News Release      
6th December 2009

SPARTANS LAUGH ROUND THE GRIM 8
And In The Medals At County Marathon

Spartans go green at Grim 8.  Nineteen Spartans got very wet and muddy taking part in the Grim 8 Challenge on Saturday 5th December.  Due to its popularity the Grim 8 Challenge is held on Saturday and Sunday, with almost 5000 ‘nutters’ taking part across both days.  The event is held on land used to test Army vehicles, in Aldershot, Hampshire and is just over eight miles, on a mainly muddy, and wet, off road course.  Runners have to run/wade through many waist deep puddles, crawl under cargo nets and negotiate the ‘chicken korma’ clay mud section and associated puddles, where staying upright and not losing a trainer was a challenge in itself (of which not everyone succeeded!!). 

The weather conditions were perfect, and despite getting very wet and muddy, on a challenging course, every Spartan had a fantastic time, with much laughter, and most are already planning to enter next year’s event.   

Most of the Spartans wore a bright green afro wig, and matching make up, in support of MANDIE DIGWEED who was raising sponsorship for her Mum’s Macmillan’s cancer support  fund.  Mandie has already raised over £300 and it is not too late to sponsor her.

The first Spartan finisher was GRAHAM BLACKBURN who slithered round in 1 hour 12 minutes 35 secondsand was 386th out of thousands of runners.  KAREN LIDDLE (2,018th), SARAH O’BRYAN (2,019th) and TRICIA HOPPER (2,020th) led in the women in 1 hour 40 minutes 20 seconds. 

Full Spartan results were as follows:

Name      Time      Position
Graham Blackburn      1:12:35      386
Gary Mulhern      1:18:53      767
Ian Larman      1:29:33      1463
Phil Rushton      1:40:19      2016
Karen Liddle      1:40:20      2018
Sarah O Bryan      1:40:20      2019
Tricia Hopper      1:40:20      2020
Jackie Morrison      1:46:37      2269
Les Butler      1:46:38      2270
Debbie Dennis      1:50:01      2391
Michelle Long      1:50:02      2393
Anna O’Sullivan      1:51:03      2424
Gemma Parriss      1:51:03      2425
Rena Dudhia      2:04:10      2635
Mandie Digweed      2:04:11      2636
Annika Carroll      2:36:54      2707
Katrina Doyle      2:36:55      2708
Kaylee Potter      2:37:46      2709
Lisa Potter      2:37:46      2710

Sun Shines as Spartans get in the Medals at County Marathon

Sunday’s Luton Marathon incorporated the Hertfordshire County Marathon Championships and Fairlands Valley Spartans were determined to get a team round.  An objective which defeats many other clubs.

They did it with one to spare as PETE SMITH, JIM BROWN, ROGER BIGGS, PAUL HOLGATE and MARK SANDERS completed the 26.2 miles.

It’s never an easy course but the early morning deluge stopped just before the race started and conditions were pretty good for a December marathon.

PETE SMITH ran a fantastic 3 hours 19 minutes 13 seconds to finish in 92nd position.  He was supported by JIM BROWN, 200th in 3:41:19; ROGER BIGGS 302nd in 3:59:40; PAUL HOLGATE in 4:33:46 and MARK SANDERS in 4:41:05.

SHARON CROWLEY kept the flag flying for the Spartan women with a year’s best time of 4 hours 36 minutes 21 seconds.

(Due to a computer programme error the event organizers had not announced all the positions, category winners and county results at the time of writing). 

Full Spartans results follow:

Position (if known)      Name      Time      Comments
92nd      PETE SMITH      3:19:13      
200th      JIM BROWN      3:41:19      
302nd      ROGER BIGGS      3:59:40      
TBA      PAUL HOLGATE      4:33:46      
TBA      SHARON CROWLEY (L)      4:36:21      Year’s Best (YB)
TBA      MARK SANDERS      4:41:05      

Rich, Pretty and Broke Relay Round Luton

Team Rich, Pretty and Broke – the Fairlands Valley Team of RICHARD HAZLEDENE, SAMANTHA PRETTY and AMANDA BROOK completed Sunday’s Luton Marathon Relay in 3 hours 8 minutes 28 seconds.

Amanda did the first lap in 1.02.12, Sam the second lap in 1.02.03 and Richard lap three in 1.04.13

52 Out Of 52 Attempt Is Still On

More than eleven months into 2009 and ROGER BIGGS is getting closer to his goal for the year which was to run a marathon (or further) at least once in each week of the year.  This Sunday he was close to home for the Luton Marathon (see Luton story).  Last week he took part in the Gatliff 50K off road event from Edenbridge.  It took him 8 hours 26 minutes 57 seconds to negotiate the 31 miles.  A marathon is 42.2 kilometres.

PB for Pez at the Nene Valley 10 Miles

It was a nice warm dry morning in Peterborough for the Nene Valley 10 mile race.  This was mixture of on and off road – with lots of puddles.

Spartan TRACY PEZ powered to a new personal best of 1 hour 14 minutes 35 seconds.  RICHARD SIDLIN finished in 1:10:57.

Pye at Pednor

Just three days after recording a new personal best for five kilometres Spartan SHAW PYE was in Buckinghamshire for the Pednor 10 mile road race.  This is a hilly two lap event round some country lanes.  Shaw was sixth in the race with a time of 63 minutes 48 seconds.

Third 5K on Thursday 10th

The third and final event in the three race Stevenage 5K series will be this Thursday evening, 10th December.  The event starts at 7.45p.m. and will be on the Fairlands Way, Verity Way, Grace Way, Fairlands Way course with the finish at Douglas Drive.  Race headquarters will be in the gymnastics centre at Marriotts School.  More details are available from the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk. ;

Coming Events

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

•      Stevenage 5K on Thursday evening 10th December.
•      Spartans’ Christmas Social on Friday 11th December.
•      Bedfordshire Half Marathon on Sunday 13th December.
•      Third Cross Country League Race at Trent Park on Sunday 13th December.
•      Buntingford Year End Ten on Monday 28th December.
•      New Year’s Day 10K in Hyde Park on Friday 1st January.
•      Fourth Cross Country League Race at Royston on Sunday 3rd January.
•      County Cross Country Championships on Sunday 10th January.
•      Fred Hughes Ten Mile Road Race (inc. county champs) on Sunday 24th January.
•      South of England Cross Country Championships on Saturday 30th January.
•      Spartans Presentation Evening on Friday 5th February.
•      Watford Half Marathon (inc. county vets champs) on Sunday 7th February.
•      Bramley 20 Mile Race on Sunday 14th February.
•      St. Valentine’s 30K on Sunday 14th February.
•      Fifth Cross Country League Race at Watford on Sunday 21st February.
•      Southern and County Veterans Cross Country Championships on 14th March.
•      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 350 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.  Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk ; Please ask if you would like a paper copy. 

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (01438 354505 or 0793 968 7509), Sara O’Callaghan 077911 51 986 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

E N D S

More from Jim Brown (Press Officer) 01438 354505 / 0793 968 7509 or Sara O’Callaghan (Secretary) 077911 51 986

www.fvspartans.org.uk