LSARRC News 30th June 2014

On Wednesday, it was the 2nd race in the Harrock Hill Fell Race series. Greg Oulton completed the 5.2 mile course with 900ft of climb in 51:49, almost one minute faster than he did last month and finishing in 129th place. The course was a lot less muddy and it was much warmer than the previous month.

Thursday night saw the club's monthly handicap run over a 4.35 mile rural course around Lytham. It was the third successive win for Jeremy McCandless in the June race and is the first time someone has won three successive races in the history of the club's handicap.

McCandless’s notable run was the only personal best recorded but there were further good times for third-placed Kevin Ashworth, who moves up to second behind McCandless in the overall competition, and fourth finisher Debbie Cooper who had her quickest run of the year.
June Handicap results: 1, Jeremy McCandless 39.43; 2, Brian Porter 35.02; 3, Kevin Ashworth 30.06; 4, Debbie Cooper 34.57; 5, Neil Tate 27.32; 6, Karen Lanigan 41.09; 7, Joe Greenwood 24.25; 8, Tom Howarth 26.18; 9, Greg Oulton 34.42; 10, Jennifer Waterworth 37.46; 11, Fiona Geldard 34.09; 12, Dawn Lock 54.25; 13, Graham Webster 28.54; 14, Laura Ashworth 34.26; 15, Alex Wiggins 36.03. Non-competitors: Joanna Allitt 40.12; Justin Allitt 34.57.

The 3rd Mid Lancs Track and Field Meet of the year was held at Litherland on Saturday afternoon. Chloe Norman was the only junior athlete competing but made an excellent show of herself coming 3rd in her heat in the Under 15s 800m with a time of 2:34.5 and a PB, 2nd in her heat in the 300m in a time of 49.3 and 11th in the Long Jump recording 3.58m. Joanna Goorney was 3rd in the 800m in 2:35.4, 2nd in the1500m in 5:12.9 and 6th in the Long Jump recording 3:54m.

Jeremy McCandless, Greg Oulton and Tony Norman at Litherland

LSARR men were very active in the throwing events. Tony Norman, making his debut for the club, threw 8.68 m (5th) in the shot putt while Jeremy McCandless threw 5.84m (7th) and Greg Oulton threw 5.68m (8th). In the Javelin, Jeremy threw 13.98m for 11th place and Greg 13.56m for 12th place and in the discus Jeremy threw 16.43m for 10th place and Greg threw 15.05m for 12th place.

Graham Webster was also in Liverpool at the Corporate Games where he competed in the 5k, He was 14th overall and 2nd vet 60 in a time of 19:18. Laura and Kevin Ashworth headed up to Lancaster on Saturday night for the second race in the Lancaster 5series. Kevin finished in a time of 19:40 while Laura making an excellent return from injury in 23:21. Adding to the evening's race, was the free bottle of beer & crisps at the end.

Sunday was a busy morning for LSARR athletes, with both Juniors and Seniors heading over to Fleetwood for the Soto's 10k and Soto's 2k Fun Run. There were 5 LSARR juniors in the in the Fun Run. Simon Holt was 3rd, Louis Eunson 4th, Hollie Winstanley 5th, Rebecca Tate 6th & George Winstanley 8th.

Neil Tate at the Soto's 10k

In the 10k, Joanna Goorney was on fine form and finished first lady in a time of 38:59 and in 23rd place. Peter Cruse was first home for the LSARR and 1st Vet 50 in a time of 38:05 and 17th place. The ever improving Neil Tate just missed out on breaking the 40 minute barrier in 40:25 and 42nd place. Graham Webster followed in 41:08 and 49th place. Fiona Geldard was 136th in 49:56, Pamela Hardman ran 51:44 for 154th place, Rebecca Willetts 55:56 for 193rd place and Jeremy McCandless was 204th in 57:38.

LSARRC News 23rd June 2014

LSARRC runners at Aggies Staircase Fell Race

Six members of Lytham St. Annes RRC contested the second round of the Inter-Club Fell Series at Aggies Staircase on a glorious sunny evening.  A third of the 145 runners were competing in the Inter-Club making for an interesting fight between the six clubs.

Competitors faced a challenging three climbs to Darwen Tower.  Bunching on the narrow start slowed runners but once on the widening lanes, winner Joe Mercer of Horwich powered away to finish in 28:17, nearly a minute ahead of second.  Best Inter-Club runner Jon Green of Preston Harriers came in fifth in 30:37.  The notorious Aggies Staircase of the race title is encountered in the latter stages of the race and precedes an easy final sprint back to the finish.

First counter for Lytham was Joanna Goorney, second women both in the race and the Inter-Club in a good 36:20, 43rd overall and 14th in the Series.  Next was experienced fell racer Debbie Cooper, 101st and 28th in 43:58.  Julia Rolfe, finishing 116th and 34th in 46:54, completed Lytham's most successful team; just one place short of winning the women's competition.  Fast-improving and enthusiastic fell runner Greg Oulton was 104th and 30th in 44:43.  Richard Storey was 130th and 39th in 52:10 and Dawn Lock, 142nd and 46th in 65:02, took first FV60 prize.

At the halfway stage LSARRC retains second in the women's and Vet50s; good results for the Club.     

The popular Freckleton Half Marathon celebrated it's fiftieth anniversary this year with a huge entry including a fourteen-strong contingent of Lytham runners.  Local celebrity Ben Fish notch up a record eighth win equalling his 2013 time of 1:10:30.  First woman was Salford Harriers' Tessa Walker, 22nd overall in 1:23:41

Two Lytham winners made their mark.  Joanna Goorney maintained her excellent record taking the Stephen Garratt Trophy for first Fylde women for the second time and the Joe Beck Trophy for the fist Freckleton resident for the twelfth time in thirteen years with a time 1:28:50, 38th overall.  Fourth club member back was the Club's second prize-winner Graham Webster, first MV60, 49th in 1:31:34.

First Lytham member in was Joe Greenwood with 1:21:36 and a great 15th place in a field of 660.  Five places later Simon Denye managed 1:22:39. Fiona Geldard was third in her FV50 class in 2:00:24, 317th overall.
Other Results: 55th Neil Tate, 1:32:41: 133rd Oliver Hirsh, 1:43:28; 151st Mark Willett, 1:44:16;  229th Roy Stevens, 1:52:15; 257th Willie Richmond, 1:54:31; 196th Nigel Simpkin, 1:58:16; 315th Greg Oulton, 2:00:00; 318th Felicity Wolohan,2:00:24; 408th Louisa Ruman, 2:06:38.

The previous weekend saw Melanie Koth compete in the Keswick TriHard Triathlon, a 400m open water swim in Derwent Water followed by a scenic bike ride around the Lake and a 5k run with low lake water levels resulting in an uncomfortable bare foot run to the transition point. Koth finished very creditably in 1:28:08, 13th woman, 6th FV40, and 67th out of 210.

LSARRC News 16th June 2014

Preston Inter-Club

 It was the third race in the inter-club series on Wednesday night.  Preston Harriers hosted the 4 mile race starting at Vernon's social club in Penwortham, Preston, taking in 2 laps of Avenham Park.  Lytham St Annes had a fantastic turnout with 39 runners.  Notable performances were Joe Greenwood who was first man home for LSARR in 13th place and a time of 22:53 and Joanna Goorney who was first lady in 36th place and a time of 24:47.  There were many PBs including ones for Greg Oulton and Jeremy McCandless.  It was also great to see the return of former international Sue Samme in her first road race after being out through long term injury.  There were 239 runners.
LSARR results: Joe Greenwood 13th 22:53; Andy Draper 28th 24:12; Joanna Goorney 36th 24:47; Peter Cruse 37th 24:51; Simon Denye 50th 25:50; Neil Tate 52nd 25:53; Graham Webster 53rd 25:56; Oliver Hirsh 61st 26:20; Kevin Ashworth 71st 26:59; Willie Richmond 76th 27:06; Terry Hellings 79th 27:14; Mark Selby 84th 27:27; Sue Samme 94th 27:56; Mel Koth 105th 28:30; Richard Storey 111th 29:11; Dave Dunn 114th 29:16; Chris Blackburn 117th 29:20; Greg Oulton 138th 31:00; Roy Stevens 143rd 31:21; Laura Ashworth 146th 31:29; Nigel Simpkin 148th 31:47; Fiona Geldard 149th 31:51; Alex Wiggins 153rd 32:06; Julia Rolfe 154th 32:07; Des Heron 157th 32:17; Pamela Hardman 159th 32:27; Debbie Cooper 161st 32:39; Jennifer Anderson 171st 33:13; Brian Porter 172nd 33:15; Rebecca Willetts 186th 34:36; Louisa Ruman 188th 34:44; Jen Waterworth 196th 35:26; Pam Binns 198th 35:34; Sylvia Gittins 199th 35:36; Louise Charnock 206th 36:54; Bill Lock 211th 37:42; Jeremy McCandless 212th 38:14; Tony Holt 222nd 40:22; Dawn Lock 235th 46:24.

Preston Parkrun attracted 2 LSARR runners on Saturday morning.  Sue Samme in her first ever Parkrun was 32nd overall and  2nd lady in 21.21.  Mark Willett was 38th in 21:43.  There were 193 runners.

Blue Light 5 mile

On Sunday morning, Lytham St Annes runners were out again in force at the Blue Light 5 mile race organised by Lancashire Fire A.C and run along the promenade around Bispham.  Although there was no wind, conditions were very close in the sea mist.  First home for LSARR was Joe Greenwood who was 3rd overall in a time of 29:22.  Peter Cruise was next in 8th   place in 30:56 and was 1st vet50.  Joanna Goorney was 9th in 31:09,2nd lady and 1st female vet45 followed by Graham Webster in 14th  place,31:45 and 1st vet60.  Kevin Ashworth was 18th in 32:40, Russ Chew 40th in 37:45, Greg Oulton 43rd in 38:10, Laura Ashworth 55th in 39:13, Julia Rolfe 60th in 40:22 and Sylvia Gittins 67th in 43:08 and 1st female vet65.

LSARRC News 2nd June 2014

Wednesday night saw the first race of four in the Harrock Hill Fell Race Series.  Representing LSARR was Greg Oulton.  Although the course was quite muddy, Greg still knocked 12 seconds off his last year's finishing time to finish in  52:26.

Also on Wednesday night, was the Levens 10k, the second in the Kendal race series.  Peter Cruse made the trip up north to finish in 21st place, 39:48 and 2nd Male Vet 50.
The May race of the Club’s monthly handicap competition on Thursday night was a closely fought contest as usual.

With a two minutes improvement over his previous best time for the 4.35 miles summer course Jeremy McCandless was a convincing winner while last year’s champion Oliver Hirsh continued his fine form of last winter in second place.  Elsewhere there were further notable runs and personal bests by Fiona Geldard in 5th place and 7th finisher Neil Tate. 

With wins in the first two races over the 4.35 miles summer course Jeremy McCandless is emphatically the pacesetter for the new annual series and successive personal bests for McCandless, who also won in April, have given him a significant early lead of 11 points ahead of the rest of the competitors currently led by scratch runner Dawn Lock.

May Handicap Results:1, Jeremy McCandless, 51.19, PB; 2, Oliver Hirsh, 51.38; 3, Tony Holt, 51.57; 4, Laura Ashworth, 52.15; 5, Fiona Geldard, 52.28, PB; 6, Kevin Ashworth, 52.57; 7, Neil Tate, 52.59, PB; 8, Pam Hardman, 53.01; 9, Dawn Lock, 53.07; 10, Tom Howarth, 53.19, 11, Julia Rolfe, 53.34; 12, Graham Webster, 53.52; 13, Richard Storey, 54.07; 14, Joe Greenwood, 54.08; 15, Alex Wiggins, 54.33;16, Greg Oulton, 54.45; 17, Bec Willetts, 54.57; 18, Karen Lanigan, 55.22; 19, Pam Binns, 55.22; 20, Debbie Cooper, 55.54; N/C Peter Cooke, 53.09; N/C Roy Stevens, 54.24.

On Saturday morning, Richard Storey headed to Avenham Park in for the Preston Parkrun completing the course in 22:24 for 39th place.  This parkrun is becoming more and more popular with 212 finishers in this race.

Brian Porter at the Blackpool Prom 10 mile race

It was also the first race of three in the Catforth Canter 5k Series on Saturday evening.  First home for LSARR was Simon Denye in 18th place and 17:38.  Next was Peter Cruse in 18:52, 27th place and 2nd Male vet 50 followed by Greg Oulton in a personal best of 22:42 and 57th place.


Sunday saw the inaugural Blackpool Promenade 10 mile race.  Neil Tate finished in 19th place in 1:07:14 while Brian Porter was pleased to finish sub 90 minutes in 106th place in 1:27:40

The Edenfield Fell Race near Rawtenstall was also on Sunday.  This 6.4 mile course with 1565 ft of ascent and a very steep climb at mile 5 attracted Greg Oulton who finished in 1:14:58.