LSARRC News 17th September 2013

Graham Webster  on anchor leg.

 A squad of fourteen LSARRC members, undeterred by the abrupt onset of Autumnal weather, attended the 14th North West Counties Road Relays combined championship (incorporating the Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside Championships) at Salt Ayre Sports Centre in Lancaster on Sunday. In stark contrast to the bright summery weather on Saturday, the skies were dark, the rain poured down and the wind blew. However the Lytham turnout was strong enough to produce two ladies teams of three, and two men’s teams of four.

A pleasant 4.4k course took runners from the home straight of the track through the sports centre car park and out along the wide Wyre-side cycle paths to return after one loop for the Juniors and two loops for the Seniors back into the stadium and finish aside the start.

Front runners Barbara Holmes of the women's A Team and Pam Binns of the B Team had a bit of trouble making the start line but once running overtook a couple of  their leg competitors to hand over to Pippa Hughes, who had a good run recording 21:06 and Janice Cobley respectively.  Last leg runners Fiona Geldard and Catherine French brought the teams home in good style.  Dawn Lock ran 28:02 for one leg of the C Team. The Senior Men had one leg more on a similar length course going off at 2:30pm.  Running the first leg of the faster team was Peter Cruse, handing over to Terry Hellings, Colin Laidlaw and with Graham Webster on anchor leg. The Men's B Team consisted of Mark Selby who returned in 17:53 to hand over to Richard Storey, followed by Greg Oulton and, by a late decision, Bill Lock who had been officiating earlier in the day and who completed his leg in 25:10. 

Relays Full results: Senior Women Team A, 10^th in Lancashire Championships, 1:02:31, 25^th overall. 1.Barbara Holmes (12th) 20:13, 2.Pippa Hughes (12th) 21:18, 3.Fiona Geldard (10th) 21:00. Senior Women Team B, 13^th in Lancashire Championships,1:14:15,  29th overall.1.Pamela Binns (16th) 24:11, 2.Janice Cobley (14th) 23:06, 3.Catherine French (13th) 26:58.Team C, Dawn Lock -- 28:02.                  

4 of The Senior Men's team at the Relays, from L-R:
Bill Lock, Greg Oulton, Terry Hellings, Graham Webster 

Senior Men Team A, 16th in Lancashire Championships, 1:09:25  46th overall. 1. Peter Cruse (13th) 15:53, 2. Terry Hellings (17th) 18:18, 3. Colin Laidlaw (17th) 18:21,  4.Graham Webster (16th) 16:53. Senior Men Team B 20^th in Lancashire Championships, 1:24:05, 52nd overall. 1. Mark Selby (20th) 17:52, 2.Richard Storey (19th) 18:47, 3.Greg Oulton(18th) 22:08, 4. Bill Lock (20th) 25:18.

Mark Willett and Simon Denye headed North East for the 33^rd Great North Run on Sunday. They were amongst almost 56,000 entrants, of 100,000 applicants, who took to the streets of Tyneside for the event. These numbers represent a vast increase in numbers from its beginnings in 1981 when just 12,000 people ran. For Lytham, Simon Denye finished with a big PB on what was a tough wet and windy day in a time of 1:21:26, which sets him up well for his marathon challenge in two weeks. Willett, whose half marathon challenge continues unabated was happy with his1.26.17 finish in the race, just 29 seconds outside of his PB. He crossed the line in joint 500th place out a field of nearly 56,000! Ethiopian star Bekele was first to cross the line in a time of 60:08, with UK Farah just one second behind.

Across the channel in Ballymena, NI, Willie Richmond raced in the Slemish Challenge 17.2m on Saturday. Richmond, using the race as a training opportunity, completed the hilly course in 2:20:35.