TREMENDOUS IN TRENT PARK

Spartan Women Hanging Onto Second

After four races Stevenage based Fairlands Valley Spartans women’s cross country team is hanging onto second place in the Sunday League by the slimmest of margins. The final race will depend on the last race which is at Therfield on 15th February.

A tremendous 28 Spartans, 18 men and 10 women raced round the weekend’s Sunday Cross Country League fixture in Trent Park, north London. Running over 5 miles BRIAN BRACKSTONE was fifth out of about 400 runners in 29 minutes 42 seconds. Also beating 30 minutes and gaining a top ten place GRANT RAMSAY was seventh in 29:51.

JULIE SIMMONS led in the women’s “A” team. She was 15th female in 39 minutes 2 seconds with MADDIE PRITCHARD 16th in 39:25. The rest of the team consisted of NIKKI WILBY, 30th in 41:08; CLARE MOORE, 31st in 41:11 and HAZEL CLARK, 38th in 41:45. They were fourth out of the 21 teams on the day but are holding onto second place overall by just one point. Fairlands Valley Spartans have 76 but both Harpenden Arrows and St Albans Striders have 75.

The men’s team were fourth on the day and have moved up to fourth out of 21 in the league. The others in the Spartan “A” team were ANDY NEATHAM, 12th in 30:33; DAVIE STAFFORD, 45th in 32:56; MARTIN WOOD, 66th in 34:22; NICHOLAS CROWLEY, 120th in 36:53; STEVE GREEN, 127th in 37:11 and BERNIE BARNABY in 37:37.

Fairlands Valley Spartans also succeeded in finishing complete women’s and men’s “B” teams. The women’s “B” team were led in by VERITY FISHER, 45th female in 42:36 who was supported by LISA GRAY, 55th in 43:19; ISABEL GREEN, 90th in 47:32; STEPH MAYFIELD, 131st in 57:32 and SHARON CROWLEY, 132nd in 58:34. They were fourth out of the six clubs that managed to get teams round.

TIM SABAN was first in for the men’s “B” team. He was 134th in 37 minutes 38 seconds with STEVE MAYFIELD not far behind at 146th in 38:34. PETE SMITH was 171st in 39:52. MARK GOODWIN, 182nd in 40:17; THOMAS SAUKA, 184th in 40:25; ANDY CHURN, 207th in 41:52; JIM BROWN, 255th in 44:03; ANDY PRIOR, 262nd in 44:22 made up the rest of the team. They were fourth out of the eight clubs who managed to get complete male “B” teams round.

In addition JOHN WALLACE was 352nd in 54:02 and PAUL HOLGATE, 360th in 55:26.

The next cross country race will be on Therfield Heath on Sunday 15th February.

Parkruns

A group of Spartans travelled down the A414 to Harlow for Saturday’s parkrun at Harlow Town park. This was a new course which had to be tested but to be honest, it gave the Spartans a bigger test. The two and a bit lap course was not going to be easy with the grassy sections turning into swamps and the gale force winds certainly slowed down all the runners.

First Spartan home was Daniel Bates who finished the course in 21-37 in fifth place despite taking and holding the lead for most of the first lap until he came unstuck in the ‘swamp’ and a minute later Tim Saban strolled down to the line. Thomas Sauka completed his first ever parkrun in 23-46. Mark Allen finished the parkrun in fine style in 25-07, finishing ahead of his partner Emma Kinsley in 26-46. Verity Fisher (28-24) had the last laugh by beating Danny Sutton (28-46) because he decided to do an extra lap. There were 113 runners for this run.

The results for all the Spartans were 5th place – Daniel Bates – 21 minutes 37 seconds; 7th place – Tim Saban – 22:37; 12th place – Thomas Sauka – 23:46; 23rd place – Mark Allen – 25:07; 39th place – Emma Kinsley – 26:46; 51st place – Verity Fisher – 28:24; and 55th place – Danny Sutton – 28:46.

Metropolitan Cross Country League

GRANT RAMSAY was also running cross country on Saturday. In the Metropolitan Cross Country League race over 5.5 miles at Perivale he was 75th out of 400 runners.

Running London?

Got a place in the London Marathon?

Fairlands Valley Spartans have a marathon training clinic at Marriotts Sports Centre at 8p.m. this Thursday (15th). The marathon clinic is going to introduce the club’s marathon training plan to runners that are planning to undertake a spring marathon (e.g. London). There will also offering advice on other aspects of the training, nutrition and kit leading up to and also what to expect on race day. So if that are a new runner or just want to pop along to learn more about distance events, this is a free club event.

Every year Fairlands Valley Spartans successful train thirty or more people, many of them first timers, to run the London Marathon. There are training groups from starters to fast fives to suit everyone. Why not have a look at www.fvspartans.org.uk or contact Jim Brown 0793 968 7509 or Karen Palmer 0773 467 8566? Newcomers very welcome.

Coming Events

Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks including the:

Marathon / Half Marathon seminar at Marriotts Sports Centre at 8p.m. on Thursday 15th January.

Fred Hughes 10 (County Seniors) in St. Albans on Sunday 18th January.

Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday evening 22nd January.

Watford Half Marathon (County Seniors) on Sunday 1st February.

Cross Country League at Therfield Heath, Royston on Sunday 15th February.

Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday evening 19th February.

Presentation Evening, Dinner and Dance on Friday 27th February.

County Veterans Five Mile Championship, and open road race, at Berkhamsted on Sunday 1st March.

Finchley 20 mile road race on Sunday 8th March.

Silverstone Half Marathon on Sunday 15th March.

Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday evening 19th March.

County Cross Country Championships for Veterans in Trent Park on Sunday 22nd March.

Welwyn Garden City Half Marathon on Sunday 22nd March.

Orion 15 classic cross country on Saturday 28th March.

Oakley 20 mile road race on Sunday 29th March.

Maidenhead Easter Ten on Friday 3rd April.

Sandy 10 mile road race on Sunday 12th April.

Flitwick 10K on Sunday 19th April.

London Marathon on Sunday 26th April.

Stevenage Half Marathon (includes County Veterans) on Sunday 1st November.

Join The Spartans

Live in or near Stevenage? Like running? Fairlands Valley Spartans is your local running club and is on the up! The club was voted the UK’s Best Running Club in 2010. It now has hundreds of members and encourages participation by all. The Spartans have a varied training programme to suit those who want to run 5 kilometres through to full marathons.

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 9.30a.m. sharp. Spartan track training

sessions are held at Ridlins Athletics Track, Woodcock Road, Stevenage most Saturdays from 9.15a.m. There are events to enter every Sunday. Newcomers are very welcome – those who have not yet done very much running might prefer to start with a Thursday, Saturday or Monday session.

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £35 per year, £25 without UKA membership. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (0793 968 7509), Karen Palmer (07734678566) or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

E N D S

More from Jim Brown (Press Officer) 0793 968 7509 or Karen Palmer (Secretary) 07734678566

www.fvspartans.org.uk