The first day of Spring, meteorological – we’ll come to the astronomical in three weeks, saw many Spartans at races or on club training runs.
Southwold
BECKY RAYNER completed the Southwold Half Marathon, finishing with a chip time of 2:18:39. That’s a 5 minutes 24 seconds improvement on her PB (personal best).
She said this was her first time doing this race. It was a mixed terrain course incorporating roads and tracks around Southwold and the nearby village of Walberswick. Very picturesque, well supported and a very well organised event with the bonus of a cookie and a donut at the finish line. What’s not to like?
London Half
LEE POTTER celebrated the first day of meteorological Spring with a 25 minutes 4 seconds personal best at the London Half Marathon based in the Queen Elizabeth Park. Only a week after his previous best at the Baldock Beast he finished in 2 hours 32 minutes 53 seconds.
Great Yarmouth
It was Great Yarmouth for JESSICA CLARKE where she ran the half marathon in 1:52:21.
Berkhamsted Half Marathon
Completing the Half Marathon fun ANDREW SHAW ran the Berko Half. The Berkhamsted Half was Andy’s third go at racing over the half marathon distance. It is a hilly course but take in some spectacular views of Ashridge House. Andy really enjoyed completing the event and was chuffed to finish in 1:35:23, a 9 minute PB that he attributes to joining FVS and the Tuesday evening intervals.
He was 176th out of the 1263 finishers. It’s lumpy but great once you get to nine miles!
Wanna Half? Entries have OPENED for the Stevenage Half Marathon which will be on Sunday 18th October.
Friday Fun
JIM BROWN ran the Last Friday of the Month 5K. A nice little trundle around Hyde Park on Friday after some difficult running weeks.
First kilometre took a nervous 5:59 but Serpentine 5K completed in 28:40. Jim says this is a friendly lunch-time race with a very convenient café. Nice open start so you can go as fast, or not, as you like.
Parkrun Highlights
Fairlands Valley Spartans were second and third in Saturday’s Stevenage parkrun. KIRK ran the 5K in 17:50 and SIMON JACKSON in 17:58. Simon got the highest age grade score on the day, 82.10%.
Despite the very wet morning there were 510 finishers including 210 women and 29 Spartans. KAREN ELLIS was the fastest female from Fairlands in 27:36 which gave her 150th overall.
There was a new parkrun personal best for LINDSAY PATEMAN, 31:49.
51 plus Spartans ran a parkrun on Saturday. Those elsewhere included their furthest from Fairlands runner MIKE REYNOLDS who ran the Wanaka parkrun on the South Island of New Zealand in 27:55 and ADAM HILL in Poland running the Krakow parkrun in 23:38.
HAYLEY PEACH improved to 30:04 at the Albert parkrun in Middlesbrough with ANDREW SMITH finishing in 30:05.
BECKY RAYNER ran the notoriously hard Great Yarmouth North Beach parkrun, all on sand, in 48:59; NIKKI NATION was on the High Peak trail completing the Black Rocks parkrun in 35:18 and ROWENA ROUTLEDGE at the Penrose parkrun, Helston in Cornwall with 31:46.
Not quite so far away CHARLES ARNOLD finished the Jubilee parkrun in Bedford with 24:23; WILLIAM MORLEY was sub 20 with 19:18 at Coldham’s Common near Cambridge and ALICE WELCH ran the Pocket parkrun at St Neots in 31:29.
GRANT RAMSAY ran the Wimpole Estate event in 22:55 with JONATHAN JONES in 35:13. JOHN HARRIS and LEWIS GREEN went round the Letchworth parkrun in 24:34 and 25:17. JAY PAPA and JESS CLARKE were glowing after their Sizewell parkrun with 26:55 and 28:38.
Stripes on Saturday next Saturday as it will be the first Saturday of the month.
In the run to Christmas more than fifty, 23 women and 29 men, Fairlands Valley Spartans ran the cross country league race in Stevenage on Sunday morning. 21 other Spartans volunteered as marshals or helped in other ways.
On an undulating three lap course in the south field of Fairlands Valley Park GEORGE HALFPENNY was the fastest Spartan over the 7.75 kilometres. He was 15th in 28:59.
The next two Spartans were also under 30 minutes. ADRIAN BUSOLINI 18th in 29:18 and DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT 30th in 29:55.
NATALIE LAWRENCE was the fastest female from Fairlands with her 31:32 lapping many of the men. Next came SHAUNA LAWLESS in 36:50.
Celebrating his birthday didn’t slow CHARLIE ARNOLD who ran round in 36:48.
This was a first cross country league race for many Spartans including George Halfpenny, Graham Hoare, Shauna Lawless, Sally Pickles, Amanda Vickers and Chris Watling.
There were about 400 finishers. The next Sunday League race will be in Panshanger Park on Sunday 11th January.
Position
Name
Time
Category
15
GEORGE HALFPENNY
28:59
MSenior
18
ADRIAN BUSOLINI
29:18
MSenior
30
DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT
29:55
M40
54
NATALIE LAWRENCE
31:32*
W35
58
DAN HUKIN
31:20*
M40
75
JAY PAPA
32:50
MSenior
76
NICK GILL
32:55
MSenior
92
ADRIAN DONNELLY
33:55
M40
106
GRANT RAMSAY
34:04
M50
138
LIAM WELLER
36:08
MSenior
139
ANDY SHAW
36:10
M50
158
CHARLIE ARNOLD
36:48
M60
159
SHAUNA LAWLESS
36:50
WSenior
163
LEWIS GREEN
37:10
M40
166
GEORGIE HOOPER
37:20*
W35
169
SUZY HAWKINS
36:55*
W45
189
GRAHAM HOARE
38:18
M50
190
KEITH HOOKER
38:19
M40
201
MELVIN AUBURN
38:40
MSenior
202
MATT COOKE
38:42
MSenior
247
CHLOE SIMPSON
41:21
W35
250
ALICE WELCH
41:22
WSenior
265
ANDY PRIOR
42:02**
M50
272
CRAIG BACON
42:15
M50
275
CHRIS WATLING
42:42
MSenior
278
JO COOKSLEY
42:44
W35
295
DARREN EMMERSON
43:38
M50
300
PETE COOK
43:45
M50
304
JACKIE PERRY
44:00
W55
315
SIMON SYPULA
44:34
M40
319
LINDA GEORGE
44:55
W35
321
ADAM HILL
45:20
MSenior
322
MARK FREEMAN
45:25**
M60
335
SAM SUTTON
46:36
W45
336
JON SYPULA
46:44
M40
338
JACOB NELMS
46:56
MSenior
341
JIM BROWN
46:57
M70
346
SAM GENTRY
47:43
W45
350
CLAIRE EMMERSON
48:14
W45
351
SHARON CROWLEY
48:24
W65
352
EMILY GRIEVES
48:43
WSenior
353
STEVE TINSLEY
48:55
M40
355
ANNABELLE WHITE
48:59
WSenior
357
SALLY PICKLES
49:06
W55
370
LIZ CROWLEY
51:03
W35
375
BECKY RAYNER
51:27
W35
381
CALLIE CHAPMAN
55:44*
W35
384
BECCA BIRT
54:31*
W45
393
AMANDA VICKERS
56:56
W45
394
JAYNE DYMOKE
57:15
W45
395
PAUL HOLGATE
58:55
M60
399
JANE WADEY
62:53
W55
Last Friday Came Early
The Last Friday 5K race in Hyde Park came a week early to avoid Boxing Day. On a slightly amended course due to Winter Wonderland JIM BROWN came in with 27 minutes 35 seconds. Amazingly good weather for December helped. Jim’s time moved him up a bit in the best of six competition that ran for the twelve months of 2025.
He finished with 65.1%. The first three places were taken by women – all with over 90%.
Parkrun Highlights – Saturday 20th December 2025
45 Spartans ran parkruns on Saturday. 23 were at Stevenage where BECKY RAYNER ran a new parkrun personal best (PPB) of 31 minutes 36 seconds. An improvement of just over one minute.
There were 450 finishers at the 432nd Stevenage parkrun. Ten more than last week. They included 174 women.
SIMON JACKSON and PERRI GENTRY were both in the top five. Simon fourth in 18:45 and Perri fifth in 18:49.
SUZY HAWKINS was fifth woman with her 24:03. ALICE WELCH enjoyed her tenth parkrun in 32:20. There was another parkrun PB. Congratulations to JULIE BUDDEN who finished in 46:38.
The FVS parkrun tourists were out and about. ANNETTE BELL ran the Geographe Bay parkrun in Western Australia with 26 minutes 56 seconds (26:56). About 23 degrees. Nice.
Two were at the Meon Valley trail parkrun. AHAAR SHARMA came in with 32:41 and KARTIK SHARMA with 32:43. It was on an old railway line near Wickham in Hampshire.
GRANT RAMSAY was fourth at Wimpole Estate in 20:39 with JONATHAN JONES in 34:37.
There were two Spartan PPBs at Henlow Bridge Lakes. SAM SUTTON in 28:41 and SALLY PICKLES in 29:03. Pretty good on a muddy course. NIKI PLUMB was there with 40:05 and JULIE MANTON with 41:43.
Another three were at Panshanger – CHRIS WATLING 26:22; STEVE SMITHSON 33:37; and MONICA SMITHSON 34:17. JUDY KING ran the Guernsey parkrun in 32:13.
Other Spartan destinations included Frank’s Farm (Cambridge), Great Denham, Kings Lynn, Raphael (Romford), Stanborough and Yarborough,
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 19th 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 27th September 2025
50 Spartans ran parkruns. 28 were at the 420th Stevenage parkrun where there were 475 finishers.
LINDSAY PATEMAN ran a new parkrun personal best of 34:23; GRANT RAMSAY his 180th parkrun in 20:07 and CAROLINE CROFT her 120th 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, 4th 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 15th in 29:05 and MIKE JEFFS 23rd in 29:55.
CHLOE SIMPSON and GEORGIE HOOPER were the first two females from Fairlands. Chloe 120th overall, 13th woman with 36:05 and Georgie 122nd, 15th woman in 36:13. ANITA WELTZ was 34th 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 2nd November.
Spartan DAVE COOK WON the Olympic Park 5K in 16:56.
A Champion at Watford.
First thing there were worries there would be ice patches on the course of the Watford Half Marathon but no, apart from a short section at the second water station, it was fine. Although it was never warm runners enjoyed start to finish sun shine.
Fairlands Valley Spartans have a new county champion. JIM BROWN won GOLD in the men 70 plus with his 2 hours 3 minutes 53 seconds (2:03:53). Jim aimed to be back in Cassiobury Park in less than two hours and he did that with a bit to spare. The gold medal was a good bit of icing on the cake.
This, to put it politely, was a lumpy course and NICK GILL did well with his 1:31:01 which got him 150th position out of the 1552 who finished so top 10%. Nick said, “I did the Watford Half Marathon Sunday morning, finishing in 1:31:01. After doing the event for the first time last year, I knew it was a tough course so decided to turn it into a training run/workout instead. I started steady and got faster by 15 seconds each mile until I got to my goal half marathon pace, which I then remained at for the entire second half… and it worked out perfectly! My only regret was a bit of a sprint finish – if I’d been 16 seconds slower to cross the line I would have bagged the random £2,000 spot prize!”
PENNY SCHENKEL continued her London Marathon preparations beating 2:30 with her 2:27:41.
Last Friday of the Month 5K
Sometimes the days fall like that as two days before the Watford Half JIM BROWN was racing the Last Friday of the Month 5K in Hyde Park. After a slow start he was happy with his 27 minutes 20 seconds (27:20). The next one will be at 12.30p.m. on Friday 28th February. These are measured and timed races and cost £6.
Parkrun Highlights Saturday 1st February
There were at least 50 Spartans at parkruns on Saturday. This week it was stripey Saturday and there were 37 Spartans among the 578 finishers at Stevenage.
NICK KLEANTHOUS celebrated his birthday with 30:51 for the five kilometres. This week there were two Spartans in the top ten with MIKE JEFFS fourth in 18:24 and JAY PAPA sixth in 18:43.
There were two parkrun milestones. RYAN DUNNING ran his 100th in 25:09 and MATTHEW NEWTON his 50th in 28:58. SUE HAMER ran a new parkrun personal best of 26 minutes 5 seconds (26:05). There were mini-milestones for TOBY ECCLESHALL and DAVID RIDDELL. Toby is 170th in 23:54 and David is 160th in 23:31.
Spartans elsewhere included ELIZABETH and SHARON CROWLEY Mile End parkrun. Elizabeth finished in 29:47 and Sharon in 34.16.
