LSARRC News 12th February 2013

A tightly fought race between the two leading Lytham men
at Mid Lancs League XC at Lancaster University.

Lancaster University was the site of the fifth round of the Mid Lancs League Cross Country 2013 on Saturday. Organizing club Lancaster and Morecambe AC put on an excellent show for the 540 runners and the weather, while damp and dull, afforded runners a race in still conditions.  Seven men, eight women and one Under 13 Girl made up a strong Lytham contingent.  The men finished 13th overall which put them at the top of Division 4 and certain of a medal.  Heartening news for the ladies is that their result at Lancaster means they retain their place in Division 1 for the third consecutive year.

Andy Draper, reversing the form of the Northerns, just beat Thomas Howarth, both finishing in possibly their highest Mid Lancs League positions, 41st and 42nd.  The next four completing the Senior Men's team were Kevin Ashworth, in 78th place, Graham Webster, 82nd, Terry Hellings, 84th, and Colin Nelson, 142nd.   Mark Selby finished 150th.  Webster took second WV60 and has easily secured individual gold in his age group.

Katharine Hoyland: running to secure a position for the Ladies
XC team in division 1.

Mel Koth was the first of the Lytham women home in a high 26th place ahead of second counter Katharine Hoyland in 31st.  Completing the Senior Women's team was Laura Ashworth in 58th to give them an overall 9th place and 4th in Division 1.  Koth, Ashworth and Fiona Geldard, 83rd completed the WV35 team.  Making up the WV55 team was Sylvia Gittins, 87th, Janice Cobley, 90th, and Pam Binns, 98th.  Dawn Lock finished 109th.

Lytham Junior Ella Moulding, U13G, took 6th place in a race of 35 showing that she has a real aptitude for cross-country running.  

On Sunday there was a splash of green on the start line for the Blackburn Winter Warmer 2.5K junior race with nine of our young club’s junior members competing. The venue was Witton Park and the race got off to fast start with 1.5 laps of the track before moving on to the paths around the park and then returning to the track for a 200m sprint to the finish. The cold rain could not put a damper on the enthusiasm of these young athletes five of whom were lining up for their first race in a Lytham vest.

Following on from his Schools Cross Country last week Ross Hart continued his come back with a superb run to finish 1st M12 and 7th overall in 9:16. Next back was Simon Holt who showed his experience to finish 1st M8 and 17th in 10:35. James Nicholas was running in his first race since joining the club although you would not have thought so from the way he ran. He finished 1st M10 and 20th in 10:58. Matthew Killick, who was also racing for the first time produced a brilliant run to finish 3rd M10 and 23rd in 11:05. Harry Booth who has been more used to cross-country ran brilliantly to finish 2nd M9 and 29th in 12:02. Luke Myers, another novice, ran a very well judged race to finish 3rd M9 and 34th in 12:23. The club’s youngest competitor was seven-year old Olivia Aberra who was just brilliant and her 1st F7 and 36th in 12:34 was rewarded with a prize. Sisters Louisa and Natasha Hart were never far apart throughout the race and they were both a credit to the club with Louisa just having the final say to finish 3rd F11 and 40th in 12:56 and Natasha was 4th F8 and 42nd in 13:00.

Can you feel your feet yet?! Debbie Cooper after
conquering the Winter Hill Fell Race, Rivington.

LSARRC member and fell enthusiast Debbie Cooper tackled the Norman Matthews Winter Hill Fell Race, Rivington, on Sunday, a considerable challenge including 2700 ft of climb over 11 miles. Snow came down with the starting gun and on the tops was inches deep within an hour. Runners traversed uncompromising terrain; slippery descents, knee deep mud and foot-numbing stints through icy water. Intrepid Cooper finished in 2.44.54, 7^th/9 FV35, 20^th/27 ladies, 164^th/189 overall.  

3 Lytham runners were out competing in the Winter Warmer 10k in Blackburn, Lancs on Sunday. Snow came down whilst the race was run on a course which was considerable ascent for the first half and balanced with descent in the second. Graham Webster was home first for the club, finishing 48^th in a field of 399 with a time of 41.39, 1^st V60. Laura Ashworth was first Lytham lady home and 4/14 in the F35 category, finishing in 48.56, 179^th overall and Fiona Geldard made up the three finishing 304^th overall in 56.44. Lytham were represented by Bec Willetts and Pam Hardman at the Southport Mad Dog 10k, also on Sunday. Pam finished in 51.34, full results still to be published.