LSARRC Press Report 15th November 2011

A large entry of over 400 competed in the inaugural Windmill 10k in Lytham on Sunday. Many of these were unattached, that is to say not members of any running club. Lytham St Annes Road Runners were well represented by thirteen members, some achieving excellent positions.

Befitting for Remembrance Sunday a two-minute silence was observed prior to the start. The race commenced opposite Lowther gardens taking a route down to the old Land Registry before circling Fairhaven Lake. The finish was also opposite Lowther gardens. “Windmill” is an appropriate name for the race given the conditions competitors had to face. A strong headwind proved testing but they did have its benefit in the opposite direction.

Nigel tries valiantly to
out sprint his vest

First back for Lytham was Nigel Thompson in fourth place and the first vet in 35:51. Club champion Nigel has suffered injury setbacks recently so his racing appearances are rare but this was a good time.

Lytham’s Sue Samme was the first woman back in 37:37. Finishing thirteenth overall it is indicative of her current form that she was over four minutes in front of the next woman.

Other performances of note were that of Peter Cruse in seventh, and Joe Greenwood who achieved a personal best and was the final member of the quartet that made up Lytham’s winning team. Pam Hardman was third in the female vet 50s, also with a pb.

Full Lytham results: Nigel Thompson 4th & 1st vet, 35:51; Peter Cruse 7th & 3rd vet, 36:27; Sue Samme 1st woman, 37:37; Joe Greenwood 14th, 37:39; Simon Denye 22nd, 40:10; Roy Upton 29th, 40:58; Joe Shaw 48th, 42:59; Colin Laidlaw 71st, 44:27; Rob Goodall 156th, 49:57; Pam Hardman 165th & 3rd FV50, 50:33; Graham Young 197th, 52:11; Dawn Bloor 249th, 54:51 and Mark Willett 301st, 57:51.

Ultra distance races are those in excess of the 26.2 mile marathon distance. Few athletes are up to such a challenge but Mark Willett joined this elite group in spectacular fashion last week in Norwich. The Marriott’s Way ultra marathon is 36 miles, ten miles further than the London Marathon. This is a race held with ultra debutants in mind; even the entry is free to encourage participation.

Mark knew this would be a tough challenge, and a journey into the unknown never having ran further than the marathon distance. Despite sore, blistered feet and a niggling ankle Mark soldiered on to finish in a superb third place in 5:13:22; yes five hours of running!

Saturday week saw a men's team representing Lytham St. Annes RRC at the English Cross Country Association in Mansfield. A team of Men's Captain Colin Nelson, Terry Hellings, Willie Richmond and Graham Webster competed on this exciting looping course with hundreds of other runners from all over England including some of the country's foremost cross-country athletes.

The men were lucky in that the heavy rain eased for their race although the ground was very muddy. Terry Hellings led the team out on the two-lap course finishing in 21:46 before handing over to the captain for a 23:05 second leg. Willie Richmond worked hard for his 23:54 on third and was followed by Graham
Webster on his chosen final leg bringing the team back with LSARRC's fastest leg of 21:28 gaining thirteen places. The team finished very creditably in 142nd with a combined time of 1:30:15.

Finally returning to racing on Wednesday following a period of interrupted training Colin Laidlaw took part in the Civil Service Athletic Association annual cross-country championships, which this year were held at the renowned cross-country venue of Parliament Hill in London. On a perfect day for running Colin completed the 5.9 mile course in 46:58 to take 75th place out of the 105 runners.


Link to Lytham St Annes Road Runners Website