LSARRC News 29th October 2012



Andy Draper in eighth place



Lytham St Annes Road Runners delivered striking performances in both the Preston Guild 2012 Marathon (attracting a total 1132 entrants) and Half Marathon (2132 entrants) on Sunday, the races being a culmination of a year of Preston’s historic Guild events. The day-long and distinctly unkind and wintry conditions did nothing to dampen spirits and the races got underway in a charged atmosphere starting from the Flag Market in the city centre. The first few miles of the course remained city orientated, then the marathon route, splitting from the half marathon, went rural. It wound over undulating roads into Lea Town, progressing to Treales and then looping back to a route which returned entrants to the city and finish at the Flag Market.

LSARRC produced a crop of peak performances, both overall and in Personal Bests. In the marathon, first home for the Club was Andy Draper. His 2:44:28 finish was evidence of applied training and strategy, earning him 8^th place overall and netting him a personal best by 5m 40s. Tom Howarth was next in for 30^th place, in a time of 3:02:49, achieving a personal best by 9 minutes followed by Simon Denye for 60^th place in 3:11:40. Catherine French ran for the ladies in her first marathon attempt and finished 730^th in 4:22:24.

Tom Howarth

There were more displays of excellence in the half marathon. For the men Kev Ashworth finished first for LASRRC 125^th overall in 1:34:54, also achieving a PB. Next home was Steve Quarmby in 249^th place, finishing in 1:41:27. Rob Goodall hit yet another PB with his 2:01:04 time. There was great representation by the 9 club ladies who raced, evidenced in their sterling performances. Laura Ashworth finished 298^th overall in 1:43:37, coming 6^th in her F35 category and nailing a PB to boot. Bec Willetts was 802^nd home in 1:56:24, followed by Julia Rolfe in 835^th position in a time of 1:57:25, a result which secures her the Silver Standard Award for a continuous run of qualifying performances in her F50 category.

Julia Rolfe having a good day out

Preston Guild Marathon 2012 results, Men: Andy Draper 8^th, 2hr 44m, Thomas Haworth 30^th, 3hr 02m, Simon Denye 60^th, 3hr 11m, Alistair Thornton 423^rd, 3hr 54m, Richard Storey 479^th, 3hr 57m, Joe Greenwood 643rd,4hr 13m, Andrew Reid 937^th 4hr 50m. Women: Catherine French 730^th 4hr 22m.



A rather wet Laura Ashworth



Preston Guild Half Marathon results, Men: Kevin Ashworth 125^th, 1hr 34m, Steve Quarmby 249^th,1hr 41m, Roy Stevens 323^rd, 1hr 44m, Tony White 1002, 2hr 0m, Rob Goodall 1023^rd, 2hr 01m, Mark Willett 2hr 01m. Women: Laura Ashworh 298^th, 1hr 43m, Becca Willetts 802^nd, 1hr 56m, Julia Rolfe 835^th, 1hr 57m, Angelalynn Smith 1003^rd, 2hr 0m, Sylvia Gittens1226th, 2hr 04m, Janice Cobley 1394^th, 2hr 10m, Louise Charnock 1411^th, 2hr 11m, Karen Lanigan 1413^th,  2hr 11m, Pam Binns 1736^th, 2hr 21m.

Preferring the unpredictable terrain of Cumbria, Andy Sneddon was busy with the Ennerdale 25k Trail Race last Sunday. The course, situated in the stunning Western Lakes, comprised a tough initial 12k uphill, slippery rocks underfoot and some tricky scrambling. He met the challenge, and finished 74^th in 3:37:16.

LSARRC News 22nd October 2012

There was nothing unlucky about the thirteenth annual ‘Green Drive 5’, the Lytham St Anne’s Road Runners Club 5 mile race. On the contrary, all of the hard work and planning paid off and 292 runners were treated to bright sunshine and crystal clear conditions on the flat, fast course. Club enthusiasm for the event was demonstrated through a great voluntary effort from members in the staging and organisation, as well as a good contingent who competed admirably for the club. The result: a resounding success for the club and an enjoyable and buoyant event for all those who were present and took part.  

Notable local performances included Joe Greenwood’s 28m 40s for 11th place, which was the host club’s best performance while Peter Cruse, 1st M50, and Graham Webster, 2nd M60, also earned good placings. Kevin Ashworth and Rob Goodall performed brilliantly to achieve PB’s. For Kev such success in this race (his fourth performance at bronze standard in the last 12 months over various distances), positions him to claim his bronze standard medal. Rob Goodall’s finishing time at this distance topped his previous by 2m 14s. Willie Richmond got off to a promising start in the race but sadly had to pull out part way through due to a hamstring injury. 

Race results for GD5: Men – Joe Greenwood, 11^th in 28m 40s, Peter Cruse, 18^th in 29m 47s, Graham Webster, 30^th in 31m 07s, Thomas Haworth, 34^th in 31m 28s, Kevin Ashworth, 47^th in 33m 01s, Colin Laidlaw, 65^th in 34m 57s, Mark Solby, 69^th in 35m 06s, Roy Stevens, 101^st in 37m 22s, Rob Goodall, 154^th in 41m 59s. Women – Pamela Hardman, 121^st in 39m 11s and Karen Lanigan, 183^rd in 45m 16s.

The overall winner by a clear margin was local resident and outstanding middle-distance runner Antony Ford. Competing for Sale Harriers, Manchester, the 2009 winner finished in a very fast 24m 17s to lead second-placed Luke Minns of Blackpool Wyre and Fylde by over a minute.  James Kevan of Horwich in 26m 15s and Marc Tillotson of Bolton United Harriers, 27m 09s, were others among the strong men’s field. Blackpool Wyre and Fylde’s John Winters, 1st M75, and evergreen Mike Walsh of Wesham was the leading M80 earned great results for local clubs. In the Lancashire Championships Trevor Uttley of Blackpool Wyre and Fylde was M45 champion. Ford and Minns also collected gold and silver medals in the incorporated Lancashire Championships while Minns, along with James Mulvany and Steven Waterhouse, won the double of race and County team champions for the Blackpool club. 

Helen Booth of Lancaster and Morecambe, 31m 10s, was the women’s race winner and Lancashire gold-medallist. The women’s race had been a battle royal between Wesham in 2nd and 3rd places and Lancaster and Morecambe 1st and 4th.  While Wesham’s Joanna Goorney finished 2nd in 31m 29s and Emma Lund 3rd in 32m 10s, Lancaster and Morecambe were victorious in the team competition with Booth, Lauren Gora 4th and Louise Goddard 8th, took both the Green Drive Five and County Championships. In the women’s race Blackpool’s Stasia Bligh finished 2nd W35 and Alison Titterington was  W55 Lancashire Champion. 

For the fourth time in five years and just a few weeks before her 50th birthday Lytham athlete  Sue Sammé has been selected to represent England in the FV45 category in the annual British and Irish Cross Country International.  This year the event is to be held at Stormont in Northern Ireland on 10^th November and, as part of her preparation Sue ran in the Red Rose cross country league fixture at Witton Park, Blackburn on Saturday.  The two lap, 5.2 kilometre course took the athletes up both the Teaspoon and the Saucer twice.  In a very competitive race Sue finished very strongly to take 4^th place overall and first vet in a time of 22m 27s.

 

LSARRC News 15th October 2012

The Lytham St Annes Road Runners seem only fuelled with race enthusiasm as summer gives way to autumn, with the green vests of the club seen sported at a range of events over the weekend. Locally, the Autumn Breaker 10K at Stanley Park on Sunday attracted 171 runners with representatives from all Fylde clubs. On a beautiful day, competitors circled twice round the track before setting off on a two lap course. Lytham runners took two top ten placings and a couple of veteran age category prizes. Joe Greenwood was the first of Lytham's runners back in 37.04 and 6th place, followed three places later by Peter Cruse in 37.42. Sylvia Gittings finished 122nd in 54.29. Brian Porter, running for LSARRC for the first time and just returning to running following surgery, was pleased to get round after a long layoff in 132nd place and 57.26.

Sylvia Gittins, Peter Cruse and Joe Greenwood

Club members were busy racing further afield, with representatives Pam Hardman, Bec Willetts and Tom Haworth amongst the 88 entrants who ran in the Lea town 10k. A gently undulating course was covered in perfect weather conditions. Tom came in 11^th in 38:28, Bec Willetts 60^th in 50:46 and Pam was 61^st in 50:51, claiming victory in the VF50 category.

Graham Webster and Terry Hellings competed in the British Masters Athletic Federation 10k in Ashford, Kent, within a field of 915 runners. Graham was 71^st overall, 3^rd V60 in a time of 38.28, and Terry 148^th in 41.55.

Nigel Thompson ran the Wistow 10k over in North Yorkshire, his first 10k in nearly 12 months. The course was scenic but relatively flat and saw him achieve a time of 36:21, finishing 10th overall in a field of around 300.

The Club's annual run through the Illuminations provided a variation to the regular Thursday training routine. This year's was no exception when twenty-five enjoyed a pleasant run on a mild autumn evening. The lights were seen at their best out in the open air and a fish and chip supper was the deserved reward for a promenade workout.

Other club news: On Sunday 7^th October Laura and Kev Ashworth ran the Tissington Trail half marathon near Ashbourne in Derbyshire. It was a glorious, still, autumnal morning and coupled with the fact that it was slightly downhill all the way both achieved PB’s. Out of 239 Kev finished 19th in 1hr 32 and Laura 62nd in 1hr 42. The race was a fundraiser for The Children's Trust which provides care, education and rehabilitation to kids with multiple disabilities, complex health needs and acquired brain injuries.

The enthusiasm of Andy Sneddon, it seems, is irrepressible! Not racing this Sunday – but preparing for his next with a training run in Southern Snowdonia (23k), in advance of the Ennerdale 25k trail race on Sunday 21^st October.

LSARRC’s annual Green Drive Five race takes place this week, on Sunday 21st October at 11.00am. The 5 mile flat, rural course is open to all entrants aged 15+. Full details and online entries are available at www.runlythamstannes.co.uk or you can enter at Lytham CE Primary School, Park View Road, from 9.30am on race day. PLEASE come along and run or support; it promises to be a great day, with exclusive souvenir t-shirts awarded to all those who enter.

LSARRC News 8th October 2012

Saturday witnessed over 600 runners from thirty clubs compete in the first fixture of the Mid Lancs League's cross-country season in Towneley Park, Burnley. Superb weather made it a memorable day, and made up for the boggy terrain underfoot.

Some of Lytham's Senior Men

Lytham's Senior Men fielded their strongest team for a long while with ten runners and one of their highest finishes in a high class race. Amongst the team which came 8th were Andy Draper making one of his best cross-country runs to finish 29th in 37:37, Thomas Howarth, 58th in 40:28, Nigel Thompson, 69th in 41:08, Graham Webster, 74th in 41:22, Willie Richmond, 91st in 42:19 and Terry Hellings, 103rd in 42:51. The men took 2nd in Division 4, an excellent start to the season that, if maintained, could see them promoted to back into Division 3 from which they were relegated at the end of 2011-2012. 

Lytham Ladies

The Senior Women's success came in the form of achieving teams in all four age categories. Louise Charnock led the Senior Women's team in, 83rd in 35:35 with Janice Cobley, 89th in 37:05 and Sylvia Gittings 100th in 39:12, completing the team which gained a useful three points in the Senior Women's First Division. The latter two together with Pamela Binns, 107th in 40:51, scored in the V35s, V45s and, a rarity for any club, the V55s where they finished second to an increasingly strong Red Rose Runners.

Ella Moulding

Lytham Juniors also made an appearance, all of them running Mid Lancs. cross-country for the first time. The most outstanding performance came from U13G Ella Moulding who came 7th in a field of 39th finishing in 11:56. There were also creditable runs from eight-year olds Simon Holt and Harry Booth competing in the second race of the day, the U11B's. On a flat two lap course Simon finished 36th in 8:56.

OTHER RESULTS: Senior Men: Colin Laidlaw, 154th in 46:35, Colin Nelson, 159th in 46:52, Nigel Simpkin, 171st in 48:28. Senior Women: Dawn Lock, 111th in45:47.

An impressive 17 Lytham St Annes Road Runners assembled in the grounds of Lytham Hall on Sunday for the annual autumn 5k race. The prospect of a fast, flat course and the proximity of the event influenced the turnout and all runners were duly rewarded with an event taking place under sunshine and clear blue skies.

The effects of recent heavy rain were evident - a slight dip in the course in which an enormous puddle of some 30 metres in length and a couple of inches deep had formed meant competitors had to make a watery crossing! Even the attendant Fire Brigade and their pumping equipment were unable to make any real difference. Lytham runners put in some great performances; Tom Howarth was first home (10^th, 18m 20s), Graham Webster the first V60 (14^th, 19m 02s) and Janice Cobley first VF60 (87^th, 26m 45s). Willie Rushton recorded his best 5k time in 8 years (17^th, 19m 31s).

Other results for Lytham Hall 5k: Roy Upton 23^rd: 20m 11s, Steve Quarmby 25th: 20m 19s, Tom Holmes 42^nd: 22m 27s, Barbara Holmes 47^th 22m 49s, Greg Oulton 57^th:23m 37s, Clara Hickford-Martinez 79^th: 26m 01s, Elisabeth Walton 82^nd:26m 11s, Stuart Wharrier 86^th: 26m 28s, Karen Lanigan 95^th: 27m 16s, Mark Willett and Rob Goodall 94^th and 96^th respectively, as pacers, Nidal Bittar 125^th: 31m 17s.

Andy Sneddon again blazed the trail for LSARRC at the Coniston 15k (part of the Lakeland Trails Autumn Series – 2/3). The course comprised a tough series of ups and downs, including an initial stiff 5k climb. Conditions underfoot were wet, with calf deep mud a fairly regular feature. Andy finished a commendable 333/411 in 1hr 59m 36s. P. Senior of Horsforth Harriers claimed race victory finishing in 1hr 10m 45s. The final race of the series is Helvellyn on November 3rd.

The Lytham club's annual Green Drive Five race is on Sunday 21st October at 11.00 am.  Entrants to the 5 mile flat, rural course must be 15yrs and above. Full details and online entries are available at www.runlythamstannes.co.uk or you can enter at Lytham CE Primary School, Park View Road, from 9.30am on race day.

LSARRC News 1st October 2012

The first LSARRC performance of last week came from Barbara Holmes who took the opportunity of mid-week racing with her work on Wednesday, to compete in the Civil Service Masters Track Championships at Ridlins Wood Athletics Track, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. She returned with age category medals, achieved through competing in the 800m where she was first WV50 back in 3:09 and in the 3000m where she did 13.15 and added another PB and medal to her running successes.

Kevin Ashworth

At the Preston Guild 10k on Saturday, the rain kindly held off despite grey skies and breeziness and a genial atmosphere, bolstered by music and live singing was enjoyed by entrants and the crowd. The characteristics of the course challenged runners, which followed a route through the Market and then down through Avenham Park, towards the river and back up through Winkley Square, concluding in the Market. As part of the same days events, Jim Whitworth competed in the 5k course, finishing at  27.38 for 82nd place overall and 2nd M65.

Peter Cruse was first home for the very well represented LSARRC, in 21^st place, 1^st in M50 category, and with a decent chip time of 38.30, with Mark Willett next back in 50^th place, attaining a chip time of 40.15 (some 30 seconds outside of his PB). Laura Ashworth put in a credit worthy performance, achieving 2nd F35 (and scooping £30 Sweatshop vouchers) in 46.54. Kevin Ashworth also had a good race, 17^th in the M40 category, running 42.02 and hitting bronze standard. Karen Lanagan did brilliantly to attain a PB for a 10k, easily securing her goal of completing in under one hour.

Peter Cruse

Results for LASRRC entrants in the Preston Guild 10k, Men: Peter Cruse 21^st, 38.30, Mark Willett  50^th, 40.21, Kevin Ashworth 88^th, 42.09, Alistair Thornton 391^st, 51.25, Graham Young 767th, 58.04, Andrew Reid 778^th, 58.15, Rob Goodall 801, 58.33, and Greg Oulton 863^rd, 59.32.

Ladies: Laura Ashworth 88^th, 46.54, Pippa Hughes 653rd 56.03, Karen Lanagan,862^nd, 59.32.

Saturday presented with ideal conditions for the last of the 5K Summer series at Lancaster. Lytham fielded 2 runners in Graham Webster and Tom Haworth and from a field of 72 runners Tom Haworth was back in 23rd place with a time of 17:55, bagging himself a PB. Graham Webster managed to grab first vet 60 by gaining 30th Position in a time of 18:36.

Sunday September saw Dawn Bloor and Bec Willetts enter and complete the Swinton 10 mile. The ladies were off their marks at an early start of 9:30am, against unrelenting rain, but well prepared enough to stay dry! The course was a gently undulating 2 laps round Swinton, and expert marshalling ensured that traffic didn’t pose a problem to race proceedings. Bec Willett triumphed with a PB of 1.25.00 and Dawn Bloor came in at 1.25.59; an impressive first attempt at a ten mile route to achieve a silver standard.

At the Island Trail Race (10.5k), Newborough, Anglesey, also on Sunday, LSARRC club member Andy Sneddon competed in the stark and challenging conditions of gales, torrential rain, beach and dunes, slippery rocks, stiff climbs and technical descents. However he was still able to appreciate what is a breathtaking course, taking in the spectacular coastal circuit of Llanddwyn Island. His completion time was 67.47, position 135/179. 

Local flooding had meant a late change of route for the Club’s popular monthly handicap on Thursday, which attracted thirty runners for the race on the fine September evening. After a close-fought contest over the 3.45 mile course Alex Wiggins was the clear winner in 26m 39s, a first-rate run in a time over two minutes quicker than his previous best.   In 2^nd place Rob Goodall extended his run of regular PBs to finish just ahead of Greg Oulton, a newcomer to the course. Once again Joe Greenwood was fastest on the night.   Greenwood’s19m 38s was also a PB and his 5^th place finish was good enough to retain his overall lead at the halfway point of the annual competition where Goodall and Wiggins are in close pursuit.