Tag: London Winter 10k

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News Race Results

THE BIG SQUELCH – WATFORD X/C

On Sunday morning 21 “hardcore” Spartans finished the last race in this season’s cross country league.  Meanwhile 12 more were in London for the Winter 10K.  On Saturday 37 Spartans ran the Valentine’s Day parkrun in Stevenage – one became a caped crusader.

Sunday’s Cross Country League race in Watford was described as one big squelch.  The 21 Spartans who finished have built some bigger characters.  Days and days of rain finished off with continuous heavy rain throughout the race meant the route was very wet making for damp shoes, mud splattered everywhere, some tricky stretches and it wasn’t warm!

The fastest Spartan in the 300 plus finishers was DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT who was seventh overall.  He ran the soggy undulating six miles in 37 minutes 18 seconds (37:18).  ADRIAN BUSOLINI was second Spartan at 29th in 39:43 and club captain MIKE JEFFS third in 44:30. 

GEORGIE HOOPER was the fastest female from Fairlands at 107th in 48:09 with  JODIE KANTAS was second woman in 53:40 and JO COOKSLEY third in 55:03.

Eleven men and ten women finished from FVS which meant the club had complete men’s and women’s teams which is more than can be said for some other clubs.

PositionNameTime
7DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT37:18
29ADRIAN BUSOLINI39:43
64MIKE JEFFS44:30
107GEORGIE HOOPER48:09
123DANNY SCANLON49:39
141CHARLES ARNOLD51:19
164MATT COOKE53:00
178JODIE KANTAS53:40
186TONY VICKERS54:20
187STEPHEN MASSEY54:22
198JO COOKSLEY55:03
252MARK FREEMAN62:29
253SHARON CROWLEY62:37
274CLAIRE EMMERSON65:59
275LIZ CROWLEY65:59
276PENNY SCHENKEL66:00
279SAMMIE SUTTON66:49
280LLOYD DIAS67:17
290JIM BROWN71:07
296CALLIE CHAPMAN74:15
301JANE DYMOKE81:09

London Winter 10K

Twelve Spartans were among about 20,000 people who ran the Cancer Research UK London Winter Run on Sunday.

ALISON SHELLEY said to say it was really cold and wet is a bit of an understatement, with rain setting in before we even started and continuing through and after the race.  It was impossible to avoid the many big puddles so we just had to embrace the water! Despite this there were over 19,500 finishers.  She had a goal to try and finish under the hour but due to the weather decided to not worry about the watch and just do her best with the conditions.  So Alison was quite surprised – and happy – when she finished in 56:42 (chip time) with a negative split.

Despite the weather a great day, supporting Cancer Research UK.

ALICE and JOSHUA WELCH both ran the London Winter 10K.  This was Joshua’s first race as a Spartan and they both ran new PBs (personal bests).  Alice finished in a new 10K PB of 47 minutes 59 seconds (47:59) and Joshua in a new 10K PB of 57:53.

It was also PB time for REBECCA RAYNER.  She finished in 63:10.

KEITH HOOKER ran a new personal best of 43:33 but the fastest Spartan was DAVE COOK.  He was 14th in the very large field with 34:27.

PosNameBibCategoryChip time
14Dave Cook27112MSEN34:27
951Keith Hooker817M4543:33
1818George Halfpenny10931MSEN46:47
2244Alice Welch22847FSEN47:59
4848Peter Sach255MSEN53:44
6733Alison Shelley22119F5556:42
7542Joshua Welch12349MSEN57:53
9080Vishal Shah4270M401:00:02
9627Karl Shreeve9429M551:00:54
10991Rebecca Rayner20990F401:03:10
19206Emma Chapman6786F351:40:41
19488Lee Potter13089M352:00:52

Farnborough Half

Spartan SAM TOPHILL beat two hours with 1:59:25 at the Farnborough Half Marathon.

Parkrun Highlights

Chilly but there was a break in the grey skies and 593 finished the Valentine’s Day parkrun in Stevenage on Saturday.

The 37 Spartans included two achieving new milestones.  One was a major milestone celebrated by wearing the big red cape round the 5K.  MIKE JEFFS FVS men’s club captain ran his 50th parkrun which he finished in 28:09.  Just behind him was NICK GILL who finished his 150th in 28:12.

LEE POTTER ran a new parkrun personal best (PPB) of 34:02.  New member JADE JENKINS was a first timer with 34:09.

Spartans elsewhere included JESSICA CLARKE 29:09 at Wisbech; REBECCA RAYNER at Southwark in 34:15 and DARRYL STEVENS in Edinburgh with 37:27.

PositionGender PositionParkrunnerTime
1515Perri GENTRY20:27
3030Stuart ARCHER21:44
3232Steve WELLS21:47
4543Toby ECCLESHALL22:43
5451Alexey ZHERDEV22:58
8883Matthew COOKE24:19
157143Keith HOOKER26:43
17218Karen ELLIS27:12
190162Ryan DUNNING27:35
206176Lee PICKERSGILL27:53
20728Georgie HOOPER27:54
20829Lorraine HILL27:55
217182Mike JEFFS28:09
218183Nick GILL28:12
219184Andy PRIOR28:12
228187James SOUTH28:29
261204Daniel VILJOEN29:21
30365Sarah ILLINGWORTH30:38
308236Jim BROWN30:52
322245Steve PLATT31:24
32875Hannah MANTON31:42
33881Monica SMITHSON32:01
34887Linda GEORGE32:24
35290Debbie BLANTERN32:27
35592Penny SCHENKEL32:35
393278Lee Francis POTTER34:02
394110Sally PICKLES34:03
399114Alison SHELLEY34:07
401116Jade JENKINS34:09
402117Sam GENTRY34:10
415127Pamela VILJOEN34:34
425290Keith MANTON34:56
440139Angie KEELING35:34
495317Lloyd DIAS38:23
515183Julie MANTON40:52
516184Stephanie GAJIC40:57
569219Samantha SUTTON53:50
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News Race Results

NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY

A cross country on Parliament Hill is always tough.  Usually muddy and the climbs start from the gun.  Finishing there in a national championship is a major achievement and Fairlands Valley Spartans finished with complete teams in the men’s and women’s senior championship.

For the men it was a 12 kilometre test while the women ran 8 kilometres (about five miles). 

JAYNE RIDDELL was first female for Fairlands.  She finished in 56 minutes 38 seconds.  HAZEL SMITH was next in 59:33 with SOPHIE PARSON not far behind her in 59:42.

MICHAEL FISHER was first Spartan in the men’s race with 1:01:57 and CHARLIE WHITE next in for FVS with 1:03:14.

Teams of four were needed in the women’s race, six in the men’s competition.

Taming the Baldock Beast

The Baldock Beast is a very demanding half marathon.  Hills, off road sections and almost always a strong wind.  Seventeen Spartans tamed the beast this year.

NICK GILL said 1:40:38 for me today in one of my favourite races – been doing the Beast since 2013!  Completed the race as part of a 16.5-mile training run which included easy, steady and goal half marathon pace… which proved interesting in the uphill sections!

MARTIN JACOB and LINDA GEORGE tamed the beast — they felt strong.  Martin had this run planned as part of his training for the South Downs Way 50 race, and Linda jumped in last minute, because she didn’t want to miss out.  Linda said Martin ran ahead to take some of the head wind, making it just that little bit easier for me.  They took it easy on the uphills, walking them, and ran the flats and downhills.  They both finished with the same gun time which is 2:12:25

What can we say about TIM ROBINSON?  He ran the national cross country championships on Saturday and then the Baldock Beast on Sunday.  He finished in 2:24:09.

GERRY ROSEN finished in 2:24:05.  He was totally surprised as he expected to finish nearer to 2 hours 40 minutes.  He guesses good training pays off!!

PENNY SCHENKEL was another thinking 2:40 before the start so she was happy with her 2:27:14.  The last hundred metres to the finish line was tough.

PlaceNameCategoryChip TimeCat Pos
14Melanie BateFV3501:31:101
17Paul ShelleyMV5001:33:113
42Adrian DonnellyMV4001:40:0410
49Nick GillSenior Men01:40:3824
67Terry SawyerMV4001:44:3818
160Chris WatlingSenior Men02:00:3560
164Elliott WhiteSenior Men02:01:0962
177Pete CookMV5002:03:2831
200Yuko GordonFV55+02:06:395
217Martin JacobMV4002:12:2551
227Simon SypulaMV5002:15:3542
243John NelmsMV5002:19:4646
244Samantha TophillFV55+02:20:1710
263Gerry RosenMV5002:24:0550
264Tim RobinsonMV5002:24:0651
269Jim BrownMV6002:25:0913
270Penny SchenkelFV55+02:27:1413

Bedford 10K

Olivia Hamilton had a great run in the Bedford 10K on Sunday.  She was first women 23 – 35 in 46 minutes 16 seconds (46:16) and 39 out of the 285 finishers.

Sophie Parsons was the third female aged under 23 in 58:50.  She was 140th so top half overall.

Bedford Half Marathon

Spartan BRIAN WHITE was first veteran man (65-69) in the Bedford Half Marathon with 1 hour 44 minutes 19 seconds, which is a new hip PB!  He was 85th in the race.  Brian said it was a very nice two lap course and the weather was kind.  Bedford Half Marathon (23.02.2025).

JOSEPH WASNOCK finished in 1:48:45; ANNABELLE WHITE in 1:49:21 and ANN TRYSSESOONE in 1:58:18.

SHE HAMER ran the Bedford Half, in under 2 hours… just, by the skin of her teeth, in 1:59:58.  That’s PB (personal best) for her.  She’s on a roll.  PBs so far this year 5K, 10K and now the half marathon.

Olympic Park Half Marathon

DANNY SCANLON ran his first half marathon in near on 18 months at the Olympic Park Half Marathon.

It was a twisting turning run taking in all of the main Olympic venues.

He managed a 1:38:05 and said it was great to be running a half again!

London Winter 10K

It was fun to run the 10th anniversary of the London Winter Run.  PETER SACH did it in 1:04:45.

Royal Norwich

On Sunday Carol Paul ran the Royal Norwich half marathon which was from the royal Norwich golf course.  The course was around the country lanes to the north west of Norwich.  The course was very undulating and reminded Carol of the Watford half marathon.  It was a very blustery day and Carol completed the course in 2:06:13, she was 516th out of 815 runners and was 3rd in the w60-64 age group.

Watford X/C Update

Two weeks after the Watford Half Marathon and it was still chilly and hilly in Cassiobury Park but Fairlands Valley Spartans had a great turnout for Sunday’s cross country league race.

Racing over six miles ADRIAN BUSOLINI was first in for FVS and top 5% in the race with his 37 minutes 32 seconds (37:32) for 15th position.  It was tight between MIKE JEFFS 27th in 39:40 and NICK GILL 28th in 39:41. 

OLIVIA HAMILTON was first woman for the club in 48:42 with GEORGIE HOOPER and ELLA CERAULO not far behind in 50:19 (171st overall) and 51:05 (182nd).

Olivia was running her first cross country for FVS and it was great to see Ella back.

17 women and 17 men ran for Fairlands Valley Spartans at the event, one of the highest totals for any of the twenty clubs participating.

Their greater numbers and some good performances mean the club has moved up various tables in the league after a slow start.

On the day their combined team was fifth out of 20. 

Pos.NameOfficial
15ADRIAN BUSOLINI37:32
27MIKE JEFFS39:41
28NICK GILL39:42
52PAUL SHELLEY41:21
65ADRIAN DONNELLY42:14
114STEVE MAYFIELD46:21
127MATT GIFFORD47:09
135CHARLIE ARNOLD47:32
145BRIAN WHITE47:57
156OLIVIA HAMILTON48:46
168SIMON HAIGH49:57
171GEORGIE HOOPER50:21
182ELLA CERAULO51:00
184DAVID RIDDELL51:03
262LLOYD DIAS56:56
271HAZEL SMITH57:36
286JANE RIDDELL58:39
294THOMAS SAUKA59:39
300DAVID ACKERY1:00:38
310KIRSTEN LIGHTBODY1:01:39
315MEGAN SUTTON1:02:08
316PENNY SCHENKEL1:02:18
320TIM ROBINSON1:02:56
328MARK FREEMAN1:04:29
332JUDY KING1:05:28
336JIM BROWN1:05:54
341NIKKI NATION1:07:39
348SHARON CROWLEY1:12:41
351SAM SUTTON1:13:02
352CALLIE CHAPMAN1:13:57
361BECKY RAYNER1:18:27
364SALLY PHILLIPS1:20:53
369NICHOLA DURRANT1:36:38
370NIKI PLUMB1:36:39

Parkrun Highlights Saturday 22nd February

Despite all the other attractions there were fifty Spartans at parkruns on Saturday 22nd February.  33 were among the 564 parkrunners in Stevenage where SIMON JACKSON was second with 17:32 and STEVE SMITHSON completed his 100th in 39:28.

There was a bit of parkrun tourism with Spartan KIRK NDUGU.  He WON the Caffarella run in Rome with 17:10.

YUKO GORDON was first woman in the Great Denham parkrun with 22:47.

PositionGender PositionFVS parkrunnerTime
22Simon JACKSON17:32
4037Matthew COOKE22:16
5652Tony RANDFIELD23:18
8074Toby ECCLESHALL24:00
9385Martin DUDLEY24:34
10192Daniel VILJOEN24:44
142125Ryan DUNNING25:54
150133Matt TUTTON26:00
17922Megan SUTTON27:07
226184Jim BROWN28:52
230187Jay PAPA28:59
232189Nick KLEANTHOUS29:01
250199Mark BEASLEY29:27
25146Jessica CLARKE29:28
30065Lorraine HILL30:54
339244Steve PLATT32:04
34992Debbie BLANTERN32:21
35699Pamela VILJOEN32:42
385122Annabelle WHITE33:38
398131Samantha SUTTON34:24
423146Caroline CROFT35:12
452161Hannah MANTON36:21
473173Monica SMITHSON37:56
475175Beverley HARLOW38:04
490185Callie CHAPMAN39:26
491294Stephen SMITHSON39:28
492186Sally PHILLIPS39:29
494187Tracy HAYGARTH39:34
506194Karen PALMER40:03
532214Niki PLUMB44:15
538217Nichola DURENT44:48
545308Roger BIGGS48:17
559226Hayley PEACH55:09
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Club News Race Results

BEATING THE BEAST AT BALDOCK

Eight Spartans tamed the Beast.  ADRIAN BUSOLINI got a podium position with third place and a fantastic time of 1 hour 20 minutes 20 seconds on the tough course. 

Adrian on the podium

The Baldock Beast is an undulating multi-terrain half marathon.  THOMAS SAUKA 1:51:12 and JOHN NELMS 1:56:21 also beat two hours. 

Spartan PENNY SCHENKEL ran her first half marathon in 22 years.  She finished in 2:24:20.  

Spartans having fun at the Baldock Beast! – Photo credit Tony Randfield
Position Name Chip Time Comments 
3 ADRIAN BUSOLINI 1:20:20 Podium 
93 THOMAS SAUKA 1:51:12  
120 JOHN NELMS 1:56:21  
162 TIM ROBINSON 2:03:43  
183 CHLOE CHAPMAN 2:07:12  
225 MICHAEL O’KEEFE 2:21:41  
232 JIM BROWN 2:21:24 Final starter 
233 PENNY SCHENKEL 2:24:20  

London Winter 10K 

YUKO GORDON ran the London Winter 10K and was first woman 70 plus with 46 minutes 16 seconds.  Yuko said there were nearly 20,000 participants but it was very well organised, even down to avoiding the chaos of long toilet queues.  The course was interesting passing many London landmarks and easy to run with no traffic.  The 5 degrees start was cold and it took her a couple of kilometres until she felt slightly less frozen. 

In the same race MATTHEW NEWTON finished in 43:53; KEITH HOOKER in 44:42 which was a new PB for him, DANIELLA PETRIANNI in 56:44; PAUL SHELLEY in 57:49 and ALISON SHELLEY in 57:50. 

Yuko, The Shelley’s and Matthew

Brighton Half Marathon 

Despite a brutal headwind in the last 5 kilometres ANN TRYSSESOONE finished the Brighton Half Marathon in 2 hours 2 minutes 33 seconds. 

Ann on Ann Street after finishing the half!

Serpentine 5K 

Sunny but chilly with a medium breeze at Friday’s Serpentine 5K in Hyde Park.  Spartan JIM BROWN was 197th in 27:20.  The next Serpie 5K will be on Friday 22nd March, a week earlier than might be expected to avoid Good Friday. 

Parkrun 24th February 

For the Consolidate Results please click the link