LSARRC News 20th August 2013

The fifth Inter-Club Grand Prix, held at Astley Park, Chorley, on Wednesday was run in unsettled weather but this failed to detract from the highlights for the Lytham club which included third placing in the Women's and Vet60's competition. The Club put in a good performance in the Women's and Vet 60s but struggled to fifth in the Vets' and Vet 50's and was pushed into sixth in the Open by stronger teams from Chorley and Red Rose.  For Lytham, who almost traditionally come fourth in everything, sixth in the Open was a disappointment. In time for the starting gun, the rain abated and the race went underway damp but quite pleasant conditions.  Preston's Robert Affleck was in fine form winning in 25:29 and leading in a solid Preston contingent in 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th places to take four of the six top spots leaving Wesham with the remaining two wins.

The full Lytham squad at the 5th Inter-Clun Grand Prix at Astley Park

LSARRC's third-placed ladies team consisted of Mel Koth, Debbie Cooper, Julia Rolfe, Bec Willetts and Fiona Geldard.  Mel Koth, 75th overall, led the team in and put in a good performance to finish in 34:28.  She was well up in the woman's competition in eighth, her highest Inter-Club placing of the season.  Debbie Cooper finished 22nd woman in 38:23 and made the Open team for the first time. Julia Rolfe finished in 39:39, making not only the women's team but also the Vet 50s.  Completing a good team were Bec Willetts, 42:22 and Fiona Geldard, 45:02.

Debbie Cooper and Julia Rolfe at Astley Park

The other success was provided by the Vet's 60's. Graham Webster added another first to his record of Vet 60 wins at Blackpool and Lytham to finish the Chorley course in 31:35, 41st overall.  He was backed up by Roy Stevens, 10th Vet 60 in 37:04 and Pam Binns who didn't let a weekend Half Marathon deter her from finishing 19th Vet 60 in 46:31, to count in the Lytham team.  

Leading LSARRC in were Joe Greenwood and Thomas Howarth. Greenwood finished his first Chorley Inter-Club18th in 29:03 with Howarth just six places back in 29:50.  Mark Willett, the Club's third counter, put in a strong performance, 38th in 31:15, three places ahead of Webster.  Oliver Hirsh continues his rise up the team from 9th at Lytham to 6th at Preston and now with his highest to date, fifth.  Hirsh, 32:15, made 49th overall, 22nd Vet and second counter in the Vet's.  Taking the sixth team place was Kevin Ashworth making a truly noble effort for the Club after completing his first marathon at the Isle of Man only three days earlier.  Ashworth was 58th in 32:57.  Remaining members of the Open team were Koth, Terry Hellings, 76th in 34:28, Stevens and Cooper.

Making up the full Lytham squad were Bill Lock, MV70, 144th, 46:58; Andy Sneddon, MV45, 151^st, 51:13; Dawn Lock, WV65, 154^th, 53:41.

Lytham members were back enjoying a second opportunity to mix and match running, socializing and countryside on Sunday’s summer run this week at the idyllic location of Rivington. A delightful 8 mile course was chosen and led by a Bolton Harriers member, who joined Fiona Geldard, Bec Willett, Bill and Dawn Lock along mostly level terrain beside the beautiful Rivington and Yarrow Reservoirs starting from Rivington's Lower Barn to White Coppice.

Lytham Lady Sue Godfrey put in a fine run after a long break from competition at Birchwood 10k at Warrington on Sunday. She was among a field of 764 competitors, finishing 703^rd in 1:05, which was inside her target time of 66 minutes. She raced in memory of her nephew. The fast, mostly flat course incorporates three inclines, with the final kilometre being in descent. Conditions were breezy and not too hot, with all finishers receiving a towel and a bunch of flowers for the ladies. On Saturday Julia Rolfe and James Whitworth ran the Catforth 5k on a very rainy evening. Rolfe was 1^st VF50 in 24.20 and Whitworth 2^nd V65 in 27.10.