LSARRC News 21st June 2016

LSARRC runners at Freckleton Halg Marathon

On Thursday night, the well-establish Aggies' Staircase attracted 148 runners of which a large section, 68, were competing in the second round of the Fell Inter-Club Grand Prix.  There were good turnouts particularly from Red Rose Runners who took the women's team competition and from Preston Harriers who won the men's team competition and had the first ICGP competitor Richard Smith and the first women overall Katey Foster.  Threatened downpours didn't materialise and conditions for this scenic course with three significant climbs were very fair.

Aggies' Staircase

Lytham St. Annes RRC did not have it's strongest team out but still had sufficient to complete teams in the Open, Ladies, Vets and Vet50s. First for the Club was Debbie Cooper running well to finish the 6.4k / race in 42:47 and 46th in the ICGP. Julia Rolfe finished in 46:42, 52nd in the ICGP. Greg Oulton took 49:25, Hannah McCandless, 53:37, Jeremy McCandless, 57:58, and Dawn Lock, who won the W70 prize, 67:30.

Claire England and Sue Hawitt

The club's annual presentation evening was held on Friday night at the club's headquarters at Lytham YMCA.  Club Champions for the year were Steve Hargreaves and Emily Hargreaves with Andy Draper and Joanna Goorney as runners up.  After the presentation, a buffet was provided by the Refuel Cafe Bar followed by a disco.

The major event of the weekend was the 52nd Freckleton Half Marathon on Sunday afternoon.  It was also the 40th Ladies Race and to mark the occasion, Veronique Marot of Leeds City AC and the Ladies course record holder (72:56 in 1988) had been invited to start the race and present prizes at the end.  Also each lady finisher was presented with a commemorative medal to mark the occasion.

Instead of the normal wind and heatwave conditions associated with this race, the forecasted rain started to come down as the race started gradually getting heavier as the afternoon progressed, quite refreshing to run in but not so good for the spectators.

Joanna Goorney being presented with 1st lady trophy by Veronique Marot

After his nine year reign as Freckleton Half Marathon Champion, Ben Fish lost his crown this year as Dave Rigby of Salford Harriers took the honours in 1:09:24 with Rob Danson of Wesham RR just over a minute behind in 1:10:49.  Joanna Goorney of LSARRC was thrilled to win the ladies race for a second time in a time of 1:28:38.  With 488 finishers, Lytham St Annes had an excellent turnout with 14 runners as well as Brian Porter, the club's vice chairman doing the commentating and many members of the club spectating around the course.  Graham Webster was 1st vet 60 in 1:33:59 whilst the Joanna Goorney, Felicity Wolohan and Claire England took the ladies team prize – and excellent result.

Justin Allitt

Full LSARRC results: Joe Greenwood 17th 1:19:50; Justin Allitt 31st 1:25:31; Neil Tate 32nd 1:25:52; Thomas Howarth 36th 1:27:44; Joanna Goorney 41st 1:28:36; Graham Webster 75th 1:33:57; Felicity Wolohan 92nd 1:36:09; Alan Elstone 131st 1:41:38; Ian Tate 163rd 1:43:40; Michelle Hook 168th 1:44:41; Claire England 193rd 1:48:02; Susan Hawitt 310th 1:58:02; Pamela Hardman 332nd 2:01:18; Greg Oulton 353rd 2:03:42;

Harry Fellows - 1st in Freckleton Fun Run

There was also a Fun Run which started 10 minutes after the half marathon start of just over 2.3 miles which attracted a number of Lytham juniors .  The race was won by Harry Fellows by about 3 seconds from 10 year old George Denye (14:21).  Tom Fahey finished in 7th place whilst 11 year old Sydney Ramsden was 3rd girl and 8th overall in 16:58.  Ethan Currie also ran.

Tom Fahey

Francis Morrison

The 28th Lytham Hall parkrun had an excellent turnout of 238 runners on Saturday morning with Neil Tate being first finisher for the first time in a PB of 18:16.  Also having an superb run was Justing Allitt in 5th place also with a PB in 19:05.  Graham Webster was 8th in 20:11, Terry Hellings was 19th in 21:17, junior Francis Morrison was 61st in 24:17,  Graham Young was 106th in a PB of 27:42 and Alex Tate was 196th in 34:23.

Julia Rolfe headed over to Cuerden Valley parkrun for the first time for a slightly more undulating 5k.  She finished in 73rd place out of 235 finishers in 26:55

The Brueton parkrun in Brueton park, Solihull attracted Richard Storey. With 426 finishers, the 2 and a bit lap course took Richard 22:59 finishing in 81st place.

Neil Tate - 1st finisher Lytham Hall parkrun

Roy Stevens was back on the other side of the world in Sydney, Australia to see his first grand child.  Whilst there, he joined 229 other runners in the St Peters parkrun in Sydney Park, St Peters, Sydney.  Running in the pouring rain, Roy still managed to run the one lap course one minute quicker than in January in 23 :58 (but still couldn't catch his daughter Emma).