Fairlands Valley Spartans

News Release                                                             
9th November 2008

SPARTANS AT STEBBING AND STEPPINGLEY

Five Spartans took part in the eighth hosting of the Bedfordshire Steppingley Step off-road marathon.  Starting and finishing in Barton-le-Clay the run takes in the villages of Steppingley, Ampthill, Pulloxhill and Westoning.  The heavy overnight rain ensured very heavy terrain with plenty of mud to plough through, although the day itself was mostly a beautiful Autumn day with heavy showers returning again towards the end of the run.  First Spartan to finish was PAUL HOLGATE, beating his 2007 time by 8 minutes, despite the heavy going, to finish in 5 hours 43 minutes 25 seconds. 

Full list of Spartans times:

Paul Holgate  5:43:25; Roger Biggs 6:13:45; Dave Carter  6:20:24 (11 minutes quicker than 2007); Rob Hardy  7:17:49.

Pauline Hardy completed the 12-mile option in 4:06:00

Stebbing

JIM BROWN was in Stebbing, near Great Dunmow for their Annual Remembrance Day Ten Mile Race.   Breezy, cool and never going to be a superfast course but dry, almost traffic free roads in a pleasant rural setting.  After a slow start and a significant negative split Jim finished in 69 minutes 46 seconds.

It’s Nice in Cannes

Six Spartans took part in the Nice to Cannes Marathon on Sunday.  In a race with a flat first half but hilly second half the first club member to finish was MIKE NEWBITT in 4 hours 13 minutes 55 seconds.   He was closely followed by CAROL PAUL in 4:14:33 then by KEVIN LAWLOR 4:36:22, MARK SANDERS 4:48:50, DAVE PAUL 4:53:26 and MICHAELA SANDERS 4:54:38.

Championship Update

With just over seven weeks to go competition is still hot in the Spartans club championships.

So far seven have scored 75% or more in the men’s short distance championship.  They are DAVID BOWKER 84.2%, SIMON BELL 83.1%, ROGER BIGGS 77.3%, JIM BROWN 76.9%, PHIL GALE 76.0%, RICHARD SIDLIN 75.9% and SIMON JACKSON 75.0%.   96 members have posted qualifying short distance times.

Five men have scored 70% or more in the long distance championships.  They are SIMON BELL 79.9%, JIM BROWN 77.9%, ROGER BIGGS 73.8%, SIMON JACKSON 72.5% and GRAHAM BLACKBURN 70.9%.  57 have long distance qualifying times.

At the moment CHRIS KING is leading in both women’s championships.  In the short distance contest Chris has 79.0% with four others above 70% - ANNETTE BELL 75.8%, CHRISTINE FEELY 73.5%, BARBARA WILSON 71.2% and SARA O’CALLAGHAN 70.2%.  92 women have qualifying short distance times.

Over the longer distances six women have scored over 60%.  Chris has 80.2%, Annette 73.4%, KERRY JAMES 67.9%, TRACY PEZ 63.6%, SARA O’CALLAGHAN 63.1% and SHARON CROWLEY 62.9%.   35 women have qualifying times.

The club championship runs right up to 31st December so anything could change.  The short distance championship is based on averaging the best races at three out of 1500 metres, 5K, five miles and 10K.  The long distance on the best three out of ten miles, half marathon, twenty miles and full marathon (26.2 miles).  All accredited and accurately measured races can count.

Sorry But It Is Too Late To Enter The 5K Series

All the places in the series of three evening 5K races in Stevenage have gone but spectators and extra helpers will be welcome.  The races are on Wednesdays 12th November, 26th November and 10th December.  The event will be on the Fairlands Way, Verity Way, Martins Way, Grace Way, Fairlands Way cycleway circuit with the race HQ at Marriotts Gymnastics Centre and race starting between Webb Rise and Douglas Drive at 7.45p.m.

Half Marathon Snippet

Bit of a late extra.  Not many had realised just how tight the battle for some of the veteran medals was in the County Half Marathon Championships in Stevenage last weekend.  For example Fairlands Valley Spartans won the team silver medals by just one point ahead of North Herts Road Runners and team counter JIM BROWN moved from indvidual Vet 50 bronze to Vet 50 silver by overtaking a Garden City Runner within sight of Ridlins Athletics Track and gaining that extra point.  Always worth keeping going to the end….

Coming Events

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

•      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.
•      Cross Country League Race at Digswell on Sunday 16th November.
•      Second race Spartans Stevenage 5K series Wednesday evening 26th 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.
•      Third and final race Spartans Stevenage 5K series Wednesday 10th December.
•      Cross Country League Race at Watford on Sunday 14th December.
•      Bedford Harriers Half Marathon on Sunday 14th December.
•      Serpentine 5K on Friday 19th December (not Boxing Day!).

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 has well over 100 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.  The club have recently moved to better, more modern facilities at the gymnastics centre Marriotts School – a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 0AN).  Meet them there at 7p.m.

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday and 7p.m. on Thursdays.

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 done very much running yet might prefer to start with a Thursday, Saturday or Monday session. 

Try a few sessions before joining.  Membership is only £20 per year.  Subscriptions should be sent to Fairlands Valley Spartans c/o Chris King 16 Redwing Close, Stevenage, Herts, SG2 9FE,  (07779 880 522).

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (01438 354505 or 0793 968 7509), Chris King (07779 880 522) or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

E N D S

More from Jim Brown (Press Officer) 01438 354505 / 0793 968 7509, Chris King (Secretary) 07779 880 522 (christine-king@orange-ftgroup.com)

www.fvspartans.org.uk