th 63.2% SB (1:23) 
147 NIKKI NATION 28:00 FV55 10th 63.4% SB (0:02) 
148 MICHAEL O’KEEFE 28:07 MV50 24th 55.2%  
154 SHARON CROWLEY 30:09 FV55 13th 63.9%  
155 JANE WADEY 31:15 FV55 14th 56.1% PB (0:13) 
160 PAUL HOLGATE 35:52 MV60 18th 45.9%  
164 ROGER BIGGS 46:49 V70 4th 39.1% 4th category in series 

Spartans Handicap 5K 

Pos First Name Last Name Time Speed Pos Fem Comments Impr Time Com Hcap 
PENNY SCHENKEL 29:57  17 YB 1:55 42:57  2:03  
CHRIS WATLING 24:15     43:00  2:00  
AMANDA VICKERS 37:40  26 14 SB 1:54 43:10  1:50  
SHARON CROWLEY 37:41  27 15   43:11  1:49  
ANNA SWANEPOEL 27:27  11 PB 0:21 43:12  1:48  
ANDY JAY 26:56    2:00 43:26  1:34  
TRACY PEZ 26:57  10   43:27  1:33  
HARRIET SMITH 25:27  SB 0:20 43:42  1:18  
MATT TUTTON 29:45  16    43:45  1:15  
10 JUDY KING 35:37  22 10 YB 1:07 43:52  1:08  
11 LUKE GURNEY 23:19     44:04  0:56  
12 MARTIN DUDLEY 25:04     44:04  0:56  
13 MARK FREEMAN 25:54     44:09  0:51  
14 KAREN ELLIS 25:14    44:14  0:46  
15 PETER SMITH 21:48     44:18  0:42  
16 MONICA SMITHSON 30:41  18  0:37 44:26  0:34  
17 TONY VICKERS 27:58  13 SB  44:28  0:32  
18 MICHAEL O’KEEFE 28:03  14   0:14 44:33  0:27  
19 TIM ROBINSON 28:07  15    44:37  0:23  
20 SALLY PICKLES 36:32  24 12 YB 0:18 44:47  0:13  
21 VISHAL SHAH 26:38     45:08  (0:08) 
22 ELAINE LEDGER 35:14  21 New  45:14  (0:14) 
23 ROGER HEAD 34:50  20  YB  45:20  (0:20) 
24 JANE WADEY 31:54  19   45:24  (0:24) 
25 NICOLA HATHERLY 35:52  23 11 YB  45:37  (0:37) 
26 CRAIG BACON 27:55  12    45:40  (0:40) 
27 JANE WHITROW 36:42  25 13   45:42  (0:42) 
28 ROGER BIGGS 45:50  28   4:21 45:50  (0:50) 
Categories
Club News Race Results

A BUSY SPARTAN WEEK!

There has been lots of wins for our members over the last week as lots of medals and prizes have been won. 

All these Spartans won gold, silver, bronze county medals or other prizes – JIM BROWN, CATHY CRAIG, PAULA DUNNE, JOHN HARRIS, DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT, GEORGIE HOOPER, SAM PRETTY, GRANT RAMSAY, TONY RANDFIELD and JANE WADEY.   

The medal haul started at the Hatfield 5K on Wednesday evening which included the county championships for veterans and continued into the Stevenage 10K on Sunday. 

Stevenage 10K 

Fourteen Spartans tackled the undulating Stevenage 10K and they won lots of medals.  The event included the Hertfordshire 10K championship for veterans and the team of David Harris-Cherguit (36:48); Grant Ramsay (39:42); John Harris (41:56) and Tony Randfield (42:17) won the team event and GOLD medals. 

Helped by Jane Wadey improving her personal best (PB) by two minutes to 64:41 the Spartan women BRONZE medals with Georgie Hooper (49:27) and Paula Dunne (50:21) also in the team.   

Georgie, Paula and Jane proudly showing off their medals.

Jim Brown won the 70 plus trophy in the open event and the County GOLD medal with 58 minutes exactly.   

SIMON FRASER was the fastest Spartan in the open race.  He was fourth overall and second senior with 35:06. 

Happy Spartans.

Hatfield 5K 

Spartan participation in the second race of the Hatfield 5K series was high and members managed to bring home some medals! 

A selection of Spartan runners before the race.

The fastest Spartan was SIMON JACKSON who came seventh overall in 16 minutes 38 seconds and the fastest female was PAULA DUNNE in 23:15. 

The race included the Hertfordshire County Championships for veterans in which JIM BROWN won the GOLD medal for men 70 plus with 27 minutes 17 seconds and CATHY CRAIG the BRONZE medal for women 65 plus with 28:29. 

NIKKI NATION ran a new season’s best of 28:11, a minute quicker than the previous week.  

Spartans in action!

New Forest Half Marathon 

DARRYL STEVENS went for a run in the New Forest the New Forest Half Marathon, and finished in 2 hours 48 minutes 39 seconds. 

Darryl completing his half marathon.

Parkrun Highlights Saturday 17th September 

 Congratulations to Nigel Strongitharm running a new PB of 24:59 at Bolberry Down parkun in Devon.   

Yuko Gordon ran a new PB of 24:01 coming 21st on her 21st parkrun at Henlow.   

For the full Parkrun results please go to their website by clicking the following link – Parkrun Results 17th September 

Tables 

Hatfield 5K (race 2 in a series of 3). 

Pos Name Ca M/F Cat Pos Time Chip Age Gd Comments 
7. Simon JACKSON MV40 16:38 16:38 85.1%  
62. Grant RAMSAY MV50 54 19 19:47 19:44 73.8 %   
67. Danny SCANLON MV40 58 19 19:54 19:49 68.4 %   
71. Tony RANDFIELD MV60 62 20:02 19:55 82.0 %   
98. Peter SMITH MV60 82 21:26 21:20 74.0 %   
107. Brian WHITE MV60 86 10 22:10 22:08 76.2 %   
121. Mark GOODWIN MV60 96 12 22:43 22:35 72.3 %   
126. Marcus RIDLEY MS 98 23 23:02 22:51 56.1 %   
134. Paula DUNNE FV35 32 23:24 23:15 63.5 %   
146. Susan MCANENY FV45 39 15 23:46 23:37 65.9 %   
154. Nick KLEANTHOUS MV60 110 16 24:17 24:05 65.3 %   
190. Andrea WESTCOTT FV45 68 22 26:51 26:33 62.0 %   
198. Jim BROWN MV70 125 27:29 27:17 63.4 % Gold 
205. Nikki NATION FV55 79 18 28:17 28:11 63.0 % SB  
209. Cathy CRAIG FV65 81 28:51 28:29 72.0 % Bronze 
221. Sharon CROWLEY FV55 90 22 30:00 29:39 64.8 %   
227. Jane WADEY FV55 94 24 32:12 31:51 54.7 %   
232. Paul HOLGATE MV60 135 27 35:01 34:39 47.3 %   
237. Roger BIGGS MV70 136 43:30 43:07 42.3 %   

Stevenage 10K 

Pos Name Cat 5K Time Age Gd Comments 
4. Simon FRASER MS 17:23 35:06 76.2 % 2nd senior 
9. David HARRIS-CHERGUIT MV40 18:06 36:48 76.8 % Team 
18. Grant RAMSAY MV50 19:18 39:42 74.8 % Team + 4th MV50 
26. John HARRIS MV60 20:25 41:56 77.3 % Silver + Team 
29. Tony RANDFIELD MV60 20:16 42:17 79.6 % Bronze + Team 
50. Brian WHITE MV60 22:25 45:38 75.9 %   
75. Mark GOODWIN MV60 22:56 47:37 70.6 %   
82. Nick GILL MS 24:47 48:34 54.5 %   
84. Marcus RIDLEY MS 23:07 48:48 54.2 %   
89. Georgie HOOPER FV35 24:09 49:27 61.0 % Team + 4th FV35 
94. Paula DUNNE FV35 24:23 50:21 60.0 % Team + 5th FV35 
175. Jim BROWN MV70+ 28:13 58:00 61.4 % Gold 
195 Michael O’KEEFE MV50 27:55 1:00:16   
235 Jane WADEY FV55 31:10 1:04:41 55.7% Team & PB (2 min) 
Categories
Club News Race Results

LOTS OF SPARTAN ACHIEVEMENTS!

Seventeen Spartans enjoyed the first in the series of 5K races at Hatfield on Wednesday evening and five of them came away with new personal bests (PB) for the distance.  Three achieved new season’s bests (SB) and one ran his fastest time this year. 

SIMON JACKSON was third veteran runner and sixth overall taking six seconds of his lifetime best with 16 minutes 34 seconds.  KELVIN BEYIOKU took a significant 44 seconds of his PB with 17:37.  PAULA DUNNE took a 55 seconds chunk off her best time with 23:16; NICK KLEANTHOUS 39 seconds off his with 24:13 and JANE WADEY improved her PB by six seconds to 31 minutes 28 seconds. 

RICHARD BATE ran a new season’s best of 18:21; ANDREA WESTCOTT of 27:32 and CATHY CRAIG was delighted to get under 30 minutes with 29:15. 

Steadily coming back from injury BRIAN WHITE finished in 22 minutes 34 seconds.   

YUKO GORDON was the race winner based on age grade.  She scored a massive 92.7%.  She was also first woman aged over 70 with her 22 minutes 56 seconds. 

EMAC (Eastern Masters) 

Last week we announced that the Fairlands Valley Spartans women came third in the East of England (EMAC) final.  Here’s the full story: 

Thirteen FVS women travelled to Bedford on Sunday (4th) to compete in the Eastern Masters Athletic Club final.  Despite injuries, illness, and absences, brilliant team spirit meant all events were covered and resulted in an unexpected third place behind Peterborough/Nene Valley (1st place) and Chelmsford AC (2nd place).  Medal positions changed throughout the day, and FVS were originally awarded joint second, only to discover the following day that the scores were incorrect. 

Yuko Gordon won an individual award for her outstanding 99.5% age graded 1st place performance in the women 60 plus (W60) 3k race and she also won the W60 800m. 

Christine Lathwell dominated the W35 distance events, winning the 800m, 500m, and the 3k!  Monica Brown excelled in the W50 jumps, winning long jump, triple jump, and high jump.  Monica also dropped down to cover W35 shot put, finishing in third place. 

Our wonderful EMAC ladies!

The other win on the day came from Nikki Wilby (W35 high jump, also 5th place 400m hurdles, and 2nd place pole vault).  With some team changes needed along the way, other points on the day were scored by Fiona Clarke (W35 5th place 100m, 6th place 200m – PB!, 4th place long jump – PB!, and 3rd place triple jump), Callie Chapman (W35 5th place 400m – PB!, 5th place hammer throw, and 6th place discus), Andrea Westcott (W50 4th place 100m, 2nd place 200m, 8th place 1500m, 3rd place 300m hurdles, and 5th place shot put), Carolyn Linsell dropped down to W50 (8th place 400m and 7th place 800m), Marion Morley (W50 8th place 3k, 6th place hammer throw, and 4th place discus), Karen Dodsworth (W60 6th place 100m, 2nd place discus, 4th place long jump, and 4th place triple jump), Sharon Crowley (W60 6th place 200m, 5th place A string 2k walk, 3rd place 300m hurdles, 4th place hammer throw), Joylyn Saunders-Mullins (W60 3rd place shot put and W50 2nd place javelin), Cathy Craig (a brave 3rd place B string 2k walk). 

The W35 relay team finished in 5th place, with W50 team finishing 3rd in their race.  The team enjoyed thoroughly well deserved bubbles and cake at the end of a very long day. 

Great North Run 

Six Spartans ran the biggest half marathon in the world.  They were in Newcastle for the Great North Run.  ADRIAN DONNELLY excelled with 1 hour 26 minutes 7 seconds which gave him 691st out of more than 35,000 finishers.  STEVE DOBNER came in with 1:48:17; DAVID PATTMAN 1:49:09; MO WARRILOW 2:05:33; ROGER HARDMAN 2:14:31 and SUE HAMER 2:43:06. 

Dave, Mo and Steve with the Angel of the North

Budapest Half Marathon 

ROB WRIGHT went international at the weekend and enjoyed the Budapest Half Marathon which he completed in 2:17:08. 

Rob in Budapest before his race.

Sandy 10 

Several Spartans kept it more local and ran the Sandy 10 (miles) race.   

SAMANTHA PRETTY-CONNORS who sped round in 71 minutes exactly won the women 35 plus award.  CLAIRE PULLEN came in fast with 77:37 followed by BRIAN WHITE 79:19; and ANN TRYSSESOONE 88:23.  JIM BROWN was second 70 plus in a year’s best 88:56 with JACKE DOWNES in 1:30:49; TRICIA HOPPER in 1:31:09 and CAROL PAUL 1:41:21. 

Montane Dragon’s Back Race 

Six days running 380 kilometres off road down the spine of Wales.  Spartan ADRIAN BUSOLINI was running the Montane Dragon’s Back Race from Conway Castle to Cardiff Castle. 

Adrian was 69th out of the 102 finishers with a total time of 79 hours 8 minutes 14 seconds.  His longest day was 15 hours 21 minutes 43 seconds.  Many starters of this incredibly tough event did not finish. 

Adrian said, “Six days.  Trods, bogs, and bushwhacking, over some of the toughest peaks and ridges in Wales. 

Scrambling, high exposure and fear.  Self management, injuries and fatigue.  Downpours, hail and high winds.  Isolation.  Dejection.  Self doubt. 

Cameraderie, friendship and community.  Encouragement, assistance and a shared goal.  Learning, growth and transformation.  Fresh perspectives.  Stoicism.  Self confidence. 

What an extraordinary group of people – participants, volunteers and staff – to invest a week with.  Words can’t do it justice, but this truly was time well spent. There was also some running.” 

Amazing challenge as always Adrian!

Milton Keynes Marathon Prep 20 Miles 


Two Spartans, WENDY THARANI and YUKO GORDON ran the new format of events organised by Marshall Milton Keynes Athletics Club.  This was a 20 mile marathon preparation event consisting of 4 laps each of 5 miles around Willen Lake, its surrounding village roads and towpath along the Grand Union Canal. It wasn’t totally flat as it was a mixture of usual MK undulations but it was pretty and interesting. 
Yuko finished 26 seconds outside of the women 70 plus (W70) UK all time best time of 20 miles in 2:46:12 but she ran only to check her present fitness and wanted to build up some mileage this week before the London Marathon, so didn’t taper.  

Wendy came 174th in 3:52:07 and after a summer of wonderful adventures consisting of epic bike rides and climbing mountains (alongside running) she was very pleased to complete the race.  

Tables 

Spartans at the Hatfield 5K race (race 1 in a series of 3). 

Place Name Time Cat M/F Cat Pos Grade Comments  
6. Simon JACKSON 16:34 MV40 85.3% 3rd Vet.  PB (0:06)  
16. Oluwatobi Kelvin BEYIOKU 17:37 MS 15 72.8 % PB (0:44)  
31. Richard BATE 18:21 MV40 29 10 73.6 % SB  
41. Grant RAMSAY 19:03 MV50 39 11 76.5 %   
62. Tony RANDFIELD 20:29 MV60 55 79.9 % 3rd V60  
84. Brian WHITE 22:34 MV60 73 74.5 % YB (0:44)  
88. Yuko GORDON 22:56 FV65 12 92.7 % % winner  
89. Mark GOODWIN 22:58 MV60 77 71.3 %   
98. Paula DUNNE 23:16 FV35 19 63.6 % PB (0:55)  
111. Nick KLEANTHOUS 24:13 MV60 84 10 65.1 % PB (0:39)  
153. Jim BROWN 27:04 MV70 98 63.8 %   
156. Andrea WESTCOTT 27:32 FV45 57 17 60.0 % SB (0:45)  
164. Catherine CRAIG 29:15 FV65 61 70.3 % SB (1:14) Sub 30  
165. Nikki NATION 29:44 FV55 62 12 59.7 %   
170. Sharon CROWLEY 30:24 FV55 66 14 63.3 %   
171. Jane WADEY 31:28 FV55 67 15 55.8 % PB (0:03)  
178. Roger BIGGS 43:38 MV70 107 41.9%   

Parkrun – 10th September

For the consolidated Parkrun results please follow this link – Parkrun Results