Fairlands Valley Spartans

News Release                                                             
14th September 2008

RECORD TURNOUT AS KIRSTON WINS HANDICAP 5K

The women outnumbered the men as KIRSTON WINTERS won Fairlands Valley Spartans handicap five kilometre road race in Stevenage on Thursday evening.

There was a fantastic record breaking turnout of 54 Spartans running.  The highest number since the very first handicap 5k back in September 2002.

In handicap races participants are graded according to their likely performance with the slower runners starting first.  If the handicapper gets it rights and everyone runs to form they would all finish rogether.

This was the first race on the new Fairlands Way, Verity Way, Martins Way, Grace Way course.  First to cross the finish line was Kirston Winters in a 5K time of 27:01 who beat his handicap by a massive 6 minutes 59 seconds.  Kirston was closely followed by the winning lady, DEBBIE HALL, who beat her handicap by 6:38, to finish in 28:22.

KATIE WINTERS was second female (3rd overall) on handicap in 30:08, 4:52 ahead of her handicap, and SARAH O’BRYAN was third female in 35:20, 4:40 better than handicap. SEAN THOMPSON was the second man to finish.  His time of 20:04 beat his handicap by
2:11.  EARL BROWN was third man, 2:03 better than handicap.

Twenty runners were running their first ever 5K race, demonstrating how many new runners Fairlands Valley Spartans are attracting to the sport.  Thirteen other runners improved on previous personal bests.

RICHARD BATE was fastest on the evening in 17:04, TODD GRAY 18:44 and GRAHAM BLACKBURN 19:40.

CAROLINE FOX was quickest lady in 21:07 followed by SARA O’CALLAGHAN 21:23, and CHRIS KING 21:31.

5K Women in Speed Order:-

Time Pos.      Name      Time      Handicap Pos. (Ov).      Comments
1      CAROLINE FOX      21:07      17      PB (1st)
2      SARA O'CALLAGHAN      21:23      22      PB
3      CHRIS KING      21:31      33      
4      MARIE COLUCCI      23:20      14      PB (1st)
5      CHRIS McCULLOUGH      24:15      18      PB (1st)
6      SHARON CROWLEY      25:23      35      
7      BEVERLEY AITKEN      25:28      26      PB (1st)
8      NIKKI NATION      25:36      8      PB
9      PENNY ARMSTRONG      27:31      42      
10      JULIE GOODWIN      27:51      43      
11      DEBBIE HALL      28:22      2      PB (1st)
12      SALLY BEASLEY      28:39      9      PB (1st)
13      CALLY GLADING      28:51      15      PB
14      TRACY STILES      28:51      50      PB (1st)
15      KATIE WINTERS      30:08      3      PB (1st)
16      SU WIGGINS      30:11      47      PB (1st)
17      MICHELLE LONG      31:24      23      PB (1st)
18      SARA ERNE      32:10      40      PB (1st)
19      MARIA RUSHTON      32:23      45      PB
20      SAM SMEETON      32:23      46      
21      KAY JANCEY      34:15      19      PB (1st)
22      SARAH O'BRYAN      35:20      4      PB
23      AMANDA WRIGHT      36:34      20      PB
24      LISA POTTER      37:17      21      PB
25      DEBBIE BLACKBURN      38:28      32      PB
26      RUBY AVIS      39:53      34      PB (1st)
27      LINA PORECHA      40:43      51      
28      LAURA STAFFORD      40:43      52      PB (1st)

5K Men in Speed Order:-
Time Pos.      Name      Time      Handicap Pos. (Ov).      Comments
1      RICHARD BATE      17:04      7      PB
2      TODD GRAY      18:44      11      
3      GRAHAM BLACKBURN      19:40      24      
4      RICHARD  SIDLIN      19:49      13      PB
5      DON PAPWORTH      20:01      28      SB
6      SEAN THOMPSON      20:04      5      PB (1st)
7      MARK BEASLEY      20:07      10      SB
8      LES BETTS      20:16      12      PB
9      STEVE SMITHSON      20:49      30      
10      STEVE DEAR      21:50      38      SB
11      ANDY JAY      22:44      25      
12      MARK GOODWIN      22:53      31      
13      ANDREW HULL      22:58      41      
14      ROBERT SHAW      23:30      48      
15      JULIAN DE VILLEZ      23:45      27      
16      PAUL HOLGATE      24:02      29      
17      PETE O'REILLY      24:51      16      PB
18      BEN COLLIER      24:52      39      PB (1st)
19      MARK DRUMMOND      26:05      44      
20      MICHAEL HILLS      26:07      54      PB (1st)
21      RYAN AITKEN      26:12      37      PB (1st)
22      KIRSTON WINTERS      27:01      1      PB (1st)
23      RON COHEN      28:13      36      PB
24      MARK FREEMAN      28:51      49      
25      CHAS AVIS      29:31      53      
26      EARL BROWN      29:57      6      PB (1st)

The next handicap 5K will be on Thursday 16th October.  The same course will be used for the open races in November and December.

Grunty Fen Half Marathon

Having improved her 5K time on Thursday evening SARA O’CALLAGHAN beat her half marathon personal best by seven minutes at Grunty Fen on Sunday.  On a warm morning with a bit of a breeze on some sections of the course based on Witchford, near Ely, she finished in 1 hour 45 minutes 1 second.

SIMON BELL was first Spartan and tenth overall in the race with a time of 1 hour 16 minutes 35 seconds.  JIM BROWN improved a little on recent form to finish in 1 hour 30 minutes 25 seconds.

Position      Name      Time      Comments
10      SIMON BELL      1:16:35      3V40
66      JIM BROWN      1:30:25      2V55
212      SARA O’CALLAGHAN (L)      1:45:01      PB (7 mins)

There were over 400 finishers.

Chris and Monica Win Medals in their First Hepthalon

CHRIS FEELY and MONICA BROWN competed in the British Masters Athletics Federation Heptathlon Championships in Oxford on 13 & 14 September.  Chris won the gold medal for her age category with a points total of 3116 and Monica won the bronze for her age category with a points total of 3006.  The detailed results are below:

80m Hurdles: Chris - 17.53 / Monica - 18.13
High Jump: Chris - 1.16 / Monica - 1.28
Shot Put: Chris - 5.38 / Monica - 6.66
200m: Chris - 31.43 / Monica - 29.09
Long Jump: Chris - 3.71 / Monica - 4.16
Javelin: Chris 10.29 / Monica - 13.55
800m: Chris - 2.43 / Monica - 2.53

PBs at Dorney

There were personal bests for CHRIS and SUE LEIGH in the Clic Sargent 5K road race at Dorney Lakes on Saturday.  Chris was sixth in 21 minutes 9 seconds and Sue was 21st in 25:42.

BEVERLEY HARLOW and ELISA DUNBAR took part in the 10K race at the same venue.  Bev finished in 54 minutes 45 seconds and Elisa in 55:51.

They said it was perfect running weather, a great venue and there was fantastic organisation.  A great race!

Robin Hood Half and Full Marathon

Due to an unsafe bridge this year’s Robin Hood Half Marathon was run on a new course – hilly and conditions were very humid.  CHRIS KING finished in 1 hour 35 minutes 8 seconds, LAURA LAW in 2:03:56 and BEV AITKEN in 2:04:15.

Position      Name      Time
444      CHRIS KING (F)      1:35:08
3517      LAURA LAW (F)      2:03:56
3695      BEV AITKEN (F)      2:04:15

There were 6,648 finishers.

STEVE MAYFIELD ran the full marathon in 3 hours 44 minutes 17 seconds with MARK SANDERS finishing in 5 hours and 59 seconds.  They reported ideal running but it did get a bit warm towards the end. 

Chiltern Off Road Marathon

Seven Spartans took part in this year's annual Chiltern Marathon, which as the title suggests involves running 26 miles in the scenic, but tough, Chilterns countryside.  Participants are give 4 sides of A4 written instructions to follow to navigate their way around the numerous footpaths required to complete the course.  The key at the top of the instructions forewarned competitors that "Up" means UP! and with no less than 27 occurrences of the word up in the instructions runners already knew they were in for a tough time even before they left the village hall in Lane End at 9:30a.m.

First to finish was MIKE NEWBITT in a very impressive time of 5 hours 32 minutes 18 seconds followed by PAUL HOLGATE in 5:53:45.  SHARON CROWLEY and GERRY McCABE ran together and completed their run in 6:12:58, while CAROL & DAVE PAUL and KEVIN LAWLOR did likewise, all finishing in 6:23:08.

Biggs in Belgium

Recovering from an Achilles Injury ROGER BIGGS was really chuffed to finish the “In Flanders Fields” marathon in 3 hours 54 minutes 37 seconds.

Sometimes known as the marathon of peace the race starts in Nieuwpoort, Belgium and passes the sites of many First World War battles before finishing in Ypres.

Entries Piling In For The Stevenage Half Marathon

The Stevenage Half Marathon is not until Sunday 2nd November but Fairlands Valley Spartans have already received over 300 entries – way ahead of the same time in previous years.  If you want to take part in this popular 13.1 mile run around the town which finishes on Ridlins Athletics Track get your entry in soon.

Entry forms are available from the Spartan website www.fvspartans.org.uk ; The entry fee is £13 for members of affiliated running clubs, £15 for everyone else.  More information is available from half@fvspartans.org.uk

If you want to prepare for the race don’t forget you’ll be very welcome to join the Spartans.

Half Marathon runners must be at least seventeen years of age.  There will also be a two mile fun run.

New Start for Starters

The Spartans Starter group had enormous success preparing people for the Stevenage “Race for Life.”  Now it’s been relaunched.  You can join in by meeting at the Marriotts School Gymnastics Centre at 7.30p.m. on Mondays and/or 7p.m. on Thursdays.  Just go along or get more information from www.fvspartans.org.uk

Coming Events

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

•      Spartans Track and Field Day on Saturday 20th September.
•      Biggleswade Open Graded track events on Saturday 27th September.
•      Hertfordshire 10K track championship on Sunday 28th September.
•      Standalone 10K in Letchworth on Sunday 5th October.
•      Great Eastern Half Marathon in Peterborough on Sunday 12th October.
•      Handicap 5K on Thursday 16th October.
•      Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 2nd November.

Entries have already opened for the Stevenage Half