Wednesday 28 March 2018

LSARRC News 27th March 2018

On Saturday John Bertenshaw completed his 25th consecutive 'Coniston 14' race in Cumbria. It was a challenge he set himself back in 1994 when he first ran the race. Vet 60 John considers himself lucky to have stayed free of injury and illness at the right time to do all 25. John managed a respectable time of 01:47:55, about 20 minutes slower than his PB for the course but that was a good few years ago.

Two other Lytham St. Anne’s Road Runners tackled the hilly Coniston race, the 37th time this event has been run. In relatively Spring-like conditions combined with a few (early) ‘April’ showers, Catherine Carrdus was first home for the clubin 1:40:42 for 8th Female and 2nd F45, with Sylvia Gittins in 2:30:12 for 5th F65+.

At the Lytham parkrun on Saturday several Lytham members completed the course.  Andrew Draper was 1st home for the club and 1st overall. Neil Bayntun-Roberts ran just short of gaining a new personal best but secured 3rd spot in a time of 19:48.

Full Results:  Andrew Draper 17:44 (1st);Neil Bayntun-Roberts 19:48 (3rd);  Darran Ames 20:56 (10th); James Buckley 21:09 (12th); Morgan Pritchard 21:53 (18th); Graham Webster 21:54 (19th); Mark Hughes 22:12 (25th); Kev Murray 23:37 (36th); G Browne 24:16 (44th); Debbie Cooper 24:34 (47th);Susan Hawitt 25:13 (58th); Stephen Tate 26:42 (77th); Gillian Oliver 29:28 (112th) Jacqui Murray 29:55 (117th); Karen Lanigan 30:38 (125th); Michelle Sheridan 31:42 (132nd), Sarah Bagshaw 32:40 (139th); and Bob Clough 38:23 (161st).
Richard Harry Storey of Lytham travelled to Brueton parkrun and completed the course in 23:13. Felicity Wolohan completed the Princes parkrun in Liverpool and was 2nd female in 20:59.  Joanna Goorney was 1st female home in 20:08 at the Huddersfield parkrun.

On Sunday the junior parkrun at Park View in Lytham went ahead.  Frankie Ball finished 2nd in 7:35 which was a new personal best time.  Jayden Richardson also gained a new personal best time of 8:10 for 3rd.  Finlay Hughes ran 8:34 for 7th and Amara Thorpe 9:20 for 9th.  Blair Selbie was 15th out of 39 participants and ran the course in 10:33.

On Sunday three Lytham runners competed in the Garstang Gallop. Jason Sheridan, Peter Reid and Julia Rolfe were 74th, 89th and 97th consecutively. Julia was also the third FV55.

Wednesday 21 March 2018

LSARRC News 20th March 2018

A new club record for Felicity Wolohan

A new club record for Felicity Wolohan at the Trimpell race on Sunday 18th March, Wolohan broke her own club record of 2:21:41 for 20 miles by 1:17, taking it down to 2:20:24.

LSARRC at Trimpell 20
With snow falling on Saturday night and Sunday morning, several races in the North West were forced to cancel this weekend, including the Wilmslow Half Marathon and Wigan 10k. Fortunately, the Trimpell 20 Mile race in Lancaster fared better and saw a good turnout from Lytham St Anne’s Road Runners despite the bitterly cold, windy conditions.

The race is traditionally used by runners training for Spring Marathons, and as a largely flat course along the River Lune attracts runners from across the North of England. This year, the course featured a new section, diverting from the river at 15 miles to add an unwelcome hill and exposure to the strong winds!

Despite this challenge, the club prevailed taking both the Men’s (Andy Draper, Neil Tate, Joe Greenwood) and Women’s (Felicity Wolohan, Gill Draper, Mel Koth) team prizes, along with 1st Women’s V40 prize for Mel Koth.

Full Results:
Andy Draper (2:05:29), Neil Tate (2:13:54), Joe Greenwood (2:16:45), Felicity Wolohan (2:20:24), Gill Draper (2:34:01), Mel Koth (2:42:35), Kirsten Burnett (3:20:19), Rachael Wignall (4:00:15)

On Saturday 10th March, Lytham member Debbie Cooper did the Haworth Hobble, a 32 mile off road route. Cooper reported the day started wet and it rained, heavily at times for the first 10 miles, "we spent a lot of the time in the cloud on the hills, so no views!!"  Cooper said she didn't take her coat off for the first 22 miles, when it finally started to warm up. The rocky paths could easily have been mistaken for streams with so much water running down them. The rest was deep mud and some of the descents were only passable by sliding. Cooper slipped down a flight of 4 steps covered in mud at one point and thankfully ended up standing at the bottom on her feet, not sure how she got from the top. To finish off the day the last few miles were at times through snow that had drifted against walls. At one-point Cooper was up to her knees in snow and struggling to get her feet out. Cooper was just glad to finish and thought that she was heading for a personal worst time on this route. In the end, Cooper was a couple of minutes faster than last year, but still a way off her personal best time. However, not bad in those conditions, she finished in 6:34.04.

The Rome half marathon took place on Sunday 11th March on a cloudy morning with 10,000 runners heading to the outskirts of Rome city centre to run a straight-out race to the Ostia coastline. A 9:20 gun time meant a very early start. The route was undulating with two long, steady and very tedious inclines at the 3 and 6-mile points which were no mean feat and resulting in a very challenging second half of the race. A mixed bag of weather was also thrown into the mix whereby, 3 heavy down pours and strong headwinds were experienced en route. As runners approached the coast however, the sun shone brightly which made the finish line even more appealing. Jennifer Hill said the run was well supported en route by local Italians cheering and keeping the runners going! She crossed the line in 1:34:27, a personal best by 10 minutes, 67th female and 2nd GB female! It was Matthews very first half marathon and he finished in a very respectable 2:12:54. All in all a fabulous race in an equally fabulous city. The pizza, pasta and red wine was very much deserved and enjoyed!

Saturday saw the first Track and Field event of the year.  Four Lytham juniors braved the snow and wind to make their track and field debut for Lytham to compete in the misnamed Winter Warmup Track and Field meeting at Stanley Park on Saturday 17th.
Amara Thorpe
First to compete for LSARRC was Brogane Murphy.  Murphy has only been with the club a few months but has been very busy competing at cross country, road and now track and field. Her first event was the under 15 girls long jump and she had a very credible best jump of 3.16m in her first ever long jump competition for 14th place.  Murphy went on to compete in the 1500m where she finished as 3rd under 15 girl in a time of 5m 43s.  Clemmie Tierney also competed in her first ever long jump competition as finished as 14th under 11 girl with a best jump of 2.75m.  Under 13 girl Amara Thorpe also making her track and field debut for LSARRC finished 15th in the long jump with a best jump of 3.16m and third in her heat of the 100m in a time of 16.7s.  Rebecca Fisher competed in the under 13 girls 70m hurdles and finished 2nd in her heat in a time of 14.9s.
Clemmie Tierney
Graham Webster was the sole Lytham senior athlete representing Lytham and competed in the final event of the day, the 3000m finishing in a time of 12m 13.7s.

Also on Saturday 17th March, three intrepid Lytham runners braved the weather to travel to Cartmel, to race over the fells in bitterly cold temperatures, bitingly cold winds and snow flurries.

John Wild ran the 10k in approximately 1 hour 11 minutes (provisional results), Chris Bowker and Greg Oulton ran the 18k, finishing in approximately 2:02 his 6oth run of the year, and 2:11 for Bowker.

For Bowker this was his first ever run on the trails or fells and admitted to being surprised at how tough the races are, but he thoroughly enjoyed the experience and is looking forward to more, including taking part in the club's Fell Championship series.

At the weekly parkruns, Neil Bayntun Roberts ran just outside a personal best time to secure 4th place at Lytham Hall, and Darran Ames achieved a best time of 20:56 for 10th.

Full Results: Neil Bayton-Roberts 4th 19:52; Catherine Carrdus 6th 20:31; Joanna Goorney 8th 20:43; Neil Tate 9th 20:55; Darran Ames 10th 20:56; John Bertenshaw 18th 22:18; Morgan Pritchard 19th 22:24; Graham Webster 20th 22:25; Andrew Draper 26th 23:09; James Buckley 30th 23:20; Debbie Cooper 33rd 23:47; Jason Sheridan 44th 24:36; Mark Hughes 75th 27:07; Finlay Hughes 76th 27:08; Stephen Tate 77th 27:09;

Jennifer Hill ran the Blackpool parkrun at Stanley Park in Blackpool, she was 22nd overall and 2nd female in a time of 21:35.  Well dome to Frankie Ball who came 2nd in the junior parkrun at Park View on Sunday he achieved a tie of 7:54.

Friday 16 March 2018

LSARRC News 13th March 2018

Top ten finish for Ross McKelvie at the Lancaster 10K and 1st spot for Sylvia Gittins at the Todmorden 10K for VF70.

Ross McKelvie ran the Mother’s Day 10k in Lancaster on Saturday as a warm up for some upcoming races. Temperatures were very mild indeed and runners were soon discarding gloves, hats and other layers as the route wound its way across the River Lune from St Georges Quay and out towards Morecambe. Support was great along the route with cow bells a plenty keeping runners going in the balmy conditions. I finished in 10th place in a time of 38.12.
LSARRC at Red Hot Toddy 10k

Three Lytham members travelled to Todmorden for the Red-Hot Toddy 10k, on Sunday 11th March.  A friendly club race in perfect cold but sunny conditions which saw the runners tacking steep climbs in the early stages, with over 500ft ascent within a mile.  They were then rewarded with sweeping views of the Pennines from quiet hilltop country roads before reaching the picturesque town, alongside river and canal, for a fast largely downhill finish.  Sylvia Gittins took home the prize for 1st VF70 with a time of 67:56. Ross McKelvie was 13th overall in 43:04 and Kirsten Burnett was 5th FV40 in 58:58.

Also, on Sunday Julia Rolfe competed in the Roddlesworth roller on Sunday.  A 9k undulating and challenging trail race, around the reservoir at Abbey Village and then steadily up through the woods and then returning to the village.  Rolfe achieved an excellent time of 52:06.

As usual, many Lytham members completed parkruns around the country.  At Lytham there were 18 club members.  Lytham had 4 runners in the top 5 and Graham Webster was the fastest in his age category once again.

Full Results: Joe Greenwood (18:25, 2nd), Andy Unsworth (18:35, 3rd), Alex Tate (18:38, 4th), Graham Webster (21:23, 14th), Neil Tate (22:12, 17th), Alan Elstone (22:24, 21st), James Buckley (22:27, 22nd), Chris Bowker (22:32, 23rd), John Bertenshaw (22:56, 26th), Finlay Hughes (23:50, 31st), Mark Hughes (23:51, 32nd), Stephen Tate (26:41, 65th), Jacqui Murray (31:53, 105th), Michelle Sheridan (33:53, 119th), Jason Sheridan (33:56, 120th), Sarah Bagshaw (34:32, 126th), Julie Wiseman (44:58, 145th) and Nicola Wiseman (46:09, 148th).

Heidi Haigh completed the Blackpool parkrun at Stanley Park, she achieved a time of 23:52.  Joanna Goorney was first female at the Huddersfield parkrun in 20:17 and Felicity Wolohan was first female at the Princes parkrun in Liverpool in a time of 20:43.  Further a field Neil Bayntun-Roberts visited the Barry Island parkrun and came 6th in 20:24.
parkview junior parkrun
On mothering Sunday five junior members finished the junior parkrun at Lytham.  Frankie Ball continued his success and gained a new personal best time of 7:39 for 2nd.  Jayden Richardson also achieved a new best time of 8:14 for 3rd.  Finlay Hughes was 6th in 8:36 and Clemmie Tierney ran 9:25 for 12th.  Blair Selbie also achieved a personal best time of 9:46 for 16th.

Friday 9 March 2018

LSARRC News 6th March 2018

Promotion for Lytham men’s and vet’s team, who top the division 2 leader board in the Mid-Lancashire cross country league.  This is the second year running that the team has been promoted in this league, a great achievement.

LSARRC men at Ulverston
The final fixture of the Mid- Lancashire cross country league took place on Saturday 3rd March 2018 and was hosted by Glaxo Road Hill Harriers and held at Ulverston.

In the senior men’s race the first team for Lytham didn’t disappoint, coming 3rd overall, and the second team came 16th overall.  Mike Toft and Joe Greenwood led the way, in the cold conditions, coming in the top ten and top 20, respectively. Just outside the top 20, in 21st was Andrew Draper.  This was the final race of the league, and the great performances throughout the season means the men’s team will be promoted next year.  Full Results:  Mike Toft (9th, 34:31), Joe Greenwood (18th, 35:43), Andrew Draper (21st, 36:25), Neil Tate (32nd, 37:25), Paul Veevers (37th, 37:43),  Thomas Howarth (49th, 38:41), Jonathon Tuck (65th, 39:46), Graham Webster (110th, 43:20), Terry Hellings (114th, 43:38), Chris Bowker (146th, 47:41), Jason Sheridan (155th, 51:54), Roy Stevens (160th, 54:08), and Greg Oulton (161st, 54:18).

Senior Ladies at Ulverston
In the ladies’ race 4 Lytham members competed.  Julia Rolfe ran the course in 35:40 for 63rd, closely followed by Pamela Hardman in 35:59 for 65th, Kirsten Burnett was 78th with a time of 39:50 and Dawn Lock managed to finish in 55:42 for 95th.  Overall, the team of Rolfe, Hardman and Burnett was 18th.

A depleted team of thirteen juniors from Lytham St Anne’s Road Runners made the trip.

Under 11 girls
In the Under 11 girls race Lytham were represented by five athletes.  First to finish the 2.2k race for Lytham was Jessica Ramsden finishing 29thin a time of 10.23, closely followed by Clemmie Tierney (32nd in 10.37).  Isabel Tuck (40th in 11.05), Leoma Gill (50th in 12.40) and the youngest member of the team eight-year-old Rosa Gill 54th in 14.12 completed the Lytham contingent who finished as 9th team.  The under 11 boys were next running the same course as the girls and the team of Lewis Bentley (18th in 9.14), Finlay Hughes (30th in 9.49) and Oliver Thomson (33rd in 10.20) finished 5th.

Under 13 girls
In the under 13 girls Sophie Bohannon ran her best race of the season to finish 2nd in a time 10.05 for the 2.6k race.  Brogan Murphy in her first season with Lytham has improved with every race and finished 21st in 11.09.

Under 13 boy Francis Ball in only his second race for Lytham ran an excellent race to finish 12th in a time of 11.21 for the 2.8k race.

The under 15 girls 2.8k race was next and representing Lytham well, were Laura Bremner (19th in 12.47) and Lucy Bohannon (23rd in 14.42).

Saturday saw the final event in the 315 Winter Series with 6 Lytham runners making the trip to freezing Lancaster.  In the 5k race Gill Draper had another excellent run in tough racing conditions and came home first Lady in 20.17.

First home for the men was Ross McKelvie in 4th place overall and a time of 18.03. Neil Baynton Roberts finished in 21.10, followed by Ian Balshaw in 24.25. Jake Balshaw braved the cold, windy morning and ran well representing the club juniors and crossed the line in 29.35.

In the 2 lap 10k event, Kirsten Burnett added to her impressive competitive mileage tally and ran strongly again and came in as a fantastic 5th lady in 53:50.

Across the UK, there were 409 cancellations for parkrun including Lytham Hall and Cuerden Valley.  Thankfully Blackpool went ahead and eight Lytham members attended the parkrun held at Stanley Park.  Jennifer Hill continued her good form, was the first female to finish and achieved a new personal best time.  Darran Ames was just 12 seconds short of achieving a personal best time, he managed to come 15th overall.  He was closely followed by first timer on this course Neil Bayntun-Roberts who came 18th.  James Buckley was 20th and managed a personal best time of 21:56 on his 70th parkrun.  G Browne also achieved a personal best time of 23:49 for 34th, as did Gillian Oliver who ran 29:53 for 114th.  Michelle Sheridan was 50th female and Ruth Bye completed her first Blackpool parkrun in 39:22.

Full Results:  Jennifer Hill (21:12, 12th), Darran Ames (21:32, 15th), Neil Bayntun-Roberts (21:39, 18th), James Buckley (21:56, 20th), G Browne (23:49, 34th), Gillian Oliver (29:53, 114th), Michelle Sheridan (34:20, 149th), and Ruth Bye (39:22, 168th).

Chris McCarthy ran the Big Half Marathon in London on Sunday, good conditions after the threat of cancellation due to snow. Race started at Tower Bridge and went around the city finishing at Cutty Sark.  McCarthy finished in 1:16:57 for 175th out of 11504.

Heidi Haigh

Further a field Heidi Haigh completed a marathon in Paphos, Cyprus in preparation for the ironman event in Lanzarote in May 2018.  The weather was warm but a little cloudy for the first 30K.  The event was very well organised, and Haigh said there was a great atmosphere.  On her 8th marathon Haigh finished in 4:05:30 knocking 20 minutes off her personal best time

The junior parkrun took place in Lytham on Sunday 5th March.  Four Lytham juniors braved the weather, Frankie Ball was first overall with a time of 7:48.  Finlay Hughes ran 8:39 for 3rd place.  Jayden Richardson was 5th in 9:28 and Blair Selbie ran 10:23 for 14th.