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.