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).