News Release            
1st February 2009

COUNTY MEDALS FOR SPARTANS AT WATFORD

Snow flurries at the finish as Fairlands Valley Spartans won team bronze in the County Half Marathon Championships for seniors (18+).  There was a bitterly cold wind for the race, which was incorporated in the undulating Watford Half Marathon.  Temperatures ranged from plus 2 to minus 1 degrees without the wind chill. 

The Spartans men’s team of DAVID BOWKER (83rd overall in 1 hour 24 minutes); TODD GRAY (111th in a new personal best of 1 hour 26 minutes 9 seconds); BEN HARRIS (185th in 1:29:33) and JIM BROWN (353rd in 1:35:00) were delighted to win bronze medals for third team.

The other eleven Spartan times were Andrew Hull 1:42:51; Sara O'Callaghan 1:43:54; Mark Glading 1:43:58; Rob Shaw 1:45:29; Paul Holgate 1:53:01; Dave Farthing 1:54:19; Kevin Lawlor 1:55:47; Carol Paul 2:00:26; Dave Paul 2:06:26; Sharon Crowley 2:06:32; and Balwinder Kandoola 2:16:46.

There were about 2,000 runners.

Southern Masters Cross Country

Fairlands Valley Spartans women outnumbered the men at the South of England Cross Country Championships for Masters (Veterans) which were held at Old Warden on Saturday.  Unlike the open championship the previous weekend this was not like Woodstock without the music.  It was firm underfoot and could be run in trainers but runners had to contend with a strong, cold wind.

There was a great turnout of eight Spartan women for this prestigious event.

First Spartan in the six kilometres race was Barbara Wilson in 31 minutes 54 seconds.  LORRAINE THOMAS ran on her birthday and finished in 36 minutes 40 seconds.

The other six were Sharon Crowley in 32:40; an improving Nikki Nation 33:40; Cally Glading 35:00; Tricia Hopper 35:37; Sue Leigh 35:45; 36:40 and Lina Porecha 39:38.

In the men's race which was over about 10K STEVE SMITHSON was fastest Spartan in 39 minutes 59 seconds.  JIM BROWN took 43 minutes 6 seconds and MARK GLADING 46 minutes 46 seconds.

Serpentine

The Last Friday in the Month 5K race round Hyde Park was the first of JIM BROWN’s three races in three days.  In cool, dry conditions with a light breeze Jim was 83rd out of 202 finishers in 20 minutes 54 seconds.

Terrible Trio’s Fund Raiser

The 26th April is going to be a special day for three Stevenage based members of the Fairlands Valley Spartans running club.  The day marks the running of the 27th London Marathon and gives Michelle Long, Veronica (Von) Maguire and Chris Leigh the chance to complete the famous 26.2 mile course in aid of the Garden House hospice in Letchworth.  The hospice, and the Help the Hospices charity, have an important place in the hearts of the three runners.

See the separate news release, or the Spartans website forum, for more details.

Apeldoorn Marathon, Netherlands

Spartan ROGER BIGGS was in the Netherlands at the weekend for the Apeldoorn Marathon.  This was a nice run in and around Apeldoorn including forest sections, but cold.  It was below 0oC with wind chill.  Roger finished in 3 hours 47 minutes 21 seconds.

Coming Events

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

•      Final cross country league race in Watford on Sunday 8th February.
•      Spartans’ Presentation Evening on Friday 13th February
•      Bramley 20 on Sunday 15th February.
•      Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday evening 19th February.
•      Berkhamsted Half Marathon on Sunday 1st March.
•      Milton Keynes Half Marathon on Sunday 8th March.
•      County Veterans Cross Country Championships at Royston on Sunday 8th March.
•      Orion 15 cross country event on Saturday afternoon 21st March.
•      Flora London Marathon on Sunday 26th April.
•      Edinburgh Marathon on Sunday 31st May.

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 £25 per year.  Concessions are available.  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)

More on the “Terrible Trio” story from Chris Leigh 0776 991 6221

www.fvspartans.org.uk