SPARTA shines at Run London 10km and 5km
A large contingent of runners from across DfT and MHCLG converged on Hyde Park on the afternoon of 16 September to compete in the Civil Service 10km and 5km road races.
The event traditionally takes place in the spring at Battersea Park, so competitors were treated not only to a new venue but also to an early autumn edition of the popular race. Hyde Park provided an excellent setting, with warm conditions and a lively atmosphere helping to create an enjoyable afternoon of racing.
5km
The 5km race consisted of two laps of the course and produced an excellent result for SPARTA. Felix Ivers delivered a superb performance to finish in second place overall and claim a well-deserved silver medal. Congratulations to Felix on an outstanding run.
Miles Knight suffered the misfortune of missing the start, leaving himself with a considerable deficit before he had taken a single stride. Undeterred, he charged around the course and recorded a time which would have earned him third place had he started with the rest of the field. It was a remarkable effort and demonstrated both determination and fitness.
At the time of writing, the official results of the 5km race have not yet been published. However, SPARTA was well represented in the race, with members competing enthusiastically and representing their departments with pride. The known SPARTA competitors were:
• Felix Ivers
• Miles Knight
• Fanus Weldensae
• Lawrence Green
• Michelle Sadiq
• Shahriyar Kalam
• Olivia Rutter
• Emily Di Florido
• Ashton Stanley
• Aran Ingram
10km
The 10km race attracted a large field, with more than 130 runners taking to the start line. The standard at the front of the race proved to be exceptionally high, with Luke Watson of DfT producing an excellent performance to take victory. Congratulations to Luke on a fine achievement.
While attention often focuses on those at the front of the field, one of the most inspiring performances came further back. Neill Purvis of DfT crossed the line in last place but achieved a personal triumph by improving on his previous time by almost four minutes. His determination and commitment embodied the spirit of the event and demonstrated that success can be measured in many ways besides finishing position.
SPARTA members made up a significant proportion of the field and delivered strong performances throughout the afternoon. The official results for the 10km have been published and positions and people are below:
1 Luke Watson
6 Michael Dunsford
10 George Plemper
11 Alex Holmes
14 Mike Henman
24 Timothy South
26 Dominic Entwistle
35 Ben Toogood
44 Daniel Rowan
46 Ben Robinson
49 Tom Preest
54 Eleanor Hopkinson
61 Zak El-Hoss
63 Jake Pitchers
70 Jason Marriott
75 Emily Keenan
82 Sean Carroll
84 Jade Berry
86 Lucy Bircham
95 Aisling O’Driscoll
97 Ellie May
99 Tim Roast
114 Tom Hunt
119 Paola Sammarco
130 Neill Purvis
With more than forty SPARTA members competing across the two races, the event was another excellent showcase for the enthusiasm, participation and sporting spirit that exist across our departments. Congratulations to everyone who took part, whether competing for honours, chasing a personal best, or simply enjoying the opportunity to race alongside colleagues.
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