LSARRC News 29th October 2012



Andy Draper in eighth place



Lytham St Annes Road Runners delivered striking performances in both the Preston Guild 2012 Marathon (attracting a total 1132 entrants) and Half Marathon (2132 entrants) on Sunday, the races being a culmination of a year of Preston’s historic Guild events. The day-long and distinctly unkind and wintry conditions did nothing to dampen spirits and the races got underway in a charged atmosphere starting from the Flag Market in the city centre. The first few miles of the course remained city orientated, then the marathon route, splitting from the half marathon, went rural. It wound over undulating roads into Lea Town, progressing to Treales and then looping back to a route which returned entrants to the city and finish at the Flag Market.

LSARRC produced a crop of peak performances, both overall and in Personal Bests. In the marathon, first home for the Club was Andy Draper. His 2:44:28 finish was evidence of applied training and strategy, earning him 8^th place overall and netting him a personal best by 5m 40s. Tom Howarth was next in for 30^th place, in a time of 3:02:49, achieving a personal best by 9 minutes followed by Simon Denye for 60^th place in 3:11:40. Catherine French ran for the ladies in her first marathon attempt and finished 730^th in 4:22:24.

Tom Howarth

There were more displays of excellence in the half marathon. For the men Kev Ashworth finished first for LASRRC 125^th overall in 1:34:54, also achieving a PB. Next home was Steve Quarmby in 249^th place, finishing in 1:41:27. Rob Goodall hit yet another PB with his 2:01:04 time. There was great representation by the 9 club ladies who raced, evidenced in their sterling performances. Laura Ashworth finished 298^th overall in 1:43:37, coming 6^th in her F35 category and nailing a PB to boot. Bec Willetts was 802^nd home in 1:56:24, followed by Julia Rolfe in 835^th position in a time of 1:57:25, a result which secures her the Silver Standard Award for a continuous run of qualifying performances in her F50 category.

Julia Rolfe having a good day out

Preston Guild Marathon 2012 results, Men: Andy Draper 8^th, 2hr 44m, Thomas Haworth 30^th, 3hr 02m, Simon Denye 60^th, 3hr 11m, Alistair Thornton 423^rd, 3hr 54m, Richard Storey 479^th, 3hr 57m, Joe Greenwood 643rd,4hr 13m, Andrew Reid 937^th 4hr 50m. Women: Catherine French 730^th 4hr 22m.



A rather wet Laura Ashworth



Preston Guild Half Marathon results, Men: Kevin Ashworth 125^th, 1hr 34m, Steve Quarmby 249^th,1hr 41m, Roy Stevens 323^rd, 1hr 44m, Tony White 1002, 2hr 0m, Rob Goodall 1023^rd, 2hr 01m, Mark Willett 2hr 01m. Women: Laura Ashworh 298^th, 1hr 43m, Becca Willetts 802^nd, 1hr 56m, Julia Rolfe 835^th, 1hr 57m, Angelalynn Smith 1003^rd, 2hr 0m, Sylvia Gittens1226th, 2hr 04m, Janice Cobley 1394^th, 2hr 10m, Louise Charnock 1411^th, 2hr 11m, Karen Lanigan 1413^th,  2hr 11m, Pam Binns 1736^th, 2hr 21m.

Preferring the unpredictable terrain of Cumbria, Andy Sneddon was busy with the Ennerdale 25k Trail Race last Sunday. The course, situated in the stunning Western Lakes, comprised a tough initial 12k uphill, slippery rocks underfoot and some tricky scrambling. He met the challenge, and finished 74^th in 3:37:16.