LSARRC News 26th November 2012

Ladies cross-country team

In one of LSARRC’s best ever turnouts, 20 senior club enthusiasts and a selection of youngsters made an impact at the Mid-Lancs Cross Country League held at Sefton Park in Liverpool on Saturday. The competition attracted the cream of national cross country talent, this event also being the European Trials in advance of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Poland. The fixture gives up-and-coming athletes the opportunity to match themselves against established cross country stars.

Terry Hellings and Tony Croft at the Liverpool Race

The atmosphere was lively as competitors at all levels mixed, and the scenic race venue, steeped in rich autumn colours, provided a beautiful backdrop. Recent heavy rainfall rendered several parts of the course perilously muddy and heavy-going underfoot but luckily the rain held off for proceedings, as runners raced the moderately undulating course comprising laps of the park.

First out were the Club's six juniors taking part in the U11 Boys' and U15 Boys' and the U13 Girls' races. Next were the senior women, and lead runner Mel Koth did exceptionally well to run the 8.1k in 36:13. Following her two and a half minutes later was Katharine Hoyland, running her first cross country and taking the second "A Team" place in a good 38.59. Laura Ashworth completed the team in 40.34. Making up the "B Team" were Felicity Wolohan, Catherine French and Pam Hardman. Koth, Ashworth and Hardman scored in the WV35 category; Hardman together with Janice Cobley and Fiona Geldard counted in the WV45 and Cobley, Sylvia Gittins and Pam Binns made up the WV55 team.

Andy Draper

Andy Draper was the outstanding Lytham contender finishing the 9.8k course in 37.37 while sixty-year old Graham Webster gained a high place in his age category finishing in 41.06. Completing the team were Thomas Howarth, Terry Helling, Tony Croft and Kevin Ashworth. Full Mid Lancs. Newcomers Ashworth, 42.50 and Mark Selby, 45.56, both made creditable cross-country debuts. The club also scored in the MV40 category with a team of Webster, Helling, Croft and Ashworth, the first three of whom also qualified well for the MV50 competition.

FULL RESULTS:McCain Cross-Challenge: U11B - S. Holt, 65, 8.57; H. Booth, 103, 10.11. U13G: E. Moulding, 31, 12.51. SW: M. Koth, WV35, 93, 36.13; K. Hoyland, SW, 114, 38.59; L. Ashworth, WV35, 126, 40.54; F. Wolohan, SW, 133, 41.18; P. Hardman, WV45, 146, 45.16; C. French, WV35, 147, 45.48; J. Cobley, WV55, 151, 46.44; F. Geldard, WV45, 152, 46.46; S. Gittings, WV55, 159, 48.24; P. Binns, WV55, 163, 51.44; D. Lock, WV55, 170, 59.43. SM: A. Draper, SM, 170,37.37; T. Howarth, SM; G. Webster, MV60, 262, 41.06; T. Hellings, MV50, 299, 42.23; T. Croft, MV50, 304, 42.23; K. Ashworth, MV40, 314, 42.50; C. Laidlaw, MV50, M. Selby, SM, 391, 45.56; C. Nelson, SM, 409, 47.14.

LSARRC News 19th November 2012

The Lytham Greens were out in force and running on characteristically good form in the fourth and final of the Guild race series, the Preston 10 miler, on Sunday. In ideal conditions, the race started at South Ribble from Hutton Grammar School, taking in a double loop of Hutton, Longton and Walmer Bridge on a fast flat course. In a field of 659 entrants, 10 LSARRC members raced, with Andy Draper leading the squad home. In what was a tense finish, Draper narrowly missed out on the place above but came back in 6^th place overall in a cracking time of 57:36, earning him a personal best. Peter Cruse was next in with a 1:00:58 finish, 18^th place. There was a flourish of PB’s within the results: Simon Denye hit one in 01:02:21, 17^th place overall, also a silver standard run, Graham Webster was 1^st M60 in 01:04:31 finishing in 45^th place. The Ashworth’s added to their spree of racing achievements, Kevin Ashworth finishing in 1:07:23, 73^rd overall, beating his previous PB for this distance by 3 minutes and Laura Ashworth in 178^th position, recording 01:15:58, this race confirming her Silver status in Lady’s race standards. Pam Hardman was 432^nd overall in 01:26:27, another PB and Gill Murphy, in her first event since June having struggled with injury, ran a confidence inspiring race finishing 368^th, in 01.26.39 which was comfortably within her target time. Rob Goodall also came in under his 1hr 30 target, 425^th overall in 01:29:20 and Pamela Binns rounded up a great set of results with her 01:41:57 finish, running a Silver standard performance and netting a PB. 

Over in Cumbria on Sunday veteran members Bill and Dawn Lock were in attendance for the inaugural staging of the Arnside Knott Fell Race. Race organizers Dallam AC had sought an alternative venue after years of successful cross-country races in nearby Eaves Wood were halted by access problems. The out and back 5.5 mile, 919 foot climb route took competitors over the shoulder of the Knott before climbing from sea level at New Barnes Bay to the trig point. From a field of 150 entrants Bill and Dawn, the LSARRC contingent,  finished in times of 70:40 and 78:00 respectively.
 
Club member Tony Croft braved the elements and took on the Full Tour of Pendle fell race on Saturday. This is one of the classic races in the fell running calendar and incorporates a 17 mile route from the village of Barley. The 11 check points take runners on a tour that involves 4800ft of accent, six steep climbs and 4 steep descents. Fortunately the rain stopped before the start of the race the cloud lifted to give good visibility. This was Tony’s first comeback to fell racing in 3 years, but maximum effort earned him a very creditable finish of 4hrs 03min.  

Andy Sneddon

 Andy Sneddon was back to racing on Sunday in the Conwy half marathon, running the event with determined grit which earned him a PB at this distance by over 9 minutes. Sneddon finished in 2h 17m 52s, 1335^th in a field of 1592 runners. The scenic course, starting and finishing at Conwy Castle, comprised around 75% road and 25% beach and gravel tracks, and took in a full circuit of the Great Orme including around 500 feet of climb between miles 5 and 7. 

 

LSARRC News 12th November 2012

Graham Webster

LSA Road Runners Club news is glittering this week as members Graham Webster and Barbara Holmes put in gold winning performances in their respective fields. At Stormont, Belfast on Saturday Webster secured the gold medal at the British and Irish Masters Athletic Federation Cross Country International Championships, as part of the England team. He ran the 8k course of 4 laps over 2 split level football pitches in cold but mostly sunny conditions, finishing in 32m 11s so achieving overall 12^th place in the V60 category.

Barbara Holmes

On 3^rd November Barbara Holmes competed in the UIPM 2012 World Biathle in Dubai. In this challenging competition consisting of continuous 1000m run, 100m sea swim and 1000m run she also struck gold, becoming World Champion for the 3rd year running in the Masters Ladies B group (age 50-60 years). This year saw tough and fresh competition within Holmes’s age category but her desire to win cut through. To qualify for the GB Team she won at the British Biathle Championships which were held in Salford Quays in July, (again for the 3rd year running). 

Lytham Members at the Windmill 10k

The Lytham Road Runners pulled out great performances at the Windmill 10k, Lytham, on a crystal clear Remembrance Sunday. The race attracted a sizeable crowd of entrants, and the fast and flat course followed a lap which took in the coastal front of Lytham and Fairhaven Lake. Prior to the race starting, a moving tribute was made to those lost in war and the two minute silence was observed; the tranquil setting perfect host to the scene. The LSARRC turnout was strong, with eight ladies and nine men competing.  Joe Greenwood put in a strong performance and was home first in 7^th place overall, finishing in 36.29. Peter Cruse followed in 10^th position, securing best in V60 category, finishing in 37.23, and next for the men was Roy Upton in 33^rd place, 41.10. Both Rob Goodall and Graham Young achieved PB’s, Young running his best 10k for 3 years.  The ladies produced a crop of outstanding performances doing the Club proud. Katharine Highland, 78^th overall, was first back for the girls and first in her F age category. Laura Ashworth’s 45.13 time made her 84^th finisher overall and 2^nd VF35 in the race – a personal best by a two minute margin and yet another silver performance in Lady’s Race Standards. Janice Cobley continued the Gold run for LSARRC with her 54.43 finish. She won the VF60 category in the race, and in her finishing time easily hit a Gold standard performance for the F60-65 age group. 

Windmill 10k Results (of 553 entrants overall) Men: Joe Greenwood, 7^th, 36.29, Peter Cruse 10^th 1^st V50 37.23, Roy Upton 33^rd,41.10, Colin Laidlaw 63^rd, 43.45, Graham Young 236^th, 52.09, Paul Burrows 255th, 52.55, Rob Goodall 270^th,53.59, Gregory Oulton 327^th, 55.54 (pacing), Jeremy McCandles 398^th, 59.32.

Ladies: Katharine Highland 78^th (1^st in F category) 44.50, Laura Ashworth 84^th  (2^nd VF35, silver standard) 45.13, Catherine French 192^nd,50.27, Felicity Wolohan 206^th, 50.40, Pippa Hughes 218^th, 51.23, Janice Cobley 298^th (1^st VF60) 54.43 (gold standard), Elizabeth Walton 309^th, 55.07, Karen Lanigan 326^th 55.54.

LSARRC News 5th November 2012

Saturday saw the Club on fine form with Lytham St. Annes RRC fielding four teams for what has become an annual trip to the ECCA Cross-Country Relay Championships. The event was held at Berry Hill Park, Mansfield, where the event has been staged since 1989.The sleet and rain at the start of the day was a little disparaging but later sunshine and blue skies improved the outlook for club morale and all competing.

Some of our ladies at Mansfield

 First out on the undulating course were the women's A and B teams lead by Sylvia Gittins and Pam Binns who put in good first legs in 17.23 and 18.20 respectively to take their teams into 118th and 119th places. Second leg A team runner Janice Cobley ran a good leg of 16.48 before handing over to Fiona Geldard who brought the team in five places up with the team's fastest leg of 16.26. Lytham's A Team finished in 50:38 and 102nd.

Terry Hellings was the men's captain for the day and he split the men into two evenly matched teams. In the men’s competition Terry Hellings and Willie Richmond raced against each other. They finished 40 seconds apart with Richmond finishing in 21:06 to Hellings 21:46 for 167th for the B Team against 175th for the A team. The margin widened slightly on the second leg with Stan Greenhalgh finishing in 22:33 and 164 for B and Greg Oulton in 26:37 and 174 for A. Third leg runners Nigel Simpkin, 24:02, 162nd and Steve Quarmby, 21:55, 174th finished well but left A Team's Thomas Howarth with too much to do to catch B Team's Graham Webster in spite of doing the faster leg and the club's best. Howarth finished in 20:21 to Webster's 20:32. The two teams finished in 145th in 1:28.15 (B Team) and 151st in 1:30.41 (A Team).

FULL RESULTS: SENIOR WOMEN - LSARRC'A': 50.38.05 102 / 102: (1) S. Gittins,17:23.3 (118); (2) J. Cobley,16:48.3 (107); (3) F. Geldard, 16:26.4 (102); LSARRC'B': (1) P. Binns, 18.20.9 (119); (2) D. Lock, 20.42.0 (109). SENIOR MEN: LSARRC'B': 1.28.15, 145 / 157: (1) W. Richmond, 21.06.8 (167); (2) S. Greenhalgh, 22.33.2 (164); (3) N. Simpkin, 24.02.6 (162); (4) G. Webster, 20.32.3(145); LSARRC'A': 1.30.41, 151 / 157: (1) T. Hellings, 21:46.0 (175); (2) G. Oulton, 26.37.7 (174); (3) S. Quarmby, 21.55.6 (165); (4) T. Howarth, 20.21.7 (151).

Andy Sneddon

Sunday. Andy Sneddon not only survived the tough Helvellyn 15k trail race but also achieved his best finish so far. In freezing conditions, against an icy wind and on slippery terrain he completed the race in 1:47:01 finishing 315^th out of 392. John Wild also ran for LSARRC, and finishing in 277^th place.  

Pam Hardman, Rebecca Willets and Peter Cruse were entrants in the Derwent 10 miler. The day was cold and sunny, with the Keswick course affording gentle undulations and spectacular views of Derwent Water and the snow capped mountains.

Trevor Willoughby flew the flag for Lytham running an 8.5 miler through the Yorkshire villages, finishing in 71:21. It was a well marshalled race, boasting good prizes and an outstanding hotpot served up to replenish competitors afterwards.

 

Over on Australian shores at the weekend Mark Willett ran in the Sydney 10k, sneaking in under 40 minutes with a sprint inside the Olympic stadium!