News Release                  
21st June 2009

MIDWEEK MOUNTAIN

Despite a difficult journey after work and a very challenging course sixty two Spartans ran in the third Mid Week League race which was in Chingford on Wednesday evening.

Predictably Orion did much better in their home fixture.  This relegated Fairlands Valley Spartans to fifth in the men's race, last in the ladies race and last overall, but the club is hanging onto its critical fourth position by the narrowest possible margin – one point.

Wednesday’s race was over about 6.75 miles (10.8K).  Sections of the course were off road and there were major climbs at one mile and, particularly, five miles.  SIMON JACKSON was first Spartan finishers in 14th position with a time of 39 minutes 42 seconds.  Next in the men’s race came RICHARD BATE, 17th in 39:49; SIMON BELL 31st in 40:51; ANDREW PATTERSON, 40th in 41:50; DUNCAN CHOOSEY 46th in 42:28 and DAVID BOWKER, 48th in 43:05.

In the women’s event CHRIS KING was second in her age group and the first Spartan woman by finishing 20th in 48 minutes 23 seconds.   KERRY JAMES was only one second behind her in 21st place.   CLAIRE HADDLETON, 25th in 49:39, TRACY PEZ, 38th in 51:50, ALISON HOPWOOD, 43rd in 52:26, and MARIE COLUCCI, 47th in 53:30 completed the club’s top six.

Now it’s all down to the last race in the series which will be in St. Albans on Thursday 2nd July.

Times and positions for all 62 Fairlands Valley Spartans follow.

Overall Race Position      Male/ Female      Name      Time
14      14      SIMON JACKSON      39:42
17      17      RICHARD BATE      39:49
31      31      SIMON BELL      40:51
42      40      ANDREW PATTERSON      41:50
49      46      DUNCAN CHOOSEY      42:28
52      48      DAVID BOWKER      43:05
64      59      TODD GRAY      43:51
71      66      JAMIE LAIRD      44:21
75      69      BEN HARRIS      44:31
80      72      PAUL CARTER      44:45
86      76      STEVE SMITHSON      44:57
91      80      ANDY BRAMALL      45:12
95      83      MICHAEL GREEN      45:29
109      94      RICHARD  HAZELDENE      46:22
112      97      PETE SMITH      47:00
113      98      ADRIAN DONNELLY      47:04
114      99      GRAHAM BLACKBURN      47:05
117      101      JIM BROWN      47:06
126      109      MATTHEW JAMIESON      47:44
129      112      MARK BEASLEY      48:05
133      115      RICHARD SIDLIN      48:10
135      20      CHRIS KING (L)      48:23
137      21      KERRY JAMES (L)      48:24
142      119      SEAN THOMPSON      48:45
145      122      ROGER BIGGS      48:54
155      25      CLAIRE HADDLETON (L)      49:39
171      140      LIAM HERBERT      51:08
175      142      SEAN GRIFFIN      51:28
182      147      MARK GOODWIN      51:54
184      38      TRACY PEZ (L)      51:50
192      43      ALISON HOPWOOD (L)      52:26
195      152      GARY MULHERN      52:36
202      158      KIERAN FEETHAM      53:28
205      47      MARIE COLUCCI (L)      53:30
206      160      ROBERT EVANS      53:32
213      50      NIKKI ANDREWS (L)      53:49
220      166      NICK STEWART      55:04
226      170      ROGER HARDMAN      55:36
227      171      MICK CONNELL      55:36
232      59      BARBARA WILSON (L)      56:35
235      61      DAWN EASBY (L)      57:13
256      70      CHRIS MCCULLOUGH (L)      59:19
260      188      IAN LARMAN      59:36
263      190      JOHN ALLEN      1:00:19
267      193      PAUL HOLGATE      1:01:04
269      76      SHARON CROWLEY (L)      1:01:24
272      79      CHRISTINE HARDMAN (L)      1:02:35
275      82      VERONICA MAGUIRE (L)      1:03:04
276      83      JULIE GOODWIN (L)      1:03:21
279      84      MANDY BULLOCK (L)      1:03:40
282      86      LORRAINE THOMAS (L)      1:04:06
283      87      SUE LEIGH (L)      1:04:18
285      89      TRICIA HOPPER (L)      1:04:28
288      199      RON COHEN      1:05:26
293      92      MARIA THORNE (L)      1:07:00
295      93      JEANETTE COLLINS (L)      1:07:39
296      94      LINA PORECHA (L)      1:07:50
298      96      TRACY STILES (L)      1:09:13
299      97      MICHELLE LONG (L)      1:09:41
304      100      NIKKI TOUT (L)      1:10:35
305      101      SARAH KEARSEY (L)      1:11:35
309      105      JOAN RIDGER (L)      1:14:02

Marston Forest 5K

CHRIS LEIGH enjoyed a lovely run around the Marston Forest Park on Friday evening.  He ran the 5K race in a new season’s best time of 21 minutes 48 seconds but hopes for more improvement at this distance this year.  PAUL HOLGATE finished in 24:18.

Night of Flanders Marathon - Friday, 19th June 2009

Four Spartans travelled to the lively Belgium town of Torhout for the Night of Flanders Marathon on Friday.  This is a flat two lap marathon that starts at 8p.m!

Favourable weather conditions helped ROGER BIGGS continue to re-write the marathon training manual. On his 34th consecutive week of running a marathon or further, Roger beat his best time since he did this same marathon last year, by over 10 minutes, to finish in 165th place out of 452 finishers.

DAVE FARTHING was 397th in 4:32:41; CAROL PAUL 410th in 4:39:07 and MIKE NEWBITT 413th in 4:39:33.

Farthingstone Off Road Marathon - Saturday, 13th June 2009

The previous weekend four Spartans took part in the Farthingstone Off Road Marathon near Northampton.  Slow going on the undulating course due to underfoot conditions, plus 79 stiles to climb over and numerous gates to negotiate.  It was a lovely day, although slightly on the warm side.  However two of the checkpoints were serving beer!

CAROL PAUL and MARK SANDERS finished in 6 hours 29 minutes 51 seconds, ROGER BIGGS in 6:56:11 and MICHAELA SANDERS in ten hours.

Cheltenham Circular Off Road Marathon - Sunday, 14th June 2009

Then on the Sunday ROGER BIGGS ran the Cheltenham Circular Off Road Marathon.  This started from Cheltenham Race Course and went into the surrounding countryside including the Chilterns.  He described the first section as hilly, second section had a severe & long climb, but then there were two much more friendly sections.  The weather was for sunbathing, not running!  Roger finished in 6:37:29.

Man v Horse 22 miles

In this unique event at Llanwrtyd Wells in Wales the horse & the race start together, but the horse beats most!!

Spartan MIKE NEWBITT completed the 22 miles in 4 hours 1 minute 23 seconds.  KEVIN LAWLOR and DAVE PAUL finished together in 4:43:30.

And several Spartans took part in the Stevenage Circular Cycle on Sunday.

The Midweek Road Race League

Last year Fairlands Valley Spartans were delighted to win promotion to the top division of the Mid Week Road Race League and turned out huge numbers for each event.  After 124 different Spartans ran in the first two races the club is preparing for the fourth fixture in this year’s series which will be in St. Albans on Thursday 2nd July.  The four counting events are all around ten kilometres.  If you want to support your local club why not join Fairlands Valley Spartans now?  See www.fvspartans.org.uk for details.

Coming Events

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

•      Serpentine 5K on Friday 26th June.
•      Borehamwood Half Marathon on Sunday 28th June.
•      Fourth Mid Week Road Race League event in St Albans on Thursday 2nd July.
•      Cranfield Five Mile Race on Friday 3rd July.
•      The Midweek “Mob Match” at Trent Park on Wednesday 15th July.
•      Fairlands Valley Off Road Challenge on Sunday 19th July.
•      Milton Keynes Half Marathon on Sunday 19th July.
•      Midweek Relays in Fairlands Valley Park on Tuesday 21st July.
•      Open and County Ten Mile Championships for Veterans at WGC on Sunday 6th September.
•      Silver Jubilee Five Mile Race in Fairlands Valley Park on Sunday 13th September.
•      Silver Jubilee Gala Ball on Saturday 17th October.
•      Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 1st November.

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 230 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