LSARRC Press Report 8th November 2011

The final race of this year’s Lancaster & Morecambe race series was held on Sunday. The Lancaster half-marathon was also the longest of the three and nine members of Lytham St Annes Road Runners started it.

On this flat, fast and scenic course Andy Draper excelled coming ninth out of over 700 competitors with a time of 01:20:27. Only four minutes behind was Graham Webster in 38th overall but also the first vet 55. Graham, who is in excellent form currently, celebrates his sixtieth birthday next year but still won the vet 55 age category by several minutes.

Sylvia Gittens

Another age category winner for Lytham was Sylvia Gittens. Sylvia, a vet 65, completed the race in under two hours. This is a fantastic achievement for someone of this age.


Also going well were Simon Denye in 57th position, Joe Shaw in 145th and Linda Baxter. Linda finished in 261st position but, to put this in perspective, was the sixth vet 45 lady. Fiona Geldard unfortunately suffered a hamstring problem and was unable to complete the race.


Full Lytham Results from Lancaster: Andy Draper 1:20:27, 9th; Graham Webster 1:24:44, 38th; Simon Denye 01:27:55, 57th; Joe Shaw 01:37:08, 145th; Linda Baxter 1:44:12, 261st; Rob Miller 01:50:02, 356th; Pam Hardman 01:55:22, 437th and Sylvia Gittens 01:59:21, 489th.



On Monday Lytham hosted the third annual sportshall competition against Kirkham Grammar School. This is a competition for the juniors organised by their chief coach Tony Croft.


The first event was speed bounce in which Lytham boys took the lead with the girls trailing by the same margin. After the jumps and javelin throw there were only two points separating the boys and Kirkham girls had established a seven point lead. In the running events Lytham boys and girls had the edge with both gaining sufficient points to establish an overall victory.


The final scores were: Boys. Lytham 82.5 Kirkham 66.5 Girls. Lytham 79 Kirkham 70. The Lytham team comprised of: Ben Reid, Tom Reid, Joe Mason, Ben Mason, Robbie Webb, Harvey Ross, Ross Hart, Jack Grimshaw, Oliver Squire, Ella Ross, Hattie Ross, Mollie Mason, Rebecca Walker, Caitlin Allen and Kira Curtis.


The 28th Through the Villages race took place from Wheelton, near Chorley on Sunday. At 8.45 miles it is not a standard length race but it is still popular, possibly due to the free food available afterwards.

Starting in Wheelton the first mile is uphill. There is another steep climb before Brinscall and another two before the finish. Despite suffering a cold prolific racer Mel Koth just improved on her time of last year to finish 62nd. Husband and wife Kevin and Laura Ashworth were 133rd and 149th respectively, with Trevor Willoughby in 154th from over 250 finishers.

Link to Lytham St Annes Road Runners Website