News Release      
15th February 2009

PRESENTATION EVENING
Katrina is Spartan of the Year

More than one hundred and twenty Fairlands Valley Spartans and friends packed into the Broadhall Suite, Stevenage for the club’s presentation evening on Friday.

Many of the winners are listed below:
Short distance championship - Female
Position      Winner(s)
1st      Chris King
2nd      Annette Bell
3rd      Chris Feely
     
Short distance championship - Male
Position      Winner(s)
1st      David Bowker
2nd      Simon Bell
3rd      Roger Biggs
     
Long distance championship - Female
Position      Winner(s)
1st      Chris King
2nd      Annette Bell
3rd      Kerry James
     
Long distance championship - Male
Position      Winner(s)
1st      Simon Bell
2nd      Jim Brown
3rd      Simon Jackson
     
Track and Field championship
Position      Winner(s)
1st female      Monica Brown
1st male      Simon Harris
     
Overall Womens Champion
Position      Winner
1st      Chris King
     
Overall Mens Champion
Position      Winner
1st      Simon Bell
     
Most Improved Female
Position      Winner
1st      Sara O'Callaghan
     
Most Improved Male
Position      Winner
1st      Richard Sidlin
     
Chairmans Award
Position      Winner
1st      Tracy Pez
     
Spartan of the Year
Position      Winner
1st      Katrina Doyle

IAN CHAPPELL won the Bryan Moore Memorial Shield for the 10 mile handicap race.

BARBARA WILSON and CHRIS FEELY received engraved medals in recognition of their achievement as national champions.  LISA POTTER won the new Starter of the Year award – the Starter Group was one of the huge successes of 2008.

TONY OSBORNE and ROGER BIGGS received special awards.  Tony for making sure the event continued and then four years as Race Director of the Stevenage Half Marathon.  Roger for thirteen years as Race Director of the Fairlands Valley Challenge.

The track and field championship category winners were MICHELLE LONG, MONICA BROWN, CHRIS FEELY, MATTHEW HOLGATE, SIMON HARRIS, RICHARD BATE, STEVE SMITHSON, RICHARD SIDLIN and JIM BROWN.

The Mid Week Road Race League shield was presented to GRAHAM BLACKBURN and SHARON CROWLEY who were the club caoptains in 2008.

The sheer energy put into the dancing for the rest of the night was perhaps a very good pointer to some excellent race performances later this year?

Hundreds of pictures from the presentation evening can be viewed in the gallery on the club website www.fvspartans.org.uk

Valentine’s Special for Annette and Simon

Simon and Annette Bell were second couple in the Valentine Pairs Competition at the Valentines 30k at Stamford today.  The event is over a tough, hilly but picturesque course but racing conditions were good.  Simon was also third male veteran with his time of 1 hour 56 minutes 40 seconds.  MARK GLADING recorded a new 30K of 2 hours 30 minutes 10 seconds and SARA O’CALLAGHAN completed her first race over the distance in 2 hours 41 minutes 34 seconds.

The Spartan times were Simon Bell (13th out of 629 in 1:56:40 - 3rd MV40); Annette Bell (194th in 02:24:25); Mark Glading (259th in 02:30:10.  PB); David Hamill, 355th in 02:38:38); Sara O'Callaghan (388th in 02:41:34.  First 30K).

Bramley

Eighteen Spartans enjoyed a dry and calm day for the Bramley 20 and 10 mile road races in Hampshire on Sunday.  A little cool but otherwise almost ideal conditions.

Fastest Spartan out of the fifteen club members in the longer race was SIMON JACKSON, 57th overall out of more than 1,000 finishers in a new personal best of 2 hours 8 minutes 22 seconds.

CHRIS KING was second woman in her age category in a new personal best of 2 hours 25 minutes 59 seconds.

CHRIS LEIGH improved his personal best by 13 minutes when he finished in 2 hours 42 minutes 8 seconds.

Other personal bests were notched up by STEVE MAYFIELD (2:37:15); SUE LEIGH (3:24:24); and TRICIA HOPPER (3:24:24).

Three Spartans were running in their first ever twenty mile race.  They were MARK GOODWIN (2:51:20); MARIE COLUCCI (2:55:58) and JULIE GOODWIN (3:25:54).

The Spartan men’s team consisting of SIMON JACKSON, JIM BROWN (2:25:59) and RICHARD HAZELDENE (2:30:31) were 24th out of a huge number of participating clubs.

Bramley Twenty Times

Simon Jackson 2:08:22 (57th PB); Chris King 2:25:59 (2FV50, 28th woman, PB); Jim Brown 2:26:59 (237th); Richard Hazeldene 2:30:31 (274th); Steve Mayfield 2:37:15 (349th PB); Amanda Brook 2:38:27; Chris Leigh 2:42:08 (PB by 13 minutes); Rob Shaw 2:50:43; Mark Goodwin 2:51:20 (First 20); Marie Colucci 2:55:58 (First 20); Paul Holgate 3:03:28 (SB); Carol Paul 3:05:09; Sue Leigh 3:24:24 (PB); Tricia Hopper 3:24:24 (PB) and Julie Goodwin 3:25:54 (First 20)

Bramley Ten Times

Kevin Lawlor 1:22:38; David Paul 1:37:30 and Sarah Erne 1:47:30

There were about 1,000 finishers in the twenty mile race.  The full official result with other positions, women’s team, etc., should be published by the event organisers late on Monday.

Dover Half Marathon

Despite a headwind throughout the second half of the race SHARON CROWLEY was delighted to finish Sunday’s Dover Half Marathon five minutes faster than last year.  Her time was 1 hour 58 minutes 38 seconds.

Myrtle Beach

ROGER BIGGS spent Valentine’s Day, Saturday 14th February, running the Myrtle Beach Marathon in South Carolina, USA.  Situated on the Atlantic coast the event provided near perfect weather conditions and a virtually flat course.

Roger produced another consistent run for his fastest time since June 2008.  His time of 3 hours 42 minutes 9 seconds was good enough for 413th place out of 1825 finishers, and fifth in the veteran (60 plus) category.

Great Bentley Half Marathon

TRISTAN EMPTAGE ran the Great Bentley Half Marathon in a new personal best of 1 hour 28 minutes 12 seconds.

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 19th February.
•      National Cross Country Championships on Saturday 21st February.
•      Bury 20 on Sunday 22nd 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.
•      Finchley 20 mile road race on Sunday 15th March.
•      Orion 15 cross country event on Saturday afternoon 21st March.
•      Flora London Marathon on Sunday 26th April.
•      Edinburgh Marathon on Sunday 31st May.
•      Silver Jubilee Gala Ball on Saturday 17th October.

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 150 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.  Last year the club 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 and membership forms should be sent to Fairlands Valley Spartans c/o 19 Bellamy Close, Knebworth, Herts, SG3 6EH.

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