LSARRC Press Report 17th January 2012

Following her success at the Lancashire County Championships the previous week Lytham St Annes Road Runners’ Sue Samme continued her winning ways at the latest mid-Lancs cross-country league meeting on Saturday. This event, at Hyndburn, was the season’s fourth meeting and Sue’s third. Previously she finished third and second and it was only fitting that she should chalk up a win after the Lancashires.

The second finisher, Melanie Hyder, had a fast start, quickly opening a twenty-metre lead. The more experienced Sue bided her time, gradually closing the gap over the six-kilometre race until 800 metres from the line. Her finishing sprint from there gave her the race with fourteen seconds to spare.

Mel Koth in 30th and Laura Ashworth in 68th gave the both senior ladies team and the ladies vet 35s sixth place. With two meetings left this gives the senior ladies a good chance of retaining their coveted top division place.

The ladies vet 45s did better with second place; Julia Rolfe and Pam Hardman were the two counters that joined Sue to make up that team. They currently lead their table and have a good chance of winning gold or silver medals at the end of the season.

The men’s race was over ten kilometres and Lytham’s first four finishers were all vet 50s. Terry Hellings on his favourite medium led the way in 109th with Graham Webster less than a minute behind. Tony Croft was the third counter in the vet 50 team earning them a respectable fourth place.

Lytham Senior Results from Hyndburn: Ladies: Sue Samme, 1st, 21:53; Mel Koth 30th, 26:16; Laura Ashworth 68th, 30:52; Julia Rolfe 71st, 31:03; Louise Charnock 78th, 31:52; Pam Hardman 86th, 32:40 and Dawn Lock 110th, 42:43.
Men: Terry Hellings 109th, 41:44; Graham Webster 118th, 42:10; Tony Croft 125th, 42:41; Colin Laidlaw, 177th; 45:52; Steve Quarmby 185th, 46:31; Colin Nelson 189th, 46:45; Joe Shaw 195th, 47:10; Roy Upton 196th, 47:10 and Willie Richmond 212th, 48:25.

For the juniors Ross Hart was Lytham’s only representative, finishing the one-lap three kilometre course 35th in the under 13 boys with a time of 13:02.