St Albans Easter 10K

A GOOD FRIDAY FOR A FAST RUN

Twenty two Spartans, 16 women and six men enjoyed a great morning at the St Albans Easter 10K at St Albans on Good Friday.

A lovely morning helped bring were some fantastic results for Fairlands Valley including SIMON JACKSON fourth out of 968 with 35 minutes 14 seconds (35:14) which got him second man 45 plus.

Another top ten runner was CHARLIE WHITE at eighth with a new personal best (PB) of 36:17.

CHARLES ARNOLD ran his fastest ever time as a Spartan, a season’s best (SB) of 43:47 and second man 65 plus.

There was a three second improvement for GEORGIE HOOPER taking her to a new PB of 44:54 and ANNABELLE WHITE ran a new PBPB “post baby personal best” of 48:16.

Her first time in Spartans stripes for ages SU McANENY went to set a benchmark and finished with a two second PB, 48:43.

PENNY SCHENKEL improved by 4 minutes 13 seconds to 1:00:06 and JIM BROWN by 1:06 this year to 54:39 which lifted him to second man 70 plus.

SAM GENTRY knocked five minutes off her PB and finished in 1:02:18.

Running her first official 10K since 2023 JANE WADEY finished in a season’s best 1:23:24.

SHARON CROWLEY said it was unexpectedly warm but she finished in 1:04:21.

Pos	Name	Time
4	Simon JACKSON	35:14
8	Charlie WHITE	36:17
18	Nick GILL	38:03
64	Ross GALLAGHER	41:00
116	Charles ARNOLD	43:47
130	Georgie HOOPER	44:54
196	Marie COLUCCI	48:42
201	Annabelle WHITE	48:16
217	Susan MCANENY	48:43
374	Jim BROWN	54:39
575	Penny SCHENKEL	1:00:06
596	Nikki NATION	1:01:14
656	Megan SUTTON	1:03:09
688	Sam GENTRY	1:02:18
756	Sharon CROWLEY	1:04:21
772	Liz CARVELL	1:05:50
828	Samantha SUTTON	1:10:12
846	Callie CHAPMAN	1:09:25
908	Sally PHILLIPS	1:14:12
921	Rose SUTTON	1:16:27
944	Rebecca RAYNER	1:19:46
961	Jane WADEY	1:23:24

A Big Win For Kristian

Spartan KRISTIAN ATANASOV won the Tarnovo Ultra 51K trail race in Bulgaria which was based in the city of Veliko Tarnovo. It was an incredible race with lots of mud and great competition. Only 30 seconds separated the top three. This was a new personal best on this course by Kristian. A 37 minute improvement from 5 hours 25 minutes in 2024 to 4:48:32 and winning in 2025. It earnt him about 400 euros worth of prizes.

Ibiza Marathon

JAY PAPA was 76^th out of 1,042 finishers in the recent Ibiza Marathon with his time of 3 hours 22 minutes 21 seconds (3:22:21). JESSICA CLARKE finished in 4:16:11.

Norfolk Marathon

Spartan ROB WRIGHT ran the Norfolk Marathon. With a start and finish overlooking the sea in Cromer he finished in 4:07:12 and was 167^th out of about 500 runners.

Parkrun Highlights – Saturday 19^th April

Dozens of Spartans ran in the 397^th Stevenage parkrun which attracted 574 finishers. The Spartan highlights included DAVID HARRIS- CHERGUIT second in 19 minutes 31 seconds; JOHN HARRIS ran his milestone 100^th parkrun in 21:14; PETE COOK another personal best, this time 24:31; FIONA CLARKE ran her 220^th parkrun in 29:22; NICK KLEANTHOUS his 240^th in 32:01; LLOYD DIAS finished his 40^th in 52:16 and PENNY SCHENKEL was an Easter bunny in 34:02.

EASTER WEEKEND RACING!

Fantastic! Fairlands Valley Spartan Yuko Gordon WON her age group, women 70 plus, and broke the British record by nearly half a minute in the Maidenhead 10 miles race on Good Friday.

Her chip time of 74:08 easily won her category and her “gun time” (used officially) of 74:20 broke the 10 mile record which had been held by Angela Copson since 2017.

The race was very well organised and marshals were friendly and efficient like Spartans. The car park was big enough to accommodate everyone and was just next to race HQ and the start/finish area. All in one place.

Yuko said, “The course was generally flat and fast but the inevitable nature of country lanes came with uneven surfaces (not ideal for my air pumped up Nike high heel shoes i.e. alpha fly… every chance of tripping) and water puddles in some part. Even pacing didn’t work and my pace varied from 7 minutes to nearly 8 minutes each mile. I hurtled down the slight down hill between miles 5 and 6; the hop and step side to side over the wet puddles on the pavement section was the slowest mile before coming back into the last mile, the fastest at 6:58.”

NICK GILL excelled with a new personal best (PB) by nearly three minutes and his first time under 40 minutes with 38 minutes 10 seconds. He was 34^th overall. Nick’s previous PB was 41:07 at the St Albans Mid Week League race in St Albans in May 2022.

JIM BROWN was a little slower than he’d like but 56:51 was good enough for second in his category. LIZ CARVELL came back in 64:05. This was her first race since 29^th December 2019, before lockdown. She said it was a flat course but slightly uphill near the end of the Alban Way. She was happy with her time.

There was a big cheer for NICHOLA DURENT when she finished in 83 minutes exactly. Nichola said it was nice to have sun and not rain and mud like Lee Valley a couple of weeks ago.

Nichola with the ultimate finishing prize – Ice cream!! (Photo Credit – Keith Fenwick)

Beaconsfield 5 Cross Country

WENDY THARANI said the Beaconsfield 5 Cross Country was beautiful, very wet and very muddy. It was really well organised by Burnham Joggers, with loads of friendly marshals standing about in the pouring rain. An absolutely stunning route in the grounds of the Hall Barn Estate. She really enjoyed it. Wendy ran the five miles in 50 minutes 12 seconds.

Parkrun Highlights

For the Parkrun results please click the link – Consolidated Parkrun Results 8th April 2023

A Big Win For Kristian

Ibiza Marathon

Norfolk Marathon

Parkrun Highlights – Saturday 19th April