With several 2015 big marathons being concertinaed into eight days, Lytham runners have been representing the Club in various parts. At Manchester on the 19th Simon Denye finished in the Club's best time for the year, 2:44:42. Others competing were Felicity Wolohan in 3:49:01 and Bob Clough with a creditable time for his V60 category of 4:39:12. Seven days later London collected the largest number of members with Andy Draper beginning to regain his former level of performance in 2:53:32 and Tom Howarth doing a good 2:57:44. Club place representatives were Neil Tate in 3:01:40 and Graham Webster in 3:18:04, another impressive V60 performance, and the others taking part were Mel Koth, 3:16:45, Des Heron, 4:14:29, Pamela Binns, with a good V70 time of 4:34:44, and Karen Kidner, 4:40:32. Nearest and furthest from home respectively were Ian Tate at Blackpool in his first attempt at the distance with a promising 3:54:47 and Ruth Wheatley, who likes to combine holidays and running, with a PB of 4:21:58 at Madrid.
The gritty demanding marathon training stretches through the short dark days of winter but come the finer spring weather it's time to concentrate on speed and shorter distances with LSARRC's own race, the St. Annes Carnival 5K on 12th July, an ideal target. Held in peak summer months, it's a good distance for the hotter season. Locals hold both the male and female course records set just last year. Rob Danson of Wesham RR ran 16:38 on 6th July 2014 and Emily Japp, of Blackpool Wyre & Fylde AC, 18:45. Successes at last month's highly competitive Inter-Club Grand Prix show Danson and Jepp to be in peak condition so the Carnival 5K records seem unlikely to survive another year in their hands.
The competitive Bank Holiday weekend started earlier for Lytham with Thursday evening's Handicap and the Ripley St. Thomas Supper Run.
A delighted Sue Hawitt was the comfortable winner of the club's April Handicap. Hawitt, one of the club's newest members, was having her first run on the 4.35 miles summer course and finished well clear of the field. On a fine evening conducive to good times, others who ran well and recorded PBs were Sylvia Gittins and Justin Allitt in 2nd and 3rd places, Alan Elstone, Jeremy Mccandless and Joe Greenwood. Greenwood's time was especially noteworthy as he continues to challenge the course record that has stood since 2008.
Full Handicap Results: 1. Sue Hawitt, 40.17; 2. Sylvia Gittins, 38:04; 3. Justin Allitt, 28:13; 4. Greg Oulton, 33:35; 5. Alan Elston, 30:46; 6. Richard Storey, 30:56; 7. Alexandra Everest, 34:45; 8. Joe Greenwood, 23:51; 9. Karen Lanigan, 42:09; 10. Dawn Lock, 56:59; 11. Jeremy Mccandless, 38:24; 12.Graham Webster, 28:41; 13. Willie Richmond, 29:45; 14. Derek Caborn, 39:32; 15. Bec Willetts, 42:17; n/c Nigel Simpkin, 33:17; n/c Pam Hardman, 36:43; n/c Roy Upton, 31:11.
Members' involvement at the usually popular Ripley St. Thomas Supper Run was curtailed by the clash leaving James Whitworth as the Club's only representative. He completed the 4 mile undulating course in 34:50, in the top half of the 300-runner field.
Three members set off to open their scoring in the revised LSARRC Fell Competition at the first of the thirteen events, the Great Hameldon Hill Race. Starting from the Peel Park Hotel in the suburbs of Accrington, the race climbs along lanes to the foot of the hill before starting the serious slog to the top of the 400m summit in a d-shaped course that takes leaders skimming downwards past tail-enders struggling upwards. Accredited runner Richard Burney of Liverpool Harriers topped 183 with a time of 38:27 for the 9.6k. Terry Hellings, V60, was Lytham's best performer with a time 53:50 for 85th place. He was followed by Colin Laidlaw, V55, 106th in 56:15 and Greg Oulton, V45, 140th in 1:02:11. No doubt other members of the Club will want to contest the second round at Harrock Hill on Wednesday 27th May which doubles as the Inter-Club fell race.
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