News Release      
25th October 2009

RECORD BREAKING 95 SPARTANS IN HANDICAP 5K
Stevenage Half Marathon This Sunday

Another superb record breaking turnout of Spartans took part in the club’s Handicap 5K road race on Thursday evening.  Ninety five ran the race with many more helping out around the course.

The winner on the evening was newcomer KATIE BRADFORD, supported by mum Ruth in an excellent debut 5k time of 34:12, while another debutee, DAN WATKINS was first man home in a superb 23:49.  STEVE WATKINS was second man in an impressive 34:01 and ANDY PRIOR third man in 34:28.

PAULINE DIMMOCK was second female, improving her PB (personal best) by 1 minute 42 seconds since last month in an excellent 27:26, and DANIA HEATH third female in an equally impressive 27:19, 2 minutes 14 seconds faster than last month.

Fastest finisher on the evening was again RICHARD BATE in 17:07 in 18th position overall, with DANNY HUKIN second quickest in a fantastic debut time of 18:22, and BEN HARRIS third fastest also inside 19 minutes in 18:52.  In total 5 runners finished inside 20 minutes with TODD GRAY crossing the line in 19 minutes exactly and STEVE SMITHSON clocking 19:57.

Fastest female runner on the night was SAM PRETTY in a new PB of 20:42, with Ella CERAULO second quickest with a superb debut 5k time of 22 minutes exactly and MARIE COLUCCI third fastest as she improved her PB by 31 seconds to 22:16.

There will be no handicap 5k for the next 2 month's as the club's open 5k series takes centre stage on the same course.  The races on the 12th & 26th November and 10th December.  You can enter now by visiting www.fvspartans.org.uk

The handicap 5k will return in January 2010.

Cross Country League

30 Spartans – 17 men and 13 women tackled the first race of this season’s Sunday Cross Country League was held in the sun and wind at Broxbourne.

Just a week after his first sub 3 marathon run at Abingdon ANDREW PATTERSON was first Spartan in thirteenth place overall with a time of 29 minutes 58 seconds just two seconds ahead of RICHARD BATE who was fourteenth.

KERRY JAMES was first Spartan women with a time of 37:55 (152nd).  Next came TRACY PEZ in 38:48 (173rd) with ELLA CERAULO 39:48 (189th) and MARIE COLUCCI 39.58 (191st) still building on her success in Berlin not far behind.

Spartan men’s results:

Position      Name      Time
13      Andrew Patterson      29.58
14      Richard Bate      30.00
19      Andrew Gardiner      30.20*   
22      Shaw Pye      30.43
56      Steve Smithson      33.10
109      Graham Blackburn      36.11
125      Matt Jamieson            36.50
133      David Stephenson      37.25
140      Richard Sidlin      37.29
147      Andrew Hull      37.44
170      Steve Green      38.45
172      Darren Stephenson      38.47
184      Sean Thompson      39.43
185      Sean Griffin      39.45
203      Anthony White      41.02
284      Mark Cheadle      48.02
267      Matt Gatherar      46.24

Spartan Women’s Results:

Position      Name      Time
152      Kerry James      37.55
173      Tracy Pez      38.48
189      Ella Ceraulo      39.48
191      Marie Colucci      39.58
198      Sara O’Callaghan      40.28    
237      Barbara Wilson      43.17
260      Karen Liddle      45:34*
268      Sarah O'Bryan      46.19
295      Bev Aitken          48.53
300      Ann Tryssesoone      49.42
303      Cally Glading      49.59
310      Jeanette Collins      50.30*       
312      Iris Hornsey      51.00*

The team results are not yet available from the organizers.

Sharon and Paul Tough It Out in Snowdon – And Sharon’s a Record Breaker

Saturday 24th October, gale force winds, driving rain, flooded paths and roads, Saturday must have been the day for one of Britain's toughest races, the Snowdonia Marathon. With three steep climbs at 2 miles (1300 feet), 12 miles (550 feet) and 23 miles (1200 feet) the event is not for the fainthearted, but despite this and the conditions two Spartan regulars for this race took part again at the weekend.

SHARON CROWLEY first took part in this event in 1991 and has been back every year since.   Her time this year was 5 hours 4 minutes 19 seconds and with 18 finishes to her name Sharon has completed more Snowdon marathons than any other woman in the country. For PAUL HOLGATEe this was his 21st consecutive Snowdon marathon, running every race held since 1988 and ranking him among the top 10 people in the country for number of Snowdon finishes. This year saw Paul finish just inside 5 hours with a time of 4:56:40.

Simon and Claire Are Winners At Henlow

Two Spartans were among the winners in Wednesday’s Henlow 10 mile road race.  In this unique lunch-time race competitors are taken in coaches to the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden and run back to the finish in RAF Henlow.

CLAIRE BELL was third woman overall and first female vet (40 plus) in 1 hour 13 minutes 33 seconds.  SIMON BELL was second open vet (40 plus), first RAF vet and third RAF runner home in 1 hours 2 minutes 28 aseconds.

Times for all seven Spartans follow:

Pos’n      Name      Time      Comments
5      SIMON BELL      1:02:28      2nd open vet, 1st RAF vet, 3rd RAF runner
45      JIM BROWN      1:11:40      
51      CLAIRE PULLEN      1:13:33      3rd female, 1st vet 40
77      ANDREW HULL      1:17:28      
78      DAVE HAMILL      1:17:49      
134      CALLY GLADING (L)      1:28:47      PB
135      MARK GLADING      1:28:48      

Wet, Windy, Foggy and Muddy Doesn’t Stop Spartans At Beachy Head

On Saturday 24th October Spartans MIKE NEWBITT, CAROL PAUL, KEVIN LAWLOR and DAVE PAUL took part in the Beachy Head trail marathon from Eastbourne.  The conditions were wet, windy, foggy and muddy.  The usually beautiful scenery of the South Downs could not be seen due to the heavy fog and rain.  The race starts in Eastbourne and goes straight up and we mean up on to the South Downs.  The course goes in land and then comes back to the coast at the Seven Sisters Country Park where the runners have to go up and down the Seven Sisters and then finally up to Beachy Head and down to finish in Eastbourne.

Mike Newbitt finished in 5 hours 16 minutes followed by Carol Paul in 5:28.  Kevin Lawlor and Dave Paul finished together in 5 hours 50 minutes. 

Spartans on their Bikes

Some other Spartans were on their bikes riding “Emitremmus Desrever” – the 101 kilometre cycle ride from Stevenage to Saffron Walden and back that celebrates the End of Summertime on Sunday, the day the clocks changed.  280 cyclists took part.

Count Down to the Stevenage Half Marathon

Not long now until the Stevenage Half Marathon.  It’s on Sunday 1st November and starts and finishes at Ridlins Athletics Track.  Don’t miss out.  You can enter online now by going to www.fvspartans.org.uk. ; Please enter before the day of the race.

Coming Events

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

•      Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 1st November.
•      Stevenage 5K series on Thursdays 12th and 20th November and 10th December.
•      Wolverton Five on Saturday 28th November.
•      Spartans Handicap 5 and 10 mile races on Sunday 29th November.
•      Hertfordshire County Marathon Championship on Sunday 6th December.
•      Spartans’ Christmas Social on Friday 11th December.
•      London Marathon on Sunday 25th April.

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 now has almost 300 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