LSARRC News 23/01/2013

Sprinting towards a PB Thomas Howarth.

Icy roads and continued snowfall has slowed down running activity this week; notably the Helsby 4 villages half marathon on Sunday hit the skids, with runners choosing to protect their limbs from slips and falls ready for future races! The elements proved to be no match for the Inskip half marathon however, and on Sunday seven Lytham runners bravely took to the roads of just north of Preston, the race starting from HMS Inskip. Conditions remained wintry, with the temperature around zero and the presence of a stiff north easterly wind, however the roads were clear of snow and ice making the race safe to go ahead. The race still attracted a field of 316 (finishers), amongst them the 7 LSARRC competitors. Thomas Howarth is plotting a steady chart of improvement and success and confirmed this with his 1.21.42 finish, 18^th overall, which brought him home first for the club and netted him another PB in the process. MV50 Peter Cruse was in a few seconds later, 19^th finishing in 1:21:49. For the men, closely following were Joe Greenwood, 31^st in 1.24.25, Simon Denye, 52^nd in 1.29.07, Mark Willett, 63^rd in 1.30.30. The 2 ladies, Janice Cobley and Pam Binns, competing within the FV60 category, finished together in the very creditable time of 2.12.22 earning them both Silvers in ladies race standards. Blackpool based Stuart Robinson (Salford Harriers) won the race in 68.25, and Maria Kennedy (Penny Lane) was first lady finisher in 89.10. Runners were only slightly hampered by some snow on the road between miles 8 and 9, but the race went ahead successfully thanks to good organisation, facilities and marshalling, and finishers were rewarded with a goody bag and a warming after race nosh-up.

LSARRC News 14/01/2013

The post-race survivors of the mens XC tean at Hyndburn! L-R:
Mark Selby, Thomas Howarth, Colin Laidlaw, Kev Ashworth,
Terry Hellings, Andy Draper, Graham Webster, Nigel Simpkin.

The Lytham Runners XC Team rose to a sticky, muddy challenge at the 4^th part of the Mid Lancs Cross Country Competition 2012 – ’13, this month staged at Wilson playing fields at Hyndburn. Weather conditions were favourable on the day, Saturday being crisp, bright and still. However a large extent of the course, which comprised playing fields and surrounding wooded areas, was reduced to viscous black mud underfoot, making the criss-cross course an ardent challenge for all competing. The Club once again produced a great turn-out, with 22 members running in signature green, including four Juniors, who were first out to race.

Lytham U11 Girl XC debutante,
Olivia Aberra.

Seven year old Olivia Aberra made her cross country debut in the U11 girls race and performed magnificently to finish 25^th in 11:45. Simon Holt and Harry Booth ran in the U11 boys race and both ran well over the challenging course with Simon finishing 24^th in 9:57 and Harry 41^stin 10:51. Ella Moulding, again produced a strong performance to finish 6^th in the U13 girls race in 11:02. In the senior ladies race, following a 6k course made up of a shorter and longer lap, the first 3 women back pulled out strong performances to score for the ‘A’ team: Mel Koth finished 28^th in 31.11, Katharine Hoyland – a relative newcomer to XC, made an impressive finish in 32.22 (37^th) and next home was Laura Ashworth, 72^nd in 37.02. In close succession came Fiona Geldard, 87^th, 39.46, Catherine French, 99^th, 43.57, Pamela Binns, 102^nd, 46.37, Sylvia Gittens, 104^th, 47.28 and Dawn Lock, 107^th, 50.53. It is looking good for the women to maintain their strong position in the league 1^st division, whilst for the men 1^st place in Division 4 makes for a healthy looking table. The senior men were faced with an even more gruelling 10k course comprising 3 unforgiving laps. Andy Draper was home first finishing in 45.57, 67^th overall, followed by Tom Haworth, 81^st, 46.56 and then Graham Webster 94^th in 47.50. Finishing the hard course in good times thereafter were Terry Hellings, 105^th, 48.46, Kev Ashworth, 133^rd, 51.56, Colin Laidlaw, 147^th, 53.10, Mark Selby 193^rd, 58.52 and Nigel Simpkin, 201^st, 1.00.59. The tricky and unpredictable course unfortunately forced Steve Quarmby and Stan Greenhalgh to pull out due to injury, however some great performances were testimony to all that mud being well worth it, and the team have another few weeks to recover until the next stage of the competition at Lancaster University on 9^th February.

At the Garstang 10k on Sunday, 5 Lytham runners ran the popular course - of whom an impressive 4 were out the day before competing in XC! The New Year’s race had 462 finishers, from which Club members Thomas Howarth came in 18^th in 37.31, followed by Peter Cruse in 20^th place, 37.35, Graham Webster, 30^th, 39.22, Fiona Geldard, 335^th, 54.58 and Dawn Lock, 461^st, 1.12.59.

Winning smiles from the ladies XC team, from L-R Mel Koth,
Janice Cobley, Pam Binns, Sylvia Gittens, Dawn Lock, Laura Ashworth.

2013 is going to be a year to remember for the Lytham Runners if the outstanding individual and team performances already produced are anything to go by. The squad returned laden with medals from the Lancashire Cross-Country Championships on Saturday. On a few previous notable occasions, the Club has snapped up one, two or even three medals but never before in its fifteen-year history has it come home with nine county medals. But that is precisely what the sixteen members did when they won three golds, two silvers and four bronzes. Add in the junior selection for Lancashire and it became truly a red letter day for the Club.

Just five days into the new year, the Championships were graced with beautiful weather and ideal running conditions; lucky as Witton Park remains one of the toughest challenges faced by cross-country runners in the northwest. All age categories apart from the under elevens had to face at least one climb up the notorious saucer and for the seniors it was three for the women and four for the men.

Heading for the Inter-Counties
Championships: U13G
Ella Moulding.

Foremost in the medal toll were the seven members of the women's team who took away eight medals between them. Another was added by one of the six-strong men's team and Lytham's only U13 girl won selection to run for the county.

Highest placed Lytham woman was Melanie Koth whose 27th place and 34.10 gave her an individual silver in the WV35 category and with Laura Ashworth and Janice Cobley, bronze in the veteran's team competition. Janice won individual gold in the WV60 category as did Sylvia Gittins in the WV65 category. With team mates Pamela Binns in silver position and Dawn Lock in bronze, it was a clean sweep for Lytham in the WV65 category. Capping the whole experience was having Lytham's reigning champion Susan Samme presenting the medals.

An hour later in the men's race Graham Webster was the first MV60 out of six across the line in an impressive 44.39 to take the individual gold medal and to bring the Club's tally to an all-time record nine medals. First for Lytham was Thomas Howarth who is really getting to grips with cross-country running, finishing 62nd in 42.48 in a high class field led in by local Blackburn star Ben Fish in a searing 33.46 for the 9.9k course. The men's team finished a creditable 10th in the open and 7th in the vets.

Just outside the medals but with the Club's highest placing of the day and automatic selection to the Lancashire team for the junior Inter-Counties Championships in Birmingham was U13G Ella Moulding with a stunning 13.26 in 4th place, 26 seconds behind the leader. Two others represented the LSARRC junior section; Simon Holt in the U11B's and Alexander Stanier in the U17M's

Mel Koth at XC Championships, the first part of her weekend of success. 

At the Central Lancashire New Years Half Marathon Mel Koth’s success story continued, where she won the prize for 3^rd female in race in a speedy 1.33.18 (49^th place overall); also first lady back for the club. Conditions were still, mild and dry for the mostly flat and rural course which started and finished in the small village of Catforth. The race attracted a field of 300+ entrants, amongst them 8 Lytham members. Joe Greenwood was first home for the Club and 16^th overall in a fast 1.22.33. Next was Koth, and then Catherine French, running her 1^st half marathon in 1.52.20 (161^st place) and well within her 2 hour target. Following were Graham Young, 190^th in 1.56.40 and hitting a PB, Pippa Hughes, 214^th in 1.59.30, Janice Cobley 231^st in 2.03.59 (a gold standard run), Rob Goodall, 275^th in 2.08.43 and Pam Binns, 275^th in 2.13.51 and also a PB.

LANCASHIRE CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS + FULL RESULTS: U11Bs 1.8k - Simon Holt, 32nd in 9.49; U13Gs 3.1k - Emma Moulding, 4th in 13.26; U17M 5.4k - Alexander Stanier, 24th in 23.20; SW 6.9k - Melanie Koth, 27th in 34.10, Laura Ashworth, 38th in 38,21, Janice Cobley, 45th in44.03, Fiona Geldard, 46th in 44.40, Sylvia Gittins, 47th in 45.25, Pamela Binns, 48th in 48.36, Dawn Lock, 52nd in 55.55; SM 9.9k - Thomas Howarth, 62nd in 42.48, Graham Webster, 78th in 44.39, Terry Hellings, 94th in 46.04, Kevin Ashworth, 99th in 46.46, Colin Laidlaw, 116th in 50.27, Colin Nelson, 122nd in 52.17.

As 2012 draws to a close and many enjoy a well earned rest, there has been no shortage of athletic activity from the Lytham runners who have been involved in a range of both Club and locally organised events.

The Ribble Valley 10k took place on the final Sunday of 2012, with 1078 runners finishing the scenic, undulating course in blustery and at times wet conditions. Northern Athletics again used this highly popular course to host their championship event. 14 Lytham runners were amongst the competitors, producing some notable performances which included Graham Webster claiming 2^nd V60 with his 39.44 time, and Sylvia Gittins winning the first female 60-64 in the race, finishing in 52.50. Peter Cruse was first home for the club in 38.08 and Mel Koth was first female finishing in 43.03. PB's were run in abundance, by Catherine French (also achieving her first bronze standard time) Andy Sneddon and Kev Ashworth. The spirited atmosphere of the race continued in the awards ceremony afterwards, where local Olympian Holly Bleasedale presented.

Who's who in the Fun Christmas Relay, fancy dress! L - R Steve Quarmby, Catherine French, Bec Willetts, Rob Goodall, Andy Sneddon, Roger McCandless, Debbie Cooper, Graham Young, Laura Ashworh, Terry Hellings, (bottom row) HAnnah McCandless, Pam Hardman, Dawn Lock, Bill Lock. 

                                                      

Last Sunday 14 members got festive proceedings off the starting blocks at the club Christmas Fun Relay. The 5k route took in a section of the promenade, starting and finishing at Lytham Windmill in what was a bright but very blustery Sunday morning. In addition to running their relay team leg, those involved sported a range of creative fancy dress outfits for a light-hearted competition, with Laura Ashworth getting the winning vote for best costume, dressed as a Christmas tree! Also on Sunday 180 runners took part in the Rudolph 5 mile trail race out near Heron’s Reach, Blackpool, including 5 Lytham members. A partly waterlogged course challenged competitors, but the race was run in good spirit with another cheery display of festive costumes.  First back for Lytham was Graham Webster in 17th place taking the first vet 60. In 24th place was Peter Cruse, 4th vet 50, in 34.14. Next for Lytham was Joe Shaw in 72nd place 40.41. In 106 and 107th place were Vicky Cummings and Fiona Geldard finishing in 44.27 and 44.41 respectively. Finishers enjoyed warming mince pies and drinks back at race HQ.

                       

                             Blackpool Rudolph 5, L-R Vicki Cummings, Graham Webster,Fiona Geldard, Joe Shaw.

21 club members ran the final Monthly Handicap of the year on Thursday, completing the 3.45m course on a mild evening. Congratulations go to Jeremy McCandless on winning and recording a PB on only his third run and to long-time regulars Tom Haworth and Steve Quarmby who also ran PB’s.  Debbie Cooper ran a much improved course finishing in 2nd place and Fiona Geldard, Kev Ashwoth and Graham Webster also had their best runs of the winter.  Alex Wiggins moves up to 1st on the overall table but there are others chasing hard, some of them with races in hand; a pre-cursor to an exciting finish in March 2013. The club welcomed two more members of the McCandless family, Hannah and Paula, to their first run of the Handicap. It’s always a pleasure to see new faces and it is hoped they will be back in the new year. A small but jovial post-race party at the Ship and Royal concluded the evening, which included a seasonal quiz and some impromptu carolling from the LSARRC choir!

Full Ribble Valley 10k Results. Women: Mel Koth, 391^st, 43.03, Laura Ashworth, 585^th, 47.12, Catherine French, 710^th, 49.09, Sylvia Gittins, 835^th, 52.50, Janice Cobley, 932^nd, 56.23, Pamela Binns, 1000^th, 59.54. Men: Peter Cruse, 181^st, 38.04, Thomas Haworth, 189^th, 38.16, Graham Webster, 244^th, 39.44, Kevin Ashworth, 341^st, 41.44, Steve Quarmby, 482^nd, 44.23, Roy Stevens, 667^th, 48.37, Brian Porter, 839^th, 53.05, Andy Sneddon, 973^rd, 58.14.