St Albans

There were medals of all colours for Fairlands Valley Spartans at the second in the series of Hatfield 5K races which included the county championships for veterans. ASHLEY JOHNSON won GOLD in the women 35 plus category with 18:56; ALISON WOOD won GOLD in the women 55 plus with 20:53; YUKO GORDON won SILVER in the women 65 plus with 22:19 and the men’s team of JONATHAN PARR (16:40); MIKE JEFFS (17:49); ROSS GALLAGHER (17:56) and GRANT RAMSAY (18:27) won team BRONZE.

22 Spartans ran and there were five new personal bests (PBs) – ROSS GALLAGHER by 35 seconds; PAUL SHELLEY by 11 seconds to 18:31; ASHLEY JOHNSON by 14 seconds; MATT TUTTON by 47 seconds to 22:53 and MEGAN SUTTON took another 22 seconds off her PB from only a week earlier with 26:48. ANDREA WESTCOTT equalled her previous PB of 25:53.

16 of the Spartans who ran in the first race of the series improved on those times including HAZEL SMITH by 2:08 to 25:02; JIM BROWN by 2:01 to 26:54; PAUL HOLGATE by 1:42 to 32:07; JANE WADEY by 1:27 to 35:06 and SHARON CROWLEY by 1:21 to 29:08.

The next Hatfield 5K race is this Wednesday evening 11^th September.

Pos	MF	AG	BiB	Name	Cat	Time	Grade	Comments
11	10	4	2200	Jonathan PARR	MV40	16:40	81.1 %	Team Bronze
32	29	12	3991	Mike JEFFS	MV40	17:49	75.8 %	Team Bronze
36	32	14	4400	Ross GALLAGHER	MV40	17:56	75.8 %	Team Bronze (PB 0:35)
55	50	8	5129	Grant RAMSAY	MV50	18:27	80.1 %	Team Bronze
58	52	9	3985	Paul SHELLEY	MV50	18:31	81.7 %	PB (0:11)
70	7	1	3993	Ashley JOHNSON	FV35	18:56	81.9 %	GOLD (F35; PB 0:14)
87	77	34	4517	Mark COLLINS	MV40	19:28	72.1 %
114	21	1	4464	Alison WOOD	FV55	20:53	85.4 %	GOLD (F55)
142	33	2	4249	Yuko GORDON	FV65	22:19	98.0 %	SILVER (F65)
165	123	52	4354	Matt TUTTON	MV40	22:53	58.4 %	PB (0:47)
166	43	10	5116	Marie COLUCCI	FV45	22:57	68.8 %
180	128	27	2202	John NELMS	MV50	23:45	63.2 %
200	63	16	4350	Hazel SMITH	FV45	25:02	64.8 %	2:08 Imp.
210	141	17	5127	Andy JAY	MV60	26:04	60.5 %
212	70	18	4383	Andrea WESTCOTT	FV45	25:53	64.9 %	=PB
216	72	19	4495	Megan SUTTON	FS	26:48	54.2 %	PB (0:22)
218	146	7	4396	Jim BROWN	MV70	26:54	65.6 %	2:01 Imp
237	86	8	4570	Sharon CROWLEY	FV65	29:08	67.5 %	1:21 Imp
244	91	22	2199	Monica SMITHSON	FV55	30:56	58.2 %
246	155	20	4348	Paul HOLGATE	MV60	32:07	52.3 %	1:42 Imp
251	92	21	4589	Samantha SUTTON	FV45	33:15	48.4 %
256	96	24	4367	Jane WADEY	FV55	35:06	50.8 %	1:21 Imp

Bedford Festival of Running

Several Spartans ran a half marathon or 20 miles at the Bedford Festival of Running. Despite a thunderstorm and some long sections of cross country, particularly near the end of the race, many got some really good times.

ANDY PRIOR said, “Myself and Kerstin ran Bedford Half Marathon today, a mixture of Road and trail which was a bit treacherous in the last two miles.

Luckily they were giving alcohol free beer to all finishers which helped with the wait to get away from venue!!!”

Andy finished in 1:43:06 and Kerstin in 1:57:12.

JIM BROWN needed a 13 mile training run and he got it with 2:02:19 for the 13.1, good enough for third in category, and CONOR ECCLESTON came in with 2:41:41.

Half – 869 finishers

Position	Name	Time	Age	Pace	Comments
125	ANDREW PRIOR	1:43:06	50-59	4:53 m / km
346	KERSTIN PRIOR	1:57:12	50-59	5:33 m /km
450	JIM BROWN	2:02:19	70-79	5:47 m / km	3^rd MV70
826	CONOR ECCLESTON	2:41:41	20-29	7:39 m /km

20 – 298 finishers

CRAIG BACON said “20 miles for me at Bedford and finished in 2:44:56. This was a milestone run in preparation for the Stevenage Marathon in six weeks time.

The plan was to run the first seven miles at a steady 9 minute/mile pace, then run the next 7 at 8:30 pace and the final 6 miles at target marathon pace of 8 minutes/mile. Loved the first 7 miles despite the thunderstorm. Nice and easy. Second 7 I discovered that I can’t run at 8:30 pace and ended up with most of it at 8:15 minutes/mile. Last 6 was a slog, including a fair portion of it being off road and muddy due to the earlier rain. However, I managed to be on pace or under for 5 or 6 miles.

Final result was a 13 minute PB (although I’ve only run 1 other 20 mile race, which was 13 years ago). Very happy. Two more big weeks of training and then it’s downhill all the way to marathon day.”

ROSS GALLAGHER was the fastest from Fairlands at 28^th out of the 298 finishers, top ten per cent, and pretty much spot on three hour marathon pace with 6:52 per min.

He was followed by PAUL SHELLEY 2:39:30; Craig, SAMANTH TOPHILL 3:05:57 and ALISON SHELLEY 3:33:53.

Position	Name	Time	Pace	Comments
28	ROSS GALLAGHER	2:17:24	6:52 min/mile
78	PAUL SHELLEY	2:39:30	7:58 min/mile
98	CRAIG BACON	2:44:56	8:14 min/mile	PB
154	SAMANTHA TOPHILL	3:05:57	9:17 min/mile
246	ALISON SHELLEY	3:33:53	10:41 min/mile

5K / 10K

On Saturday JAY PAPA ran the Bedford 5K race in 19:07 and was 11^th out of the 350 finishers. CHARLES ARNOLD ran the Bedford Twilight 10k in 47:22.

Tremendous Trio at the Great North Run.

The biggest half marathon and three Spartans were at the Great North Run with MIKE JEFFS running an excellent 1 hour 23 minutes 54 seconds (1:23:54 and 587^th); CHRIS WATLING 1:57:20 (13,305^th) and SARAH ILLINGWORTH 2:14:24 (23,856^th). There were 60,000 runners. Mike said, ”The crowds, the atmosphere was electric throughout the whole race even with it hammering it down with rain.”

St Albans Stampede

Karen Liddle and Tricia Hopper took part in the St Albans Stampede 2024; a 12 hour endurance challenge on Saturday 7 September 2024, starting at 9am.

The route is 4.01 miles around Heartwood Forest, Wheathampstead, over varying off road terrain. Karen completed 9 laps (36 miles – 1st female in her age category) and Tricia completed 11 laps (44 miles – 2nd female in her age category) in 10 hrs.56 mins.

A thoroughly enjoyable day with perfect weather conditions, great support from the volunteers and friendly atmosphere

Inter Area Championships

YUKO GORDON represented Eastern Masters at the England Masters Athletics Association Inter Area Championships at Corby on Saturday 7th. She ran 400m, 800m and 1500m and came second in all of them. Eastern Masters won overall championship along with women’s and men’s trophies. Teams came from nine regions including Scotland and Wales.

Round The Garden

JOHN HARRIS did the Run around the Garden 5K in Letchworth.

He was second man 60 plus and 24^th in the race with 21:21.

NIKKI NATION won her category with 31:25. There were three other Spartans – BRIAN WHITE 22:58; KEITH ABRAHAM 27:27 and NICK GILL 31:26.

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 12^th 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.

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 30^th 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 130^th 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)

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 23^rd 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 62^nd 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.

Parkrun Highlights Saturday 11^th 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.

Tables

Midweek Road Race League Division 1 – Race 3 – Chingford 6 miles – Wednesday 8^th 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 11^th 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