Fairlands Valley Spartans
A very warm evening made for a difficult run in Thursday’s Handicap 5K but that didn’t stop new Fairlands Valley Spartan Patrick Anyadi storming round in 27:35, 2:40 better than handicap, to win the event, closely followed by Rose Sutton in a year best time of 29:56, Elizabeth Crowley was second woman in 30:01 and Jane Wadey third woman with 39:06. Karl Shreeve was second man in 28:42 and Matt Tutton third man with 25:13.
Jay Papa was fastest runner on the night in 19:36, with Paul Mould second quickest in 20:46 and Charles Arnold third fastest in 23:07. Marie Colucci was fastest lady with a year’s best (YB) 23:15, with Annabelle White second quickest (24:35) and Megan Sutton third fastest in 25:23.
There were also personal bests (PBs) for Alex Scofield (23:43) and Joseph Wasnock (24:05).
In handicap races the slower runners start first and chased by the others starting at intervals based on recent races. The best improver wins.
Lots of thanks to Mike Crowley, Mark Freeman, Keith Fenwick, Brian White and Hannah Sypula for their help and support.
The July handicap will be on Thursday evening 24th July.
Bedfordshire 10K.
The Bedfordshire 10K was held in the evening of the longest day. Largely on cycleways and substantially flat. Four Spartans ran and three got under 39 minutes.
CHARLIE WHITE came in with 36:28.
MIKE JEFFS said it was a hot, sweaty, tough 10K. He didn’t think he’d ever been more exhausted after an event before like he was for this. However he ran a new four second personal best (PB) of 36 minutes 44 seconds (36:44).
ROSS GALLAGHER got under 39 for the first time with 38:58, a ten second personal best and third in his age category and GRANT RAMSAY finished in 42:07.
Mike won his age group and Charlie, Mike and Ross were third team.
And…. Mike Jeffs won the Shephalbury Park dads race on sports day
Beat the Sunset – Summer Solstice 10K
Two Spartans ran to “Beat the Sunset” in the Summer Solstice 10K on Friday evening. PAUL SHELLEY was twelfth out of the 262 finishers and first man 50 plus with 38:17 while ALISON SHELLEY was 230th and fourth woman 55 plus with 55:17.
Serpentine Sizzled
Only 27 degrees in Hyde Park on Friday lunch-time. After a cautious first two kilometres in the heat JIM BROWN sped up a bit and was happy to complete the hot and humid Serpentine 5K in 27 minutes 31 seconds.
Longbridge 100 Backyard Ultra. Victory with 23 laps and 95 miles.
Spartan ADRIAN BUSOLINI says Longbridge is a wonderful backyard race with a community ethos and a focus on sustainability. The game is to run a 6.7km course with a lap every hour, every hour, with the victor being the last person standing. For those who have not taken part in a backyard ultra before it is a last-man/woman-standing event where you must begin a new lap on the hour, every hour. The race will only end when there is just one more runner remaining to start a lap.
It was the hottest day of the year, which caused many runners considerable difficulty when the sun rose on the second day. Being quite comfortable in hot conditions, Adrian was able to capitalise on this, knocking out a series of faster laps to stamp my authority on the race. Victory came sooner than I (or perhaps anyone) anticipated, at just 23 laps, in a race that usually runs to about 30 laps. Such was the effect of the afternoon temperatures. 23 laps worked out at 95.84 miles.
It was a great day out with the legendary Jan Voorspoels in support, and such a friendly group of runners, marshals and of course Darren, the race director, and family, in the beautiful setting of the South Downs. If you fancy giving a backyard race a go, I can’t think of a better recommendation than Longbridge.
Vitosha 100K and not flat!
Spartan KRISTIAN ATANASOV completed the Vitosha 100K mountain Ultra marathon with 1800m D+ in 9 hours and 53 mins, finishing 19th in the Men’s Category out of about 700 men. The event was in the mountains near Sofia, Bulgaria.
Welwyn 10K
Sunday morning saw MATT TUTTON run the Welwyn 10K at Panshanger Park in 57:11. He was happy enough as he says he wilts at the first sign of warm weather. Not surprisingly it was hot and very dusty with the wind creating a dust bowl. Very different course conditions to the cold and frosty Panshanger Parkrun he ran in January!
Bass Belle Trail
The Bass Belle 10K is a trail event from Bassingbourn. Five or six degrees cooler than Saturday but still pretty warm.
MONICA SMITHSON’s time was 1 hour 13 minutes 37 seconds for the approximately 10K race. She was followed in by CALLIE CHAPMAN and HAZEL SMITH, both with 1:14:06.
Herts Hobble
Recently four Spartans enjoyed the Herts Hobble. This is a long distance cross country event from Baldock. KAREN LIDDELL and TRISHA HOPPER finished the 26.8 miles in 7 hours 39 minutes and SHARON and MIKE CROWLEY in 8 hours 27 minutes.
Parkrun Highlights Saturday 21st June.
At 9a.m. Saturday morning it was 22 degrees, not the really high temperatures later in the day, as 440 runners lined up for the 406th Stevenage parkrun. Thirty were from Fairlands Valley Spartans. Indeed three of the first five finishers were FVS. They were KIRK NDUGU second in 17:44; SIMON JACKSON third in 17:55 and PERRI GENTRY fifth in 19:019.
This week GAIL MACKIE was the fastest female from Fairlands with her 27:02.
A total of 48 Spartans ran parkruns on Saturday. Those elsewhere included NICK KLEANTHOUS on the Isle of Wight with 35:02; PETER SACH at Jubilee, Bedford in 28:58 and three at Henlow Bridge Lakes – PAUL MOULD in 21:59; CHARLES ARNOLD in 24:01 and MATT GIFFORD in 25:56.
Now the Spartans are looking ahead to the Mid Week League race on Wednesday 25th June.
