News Release      
22nd February 2009

HANDICAP 5K
Ryan and Sarah Winners

Fairlands Valley Spartans have been racing over distances from 200 metres to 26.2 miles in the last few days.  And the club have some new national medal winners.

The women outnumbered the men as fifty five Fairlands Valley Spartans raced round Thursday evening’s Handicap 5K event in Stevenage.

Twenty nine runners were female and eighteen were running their first 5K race.  The club now have over 170 members.

First to cross the finish line was newcomer RYAN DARRINGTON to win the handicap in a very impressive 20:45.  He was followed by ADAM BUCKINGHAM with an equally impressive 30:03.  Third to finish was another newcomer SARAH KEARSLEY, who was first female in a very useful time of 30:08.

PENNY ARMSTRONG was second lady (and fourth overall) in a new personal best of 26:24.  PETE SMITH was fifth overall, and third male, in an excellent 21:44.

The biggest improver on the night was SARAH ERNE who beat her previous personal best by a whopping 2 minutes 25 seconds to finish in 28:14.  All this only 4 days after a 16½ mile run on Sunday as she prepares for the Paris marathon.

Fastest runner on the night was again RICHARD BATE, overtaking 46 of the 55 runners to finish 9th overall in 17:28.

BEN HARRIS continued his return to form and was second quickest in 19:28.  The club's most improved male Spartan of 2008, Richard Sidlin, was third quickest in 20:27.

The fastest lady was KERRY JAMES with 21minutes 48 seconds.  ALISON HOPWOOD was second quickest in 22:59 and Tracy Pez continuing her recovery from a broken toe, third quickest in 23:16.

The good running conditions for the evening ensured plenty of impressive times, with eight Personal Bests on the night plus a further five Season Bests and another nine Year Bests.  Times for all runners follow.  The next handicap 5k will be on Thursday evening 12th March 2009.   

Handicap Position      Name      Time      Comments      Time Position      Female Position
1      RYAN DARRINGTON      20:45      NEW      4      
2      ADAM BUCKINGHAM      30:03      NEW      39      
3      SARAH KEARSLEY      30:08      NEW      40      16
4      PENNY ARMSTRONG      26:24      PB      32      11
5      PETE SMITH      21:44      NEW      10      
6      BARRY O'SULLIVAN      35:48      NEW      48      
7      SARA ERNE      28:14      PB      35      14
8      THERESA BIRCH      33:51      NEW      44      20
9      RICHARD BATE      17:28      YB      1      
10      HELEN CZECH      34:01      NEW      45      21
11      STEVEN MILLS      23:17      NEW      19      
12      NIKKI TOUT      31:08      NEW      41      17
13      BILL TUCK      25:56      PB      29      
14      VERONICA MAGUIRE      26:10      YB      30      9
15      LAURA STAFFORD      34:34      PB      46      22
16      PAUL BOWAL      22:51      SB      15      
17      DEBBIE BLACKBURN      36:55      PB      52      26
18      YVONNE JONES      24:47      SB      23      5
19      RICHARD SIDLIN      20:27      YB      3      
20      ESTHER HAMILL      25:10      PB      25      6
21      MONICA READ      27:22      SB      33      12
22      JULIE GOODWIN      27:38      SB      34      13
23      DARREN STEPHENSON      21:10      YB      8      
24      ALBIE STAFFORD      24:55      NEW      24      
25      BEN HARRIS      19:28            2      
26      ADRIAN DONNELLY      21:07      NEW      6      
27      MARIA THORNE      28:45      PB      36      15
28      KERRY JAMES      21:48            11      1
29      AMY GYPPS      24:39      NEW      21      4
30      ROGER BIGGS      22:00            12      
31      ANDY JAY      22:01      PB      13      
32      MICHELLE NEW      40:55      NEW      55      29
33      GRAHAM BLACKBURN      21:10      YB      7      
34      ROBERT SHAW      22:58      YB      16      
35      TRACY PEZ      23:16            18      3
36      CALLY GLADING      26:18            31      10
37      IAN LARMAN      29:42      NEW      38      
38      JIM BROWN      21:17            9      
39      STEVE SMITHSON      20:54            5      
40      PETE O'REILLY      24:42            22      
41      LISA HADLEY      36:00      NEW      49      23
42      CARLY SMITH      25:31      SB      26      7
43       MARK GOODWIN      22:30            14      
44      GEMMA SMITH      25:42      NEW      28      8
45      ALISON HOPWOOD      22:59            17      2
46      PAUL HOLGATE      24:14      YB      20      
47      HELEN O'SULLIVAN      38:46            53      27
48      CHLOE HADLEY      36:35      NEW      50      24
49      ALAN GOODWIN      25:41      YB      27      
50      LYANNE HYAMS      36:45      NEW      51      25
51      JOAN RIDGER      31:56            42      18
52      RON COHEN      29:33            37      
53      ANGELA MOORE      39:47            54      28
54      MARIA RUSHTON      33:43            43      19
55      SIMON HARRIS      35:04            47      

PB = fastest time ever.
SB = season’s best (fastest time since 1st January 2008)
YB = year’s best (fastest time since 1st January 2009)

Bury

Nine Spartans tackled the tough Bury 20 mile road race on Sunday.  RICHARD BATE was 12th overall in his first ever 20 mile race with a time of 2 hours 10 minutes 22 seconds.  TRACY PEZ (2:53:20) and LYDIA CLARKSON (3:23:30) were also 20 first timers.  Club Chair MARK GLADING has been taking chunks off his times recently and was 133rd overall in 2 hours 42 minutes 37 seconds.  SARA O’CALLAGHAN continued her improvement with a new personal best of 2 hours 42 minutes 35 seconds.  She was 131st.

JIM BROWN (2:26:02) confounded predictions by running the race faster than the much flatter Bramley 20 the previous week.  RICHARD SIDLIN finished in 2 hours 35 minutes 31 seconds, ANDREW HULL in 2 hours 49 minutes 13 seconds and PAUL HOLGATE in 3:15:30.

In the associated “Nearly 10” event over about 9.54 miles ALAN GOODWIN was 80th in 1 hour 18 minutes 19 seconds.   The Spartans 20 mile times follow:



Name      Time      Position
(if known)      Comments
RICHARD BATE      2:10:22      12th      First 20 mile race.
JIM BROWN      2:26:02      56th      YB.  57 secs faster than a flat 20 last week.
RICHARD SIDLIN      2:35:31      93rd      
SARA O’CALLAGHAN      2:42:35      131st      PB
MARK GLADING      2:42:37      133rd      PB
ANDREW HULL      2:49:13      -      
TRACY PEZ      2:53:20      -      First 20 mile race
PAUL HOLGATE      3:15:30      -      
LYDIA CLARKSON      3:23:30      -      First 20 mile race


Hills of Royston, Mud of Hillingdon

Four Spartans ran in the prestigious national cross country championships at Parliament Hill Fields, London on Saturday.  It was a lovely afternoon but they say the conditions combined hills like Royston with mud like Hillingdon.

In women’s race over eight kilometres SHARON CROWLEY was 487th in 49 minutes 8 seconds, SARAH O’BRYAN 519th in 52 minutes 37 seconds, and NIKKI NATION 525th in 54:04.

DAVID BOWKER was 1,061st in the men’s race with a time of 58 minutes 28 seconds.   The men’s championship was over 12 kilometres.

RICHARD BATE has received an attractive trophy and medal for coming fifth overall in the Sunday Cross Country League.

Sean, Spartan, Seville, Spain, Sunday

Spartan SEAN THOMPSON was in Seville, Spain on Sunday to run his first marathon.  He finished the 26.2 miles in 3 hours 40 minutes 19 seconds.

Brighton Rocks

KERRY JAMES completed the Sussex Beacon Brighton Half Marathon on Sunday in a time of 1hr 39min 40sec.  The weather was cloudy and cool – perfect for running.  The last 3-4 miles were undulating so quite tough if you are tiring. She was very pleased with her time and came away unscathed apart from a couple of blisters.

Draycote Water Marathon - Sunday, 22nd February 2009

Two Spartans travelled to Draycote Water, near Rugby for a marathon that circled round the lake five times. With six hills each lap this was not an easy marathon, but despite being quite windy, weather conditions were pretty good.  ROGER BIGGS finished in 3 hours 52 minutes 15 seconds and MARK SANDERS in 4:18:38.

Chris Wins National Bronze at Indoor Pentathlon Championships

MONICA BROWN and CHRIS FEELY competed in their first indoor pentathlons in their respective age groups.  The event was no less than the BMAF (British Masters Athletics Federation) Championships and was held in the Lea Valley Indoor Arena.

Chris won a national bronze medal in the 45+ category and Monica was fourth in the 40+.

Their results were: 
Monica 60m hurdles 12.70, High Jump 1.36 (pb), Shot 6.34, Long Jump 4.08, 800m 3.05.69. Total points 2197.  4th overall

Chris 60m hurdles 13.16, High Jump 1.18 (pb), Shot 5.71 (pb) Long Jump 3.35, 800m 2.59.73. Total points 2108.   3rd National Bronze Medalist.

The Eastern Veterans Athletic Championships took place at the same time.  

TESSA STEPHENSON won 400 metres gold in the Vet 45+ category with a time of 78.35 seconds and bronze in the 200 metres with 33.33 seconds.  IRIS HORNSEY was a gold medallist in the 400 metres with 88.72 seconds and in the 800 metres with 3:21:36.  Iris competes in the Vet 65+ category.

Coming Events

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

•      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.
•      Good Friday 10 at Maidenhead on Friday 10th April
•      Flitwick 10K on Sunday 19th April
•      Flora London Marathon on Sunday 26th April.
•      Track events at Ridlins, Stevenage on Monday 4th May.
•      First Mid Week Road Race League event on Thursday 14th May.
•      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 170 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