News Release      
7th February 2010

CHAMPIONS NIGHT
And Another Gold

About one hundred and forty Fairlands Valley Spartans packed into the club’s annual Presentation Evening on Friday night.

Recently CHRIS LEIGH won the Herts Sports Partnership and the “Comet” coach of the year award.  Now he has been voted Spartan of the Year for 2009 by club members and won the Chair’s Award.

ANNETTE BELL is the Spartans’ overall club champion and DAVID BOWKER won the men’s championship.

The top three in the women’s short distance (1500m, 5K, 5 miles, 10K) championship were IRIS HORNSEY, JO LAING and ANNETTE BELL.   For the men it was DAVID BOWKER, SIMON BELL and RICHARD BATE.

CHRIS KING led in the women in the long distance (10 miles, half marathon, 20 miles, full marathon) championship followed by ANNETTE BELL and SARA O’CALLAGHAN.  DAVID BOWKER also topped the table in the men’s championship where he was pursued by SIMON BELL and JIM BROWN.

TESSA STEPHENSON and PETE SMITH won the track and field championships.  Pete was also the most improved male Spartan with ANGELA MOORE winning the women’s award.

TREVOR SETTERFIELD won the Bryan Moore Shield in the club’s Handicap 10 mile race.  ANDREW PATTERSON and SIMON JACKSON were joint fastest men with exactly the same time.  JO LAING was the quickest woman.

HELEN BROUGHTON won the Paul Maguire Handicap Shield in the Jubilee Five Mile Race.

STEVE SMITHSON and TRICIA HOPPER won the captains’ prizes for their support for the club in the Mid Week League and Cross Country League races.

JASON SCALES won the Starter of the Year award.

Hundreds of pictures will soon be available in the gallery on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk

Bowker Follows Up At Watford

Two days after picking up the overall men’s champion 2009 trophy at the Spartans presentation evening DAVID BOWKER was putting down a marker for 2010 by winning a GOLD medal in the County Half Marathon Championships and being first Spartan across the finish line.  He was 72nd out of 1,846 finishers with a time of 1 hour 24 minutes 31 seconds round the tough Watford 13.1 miles course.

BEN HARRIS was also under an hour and a half.  He finished 114th in 1 hour 26 minutes 51 seconds.

The Spartans team in the Herts Vets Championship consisted of David Bowker, ANDY GARRETT (1:34:57), JIM BROWN (1:36:16) and PAUL HOLGATE (1:57:19).

SHARON CROWLEY was the first Spartan woman with her time of 2 hours 3 minutes 40 seconds.  MARK CHEADLE ran a new personal best of 2 hours 13 minutes 21 seconds.

Position (if known)      Name      Time      Comments
72      DAVID BOWKER      1:24:31      County Gold (MV50)
114      BEN HARRIS      1:26:51      
238      KERRY FLAIN      1:32:09      
311      ANDY GARRETT      1:34:57      
352      JIM BROWN      1:36:16      5MV50
435      SEAN THOMPSON      1:38:16      
744      PATRICK MARSHALL      1:44:33      
1284      PAUL HOLGATE      1:57:19      
1512      KEVIN LAWLOR      2:04:04      
1524      SHARON CROWLEY      2:03:40      
1567      DOUG HALL      2:06:13      
1619      CAROL PAUL      2:09:20      
1664      JULIE GOODWIN      2:10:57      
1697      MARK CHEADLE      2:13:21      PB
1743      JACKIE MORRISON      2:17:49      
1754      LES BUTLER      2:19:02      

Roger off the Pilgrim’s Road to Morocco

On Saturday ROGER BIGGS took part in the XNRG Pilgrim 33 mile challenge.  That’s an event runs almost entirely along the North Downs Way – this section was formerly know as the Pilgrims Way.

After some really tough climbs and muddy sections, Roger was happy to finish in 7 hours 45 minutes 29 seconds.

Preston Pace

Second claim new member GRANT RAMSEY was second in the race when he ran the Central Lancashire Half Marathon in Preston in 1 hour 14 minutes 28 seconds.
 
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

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

•      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.
•      Spartans Handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday evening 25th 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 in Trent Park 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.
•      First EVAC track and field meeting on Wednesday 5th May.
•      First Mid Week League 10K race in WGC on Tuesday 11th May.
•      East Cambridgeshire Half Marathon on Sunday 16th May (TBC).
•      Edinburgh Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday 23rd May.
•      Second Mid Week League 10K race in Stevenage on Tuesday 25th 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