LSARRC Press Report 21st October 2013

Sunday heralded the successful staging of the Green Drive Five, now in its fifteenth year, Lytham St Annes RRC popular five mile race. The field of 323 finishers raced under unpredictable skies and most did not escape a sprinkling from the scattered showers. A sunny start to the day looked promising but as the morning wore on heavy clouds set in and the rain came down shortly into the race. Fortunately temperatures were mild and winds calm. The race was pleasingly well attended, up on last year’s numbers and a promising sign that the race remains a popular Fylde event. A welcome addition to this year’s race activities was the one mile junior competition which added a family flavour to the event. 

A selection of Lytham GD5'ers, from L-R
Mel Koth, Tom Howarth, Oliver Hirsh, Joe Greenwood.

Oliver Hirsh well on his way to a gold standard performance. 

The event was healthily populated by Lytham RRC members, helping to organise and staff the event as well as compete. Eighteen members in total ran, with Joe Greenwood crossing the finish line first for the Club in 16^th place clocking a time of 29.17. Thomas Howarth (29^th, 30.35) and Andy Draper (30^th, 30.44) were close together for 2^nd and 3^rd Lytham finishers. Oliver Hirsh, 4^th finisher for the club in 31.15, put in an exceptionally good performance, achieving a gold standard run and knocking nearly 4 minutes off last year’s time in this race. The Lytham ladies had reasons to be cheerful; they turned out 7 strong for the competition with Joanna Goorney coming home first in 44^th position, 31.32. Goorney, together with Mel Koth and Felicity Woolohan made up the ladies team who came second in the team competition. Julia Rolfe was second VF50 lady in the race.

The race was won by Sean Connelly of Stockport Harriers in 25.12, followed a few seconds behind by Alasdair Russell of Kendal AAC in 25.23. Robert Affleck running for Preston Harriers came in third, 1^st MV40, over a minute later in 26.36; this placing secured him the gold medal in the Lancashire Championships. The silver medal was won by Ben Everson of Trafford AC, who finished in 26.49. The fastest woman in the race was Diane McVey of Wilmslow RC (also 1^st FV35) finishing in 29.20 and second lady was Louise Blizzard of Belgrave Harriers with a 30.12 finish. Third was Caroline Betmead of Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde AC with a 31.10 finish, also earning her the Lancashire Championships gold medal.  Helen Leigh of Blackburn Harriers was silver medallist with her 31.48 finish. In the Team race Lancaster University competed well to obtain the winning position for the men, and for the ladies Wilmslow RC won this title.

In the junior race the club accounted for a third of the 77 runners, whose ages ranged from 8 to 13. Training partners Ross Hart and Ella Moulding soon established a comfortable lead from the rest of the field with 13yr old Hart comfortably winning the race in 5:34 and 12yr old Moulding a comfortable  2^nd in 5:50. Lytham juniors were also winners of six other age categories. Louis Eunson 1^st M8 6:17, Farron O’Higgins 1^st M10 6:24, Chloe Norman 1^st F13 6:35, James Nicholas 1^st M11 6:37, Harry Fellows 1^st M12 7:14, Abbey Broadbridge 1^st F11 7:47.