LSARRC News 25th August 2015

Ella Moulding at the Inter Counties

On Saturday, it was the Northern Athletics Inter Counties U15/U17 Championships which were held at Witton Park in Blackburn. Ella Moulding  competed for Lancashire in the Under 15 Girls 800 metres race.  She finished 6th in the A race in 2:22.00.

The Fleetwood Half Marathon was held on Sunday morning.  The two lap course started behind the Marine Hall Gardens and ran along Fleetwood's Outer Promenade and Esplanade.  The race was won by Rob Affleck of Preston Harriers in 1:13:25.  It was left to Half Marathon debutants Claire England and Rachael Wignall to fly the flag for Lytham St Annes Road Runners.  Claire was first home for Lytham in a time of 1:46:43.9s picking up the first FV50 prize and achieving a club gold standard in the process.  Rachael finished in 2:04:43.4s for 78th female.

Rachael Wignall

Claire England

Also on Sunday morning, Oliver Hirsh ran the Pilling 10k.  The race was won by Raymond Edgar of Lancaster and Morcambe AC in 32:36, over a minute clear of 2nd place with 100 finishers.  For Oliver, it was his first road race in over a year after been back training properly for about the last 6 weeks.  His aim was under 50 minutes but in the event, Oliver completely surpassed that finishing in 25th place in a time of 45:21 and 3rd vet 45.

Colin Laidlaw headed over to Warrington for the ever popular Birchwood 10k organised by Spectrum Striders.  Nigel Martin of Sale Harriers was first home in 33:05 closely followed by Rob Danson of Wesham Road Runners.  Kirsty Longley of Liverpool Pembroke Sefton was first lady in 38:04 and 32nd overall.  Colin finished in 46:48 in 232nd place out of 940 finishers and 9th vet 60.  Although disappointed with his time, he wasn't totally despondent considering the warm conditions (24° during the race).  He was also very pleased to receive his legendary Birchwood 10k luxury bath towels, the souvenir for all finishers.

The Inter Club team results at the Darwin Gala Fell Race, the final race in the fell series last Saturday have now been published.  LSARRC finished 3rd overall, 4th in the vet 40s, 4th in the Vet 50s, 1st in the Vet 60s, 2nd in the Vet 70s and 1st in the Ladies Category.

For the whole Inter Club Fell Race Series, LSARRC finished 3rd overall, 4th in the Vet 40s, 4th in the vet 50s, 2nd in the vet 60s, 1st in the vet 70s and 1st in the ladies.  In the individual awards, Lytham St Annes had both the 1st man and 1st  lady with Joe Greenwood and Joanna Goorney.  Terry Hellings was first Vet 60 and Dawn Lock was 1st vet 70 – excellent results.

Mark Willett and Roy Stevens were at Cuerden Valley on Saturday morning for the weekly Parkrun.  Mark, finishing in 14th place, recorded a PB for the tough 5k course with 21:06 whilst Roy was 40th with a time of 26:32.

LSARRC at Lytham Brewery

Andy Draper organised a very successful brewery tour to Lytham Brewery on Saturday evening, attracting 15 members of the club.  After starting off at the Trawlboat, the team headed at 7:30 to the brewery for the tour, lots of beer a pie and peas.

Andy Draper

LSARRC News18th August 2015

LSARRC at Chorley Inter Club

 Sunny evenings seem to have become somewhat of a tradition with 2015's Inter-Club Road Series and the sixth round, taking place this week at Astley Park, Chorley, was no exception.

Two hundred and fifty-two runners set off on this demanding race, amongst them a good turn out of twenty-nine representing Lytham St. Annes RRC. From a start opposite the North-West's premier Jacobean Hall with its knighted loin-of-beef throne, the course climbs and descends almost constantly through the Park and out onto the road side three times, each time turning back towards the Hall. The really tough section comes a mile into the race when athletes start the long haul up Southport Road only to have to repeat it later in the race.

Constantly improving Joe Greenwood achieved his target of a top ten finish with a great run of 28.16 for the hilly approximate 4.8 mile course. Thomas Howarth, fast finding his earlier form, finished 20th in 29.46 and third finisher was Neil Tate, 35th in 31.23. Other members of Lytham's Open Team which finished 5th were Justin Allitt, V40, 51st in 32:50; Terry Hellings, V60, 66th in 34:01; Melanie Koth, F40, 87th in 35:21; Colin Laidlaw, V60, 103rd in 36:32; 108th Roy Upton, V45, 108th in 36:41 and Oliver Hirsh, V45, 114th in 36:56

Coming fourth for Lytham and, even more notably, first woman, was Joanna Goorney who finished in an excellent 31.26 and 36th place leading the team into fourth place. Completing the women's team were Melanie Koth, 10th woman, Claire England, 31st, Fiona Geldard, 40th and Susan Hawitt, 41st.

But it was the older runners who set the pace for LSARRC with the Vet 60's team consisting of Terry Hellings, 2nd V60, Colin Laidlaw, 7th V60 and Roy Stevens, 13th V60 achieving second. The V60s go into the final round with 32 points for the series chasing leaders Blackpool on 34.

FULL RESULTS: 9th Joe Greenwood, SM 28:16; 20th Tom Howarth, SM, 29:46; 35th Neil Tate, SM, 31:23; 36th Joanna Goorney, F45, 31:26; 51st Justin Allitt, V40, 32:50; 66th Terry Hellings, V60, 34:01; 87th Melanie Koth, F40, 35:21; 103rd Colin Laidlaw, V60, 36:32; 108th Roy Upton, V45, 36:41; 114th Oliver Hirsh, V45, 36:56; 115th Richard Storey, V40, 36:58; 141st Des Heron, V40, 38:33; 146th Ian Tate, SM, 38:45; 147th Claire England, F50, 38:47; 150th Roy Stevens, V60, 38:58; 172nd Nigel Simpkin, V55, 41:36; 175th Fiona Geldard, F50, 41:41; 176th Susan Hawitt, F50, 41:47; 180th Pamela Hardman, F55, 42:05; 185th Hannah McCandlesss, SF, 42:24; 187th Julia Rolfe, F50, 42:28; 188th Alex Wiggins, SM, 42:44; 189th Debbie Cooper, F40, 42:49; 195th Jeremy McCandless, V50, 43:20; 199th Derek Caborn, V60, 43:55; 202nd Alexandra Everest, SF, 44:04; 213th Sylvia Gittins, F65, 46:42; 218th Bill Lock, V70, 48:07; 237th Dawn Lock, F70 , 58:59.

There's exciting prospects coming up for Lytham members when the popular North West Counties Relays move to a new venue on Saturday 12th September. For the first time runners will see the fine development of the Edge Hill University Campus in Ormskirk. The North West Counties gives a real opportunity to clubs like LSARRC to achieve medals as the

competition is limited to clubs within each of the five countries and Lytham Ladies have an excellent record of medals in the Lancashire Championships over many years.

But in 2014 it was Lytham's younger ladies who showed the way. At Wood Bank Park, Stockport in September 2014 the team of Under 15 Girls Chloe Norman, Hannah Riley and Ella Moulding took the Lancashire AA Gold Medal, a real thrill for the Club.

The North West Counties Relays will be followed a week later by the high-standard Northern Athletic Championships on home territory. Lytham members will have the balancing act of competing and marshalling at Stanley Park on the 19th.

The Inter-Club Fell Series reached a conclusion with the well-chosen Darwen Gala Fell Race on Saturday with the town festivities adding to the general atmosphere and the day enhanced by glorious sunshine. Organizers Darwen Community Runners added a nice touch by treating all finishers to hot dogs and a glass of the local beer.

A good entry including a large contingent of inter-club competitors ran this 7.5k race with 928ft of climb. Nine members of the Lytham took up the tough challenge to climb from town level straight up to Darwen Tower with a further challenge when the course looped downwards to once again to regain tower level before circling behind the tower and adding a tricky slippery descent on narrow paths back to the Bold Venture Park finish.

Terry after taking a tumble at the Darwen Gala Fell Race

Lytham's best fell runners were well up. Joe Greenwood finished 9th in 35.50, high enough to be in a good position to secure a season prize while Joanna Goorney, 41st in 41.00, was second women and second female veteran over 40 meriting two prizes. Dawn Lock, 139th in 1.12.23, was awarded the FV70 prize.

Making up the open team with Greenwood and Goorney were Terry Hellings, 45th in 41.10, who, hampered by a tumble, missed out on the V60 prize, Mark Selby, 55th in 43.15 and Debbie Cooper, 101st in 51.15. Julia Rolfe, 105th in 53.01, joined Goorney and Cooper in the women's team. Pamela Hardman, 106th in 53.02, came in immediately behind Rolfe and Jeremy McCandless, who has only taken up fell running this season, finished creditably in 117th in 56.55.

Two Lytham members ran the evening Catforth 5K, won by a sizzling performance by Wesham's Rob Danson of 15.27. Thomas Howarth finished 12th in 17.40 and Mark Willett, 34th in 19.18.

LSARRC News 11th August 2015

LSARRC's Brian Porter - Race Adjudicator
for Blackpool Airshow 10k

After a busy few weeks, local races were quite sparse this last week.

The main event was the Blackpool Air Show 10k on Sunday morning.  With headquarters at Bispham Fire Station, the course started from Bispham Tram Stop, headed North to Little Bispham and then South along the promenade turning back just before North Pier.  The race was excellently organised by Dave Waywell and Kath Hoyer who, with the current recommendation not to drink tap water, both went to the trouble of boiling gallons of water for the thirsty runners.  Although a potential PB course, being so flat, the strong southerly wind slowed many people down.

First home of the 227 finishers was Darren Newbould of Hallamshire Harriers in a time of 34:34 whilst Louise Blizzard of Belgrave Harriers was first lady in 40:17.  Lytham St Annes had 2 representatives.  Joanna Goorney was 24th and 2nd lady in 40:30 whilst Steve Quarmby was 135th in 52:25.

Joanna Goorney approaching the finish

Steve Quarmby on the promenade

Over the summer, the club has organised a series of summer runs on a Sunday morning.  Last Sunday was the 3rd in the series where Dawn Lock led a surprisingly attractive route starting and finishing in Haslam Park, Preston.  The route, taking full advantage of the Preston-Tewitfield canal towpath, passed through the UCLAN Sports Arena and encompassed part of the Preston Guild Wheel.

Bill Lock and Oliver Hirsh on the Summer Run

Previous runs included one from Hurst Green led by Debbie Cooper, with a section of the Ribble Way and a beautiful day to show the countryside at is best and another from Conder Green, which was also a canal-side run, led by Bill Lock.

Those interested in the Guild Wheel as a potential source of many flattish and easily-followable miles should turn up for the fourth of the series starting at Avenham Park on Sunday 6th and led by Richard Storey.

With summer rapidly flying by, it won't be long now until the Green Drive Five and Green Drive Junior Mile on the 18th October.  The Green Drive Five is a fast and accurately measured five miles suitable for both elite and slower runners. Starting and finishing in the attractive surroundings of Green Drive in Lytham, the flat course is perfect for achieving PBs.  The Green Drive Junior Mile is an accurately measured mile held in advance of the senior race for athletes aged 8 to 15. Starting at the same location as the Green Drive Five, the course takes a safe off-road out and back route to the far end of Green Drive. All finishers receive a medal.  Further details can be found on the LSARRC website www.lythamrunners.org.uk and online entry is available at https://bookitzone.com/mark_selby/cI2FFX

LSARRC News 4th August 2015

(the first ever) Lytham St Annes 4x100m Relay Team at Hyndburn T&F

The Northern Vets AC had a track and Field meet on Wednesday night at Leigh Sports Village and incorporated the NVAC 5,000m Championships.   Jeremy McCandless competed in the 5000m for age categories V35, V40, 45, 50 and 55 knocking 30 seconds of his PB helped by the friendly supportive atmosphere.  Graham Webster also had a good night on the track.  In the 2nd  5000m race for age categories V60, 65, 70 75, he was 3rd vet 60 in a time of 19:27 and then just 10 minutes later was 1st out of 7 in the open 1500m with a time of 5:22.  Jeremy also competed in the Javelin and Discus but no results are currently available.

Thursday night saw the 4th race in the club's monthly handicap series.  The calm summer's evening provided nearly perfect running conditions and a number of PBs.  Sue Hawitt was first home with her 3rd win in four races and another PB.  Hot on her heels, was Tom Hawarth followed only 6 seconds later by Jeremy McCandless.

Full results: 1 Sue Hawitt 36:32 PB; 2 Tom Howarth 24:51 PB; 3 Jeremy McCandless 36:27 PB; 4 Justin Allitt 28:02 PB; 5 Roy Upton 31:27; 6 Roy Stevens 33:28; 7 Neil Tate 26:45; 8 Sylvia Gittins 38:33; 9 DawnLock 55:40; 10 Alex Everest 35:14; 11 Alan Elstone 31:38; 12 Pam Binns 40:15; 13 Joe Greenwood 25:28; 14 Ian Tate 32:19; 15 Julia Rolfe 38:25; N/C  - Ross McKelvie 26:47; Rachel Scott 41:21; Rachael Wignall 38:20; Oliver Hirsh 34:55; Andy Unsworth 26:53;

On Saturday morning, only a week after completing the Lakeland 50, Mark Willett was at the Cuerden Valley Parkrun.  He finished in 10th place in 21:23, just seconds outside his PB for the course.



 
Heavy downpours were the unforecasted(!) feature of the 5th MidLancs Track and Field Meet at Hyndburn on Saturday afternoon.  Despite the weather though, there was still a good turnout of athletes with a record 5 juniors and 7 seniors competing from Lytham St Annes.

The first event of the afternoon on the track was the 800m and unfortunately most of the runners ended up with quite a soaking.  Graham Webster was in the senior men's 800m where he finished 9th in 2:44.70 finding conditions quite slippy after accidentally leaving his spikes at home.  He was on the track again for the 1500m where he finished 4th in 5:27.80.  He was joined by Russ Chew who was 5th in 6:01.00 and Jeremy McCandless who was delighted to break the 7 minute barrier with 6:50.60 for 6th place.  In the 5000m, Graham was 6th in 11:24.00, Terry Hellings was 8th in 12:29.70 and Russ Chew was 9th in 12:47.40.  Jeremy McCandless was also in action on the field along with Greg Oulton.  In the Shot Putt, Greg finished 8th with a throw of 5.42m.  In the Discus, Jeremy was 10th with 16:58m and Greg was 11th with 14.24m.  Greg then went onto throw the javelin a distance of 12.87m for 4th place and Jeremy threw the hammer 14.20m for 8th place.

Hannah McCandless

Luckily by the time the senior women came to run the 800m, the rain had just stopped.  Joanna Goorney was 2nd in 2:37.50 and Hannah McCandless was 4th in 3:10.6.  In the 1500m, Joanna was 2nd in 5:17.10 whilst in the 3000m, she finished third in 11:30.20.

Simon Holt was the first of the juniors in action on the track in the Under 13 Boys 800m Heat 1.  Having only just turned 11, he was delighted to knock a second off this PB to finish in 6th in 2:34.30.  He was in action again in heat 2 of the Under 13 Boys 200m finishing 3rd in 29.40.  James Nicholas had a superb afternoon with PBs in both the Under 13 Boys 100m and 200m.  In the 100m, he clocked 13.20 for 2nd place and in the 200m, knocked nearly a second off his previous PB to finish 1st in 27.70.

Terry Hellings

Ella Moulding had a great run in the Under 15 Girls 300m to just be pipped into 2nd place in 44.20.  She also dominated from the gun in the under 15 Girls 800m finishing a clear 1st in 2:23.20.  Chloe Norman was 7th in 2:33.40.  Georgia Norman was 3rd in the Under 13 girls 100m Heat 5 in 15.30 and also 3rd in Heat 2 of the 200m in 32.00.  After only just finishing the 800m. Chloe was back in action in the U15 Girls Long Jump finishing 8th with 4:13m and then equalled her PB in High Jump to finish equal first with 1.40m.  Georgia was involved in the U13 Girls Long Jump finishing 11th with 3.60.

Men's 4x400m Relay Team

Rounding of the afternoon, was the relays.  For the first time ever, Lytham St Annes women had a 4x100m relay team.  Consisting of Joanna Goorney, Hannah McCandless, Chloe Norman and Georgia Norman, they finished 2nd in 65.10.  The men's 4x400m relay team (Graham Webster, Terry Hellings, Russ Chew, Jeremy McCandless) were also 2nd in 5:23.40.

On Sunday, it was the annual Prudent Riverside (formerly known as the Wagon and Horses) 10mile Road Race from Lancaster.  The race was won by Grant Johnson of Salford Harriers in 53:44 and had 145 finishers.  Mel Koth was Lytham St Annes' sole representative finishing in 43rd in 1:15.0.