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.