Mark Robertson – FVS TRI s most improved triathlete of the year – continued to shine with a second place at the Dorney Lake Evening triathlon. Strong winds on the five-lap bike course meant some really fast action on the outward sections with the resultin

Mark Robertson - FVS TRI's most improved triathlete of the year - continued to shine with a second place at the Dorney Lake Evening triathlon.

Strong winds on the five-lap bike course meant some really fast action on the outward sections with the resulting headwind on the homeward stretches acting as a real leveller and a test of spirit.

Robertson completed the 750m lake swim, 20k bike and 5k run in 1-02:15, just 11 seconds ahead of the athlete in third.

Mike Bridge was an excellent seventh in the Welsh National Championships at Park Bryn Bach over the Olympic distance of 1500m lake swim, 40k bike and 10k run. He was second out of the water in 18:24 after a strong swim but lost places on the tough multi-lap bike course (1-12:38) and the 10k run (42:07) to finish in a time of 2-13:08.

The evening Hitchin Nomads 10-mile cycle time trial provided an opportunity for in-form Jon Gillham to earn a course pb with 25:47.

Also in pb form at the Stevenage Evening Time Trial were Rob Wilson 24:37, Tim Smith 25:59 and Drew Lowrie 27:32, all recording their fastest times for the 10-mile sporting course.

The club have relocated their run sessions to the new sports facility at Hitchin Boys' School on Fishponds Road which opened for business this week.

Chairman Keith Perry said he is delighted with the new set-up which means that the club now meets in Hitchin four times a week at the school and also Hitchin Swimming Centre.

* Four Fairlands Valley Spartans have just returned from South Africa where they successfully completed the famous Comrades Marathon.

This is an ultra marathon over 55 brutal miles, five torturous climbs and against a ruthless clock. A strict time limit is imposed with several cut-off points along the way; any runner finishing over 12 hours is withdrawn from the race and does not receive a medal.

Times: Michael Newbitt 11-07:30, Dave Paul 11-36:11, Carol Paul 11-36:11, Kevin Lawlor 11-39:22.

Three Spartans were at the Luton 5 mile road race. Jim Brown was 43rd in 34:32, Roger Biggs 46th and second Vet 60 in 35:08 and Paul Holgate finished in 45:53.

Despite planning to take part in the Hertfordshire Hobble the following day, club member David Bowker took part in a 5k track race in Peterborough on Saturday. Running for Stevenage and North Herts AC, he finished second in 17:15.

Other Spartans took part in the Hertfordshire Hobble which is an off-road marathon in lovely countryside around Buntingford. It consists of 11, eight and seven-mile loops from the event venue.

First Spartan finisher was the increasingly impressive Amanda Brook in 5-09:02.

Times: Mike Newbitt 5-24:17, Roger Biggs 5-31:22, David Bowker 5-31:22, Carol Paul 5-43:37, Kevin Lawlor 5-50:30, Paul Holgate 5-59:37, Sharon Crowley 6-07:08, Mark Sanders 6-22:21, Dave Carter 6-37:52, Robert Hardy 6-49:29, Pauline Hardy (11-mile option) 3-06:11.

Simon Bell ran in the RAF 5k Championships in Birmingham last Wednesday, just a few hours before the Midweek Road Race League race in 16:57.

* Keiron McGill from North Herts Road Runners ran in the hot and humid Hornden Feast and Fayre 10k. He completed the hilly course in 38:09 and an impressive 15th place.