Press Report 18/12/2012

Catherine French, Rob Goodall and Debbie Cooper complete
a Christmas scene at the Hurst Green Turkey Trot.

As we sprint towards Christmas, December races often adopt a festive theme and Lytham runners were out working up a Yule appetite at a few of these events this weekend. You’ll spot a festive race by the fast moving field of runners in fancy dress – spurred on by the prizes on offer for best costumes. At Sundays ‘Hurst Green Turkey Trot’ - a 5 mile trail race held out near Clitheroe, LSARRC’s very own Rob Goodall, dressed as a very convincing reindeer, was awarded best costume in race and went home happy with an armful of Christmas goodies. The race attracted a festively charged field of 145 entrants and took place on a perfectly crisp, sunny and still day: a real bonus after the recent icy snap and some heavy rainfall. The course was largely trail – mostly ascent for the first half and descent for the last, going through a dark, interesting and very muddy wooded section on the return. Club members Debbie Cooper and Catherine French, also in full festive attire, completed the scenic and good humoured race. Finishing times: Catherine French 1:01:52, Rob Goodall 1:01:53 and Debbie Cooper 1:01:54.

Andy Sneddon and John Wild took part in The Lakeland Trails first staging of the ‘10k Sticky Chocolate Trail Run’ at Cartmel on Saturday, in what could be described as a ‘Beauty and Beast’ of a course. The event promised mud and it did not disappoint! An undulating course starting and finishing at Carmel Racecourse gave the 340 racers mud, deep mud and even deeper mud, knee deep and beyond in places, with a number of hills thrown in for good measure. Although very testing the race proved to be enormous fun and expertly organised, as usual, by Lakeland Trail. There was the welcome reward of a Cartmel Sticky Chocolate pudding for all finishers. John Wild finished in 72m20 212/340 and Andy Sneddon in 74m25 221/340.

Andy Sneddon sprints home at the 10k Sticky Chocolate Trail Run .

At the Great Langdale Christmas Pudding 10k on Sunday, Club high achiever Andy Draper had his sights set on a new Personal Best, and did not come home disappointed. The scenic course is an out and back slightly undulating route following the Great Langdale Road, Starting at the New Dungeon Ghyll, running to The Langdale Estate in Elterwater and returning to the New Dungeon Ghyll. Draper ran a superb race, finishing 5^th overall of a field of 268,  in 34:56 and taking almost a minute off his previous personal best. His efforts were also rewarded with a prize Christmas pudding, as were all race finishers, including the elves, santas and reindeers!