LSARRC News 29th April 2013

The Lytham Running club has been a hive of activity this week, a week which has heralded the opening of Summer Club Handicap season, celebrated member’s achievements at the Presentation night and seen members compete in a host of events including marathons, trail races and track events.

The Award Winners League at the LSARRC Presentation Night 2013
From L-R: Graham Webster, Liz Wharrier, Julia Rolfe, Roy Stevens, Janice Cobley, Tony Croft, Alex Wiggins, Andy Draper, Bill White, Kev Ashworth, Laura Ashworth, Rob Goodall, Bec Willett, Sylvia Gittens, Tom Haworth, Pam Hardman, Pam Binns, Dawn Lock, Fiona Geldard.  

On Friday the Lytham Club runners athletic achievements of the past year were recognized and a range of certificates, medals and trophies awarded. Eldest and long-standing member of the Club Bill White was there to present the prizes. Foremost in the awards were the Club Champions, Andy Draper and Mel Koth who each receive the lauded Championship Cups. Both Champions automatically won their age categories; Draper, the Senior Men's, Koth, the V35's and Thompson was also the leading V45. The Founder's Cup, the next most highly ranking award as it represents the athletes' ability to score best on the WAVA tables, a worldwide standard of excellence and the fitting winner was Graham Webster. The veteran athlete has set club records and finished first V60 in many competitions and local races. Webster also took the Mike Crowe Trophy for taking part in most races in the year and, naturally, won his age category shield.  Remarkably Webster also became only the third winner of a diamond standard.

Another prolific winner was Robert Goodall who made a clean sweep of the handicap trophies taking the Winter, Summer and Monthly Handicap Trophies together with the Bill White Most Improved Rose Bowl.  Laura Ashworth took the women's Marjorie White Most Improved award. Dawn Lock received the Windmill Plate for services to the Club, an award voted by the membership.

This year saw the largest number of claims for Colour Standards ever showing a healthy interest in personal achievement amongst members of the Club. Gaining certificates were Oliver Hirsh (bronze), Julia Rolfe (gold) and Pam Hardman (gold).  Achieving medals were Kevin Ashworth (V40 bronze), Simon Denye (SM silver), Laura Ashworth (V35 silver), Dawn Bloor  and Fiona Geldard (V45 silver), Julia Rolfe (V50 silver) and Pamela Binns (V65 silver), Andy Draper (SM gold), and Roy Stevens (V60 gold).  Attending her first Awards Ceremony and justly proud of her progress, newer member Janice Cobley attained bronze, silver and gold medals in the V60 category.

Thursday Club night saw the return to the summer Handicap course and proceedings got off to a fine start on a delightful sunny evening.  There was an exciting finish with Oliver Hirsh and Joe Greenwood storming to the finish. Joe, along with three more, Mark Willett, Mark Selby and Dave Jacks, all had excellent runs and recorded PBs.

At the Manchester Marathon on Sunday six Lytham runners took on the 26.2 mile challenge, all finishing in good times and setting PB’s. Tom Howarth was first Lytham male across the finish line, breaking the three hour barrier with his 2.58.32 finish. Pippa Hughes achieved her goal of a sub 4hr 30 finish, and Rob Goodall, alongside Mark Willett pacing, struck a pleasing PB by 22 minutes finishing in 4.38.23. Pam Binns had a tremendous run finishing in 4.41.56 - almost an hour faster than her previous marathon attempt in Edinburgh last year and a performance which positioned her first in the VF65 age category. Janice Cobley finished in a brilliant 4.45.02.

On Saturday Catherine French traversed the stunning, scenic and challenging Hawkshead 17k trail race route, finishing in 1.57.57. The course followed beautiful Lakeland trails, affording amazing mountainous views, skirting Lake Windermere and encompassing a steep rocky mile long stretch of ascent, affectionately known as the ‘coffin trail’!  

Lytham’s competitors in the Fleetwood 10 miler on Sunday were up against a brisk wind, but not enough to deter Oliver Hirsh and Greg Oulton from setting PB’s. Hirsh knocked nearly three minutes of his previous time, finishing in 71.06, 24^th finisher overall and 5^th V45. Oulton achieved his sub 90 min target finishing in 86.06, and representing the Lytham women, Sylvia Gittens finished in 95.44, 126^th in race.

Ella Moulding competed in her first track race of the season at the Mid Lancs League meeting at Blackpool. She ran in the U13girls 800m and despite having never raced this distance before she finished  2^nd in 2:37.06.