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.