Fairlands Valley Spartans
50,000 – Ultra Gerry
GERRY ROSEN took part in London Lea Valley Ultra race on Saturday.
It’s a 50 kilometre race that starts in Welwyn Garden City and follows a disused railway line, the Cole Green Way over to Hertford, it then follows the River Lea all the way to finish by the Olympic Stadium in Hackney Wick. It was Gerry’s first attempt at an Ultra. There were three aid stations en route and glorious weather to be had and it proved to be successful as he finished the course in a respectable 7 hours 11 minutes 55 seconds (7:11:55). It’s a perfect introduction into the world of Ultra Marathon running and he’ll be back next year.
32,206 – More 20s
Four Spartans recently ran the Oakley 20 mile race.
JAY PAPA was 39th out of the 569 finishers in 2 hours 18 minutes 32 seconds (2:18:32); and TERRY SAWYER 201st in 2:51:32. JESS CLARKE took a huge chunk off her personal best with 2:55:07 and CHARLES ARNOLD was third man over 65 with 2:55:43.
5000 – Serpentine
It was sunny, mild with a light breeze by the Serpentine for the Last Friday of the Month 5K in Hyde Park. After a slow first kilometre Spartan JIM BROWN was 225th in 27 minutes 56 seconds (27:56; 64.1%).
As usual there was a great range of runners in Hyde Park. The winner finished in 16 minutes 16 seconds; the first woman in 18:39 and the last to come in was an 85 year old with 40:43.
SUE HAMER ran the recent Lee Valley 10K in a time of 54.47. She was tenth in the 50-59 age category.
1500 – Peter Lee Memorial Open Meeting, Ridlins ,
Four Spartans ran 1500 metres at the Peter Lee Memorial Open race on Sunday.
PAUL SHELLEY ran a new PB of 5 minutes 1 second (5:01) beating his best of last year by 21 seconds.
SHARON CROWLEY finished in 7 minutes 56 seconds.
Times for Andrew Patterson and Simon Jackson should be released soon.
Parkrun Highlights Saturday 29th March
Spartan SIMON JACKSON was first of the 545 parkrunners were at Saturday’s 394th Stevenage parkrun which is finished in exactly 17 minutes.
34 Fairlands Valley Spartans ran at Stevenage. GRANT RAMSAY was sub 20 with 19:28. CRAIG BACON ran a new parkrun personal best of 21:23 and LINDA GEORGE a new PPB of 26:34. Linda was also the fastest female from Fairlands. PENNY SCHENKEL ran round in 28 minutes exactly, her fastest since 2018 and an improvement of 3:41 on her best time so far this year. JIM BROWN was first man 70 plus with 28:40.
Altogether 46 Spartans were at parkruns across the country. Those away from Stevenage included JOHN NELMS 24:55 and SUZY HAWKINS 25:46 at Henlow Bridge Lakes; THOMAS SAUKA among 194 at the new Oaklands College parkrun; and JESSICA CLARKE 28:22 at the Shrewsbury parkrun.
