Fairlands Valley Spartans Weekly Results – 1st July 2024

Welwyn 10K

Spartan PETE COOK clocked a time of 58:59 in Sunday’s Welwyn 10K at Panshanger Park.  That was approximately 10 minutes faster than in last year’s temperature of 30 degrees and sunshine.

JANE McFARLANE finished in 1:06:36.

Serpentine

Friday’s 5K in Hyde Park was won in 14 minutes 42 seconds!  Meanwhile JIM BROWN who runs this Serpentine event on a regular basis finished in 27 minutes 42 seconds!

Parkrun Highlights 29^th June

23 Spartans were among the 410 finishers of the 353^rd Stevenage parkrun and the club’s SIMON JACKSON won it with 17 minutes 30 seconds (17:30).  GRANT RAMSAY was top three in 19:16.

KEITH HOOKER ran a new parkrun personal best (PPB) of 22:34.

It was 50 up and a special celebration for CRAIG BACON who ran his 50^th parkrun in 24 minutes 38 seconds.  YUKO GORDON was third woman with 24:08 and GAIL MACKIE ran her 110^th parkrun in exactly 27 minutes.

Spartans elsewhere included ASHLEY JOHNSON first woman at Great Denham in 19:36; SUZY HAWKINS 22:38 and second woman and GEORGIE HOOPER 26:44 at Letchworth; SIMON HAIGH at Sheringham in 26:02; CHLOE CHAPMAN 28:41 in Exmouth; NICK KLEANTHOUS 31:35 at Rushmere; PAUL JENNINGS 32:34 on the Dunstable Downs; JONATHAN JONES and DZENANA TOPIC 36:05 and 36:07 at the Wimpole Estate; SAMANTHA SUTTON, TRACY HAYGARTH and MATTHEW PATTMAN in 36:07; 39:49 and 49:09 at Keswick parkrun; 

Coming Soon – 3K to 50K

Relays in the Park on Thursday evening 18^th July.  Every runner completes a 3K loop in Fairlands Valley Park, Stevenage.  Great to do and great for spectators.  See https://www.fvspartans.org.uk/calendar-all/races-events/3k-relays/ 

The Fairlands Valley off-road challenge on Sunday 21^st July.  Big choice of distances.  Five from 10 to 50 kilometres including a marathon.  See https://www.fvspartans.org.uk/fairlands-valley-challenge/ 

Anniversary Marathon and Stevenage Half

Fairlands Valley Spartans are in their 40^th Anniversary Year and a high point will be the Stevenage Marathon which they are organising on Sunday 20^th October.  There will also be a half marathon on the same day.

The events will be licenced by England Athletics.  567 entries are already in.

The start and finish will be in Hampson Park.  This year the charity is Pancreatic Cancer UK.  Entries are £40 for the full marathon and £30 for the half with discounts for members of clubs affiliated to England Athletics.  The races will include county championships for Hertfordshire.

Coming Events – the Short List (updated)

The Spartans are looking forward to a busy programme of races.  Here are some road race league, county championship and club organised events:  

• EMAC track and field fixture in Milton Keynes on Wednesday evening 3^rd July.
• Mid Week League in Trent Park on Thursday 4^th July.
• Stevenage Race for Life (3K, 5K, 10K or muddy) on Sunday 7^th July.
• Mid Week League Mob Match on Wednesday evening 10^th July.
• FVS Captains’ Evening on Friday 12^th July.
• FVS Summer Takeover at Stevenage parkrun on Saturday 13^th July.
• County 10K track championships in Sandy on Wednesday evening 17^th July.
• Relays in the Park organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans on Thursday 18^th July.
• Fairlands Valley Challenge off road organised by Fairlands Valley Spartans on Sunday 21^st July.
• FVS club handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday evening 25^th July.
• EMAC track and field fixture in Sandy on Wednesday evening 31^st July.
• Resolution track 5K in Stevenage on Wednesday 31^st July.
• Woodstock Anniversary Run on Saturday 17^th August (TBC).
• Senior 5K County Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday evening 28^th August.
• FVS club handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday evening 29^th August.
• Veterans 5K County Championships and open at Hatfield on Wednesday evening 4^th September.
• FVS club handicap 5K in Stevenage on Thursday evening 19^th September.
• Spartans 40^th Anniversary Afternoon at Walkern on Saturday 21^st September.
• Standalone 10K including the Hertfordshire veterans’ championships on Sunday 6^th October.
• Stevenage Marathon and Half Marathon 40^th Anniversary on Sunday 20^th October.  Include county championships.  Organised by FVS.
• Hatfield Five Miles on Sunday 24^th November.  Includes county championships and open races.
• FVS at the Secret London Run on Saturday 14^th December.
• Buntingford 10 (miles) including County senior and British Masters championships on Sunday 29^th December.

Join The Spartans

Live in or near Stevenage?  Like running?  Fairlands Valley Spartans is your local running club and is on the up!  They were founded in 1984 and named after the local park.  The Spartans have about 300 members, about 50/50 women and men.  They have an average age of 46, from late teens to 70 plus, with a very wide range of ability and running interests.

The Spartans encourage participation by all.  They have a varied training programme to suit those who want to run 5 kilometres through to full marathons.  It puts back into the sport by organising events such as the Stevenage Marathon, Half Marathon, Fairlands Valley Challenge, the Relays in the Park and events for the Mid Week and Cross Country Leagues.  Benefits of membership include free entry to mid week league, cross country league and the relay races.  Members of Fairlands Valley Spartans also get discounts on entries to many open events making the FVS subscription very good value.

The Spartans regular training is free for all members.  There’s an introductory session on Monday evenings, Tuesday sessions now with up to six groups, and three choices on Thursdays, and a track session at 9.15a.m. for 9.30a.m. on Saturday mornings; plenty for a huge range of abilities and loads of opportunities to progress.  You can run with the Spartans five days a week.  Tuesday and Thursday sessions are from the Stevenage Hockey Club, Ditchmore Lane, Old Town, SG1 3LJ at 7p.m.  The Spartans also have some Wednesday mid morning daylight runs at 10a.m.  In the summer the club have some early Tuesday morning runs for faster runners.

Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 9a.m. sharp.  Spartan track training sessions are held at Ridlins Athletics Track, Woodcock Road, Stevenage most Saturdays from 9.30a.m.  There are events to enter every Sunday and all Spartans get FREE entry to the summer Mid Week Road Race League and the winter Sunday cross country league.  Newcomers are very welcome – those who have not yet done very much running might prefer to start with a Thursday, Saturday or Monday session. 

We’ll have daylight again from early April but in the meantime please wear light coloured clothes and have a light for the evening training sessions.

Membership is only £45 per year for 2024/2025 which includes England Athletics affiliation (£19) and thus discounts for many events and participation in many competitions and training opportunities.  Concessions are available (£32.50).  Accompanied juniors £27.50.  Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk  Please ask if you would like a paper copy.  You can also join online.