LSARRC 21st December 2014

 

Christmas activities continued for Lytham members into a second week with the December Handicap on the Thursday followed by the Xmas Fun Relay on the Sunday both experiencing the deteriorating weather that made for challenging racing.

 It showed a lot of determination from all the competitors who stoically braved the heavy rain and strong winds that faced runners in the 4.35 miles December club handicap.  Unsurprisingly most ran a little below their best but there were two who defied the bad weather and overcame their handicap.  The very wet winner, Tom Howarth, was pleased to finish ahead of the field as he's been somewhat short of his best in recent months while another to excel was second-placed Neil Tate who amazingly posted a PB.

 After nine races in the annual handicap competition Jeremy McCandless with 253 points retains his commanding lead over the rest. Consistently improving Karen Lanigan moves up into second place on 185 points but competition for the runner-up's medal remains wide open with the final three races still to be contested.

Results: 1, Tom Howarth, 21.46; 2, Neil Tate, 21.31; 3, Derek Caborn, 30.21; 4, Karen Lanigan, 34.14; 5, Pam Binns, 36.09; 6, Jeremy McCandless,  31.13; 7, Greg Oulton,  28.22; 8, Graham Webster,  22.42; 9, Debbie Cooper, 27.59; 10, Richard Storey, 25.46; 11, Mark Selby, 24.14; 12, Dawn Lock, 49.44; N/C Paula McCandless, 41.16; Hannah McCandless, 32.28; Justin Allitt, 23.47; Ian Tate, 26.39.

 

The light-hearted Christmas Fun Relays are a long established annual event at the Club and this year saw the usual mix of Santas, reindeer and elves battling their way along Lytham Green.

 A strong cross wind made for a most challenging 'fun run', especially in fancy dress, but all finished in high spirits.  Santa Joe Greenwood ran the quickest leg while juniors Rebecca and Matthew bravely ran the full 5k course and finished in very good times.  

1.  Turkeys (1h 12m 39s) Ruth Wheatley 27.39; Ian Tate 23.36; Mark Selby 21.24.

2.  Puddings (1h 23m 07s) Dawn Lock 39.46; Colin Laidlaw 22.58; Joe Greenwood 20.23.

3.  Sprouts (1h 24m 17s) Pam Binns 34.03; Greg Oulton 29.11; Neil Tate 21.03.

4.  Robins (1h 28m 13s) Matthew 32.01; Rebecca 29.10; Julia Rolfe 27.02.

Elsewhere four Lytham members ran the Rudolph's Red Nose Race, a flattish 5 mile tour of Heron's Reach won by racing regular Jason Parker of Preston Harriers in 28:24 who led in a field of 155. 

 

First Lytham runner across the line was first MV50 Peter Cruse who finished in 32:27 for 10th overall.  Dawn Bloor, in fine form in spite of a tough headwind, achieved her club silver standard with a 40:00 finish for 53rd place.  Already having got her silver standard at three distances, she needed a five miles silver time before her next birthday in January and took her final chance with the Rodolph's Race.  Brian Porter, MV45, was 92nd in 45:29 and two places later Sylvia Gittins finished in 45:33 to take the FV65 prize.