Cross-country races these days are often run just on grass, usually without a stream to negiotiate and sometimes without even a speck of mud in sight. This was happily not the case in Astley Park, Chorley on Saturday where the third of this season’s mid-Lancs league races was held at a “proper” cross-country venue.
Heavy rains had waterlogged the ground so that even the flat playing fields presented a tiring surface for competitors. But the real challenge came when, after a complete lap of the open area, the competitors plunged into the woods. Hidden there were two water crossings with steep muddy inclines on each bank. Probably the most testing section however was the steep climb into the finish negotiated once by the U13Bs and U15Bs, twice by the senior women and three times by the senior men.
There were mixed fortunes for Lytham St Annes Road Runners’ five junior athletes with three good finishes and two having to withdraw through injury. Robbie Webb and Ross Hart were first to go in the U13b 3.2K race which incorporated a full lap of the challenging course. Both the young athletes were close throughout the race with Robbie just having the edge finishing 18th in 13:57 with Ross 19th in 14:05. George Rowley and Kirsty Fraser were next to race in the combined U15B & U17W 4.1K race. George produced a superb performance to finish 11th in 16:16 but unfortunately Kirsty, who started the race strongly had to pull up with an ankle injury. Jonny Benz started in the U17m race and he too was forced to pull up during the second lap of the race.
Sue Samme was pipped to the post in the senior womens’ race finishing just four seconds behind the leader. This was a suberb performance by Sue beating athletes over twenty-five years younger. It ensured the club’s WV45 team retained first place in their division. Completing this team were Julia Rolfe and Dawn Lock.
Counting for the vet 35 team that finished seventh were Sue, Mel Koth and Laura Ashworth. Louise Charnock made a welcome return to the team in 94th place after a layoff.
Best of Lytham's men was Andy Draper who managed a good 68th place in this high-class field of 255. Senior men's team counters with Andy were Terry Hellings, Tony Croft, Joe Shaw, Colin Laidlaw and Colin Nelson. Roy Upton finished a couple of places back just missing out on a team place. The team finished nineteenth overall and fifth in division three. Terry, Tony and Colin made up the MV50 team who finished ninth and with Joe Shaw, fourteenth in the MV40s.
Lytham seniors Chorley results. Women: Sue Samme 2nd, 1st LV45, 25:34; Mel Koth 37th, 30:26; Laura Ashworth 81st, 34:24; Julia Rolfe 86th, 35:45; Louise Charnock 94th, 37:06 and Dawn Lock 114th; 48:05.
Men: Andy Draper 72nd, 44:17; Terry Hellings 109th, 46:42; Tony Croft 116th, 47:04; Joe Shaw 156th, 50:01; Colin Laidlaw 176th, 51:21; Colin Nelson 178th, 51:25; Roy Upton 180th, 51:41 and Steve Quarmby 189th, 52:36.
Christmas is just about here and with it are the seasonal races. In the Lake District newer club members Jo Pendered and Dawn Bloor joined 425 others in the first of two Great Langdale Xmas Pudding 10Ks near Ambleside. The hills made the race tough but both ladies did well to finish 245th and 247th respectively, and thirteenth and fourteenth in the FV45 category. And the reward for their efforts? A Christmas pudding each.
The second race was the following day where, despite the previous day’s cross-country, Andy Draper finished second with a time of 35:55. This was an excellent result from a race of nearly 300.
Closer to home was the Longridge Xmas Pudding race on Sunday. Mel Koth achieved a personal best in this seven-mile race finishing 56th with a time of 51:02. She was also the fifth lady and second LV35.
Sylvia Gittins was the first in the FV65 category in 1:04:36 while Bec Willets was the ninth FV40 in 1:06:24.
Link to Lytham St Annes Road Runners Website
