GLORY FOR SPARTANS AT PRESTIGIOUS COUNTY AWARDS EVENING

The Herts Sports Partnership Awards are Hertfordshire’s most prestigious awards, open to all clubs and all sports across the county.   The awards are focused on those unsung heroes who give so much to others by way of voluntary service to sport, whether it is in coaching or administration.

At last week’s Awards Ceremony, Stevenage’s Fairlands Valley Spartans running club scooped a host of prizes in the face of huge competition from across the County.  Pride of place, and an automatic nomination for the BBC’s Unsung Hero Award (part of the televised Sports Personality of the Year Awards Evening), went to Katrina Doyle who was awarded first place in the Female Community Coach of the Year category for her work in setting up, and coaching, the Spartans’ Starter Group which has introduced many new runners from across Comet Country to the benefits of running.

Second, in the same category, was Head Coach of Fairlands Valley Spartans, Tessa Stephenson.  Second places were also awarded to Chris Leigh (Male Community Coach of the Year), Paul Holgate (Service to Sport) and to the Club overall in the Community Club of the Year category.

Summary of Awards won by Fairlands Valley Spartans:

Female Community Coach of the Year - Katrina Doyle (Winner)
Female Community Coach of the Year - Tessa Stephenson (2nd)
Male Community Coach of the Year - Chris Leigh (2nd)
Community Club Of The Year - Fairlands Valley Spartans (2nd)
Service To Sport Award - Paul Holgate (2nd)


PBs Galore At Great Eastern Run

RICHARD BATE (Chicken Legs) flew round his first ever half marathon to finish in a superb time of 1 hour 18 minutes 23 seconds and a magnificent 45th out of 2702 finishers.  He was first of the twenty five Spartans who enjoyed a brilliant sunny day at the Great Eastern Run in Peterborough.

Second Spartan was DAVID BOWKER in 1 hour 24 minutes 21 seconds and another top 100 position – 97th.

Many were rewarded with new personal bests including RICHARD SIDLIN (1:31:50 – a PB by 6 minutes); SARA O’CALLAGHAN (1:39:27 – a PB by 6 minutes); TRACY PEZ (1:40:39); BEV AITKEN (1:55:48 – a PB by 4 minutes); TRICIA HOPPER (1:59:14) and BALWINDER KANDOLA (2:18:13).

JIM BROWN (1:29:52) squeezed under 1 hour 30 minutes for the first time this year.  GERRY McCABE (1:47:16) and SHARON CROWLEY (1:56:17) also recorded their fastest half marathon times of the year.

Others completing their first half marathon were SEAN THOMPSON (1:36:11); MARIE COLUCCI (1:47:30); BEN COLLIER (2:03:16); TRACY STILES (2:14:37) and MICHELLE LONG (2:22:28).  They include several who have “graduated” from the Spartan Starters.

Position      Name      Time      Comments
45      RICHARD BATE      1:18:23      First Half
97      DAVID BOWKER      1:24:21      
195      JIM BROWN      1:29:52      YB
257      RICHARD SIDLIN      1:31:50      PB by 6 minutes
391      SEAN THOMPSON      1:36:11      First Half
392      ANNETTE BELL (L)      1:36:15      
417      ANDY GARRETT      1:37:02      
520      SARA O’CALLAGHAN (L)      1:39:27      PB by 6 minutes
567      TRACY PEZ (L)      1:40:39      PB
660      CHRIS LEIGH      1:42:12      
899      GERRY McCABE      1:47:16      YB
907      MARIE COLUCCI (L)      1:47:30      First Half
1042      MARK GLADING      1:50:13      
1136      PAUL HOLGATE      1:52:09      
1318      BEV AITKEN (L)      1:55:48      PB by 4 minutes
1341      SHARON CROWLEY (L)      1:56:17      YB
1499      TRICIA HOPPER (L)      1:59:14      PB
1683      BEN COLLIER      2:03:16      First Half
1777      ALISON SUCKLING (L)      2:05:23      
1780      NIKKI NATION (L)      2:05:26      
1816      SUE LEIGH (L)      2:06:17      
1943      RON COHEN      2:08:52      
2161      TRACY STILES (L)      2:14:37      First Half
2267      BALWINDER KANDOLA (L)      2:18:13      PB
2356      MICHELLE LONG (L)      2:22:28      First Half

First Half = First Half Marathon Race; PB = Personal Best; YB = best in 2008.
There were 2702 finishers.

Spartans bring home Gold Medal in the Men's Health Survival of the Fittest Rat Race.
Spartans’ SIMON JACKSON and ANDY PATTERSON brought home a Gold Medal in the Men's Health Survival of the Fittest Rat Race.  The 12k course through Nottingham proved eventful.  On their way to winning their wave – the race was separated in to four different start times – they had to  overcome a few hurdles...

First up were the two hay bale walls, after the first challenge Simon and Andy moved their way to the front of the pack and built a substantial lead on our wave through all the obstacles that included a parkour challenge, an army assault course, a swim across the Trent, a postman's walk, a roadwork slalom course, a maze, running over a half pipe, climbing over and through a couple of cars, a basketball and rugby challenge, running up and down the terraces of Nottingham Forest's football ground, an archery challenge, a few other what the race organiser liked to call stocking fillers were thrown in for good measure along the way before the most intimidating obstacle of the lot; the Men's Health Wall.

Simon and Andy then sprinted to the line to finish in  a time of 58mins 1 second.  Which was good enough to finish 6th and 8th overall and most importantly Fairlands Valley Spartan's team won first prize, which included a couple of bottles of champagne, and a Land Rover Experience Day.

London Run to the Beat Half Marathon

SALLY BEASLEY ran her first half marathon in London recently.  Running with MARK BEASLEY in atrocious wet conditions she finished in 2 hours 7 minutes and 10 seconds.

Silver for Spartans

The Spartan women’s team consisting of CLAIRE PULLEN, TRACY PEZ, BARBARA WILSON and NIKKI NATION won the silver team medals in the recent Hertfordshire County 10K Road Championship for female runners over 35.  The male veteran team of DAVID BOWKER, RICHARD SIDLIN, STEVE SMITHSON and JIM BROWN were fourth.

Entries Piling In For The Stevenage Half Marathon and 5K Series

The Stevenage Half Marathon is not until Sunday 2nd November but Fairlands Valley Spartans have already received over 600 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.

And about two thirds of the places in the evening series of 5K races have already gone.  If you want to take part in one of these just over three miles runs in Stevenage you’ll need to move fast.  The first race is on Wednesday evening 12th November.

Entry forms for both events are available from the Spartan website www.fvspartans.org.uk ; The Half Marathon 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 races don’t forget you’ll be very welcome to join the Spartans.

Half Marathon and 5K runners must be at least seventeen years of age.  There will also be a two mile fun run during the half marathon.

The Half Marathon and 5K series will both incorporate county championships.

New Start for Starters

The Spartans Starter group has had enormous success preparing people for events like the Stevenage 5K series.  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: 

•      Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday evening 16th October.
•      Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 2nd November.
•      Henlow 10 on Wednesday daytime 12th November.
•      First race Spartans Stevenage 5K series Wednesday evening 12th November.
•      St. Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 16th November.
•      Wolverton Five Mile race on Saturday 29th November.
•      Spartans Christmas Party on Friday 5th December.
•      Luton Marathon including County Championships on Sunday 7th December.

Entries have already opened for the Stevenage Half Marathon and for the late Autumn series of evening 5K races in Stevenage.  See www.fvspartans.org.uk for details.