LSARRC Press Report 25th October 2011

The twice annual Standish Hall Trail Race has grown in popularity over the years since its inception in 2003 and that coupled with the lovely weather of Saturday attracted a record entry of over 200, much to the delight of organizers Wigan Phoenix.


Quite a race for the connoisseur, Standish is by no means easy with several long steep and, in some cases, muddy, climbs. But in the autumnal sunshine Elnup Woods looked at its best and with a very generous prize list, the race is building a group of regulars from around Wigan including many unattached.


Impressive winners were host club's John Morrissey in 36:55 for this near 10k course and Staff Moorland's Jo Mayland finishing 28th in 43:53.


Lytham St Annes Road Runners Club was represented by Kevin Ashworth and Dawn Lock. Kevin, ran extremely well on an off-road medium, which has become a favourite of his to finish in the top half in 92nd place and 51:34. Dawn, who as the oldest woman in the race and sole representative of the FV65s, took the category prize for 186th and 1:14:21.

A week before the start of the mid-Lancs cross-country season Mel Koth and Colin Nelson were again in action as guests in the Red Rose league. On a tough, muddy course Mel as usual excelled by finishing fifteenth out of over one hundred, and was also the second LV35. Colin was 166th in the senior men’s race.


The Lea Town 10k in Preston on Sunday Peter Cruse was eighth from a field of 140 and the third vet with a time of 36:49. On a fast, undulating course Linda Baxter also ran well in 67th. Laura Ashworth in 78th and Richard Story in 82nd place made up the Lytham contingent.

LSARRC Press Report 18th October 2011

"How fast?"

The Green Drive Five race is the showpiece event for Lytham St Annes Road Runners. Popular locally with fun runners and serious athletes alike, this five-mile race is well organised and incorporates the Lancashire championships for this distance.


As well as Lytham other local clubs were heavily represented in the race. However over one-third of the 346 finishers were “unattached”, that is not members of a running club and mostly Fylde residents. The flat and fast course attracted a strong field with some good finishing times.

The race was won in 24:09 by England International steeplechaser Stuart Stokes from Sale Harriers.

The winner of the women’s race for the second year running was Lytham’s own Sue Samme. Sue, whose time of 29:58 was just one second slower than last year, is currently enjoying a rich vein of form. She is second in the British and first in the English rankings for her age group. This has led to her selection for the England team at the British & Irish cross-country championships in Glasgow next month.


The winner of the Lancashire championship was Blackpool’s Stuart Robinson, who came second in the race. As well as Sue Samme taking her prizes Lytham club champion Nigel Thompson won the MV45 category. Despite returning from injury Nigel finished seventh in the race with a time of 27:48 and was the second veteran.

Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde AC again took the men’s team prize but the lady’s crown was taken from them by Wesham Road Runners. Lytham’s ladies team of Sue Samme, Barbara Holmes and Pam Hardman were third.

LSARRC Press Report 11th September 2011

The Lytham Hall 4k, a new race last October, has now metamorphosised into the Lytham Hall Autumn 5k. The first race at the new distance around this grade one listed eighteenth century manor house took place on Sunday and Lytham St Annes Road Runners were heavily represented.


The high turn-out by the ladies was reflected in a good haul of prizes. First back for the club and second lady overall was GB international Sue Samme. Also winning prizes were Fiona Geldard in the vet 45, Pam Hardman in the vet 55 and Dawn Lock in the vet 60 categories.


This was the first time Fiona had won a prize so, naturally, she was highly delighted. Fiona is a graduate of the club’s beginners group, a section set up specifically to encourage people who would like to run but don’t feel ready for the full club. Also in the race from that group were Dawn Bloor, Jo Pearson and Caroline Hodgson, all of whom gave good accounts of themselves.


Graham Webster ensured that the men were not left out of the prizes by winning the vet 50 category. Out of the sixteen Lytham club entrants five won prizes.


Close to winning were 14 year-old Layla Foley, who was the second junior girl, and George Rowley who was the third junior and eleventh overall.


In Liverpool Joe Shaw took part in the first marathon to be hosted in the city for eighteen years. Despite this delay the event was well-organised and well-supported with many local people shouting encouragement. After Queensway Tunnel there was even a Balata Band, that is acoustic drummers to get the competitors going. Out of 2000 competitors Joe finished a very creditable 216th and 21st in the vet 45 category.


Marathons are not frequently held races but there were two in relatively close proximity on the same day. As well as Liverpool there was Chester. Starting a new route from the racecourse this race attracts a number of elite athletes. Seasoned marathon runner Roy Stevens, shortly to celebrate his sixtieth birthday, excelled by finished seventh in the MV55 category in 3:31:08. Mark Willett and Simon Denye were 190th and 514th overall respectively.


Not able to wait for the mid-Lancs cross country season to start club members Mel Koth and Colin Nelson guested at the first Red Rose cross country league meeting in Leigh on Saturday. In a good quality field and on a difficult 5k course Mel performed superbly to finish eighteenth from a field of nearly 100. She was also the second FV35. This augers well for the forthcoming mid-Lancs season in which the club will be entering teams. Colin also encountered strong competition on his 10k course but ran well to finish 155th from a much larger field.

LSARRC Press Report 4th October 2011

The spell of fine weather may have ended on Sunday here but it was still very warm in Exmouth where Lytham St Annes Road Running veteran Graham Webster ran the BMAF 10K. The competition was stiff from the high-class field that ran the fast but undulating course along the Exmouth sea front. Graham managed a season’s best time of 38:54 to finish 68th and 8th vet 55.

Closer to home Linda Baxter and Fiona Geldard both set personal bests in the Southport 10k. Despite the sharp turns in the course Linda knocked over two minutes off her previous best to finish in 47:14 and achieved the 21st lady position. Fiona’s time was 51:47, an improvement of 1.5 minutes.

Another personal best was set by Pam Hardman in the Blackpool to Fleetwood ten miler on Sunday. Finishing in the top half of the field at 95th Pam knocked over a minute off her previous best with a time of 01:25:54. Peter Cruse, as ever, ran a superb race to finish ninth and forth vet in just over an hour.

A good field of 26 took part in the club’s handicap race on a balmy Thursday evening. There were many excellent performances in a close race with club champion Nigel Thompson the actual fastest. The first eleven all achieved personal or season’s best times but pride of place goes to a junior, Sam Banner. Sam improved by over a minute on his previous run to finish first. In the process he set a new summer course record for a junior by knocking off six seconds off the previous record set in 2008.

At the halfway stage in the year Kevin Ashcroft extended his lead at the top of the table with a PB and a fifth place finish while Linda Baxter’s third place in the race moves her up to second overall.