LSARRC News 8th April 2013

All the hard work paying off: Simon Denye at the Blackpool
Marathon, on his way to a PB and Sub 3 hour finish.

Runners in the Blackpool marathon and half marathons on Sunday were given a timely burst of spring-time sunshine and the crisp and cool temperatures contributed to favourable racing conditions. Both races started and finished at the Bloomfield Road Football Stadium, fuelling a ceremonious atmosphere, and the 13.1 mile and 26.2 mile courses followed sections of the promenade. There was cause for celebration amongst the Lytham Road Runners competing. Simon Denye, the only Lytham member running the marathon, was the first local runner to finish in a highly creditable 22^nd place, out of 636 finishers. He successfully broke the three hour barrier finishing in 2:59:29, knocking 12 minutes off his PB in the process. Denye has now achieved silver standard in the U40 category - a goal successfully achieved before his 40^th Birthday in September. In the half marathon, Joe Greenwood strode home first for the club, finishing in 16^th place in a field of 1048, in 1:21:23. Mark Selby shaved a pleasing 21 minutes off his previous half marathon time by finishing in 1:40:40, completing the race in 188^th position. Lytham Lady Sylvia Gittens produced a great result with her 2:04:07 finishing time   

Awards night: The Lytham Ladies celebrate their success
at the Mid Lancs League Presentation.

A good season for Lytham was concluded fittingly with two of the Club's teams receiving awards at the Mid Lancs League's Cross-Country Presentation at Bamber Bridge Club on Friday. Silver medals were awarded to members of the Senior Men's Team, represented by Terry Hellings, Thomas Howarth, Greg Oulton and Graham Webster and the Veteran 55 Women's Team, of whom Janice Cobley, Pam Binns, Sylvia Gittins and Dawn Lock were in attendance at the ceremony. There was an additional honour for Graham Webster.  As strongest in his age group he had been first Veteran 60 Man in four of the six races - an excellent result for this outstanding athlete.  Webster was presented with an individual trophy to add to his silver team medal. 

Webster amasses the silver. Champion V60 and Team silver medallist
in the Mid Lancs XC League.

As club member Rob Goodall counts down his remaining weeks in the UK and gets ready for life in Oz, racing still has a firm place in his agenda. Goodall tied in the Lincoln 10k whilst visiting friends, and alongside fellow LSARRC member Mark Willett, joined 5000 entrants on the start line on Sunday. Bright and brisk weather conditions brought out a great support contingent for the two laps of Lincoln City, the race concluding with a stunning finish around the cathedral and into the Castle. Willett was first home in 157th with a chip time of 39:15 and a 27sec PB. Goodall clocked in with a chip time of 51:35, 1582^nd finisher, and netting 42sec PB.

Catherine French dropping down from
Mow Cop Castle at the annual fell race.

Catherine French crossed the Lancashire border into Staffordshire on Sunday to take part in the Mow Cop spring fell dash. The annual 6.5 mile race, involving 1300ft of climb, starts and finishes at the village hall. This year’s event had it all: climb, scramble, exciting decent, woods and trail, sunshine and snow, mud and boggy bits and amazing vistas on the tops. 100 runners competed in the event, with French finishing 92^nd in 1:19:42.