Latest from Fairlands Valley Spartans after busy weekend

The Stevenage running club celebrated success across Hertfordshire and beyond, with members competing in events ranging from county championship races and endurance challenges to half marathons and parkruns. At the Hatfield 5K, Simon Jackson claimed a county bronze medal in the veterans' race with a time of 17 minutes 22 seconds. Samuel Paul was the fastest Spartan overall, finishing in 16.15, while Charlie White clocked 17.18. Georgie Hooper was the fastest female Spartan, recording 20.22, while Nick Gill produced a season's best of 17.30. Smiles - Pre-race excitement at the Hatfield 5K race (Image: Karl Shreeve) Susan McAneny also achieved a season's best time and Callie Chapman broke the 30-minute barrier with a 29:37 finish. Meanwhile, Spartans took over Stevenage parkrun, providing more than 30 volunteers and supplying pacers and marshals throughout the event. A total of 49 club members completed the run, helping stage one of the biggest parkruns of the week. Elsewhere, Kelly McHale achieved a new personal best of 22.04 at Brook Leys parkrun, while Hayley Peach topped her age category at Aberystwyth. The Bedford Festival of Running also proved a success for the club. Eight Spartans tackled the 20-mile race, led home by Jay Papa in 2.20.06, while Ross Gallagher finished in 2.23.06. Running - A tea after the parkrun (Image: Jane Wadey) Georgie Hooper set a personal best for the distance with 2.46.05. Jim Brown, returning after several weeks of disrupted training, finished second in the men's over-70 category in the Bedford Half Marathon with a time of 2.11.16. There was further success at the St Albans Stampede endurance event, where Lucy Paul completed 48 miles to earn third place in the women's solo category. Her son, Samuel, won the fastest lap trophy after covering the four-mile circuit in 22.08. New Spartan David Bennett-Halliday recorded a half-marathon personal best of 1.28.33 at The Big Half in London. With more than 200 runners already signed up for the Stevenage Half Marathon on October 18, another busy autumn lies ahead for the Spartans. The Stevenage Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, October 18, with 206 runners already signed up for the event organised by community running club Fairlands Valley Spartans. So far, 21 Spartans have entered the race and many more will be volunteering on the day.