31st December 2007

Nativity Activity

The Pirton Boxing Day Run was a great opportunity to burn off a few Christmas calories for the triathletes and family members of FVS TRI. The adult finishers over the  3.2 mile off road course were rewarded with a specially brewed bottle of beer from the Buntingford Brewery supporters of  the race. There were also shorter races for the under 11 and under 5 family members with prize winners for FVS TRI across all races and categories!  Although the race was a fun filled family affair, it was still rather competitive with a winning time of 17:03. The ever improving Mark Robertson was rewarded with a first home for the club in 4^th (3^rd Male Senior) in 19:11, with Gavin May and Rob Wilson also managing top ten performances with 19:49 and 20:13 for 7^th and 9^th respectively, Rob lifting the Male Vet 40 prize for his efforts.

Andrew Mussett continued the theme with a win in the Male Under20, Jackie Perry and Lesley Dutton  1^st and 2^nd in the FV45 category with Kate Turner literally seconds behind to also take 3^rd Female Senior. Family member Jess Harris was 1^st FV35 in her first outing under the FVS TRI banner.

The Robertson family were also represented by dad John and sister Claudine who ran in together in 35:20.

The under 11 race was won by Alfie Laughton with Annabelle Shortland also representing FVS TRI. Elliot Sprawson &  Daisy Laughton raced in the Under 9 race and Tilly Turner won the first girl under 5 prize, rounding off a top day out for FVS TRI

Steve James and Paul Gibb were also racing on Boxing day and on the 29^th  in the Imperial Winter Racing Series at Hillingdon Cycle Circuit. The 4^th category race was a fast and furious multi lap event over 25km with  Steve James improving  from 9^th to 5^th over the two events. Unlucky Paul Gibb had a puncture on Boxing Day but finished 14^th in the second event after Christmas

The Buntingford Year End 10 was on the Sunday between Christmas and New Year  and provided another opportunity to burn off the Christmas pudding in unseasonal mild weather.  First home for FVS TRI was Simon Hall, 8th overall and 3^rd MV40  in 58:34.  Sam Tophill was 5^th FV35 and 69^th overall from 443 finishers in a time of 1:09:48.  Strong performances from Herts Fire Fighter Pete Bardell in 1:06:15 and Greg Evans under 70 minutes in 1:09:38. The improving Drew Lowrie finished in 1:15:32 matching Chris Suckling for time but one position behind on the run in.

Rob Wilson completed the Ely 10K in near perfect conditions and finished 41st out of 549 starters in 38:25, a PB by 50 secs on the mostly flat course despite being sent sprawling at the half way point by a clipped heel!

5K SERIES VETERAN HONOURS

Jackie Perry finished the 3 race Stevenage 5K Series with a strong performance to win the FV45  series gold . Lesley Dutton was second in the FV45 competition with Brian White and Simon Hall adding silver medals in the MV50 and MV40 categories to round off a great series for the vets at FVS TRI.  On the night Steve Harrison was 3^rd in 15.52 with Simon Hall(16.35)  and Mark Robertson (PB 16.52).  Alison Wood returned to racing after a long lay off to finish 1^st FVS TRI women in 19.58 just ahead of consistent Antonia Field in 20.01.  Although 34 FVS TRI athletes  completed  the Series, only Mark Robertson, Robbie Laughton, Mick Humphris, Simon Douglas and Graham Perry managed to complete all 3 races with improvement throughout the series.

RACE 3 RESULTS

SERIES RESULTS

FVS TRI travelled to North London for the 3^rd fixture in the Sunday Cross League at Southgate. The pre Christmas match is typically poorly attended due to festive pressures and seasonal illness and so FVS TRI men were able to capitalise overtaking Garden City Runners to now lead the Series with 2 matches remaining.  Leading the FVS TRI A team, Steve Harrison finished 2^nd overall in 29.00 for the 5 mile 3 lap course. Simon Hall was 2^nd with the ever improving Mark Robertson rising to the challenge to beat coach Brian White for the 2^nd time in a week!  In a women’s team depleted by illness, it was time for the team players to step up to ensure 2^nd position was retained in the competitive women’s competition. Jackie Perry was first home in 13^th closely followed by improving Gemma Sargent 14^th and Lesley Dutton 15^th. Helen Shulver, Anna Priestly and Brenda Bozwood -Davies completed a  great team effort to finish 3^rd on the day but good enough to retain the 2^nd position overall in the open and veteran competitions.  With a good turn out of men, FVS TRI are still 2^nd in the B team competition and hope to field enough athletes to complete the series and retain the 2^nd position overall behind specialist run club Garden City Runners.

Eight members of Hitchin based FVS TRI braved the mixed weather conditions on Sunday to tackle the Bedford Harriers Half Marathon. Starting in quite pleasant weather, heavy rain half an hour into the race left standing water on much of the course and together with high winds the race became a battle against the elements.

Gavin May was first home for the club in 1:20:38 for 30^th place. Rob Wilson earned a 2:56 PB with 83^rd place and a time of 1:26:14. Simon Shaw ran 1:34:04 with Sam Tophill first FVS TRI women in 1:36:17. Chris Suckling ran 1:39:44 with first timer Darren Greene completing the event in 1:41:20. Husband and wife team Lynne and Richard Allen ran in together in 2:01:50.

In a busy week ahead, FVS TRI will field over 50 athletes in the final Stevenage 5K and look to maintain their 2^nd place in the Sunday Cross Country League in the 3^rd fixture at Southgate.

3rd December 2007

29 members of FVS TRI raced the second Stevenage 5K of the three race series and 9 athletes scored PBs with many more showing improvements over their first race from 2 weeks ago.  Racing for the first time in the series, Simon Hall was first home for the Club 2^nd in the M40 category in a time of 16:49 which placed him 15^th overall. First women home for FVS TRI was Antonia Field in 19:54 with Lesley Dutton 2^nd in 22:02 which placed her 2^nd in the FV45 category

PBs for Mark Robertson(17:03), Rob Wilson (18:19),Sean Bradley (18:48) and Greg Evans (19:45) with the biggest improvement from Ellie Crowson PB (25:36) who improved by 2:29.Ryan Johnson PB (21:55) improved by 1:22 with PBs also for Darren Greene (21:38) and Simon Douglas (23:47) and Graham Perry (27:27)

With over 50 entered for the final race, FVS TRI look forward to another bumper night of results.

Naomi Woodland travelled back to her old Club in Sheffield to compete in the Percy Pud 10k which she completed in 48:13 collecting a Christmas pudding for her efforts.

Simon Patenall completed the Lanzarote Marathon on 324:14 to finish 44^th overall and 14^th in the 35-39 age group.

Steve James finished 14^th in his first mass start cat 4 cycle race at Hillingdon over approx  25 k. The race format was 35 minutes of racing plus 5 laps. Paul Gibb unfortunately had to retire with a puncture.