LSARRC News 25th February 2013

Rob Goodall well on his way to smashing the 2 hour target to bits.
The smile says it all...

The Lytham runners have been out in force showcasing their aptitude and enthusiasm at a range of running events across the north of England this week. From a total field of 1140 finishers, 15 members took to Blackpool Prom on Sunday for the 24^th Great North West Half Marathon. The day stayed dry although there was a noticeably chilly and tough headwind north, into which runners headed at the start of the race opposite the Hilton hotel. The course returned southwards as far as North Pier, and followed another lap concluding the 13.2 miler at the start point. Joe Greenwood produced a brilliant performance, doing himself and the club proud with his 1.19.51 time, first home for Lytham and 28^th  to finish overall. Pete Cruse, Simon Denye, Mark Willett and Graham Webster all finished within 1.30, with prizes scooped by Cruse for first M50, and Webster for first M60. Carla Rademan was first Lytham lady to finish, in a very creditable 1.49.58. Fiona Geldard was close behind, running a fantastic time of 1.54.52 in her first half marathon with the club. The champagne corks were popping for Rob Goodall, who, two and a half years after completing his first half marathon in 2.35.44, smashed the 2 hour barrier on his 12^th attempt at this distance in a magnificent 1.57.09 – a PB of 4m 15s.

Joe Greenwood at Great North West Half Marathon

The Darwen moors were the site for a dark and icy 5 mile night-time fell race on Friday evening. Debbie Cooper, Catherine French, Rob Goodall and Greg Oulton  - by the light of head torch – braved the infamous ‘Mr Sparkles Dark Un’ hosted by the Darwen Dashers, all finishing around the 1.06 mark. Competitors were treated to a burst of disco and lights at the highest point and rewarded with a warming chip-butty at the finish.

1st Lytham lady at the XC Nationals at Sunderland.

Snowy Saturday saw the National Cross-Country Championships take place at Herrington Park, Sunderland. The terrain of this venue was challenging enough at the last championship held there in 2007 and this time, as the snow was churned to sludge, competitors were challenged to race through thick, grey mud.  The Club turned out full teams in both the men's and women's competition - the only Fylde club to achieve this standard. Senior members ran championship length courses of 8k for the women and 12k for the men.

Individuals contributing to the two teams were Mel Koth, 191st in 40:42, Katharine Hoyland, 203rd in 41:01, Fiona Geldard, 355th in 48:37 and Janice Cobley, 394th in 52:58 for the women and Thomas Howarth, 481st in 55:08, Graham Webster, 639th in 58:46, Terry Hellings, 669th in 59:34, Colin Laidlaw, 912th in 1:06:44, Colin Nelson, 918th in 1:06:57 and Willie Richmond, 924th in 1:07:25 making up the men's team. Especially good performances came from Koth, Hoyland and Geldard and Howarth, Webster and Hellings. Outside the teams but contributing to this spirited event were Pam Binns, 401st in 53:48 who increasingly is running the off-road well, Dawn Lock, 424th in 1:03:35 and Greg Oulton who completed two laps in 53:48.

Lytham's Nigel Thompson raced in the popular Pocklington Snake Lane 10, in his home county of Yorkshire, to clock 1:00:23 for 46th place. In the Buttermere 34k Peter Cruse finished 28^th in 2:56:38.

  

Great North West Half Marathon Full Results:- Men: Joe Greenwood, 28^th, 1.19.51, Pete Cruse, 38^th, 1.21.54, Simon Denye, 68^th, 1.24.28, Mark Willett, 116th, 1.28.37, Graham Webster, 148^th, 1.29.57, Roy Upton, 236^th, 1.35.34, Richard Lloyd, 287^th, 1.38.06, Steve Quarmby, 441st, 1.43.58, Stuart Henderson, 494^th, 1.46.11, Alex Wiggins, 722nd, 1.55.15, Rob Goodall, 758th, 1.57.09. Women:- Carla Rademan, 587^th, 1.49.58, Fiona Geldard, 672^nd, 1.54.42, Catherine French, 683rd, 1.55.03, Angelalynn Smith, 840^th 2.03.07.