Race Results April 2006

Sunday 24th April

The London Marathon

FVS TRI had 9 members competing in The London Marathon, some for their 1^st claim run clubs, reflecting the multi sporting profile of the Club membership.  Top IronMan and triathlon coach Gavin May led the way with a superb 2:48:27 for FVS TRI beating Paula Adams running for NHRR and restoring the natural order, Paula having beaten Gavin in the Oakley 20 warm up race for London earlier in the month!  Paula had a superb race beating the 3 hour mark for the first time and finishing 55^th female in 2:57:37. She attributes much of her excellent form to the cross training benefits of training with multi sport athletes.  Of the 3 FVS TRI runners competing on a Club place, Mike Russell was 1^st home in 3:15:26 followed by Darren (Woody) Woodhall in a new 22 minute PB of 3:25:06. Brothers-in-law Gavin May and Woody are both preparing to compete at IronMan Austria, with Woody making his debut at the distance! John Burgess ran a super 3:38:09, not bad for a debut marathon!  Marathon veteran Dave Farthing clocked up another sub 4 hour time in 3:57:30 and will now concentrate on the triathlon season.  Jane Chappell and Nat Whitley both competing for NHRR ran impressive times of 3:20:02 and 3:18:51, a PB by over 10 minutes.  New member Chris Yuill ran a super 3:40:56 for her 1^st claim club Garden City Runners.  

Earlier in the week FVS TRI’s David Hard competed in the first cycle road race in the MKCA Abbeygate Summer series. Finishing in an excellent 8^th overall (4^th senior) he earned 2 ranking points and now looks forward to the next in the series.

Sunday 16th April

FVS TRI Cyclists out in Full

Welwyn Hilly 50k TT - Over 30 members of FVS TRI contested the Welwyn Hilly 50K Cycle Time Trial on Good Friday despite the inclement weather. With light rain giving a generally slower race this year there were some excellent times, particularly from the many FVS TRI members competing for the first time.  Kevin Smart was the first FVS TRI racer home in 1:26:58 continuing his run of good form.  Veteran Brian White was delighted with his 1:28:49 which not only gave an average of over 20mph for the hilly road circuit, but was also a PB by over 5 minutes on last year. Also in PB form was James Morris-Jones who beat his previous best by over 3 minutes!  Jackie Perry was the first female home in 1:44:29, just beating Sam Tophill by 3 seconds!  Less fortunate Mandy Waters still finished despite having to fix a puncture!  With only 97 finishers, FVS TRI dominated the race in terms of numbers and their presence was appreciated by the organisers. Also many non competing Club mates and family provided well needed vocal support along the 50km route which started and finished in Welwyn having passed through Hitchin

Further a field, Simon Patenall rode to a brilliant PB in the Garstang 10m TT in Lancashire with a time of 24:22

Pete Eames competed on the track for FVS TRI running a new PB of 5:13 and finishing 4^th in the open 1500m held by Herts Phoenix AC at Gosling

Sunday 9th April

Stunning Marathon Debut for Utton

Running the Paris Marathon as part of his build up to IronMan Switzerland, FVS TRI‘s Mike Utton ran his debut marathon in a fantastic time of 3.09. Mike has been training really well and this will be a real boost to his IronMan preparation. 

Flitwick 10K - 7 FVS TRI members competed at the local Flitwick 10k and were rewarded with 2 silver medals.  Steve Chalk was 2^nd Male Vet 50 in 37:45, his fastest 10k for over 5 years, something he attributes to the benefits of triathlon training.  Youngest Club member Andrew Mussett made his competitive debut for FVS TRI on the roads and was rewarded with a 2^nd place in the Under 17 category in a very respectable time of 42:42. Proud Dad Steve also debuted for the Club and finished in 50:24, nearly 4 minutes faster than last year and so he had an excellent day.  At the sharp end, Paul Gibb was first home for the Club in 36:35 just beating Steve James who finished in 36:53.

Ashbourne Duathlon - Jan Forrester and Dave Coard braved the cold and windy conditions of Derbyshire to race the Ashbourne Duathlon.  Jan was an excellent 2^nd Female Vet 50 in a time of 3:06:08 for the 12k run/40k bike/4k run. Dave Coard had an excellent race to finish in 2:51:04 

Reading Half Marathon - Neil Rose raced the Reading Half Marathon and finished in 1:49:48 to earn himself a PB

Watford 3000m  - Pete Eames took to the track and earned a PB in the 3000m at Watford in a time of 11:30, winning the MV45-49 age group in the process.

Sunday 2nd April

Bournemouth 10k Glory for holidaying Hall

FVS TRI’s Simon Hall took in the Bournemouth Bay 10k on the first day of his Dorset holiday and finished a superb second in a time of 35:24. The out and back race was plagued by high winds which boosted the outward leg and penalised runners on the way home. Amusingly, having travelled all that way, Simon was beaten by a local runner from St Albans Striders!

Not such good news for partner Sam Tophill who raced the Half Marathon Race at the same venue and had to pull up with quad cramp whilst leading at four miles. This is her first ever DNF.

Five members of FVS TRI raced the Oakley 20 and used the event as part of their build up for marathon and IronMan race preparation. Brothers-in-law Gavin May and Darren “Woody” Woodhall did the triathlete thing and cycled to and from the event in preparation for IronMan Austria in July. Although first home in FVS TRI colours, the glory on the day went to another FVS TRI member Paula Adams who overtook Gavin in the last mile to finish 3rd lady overall representing her 1st claim club NHRR !

The other three concentrated on the run race and used it as a build up for the London Marathon.

Gerry Corrance represented the Club at the Kingston Breakfast 16 mile Run but was disappointed with his time of 1:53:29 caused by massive overcrowding on the course from the 8 mile race that started 20 minutes earlier.

FVS TRI’s cycle race team raced the Milton Keynes Circuit Race on Saturday at the MK Bowl. Top FVS TRI cyclist Michael Summers was joined by Kevin Smart and Dave Hard in the 1 hour plus 5 laps format race over approximately 30 miles. The race was decided with a 3 man breakaway and a bunch sprint for fourth. Kevin Smart was very active in the race chasing down the early breakaways but to no avail as the whole team finished in the bunch on this occasion.