Fairlands Valley Spartans
There were 609 runners in race one of this season’s Mid Week Road Race League which was held in Stevenage on Wednesday 28th May and 87 of them were from Fairlands Valley Spartans. 16 clubs took part so that’s fantastic participation by FVS.
The Spartan men and Spartan women were both second in the Division Two race. Overall the club were equal first on points. That’s a great start to the series.
GEORGIE HOOPER was second in her category with 44:34, MARIE COLUCCI was second in hers with 46:01 and OLIVIA LACIGOVA fourth in hers with 44:59. MEGAN SUTTON ran a new personal best of 54:57, amazing on that course. Women’s “A” teams consisted of eight runners and the Spartans had a total of 35 female runners.
SIMON FRASER was sixth overall with 34:22. DAVID HARRIS-CHERGUIT was tenth man and third in his category with 35:27. RALPH DADSWELL was fastest man 60 plus with 39:45. Men’s “A” teams consisted of 12 runners and the Spartans had a total of 52 male runners.
In addition FVS won the veteran women’s competition and won the veterans combined men and women event.
Then there was another tremendous turnout from Fairlands Valley Spartans at the Watford midweek race on Wednesday 4th June. When the results are published FVS should be near the top of the table after two events in the series of four.
The next league race will be in Ware on Thursday evening 12th June.
Super Six at St Albans Half
The St Albans Half Marathon will never be flat but at least the Spartans Super Six who raced were spared the scorching temperatures common on this event in recent years.
SIMON HAIGH was first in for FVS with 1 hour 48 minutes 2 seconds. JIM BROWN improved his best time for this year by 19 seconds with 2 hours 3 minutes 34 seconds (2:03:34) and after some serious acceleration and tactical stuff in the last mile got third male over 70 by seven seconds. So a former Mayor of Stevenage beat a former Mayor of St Albans by seven seconds. Tony from St. Albans is five weeks younger. All good entertainment.
Next Spartan in was MATT TUTTON with 2:07:17 with SUE HAMER running 2:07:33. Soon SARAH ILLINGWORTH was pushing for the line and 2:12:27. PENNY SCHENKEL said she enjoyed the hills and ran in with 2:23:28.
There were 2,162 finishers.
PB Georgie at Hitchin Half
Spartan GEORGIE HOOPER ran a great new personal best at the Hitchin Half Marathon. Remembering the event’s nickname of the Hitchin Hard Half and all those hills 1:40:38 was very good going. She was third in her category.
ADRIAN DONNELLY was 13th out of the 192 runners with 1:31:59.
Ultra Hannah
Spartan HANNAH MANTON completed 10 laps at Endure24 (80km/50miles)!
She said the trail course was muddier than any football pitch she’d ever played on.
Hannah finished the ten five mile laps in Wasing Park, Reading in 23 hours 46 minutes 2 seconds. 1142 completed the event.
JESSICA CLARKE and JAY PAPA were part of a team of four “Jays Gems” at ENDURE24!
They managed 27 laps (135 miles) as a team of four, constantly having someone out on the course. Jay and Jess both smashed out 7 laps (35 miles) each!
Jess said this is such a physical challenge but also a huge mental challenge, running through the night in the pitch black, doubling up to 10 mile laps so your team gets more rest takes a lot of determination!
Despite the rain, mud and the yellow weather warning, we had an insane weekend of running! Bring on 2026
Penny Spartan of the Month
The mug for Spartan of the Month (SOTM) for May has been awarded to PENNY SCHENKEL.
Penny was Mayoress of Stevenage for 2024 to 2025 and attended over 200 civic commitments along with continuing her normal ‘day job’.
Despite last year’s disappointment with a stress fracture and having to defer her London Marathon place she got on with preparing to run this year.
Penny ended up running one of the most sensible races enjoying every step and wore her Spartan stripes with pride!
Her stripes caught the eye of lots of photographers meaning she had a big beaming smile, an appearance on TV and even gave a little jig on the finish line!
Marston Vale Forest 5K
CHARLIE ARNOLD ran Friday evening’s Marston Forest 5K in 21:05.
Tewin 10K
HAZEL SMITH said she had a lovely day out in Tewin. She took exactly 65 minutes for a very hilly 10K route.
Meanwhile MICHAEL FISHER was fourth in the event in 42:07; TONY RANDFIELD came in with 54:20; SUSAN McANENY with 58:26; ANDY JAY with 1:09:04 and CALLIE CHAPMAN with 1:18:15. Su said she enjoyed it a lot and was third in her age category. There were 140 finishers.
JANE WADEY ran the Tewin 5K in 38:48. She said she booked the run last minute on Saturday, not having done a Trail 5k before. Was a bit nervous but it was a lovely setting and very low key which helped settle my anxiety. She watched the 10k runners go and then about five minutes later it was our turn. There were some costumes including a unicorn which kept stopping at first, laces etc. It was a different course to the 10k although there was one bit they ran same as me and then another bit which was very steep up for me but straight downhill for them.
She was really pleased when she realised she had a chance of beating her Saturday park run result which she did by 30 seconds and then waited for the 10k runners to finish.
Parkrun Highlights Saturday 31st May and Saturday 7th June.
The 627 runners at Stevenage on 31st May included 30 from Fairlands Valley Spartans running club.
MEGAN SUTTON ran a new parkrun personal best of 25 minutes 12 seconds and ROSEMARY ONABAWORIN improved to 41:59.
Spartans took first and fourth at the Panshanger parkrun on 31st May with ANDREW PATTERSON in 17:09 and SIMON JACKSON in 18:23.
Then there were 526 finishers at the Stevenage parkrun on 7th June. First Saturday of the Month so a stripey day for Fairlands Valley Spartans which brought out 38 runners from the club.
JESS CLARKE, 30:41 and JAY PAPA 30:44 both ran Newbury parkrun.
Stevenage Striders Running Club
The Stevenage Striders have been out in full force again this week, taking on a variety of races with some fantastic results and personal achievements to celebrate.
Nene Valley Swimrun Festival 5k
Ben Ward took on the rugged trails and chilly rivers of the Nene Valley Swimrun Festival in 45:24, recording a season’s best in truly wild conditions – including hail and rain! An exhilarating stormy mix of trail running and river swimming tested endurance and grit.
Dorney Lake Standard Triathlon
Jack Cant smashed his first ever standard-distance triathlon in an impressive 2:29:00, ahead of his upcoming Half Ironman. Despite a damp day and headwinds on the bike, everything went to plan—15 minutes quicker than anticipated! A strong showing across a 1500m swim, 40k bike and 10k run.
Phoenix Cambridgeshire – The First One (Half Marathon & More)
This brand-new event in Cambridgeshire saw 14 Striders turning out to support a stunning new local race.
- Keith Dennis: 1:58:28 (Course Best)
- Ian McClements: 2:41:40 (Course Best)
- Russell Edwards: 2:27:10 (20-minute PB!)
- Peter Monk: 2:21:34
- Dave Mendonça: 2:20:59
- Chrissie Thomas & Lennie Cant: 2:24:00
- Laura Duffield: 2:34:32
- Lauren Pegg: 2:33:33
- Glenn Cuzner: Completed 9 laps (~30 miles)
- Sarah Dennis (10k): 1:27:00 (Course Best)
- Cathy Godfrey (6.6 miles): 1:22:14 – PB, Course Best, and first time beyond 10k—despite a surprise swan bite!
- Ben Ward (5.3k): 33:29 (Course Best)
A beautiful course with lots of firsts, bests, and smiles all around!
Tewinbury Trail 10k
Helen Moye crossed the line in 57:09, praising the tough but scenic route, which she enjoyed so much it’s now slated for a future Friday Daytimers session.
St Albans Half-Marathon
Marc Cecil delivered a masterclass in pacing, with a PB (by 2s), season’s best, and course best in 1:21:07, finishing 17th overall with a commanding negative split.
Endure24 – 10 Laps (50 miles)
Aaron Casper braved 16 hours, 4 minutes of wet, hilly, cold, muddy chaos at Endure24. His first time at the 50-mile distance—a grueling but impressive feat!
Spartan Scotland – 1 Day Trifecta
Adam Hough completed the UK’s first one-day Spartan Trifecta, with a combined time of 4:31:09. Top 10 age category finishes in Beast, Super, and Sprint events. Despite lacerations and a near-burst Achilles, he called it a rewarding day.
Ironman 70.3 Bolton
Striders took on one of the toughest triathlon formats in Bolton:
- Martin Scales (Debut): 5:52:16 (1:42:23 HM run)
- Lucy Crocker: 6:07:56 (1:43:28 HM run)
- Sarah Kinsella (Debut): 7:04:03 (2:15:24 HM run)
An epic effort across 1.2-mile swims, 56-mile bikes and half marathons on a hilly, rainy course. Bonus: Lucy celebrated her 31st birthday at the finish line!
Marston 5k
Tony Randfield sped to a season’s best of 20:55, winning his age category on a flat trail loop and walking away with a shiny medal/trophy.
Congratulations to all our Striders for pushing boundaries, setting records, and supporting local and national events. You continue to make us proud week after week. Bring on the next challenge!
