LSARRC News 28th May 2013

Ella Moulding and Jasmine Jolly sprint to the wire at
Stanley Park Track and Field.

Stanley Park was host to the 21st Lancashire Track and Field Championships over the weekend where athletes competed in sunny but breezy conditions. On Saturday, Lytham St. Annes RRC had three junior members entered in a total of five events. Making the first appearance for the Club was Ella Moulding in the 1500m with a second appearance in the 800m scheduled on Sunday alongside U15G Camryn Spector.

Ella won her County medal in undisputable style, proudly taking home the Silver which involved a fierce and epic battle for first place. The Under 13 Girls' 1500m got underway with Moulding going out at a fast pace, taking the lead straight away and battling round most of the first three laps stride for stride with two others in an enthralling race.  Ella held onto the lead until inches from the line when, with a late strong challenge, Jasmine Jolly of Preston Harriers just beat her to the line.  Jasmine was given 5:09.9 to Ella's 5:10.0, a mere tenth of a second behind and a PB. On day 2 Layla Foley competed in the U17G 800m and ran to smash her personal best, finishing  6^th in her heat in 2:34.2. Camryn Spector produced a fine run in the U15G 800m finishing 6^th in her heat and hitting a personal best of 2:35.1.

The Northern Veterans Track and Field Championships took place at Leigh Sports Village on Sunday.  Lytham St Annes RRC had two representatives in Graham Webster and Terry Hellings.  Their first race of the day was the 1500 and both ran well in a field of twelve, Graham finishing 4th overall and 2nd vet 60 in a time of 5:15.1 with Terry taking the vet 55 gold finishing 4th overall in 5:34.9. Next, both toed the line for the start of the 3000m along with 14 other athletes, Graham finishing 2nd overall in a time of 11:16.5 with Terry 2 places back in 12:03.6 both taking age category gold medals.  The 800m was the final race of the day, with Graham finishing 2nd in his heat and 2nd vet 60 in 2:38.1 and Terry 5th in 2:52.7 and first vet 55 for his third gold medal of the day. 

Colin Laidlaw running the Fishwick 5 Trail

The fourth annual Fishwick 5 Trail Race took place in Preston on Wednesday, held in aid of the local children's community club. The green and attractive route plunges steeply down the deep scarp that surrounds Preston into the rural lanes and park pathways of Fishwick Bottoms and the Guild Wheel and repeats a partial loop before the concluding climb into Fishwick. Lytham had two competitors, Colin Laidlaw, who finished 16th in 37:22 and Dawn Lock, 30th in 56:14.  Laidlaw was third MV55 and Lock was first WV65 taking the age category prize. 

LSARRC members get social in Caldervale. Not to be mistaken for Greg Oulton and his backing band...
From L-R Catherine French, Roy Stevens, Pam Hardman, Greg Oulton, Richard Storey,
Bec Willetts and Sylivia Gittens (Laura Ashworth behind the camera!)

Elsewhere on Sunday Lytham runners were active at a number of events. At the running of the BUPA 10k in a warm Manchester, three Lytham RRC members competed. Simon Denye finished 155^th in 37.22, Mark Willett was 645^th in 41.39 and Mel Koth finished 2119^th in 46.03, of a field of around 40,000 runners. Yorkshireman Trevor Willoughby completed the ‘killer’ Buxton Half Marathon in 1:59:55. In perfect conditions he enjoyed a brilliant run in the picturesque countryside of the Peak District. Seven LSARRC members convened in the pretty village of Calder Vale for an informal 10 mile run, part social, part training for the Welsh Castles relay event coming up next month. Laura Ashworth, Bec Willetts, Pam Hardman, Catherine French, Greg Oulton, Roy Stevens, Richard Storey and Sylvia Gittens completed an undulating 10 mile circular route, concluding with refreshments back at the village tearooms.