LSARRC News 30th June 2015

Last Wednesday night was the 2nd race in the Harrock Hill Fell Race series.  It was a hot and muggy evening with a bone dry course this month.  First home was James Toohey of Liverpool RC in 32:42 while Debbie Campbell of Horwich was first lady in 41:20.  Lytham St Annes had four runners representing the club with Felicity Wolohan making her debut in a fell race and christening a new pair of fell shoes.  First home for the club was Terry Hellings in 62nd place in 43:43, Greg Oulton was 118th in 51:44, Jeremy McCandless was 144th in 57:39 (in only his second ever fell race) and Felicity Wolohan was 147th in 58:14.

The June club monthly handicap was on Thursday night.  The overall winner was Pam Binns who ran an excellent PB for the 4.35 miles course precisely two years after her previous best while further down the field Neil Tate and Jeremy McCandless also ran PBs.  Long time stalwarts Dawn Lock and Graham Webster recorded their best times of the summer.  In the annual competition, Sue Hawitt's flying start to the year continues for, although she missed out on a hat trick of victories, her 4th place finish in yet another PB has given her a substantial early lead on the points table.

Results: 1 Pam Binns 39.30 PB; 2 Hannah McCandless 37.36; 3 Dawn Lock 55.06; 4 Sue Hawitt 37.37 PB; 5 Neil Tate 26.28 PB; 6 Graham Webster 27.59; 7 Jeremy McCandless 37.18 PB; 8 Tom Howarth 25.52; 9 Joe Greenwood 23.56; 10 Roy Stevens 33.38; 11 Richard Storey 32.20; 12 Alex Wiggins 36.22; 13 Debbie Cooper 39.50; N/C: Claire England 32.04; Jerry Brown 31.57; Sharanya Guleri 39.49; Andy Unsworth 28.16; Justin Allitt 29.21.

There were very few races over the weekend locally.  The big attraction should have been the Soto's 10k in Fleetwood but this was sadly cancelled due to ongoing road works affecting the course.

Joanna Goorney at the Kinder Trog

Joanna Goorney headed over to the Peak District for the Kinder Trog, a 15.3 mile of fell race with 3490 foot of ascent.  This very well organised race started from the village of Hayfield, and headed firstly over Lantern Pike before heading up towards Kinder Downfall and then Edale Cross.  Joanna found the course great fun although conditions were quite windy and cold while heading over the Kinder plateau and after suffering from a virus the previous week, she was quite happy to get round in 130th place in a time of 2:52:41.

It is now less than 2 weeks to the annual St Annes Carnival 5k and 1500m Fun Run which is organised by Lytham St Annes Road Runners.  It takes place amidst the town's seafront attractions and holidaymakers in conjunction with the Town Carnival on Sunday 12th July and will have a truly festive atmosphere with medals and prizes presented by the Carnival Queen and her retinue.

A substantial donation from the proceeds of the race goes to the Carnival Queen's chosen charity; this year the North West Air Ambulance.  A buffet is laid on after in the pub.

The Carnival 5k starts at 11:00am and is open to all runners over the age of 13.  It takes in an accurately measured flat, off-road route between St. Anne's Pier and Fairhaven Lake giving a great opportunity for running a personal best.  Finishers receive medals with prizes for the overall winners, the first in junior and veteran age categories and the winning men's and women's team (3 to count).  The Carnival Fun Run which is also accurately measured begins at 10 am.  There is still time to enter online at www.runlythamstannes.co.uk or on the day from 9.00am at the Lord Derby, St. Anne's Road West, FY8 1RG.

LSARRC News 23rd June 2015

Joe Greenwood - 1st place - Great Hill Fell Race

The Great Hill Fell Race on Saturday afternoon was chosen as the 2nd race in the Inter-Club Fell Race series.  As a consequence, dominating the 47th running of this long-standing race were the sixty-two members of the seven competing ICGP clubs making up 60% of the race.  Persistent rain before the race and a low mist hiding the hill tops boded poorly for the race but promptly at 3pm, the race start, the rain cleared and a little later the sun came out.  Moist air and a light wind provided excellent running conditions.

Largest contingents came from Chorley Athletic and Red Rose Runners with the former uppermost in quality and the latter numerically.  Chorley took both the open and women's competition but there was real interest for Lytham St Annes whose Joe Greenwood was the outright winner by a clear margin and also his first ever win.

Joe Greenwood finished the 9.3km 480m fell race in impressive style in 38:23, 8 seconds ahead of second and led in the LSA open team that provisionally clinched third.  Filling the other places in the open were Mark Selby, 37th in 47:21, Terry Hellings, 38th in 47:23, Greg Oulton, 67th in 54:56 and Debbie Cooper, 85th in 1:01:09.

There was disappointment for the women with only two of the three runners necessary for a team.  Debbie Cooper was 10th woman and Dawn Lock, 98th in the race, was 19th woman in 1:24:30.  Completing LSARRC was Jeremy McCandless who, running his first fell race, came 87th in 1:02:44.

Roy Stevens and Felicity Wolohan

Sunday saw the 51st Freckleton Half Marathon.  This popular well organised race starting at Bush Lane playing fields in Freckleton takes in Wrea Green and Moss Side then the outskirts of Lytham before heading back into Freckleton.  Although fairly sunny, runners were still met with a stiff breeze.  With over 600 finishers, Ben Fish of Blackburn Harriers for the ninth consectutive year lead the field home in a time of 1:09:19.  First lady home was Michelle Nolan of Gateshead Harriers in 32nd place overall and in a time of 1:25:13.

Steve Quarmby followed by Roy Stevens

Lytham St Annes RRC was well represented with 15 finishers.  First home for the club, having an excellent run was Andy Draper in 1:21:54 and 19th place.  Not far behind was Tom Howarth in 42th place and 1:23:17.Neil Tate was next in 37th place and 1:27:09.  Joanna Goorney was first female home for LSA , 3rd female overall in the race, 1st  Freckleton resident and 1st Fylde resident.  She finished in a time of 1:29:54 in 63rd place.  Andy Unsworth was 69th in 1:31:00 just overtaking Graham Webster in the closing stages who finished in 70th place in 1:31:08 and was also 1st vet 60.  Mark Willett was 84th in 1:32:51, Justin Allitt was 106th in 1:36:25, Neil Baynton Roberts was 155th in 1:40:31, Roy Stevens was 232nd in 1:48:38, Steve Quarmby was 243rd in 1:49:19, Felicity Wolohan was 266th in 1:50:51, Alan Elstone was 270th in 1:50:51, Nigel Simpkin was 302nd in 1:53:41 and Ian Tate was 453rd in 2:11:07.

Joanna Goorney running into the finish

There was also interest in the Freckleton Fun Run which started 10 minutes after the half marathon  with Lytham St Annes junior members taking both first and second place.  The 2.3 mile race was won Harry ?? . with 9 year old George Denye only a second behind in 15:41  They ran the first mile and a half of the hlaf marathon course which was into the wind before turning back for the finish.

George Denye in the Fun Run

Barbara Holmes completed the St Annes Aquathlon on Wednesday night.  The event included a 300m swim followed by an 8.5 km run.  She came 10th (2nd lady after a 27 year old, less than half her age) in 42:55, pushing a 22 year old into 3rd.

LSARRC News 16th June 2015

LSARRC runners at Preston IC

 The third race in the Inter-Club Road Race Series took place on Wednesday night.  Preston Harriers hosted the 4 mile race which starts at the Vernon-Carus Sports Ground in Penwortham and takes in a couple of laps of Avenham Park.  Conditions were perfect being a lovely summer's evening.  Rob Danson of Wesham Road Runners kept up his winning streak to be first home in a time of 20:06 and it was a similar story for the first lady home, Emily Japp of Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde who finished in a time of 24:00 and 23rd overall.

Andy Draper

Debbie Cooper

First home for Lytham St Annes was Joe Greenwood who finished in an excellent 12th place in 22:28 whilst Mel Koth was first female home for the club in 112th place and 11th female in 28:48.  Graham Webster was 1st vet 60 in 62nd place in 26:08.

Results: Joe Greenwood 12th, 22:28; Tom Howarth 22nd, 23:59; Simon Denye 24th, 24:02; Andy Draper 36th, 24:37; Andy Unsworth 42nd, 25:05; Neil Tate 44th, 25:11; Mark Willett 61st, 26:08; Graham Webster 62nd, 26:08; Terry Hellings 106th, 28:32; Colin Laidlaw 111th, 28:45; Mel Koth112th, 28:48; Des Heron 165th, 31:18; Nigel Simpkin 169th, 31:39; Dawn Bloor 175th, 31:51, Greg Oulton 186th, 32:36; Alex Wiggins 194th, 33:16; Louisa Ruman 196th, 33:24; Alex Everest 203rd, 33:50; Julia Rolfe 210th, 34:07; Jeremy McCandless 230th, 35:56; Pam Binns 235th, 26:28th, Debbie Cooper 245th, 37:13, Dawn Lock 295th, 49:53.

In the team results, Lytham St Annes finished 5th in the open category, 6th in the ladies, 5th in vets, 5th in vet 50 and 4th in vet 60 category.

Justin Allitt and Graham Webster

Alex Everest

On Saturday afternoon, Steve and Emily Hargreaves completed the Peter Lowe Memorial Hollins Green 5k set in the pleasant surroundings of Hollins Green village, in the far east of Warrington and organised by Spectrum Striders Running Club.  The race was won by Gavin Tomlinson of Trafford AC in 15:53 and had 170 finishers.  Steve finished in 11th place in 16:27 whilst Emily was 46th, 6th lady and 2nd vet 35 in 19:45.

On Sunday, Julia Rolfe was down south for the St Alban's Half Marathon.  It was a very well organised event with 2480 finishers.  The course was hilly starting in the park and through traffic free country lanes.  Julia was 1129th and 27th vet 45 in 1.56.03 chip time, 1.57.17. gun time.  Julia had not had great preparation for the race because of injury, so was very happy with the result.

Also on Sunday, Fiona Geldard completed the Deva Triathlon which was held in Chester and organised by City of Chester Triathlon Club.  As well as it being Fiona's first Olympic distance triathlon (1500m Swim - 40km Bike - 10km Run), it was also her first incorporating an open water swim.  Starting in Grovenor Park, the bike route actually went out into Wales whilst the run was around the city centre.  Fiona did herself proud finishing in 3:11:28 and 1036th overall and 227th female.  (Splits: Swim 39:15, T1: 4:17, Cycle: 01:32:59, T2: 01:57, Run: 52:58.

Juniors from the club were also in action over the weekend.  On Saturday at Wigan Ella Moulding and Chloe Norman represented Fylde in the Lancashire Schools Track & Field competition. Chloe fished 3rd  in her heat of the Junior Girls 800m and thus qualified for the final in which she ran a personal best of 2:31 to finish 5th. Ella competed in the Junior girls 1500m and won comfortably in 4:47 which is within the qualifying time for English Schools. On Sunday, Connor Norman competed in the Burnley AC under 11’s competition and performed brilliantly. He took three golds – Long Jump 3.21m (PB) , 150m 24.4s (new course record for under 9’s) and 50m 8.5s.

Greg Oulton being presented by Dave Rigby

Saturday night saw the Annual Presentation evening for Lytham St Annes Road Runners which was held at the club's headquarters at Lytham YMCA.  Awards were presented by the club’s two coaches to the adult section: Terry Hellings and Dave Rigby.  The presentation was followed by food and a disco.

Club Championship – Male: Steve Hargreaves, Female: Joanna Goorney
Monthly Handicap Shield – Jeremy McCandless;
Founders Cup (Awarded to the Vet with the best WAVA scores) – Graham Webster;
Windmill Plate (Recognition of services to the Club) – Greg Oulton;
Fell Race Championship – Male: Greg Oulton, Female: Joanna Goorney;
Winter Handicap – Male: Neil Tate, Female: Fiona Geldard;
Mike Crowe Plate (Awarded to the most prolific road racer) – Greg Oulton
Bill White Trophy and Marjorie White Trophy (Awarded to the most improved athletes) – Male: Greg Oulton, Female: Fiona Geldard;
Track and Field Trophy - Male: Tony Norman, Female: Joanna Goorney;

 

LSARRC News 9th June 2015

LSARRC at the start of the WCR

Lytham St Annes Road Runners headed off to Wales for the weekend for the annual Welsh Castles Relay.  The 20 stage 210 mile race organised by Les Croupiers Running Club in Cardiff, runs from Caernarfon Castle to Cardiff Castle with 65 teams taking part this year.  Although conditions were very windy on Saturday, there was still blue skies all day whilst Sunday was a calm summer's day.

The relay was won overall by Serpentine completing the 20 stages in 19:43:31.  Lytham St Annes finished in 41st overall with a total time of 26:02:18 , a great position considering the size of the club and the opposition.  Serpentine also won the King of the Mountains whilst LSA finished 34th out of 44.  There were some outstanding performances over the weekend with many stage records being broken.  In Stage 20, Martin Rees, a 62 year old from Les Croupiers was 3rd in the final stage which was a phenomenal performance for a vet 60.

There was much success for Lytham St Annes starting with Emily Hargreaves being first lady on the opening stage from Caernarfon Castle, Steve Hargreaves being 3rd on Leg 2 and Joanna Goorney being first lady on stage 10, a tough 13.1 mile hilly run at the end of day 1.  Both ladies were thrilled to be awarded yellow jerseys for their wins.  Andy Draper also managed a top 10 finish on Stage 15.

LSARRC also had three first timers to the relays in the team all doing the club proud.  Jeremy McCandless was 60th on Stage 9, Felicity Wolohan was 56th on Stage 13 in whilst Alex Everest was 56th on Stage 18.  Alex only started running in January this year and her leg of 9.1 miles was her longest ever race.

Stage 1: Emily Hargreaves, 13th 1:06:42 (9.1 miles)
Stage 2: Steve Hargreaves, 3th 1:01:53 (10.1 Miles)
Stage 3: Graham Webster , 33rd 1:25:12 (12.3 miles mountain stage)
Stage 4: Greg Oulton 48th, 1:19:30 (9.5 miles)
Stage 5: Nigel Simpkin 43rd , 1:18:48 (9.6 miles)
Stage 6:Fiona Geldard 43rd: 1:23:34 (10.7 miles)
Stage 7: Terry Hellings 50th. 1:13:25 (9.5 miles mountain stage)
Stage 8: Richard Storey 48th, 1:22:16 (10.8 miles)
Stage 9: Jeremy McCandless 60th, 1:15:09 (8.5 miles)
Stage 10: Joanna Goorney 39th, 1:31:54 (13.1 miles mountain stage)
Stage 11: Neil Tate 26th, 1:23:05 (12.3 miles mountain stage)
Stage 12: Dave Dunn 38th, 1:19:45 (11.2 miles)
Stage 13: Felicity Wolohan 56th, 1:27:53 (10.6 miles)
Stage 14: Tom Howarth, 33rd, 1:13:28 (10.8 miles mountain stage)
Stage 15: Andy Draper 10th, 1:18:12 (12.8 miles)
Stage 16: Steve Quarmby 57th 1:18:12 (8.8 miles mountain stage)
Stage 17: Pam Hardman 49th, 1:15:46 (9.2 miles)
Stage 18: Alex Everest 56th, 1:21:04 (9.1 miles)
Stage 19: Pam Binns 62nd, 1:12:11 (7.7 miles)
Stage 20: Kevin Ashworth 46th 1:21:04 (10.7 miles)

LSARRC at the finish of the WCR

Not content with one long race in a weekend, three members of the club who ran on Saturday at the relays (Emily Hargreaves, Steve Hargreaves and Greg Oulton) then headed up to Lakes for the Coniston Trail Marathon on Sunday.  They were joined by 3 other members of the club, Liz Boon, John Wild and Mark Willett.

The marathon takes in a complete circuit of Coniston Water along footpaths and bridleways taking in Tarn Hows and the elevated Beacon Tarn.  There were 2 options for the Marathon, either starting at 7am with a 8 hour cut-off time (Marathon Challenge) or 9am with a 6 hour cut-off time (Marathon Race).

John Wild, Liz Boon and Greg Oulton

In the Marathon race, despite having run the previous day, Steve Hargreaves was 5th in 3:25:27 whilst Emily Hargreaves was 23rd and 3rd female in 3:59:48.  Mark Willett was 99th in 4:35:47.  In the Marathon Challenge, Greg Oulton was 79th in 5:15::58:, Liz Boon was 165th in 6:07:07 and John Wild was 166th  also in 6:07:07

On Saturday morning, Julia Rolfe ran the Preston Parkrun.  She was 108th in 25:30.

Last Tuesday night Greg Oulton headed over to the Bowland Fells for Paddy's Pole Fell Race.  The 3.7 mile course with 1102ft of ascent takes in both Parlick and Fairsnape.  The race was won by Andrew Newton in 30:05 from the host club, Preston Harriers.  Greg finished in 97th place with a time of 48:21.

LSARRC New 2nd June 2015

On Bank Holiday Monday was the Fishwick Five Trail Race in Preston.  Neil Tate was 7th finishing in 32:58 whilst Greg Oulton was 37th in 43:47 knocking 10 seconds off his time from last year.

Also, on Monday, Colin Laidlaw , took park in the Rigg Race in Balerno on the outskirts of Edinburgh.  The 6 mile course starts in Malleny Park, home of Currie RFC and heads up through the village of Balerno and up towards the Pentland hills.  Colini finished 53rd out of 150 runners in a time of 43:12.

The ever popular Harrock Hill Fell Race series started last Wednesday with the first race in the series of four.  The race was also used as the first race in the Inter Club Fell Race Championship and as a result attracted quite a number of Lytham St Annes runners.  The race was won by Daniel Miller of Endurance Store in a time of  34:04 while the first lady, Lindsey Brindle of Horwich finished in 26:45, only a few seconds outside the ladies course record.

First home for Lytham, was Joe Greenwood in 8th place in 36:02.  Joanna Goorney was 2nd lady and 1st vet 45 in 44th place and 40:19.  In his first fell race in nearly 30 years, Graham Webster was 77th and 2nd vet 60 in 43:29.  Next home was Terry Hellings in 97th and 44:52.  Greg Oulton was 171st in 52:24, Fiona Geldard, in her first ever fell race was 172th in 52:32, Julia Rolfe was 193rd in 55:06. Pamela Hardman was 201st in 57:42 and Dawn Lock was 230th in 78:52.  There were 232 finishers.

Thursday night saw the second race in the club's monthly handicap series.  Sue Hawitt, one of the newer club members repeated her win in the previous month and has taken an early lead in the annual competition. Sue made her club training pay off handsomely with a time two minutes better than her previous race over the 4.35 miles course. Last year's champion Jeremy McCandless remained in fine form with successive PBs while Karen Lanigan, who narrowly missed winning a medal last season, ran well in third place to move up to second on the points table.

May Handicap results: 1, Sue Hawitt, 38.21, PB; 2, Pam Binns, 41.01; 3, Karen Lanigan, 41.12; 4, Roy Stevens, 33.06; 5, Jeremy McCandless, 37.51, PB; 6, Tom Howarth, 25.49; 7, Derek Caborn, 39.50; 8, Roy Upton, 31.22; 9, Neil Tate, 27.15; 10, Greg Oulton, 35.17; 11, Dawn Lock, 60.54; N/C Brian Porter, 34.12; Steve Quarmby, 32.46; Graham Young, 39.28. Leading Scores: Sue Hawitt 62 points; Karen Lanigan 52; Greg Oulton 48; Jeremy McCandless 48; Dawn Lock41; Derek Caborn 41.


On Saturday night, it was the Catforth Canter 5k.  The race was won by Rob Danson in 15:34 and had 112 finishers.  First home for LSARRC in 8th place, was Simon Denye in 17.41.  Greg Oulton was 66th in 23:17 (despite being hit in the eye about half way round by a fly and leaving him running the second half with one eye closed), Jim Whitworth was 84th in 25:58 and Louisa Ruman was 86th in 26:27.

On Sunday, Greg Oulton was back out on the fells completing the Edenfield Fell Race and his 5th race in a week.  The ground was boggy and muddy with the path turning into a babbling brook in places not helped also by the cold and windy conditions.  Despite having tired legs, he completed the 10.3km with 477m of ascent in 1:15:06 and 31st place, only 8 seconds slower than last year.

Mel Koth took part in the Outlaw Half Triathlon from National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham on Sunday.  The event consisted of a 1.2km swim 56 mile bike ride and finished with a 13.1 mile run. Despite brutal weather conditions, Mel completed the course in 5:50:47.