News Release      
24th January 2010

SMILING SPARTAN SIMON SIZZLES ST ALBANS
Monica Is A National Champion and Spartans Are Club Of The Year

Two Spartan Simons were running well at the Fred Hughes 10 Mile Road Race in St. Albans on Sunday.

SIMON JACKSON was third overall out of about 620 finishers and second senior man with a magnificent new personal best (PB) of 58 minutes 27 seconds on an undulating course.

SIMON BELL was 12th in 1 hour and 22 seconds (1:00:22).

The race incorporated the Hertfordshire County Championships for veterans.  Spartan DAVID BOWKER won the SILVER medal for men aged 50 plus in 64 minutes 12 seconds and KERRY JAMES won the SILVER for women aged 35 plus in 74 minutes 44 seconds.

The fastest Spartan woman was ELLA CERAULO, fifth senior woman in the race and 145th overall in a new best ever time of 74 minutes 25 seconds.

LIZ MORGAN ran a new PB of 1 hour 47 minutes 28 seconds.

Twenty two Spartans took part:

Position      Name      Time      Comments
3      SIMON JACKSON      58:27      Second senior.  PB.
12      SIMON BELL      1:00:22      
35      DAVID BOWKER      1:04:14      County Silver
56      BEN HARRIS      1:06:30      
117      ANDY GARRETT      1:11:49      
122      JIM BROWN      1:12:35      
145      ELLA CERAULO (L)      1:14:25      PB
156      KERRY JAMES (L)      1:14:44      County Silver
227      MICK CONNELL      1:18:13      
239      STEPHEN GREEN      1:18:55      
265      ROB SHAW      1:20:35      
369      PAUL HOLGATE      1:27:17      
393      ROGER HARDMAN      1:28:08      
453*      CHRIS HARDMAN (L)      1:31:57      
512      BEVERLEY HARLOW (L)      1:35:52      
513      SHARON CROWLEY (L)      1:35:53      
525      KEVIN LAWLOR      1:37:12      
531      MARK CHEADLE      1:38:29      
548      DAVE PAUL      1:40:05      
587      LIZ MORGAN (L)      1:47:28      PB
588      SUE CONNELL (L)      1:47:46      
599      ISABEL GREEN (L)      1:50:29      

(Team results had not been released when this was written).
PHOTO OF MEDAL WINNERS ATTACHED.

Monica and Iris Are Champions

Spartan MONICA BROWN won the British Master Athletics Federation GOLD medal for women aged 40 plus in the indoor pentathlon championships which were held at Lee Valley on Sunday.  She scored 2,239 points by completing the 60 metres hurdles in a personal best of 12.16; clearing a new PB of 1.36 in the high jump, throwing the shot 6.31 metres, scoring a new indoor personal best of 4.37 in the long jump and running 800 metres in 3 minutes 7.98 seconds.

CHRIS FEELY took BRONZE in the 45 plus category with 2,094 points.  She did the hurdles in 13.74, jumped a new PB of 1.21, threw the shot 5.59 metres, long jumped a new indoor PB of 3.50 metres and ran a new indoor PB of 2 minutes 58.2 seconds for the 800 metres.

In the East of England Championships held at the same venue IRIS HORNSEY won two GOLD medals in the women over 65 category.  She won the 800 metres in 3 minutes 33.05 seconds and the 400 metres in 1 minutes 32.30 seconds.

Ultra 45

JOHN WILDEN took part in Saturday’s Ultra45 which is a 45 mile ultra marathon starting at Northampton and ending in Tring.  It uses the route of the Grand Union Canal and takes in Milton Keynes, Bletchley and Leighton Buzzard.  The event is fully off road event using the grassed towpaths (well muddy) with some lovely scenery along the way.  John finished in 9 hours 14 minutes 20 seconds.

Benfleet 15

Spartans SEAN THOMPSON and AMANDA BROOK were at the Benfleet 15 mile race on Sunday.  It was very, very muddy and a lot of hard work but also very enjoyable.  Sean finished in 2 hours 7 minutes 23 seconds and Amanda in 2:11:26.

Gloucester Marathon

Spartan ROGER BIGGS continued his string of marathons in every week with the three undulating and cold but dry laps of the Gloucester Marathon.  He finished in 3 hours 49 minutes 35 seconds.

Spartans Are Club Of The Year!

On a fabulous evening of success for Fairlands Valley Spartans, the Club had no less than five finalists at the 2009 Comet Sports Awards on Friday evening - and celebrated an outstanding double by winning the Club of the Year Award, and the Coach of the Year Award through Head Coach, Chris Leigh. 

It was a fantastic tribute to every member of the Club, and a fitting way to round off the Club's Silver Jubilee celebrations, to be recognised as the top sporting club in North Herts in 2009.

Chris's award comes hot on the heels of his recognition as the top male coach in the County at the recent Herts Sports Partnership Awards, and is further testimony to the strength of the coaching team at the Spartans.

Recognition was also rightly earned by three other Spartans who reached the final three in their respective categories.

Simon Harris in the Paul Pearce Disability category, having won the same award for 2008, was recognised for another great year in 2009.

Iris Hornsey was recognised for her achievements in track and field in the Veteran Achievement category.

And Tony Osborne was a finalist in the Service to Sport category, in recognition of his many years of service to athletics.

Last membership of the Spartans increased by 57%.  There was a 90% increase in female membership.

Run4Fun With The Spartans

The Spartans Run4Fun sessions for 17 to 25 year olds have started on Saturday mornings.

Don't worry if you missed week one, you can join in this Saturday (or another Saturday if you are already busy this week) when a very warm welcome will be waiting for you no matter how cold the weather.  For more information contact Paul Holgate on 07764 237659, or by e-mail at paul.holgate@bt.com, or simply turn up at 9:15 a.m. at Ridlins Athletic Track, Woodcock Road (off Gresley Way) in Stevenage on any Saturday morning.

Working with Stevenage Borough Council, the Herts Sports Partnership and Sport Stevenage the aim is to enable sport participation by youngsters in Hertfordshire to increase and for as many people as possible to become able to Run4Fun in 2010.  No previous experience or ability is required. Sessions will start at around one hour long increasing to two hours after the first five weeks.  The aim is to have you running for fun as a regular part of your weekly routine by the Spring.  Even if you have never run before, the sessions have been carefully tailored so that individuals run, walk and rest as much or as little as they require.  Give it a go and you will notice a gradual increase in the amount you are able to run, and a decrease in the amount of walking and rest required as the weeks progress. Running 4 fun will also help you look and feel fitter in your everyday life. Participation is completely free for the first 5 weeks with a minimal fee of 50p per week thereafter to cover insurance requirements.

Coming Events

The next Spartans Handicap 5K race will be on the Fairlands Way, Verity Way, Martins Way, Grace Way course in Stevenage this Thursday evening, 28th January.  The start will be near Webb Rise and the finish near Douglas Drive.  The first runners will start at about 7.15p.m.

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

•      Last Friday of the Month 5K in Hyde Park, London on Friday 29th January.
•      South of England Cross Country Championships on Parliament Hill Fields, London this 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.
•      Last Friday of the Month 5K in Hyde Park, London on Friday 26th February.
•      Roding Valley Half Marathon on Sunday 28th February.
•      Milton Keynes Half Marathon on Sunday 7th March.
•      Wymondham 20 Mile Race on Sunday 7th March.
•      Southern and County Veterans Cross Country Championships on 14th March.
•      Orion 15 mile cross country race on Saturday 20th March.
•      Fleet and Brentwood Half Marathons on 21st March.
•      Finchley 20 Mile Race on Sunday 28th March.
•      Rearranged County Cross Country Championships at Watford on Sunday 28th March.
•      Maidenhead Easter Ten on Friday 2nd April.
•      Sandy 10 on Sunday 11th April.
•      Flitwick 10K on Sunday 18th April.
•      London Marathon on Sunday 25th April.
•      East Cambridgeshire Half Marathon on Sunday 16th May (TBC).
•      Edinburgh Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday 23rd May.
•      Hatfield Broad Oak 10K on Monday 31st May.
•      St. Albans Half Marathon on Sunday 13th June.
•      Lee Valley 10K on Sunday 4th July.
•      Great Yarmouth Half Marathon on Sunday 22nd August.
•      Burnham Beeches Half Marathon (BMAF Champs) on Sunday 22nd August.
•      Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 7th 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 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