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.