LSARRC News 26th May 2015

In a exciting sporting weekend Lytham members won gold and silver medals at the Lancashire Track and Field Championships while elsewhere one member completed a hundred mile event.

Outstanding in the Lancashire Track & Field Championships held at the Stanley Park arena and hosted by Blackpool Wyre & Fylde AC was Ella Moulding who won gold in the 1500m and silver in the 800m and Simon Denye who won silver in the veterans' 5000m.

On Saturday Ella Moulding, a talented athlete, ran from the front in a field of twelve U15 girls in the 1500m fighting off a strong late-stage challenge from the second-placed runner to win gold in an excellent time of 4 minutes 51.3 seconds. A day later she took silver in the 800m with 2 minutes19.9seconds. In a field of fourteen runners of mixed ages and genders Simon Denye ran a well judged 5000m race, his first on the track, finishing in the third fastest time of 17 minutes 26.3seconds to take the veteran silver medal in a stylish performance.

Others competing were: U13G Georgia Norman, 5th in heat in 100m in 15.1, 5th in heat in 800m in 3:03.8, 10th in long jump with 3m68; Holly Winstanley, 10th in 1500m in 5:32.5: U13B Simon Holt, 5th in 200m in 29,7, 7th in 800m in 2:41.9: U15G Chloe Norman, 5th in long jump in 4m47: Vets Graham Webster, 6th in 5000m in 19:28.0.

Daryl Bentley and Debbie Cooper

At the other end of the distance spectrum Debbie Cooper completed her first 100 mile challenge having finished a 50 mile event previously.

The Long Distance Walkers Association's Red Rose 100, now its twenty-fourth year, takes in some of Lancashire's most attractive and remote moorland. Starting out from Rivington Reservoir it heads over Winter Hill to Darwen Tower, skirts Blackburn and Whalley and takes in Pendle Hill, Stocks Reservoir, Houghton Tower and Brinscall.

Debbie Cooper accompanied by Daryl Bentley of Bolton United Harriers, completed the gruelling route over the bank holiday weekend. Starting on Saturday at 2pm, they arrived back at the Anderton Centre at 9:18pm on Sunday having completed the 100 miles in an excellent 31 hours and 18 minutes coming 49th. Of the 503 starters just

361 finished making Debbie's achievement very creditable and adding to the charity she is collecting for, the Sick Children's Fund.

Somewhat more modest in length but still providing an interesting tour of Lancashire countryside is the Fishwick Five. Starting in an outlying southern Preston suburb it descends steeply to the flat Fishwick Bottoms and climbs twice to the level of the town before finishing near the start. Neil Tate finished 7th in 32:58 and Greg Oulton 36th in 43:47.