Tag: Marston Forest 5k

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News Race Results

POSH 20/20

Very Posh for the 20/20.  Thought you saw some very posh people running around Stevenage on Thursday evening?  Yes you did.  Fairlands Valley Spartans organised their 20/20 run but with a difference.  It raised £550 for the EDS Ehlers-Dandos Support UK charity and everyone was encouraged to dress posh – so trainers but also fascinators; gowns; top hats; dinner jackets.  That’s the posh bit.  20/20?  Everyone started on Gunnels Wood Road and ran for 20 minutes towards the football club and Broadwater.  Wherever you got after 20 minutes, and, of course, that varied turn round and run for 20 minutes back again.

A Little Birthday Run

NICK GILL ran the St Albans Half Marathon for the first time on Sunday – using the undulating course for a marathon training session.  He loved the race atmosphere and the free ice lolly after, coming in at 1:38:22.  Nick was 241st.

The St Albans Half Marathon was a little birthday run for JIM BROWN.  Up and down those hills.  He kept a little back for the rest of his birthday and came third in his category on chip time and finished in 2:07:32.

There were 2,254 finishers in the half.

PENNY SCHENKEL ran the 10K which shared much of the same course as the half marathon.  Penny went round in 1:07:32.  She was 241st out of the 642 finishers.

Spartans Start the Spine Race

Spartans raced from 0.1 to 432 kilometres in the last few days.

Some Spartans are tackling the UK’s most brutal race.  The Montane Spine 2026.

Jodie Kansas started from Edale on Saturday morning taking on the Challenger South, a 108 mile race from Edale to Hawes with a time limit of 60 hours.  She was first woman in just 31 hours, only an hour outside the record, and fourth overall.

Unfortunately John Nelms had a fall after 50 miles and had to withdraw.

Darren Wilby was starting on Sunday morning in the full 268 mile Spine race from Edale to Kirk Yetholm in Scotland which has a time limit of seven days.

Marston Forest 5K

JAY PAPA ran a massive personal best (PB) at the Marston Forest 5K on Friday evening.  His new best time is 17:48.

In the same event CHARLIE ARNOLD ran 23:27.

ANDY SHAW came in with 20:43 and SUZY HAWKINS with 22:36.  Suzy said it was a lovely event followed by a BBQ.

TONY RANSFIELD finished in 21:24 and NIKKI NATION in 33:18.

The popular event was organised by Ampthill & Flitwick Flyers.

Mid Week

The next Mid Week League race will be in Harlow on Wednesday evening 17th June.  After two races the Spartans are mid-table but some of the margins are tight so they could move up in races three and four.

Spartan women lead Track and Field League plus success in championships

After two meetings the Spartan women are leading the west division of the EMAC (Eastern Masters) league with 185 points compared with second placed Corby / Northampton on 157. 

The Spartan men are third on 177 chasing Marshall Milton Keynes who are on 264.5.

Following on from their recent league match, several Fairlands Valley Spartans members took part in the Eastern Masters Track & Field Championships on Sunday at the Sandy Athletics Track.  In lovely summer conditions were perfect for many season’s bests.

On the track, the sprints saw Ian Rawlinson in the Men over 55 age group take Gold in both 100 metres and 200 metres.  In the over 60 age group, Steve Mayfield took Silver in the 100m & Dave Stephenson took Bronze in the 100m & Silver in the 200m.  Tessa Stephenson also took Gold in both 100 & 200m in the Women over 65 age group.

Sharon Crowley finished off the Track events winning Gold in the 1500 metres for Women over 65.

In the field events, Joylyn Saunders-Mullins won Silver in the over 70 Women’s Hammer & Gold in the Javelin.  Husband Tim managed a Bronze in the Hammer & Silver in the Shot Putt.  Steve Mayfield also took Silver in the Javelin and was 4th in the Long Jump & 6th in the Discus.

1,000,000 parkruns – Parkrun Highlights

Parkrun achieved an incredible milestone on Saturday.  Its one millionth event since parkrun started in 2004.  Many Spartans celebrated by completing a parkrun in Stevenage or elsewhere.

In Stevenage which has just celebrated 10 years there were 559 finishers.

Dozens of Spartans joined in the Stevenage including MEGAN SUTTON the fastest female from Fairlands with a new parkrun personal best of 23:59; ZOE JACKSON was second with 26 minutes exactly (26:00) and BRONYA BROWN third in 27:34.

New member SAMUEL PAUL was third with a new parkrun personal best of 17:20.  GRANT RAMSAY and JAY PAPA both beat 20 minutes with 19:19 and 19:39.

PositionGender PositionFVS parkrunnerTime
33Samuel PAUL17:20
1817Grant RAMSAY19:19
2120Jay PAPA19:39
4543Danny SCANLON21:46
4644Toby ECCLESHALL21:49
8577Lee PICKERSGILL23:36
937Megan SUTTON23:59
133116Daniel VILJOEN25:31
139122Brian WHITE25:42
144126Matt CLARKE25:47
147129Paul SHELLEY25:53
148130Peter SACH25:54
14915Zoe JACKSON26:00
156136Paul MAGUIRE26:05
19831Bronya BROWN27:34
19932Fiona CLARKE27:35
21336Samantha SUTTON27:46
25453Alison SHELLEY28:50
255196Ryan DUNNING28:51
26457Lorraine HILL29:04
289213Jim BROWN29:39
31376Sarah ILLINGWORTH30:18
32882Julie SHADBOLT30:36
342241Steve TINSLEY30:49
347243Steve PLATT30:56
390114Debbie BLANTERN32:45
402268Nick KLEANTHOUS32:59
409271Keith MANTON33:08
418129Pamela VILJOEN33:30
437138Angie KEELING34:52
449149Hannah MANTON35:34
491299Michael O’KEEFE39:30
497301Lloyd DIAS40:09
556214Carolyn LINSELL58:47
559217Sharon CROWLEY58:59

Here Come the Relays in the Park – Almost Full

The 33rd FVS Relays in the Park are nearly full.  They will be at 7.15p.m. on Thursday 16th July.  Each leg is three kilometres and teams will consist of four runners.  The event incorporates the Hertfordshire AARC (County) Senior & Veteran Championships

Below is the link for teams to enter.  All entries must be completed 24 hours before the event; there will be no entries on the night.  There is capacity for 150 teams.  138 entries (552 people) had been received at the time of writing so don’t delay if you want to run.

https://my.raceresult.com/390611/registration

This is a great event to run and a great event to watch.  It’s possible to see runners twice on each stage.

Categories
News Race Results

LOADSA SPARTANS AT MID WEEKS

There were 609 runners in race one of this season’s Mid Week Road Race League which was held in Stevenage on Wednesday 28th May and 87 of them were from Fairlands Valley Spartans.  16 clubs took part so that’s fantastic participation by FVS.

The Spartan men and Spartan women were both second in the Division Two race.  Overall the club were equal first on points.  That’s a great start to the series.

GEORGIE HOOPER was second in her category with 44:34, MARIE COLUCCI was second in hers with 46:01 and OLIVIA LACIGOVA fourth in hers with 44:59.  MEGAN SUTTON ran a new personal best of 54:57, amazing on that course.  Women’s “A” teams consisted of eight runners and the Spartans had a total of 35 female runners.

SIMON FRASER was sixth overall with 34:22.  DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT was tenth man and third in his category with 35:27.  RALPH DADSWELL was fastest man 60 plus with 39:45.  Men’s “A” teams consisted of 12 runners and the Spartans had a total of 52 male runners.

In addition FVS won the veteran women’s competition and won the veterans combined men and women event.

Then there was another tremendous turnout from Fairlands Valley Spartans at the Watford midweek race on Wednesday 4th June.  Sixty three ran the away event.  When the results are published FVS should be near the top of the table after two events in the series of four.

The next league race will be in Ware on Thursday evening 12th June.

Super Six at St Albans Half

The St Albans Half Marathon will never be flat but at least the Spartans Super Six who raced were spared the scorching temperatures common on this event in recent years.

SIMON HAIGH was first in for FVS with 1 hour 48 minutes 2 seconds.  JIM BROWN improved his best time for this year by 19 seconds with 2 hours 3 minutes 34 seconds (2:03:34) and after some serious acceleration and tactical stuff in the last mile got third male over 70 by seven seconds.  So a former Mayor of Stevenage beat a former Mayor of St Albans by seven seconds.  Tony from St. Albans is five weeks younger.  All good entertainment.

Next Spartan in was MATT TUTTON with 2:07:17 with SUE HAMER running 2:07:33.  Soon SARAH ILLINGWORTH was pushing for the line and 2:12:27.  PENNY SCHENKEL said she enjoyed the hills and ran in with 2:23:28.

There were 2,162 finishers.

PB Georgie at Hitchin Half

Spartan GEORGIE HOOPER ran a great new personal best at the Hitchin Half Marathon.  Remembering the event’s nickname of the Hitchin Hard Half and all those hills 1:40:38 was very good going.  She was third in her category.

ADRIAN DONNELLY was 13th out of the 192 runners with 1:31:59.

Ultra Hannah

Spartan HANNAH MANTON completed 10 laps at Endure24 (80km/50miles)!

She said the trail course was muddier than any football pitch she’d ever played on.

Hannah finished the ten five mile laps in Wasing Park, Reading in 23 hours 46 minutes 2 seconds.  1142 completed the event.

JESSICA CLARKE and JAY PAPA were part of a team of four “Jays Gems” at ENDURE24!

They managed 27 laps (135 miles) as a team of four, constantly having someone out on the course.  Jay and Jess both smashed out 7 laps (35 miles) each! 

Jess said this is such a physical challenge but also a huge mental challenge, running through the night in the pitch black, doubling up to 10 mile laps so your team gets more rest takes a lot of determination!

Despite the rain, mud and the yellow weather warning, we had an insane weekend of running! Bring on 2026

Penny Spartan of the Month

The mug for Spartan of the Month (SOTM) for May has been awarded to PENNY SCHENKEL.

Penny was Mayoress of Stevenage for 2024 to 2025 and attended over 200 civic commitments along with continuing her normal ‘day job’.

Despite last year’s disappointment with a stress fracture and having to defer her London Marathon place she got on with preparing to run this year.

Penny ended up running one of the most sensible races enjoying every step and wore her Spartan stripes with pride!

Her stripes caught the eye of lots of photographers meaning she had a big beaming smile, an appearance on TV and even gave a little jig on the finish line!

Marston Vale Forest 5K

CHARLIE ARNOLD ran Friday evening’s Marston Forest 5K in 21:05.

Tewin 10K

HAZEL SMITH said she had a lovely day out in Tewin.  She took exactly 65 minutes for a very hilly 10K route.

Meanwhile MICHAEL FISHER was fourth in the event in 42:07; TONY RANDFIELD came in with 54:20; SUSAN McANENY with 58:26; ANDY JAY with 1:09:04 and CALLIE CHAPMAN with 1:18:15.  Su said she enjoyed it a lot and was third in her age category.  There were 140 finishers. 

JANE WADEY ran the Tewin 5K in 38:48.  She said she booked the run last minute on Saturday, not having done a Trail 5k before.  Was a bit nervous but it was a lovely setting and very low key which helped settle my anxiety.  She watched the 10k runners go and then about five minutes later it was our turn.  There were some costumes including a unicorn which kept stopping at first, laces etc.  It was a different course to the 10k although there was one bit they ran same as me and then another bit which was very steep up for me but straight downhill for them.

She was really pleased when she realised she had a chance of beating her Saturday park run result which she did by 30 seconds and then waited for the 10k runners to finish.

Swansea

MARIE COLUCCI ran the Swansea half marathon on Sunday.  Despite a fuelling error she was pleased with her time of 1.45.40 on tired legs.  She said there were beautiful views along the course!

Parkrun Highlights – Saturday 31st May and Saturday 7th June.

The 627 runners at Stevenage on 31st May included 30 from Fairlands Valley Spartans running club.

MEGAN SUTTON ran a new parkrun personal best of 25 minutes 12 seconds and ROSEMARY ONABAWORIN improved to 41:59.

Spartans took first and fourth at the Panshanger parkrun on 31st May with ANDREW PATTERSON in 17:09 and SIMON JACKSON in 18:23.

Then there were 526 finishers at the Stevenage parkrun on 7th June.  First Saturday of the Month so a stripey day for Fairlands Valley Spartans which brought out 38 runners from the club.

JESS CLARKE, 30:41 and JAY PAPA 30:44 both ran Newbury parkrun.

Categories
Club News Race Results

Spartans in Chingford Mid Week League

 

34 Spartans made the difficult early evening journey to Chingford for the third in the series of Mid Week League road races. 

This was on a tough six mile course in Epping Forest.  SIMON JACKSON was third veteran and 12th overall in 34 minutes 58 seconds; PETE SMITH first man 60 plus in 43:52 and TONY RANDFIELD third in 44:42. 

This time MICHELLE REEVES was the fastest woman for FVS with 44:24 and MARIE COLUCCI second with 47:51.  ABBIE PEZ was third woman under 20 with 54:08. 

Speedies in the forest.

CAROLYN LINSELL was second woman 65 plus with 62:24 and CATHY CRAIG third with 66:50. 

There were 15 Spartan women and 19 men.  The fourth and final counting race in the 2022 Mid Week Road Race series will be in Trent Park, north London at 7.45p.m. on Thursday 30th June 

All smiles happy to of accomplished ‘The Hill!’

(For all 34 Spartan times and positions please see the table near the end of this release) 

Hot and Hilly in St Albans 

It was hot and hilly for the St Albans Half Marathon. 

Spartan JOHN HARRIS was second man 60 plus and 130th out of the 1,600 finishers in 1 hour 34 minutes 16 seconds. 

MATT CLARKE came in at 1:43:27 and FIONA CLARKE 2:07:12. 

CHLOE CHAPMAN said it was a really well organised event, although there were some big hills the route was beautiful.  The ice lolly at the end was much needed.  She finished in 2:14:19. 

John and The Clarkes with their medals after a hot half

JIM BROWN was taken ill during the race but did eventually finish in 2 hours 35 minutes exactly. 

JANE WADEY ran the 5K at St Albans.  She came in with 33:53.  She said she found it a bit hard, as it was very hilly which she hadn’t anticipated and also hot but it was the first actual chip-timed race she has done. 

ROGER BIGGS completed the 5K in 49:29. 

Adrian Busolini – Grand Trail du Saint Jacques (GTSJ) 

The awesome Adrian!

ADRIAN BUSOLINI raced the 74 kilometres Grand Trail du Saint Jacques in France.  One of the UTMB (Ultra Trail) World Series events there were 3.2 kilometres of climbing.  He was 23rd in 9 hours 34 minutes 55 second.  Here’s his story: 

The first half of the race wends its way up and down the hillsides rising from the Allier river, which are plastered with dense forest: a vibrant, dark green carpet so uncommon in England, which has been almost entirely deforested.  Frequently steep, dry and slippery, poles are highly recommended on these trails. 

Starting right at the back of the first wave after getting confused by the (lack of) instructions in Monistrol, within minutes I was stuck in queues at the base of the first single track ascent. It was painfully apparent I had a gargantuan challenge on my hands to try to forge a path through, and the narrow trails in the first half of GTSJ make it a very tough course to do that. After some 30-40 or so km I had managed to clear the slower part of the field, just as the temperature rose to around 30C – but now I had to push on, and start making up time, as opposed to just places.  

50K is where the course peaks, and it’s mostly a gradual downhill thereafter, with the hilly, forested landscape making way for sweeping plains and fields. I was starting to run low on food and water, and was rationing supplies, daring not to stop at any of the public water spots alongside my fellow runners so as not to lose any more time (having been joined by marathon and 32K competitors at this point, the course was, again, fairly crowded). 

As I dehydrated and cooked out in the unshaded plains, passing runner after runner stationary and bent double over their poles, I kept my eye out for the iconic symbols of Le Puy en Velay, where the race concluded: the chapel of St Michael perched incredibly atop its own extinct volcano, and the imposing terracotta statue of Mary and child similarly overlooking the city.  I did not spot them until I descended into the streets of the city itself, when I cranked into another gear and pushed on through a surprisingly good crowd up the final climb to the cathedral, a stunning location for the finish. 

An important lesson for future trail races: don’t hang around in reception venues waiting for instructions, or presume where the start is. Get yourself to that start line early. Recovering from a back of the pack start can be non-trivial. 

That said, 23rd place in a “by UTMB” race – I’ll happily take that. 

Over the Sea to Skye 

STEVE DOBNER and DAVID PATTMAN completed the Isle of Skye half in 2:01.59. 

The weather was against them – 50mph wind, sideways rain and hail.  With an elevation gain of 368 metres, it’s definitely a challenging course but also an amazing experience. 

Steve and Dave still smiling through the rain after completing their race!

British Masters Steeplechase Silver 

It was SILVER for GRANT RAMSAY in the British Masters Steeplechase Championship in Derby. 

Over 3,000 metres he was second man 50 plus with 12 minutes 50 seconds. 

Tony in the Forest 

Spartan TONY RANDFIELD won the men over 60 (MV60) award at the Marston Forest 5K on Friday.  He finished in 20 minutes 46 seconds and was 62nd out of the 341 finishers. 

Hampshire Hoppit 

TONY RANDFIELD and ROB WRIGHT ran the Hampshire Hoppit trail marathon.  They kept together to finish in a moving time of 4 hours 45 minutes 10 seconds. 

Tony and Rob rehydrating post race.

Parkrun Highlights Saturday 11th June 

Eighteen Fairlands Valley Spartans ran in Parkrun events on Saturday morning. 

Mark GOODWIN ran a PB time of 22 minutes and 54 seconds on the Stevenage course.  Alongside Stuart ARCHER who finished the course 3rd overall in 19 minutes and 36 seconds and Jim BROWN who won his age category in 26 minutes and 55 seconds.   

Visits to new courses were completed by, Michael O’KEEFE on the Armley course in 30:17, and Tracy HAYGARTH at Fell Foot, Newby Bridge in 34:40. 

Parkrunners in the sun!

Tables 

Midweek Road Race League Division 1 – Race 3 – Chingford 6 miles – Wednesday 8th June 

Position Gender Pos Cat Vet Name Surname Time Cat. M/F Comments  
12 12 3 3 Simon Jackson 34:58 V 40 M 3rd Vet 
24 24     Adrian Busolini 36:21 S M   
39 39     Simon Fraser 37:38 S M   
85 78     Mike Jeffs 40:50 S M   
86 79     Ross Gallagher 40:51 S M   
90 82     Stuart Archer 41:29 S M   
114 98     Robert Wright 43:23 S M   
121 103 1 56 Pete Smith 43:52 V 60 M 1st MV60 
133 20 9 14 Michelle Reeves 44:24 V 35 F   
140 119 3 71 Tony Randfield 44:42 V 60 M 3rd Vet 60 
161 132 52 84 Grant Ramsay 43:00 V 40 M   
184 149 35 97 Matt Clarke 47:17 V 50 M   
194 38 13 26 Marie Colucci 47:51 V 35 F   
209 164     David Kennedy 48:41 S M   
216 169 7 113 Mark Goodwin 49:12 V 60 M   
223 48 17 34 Tracy Pez 49:31 V 45 F   
232 176 42 119 Darren Emmerson 50:00 V 50 M   
281 80 3   Abbie Pez 54:08 U 20 F 3rd FU20 
289 205 57 146 Tim Robinson 55:22 V 50 M   
293 208 16 148 Nick Kleanthous 56:01 V 60 M   
296 85 27 64 Wendy Tharani 56:17 V 45 F   
300 88 28 66 Claire Emmerson 56:30 V 45 F   
310 213 63 153 Karl Shreeve 56:28 V 50 M   
312 96     Chloe Chapman 57:57 S F   
313 97 30 73 Vicky Archer 57:46 V 35 F   
331 112 2 88 Carolyn Linsell 62:24 V 65 F 2nd FV65 
338 219 67 159 Michael O’Keefe 64:05 V 50 M   
339 117 32 93 Ada Janusiene 64:07 V 35 F   
341 119 39 95 Jenny Garrett 64:14 V 45 F   
342 120 23 96 Monica Smithson 65:14 V 55 F   
346 124 4 100 Cathy Craig 66:50 V 65 F 4th FV65 
350 127 25 103 Sharon Crowley 69:12 V 55 F   
352 221 68 161 Jonathan Jones 70:19 V 50 M   
353 129 33 105 Callie Chapman 70:31 V 35 F   

15 women.  19 men. 

Spartans at parkruns 11th June 

Parkrun Position Gender Position Parkrunner Time 
Stevenage 3 3 Stuart ARCHER 00:19:35 
  26 26 Mark GOODWIN 00:22:54 
  39 37 Matt CLARKE 00:24:23 
  41 39 Toby ECCLESHALL 00:24:37 
  54 50 James MCSWEENEY 00:25:07 
  93 77 Jim BROWN 00:26:55 
  94 16 Nicola ANDERSSON 00:26:56 
  102 18 Fiona CLARKE 00:27:43 
  115 22 Andrea WESTCOTT 00:28:17 
  122 94 Kartik SHARMA 00:28:45 
  160 49 Chloe CHAPMAN 00:31:47 
  191 119 David SCOTT 00:35:37 
          
Wimpole Estate 264 108 Mo WARRILLOW 00:38:34 
          
Fell Foot, Newby Bridge 183 74 Tracy HAYGARTH 00:34:40 
          
Letchworth 27 25 Paul MAGUIRE 00:24:09 
          
Armley 81 53 Michael O’KEEFE 00:30:17