LSARRC News 1st July 2013

Attendance was up from the Lytham runners at the June Club Handicap on Thursday, despite the dismal weather conditions for summer. On the night there were some very good performances with more than half the runners posting personal bests or season bests. It was also a month for newcomers to shine, with three out of the first five being recent lady recruits and producing creditable finishing times. Oliver Hirsh is firmly situated at the head of the overall table and, with three Handicaps down, has amassed an excellent 85 points against his nearest rival Mark Willett with 77. 
OTHER RESULTS: 6th Laura Ashworth, 42:25; 7th Thomas Howarth, 26:26; 8th Karen Lanigan, 42:25; Mark Willett, 27:22; 11th Mark Selby, 29:33; 12th Dawn Lock, 51:36; 13th Joe Greenwood, 24:57; 14th Graham Webster, 27:31; 15th Debbie Cooper, 35:11; 16th Kevin Ashworth, 30:05; 17th Greg Oulton, 35:25; 18th Colin Laidlaw, 31:44; 19th Richard Storey, 32:40; 20th Andy Sneddon, 41:13; Phil Elliot, 37:02.

The Lytham Harrock Hill racers, from L-R
Pam Binns, Dawn Lock, Steve Quarmby, Bec Willetts, Pam Hardman,Andy Sneddon and Jo Prenderer.

In contrast, Wednesday proved to be a glorious evening for the Harrock Hill Fell Race – Inter-club Fell Series (3). 129 runners competed on a scenic course. Of the five Lytham members racing,  they managed the very creditable achievement of fielding full teams in the  Open, Women's, Vets and Vet 50's categories.  Competitors were soon spread out by the complicated and twisting course which included a steady three-quarter mile climb from the start line with winner Jon Green of Preston Harriers finishing in 33:04. First Lytham runner to cross the finishing line was Terry Hellings in 96th place and 42:28.  Going very well in the early and climbing stages of the race, Hellings lost some places hampered on the descents by a recurring injury.  First of Lytham's women home was Debbie Cooper 153rd and 48:49, 11th in the Inter-Club.  Pamela Hardman, who knows the course well as a frequent Harrock Hill competitor, was 189th in 51:56 and Greg Oulton, MV45, was 193rd in 52:58.  Dawn Lock, disadvantaged by a mile off-course  detour, was last in 84:58.

A beaming Pam B at Harrock Hill. 

Nine of the seventy-plus runners  at the Fairclough 5 were from Lytham St. Annes RRC and between them came away with two veteran category prizes and an age group record. Sunday saw the fourth staging of Thornton Cleveley RC's race, held on a figure of eight course along the pleasant lanes of Thornton and finishing in Stannah Country Park. First back for Lytham was Peter Cruse, missing out on the V50 prize through a particularly strong field in his age group including race winner for the past two years, Paul Muller of Horwich RMI. Cruse finished 7th in 30:38 against a winning time of 29:02.  Next back was Graham Webster who did take his age group prize.  Webster won the V60 prize in 14th place with a time of 32:37. Stealing the show, however, was LSARRC's Pam Binns. In the V65 age category, Binns is improving so rapidly that she beat three other W65s convincingly and set a new age group course record of 44:44, four minutes ahead of her nearest rival.  The time also marks her first attainment of diamond standard.
Other results posted were Steve Quarmby, 28th in 36:31; Pamela Hardman in an excellent performance, 47th in 40:58, third WV50; Rebecca Willetts, 55th in 42:25; Jo Pendered, 63rd in 45:17 and Dawn Lock, 71st in 55:33.  Andy Sneddon retired due to injury.