Welwyn Half

Hitchin 5K

Eight Spartans enjoyed Sunday’s Hitchin 5K.

There was a solid run from TERRY SAWYER who finished in 19:52.

SALLY PICKLES was so pleased. Her chip time was 29 minutes and 36 seconds. That’s her PB (personal best) by 23 seconds. Over the moon.

OLI LACIGOVA was the fastest female from Fairlands with 21:29.

It was not to be, not quite, but CHRIS WATLING had hoped to get under 25 minutes. So close, 25:03, but next time.

The quickest Spartans was ANDREW PATTERSON fifth out of the 404 finishers in 17:32.

Pos	Cat	Gen	Name	Cat	Time	Chip
5	2	5	Andrew PATTERSON	M40	17:32	17:32
25	8	25	Terry SAWYER	M40	19:54	19:52
63	22	59	Paul MOULD	M40	21:28	21:20
64	2	5	Oli LACIGOVA	F40	21:31	21:29
157	41	135	Chris WATLING	M30	25:11	25:03
172	46	144	Matt TUTTON	M40	25:39	25:28
269	3	82	Sally PICKLES	F60	29:50	29:36
306	29	109	Calantha CHAPMAN	F40	31:07	30:53

Welwyn Half and 10K

Another weekend, another marathon training run for me – this time including the Welwyn Half Marathon. I did 7 miles before the race, then ran the half at marathon pace – crossing the line in 1:27:36. It was great to feel strong at the end and finish on the track! An added bonus/surprised was a 9th place finish and being first in my age category. NICK GILL.

JIM BROWN said it was just as well he was only trying to see if he could run the 13.1 miles rather than get a spectacular time but it was not what some who might have been trying to get under about two hours might have expected.

There were only 302 half marathon finishers this combined with 170 who started a 10K at the same time.

Sadly the course and the organisation wasn’t really up to it.

However Jim finished in a tired 2:14:14 for second in his category. SIMON SYPULA ran a good steady pace all the way round and came in with 2:11:16.

Filip Bogucki ran a 47:37 in the 10K.

Running Through The Glen

There was a new personal best for CRAIG BACON at the Nottingham Robin Hood Half Marathon. He finished in 1:38:01, an improvement of 71 seconds.

Ealing Half

GERRY ROSEN took part in the Ealing Half on Sunday. He said “there was me thinking a 1000 people or so taking part. How wrong I was, must’ve been in excess of 6/7000 there. It’s lumpy mainly at the beginning with a few “lumps” twists & turns galore.

The support was incredible, lots of bands including the turbanators, a steel band and army cadets, masses of encouragement all within the confines of Ealing and nearby neighbourhoods and all on closed roads (it’s surreal), excellent marked out course ,great Marshalls.

I’ll definitely go back next year and the good thing is, plenty of establishments in the centre of Ealing, obligatory chicken for post show food. And it didn’t rain until after we finished.

On a personal note I managed not to go off stupidly quick, kept the pace sensible, walked the 3 or 4 hills and just a few walks for gel /hydration consumption, a good day at the office , wanted a time under 2h 30.”

He did it in 2:29:51. 4,369 finished the half marathon.

Gerry’s next stop will be the Abingdon Marathon.

New Best in Vitality 10K

There was a new season’s best for CHARLIE ARNOLD in the Vitality London 10K.
He finished in 42:43. That’s an “SB” by over a minute.

Resolution 5K

MATT TUTTON ran the Resolution 5000 on Wednesday night. This edition of the 5k race was held at the track at Westminster Lodge in St Albans. He ran in Wave 1 and finished in 25:08 which is better than his most recent runs. It was a quick field with 26 of the 41 runners running sub 20. Wave 2 and 3 were blink and you miss it races

Yuko Selected

Spartan Yuko GORDON travelled up to Crewe, East Cheshire to run the England Team Selection Race for International Cross Country Team in November in Leeds.

She managed to squeeze into the third place to gain an automatic selection place (top three) over the short 5 km but hilly and tricky farm ground. Yuko said she didn’t, couldn’t run in full effort as she ran the Berlin Marathon only 6 days before and her legs weren’t happy running over long hills yet. Her time was 23:40.

Here Comes The Stevenage Half

Organised by a local community running club, Fairlands Valley Spartans, and with more than 275 entries so far the Stevenage Half Marathon will be on Sunday 19^th October. Entries are open to all aged 17 plus but it will include the Hertfordshire county senior championships.

The two lap course is on tarmac on the town’s famous cycleways. It will include Fairlands Valley Park, Grace Way, the railway station and various points of interest around Stevenage. The event HQ will be at Hampson Park Community Centre.

Each year the event supports a charity. This time it’s the Willow Foundation.

The event is fully licenced, chip timed and with an accurately measured course. It will be held under UKA (United Kingdom Athletics) rules. UKA 29379 with certificate of course accuracy 24/258.

This is the real thing. Fairlands Valley Spartans have organised the Stevenage Marathon and Half Marathon since 1984. There will be dozens of volunteers from FVS and local organisations such as the Scouts.

The Half Marathon race is open to all entrants aged 17 years or older on race day. The course is suitable for racing wheelchairs.

Fairlands Valley Spartans are delighted that SK Plumbing and Heating; ASK Physio; Andy Prior Personal Training; the Alternative Catering Company; and RHG Insurance are sponsoring the half marathon this year.

Please visit https://stevenagehalfmarathon.org.uk/ for more information and to enter. Standard entries are only £30. There’s £2 discount for members of UKA affiliated clubs. Don’t delay enter today.

Last Friday

JIM BROWN went to his usual Last Friday of the Month haunt. The Serpentine 5K in Hyde Park, London. This time to see what happened after recent setbacks. With care and a steady run he got round in 31:47 so well inside the benchmark 35 minutes. Dry, mild, overcast and with a light breeze. This is another run with a café.

Parkrun Highlights – Saturday 27^th September 2025

50 Spartans ran parkruns. 28 were at the 420^th Stevenage parkrun where there were 475 finishers.

LINDSAY PATEMAN ran a new parkrun personal best of 34:23; GRANT RAMSAY his 180^th parkrun in 20:07 and CAROLINE CROFT her 120^th in 34:05.

Another Spartan has enjoyed running round the city walls of Lucca in Italy. Her first run in four months due to injury NIKKI NATION ran the Murra di Lucca parkrun in 32 minutes 18 seconds. She was very happy with that result.

Fairlands Valley Spartans ran at more than twelve parkrun locations on Saturday. Some of them were Thetford- JAY PAPA third in 20:06; Great Denham – MATT GIFFORD in 21:02; Pocket – DARREN EMMERSON in 25:24; Belton House – DANIEL SUTTON in 26:20; Henlow Bridge Lakes – PETER SACH 26:31, JOHN NELMS 27:20, SALLY PICKLES 36:58 and NIKKI PLUMB 41:16; Letchworth – NICK GILL 27:21; Flegg High – SAMANTHA SUTTON in 29:30; Victoria, Glasgow – LORRAINE HILL in 32:07; Bognor Regis – MONICA SMITHSON 32:32 and TRACY HAYGARTH 40:58; Rutland Water – CHRIS HOLLAND in 36:36; Brockenhurst – DARRYL STEVENS in 59:09.

The first Saturday of the month Spartan stripes are this Saturday, 4^th October.

Position	Gender Position	FVS parkrunner	Time
3	3	Simon JACKSON	18:50
13	12	Grant RAMSAY	20:07
30	26	David RIDDELL	21:30
49	44	Lee PICKERSGILL	22:53
68	62	Daniel VILJOEN	23:29
89	82	Martin DUDLEY	24:32
109	10	Annabelle WHITE	25:16
110	98	Charlie WHITE	25:17
153	130	Mark BEASLEY	27:00
176	148	Ryan DUNNING	27:39
181	27	Ann TRYSSESOONE	27:41
183	153	Matt TUTTON	27:42
236	188	Steve TINSLEY	29:19
290	216	Jim BROWN	31:25
298	221	Chris WATLING	31:36
319	232	Matt CLARKE	32:32
321	82	Fiona CLARKE	32:35
334	89	Pamela VILJOEN	33:03
352	99	Caroline CROFT	34:05
357	248	Michael O’KEEFE	34:15
360	105	Lindsay PATEMAN	34:23
413	268	Lloyd DIAS	38:28
416	137	Jenny GARRETT	38:33
417	138	Julie SHADBOLT	38:34
420	141	Jane WADEY	38:39
439	274	Stephen SMITHSON	41:42
441	154	Melody BROWN	42:07
470	171	Callie CHAPMAN	57:23

Cross Country

There was very early, and very sunny, start to the cross country season on Sunday. 34 Spartans, 15 women and 19 men, finished the first of five races which was at the Lucy Warren open space in Hoddesdon.

About 350 runners ran one small and three large laps to cover approximately 7.8 kilometres.

The first two Spartan men were both under 30 minutes with ADRIAN BUSOLINI 15^th in 29:05 and MIKE JEFFS 23^rd in 29:55.

CHLOE SIMPSON and GEORGIE HOOPER were the first two females from Fairlands. Chloe 120^th overall, 13^th woman with 36:05 and Georgie 122^nd, 15^th woman in 36:13. ANITA WELTZ was 34^th woman in 39:08.

Spartans in top third of the eighteen teams. They are sixth in the combined scores with 744. The FVS veteran women are doing particularly well in second place.

The second race will be in Trent Park on Sunday 2^nd November.

Position	Name	Time	Official	Category
15	ADRIAN BUSOLINI	29:05	29:05	MS
23	MIKE JEFFS	29:55	29:56	M40
40	JAY PAPA	31:14	31:14	MS
62	ADRIAN DONNELLY	32:48	32:45	M40
97	DAVID RIDDELL	35:03	35:00	M60
109	CHARLIE ARNOLD	35:38	35:39	M60
120	CHLOE SIMPSON	36:05	36:13	W35
122	GEORGIE HOOPER	36:13	36:15	W35
142	STEPHEN MASSEY	38:01	37:12	M50
147	MARTIN WOOD	37:31	37:32	M60
156	MATT COOKE	37:57	37:59	MS
165	MARTIN JACOB	38:46	38:43	M40
173	ANITA WELTZ	39:08	39:11	W35
176	SIMON HAIGH	39:12	39:13	M50
179	TONY VICKERS	39:22	39:22	M50
193	ANNABELLE WHITE	39:53	39:53	WS
206	DARREN EMMERSON	40:26	40:29	M50
211	NICK GILL	41:00**	41:07	MS
253	JAYNE RIDDELL	43:30	43:32	W55
263	JACKIE PERRY	44:02	44:05	W55
265	MARK FREEMAN	44:09	44:10	M60
284	SAM GENTRY	46:05	46:04	W45
285	JODIE WILSON	46:06	46:05	WS
289	LEANNE WILSON	46:22	46:15	WS
294	JIM BROWN	46:31	46:31	M70
295	CLAIRE EMMERSON	46:41	46:43	W45
316	SHARON CROWLEY	51:30	51:32	W65
320	KARTIK SHARMA	52:30	52:32	M40
322	CALLIE CHAPMAN	52:50	52:57	W35
327	MICHAEL O’KEEFE	56:07	56:09	M60
328	AMANDA VICKERS	56:17	56:19	W45
334	BECKY RAYNOR	60:50	60:51	W35
338	AHAAN SHARMA	62:32**	64:26	MS
340	JANE WADEY	65:37	65:46	W55

There was clapping, eating and dancing on Friday evening as 88 Spartans enjoyed their presentation evening the first that’s been possible for two years.

This was a fantastic celebration of two years of achievements and an opportunity to enjoy each others’ company after so long.

YUKO GORDON’s achievements at national and international level are well known and she is the club’s overall champion for 2021. She scored 96.7% in the short distance championship and 98.9% in the long. She was also voted Spartan of the Year.

SIMON JACKSON won the men’s championship.

As well as 27 awards based on the long and short distance championships the evening recognised the most improved Spartans – SAM SIMMONS and FIONA CLARKE; the Lisa Potter Starter of the Year SUSAN MURPHY and many of the club members whose voluntary efforts have made the club possible over a difficult period. They included WENDY THARANI (Chair’s Award); MARK FREEMAN (President’s Award; PETE SMITH (Head Coach’s Award) and SHARON and MIKE CROWLEY (Captains’ Awards).

A great night at the Cromwell Hotel, Old Stevenage which finished with some very energetic dancing.

(All the presentation evening winners can be found near the end of this release).

The Welwyn Half Marathon is a bit of a hybrid with 1.5 miles of trail including some quite slippery sections and narrow footpath and pavement which caused some delays in the busy middle third of the field. However the cold start turned into a pleasant sunny morning with a tailwind finish and there were some massive efforts from the thirteen Spartans.

For a flattish course SUZY HAWKINS was surprised how hard the Welwyn Half Marathon felt with off road sections and narrow bumpy pavements that seemed busy with non runners. She said she was disappointed with her time, but collecting third placed female was nice. Suzy finished in 1 hour 32 minutes 46 seconds (1:32:46).

DAVID HARRIS – CHERGUIT said it was great to see so many smiling Spartans out Sunday morning. He was sixth overall out of the 387 finishers in the race and third man 40 plus with 1 hour 21 minutes 35 seconds.

ANDREW VAUGHAN was second male 50 plus in 1:31:38. ASHLEY KING took a third place in the women 35 plus contest with 1:45:40.

There was a personal best (PB) of 1 hour 37 minutes 59 seconds for ROBERT WRIGHT. A great achievement on a tricky course.

JIM BROWN said it was a good quality Sunday 13 mile training run and although a little disappointed he improved his 2022 half marathon time by ten minutes to 2:02:51.

Thirteen Spartans ran. Others were MIKE JEFFS 1:34:39; JOHN NELMS 1:46:21; MARK GOODWIN 1:47:10; LUKE SILVER 1:54:45; NEIL ROBINSON 2:07:31; SIMON SYPULA 2:17:08 and ELLIE McDERMOTT 2:43:04

(Detailed results for all the Spartans can be found near the end of this release).

Baldock Beast

Six Spartans raced the Baldock Beast Multi-Terrain and Spartan JOHN HARRIS excelled by winning the male 50 plus category with 1 hour 34 minutes 53 seconds. He was 13^th out of the 154 finishers.

John said six Spartans tamed the beast, which included 14 hills and 856 feet of ascent. It was definitely a run of two halves with negative splits, on a cold but sunny morning that warmed up during the race. He said he faded over the last mile and was passed by three quicker runners but very happy with a trophy at the end.

NICK GILL came in 25^th with 1:40:38 and SUSAN McANENY comfortably beat the two hour barrier with 1:57:45. GEORGIE HOOPER and SUE HAMER came in with 2:04:49 and 2:11:47.

Despite running the National Cross Country the previous day TIM ROBINSON went round in 2 hours 11 minutes 47 seconds.

National Cross Country

Four Spartans went to Parliament Hill Fields, London for the National Cross Country Championships on Saturday. In the ladies race SHARON CROWLEY covered the eight kilometres (8K) in 59 minutes 18 seconds.

The men ran 12K with CIARAN McANENY taking 59 minutes 47 seconds; ANDY JAY 1:25:42 and TIM ROBINSON 1:28:05.

The usual generous helpings of liquid mud on that course.

Battersea Park Chase the Sun

JONATHAN PARR came third overall and first man 35 plus in the RunThrough Battersea Park Chase The Moon 5K event on Wednesday. His time was 16 minutes 26 seconds.

Sunny Serpentine

It was mild, dry and sunny for Friday lunch-time’s Serpentine 5K run in Hyde Park and thinking about Sunday Spartan JIM BROWN was happy going round the two lap course in about nine minutes per mile to finish in 27 minutes 17 seconds. The winner took 15:27!

Parkrun Highlights 26^th February

Eunice cancelled last Saturday’s race but there were 320 runners at this week’s Stevenage parkrun. Spartan GRANT RAMSAY was sub 20 and in the Top Ten again with 19 minutes 18 seconds and 6^th Place.

The Paignton parkrun was right next to where YUKO GORDON was staying for the weekend so she popped out to join. This was her first ever park run outside Hertfordshire. The course was supposed to be a mixture of velo park and the adjacent grass field which was boggy and swampy. So, Yuko was surprised to see many of the runners come in squeaky clean Nike alphafly. She was in Inova8 Mudcrow XC shoes. They changed the course just to three laps of the velo park and gravel path, no field. Yuko was first woman 70 plus, eighth woman and 61^st overall out of 258 in 23 minutes 49 seconds.

Tables

All the winners at the FVS Presentation Evening:

Female Open Short – 1st, 2nd and 3rd
1st Suzy Hawkins 73.0%
2nd Tracy Pez 61.4%
3rd Hazel Smith 59.0%

Female Age Graded Short – 1st, 2nd and 3rd
1st Yuko Gordon 96.7%
2nd Cathy Craig 70.5%
3rd Alison Shelley 68.6%

Female Open Long – 1st, 2nd and 3rd
1st Suzy Hawkins 72.3%
2nd Marie Colucci 62.1%
3rd Fiona Clarke 56.0%

Female Age Graded Long – 1st, 2nd and 3rd
1st Yuko Gordon 98.9%
2nd Cathy Craig 65.1%
3rd Alison Shelley 63.8%

Male Open Short – 1st, 2nd and 3rd
1st Andrew Patterson 80.3%
2nd Adrian Busolini72.8%
3rd Grant Ramsay 71.6%

Male Age Graded Short – 1st, 2nd and 3rd
1st Simon Jackson 84.1%
2nd Brian White 82.2%
3rd Barry Osbourne 81.5%

Male Open Long – 1st, 2nd and 3rd
1st Andrew Patterson 79.4%
2nd Danny Scanlon 66.6%
3rd Paul Shelley 63.5%

Male Age Graded Long – 1st, 2nd and 3rd
1st Simon Jackson 82.2%
2nd Grant Ramsay 75.0%
3rd Pete Smith 72.2%

Overall Champion – Male
Simon Jackson

Overall Champion – Female
Yuko Gordon

Overall Club Champion
Yuko Gordon

Most Improved Spartan – Male – Sam Simmons
Most Improved Spartan – Female – Fiona Clarke
Lisa Potter Starter of the Year Award- Susan Murphy
Chairs Award – Wendy Tharani
Presidents Award – Mark Freeman
Head Coaches Award – Pete Smith
Captains Awards – Sharon Crowley and Mike Crowley
Spartan of the Year – Yuko Gordon

Spartans at the Welwyn Half Marathon (27^th February):

Position	Name	Time	Category	Cat Pos	Gender	%	Comments
6	David HARRIS-CHERGUIT	1:21:35	Ages 40 – 49	3	Male	75.58	3^rd MV40
30	Andrew VAUGHAN	1:31:48	Ages 50 – 59	2	Male	70.68	2^nd MV50
33	Suzy HAWKINS	1:32:46	Ages 45 – 54	2	Female	75.73	2^nd and 3^rd woman
42	Mike JEFFS	1:34:39	Ages 20 – 39	22	Male	62.26
67	Robert WRIGHT	1:37:59	Ages 20 – 39	27	Male	60.33	PB
120	Ashley KING	1:45:40	Ages 35 – 44	3	Female	61.83	3^rd FV35
123	John NELMS	1:46:21	Ages 50 – 59	12	Male	62.05
130	Mark GOODWIN	1:47:10	Ages 60 – 69	5	Male	68.91
193	Luke SILVER	1:54:45	Ages 20 – 39	69	Male	50.36
249	Jim BROWN	2:02:51	Ages 60 – 69	10	Male	63.13
273	Neil ROBINSON	2:07:31	Ages 40 – 49	72	Male	47.52
322	Simon SYPULA	2:17:08	Ages 40 – 49	82	Male	46.30
380	Eleanor MCDERMOTT	2:43:04	Ages 20 – 34	36	Female	39.72

Spartans at the Baldock Beast

Position	Name	Time	Category	Comments
13	JOHN HARRIS	1:34:53	MV50	First MV50
25	NICK GILL	1:40:38	Senior man
88	SUSAN McANENY	1:57:45	Woman 35 plus
111	GEORGIE HOOPER	2:04:49	Senior woman
130	SUE HAMER	2:11:47	Woman 45 plus
132	TIM ROBINSON	2:12:41	MV50