CHRIS King ran a new personal best and won the women s veteran (45 plus) prize in the Oakley 20-mile road race on Sunday. The Fairlands Valley Spartans runner was 106th overall in a magnificent time of 2-29:12. The first Spartan finisher was Graham Blackb

CHRIS King ran a new personal best and won the women's veteran (45 plus) prize in the Oakley 20-mile road race on Sunday.

The Fairlands Valley Spartans runner was 106th overall in a magnificent time of 2-29:12.

The first Spartan finisher was Graham Blackburn, 60th out of 654 finishers in 2-19:54.

Times: Graham Blackburn 2-19:54, Chris King 2-29:12 pb, Jim Brown 2-31:25, Phil Eaton 2-36:28, Kevin Smyth 2-39:53, Ron Church 2-52:02, Andrew Hull 3-17:07, Ann Tryssesoone 3-41:30.

Ian Chappell ran the significantly flatter Worthing 20-mile road race. He was 264th out of 598 in 2-48:00.

Mike King and Rob Shaw headed for the Bungay Black Dog Marathon which was held in the rural Waveney Valley with a stiff breeze in places. Mike was 52nd in 3-36:45 and Rob 84th in 3-59:03.

Roger Biggs continued his recent good form at the fast Paddock Wood Half Marathon on Sunday. He was 290th overall in 1-36:22 - a season's best. Alan Goodwin was 1,166th in 2-11:00.

Three Spartans travelled to Quorn, the highest point in Leicestershire, for the Charnwood Off Road Marathon.

Mike Newbitt was first Spartan finisher in 5-23:35 while Robert Hardy took 6-24:21 and Dave Carter 7-30:52. Pauline Hardy completed the 16-mile option in 5-05:47.

Ten North Herts Road Runners were at the Oakley 20 as part of their final preparations for the London Marathon.

Paula Adams had another successful day by finishing as first Vet 35 female and third lady overall with a personal best time of 2-17:15.

With Suzy Crowe (2-28:57) and Jo Harbon (2-49:40), Adams led the ladies home to the prize as first female team.

Out of almost 700 entrants, veteran John Franklin was the first Squirrel home in 33rd place with a new personal best of 2-15:17. Other finishers were Clive Adams (2-18:15, pb), Richard Thackeray (2-21:28), Nat Whitley (2-23:34, pb), Martyn Annetts (2-29:07), Mark Young (2-37:47) and Brian Taylor (2-59:15).

Over a considerably shorter distance, six members from the club ran at the monthly 5k race at London's Hyde Park on Friday.

Martyn Annetts was first home for the club in 19:06 closely followed by fellow veteran Duncan Hooker (19:14) and Johnny Spinks (19:23).

Jo Summers finished second in the female Vet 40 category with a time of 22:00. Kevin Kirk (21:13) and Lindsay Cook (26:39) also ran.

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.

Having travelled all that way, Simon was beaten by a local runner from St Albans Striders!

Partner Sam Tophill raced the half-marathon race at the same venue and had to pull up with quad cramp while leading at four miles; this is the first ever time she has failed to finish.

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 Woodhall did the triathlete thing and cycled to and from the event in preparation for Ironman Austria in July.

The glory on the day went to another FVS TRI member Paula Adams. She overtook Gavin in the last mile to finish third lady overall representing her first claim club North Herts Road Runners.

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

Times: Gavin May 2-18:08, Mike Russell 2-23:35, John Burgess 2-33:18, Jeremy Prodger 2-35:10, Darren Woodhall 2-38:26.

Gerry Corrance represented the club at the Kingston Breakfast 16-mile run.

He was disappointed with his time of 1-53:29 caused by massive overcrowding on the course from the eight-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 one hour plus five laps format race over around 30 miles.

The race was decided with a three-man breakaway and a bunch sprint for fourth.

Smart was active in the race chasing down the early breakaways but to no avail as the whole team finished in the bunch on this occasion.