LSARRC News 15th April 2013

Team LSARRC at the Interclub Grand Prix held
at Stanley Park in Blackpool. A record turnout of 35! 

There has been no shortage of activity within Lytham St. Annes Road Runners Club as Spring competitions and events get underway.  First-of-the-series fixtures for both the Interclub Fell and Grand-Prix Competitions took place this week; the latter attracting a record number of Club representatives with a tremendous 35 running. At Stanley Park on Wednesday, with Lytham's strongest available runners defending the Club, a good outcome was hoped for. The record 235 entry meant a competitive challenge from the other clubs and Lytham was pleased to hold on to fourth place in the Open, third in the Vet 50s and Vet 60s and fifth in the Women's and Vets categories.  Leading the Lytham contingent home was Joe Greenwood, who fought a tight competition with Andy Draper, finishing in 14th and 15^th  places respectively. In third position for the Club was Sam Banner, showing that his concentration on triathlon had not detracted from his running ability.  Fourth and first Vet 50 was Peter Cruse,  fifth was Thomas Howarth in 23:34 and in sixth, Simon Denye, another setting a course PB even after completing a gruelling marathon three days earlier.  Next in was Graham Webster, 2012 winner of his age category, and again first Vet 60.  Kevin Ashworth and Terry Hellings completed the Open team. The Lytham women were on good form, arriving back in the order Mel Koth, Katherine Hoyland and Laura Ashworth who, with Debbie Cooper and Pippa Hughes made up the team.The Vets' team consisted of Cruse, Webster, Ashworth, Hellings, Upton and Hirsh. Willie Richmond joined Cruse, Webster and Hellings for the Vet 50's and Roy Stevens and Janice Cobley, formed the Vet 60's with Webster.

Joe Greenwood and Andy Draper battle it
out for 1st LSARRC male home.

The Lytham Representatives at the
Wardle Skyline Interclub Fell Race.
L-R Greg Oulton, Dawn Lock, Tery Hellings,
Debbie Cooper. 

The first event in the Inter-Club Fell Racing series attracted five Lytham members to make up the team and attempt the seven-mile, 1300 foot climb around Wardle Skyline.  Boosted by leaders Sam Banner and Terry Hellings, the group achieved the surprising feat of counting in every category. LSARRC reached fifth in the Open, Vets and Vet 50s, fourth in the Women's and third in the Vet 60s. Of notable achievement and performance were members Sam Banner, who finished 6th in the Inter-Club and first Under 23 in 23rd position overall and Debbie Cooper who was 4th women in the Inter-Club, third counter in the Lytham Open team and 159th overall.  Terry Hellings returned to fell running after a break to secure 92nd place.

Roy Stevens competed in the Netherland’s Rotterdam marathon on Saturday in what could be described as Summer conditions – a very warm 21 degrees centigrade. He finished the 26.2 mile course in 4h 12m. Rob Goodall tucked yet another race under his belt as part of his ‘Farewell UK Tour’ as he prepares for life anew in Australia. This week, he ran the Flitwick 10k in Bedfordshire. He clocked a chip time of 53.50 and finished 408^th in a field of 786 runners. Goodall enjoyed the undulating course and is now in preparation for another challenge on the list: a marathon. Pam Hardman entered her 1st duathlon on Sunday - 5k run 20k bike 5k run which consisted of a lovely course in harsh weather conditions. She raced a great race, despite some technical difficulties with bike gears.

Lytham Juniors Report

Eight junior members of the club competed in Wigan Harriers track and field open meeting on Sunday. The first event was the U11 boys Long Jump and Simon Holt did well to finish 3^rd overall with a jump of 3.11m and Farron O’Higgins jumped 2.4m to finish 11^th. In the U11 girls Long Jump Rebecca Tate jumped 2.33m to finish 15^th. Chloe Norman was Lytham’s only U13 girl and she started with the 100m in which she ran 18.3 to finish 20^th and then later in the 200m she ran a great race to finish 9^th overall in 37.00. The Sprint event for the U11 age group was the 75m and in the boys races Simon Holt had a superb run to finish 1^st in 12.4. James Nichols was 7^th in 13.1 and Farron O’Higgins 15^th in 14.5. In the Girls races Georgia Norman finished 1^st in her heat and 11^th overall in 13.6, Hollie Winstanley was 15^th in 14.5, Rosie Taylor 24^th in 15.5 and Rebecca Tate 25^th in 15.6. In the 600m the wind played its part in slowing runners down and Simon Holt was the first Lytham runner across the line to finish 4^th in 2:11.4. James Nichols had a fantastic run to record a PB finishing 7^th in 2:17.8 and close on his heals was Farron O’Higgins in 8^th (2:18.6). Hollie Winstanley, who finished 9^th, was the first Lytham girl to finish in 2:32.2 with Rosie Taylor just a few seconds behind in 2:34.2. Rebecca Tate ran well to finish 12^th in 2:40.9 as to did Georgia Norman who finished 15^th in 2:50.7.

The club staged the first of its series of junior summer handicap races last week, in which eighteen young athletes contested the race and, running his first ever handicap race, Ari Diedrichs, was the winner with Stephan Matinousky finishing a close second. Simon Holt recorded the fastest time of 4:04 and Rebecca Tate was the fastest girl in 4:38.