Fairlands Valley Spartans organised another race in the town just 10 days after the successful Stevenage Half Marathon. The first in the series of evening 5k races was on the Gunnels Wood Road course last Wednesday. Chris Reynolds of Woodford Green AC was

Fairlands Valley Spartans organised another race in the town just 10 days after the successful Stevenage Half Marathon.

The first in the series of evening 5k races was on the Gunnels Wood Road course last Wednesday.

Chris Reynolds of Woodford Green AC was first of the 233 finishers in 15:48 - just six seconds ahead of Matt Davies from the same club.

Fastest woman was Astrid McKeown from North Herts Road Runners in 17:30 - well clear of runner-up Katherine Philp of Garden City Runners in 18:22.

As well as organising the event, Spartans enjoyed some success with Chris King winning the women supervets gold medal and their teams taking bronze in both the men's and women's veteran team competitions.

Times: Simon Jackson 18:07, Declan Clynes 18:40, Graham Preston 18:41 pb, Andrew Garrett 18:51 pb, Todd Gray 19:15, Dave Stephenson 19:25, Michael Green 19:29, Paul Maguire 19:39, Steve Dear 19:59, Jim Brown 20:06, Annette Bell 20:27, Steve Smithson 20:41, Kevin Smyth 20:47, Andy Bramall 20:56, Chris King 21:11, Roger Biggs 21:04, Mick Connell 22:09, Peta Wilson 22:33, Tracy Pez 22:45 pb, Sara O'Callaghan 23:21 pb, Paul Holgate 23:25, Andy Jay 24:19, David Smith 25:15 pb, Charlie Robinson 25:42, Monica Read 27:45, Steve Gough 30:59 pb, Sharon Jenkins 31:07, Simon Harris 35:09.

The second 'Dash in the Dark' Stevenage 5k will be next Wednesday (November 29).

Three Spartans had also run the Henlow 10 the same afternoon.

The Henlow 10 is a unique place-to-place event in which civilian runners are invited to take part in the national RAF championships.

The race starts from the Shuttleworth Collection in Old Warden Airfield and finishes inside RAF Henlow.

The three were Jim Brown (67:20), Roger Biggs (72:39) and Paul Holgate (85:51).

Tony Osborne was the fourth Spartan in the Henlow 10 and he finished in 78:33.

Spartans were well represented at two events on Sunday.

There were 17 at a cross-country league match at Digswell, Welwyn.

Men's times (over three laps): Graham Blackburn 45:38, Paul Maguire 47:23, Dave Stephenson 47:54, Nick Crowley 48:49, Tony Osborne 53:58, Anthony White 54:07, Chris Leigh 54:27, Mark Freeman 55:35.

Ladies' times (over two laps): Peta Wilson 31:00, Barbara Wilson 31:26, Sara O'Callaghan 31:56, Sharon Crowley 32:02, Von Maguire 34:50, Ann Tryssesoone 35:31, Lorraine Thomas 35:33, Sue Leigh 36:43, Katrina Doyle 40:53.

A bright, crisp morning greeted the eight Spartans who tackled the St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday.

First to finish was Simon Jackson, who was 36th out of the 902 finishers in 1-24:18.

Times: Simon Jackson 1-24:18, Jim Brown 1-27:59, Gerry McCabe 1-37:08 pb, Mark Glading 1-38:28 pb, Andrew Hull 1-39:46, Richard Sidlin 1-40:40, Frances Ridgway 1-43:08, Paul Holgate 1-44:08.