Tag: St Albans Half

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 241^st.

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 241^st 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 17^th 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 4^th in the Long Jump & 6^th 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.

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time
3	3	Samuel PAUL	17:20
18	17	Grant RAMSAY	19:19
21	20	Jay PAPA	19:39
45	43	Danny SCANLON	21:46
46	44	Toby ECCLESHALL	21:49
85	77	Lee PICKERSGILL	23:36
93	7	Megan SUTTON	23:59
133	116	Daniel VILJOEN	25:31
139	122	Brian WHITE	25:42
144	126	Matt CLARKE	25:47
147	129	Paul SHELLEY	25:53
148	130	Peter SACH	25:54
149	15	Zoe JACKSON	26:00
156	136	Paul MAGUIRE	26:05
198	31	Bronya BROWN	27:34
199	32	Fiona CLARKE	27:35
213	36	Samantha SUTTON	27:46
254	53	Alison SHELLEY	28:50
255	196	Ryan DUNNING	28:51
264	57	Lorraine HILL	29:04
289	213	Jim BROWN	29:39
313	76	Sarah ILLINGWORTH	30:18
328	82	Julie SHADBOLT	30:36
342	241	Steve TINSLEY	30:49
347	243	Steve PLATT	30:56
390	114	Debbie BLANTERN	32:45
402	268	Nick KLEANTHOUS	32:59
409	271	Keith MANTON	33:08
418	129	Pamela VILJOEN	33:30
437	138	Angie KEELING	34:52
449	149	Hannah MANTON	35:34
491	299	Michael O’KEEFE	39:30
497	301	Lloyd DIAS	40:09
556	214	Carolyn LINSELL	58:47
559	217	Sharon CROWLEY	58:59

Here Come the Relays in the Park – Almost Full

The 33^rd FVS Relays in the Park are nearly full. They will be at 7.15p.m. on Thursday 16^th 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.

Tags EMAC, Marston Forest 5k, Mid Week League, Montane Spine, parkrun, posh 20/20, St Albans Half

News Race Results

LOADSA SPARTANS AT MID WEEKS

Post author By Peter Sach
Post date June 8, 2025
No Comments on 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 28^th 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 4^th 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 12^th 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 13^th 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 31^st May and Saturday 7^th June.

The 627 runners at Stevenage on 31^st 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 31^st May with ANDREW PATTERSON in 17:09 and SIMON JACKSON in 18:23.

Then there were 526 finishers at the Stevenage parkrun on 7^th 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.

Tags Endure24, Hitchin Half, Marston Forest 5k, Mid Week League, parkrun, St Albans Half, Swansea Half, Tewin 10k

Club News Race Results

EMAC SPARTANS CONTINUE TO SOAR!

Post author By Vicky Archer
Post date June 11, 2023
No Comments on EMAC SPARTANS CONTINUE TO SOAR!

The FVS women’s track and field team continued their winning streak in the EMAC (East of England Masters’ Athletics Club) league central division on Wednesday, narrowly beating hosts Cambridge & Coleridge AC by just 3 points! The team were missing a few key people, so everyone stepped up and competed in more events than originally planned, some for the first time! 

FVS took maximum points in the sprint hurdles, with wins from Paula Dunne (W35 – women aged 35 plus) , Monica Brown (W50), and Sharon Crowley (W60+). Paula also won the W35 200 metres, clinching the win in the last few metres, finished 4^th W35 800m, and placed 3^rdin the W35 discus.  Monica Brown won the W50 long jump and W50 high jump, finished 3^rd in W50 javelin, and placed 3^rd in the W50 discus. 

Sharon Crowley dropped down an age group to cover the W50 200m, finishing in 4^th place.  Sharon also finished 2^nd in the A string 1.5km walk. Other points on the night were won by Joylyn Saunders-Mullins (2^nd in the W60 200m, W60 javelin, and W60 discus), Yuko Gordon (2^nd place B string 1.5km walk and 4^th W60 800m), Andrea Westcott (4^th placed W50 800m, 4^th W35 javelin, 4^th W35 long jump, and 2^nd W35 high jump). Sharon Crowley, Yuko Gordon, Paula Dunne, and Andrea Westcott finished the evening 4^th in the W35 4x400m relay.

The men saw an improved performance from last month, with more events covered, and finished in fourth place. Andrew Patterson won the M35 800m and also finished 4^th M35 javelin, managing to get a valid throw at his last attempt.  Anton McCalla returned to the squad, finishing second in M35 long jump, 5^th in M35 200m, and 4^th M35 discus.  Nick Kleanthous finished 5^th M60+ 200m, 3^rd B string 1.5km walk, and 5^th M60+ discus.  Charlie Arnold finished 4^th in the M60+ 800m and M60 javelin.  Michael O’Keefe finished 5th in the A string 1.5km walk, 6^th M50 javelin, 4^th M50 discus, and 5^th M50 long jump.  The men’s relay team finished 5^th.

St Albans Half Marathon

It was approaching 30 degrees as four from Fairlands Valley Spartans tackled the hot and hilly St Albans Half Marathon on Sunday morning.

Jim Brown said, “It’s a good event but a challenging course in the best conditions. This was not the day for running a new fast time. I finished in 2 hours 8 minutes 14 seconds and top half with 810^th out of the 1692 finishers which is not bad considering I was also third veteran aged over 70. Almost 27 minutes quicker than 2022.”

Nicola Andersson said, “The race was hot and hilly.” Nicola came in with 2:28:37.

Spartans LINDA GEORGE and MARTIN JACOB finished in 2:19:43 and 2:20:14.

100 Miles On The South Downs Way

ADRIAN BUSOLINI ran the South Downs Way 100 mile trail event at the weekend. That’s the entire South Downs Way national trail from Winchester to Eastbourne. He was fifth in 18 hours 12 minutes 41 seconds.

Parkrun Saturday 10th June 2023

Please click the link for the Consolidated Results for the 10th June 2023 for all Spartan runners

Tags EMAC, St Albans Half, The South Downs Way