Tag: Last Friday of the Month

HAPPY CHRISTMAS & A PEACEFUL NEW YEAR

Post author By Peter Sach
Post date December 21, 2025
No Comments on HAPPY CHRISTMAS & A PEACEFUL NEW YEAR

Stevenage Cross Country

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 15^th in 28:59.

The next two Spartans were also under 30 minutes. ADRIAN BUSOLINI 18^th in 29:18 and DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT 30^th 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 11^th 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 20^th 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 432^nd 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,

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time
4	4	Simon JACKSON	18:45
5	5	Perri GENTRY	18:49
65	61	Lee PICKERSGILL	23:21
75	5	Suzy HAWKINS	24:03
83	78	Matthew COOKE	24:31
175	139	Ryan DUNNING	27:57
186	147	Daniel VILJOEN	28:17
191	152	Matt CLARKE	28:31
217	170	Nick KLEANTHOUS	29:18
220	172	Mike REYNOLDS	29:25
248	191	David ACKERY	30:42
266	68	Rebecca RAYNER	31:36
270	199	Jim BROWN	31:39
271	71	Penny SCHENKEL	31:42
286	78	Alice WELCH	32:20
317	98	Debbie BLANTERN	33:27
361	117	Hilary DAVIES	35:36
382	244	Thomas SAUKA	37:30
411	152	Tracy HAYGARTH	42:04
419	157	Elizabeth CROWLEY	43:13
427	163	Julie BUDDEN	46:38
431	258	Roger BIGGS	48:47
450	175	Sharon CROWLEY	58:44

Tags Last Friday of the Month, parkrun, Stevenage Cross Country

News Race Results

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 Race Results

COOK WINS AT OLYMPIC PARK

Post author By Peter Sach
Post date February 2, 2025
No Comments on COOK WINS AT OLYMPIC PARK

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 150^th 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 28^th February. These are measured and timed races and cost £6.

Parkrun Highlights Saturday 1^st 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 100^th in 25:09 and MATTHEW NEWTON his 50^th 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 170^th in 23:54 and David is 160^th in 23:31.

Spartans elsewhere included ELIZABETH and SHARON CROWLEY Mile End parkrun. Elizabeth finished in 29:47 and Sharon in 34.16.

Tags Last Friday of the Month, Olympic park 5K, parkrun, Watford Half