Tag: Hitchin 5k

EIGHT AT HITCHIN

Hitchin 5K

Eight Spartans enjoyed Sunday’s Hitchin 5K.

There was a solid run from TERRY SAWYER who finished in 19:52.

SALLY PICKLES was so pleased. Her chip time was 29 minutes and 36 seconds. That’s her PB (personal best) by 23 seconds. Over the moon.

OLI LACIGOVA was the fastest female from Fairlands with 21:29.

It was not to be, not quite, but CHRIS WATLING had hoped to get under 25 minutes. So close, 25:03, but next time.

The quickest Spartans was ANDREW PATTERSON fifth out of the 404 finishers in 17:32.

Pos	Cat	Gen	Name	Cat	Time	Chip
5	2	5	Andrew PATTERSON	M40	17:32	17:32
25	8	25	Terry SAWYER	M40	19:54	19:52
63	22	59	Paul MOULD	M40	21:28	21:20
64	2	5	Oli LACIGOVA	F40	21:31	21:29
157	41	135	Chris WATLING	M30	25:11	25:03
172	46	144	Matt TUTTON	M40	25:39	25:28
269	3	82	Sally PICKLES	F60	29:50	29:36
306	29	109	Calantha CHAPMAN	F40	31:07	30:53

Welwyn Half and 10K

Another weekend, another marathon training run for me – this time including the Welwyn Half Marathon. I did 7 miles before the race, then ran the half at marathon pace – crossing the line in 1:27:36. It was great to feel strong at the end and finish on the track! An added bonus/surprised was a 9th place finish and being first in my age category. NICK GILL.

JIM BROWN said it was just as well he was only trying to see if he could run the 13.1 miles rather than get a spectacular time but it was not what some who might have been trying to get under about two hours might have expected.

There were only 302 half marathon finishers this combined with 170 who started a 10K at the same time.

Sadly the course and the organisation wasn’t really up to it.

However Jim finished in a tired 2:14:14 for second in his category. SIMON SYPULA ran a good steady pace all the way round and came in with 2:11:16.

Filip Bogucki ran a 47:37 in the 10K.

Running Through The Glen

There was a new personal best for CRAIG BACON at the Nottingham Robin Hood Half Marathon. He finished in 1:38:01, an improvement of 71 seconds.

Ealing Half

GERRY ROSEN took part in the Ealing Half on Sunday. He said “there was me thinking a 1000 people or so taking part. How wrong I was, must’ve been in excess of 6/7000 there. It’s lumpy mainly at the beginning with a few “lumps” twists & turns galore.

The support was incredible, lots of bands including the turbanators, a steel band and army cadets, masses of encouragement all within the confines of Ealing and nearby neighbourhoods and all on closed roads (it’s surreal), excellent marked out course ,great Marshalls.

I’ll definitely go back next year and the good thing is, plenty of establishments in the centre of Ealing, obligatory chicken for post show food. And it didn’t rain until after we finished.

On a personal note I managed not to go off stupidly quick, kept the pace sensible, walked the 3 or 4 hills and just a few walks for gel /hydration consumption, a good day at the office , wanted a time under 2h 30.”

He did it in 2:29:51. 4,369 finished the half marathon.

Gerry’s next stop will be the Abingdon Marathon.

New Best in Vitality 10K

There was a new season’s best for CHARLIE ARNOLD in the Vitality London 10K.
He finished in 42:43. That’s an “SB” by over a minute.

Resolution 5K

MATT TUTTON ran the Resolution 5000 on Wednesday night. This edition of the 5k race was held at the track at Westminster Lodge in St Albans. He ran in Wave 1 and finished in 25:08 which is better than his most recent runs. It was a quick field with 26 of the 41 runners running sub 20. Wave 2 and 3 were blink and you miss it races

Yuko Selected

Spartan Yuko GORDON travelled up to Crewe, East Cheshire to run the England Team Selection Race for International Cross Country Team in November in Leeds.

She managed to squeeze into the third place to gain an automatic selection place (top three) over the short 5 km but hilly and tricky farm ground. Yuko said she didn’t, couldn’t run in full effort as she ran the Berlin Marathon only 6 days before and her legs weren’t happy running over long hills yet. Her time was 23:40.

Here Comes The Stevenage Half

Organised by a local community running club, Fairlands Valley Spartans, and with more than 275 entries so far the Stevenage Half Marathon will be on Sunday 19^th October. Entries are open to all aged 17 plus but it will include the Hertfordshire county senior championships.

The two lap course is on tarmac on the town’s famous cycleways. It will include Fairlands Valley Park, Grace Way, the railway station and various points of interest around Stevenage. The event HQ will be at Hampson Park Community Centre.

Each year the event supports a charity. This time it’s the Willow Foundation.

The event is fully licenced, chip timed and with an accurately measured course. It will be held under UKA (United Kingdom Athletics) rules. UKA 29379 with certificate of course accuracy 24/258.

This is the real thing. Fairlands Valley Spartans have organised the Stevenage Marathon and Half Marathon since 1984. There will be dozens of volunteers from FVS and local organisations such as the Scouts.

The Half Marathon race is open to all entrants aged 17 years or older on race day. The course is suitable for racing wheelchairs.

Fairlands Valley Spartans are delighted that SK Plumbing and Heating; ASK Physio; Andy Prior Personal Training; the Alternative Catering Company; and RHG Insurance are sponsoring the half marathon this year.

Please visit https://stevenagehalfmarathon.org.uk/ for more information and to enter. Standard entries are only £30. There’s £2 discount for members of UKA affiliated clubs. Don’t delay enter today.

Last Friday

JIM BROWN went to his usual Last Friday of the Month haunt. The Serpentine 5K in Hyde Park, London. This time to see what happened after recent setbacks. With care and a steady run he got round in 31:47 so well inside the benchmark 35 minutes. Dry, mild, overcast and with a light breeze. This is another run with a café.

Parkrun Highlights – Saturday 27^th September 2025

50 Spartans ran parkruns. 28 were at the 420^th Stevenage parkrun where there were 475 finishers.

LINDSAY PATEMAN ran a new parkrun personal best of 34:23; GRANT RAMSAY his 180^th parkrun in 20:07 and CAROLINE CROFT her 120^th in 34:05.

Another Spartan has enjoyed running round the city walls of Lucca in Italy. Her first run in four months due to injury NIKKI NATION ran the Murra di Lucca parkrun in 32 minutes 18 seconds. She was very happy with that result.

Fairlands Valley Spartans ran at more than twelve parkrun locations on Saturday. Some of them were Thetford- JAY PAPA third in 20:06; Great Denham – MATT GIFFORD in 21:02; Pocket – DARREN EMMERSON in 25:24; Belton House – DANIEL SUTTON in 26:20; Henlow Bridge Lakes – PETER SACH 26:31, JOHN NELMS 27:20, SALLY PICKLES 36:58 and NIKKI PLUMB 41:16; Letchworth – NICK GILL 27:21; Flegg High – SAMANTHA SUTTON in 29:30; Victoria, Glasgow – LORRAINE HILL in 32:07; Bognor Regis – MONICA SMITHSON 32:32 and TRACY HAYGARTH 40:58; Rutland Water – CHRIS HOLLAND in 36:36; Brockenhurst – DARRYL STEVENS in 59:09.

The first Saturday of the month Spartan stripes are this Saturday, 4^th October.

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time
3	3	Simon JACKSON	18:50
13	12	Grant RAMSAY	20:07
30	26	David RIDDELL	21:30
49	44	Lee PICKERSGILL	22:53
68	62	Daniel VILJOEN	23:29
89	82	Martin DUDLEY	24:32
109	10	Annabelle WHITE	25:16
110	98	Charlie WHITE	25:17
153	130	Mark BEASLEY	27:00
176	148	Ryan DUNNING	27:39
181	27	Ann TRYSSESOONE	27:41
183	153	Matt TUTTON	27:42
236	188	Steve TINSLEY	29:19
290	216	Jim BROWN	31:25
298	221	Chris WATLING	31:36
319	232	Matt CLARKE	32:32
321	82	Fiona CLARKE	32:35
334	89	Pamela VILJOEN	33:03
352	99	Caroline CROFT	34:05
357	248	Michael O’KEEFE	34:15
360	105	Lindsay PATEMAN	34:23
413	268	Lloyd DIAS	38:28
416	137	Jenny GARRETT	38:33
417	138	Julie SHADBOLT	38:34
420	141	Jane WADEY	38:39
439	274	Stephen SMITHSON	41:42
441	154	Melody BROWN	42:07
470	171	Callie CHAPMAN	57:23

Cross Country

There was very early, and very sunny, start to the cross country season on Sunday. 34 Spartans, 15 women and 19 men, finished the first of five races which was at the Lucy Warren open space in Hoddesdon.

About 350 runners ran one small and three large laps to cover approximately 7.8 kilometres.

The first two Spartan men were both under 30 minutes with ADRIAN BUSOLINI 15^th in 29:05 and MIKE JEFFS 23^rd in 29:55.

CHLOE SIMPSON and GEORGIE HOOPER were the first two females from Fairlands. Chloe 120^th overall, 13^th woman with 36:05 and Georgie 122^nd, 15^th woman in 36:13. ANITA WELTZ was 34^th woman in 39:08.

Spartans in top third of the eighteen teams. They are sixth in the combined scores with 744. The FVS veteran women are doing particularly well in second place.

The second race will be in Trent Park on Sunday 2^nd November.

Position	Name	Time	Official	Category
15	ADRIAN BUSOLINI	29:05	29:05	MS
23	MIKE JEFFS	29:55	29:56	M40
40	JAY PAPA	31:14	31:14	MS
62	ADRIAN DONNELLY	32:48	32:45	M40
97	DAVID RIDDELL	35:03	35:00	M60
109	CHARLIE ARNOLD	35:38	35:39	M60
120	CHLOE SIMPSON	36:05	36:13	W35
122	GEORGIE HOOPER	36:13	36:15	W35
142	STEPHEN MASSEY	38:01	37:12	M50
147	MARTIN WOOD	37:31	37:32	M60
156	MATT COOKE	37:57	37:59	MS
165	MARTIN JACOB	38:46	38:43	M40
173	ANITA WELTZ	39:08	39:11	W35
176	SIMON HAIGH	39:12	39:13	M50
179	TONY VICKERS	39:22	39:22	M50
193	ANNABELLE WHITE	39:53	39:53	WS
206	DARREN EMMERSON	40:26	40:29	M50
211	NICK GILL	41:00**	41:07	MS
253	JAYNE RIDDELL	43:30	43:32	W55
263	JACKIE PERRY	44:02	44:05	W55
265	MARK FREEMAN	44:09	44:10	M60
284	SAM GENTRY	46:05	46:04	W45
285	JODIE WILSON	46:06	46:05	WS
289	LEANNE WILSON	46:22	46:15	WS
294	JIM BROWN	46:31	46:31	M70
295	CLAIRE EMMERSON	46:41	46:43	W45
316	SHARON CROWLEY	51:30	51:32	W65
320	KARTIK SHARMA	52:30	52:32	M40
322	CALLIE CHAPMAN	52:50	52:57	W35
327	MICHAEL O’KEEFE	56:07	56:09	M60
328	AMANDA VICKERS	56:17	56:19	W45
334	BECKY RAYNOR	60:50	60:51	W35
338	AHAAN SHARMA	62:32**	64:26	MS
340	JANE WADEY	65:37	65:46	W55

Tags Ealing Half, Hitchin 5k, Last Friday of the Month, parkrun, Resolution 5k, Robin Hood Half Marathon, Vitality London 10K, Welwyn 10k, Welwyn Half

News Newsletter Race Results Racing

HITCHIN & BERLIN WINNERS

Spartan ANDREW PATTERSON won the Hitchin 5K in 16 minutes 10 seconds.

Other Spartan highlights included – on the basis of one runner one prize MIKE JEFFS took the male 40 plus award with his 18:01. He was eighth overall. BRIAN WHITE was second man 60 plus in 22:28 and ANDY JAY third in 27:36. JACKIE PERRY was second woman 60 plus in 27:36.

MARIE COLUCCI was the fastest female from Fairlands with 23:05 while HARRIET SMITH was not far behind with 23:45.

Pos	CatPos	MF	BiB	Name	Category	Time	Grade	Comments
1	1	1	3739	Andrew PATTERSON	MV40	16:10	86.5%	Winner!
8	2	8	4848	Mike JEFFS	MV40	18:01	76.0%	2^nd MV40
29	8	28	4579	Mark COLLINS	MV40	19:49	72.6%
36	16	35	2653	Nick GILL	MV30	19:56	66.8%
87	2	73	2713	Brian WHITE	MV60	22:28	76.6%	2^nd MV60
106	6	20	3072	Marie COLUCCI	FV40	23:05	68.9%
116	6	25	3697	Harriet SMITH	FV30	23:45	61.9%
137	37	103	1558	Daniel VILJOEN	MV40	24:25	58.8%
141	2	36	4021	Jackie PERRY	FV60	24:52	76.1%	2^nd FV60
194	3	129	2797	Andy JAY	MV60	27:36	57.5%	3^rd MV60
257	16	100	1469	Pamela VILJOEN	FV50	30:01	55.7%
306	39	134	1528	Callie CHAPMAN	FV40	32:29	46.3%
345	47	166	3686	Rebecca RAYNER	FV40	37:59	39.9%

Yuko’s A Winner In Berlin

At the Berlin Marathon Spartan YUKO GORDON won her age category, women 70 plus, in 3:34:45.

That makes it her third time winning out of three outings in Berlin.

SIMON FRASER was easily under three hours with 2:48:09 and KEITH HOOKER had an excellent run to come in with 4:12:02. There were tens of thousands of runners.

Great Shelford 5K

CHARLES ARNOLD took his Spartan stripes to South Cambs and the 11th annual Great Shelford 5K. An England Athletics (EA) certified out-and-back road race, flat and picturesque so no excuses for not getting at least a season’s best (SB) of 21:28.

Tags Berlin Marathon, Great Shelford 5k, Hitchin 5k

Club News Race Results

DOUBLE WIN AT THE HITCHIN 5K!

Post author By Vicky Archer
Post date September 24, 2023
No Comments on DOUBLE WIN AT THE HITCHIN 5K!

It was a double win in Hitchin for Fairlands Valley Spartans as ANDREW PATTERSON and ASHLEY JOHNSON won first man and first woman in the Hitchin 5K.

Andrew won the race in 16 minutes 23 seconds. Which was 50 seconds ahead of his nearest rival. And Ashley won the woman’s race in 20:17, again a victory by 50 seconds.

MONICA SMITHSON ran the Hitchin 5K in 32 minutes 17 seconds.

Bedford Autodrome

JIM BROWN ran the Bedford Autodrome 20 miles and improved his “year best” by 15 minutes 29 seconds when he finished in 3 hours 13 minutes 51 seconds.

This was a bit of a leap up after some indifferent half marathons so his plan was to run six “parkruns” in an average of 30 minutes or just under. That he did going through 30K in maybe a second under 3 hours.

Then the last 2.2 kilometres largely into a howling headwind took 13 minutes 51 seconds. He was second in his age group.

Spartan CAROLE SHELDRICK won her category in the Autodrome 10K with 56:38.

Windsor Half

WENDY THARANI was at the Windsor Half Marathon. She said it was a busy event, well organised and well attended. Beautiful scenery through Windsor Great Park, however it is very undulating and felt like more up than down! Big hill at mile 11!

She finished in 2:14:15 (chip time).

Ottawa 10K

Spartan Andy Jay travelled to Ottawa, Canada for a memorial and charity event, raising funds for injured and veteran members of the Canadian armed forces.

With the start and finish in Downtown Ottawa, the race went past famous Landmarks such as Parliament buildings and the famous Chateau Laurier Hotel. The race headed east alongside the Ottawa River before returning for a tough finish up on Parliament Hill.

Andy ran the 10k distance, finishing in 55.17.

Vitality Westminster Mile

JONATHAN PARR was fifth in the Vitality Westminster Mile with 4 minutes 42 seconds.

Parkrun Saturday 23^rd September

Michael O’Keefe ran a new course PB at Letchworth with 29:05

At Stevenage there was a new parkrun PB for William Morley 19:52; Claire Pullen ran her 50^th parkrun in 24:41; and Grant Ramsay was sixth at Stevenage on his 100^thparkrun with 19:26

Please click the link for the Consolidated Results

Tags Bedford Autodrome, Hitchin 5k, Ottawa 10k, Vitality Westminster Mile, Windsor Half

Club News Race Results

Hitchin 5k, Half’s, Marathons, Hills and More!

Post author By Vicky Archer
Post date October 9, 2022
No Comments on Hitchin 5k, Half’s, Marathons, Hills and More!

Hitchin 5k

Nine Spartans raced round Hitchin in the town’s 5K race. Only a week after running a fast time in the London Marathon it was won by FVS own ANDREW PATTERSON in 16 minutes 2 seconds.

HARRIET SMITH was the second woman 20 plus and fastest female from Fairlands in 23 minutes 51 seconds.

ADRIAN DONNELLY was 15^th in 20:01. The other Spartans were SAM SIMMONS 21:06; MARC RIDLEY 23:06; DAVID KENNEDY 23:23 NICK KLEANTHOUS 26:54; MATT TUTTON 27:24 and MONICA SMITHSON 30:32. There were 228 finishers.

Willow 10K

Spartans DANNY SCANLON, JIM BROWN and JUDY KING made the short trip to Hatfield for a 10K race. This was a friendly multi-terrain charity event for the Willow Foundation in the picturesque grounds of Hatfield House. Danny was 10^th in 44 minutes 3 seconds, Jim finished 60^th in 55:37 and Judy came in 184^th with 1:16:10. There were 211 finishers. Judy said her run has really boosted her confidence for future races including the Great South Run (10 miles) and the Stevenage Half Marathon on 6^th November. Willow organises special days for seriously ill young adults.

Royal Parks Half

CRAIG BACON finished the Royal Parks Half Marathon in less than 1 hour 40 minutes with 1:39:23.

VISHAL SHAH did the run round London in 2:13:52 and CALLIE CHAPMAN finished in 2:47:19.

Craig, Callie and Vish with their medals

Chicago Marathon

Spartans DUNCAN FLOUNDERS and ROSS GALLAGHER were in Chicago for the marathon. Duncan ran a couple of events for the first time in a long time this weekend.

He finished the Chicago 5K in 26 minutes 29 seconds (26:29) and then the full Chicago Marathon in 3 hours 53 minutes 14 seconds (3:53:14).

Duncan said, “The marathon was an awesome experience despite being two years late. Crowds lined the course for pretty much every step of the way and they were all amazing. The whole city heats up for this for days beforehand and it didn’t disappoint. Lots of fun, the inevitable pain around 30k but managed to work through that and actually enjoyed the last few kilometres. Great event.

ROSS GALLAGHER completed the Chicago marathon in a time of 3:08:43.

Target was a sub 3:10 so he was delighted to walk away with 3:08 and a 15 minute PB from London 2022.

Ross said, “After a chilly start the sun came up for what were perfect running conditions. Great crowd and support which were particularly needed for the last three miles ‘these felt much longer than just a park run’. 

Tring Ridgeway Run

On Sunday 9th October Tim Robinson ran the 40th Tring Ridgeway Run. A 15km trail run in the Chilterns organised by Tring Running Club who organise several very good races throughout the year in the Chiltern Hills. The race starts in Tring and heads up to the Bridgwater Monument on the Ashridge Estate before winding through the woods down to Steps Hill and over Pitstone Hill back to Tring for a total ascent of around 750ft. The ascent to the Bridgewater Monument was fairly steady going but once into the woods the constant up and down meant several walk breaks and there was a strong headwind on Pitstone Hill despite the sun. Tim took advantage of the long downhills to make up for lost time and finished 256th in a time of 1:35:45.

Maverick Lincolnshire

JANE WHITROW and her dog Rufus had a day trip out to do a 10k…actually a 10.5k Canicross run at the beautiful Grimsthorpe Castle park. It was the first Maverick event for them – they loved it and the alcohol free cold beer at the finish was very welcome!

Official time was 1 hour 17 minutes on a beautiful and “undulating” course.

Parkrun

For all the Spartan Parkrun results from the 8th October 2022 please click the link – Parkrun Consolidated Results 8th October

Tags Chicago Marathon, Hitchin 5k, Maverick, Royal Parks Half, Tring Ridgeway, Willow 10k