LSARRC News 23rd June 2014

LSARRC runners at Aggies Staircase Fell Race

Six members of Lytham St. Annes RRC contested the second round of the Inter-Club Fell Series at Aggies Staircase on a glorious sunny evening.  A third of the 145 runners were competing in the Inter-Club making for an interesting fight between the six clubs.

Competitors faced a challenging three climbs to Darwen Tower.  Bunching on the narrow start slowed runners but once on the widening lanes, winner Joe Mercer of Horwich powered away to finish in 28:17, nearly a minute ahead of second.  Best Inter-Club runner Jon Green of Preston Harriers came in fifth in 30:37.  The notorious Aggies Staircase of the race title is encountered in the latter stages of the race and precedes an easy final sprint back to the finish.

First counter for Lytham was Joanna Goorney, second women both in the race and the Inter-Club in a good 36:20, 43rd overall and 14th in the Series.  Next was experienced fell racer Debbie Cooper, 101st and 28th in 43:58.  Julia Rolfe, finishing 116th and 34th in 46:54, completed Lytham's most successful team; just one place short of winning the women's competition.  Fast-improving and enthusiastic fell runner Greg Oulton was 104th and 30th in 44:43.  Richard Storey was 130th and 39th in 52:10 and Dawn Lock, 142nd and 46th in 65:02, took first FV60 prize.

At the halfway stage LSARRC retains second in the women's and Vet50s; good results for the Club.     

The popular Freckleton Half Marathon celebrated it's fiftieth anniversary this year with a huge entry including a fourteen-strong contingent of Lytham runners.  Local celebrity Ben Fish notch up a record eighth win equalling his 2013 time of 1:10:30.  First woman was Salford Harriers' Tessa Walker, 22nd overall in 1:23:41

Two Lytham winners made their mark.  Joanna Goorney maintained her excellent record taking the Stephen Garratt Trophy for first Fylde women for the second time and the Joe Beck Trophy for the fist Freckleton resident for the twelfth time in thirteen years with a time 1:28:50, 38th overall.  Fourth club member back was the Club's second prize-winner Graham Webster, first MV60, 49th in 1:31:34.

First Lytham member in was Joe Greenwood with 1:21:36 and a great 15th place in a field of 660.  Five places later Simon Denye managed 1:22:39. Fiona Geldard was third in her FV50 class in 2:00:24, 317th overall.
Other Results: 55th Neil Tate, 1:32:41: 133rd Oliver Hirsh, 1:43:28; 151st Mark Willett, 1:44:16;  229th Roy Stevens, 1:52:15; 257th Willie Richmond, 1:54:31; 196th Nigel Simpkin, 1:58:16; 315th Greg Oulton, 2:00:00; 318th Felicity Wolohan,2:00:24; 408th Louisa Ruman, 2:06:38.

The previous weekend saw Melanie Koth compete in the Keswick TriHard Triathlon, a 400m open water swim in Derwent Water followed by a scenic bike ride around the Lake and a 5k run with low lake water levels resulting in an uncomfortable bare foot run to the transition point. Koth finished very creditably in 1:28:08, 13th woman, 6th FV40, and 67th out of 210.