LSARRC News 25th September 2012

Amongst the 1200 athletes and 300 teams that took part in The Northern Athletic Road Relays at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday 22^nd Lytham St Annes RRC fielded two men’s and two women’s teams. 

The courses snaking between buildings with a welcome shady section through the adjacent woodlands gave spectators many vantage points from which to watch members of their teams. And with 20 athletes in 4 teams; two men's and two women's, Lytham members had plenty to watch.

Womens squad of Fiona Geldard, Pam Binns, Dawn Bloor, Karen Lanigan, Pippa Hughes, Becs Willetts, Katharine Hoyland, Felicty Wolohan with interloper from men's team - Greg Oulton.

 

Lytham women's first leg A Team runner Katharine Hoyland was quickly back in the Club's fastest women's time of 15.29. This set Katharine at 132nd fastest in a high class field of 241, a remarkable performance for someone so new to relay running. Going off second Rebecca Willetts also ran extremely well to finish in 17.31 and one round later Pippa Hughes completed the course in a good 17.42. Dawn Bloor, another competing in her first relay, completed the team in18.28. All were delighted with a 49th finish out of a total 64 starting teams.

The B Team was led out by Fiona Geldard who ran 20.07 with Karen Lanigan on third leg taking 28.53 and Dawn Lock on fourth, 25.52. Due to an unfortunate marshalling error, second leg runner Pamela Binns missed part of the course and consequently B the team failed to make a final placing.

First off for the men’s A team was club champion Andy Draper completing the 6k course in 20:51, club coach Terry Hellings completed leg 2 in 24:42 followed by Roy Upton (23:47), Steve Quarmby (25:00), Thomas Howarth (22:38) with Graham Webster running his traditional final leg in 22:59 to bring the A team home in 69^th place. 

The B team of Colin Nelson (22:45), Greg Oulton (29:19), Roy Stevens (26:43), Bill Lock (32:08), Rob Goodall (30:18) and Richard Storey (28:19) represented Lytham well to bring the B team home in 88^th place of 111 team that started the relay.

Sunday 23^rd was the turn of the club’s junior section.  Seven of the clubs young athletes competed at the Blackpool Track & Field open in Stanley Park.   In the U9 boys category Simon Holt took a clean sweep of 3 Gold Medals with Ben Mason narrowly missing out on a medal with two fourths. Tom Reid recorded two personal bests and Saul Penn made a superb debut.  Results for the U9B 80m. Simon Holt 1^st 13.4, Ben Mason 4^th 14.3, Tom Reid 12^th 15.6, Saul Penn 13^th, 17.2. U9B 600m. Simon Holt 1^st 2:05.8, Ben Mason 7^th 2:30.8. U9B Long Jump. Simon Holt 1^st 3.04m, Ben Mason 4^th 2.69m, Tom Reid 11^th 2.13m, Saul Penn 12^th 1.86m. Brooke Marsden made a great debut in the U9girls category finishing =12^th in the 80m (15.5) and 10^th in the 600m (2:48).

In the U11B Category Ben Reid was on the podium twice with two silvers and Joe Mason gave a great account of himself, especially so in the long jump were he recorded a personal best. U11B 80m. Ben Reid 2^nd 12.00, Joe Mason 6^th 13.00. U11B 600m. Ben Reid 2^nd 1:57.1. U11B Long Jump. Ben Reid 9^th 3.22m, Joe Mason 10^th 3.16m.

Meanwhile 50 miles north  Vicki Cummings was in the lake district competing in the scenic Langdale Half marathon,  one of the toughest road races in the UK with parts of the course being as steep as 1:3.  Vicki completed the race in 2:09:43 to finish 12^th FV35.  

Andy Sneddon  ran well in the Ron Hill 74^th birthday 5k in Littleborough to record a PB of 29:34 on a hilly course.  Just 2 days later Andy donned his racing shoes again to compete in the Bredon ¼ marathon, completing the 6.58 mile course in 63:16 to finish 60^th of 90.

LSARRC News 18th September 2012

Marbury Park hosted the 2012 Northwest Counties Road Relays on Saturday 15^th September. The close proximity of results, presentations, kiosks, toilets and changing grouped together on the sunny lawn made for an excellent venue for this year’s event.  An interesting flat 5.4k course looping round this attractive park with plenty of opportunities for viewing and wonderful weather in a week of particularly unpleasant wind and rain made for an enjoyable day out.

Lytham had a full complement of two men’s and two women’s teams competing in the Lancashire Championships in the Men's four stage and Women’s three stage held for the thirteenth time in conjunction with runners from Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside making for larger more competitive fields.   

Going out first were the Lytham women’s and B teams which included three new to relays.  All runners acquitted themselves well with an outstanding performance from Barbara Holmes on Leg 1 of the A Team whose 24:14 was the best time for the women and an excellent time for her.  Completing the A Team was Fiona Geldard, 28:49 and Sylvia Gittins with the second fastest leg, 28:32.  The B Team was led out by Janice Cobley who, while new to relays produced a good run of 28:44.  Pam Bins on Leg 2 ran 33:09and Dawn Lock did 42:42.  Lytham took 5th and 6th in the Lancashire Championships.

First off for the men’s A team was Terry Hellings completing the 5.4k two lap course in 22:10 followed by Tom Howarth (19:51), Steve Quarmby (21:19) and Graham Webster (20:11) to bring the team home as 10^th Lancashire team.  The men’s B team of Roy Stevens (23:49), Greg Oulton (26:28), Bill Lock (28:18) and Andrew Sneddon (30:46) finished 16^th Lancashire team.

Sunday 16^th September saw nine Lytham athletes competing in Half Marathons.

Locally five members competed in the notoriously tough Garstang Half Marathon with a particularly steep climb at about eleven miles adjacent to the Grizedale Valley.  Continuous, sometimes torrential rain made the challenge even tougher.  First back for Lytham was club champion Andy Draper in 9^th place with a time of 1:22:19

Next to finish was Lytham's only oversees member Emily Hargreaves on a visit from her Austrian home and showing that she'd lost none of her competitive edge.  Finishing 41stplace, Emily had a good run in 1:32:24 to take the second women’s prize.  Also turning out for Lytham were Mel Koth, 1:39:07,sixth woman, 69th overall, third FV50 Pam Hardman, 158th in 1:57:32and Dawn Lock, 215th in 2:49:33, knocking over a minute off her time in last month's Fleetwood Half Marathon.

150 miles to the North East four Lytham athletes joined over 40,000 other runners (including British Olympians Jo Pavey and Freya Murray) in the 32^nd running of The Great North Run.  First home for Lytham was Simon Denye in 261^st place with a new pb of 1:23:07.  Training partner Mark Willett was next in 1:29:12 (788^th).  Rob Goodall also ran a pb of 2:02:22 to finish in 16230^th with Angelalynn Smith completing her first half marathon in 2:04:02 (17234^th) as part of her training for running two marathons later this year. 

LSARRC News 11th September 2012

Simon Holt

Eight year old Simon Holt of Lytham St Annes Road Runners has clearly been inspired by the Olympics. On Sunday he added another three medals to his collection at Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde’s open track & field meeting.

The Heyhouses Schoolboy got off to a good start in the U9 boys Long jump with

a personal best of 2.85m. He then moved onto the track for the 600m and set off with intent from the gun, creating a lead of 40m by the 200m mark which he maintained to the finish to take gold with another PB of 2:06.1. In the 80m Sprint he was again a comfortable winner with a yet another PB of 12.9.

Twenty-six senior members of the club contested the last of the summer’s inter-club series at Worden Park on Wednesday. The best results on the night were in the vet 50s' and the women's categories where they took second places, excellent results for the club. Overall for the whole series Lytham's biggest success came in the vet 60's where they finished in second place.

The Lytham Team at Leyland

Run on three twisting and interesting loops of attractive Worden Park, competitors could compare their progress with the leaders as the loops intersected in the park centre.  After last year's torrential downpour, this year's race conditions of still evening sunshine could not have been more pleasant.   

First back for Lytham was rapidly-improving Joe Greenwood taking seventeenth place in 23.36, just three minutes behind the winner.  Next in and contributing to the open, women's and vet's teams was the winning woman, Lytham's second-claim member Louise Rudd who finished 26^th in a blistering 24:12, leaving her nearest competitor trailing by 30 seconds.  

Graham Webster was yet again the leading vet 60, finishing 36^th overall.

Together with Roy Stevens and Bill Lock the vet 60s finished third on the night with the well-deserved second place for the season.

Taking third place on the night was another successful team, the vet 50's. Together with Webster and Stevens were Peter Cruse, 46th in 25.15 and Steve Quarmby, 85th in 27.54.  In spite of their good showing at Leyland, the vet 50's were beaten into fourth place for the series by Red Rose who finished two points ahead.

Representatives from Lytham St Annes Road Runners Club were guests at the Town Hall last week to receive the “Community Club of the Year” award. This was given in recognition of the club’s work in the local community to foster the sport of athletics and in particular running for people of all ages and ability. The club, which boasts thriving senior, junior and beginners sections, stages three races each year and has also forged links with local schools and the YMCA. Tony Croft who accepted the award on behalf of the club said he was delighted that the club’s work in the local community had been recognised and he was sure that this award together with the Olympic legacy would undoubtedly result in greater participation at the club.

Julia Rolfe in the Autumn 5k

In the Autumn 5K in Stanley Park at the weekend Julia Rolfe set a new club FV50 record for the distance of exactly 24 minutes, and won the category to boot. Another first was Peter Cruse, the first MV50 in 18:59. Roy Upton also represented the club, finishing nineteenth overall.

Finally in Wales Sylvia Gittins continued her good run of form in the Lake Vrynwy half marathon. Gittins finished in 936^th position from nearly 1500 but won her vet 65 category by an amazing 26 minutes in 2:05:51.

LSARRC News 4th September 2012

North Shore had two large races in two days over the weekend with the Hilton Blackpool Illuminations 10k on Saturday followed by their half-marathon on Sunday. These are run in aid of the Hilton Foundation, supporting local children’s charities and Lytham St Annes Road Runners featured prominently in both.

In Saturday’s race Graham Webster took the honours, finishing eighth overall from nearly 300 competitors. Webster was also the first vet 60 by over seven minutes. Also doing well was Peter Cruse in eleventh. Cruse is returning to racing from injury and was the first vet 50 on the day.

Mark Willett took part in both races and had one of his slowest 10k races as he was kind enough to pace someone less experienced to a personal best. His performance the following day, while nowhere near his best, was more typical of him.

Simon Denye and Joe Greenwood at the Hilton half-marathon

It was definitely a case of déjà vu on Sunday with Joe Greenwood finishing two places in front of Simon Denye in a local half-marathon for the second week running, and Sylvia Gittins claiming the first female vet 60 position. Greenwood and Denye were eighteenth and twentieth respectively in the Hilton Blackpool Half Marathon. Both were back with a time of under 1:25 despite the usual breeze on the promenade.

Joe Greenwood with a fast finish

 

Vet 65 Gittins again improved her half-marathon time to finish an excellent eighteen minutes in front of the next lady over sixty. Finishing 300^th overall from over 500 was another tremendous achievement by evergreen Sylvia.

Hilton race results for Lytham. 10k: Graham Webster 8^th, 39:37; Peter Cruse 11^th, 40:21; Graham Young 135^th, 54:49; Rob Goodall 141^st, 55:20 and Mark Willett 162^nd, 57:11.

Half-marathon: Joe Greenwood 18^th, 1:24:11; Simon Denye 20^th, 01:24:59; Mark Willett 45th, 01:31:50; Vicki Cummings 259^th, 1:55:33 and Sylvia Gittins 300^th, 1:59:07.

Sylvia Gittins

 

In the club’s handicap on Thursday a remarkable fifteen of the twenty-four runners earned bonus points for either personal or season’s best times in excellent running conditions. Louise Charnock won on the night with the quickest being table-topper Joe Greenwood.

Greenwood’s performance might keep him at the top of the table but second-placed Rob Goodall is closing rapidly after a run of good scores.

Over the border the self-styled “Yorkshire Pudding” section of the club, Trevor Willoughby, flew the flag for Lytham in the Ryedale 10 Mile race. Now a measured event along a virtually flat course it is held annually in aid of Malton hospital. Veteran Willoughby finished in 80:10.

On Saturday Andy Sneddon was again taking on the tough trails of the lake district in the Derwentwater 15k challenge. The 1475 feet climb with mud, rocks and bogs to navigate was more of an assault course than a trail race so Sneddon did well to come 343^rd out of over 400.

Finally Tom Howarth was fifth in the Great Eccleston Scouts Fast Four-miler in 24:54 on Sunday. On a flat course Stuart Wharrier was back in 36^th position from the fifty finishers. Vet 65 Jim Whitworth was 45^th.

LSARRC News 28th August 2012

Joe Greenwood  and Simon Denye of Lytham St Annes Road Runners both performed well on Sunday in the Fleetwood half marathon. Despite the bracing breeze both finished in under one-and-a-half hours with Greenwood having the edge by just 41 seconds and two places. The two of them achieved top thirty places from a record entry of over 500.

Winning the vet 65 category for the second year was Lytham’s Sylvia Gittins. Sylvia ran nearly a minute faster than last year, so breaking the two hour barrier.

Lytham results from Fleetwood: Joe Greenwood 21^st, 1:24:30; Simon Denye 23^rd, 01:24:51; Trevor Willoughby 181^st, 1:47:23; Sylvia Gittins 290^th, 01:59:51; Louise Charnock 355^th, 02:16:33 and Dawn Lock 410^th, 02:50:51.

The Chipping Show Fell race was held on Saturday and the Lytham ladies performed exceptionally. Mel Koth was the second lady, Julia Rolfe won the ladies vet 50 category and both, with Debbie Cooper, won the Ladies’ team prize.

The race was also nominated as the final inter-club fell race of the season, where the six local clubs compete against each other. The ladies have high hopes of retaining the trophy for the third year running after their performance.

For the men Sam Banner came eighth, and Rob Goodall also completed this tough course in wet conditions. The main results have yet to be published.

Autumn is never far away when the final meet of the mid-Lancs track and field season takes place but the weather conditions this year suggested the two overlapped. In the medal meeting in Stanley Park on Saturday Graham Webster won bronze medals in the 1500m and 3000m in distinctly autumnal conditions. These were held at 2:30pm and 4pm, two taxing events relatively close. Despite this Webster was also in action that evening in the Lancaster 5k.

At that race Webster was 22^nd in 18:48 and, as is customary for him these days, was the first vet 60. Also there for Lytham were Tom Howarth, 20^th in 18:33, and Peter Cruse, 25^th in 19:16.

The Austrian branch of the club have again been in action with Emily Hargreaves taking part in the Ganghofer Trail in the Leutasch valley. In a 21.2k race over mixed terrains Emily was the 2^nd lady on a very hot afternoon. 

LSARRC News 21st August 2012

Astley Park, Chorley on Wednesday 15^th August was the venue for the fifth of six inter club races.  This race  the toughest of the six matches between the Fylde and Lancashire clubs and, coming in the middle of the August holiday period, it is also often one of the less well attended. This year 155 competitors took part including a good sized contingent from Lytham St. Annes RRC of twenty-three.

This interesting and scenic course takes runners through the length of the undulating park from the historic Astley Hall to the main town gates and back before putting in two laps of the unrelenting kilometre-long hill on Southport Road. It was lucky this year to have good weather for the duration of the race following an afternoon of torrential downpours.

Success for Lytham came in the Women's category where they were third thanks to the presence of all three of Lytham's best runners: Susan Samme in 3rd, Melanie Koth, 11th and Laura Ashworth, 16th. The Club secured fourth in the Vet 50's and Vet 60's, only six points short of gaining third place. Most outstanding was Graham Webster's performance finishing first Vet 60 in 29th overall, twenty-nine places ahead of the second in the age group. They were also fourth in the Vets. First back for the Club was Andrew Draper who made a top ten placing. The best series position is in the Vet 60's where they are lying second, a position they look likely to retain. Lytham finished 6th in the Open.

LSARRC Results: Andy Draper, 10th, 29.10, Graham Webster, MV60, 29th, 31.12, Thomas Howarth, 36th, 31.39, Susan Samme, WV45, 41st, 31.59, Peter Cruse, MV50, 55th, 33.02, Kevin Ashworth, MV40, 67th, 33.57, Stanley Greenhalgh, MV45, 74th, 34.31, Tony Croft, MV50, 75th, 34.38, Melanie Koth, WV35, 79th, 34.47, Steve Quarmby, MV50, 86th, 35.57, Laura Ashworth, WV35, 105th, 38.08, Rebecca Willetts, WV40, 118th, 39.45, Julia Rolfe,WV50, 122nd, 41.46, Catherine French, WV35, 126th, 42.32, Debbie Cooper, WV35, 133rd, 43.16, Rob Goodall, 134th, 43.34, Louise Charnock, 138th, 44.48, Ed Bowes, 139th, 44.53, Michael Hutchinson, MV70, 143rd, 46.41, Janice Cobley, WV60, 145th, 48.50, Pam Binns, WV65, 147th, 49.47,Andrew Sneddon, MV45, 149th, 50.59, Dawn Lock, WV65, 154th, 58.19.

The 29^th Birchwood 10k took place on Sunday 19^th Aug and Lytham were represented by six athletes including four that had already raced on Wednesday.  First home for Lytham was Pete Cruse in a time of 40.04 (108^th and 6th M50).  Willie Richmond and Roy Upton were next and credited with the same time of 40.48 to finish in 126^th and 127^th (18^th and 19^th M45).  Also representing Lytham were Thomas Howarth (41.04, 130^th), Tony Croft (41.28, 142^nd and 10^th M50) and Mel Koth (44.44, 237^th

and 9^th FV35).