LSARRC Press Report 27th March

On Sunday there was glorious sunshine and the hottest temperatures of the year so far for the Muddy Bottoms off road races. These are both a cross between a trail race and a Long Distance Walkers' Association challenge walk starting from the Bamber Bridge Leisure Centre. The location quickly gives access to the surprisingly attractive countryside hedged by three motorways between Bamber Bridge and Blackburn.

The one hundred and forty entrants were offered a choice of two distances; 9 miles and 17 miles, and Bill and Dawn Lock from Lytham St Annes Road Runners took the more difficult option.

From an early 9am start made earlier still by coinciding with the spring clock change, competitors all took the same route up to the second canal-side checkpoint at the four and half mile point. From there short course runners turn back towards the finish while long course runners continued onto an additional eight mile loop which took them over the top of White Coppice Moors and through a succession of charming villages visiting another two checkpoints before returning to the canal-side check point to complete the short course route.

It's both a demanding and an interesting challenge with generous prizes and welcome showers, and pie and peas greeting finishers at the completion of the course. Bill and Dawn completed the 17 miles in 5hours. 9 minutes.

LSARRC Press Report 20th March 2012

The 21^st running of the Ultrafit St Annes 10 mile race took place on Sunday with over 300 competitors. Starting from North Beach car park the route leads down to Lytham windmill before returning to the starting area.

Fifteen competitors from the Lytham St Annes Road Runners took part with the first of those back being Peter Cruse. Peter’s time was under one hour earning ninth place overall and second male veteran 45 position. Next was vet 55 Graham Webster who was just one second in front of Joe Greenwood.

This was also a team event and these three made up the Lytham men’s team that came second. The ladies team also claimed second place containing Eleni Bell, Laura Ashworth and Bec Willetts. Bec beat her previous personal best time at this distance by 53 seconds.

Another performance of note was that of Kevin Ashworth. Kevin is rapidly improving and nearly broke the seventy-minute mark at this event.

Peter Cruse 9^th, 59:43; Graham Webster 30^th, 1:04:34; Joe Greenwood 32^nd, 1:04:35; Roy Upton 61^st, 1:09:08; Kevin Ashworth 68^th, 1:10:22; Willie Richmond 87^th, 01:12:45; Colin Nelson 93^rd, 01:13:28; Roy Stevens 101^st, 01:14:42; Steve Quarmby 104^th, 01:04:54; Eleni Bell 116^th, 01:15:49; Trevor Willoughby 143^rd, 01:18:55; Laura Ashworth 145^th, 01:19:33; Bec Willetts 195^th, 01:25:07; Sylvia Gittens 243^rd, 01:30:38 and Liz Boon 264^th, 01:34:24.

Spring is here and with it the dangers of the sun, even in this country. Bec Willetts joined over 10,000 others in Bath last week to compete in her first ever half-marathon. Finishing in 01:55:56 gave her 3381^st position suffering sunburn in the process. A cautionary tale for all runners.

Press Report 13th March 2012

The long-establish Haigh Hall Relay race took place on Saturday and Lytham St Annes Road Runners fielded three teams. The race takes place each March on one of the toughest relay courses in the area.  The 3.75 mile route descends, at time steeply, for half the distance before returning uphill to the starting point.

First back for Lytham was the men's team comprising Terry Hellings in a time of 26:11, Steve Quarmby (27:15), Kevin Ashworth (25:55) and Graham Webster bringing the team home in the team's fastest leg, an excellent 24:04, for a total time of 1:43:25 for fourth place.

Lytham ladies' team finished third in their category and 12th overall in 2:04:45. Relays Captain Laura Ashworth led out the team, also achieving the fastest leg in 29:15. Handing over to new recruit Felicity Wolohon who managed a very creditable 30:13 in her first ever relay and was followed by Pam Hardman (33:29) and Julia Rolfe (31:48).

Completing the Lytham contingent were the mixed team of Roy Stevens (28:20), Jim Whitlock (34:13), Dawn Lock (44:24) and Colin Nelson, returning to his best form after injury to finish in an extremely good 26:37.

The Blackpool Marathon and half-marathon took place on Sunday in near perfect running conditions. In his rehearsal for the London Marathon Mark Willett was the first back for Lytham with a time of 03:34:50 finishing 113^th from a field of over 400. Rob Goodall chalked up yet another personal best of 05:02:54 in 404^th.

There were over 600 in the half-marathon and Joe Greenwood excelled, finishing 20^th and knocking over four minutes off his time two weeks ago. Roy Upton was third in the MV45 category while Roy Stevens was the second vet 60. Richard Storey also achieved a pb.

Half marathon results for Lytham: Joe Greenwood 20^th, 01:25;27; Roy Upton 49^th, 01:32:09; Roy Stevens 104^th, 01:39:27 and Richard Storey 130^th, 01:41:42.

On the same day five young Lytham Athletes competed in the Blackpool Winter Warmer Track & Field meeting at Stanley Park. The annual event provides an excellent opportunity for the U9 and U11 age groups to experience an athletics meeting.

In the U9 boys category Simon Holt and Thomas Reid both competed in three events. In the 80m Simon finished second in 13.5 and Thomas sixth in 15.1 seconds. In the 600m Simon again finished second in 2:09.05 while Thomas was again sixth in 2:39.06. In the long jump Simon was third with a jump of 2.55m and Thomas seventh with 2:03m.

In the U11 boys group Ben Reid and Joe Mason represented the club in the three events. In the 80m Ben was second in 12.00 and Joe equal fifth in 12.80. In the 600m Ben was third in 2:00.8 and Joe tenth in 2:12.8. In the long jump Ben jumped 3.14m to finish fifth and Joe 2.5m for 16^th.

Rebecca Walker was the only girl from the club to compete and she finished 17^th in the 80m in 14.00 and jumped 2.61m in the long jump to finish 12^th.

Also on Sunday in Stanley Park was the Spring 5k. Both Peter Cruse, who was first MV45 in 17:53, and Dawn Lock, first WV65 in 32:48, took age category prizes. Willie Richmond was delighted with his 20:14 time to finish 22^nd.

LSARRC Press Report 6th March 2012

Gold! The final race of the mid-Lancs cross-country season took place on Saturday and it was where the ladies of Lytham St Annes Road Runners confirmed the receipt of a hatful of gold medals. The lions share of these went to Sue Samme who, as well as taking the women’s championship, earned golds in the WV35 and WV45 age categories.

Sue Samme en route to victory at Barrow

Adding to this the ladies team also took the WV45 Championship while taking a respectable fifth in the WV35 category. The race itself took place at Worden Park in Leyland with Lytham fielding depleted teams, the hard work having already been done in the previous meets. The men’s senior team did not fare so well with relegation confirmed from their division.
Lytham Results from Worden Park: Ladies: Laura Ashworth 56th, 32:13; Pam Hardman 78th, 35:06; Louise Charnock 80th, 35:44 and Dawn Lock 104th, 48:29. Men: Graham Webster 124th, 43:31 and Steve Quarmby 157th, 46:14.


Despite having run at Worden Park Graham Webster competed in the Northern Vets cross-country Championships with Terry Hellings the day after. Held in Victoria Park, Warrington the course was fast and flat with very little mud. This Championship caters for veteran athletes of all ages and this year included three men over 80. All athletes set off together, the women and men over 70 finishing after two laps (5k) while the rest of the competitors continue for a further two laps.


Graham Webster finished in a time of 41.54 to take 7th place overall and first vet 55 with Terry Hellings in 11th place and second vet 55 in a time of 43.33. Second claim member Louise Rudd finished 4th overall and second vet 35 in the women’s race.


Another Lytham winner was Mel Koth who was the first in the W35 category in the Trimpell 20. Starting from Lancaster, this twenty-mile race is held on a flat course and is good preparation for the London marathon.

Mel Koth competing in the Trimpell 20

Weather conditions were perfect for the large field of nearly 400 competitors. Mel improved on her personal best at this distance by 3:24 while Rob Goodall knocked off a whopping 37:50 from his pb.
Lytham results from Trimpell: Mel Koth 78th, 6th and 1st W35, 02:24:05; Mark Willet 155th, 02:39:03; Richard Storey 189th, 02:45:37 and Rob Goodall 342nd, 03:29:37.

At the Stanley Park 10k in Blackpool on Saturday Lytham had two age category winners. Elspeth MacPherson, making a welcome return to racing, won the F60 category in 50:12 while Sylvia Gittens took the F65 in 54:10. Roy Upton also had a good run, taking second place in the M45 category and 30th overall with a time of 40:25.
Other Lytham results: Willie Richmond 46th, 43:26; Bec Willetts 135th, 50:27 and James Whitworth 206th, 56:11.