LSARRC News 27th February 2018

Draper and Hill achieve new heights at the Blackpool running festival and Stevens runs in Tokyo.

Jennifer Hill and Gill Draper

The weekend of the 24th and 25th of February saw the double 10K Blackpool running festival.  A beautiful two lap course around Stanley Park. A fun event for all abilities and ages. Due to increased demand and popularity the Stanley Park 10k is staged over 2 days. You choose which one, or why not both? The event uses the same beautiful course in the park as the Autumn Breaker 10k later in the year. Starting and finishing on the running track the route follows the well-maintained pathways around the park. It is a two-lap course, so is great for spectators who wish to stay at the track.

Both days were chilly for the double Stanley Park 10k weekend as the Beast from the East was on its way. overall though conditions were good.  On Saturday Lytham ladies were on form with Gill Draper and Jennifer Hill taking 1st and 2nd lady spots and also both achieving new personal best times of 41:04 and 42:20.  Ross McKelvie was the 40 minute event pacer, finishing in 38:54.  Other runners were Gerard Browne (47:54), Matthew Hill (50:02), Kirsten Burnett (51:35), Ruth Bye (59:28) and Sarah Bagshaw (1:05:36).

Sunday’s event brought a cold wind but that didn’t deter more club runners.  Chris McCarthy was the 40-minute pacer, finishing in 39:32, while Ross McKelvie paced 45 minutes (43:59). Kathy Gaunt ran well to finish in 48:01, followed by Gerard Browne (48:16).  Michelle Sheridan and Kirsten Burnett ran together to finish in 1:13:53.

Roy Stevens at Tokyo Marathon

Roy Stevens attended the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday 25th February and ran the course in 4 hours 30 minutes.  The Tokyo Marathon is an annual marathon sporting event in Tokyo, the capital of Japan. It is an IAAF Gold Label marathon and one of the six World Marathon Majors.  Stevens was able to register as a six-star finisher, those who have completed the six world marathon major races and receive an impressive piece of bling to add to their collection.

Saturday also saw the British master’s Athletic Federation 10-mile championship.  Very cold conditions and a strong headwind on the outward circuit along the prom seafront, faced the runners, however Graham Webster of Lytham still faired very well.  Webster of Lytham was 5th Vet65 and 87th overall out of 491 runners in a time of 1:10:30.

Four club members, Debbie Cooper, Pam Hardman, Julia Rolfe and Greg Oulton, travelled to Tockholes on Friday night to compete in the Mr Sparkle's Dark 'Un night time fell race.  Five miles over the Darwen moors with approx. 735 feet of climb, the race takes place in the pitch black of the open moors, with runners wearing head torches to light their way. With mud, ice, wind and freezing cold puddles to contend with we finished in 50:27 (Debbie, 47th), 56:58 (Greg, 57th), with Pam and Julia crossing the line together in 59:44 and 59:45 (62nd and 63rd.)

Frankie Ball at Lytham Hall parkrun

At the weekly 5K park runs around the country, 193 people completed the Lytham Hall parkrun, 14 of whom are members of LSARRC.  The first two spots went to Joe Greenwood and Andy Unsworth of Lytham, Greenwood was just a few seconds of achieving a personal best.  Junior, Frankie Ball ran exceptionally well and achieved a best time of 20:21 knocking 40 seconds off his previous time, and on her 70th run Joanna Goorney was the first female runner to complete the course.

Full Results:  Joe Greenwood 17:25 (1st), Andy Unsworth 18:36 (2nd), Joanna Goorney 20:07 (8th), Neil Tat320:11 (10th), Frankie Ball 20:21 (11th), Neil Bayntun-Roberts 20:35 (15th), Darran Ames 21:19 (20th), Terry Hellings 21:26 (22nd), Morgan Pritchard 21:32 (23rd), James Buckley 21:52 (24th), Michelle Sheridan 34:28 (163rd), Jeremy McCandless 45:28 (186th), Julie Wiseman 53:55 (191st, volunteer.), and Nicola Wiseman 53:57 (193rd, volunteer).

At the Blackpool parkrun Andrew Draper stormed round the course in 18:00 for first position.  Mark Hughes of Lytham finished in 22:04 for 20th, Heidi Haigh was 33rd overall and 4th female in a time of 23:15 and Gerry Browne was 43rd in 24:2.

On Sunday 25th February two Lytham ladies, Melanie Koth and Felicity Wolohan competed at the Village Bakery Wrexham Half Marathon.   An enjoyable race where 90 percent of the roads were closed and lots of support throughout the race which was held on quite country roads, both runners achieved great times.  Wolohan was 218th overall, 14th female, and 7th senior lady in a time of 01:28:18.  Koth ran the course in 01:39:18 for 519th overall, 63rd female and 12th Vet 40.for 22nd out of 48 runners.

Julia Rolfe did the Lostock 6, a 6-mile road race around Lostock on Sunday.  A bitterly cold day and an undulating course however Rolfe still achieved a good time of 50:06.

Also on Sunday 25th Greg Oulton attended the Kendal Winter Series of fell races. Taking place in the grounds of Sedburgh School, the race was four miles and 520 feet of climb and a cross between a Cross Country and a Fell race. With steep climbs, mud and ice it was quite a challenge after Friday night's fun. Oulton managed to come 108th in 44:23.

At the junior parkrun in Lytham Frankie Ball of Lytham was 1st overall in 7:47. Jayden Richardson gained a new personal best time of 8:43 and came 4th overall.  Finlay Hughes was close behind in 5th running the course in 8:46. Jack Greaves completed the course in 10:38 for 19th.  Blair Selbie ran a time of 10:46.

LSARRC News 20th Febuary 2018

Lytham men impress at the penultimate Mid-Lancashire Cross Country fixture, in Lancaster on Saturday 17th February.

LSARRC at Mid Lancs XC

It was a busy weekend for LSARRC runners as Saturday saw the 5th Mid Lancashire Cross Country League fixture at Ryelands Park, Lancaster, take place.

Mike Toft

In the senior men’s race the Lytham first team secured 4th position overall, with some outstanding performances.  Mike Toft finished 13th overall out of 129 runners in a time of 35:40. Joe Greenwood was second to finish for the club in 36:37 for 20th.  Thomas Howarth was 44th in 39:03, followed by Neil Tate in 39:30 for 49th,  Johnathan Tuck ran the course in 40:12 for 56th and Alex Tate was 63rd in 40:38.  The second team for Lytham secured 18th place and included the following runners:   Paul Veevers (40:50, 69th), Ross McKelvie ( 43:05, 93rd), Terry Hellings (44:20, 113th), Graham Webster ( 45:05, 119th),  Gavin Stanfield ( 47:46, 146th), and John Bertenshaw (50:35, 162nd). Jason Sheridan and Greg Oulton also completed the course in 54:09 and 56:39 respectively.  It was an especially busy day for Graham Webster who ran the Lytham parkrun in the morning, followed by the cross-country fixture in Lancaster, later in the day.

In the senior ladies’ race Lytham also managed to field two teams.  First home for the club, with an impressive run was Catherine Carrdus who finished 18th in a time of 26:06.  Melanie Koth ran well to finish in 44th place in 28:52, followed by Julia Rolfe who ran the course in 32:11 for 78th.  The team of Carrdus, Koth and Rolfe came 14th overall.  In the second Lytham team Kirsten Burnett finished 88th, followed by Pamela Hardman in 91st and Alexandra Everest in 97th, overall this team came 26th.

Morgan Pritchard and Frankie Ball ran for Lytham in the under 13 boys race. Out of 60 runners, Morgan managed to secure 27th place in a time of 12:56 and Frankie was 30th in a time of 13:05.  Brogan Murphy and  Rebecca Fisher competed in the under 13 race.  Brogran finished in 26th in 9:44 whilst Rebecca finished in 11:28 for 57th position.

Jessica Ramsden followed by Clemmie Tierney

In the under 11 boys race Lytham fielded 3 competitors.  First to finish the course in 8:33 for 49th was Lewis Bentley, not far behind was Oliver Thomson in 8:43 for 55th and Eric Wrigley who finished 63rd in a time of 8:55.  The team of Bentley, Thomson and Wrigley finished 10th overall.  In the girls under 11 race Jessica Ramsden managed to finish in the top 30 runners with a time of 8:46 (29th), followed by Clemmie Tierney in 8:57 (35th), Amara Thorpe 9:02 (37th), Leoma Gill in 9:55 (55th) and Rosa Gill in 11:30 (60th).  The team of Ramsden, Tierney and Thorpe finished 11th overall.

At the Lytham Hall parkrun also on Saturday 17th February 16 Lytham members braved the cold conditions to complete the course.  There were not as many club participants as normal due to the cross-country fixture at Lancaster, however there were several notable performances. On his 70th parkrun Graham Webster was the first home for Lytham in a respectable time of 20:59, and first in the age category VM65-69.  Darran Ames was the next to finish in 21:22, just 7 seconds off equalling his personal best time of 21:05.  Ames was followed closely by Jennifer Hill who secured 2nd female position and a time not far off her personal best, also.  Neil Bayntun-Roberts finished 3 seconds later in 21:18 for 13th position overall.

Full Results:   Graham Webster 20:59 (9th), Darran Ames 21:12 (11th), Jennifer Hill 21:15 (12th), Neil Bayntun-Roberts 21:18 (13th), James Buckley 23:10 (25th), G Browne 23:40 (32nd), Neil Tate 24:29 (40th), Stephen Tate 26:45 (76th), Kathy Gaunt 29:05 (97th), Jeremy McCandless 29:58 (102nd), Gillian Oliver 30:08 (107th), Ruth Bye 30:39 (113rd), Sarah Bagshaw 32:31 (127th), Rebecca Willetts 40:26 (157th), and Julie Wiseman and Nicola Wiseman were tail walkers.

Several Lytham runners completed parkruns across the country, and further afield.  Susan Hawitt completed the Greenwich parkrun, she came 115th overall and was 18th female.  Joanna Goorney ran the hilly 3 laps, scenic Roundhay parkrun in Leeds and was the first female, and 16th overall out of 301 finishers, to finish in a time of 20:56.

LSARRC at GNW Half Marathon

On Sunday 18th February the Great North West Half Marathon took place in Blackpool.  A fast and flat course around the coastal front of Blackpool.  The event is now in its 29th year and often attracts 1500 competitors of all ages and experiences.  The club was well represented and of the 10 finishers, 4 came in the first 200 runners. Paul Fauset of Dark Peak running club was first overall, in a personal best time of 74:35 First home for the cub was Neil Tate in 88:18 for 108th position overall.  Gill Draper was the first female home for the cub in an excellent 92:10 for 120th, with an equal time Paul Veevers secured 121st spot.  Ian Tate was 156th in 95:22 and Ian Balshaw achieved a personal best time of 2:07:50 for 806th.  Other runners included: Kirsten Burnett who ran the course in 2:13:48 for 914th, Laura Byrne ran 2:13:48 for 915th, Olivia Allen ran 2:16:05 for 953rd, Christine Walker ran 2:18:59 for 985th, Sylvia Elisabeth Gittins 2:21:27 for 1016th and Amy Fletcher finished her first half marathon in 3:15:02 for 1211th.

At the junior parkrun on Sunday 18th, 5 Lytham runners completed the 2K course.  Frankie Ball was 2nd in 7:47, 1st female was Clemmie Tierney in 9:05, Jayden Richardson ran 9:39 for 11th, Blair Selbie achieved a new personal best time of 9:58 for 16th and Sophie Tate finished in 14:30 for 43rd.

LSARRC News 13th Febuary 2018

Chris McCarthy, Joe Greenwood and Ross McKelvie and Lytham Hall parkrun

This weekend was another busy one for LSARRC. A huge 28 runners took part in parkruns over the country and worldwide! 3 runners decided to be ‘parkrun tourists’ and took part in Preston’s parkrun Catherine Carrdus was first women back with an impressive time of 20:54, Jennifer Jill was second female finishing in 21:51 and John Bertenshaw completed his 50th parkrun in 24:31. Richard Storey ran in the Lincoln parkrun and finished in 52nd place in 22:56. Neil Bayntun-Roberts ran in Barking’s parkrun and finished in 21:35.  Bob Clough on holiday in Australia couldn’t miss a parkrun so competed in New South Wales Curl Curl parkrun and got a time on 34:28.  Jason Sheridan also completed the Fell Foot parkrun in 27:21. Mark Hughes and Heidi Haigh compete in the Blackpool parkrun getting impressive times of 22:17 and 23:17 respectively.

Joanna Goorney and Gill Draper at Lytham Hall parkrun

10 local runners also ran the Lytham Hall parkrun, Joe Greenwood was first male back receiving a time of 17:37, Ross McKelvie was next male back finishing in 19”10. Not to be out beaten by the men Joanna Goorney was the first women back in 21:09 and Gill Draper was second lady in 21:17. Andrew Draper finished seconds later in 21:19, James Buckley in 21:31, Darran Ames in 21:39 and Kev Murray in 22:48. Stephen Tate was next back in 27:20 and Sarah Bagshaw in 33:31.

Also on Saturday was Caldervale’s 11 mile muddy shoe race. 3 Lytham runners competed in this race and stated that the race is mainly through fields and tracks around the Forest of Bowland and relies on map-reading skills to follow the route.  It certainly lived up to its name, with deep mud over much of the course, helped by the rain throughout.  Neil and Ian Tate came in 4th and 5th in 1:37:21 and 1:37:29, while Kirsten Burnett was 30th in 2:28:08.  Post-run pie and peas in Caldervale Village Hall were very warmly received.

On Sunday was the Lancaster Valentines 10k. 2 Lytham runners competed in this race stating that they were very lucky with the weather although it was still rather cold and windy! Ian Balshaw completed his 10k race in 57:19 and Christine Walker finished her race moments later in 57:24. Both runners said that this was a really nice course to run and enjoyed their race.

Also on Sunday was Lythams Junior parkrun with 7 of our juniors competing. Frankie Ball was the first Lytham junior back finishing his race in 7:59. Erc Wrigley completed his race in 8:50, Lewis Bentley in 9:12, Finlay Hughes and Leoma Gill in 9:52. Rosa Gill finished her race in 11:59, Lewis Ames in 12:12 and Sophie Tate in 14:25.

As ever well done to all the runners who have competed in the races this weekend.

LSARRC News 6th February 2018

Sophie Bohannon impresses at the Lancashire Schools Cross Country championships held at Witton Park, Blackburn, on Saturday 3rd February.

Sophie Bohannon at Lancs Schools XC

Sophie Bohannon and Rebecca Fisher of Lytham were both selected to represent Fylde in the year 7 race.  Bohannon ran an excellent race to finish second in a time of 9:18 with Fisher also running well to finish 60th in a time of 11:58. Morgan Pritchard was selected to represent Fylde in the year 7 boys race and ran a good race to finish 26th in a time of 9:49.  In the intermediate girls race Emily Balshaw (in a rare cross country outing) and running for Wyre finished in a respectable 29th place with a time of 21:29.
On Saturday 3rd February 19 LSARRC members attended the Lytham Hall 5K parkrun.  The first 4 places went to Joe Greenwood, Neil Tate, Alex Tate and Paul Veevers of Lytham, Greenwood rant the course in under 18 minutes.  Graham Webster was first home in the age category VM65-69 and Gill Draper was the female home for the club, and 3rd female overall.

Full Results: Joe Greenwood 17:53 (1st), Neil Tate 18:18 (2nd), Alex Tate 18:43 (3rd), Paul Veevers 18:52 (4th), Graham Webster 20:52 (14th), Gill Draper 20:53 (16th), Kevin Murray 22:17 (24th), Joanna Goorney 23:24 (30th), G Browne 23:45 (31st), James Buckley 23:59 (34th), John Graeme Bertenshaw 25:04 (49th), Stephen Tate 26:54 (67th), Kirsten Burnett 27:40 (76th), Laura Byrne 28:58 (92nd), Paula McCandless 31:54 (109th), Jeremy McCandless 31:56 (110th), Sarah Bagshaw 32:41 (118th), and volunteer/tail walker was Roy Stevens.

Several other Lytham members travelled around the country to attend other parkruns.   Close to home at the Blackpool 1st birthday parkrun 3 Lytham members completed the course, Heide Haigh, Mark Hughes and Finlay Hughes came 22nd, 33rd and 34th respectively. Felicity Wolohan completed the Princes parkrun at Liverpool and was the first female home, and 19th overall in a time of 20:17. 
Much further afield Bob Cough completed the Mosman parkrun in New South Wales, Australia, he came 66th with a time of 34:12.

Sylvia Gittins and Kirsten Burnett ran the Blackburn Winter Warmer 10K on Sunday 4th February.  The race began with a tough uphill climb for the first couple of km.  Runners were however rewarded with stunning views across the East Lancashire countryside on a crisp morning; perfect running conditions.  Welcome downhill stretches followed in what was an enjoyable and very well-organised event.  Burnett was first home for the club in 57:19 while Sylvia, with a time of 1:03:21, took home a prize as 1st FV70 runner.  Jessica Ramsden, sole Lytham junior athlete, ran the 2K course in a fantastic time of 9:49 taking 38th place in a field of 185 and 7th of 38 in her age group.

Heidi Haigh

Terry Hellings, Greg Oulton and Heidi Haigh opted for a weekend away in the Lakes and attended the Montane Grizedale Forest Trail Races.  Conducted in perfect conditions, blue sky, not too hot, not too cold, no wind or rain, a great day was had.  Terry Hellings did the Half Marathon, finishing 36th place in 1:51:55.  Heidi Haigh did the Marathon, finishing in 47th place in 4:43:05, and Greg Oulton finished the course in 100th place in 5:46:32.

The Half Marathon covered the same route as the first half of the Marathon, starting at Grizedale Visitor Centre and heading out on a circuitous trip round the trails within Grizedale Forest with a brief spell onto the fells, before returning at the start.  The Marathon then continued along the paths, bogs, roads and river beds of High Dale Park and Claife Heights.  The final distance covered was approximately 26.7 miles with about 4000 feet of ascent.

Park View junior parkrun

 Also, on Sunday 4th February it was the 1st anniversary of the setting up of the junior parkrun at Park View in Lytham.  Youngsters were encouraged to dress up as their favourite superheroes and refreshments were available at the finish line.  There was a great turn out of 112 runners, 20 of who were LSARRC members.  The first 4 spots went to Lytham runners with Sophie Bohannon first home, followed by Morgan Pritchard, Charlie Ormerod and then Frankie Bell.  Well done to Rosa Gill for achieving a personal best time of 11:12.

Full Results:  Sophie Bohannon 07:45 (1st), Morgan Pritchard 07:53 I2nd), Charlie Ormerod 07:55 (3rd), Frankie Ball 08:00 (4th), Eric Wrigley 08:46 (7th), Archie Tate 08:52 (8th), Jayden Richardson 08:28 (10th), Clemmie Tierney 09:11 (12th), Finlay Hughes 09:14 (13th), Amara Thorpe 09:28 (17th), Lucy Bohannon 09:36 (19th), Charlotte Fisher 09:46 (21st), Ella Wiseman 10:02 (25th), Rebecca Fisher 10:10 (29th), Max Walker 10:14 (30th), Blair Selbie 10:16 (31st),Jack Greaves 10:27 (34th), Leoma Gill 10:45 (39th), Rosa Gill 11:12 (41st),  and Sebastian Koth Wragg 12:24 (57th).