LSARRC Press Report 29th November 2011

Susan Samme

Sue Samme of Lytham St Annes Road Runners represented England in the 24th running of the British and Irish Masters Cross Country International on Sunday in Glasgow. This annual event attracts the best veteran athletes from the UK and Republic of Ireland and this is the third time in four years Sue has been selected.

An already challenging course was made tougher by the heavy rain and gale force winds. In a very competitive race with just 37 seconds covering the first ten places Sue enjoyed her best ever performance in this event. Completing the 6k course in 22:19 earned her the individual silver medal in the women’s 45 age category. Finishing tenth overall from a field of 126 Sue led the England W45 team home for the team gold medal.

The UKA McCain Cross-challenge took place at Sefton Park, Liverpool on Saturday. This high-profile event allows all club members to race against established internationals no matter what their standard. Many top cross-country athletes use the race to gain selection for European cross-country competition. It also counts as the second of the mid-Lancs league meetings so there was plenty to race for.

Ross Hart at Sefton Park

Lytham was represented by fourteen members including four juniors amongst the 1500 competitors. In the U13 boys competition Robbie Webb was first back for Lytham finishing 58th in 12:21 with Ross Hart not far behind in 12:42 to finish 69th. George Rowley, running his first race of the season in the U15 boys category, ran well to finish 62nd in 10:59. Kirsty Fraser also had a good race to cross the line in 19:27 to finish 52nd in the U17 girls competition

Completing for the women’s vet 35 and senior team was Linda Baxter, 118th in 39:31, five places ahead of Laura Ashworth in 40:12 and women's captain Julia Rolfe, 140th in 41:41. Making her first appearance at cross-country and gamely braving the highest level, was sixty-five year old Sylvia Gittins who helped Linda and Julia to a useful points score in the vet 45s with 155th place in 47:25.

The men faced a tough challenge in the 508 strong field. Andy Draper led the incomplete senior men's team home in 38:05 for 227th. Graham Webster ran well to finish 302nd in 40:12 and Tony Croft finished 324th in 41:08. Best score for the men was in the vet 50s where Graham, Tony and Colin Laidlaw, 441st in 45:41, consolidated the team’s position with a strong performance.

Other LSARRC Results: Senior Women: Dawn Lock, 164th, 57:53. Senior men: Colin Nelson 401st, 44:12.


Meanwhile on the same day closer to home the Wesham 10k was ran from Salwick. Peter Cruse won the MV45 category in a time of 38:52. In a large field of over 450 Karen Lanigan was the 92nd woman. Karen, a graduate from the club’s beginners group, finished in a time 01:00:11.

Other LSARRC results from Wesham: Willie Richmond 144th, 43:54; Kevin Ashworth 164th, 45:00; Tony Rudd 266th, 49:52; Graham Young 326th, 53:07; Andrew Reid 340th, 54:11 and Chris Holland 363rd, 55:43.

On Sunday Jonny Benz ran in the Best 5k race in Preston which follows a course around the footpaths of Moor Park. The 16 year old raced superbly in the challenging conditions to finish 17th with a personal best time of 19:43. New club member Jim Whitworth, an MV60, finished the 5k in a time of 27:34 to earn 97th place in a field of 185 runners.

In the monthly handicap race Debbie Cooper knocked almost two minutes from last month’s time to win. It was also an excellent performance by Patrick Houghton, a junior running his first handicap. Starting together with Debbie he stayed with her to finish second and the first junior. Taking full advantage of Linda Baxter’s absence Kevin Ashcroft ran a PB to finish second senior to gain an 18 points lead at the top of the table. Rob Goodall and Steve Quarmby were two others who ran well to record PBs. Joe Greenwood was fastest on the night with 20:30 and junior Kirsty Fraser’s 25:14 the quickest by a lady.