LSARRC News18th August 2015

LSARRC at Chorley Inter Club

 Sunny evenings seem to have become somewhat of a tradition with 2015's Inter-Club Road Series and the sixth round, taking place this week at Astley Park, Chorley, was no exception.

Two hundred and fifty-two runners set off on this demanding race, amongst them a good turn out of twenty-nine representing Lytham St. Annes RRC. From a start opposite the North-West's premier Jacobean Hall with its knighted loin-of-beef throne, the course climbs and descends almost constantly through the Park and out onto the road side three times, each time turning back towards the Hall. The really tough section comes a mile into the race when athletes start the long haul up Southport Road only to have to repeat it later in the race.

Constantly improving Joe Greenwood achieved his target of a top ten finish with a great run of 28.16 for the hilly approximate 4.8 mile course. Thomas Howarth, fast finding his earlier form, finished 20th in 29.46 and third finisher was Neil Tate, 35th in 31.23. Other members of Lytham's Open Team which finished 5th were Justin Allitt, V40, 51st in 32:50; Terry Hellings, V60, 66th in 34:01; Melanie Koth, F40, 87th in 35:21; Colin Laidlaw, V60, 103rd in 36:32; 108th Roy Upton, V45, 108th in 36:41 and Oliver Hirsh, V45, 114th in 36:56

Coming fourth for Lytham and, even more notably, first woman, was Joanna Goorney who finished in an excellent 31.26 and 36th place leading the team into fourth place. Completing the women's team were Melanie Koth, 10th woman, Claire England, 31st, Fiona Geldard, 40th and Susan Hawitt, 41st.

But it was the older runners who set the pace for LSARRC with the Vet 60's team consisting of Terry Hellings, 2nd V60, Colin Laidlaw, 7th V60 and Roy Stevens, 13th V60 achieving second. The V60s go into the final round with 32 points for the series chasing leaders Blackpool on 34.

FULL RESULTS: 9th Joe Greenwood, SM 28:16; 20th Tom Howarth, SM, 29:46; 35th Neil Tate, SM, 31:23; 36th Joanna Goorney, F45, 31:26; 51st Justin Allitt, V40, 32:50; 66th Terry Hellings, V60, 34:01; 87th Melanie Koth, F40, 35:21; 103rd Colin Laidlaw, V60, 36:32; 108th Roy Upton, V45, 36:41; 114th Oliver Hirsh, V45, 36:56; 115th Richard Storey, V40, 36:58; 141st Des Heron, V40, 38:33; 146th Ian Tate, SM, 38:45; 147th Claire England, F50, 38:47; 150th Roy Stevens, V60, 38:58; 172nd Nigel Simpkin, V55, 41:36; 175th Fiona Geldard, F50, 41:41; 176th Susan Hawitt, F50, 41:47; 180th Pamela Hardman, F55, 42:05; 185th Hannah McCandlesss, SF, 42:24; 187th Julia Rolfe, F50, 42:28; 188th Alex Wiggins, SM, 42:44; 189th Debbie Cooper, F40, 42:49; 195th Jeremy McCandless, V50, 43:20; 199th Derek Caborn, V60, 43:55; 202nd Alexandra Everest, SF, 44:04; 213th Sylvia Gittins, F65, 46:42; 218th Bill Lock, V70, 48:07; 237th Dawn Lock, F70 , 58:59.

There's exciting prospects coming up for Lytham members when the popular North West Counties Relays move to a new venue on Saturday 12th September. For the first time runners will see the fine development of the Edge Hill University Campus in Ormskirk. The North West Counties gives a real opportunity to clubs like LSARRC to achieve medals as the

competition is limited to clubs within each of the five countries and Lytham Ladies have an excellent record of medals in the Lancashire Championships over many years.

But in 2014 it was Lytham's younger ladies who showed the way. At Wood Bank Park, Stockport in September 2014 the team of Under 15 Girls Chloe Norman, Hannah Riley and Ella Moulding took the Lancashire AA Gold Medal, a real thrill for the Club.

The North West Counties Relays will be followed a week later by the high-standard Northern Athletic Championships on home territory. Lytham members will have the balancing act of competing and marshalling at Stanley Park on the 19th.

The Inter-Club Fell Series reached a conclusion with the well-chosen Darwen Gala Fell Race on Saturday with the town festivities adding to the general atmosphere and the day enhanced by glorious sunshine. Organizers Darwen Community Runners added a nice touch by treating all finishers to hot dogs and a glass of the local beer.

A good entry including a large contingent of inter-club competitors ran this 7.5k race with 928ft of climb. Nine members of the Lytham took up the tough challenge to climb from town level straight up to Darwen Tower with a further challenge when the course looped downwards to once again to regain tower level before circling behind the tower and adding a tricky slippery descent on narrow paths back to the Bold Venture Park finish.

Terry after taking a tumble at the Darwen Gala Fell Race

Lytham's best fell runners were well up. Joe Greenwood finished 9th in 35.50, high enough to be in a good position to secure a season prize while Joanna Goorney, 41st in 41.00, was second women and second female veteran over 40 meriting two prizes. Dawn Lock, 139th in 1.12.23, was awarded the FV70 prize.

Making up the open team with Greenwood and Goorney were Terry Hellings, 45th in 41.10, who, hampered by a tumble, missed out on the V60 prize, Mark Selby, 55th in 43.15 and Debbie Cooper, 101st in 51.15. Julia Rolfe, 105th in 53.01, joined Goorney and Cooper in the women's team. Pamela Hardman, 106th in 53.02, came in immediately behind Rolfe and Jeremy McCandless, who has only taken up fell running this season, finished creditably in 117th in 56.55.

Two Lytham members ran the evening Catforth 5K, won by a sizzling performance by Wesham's Rob Danson of 15.27. Thomas Howarth finished 12th in 17.40 and Mark Willett, 34th in 19.18.