LSARRC News 1st March 2016

 Leicestershire's Donnington Park played host to the 2016 National Cross Country Championships on Saturday attracting 7500 runners, a record number for a venue outside of London.

Lytham St Annes RRC joined up with Wesham RR to form a friendly coachful of Fylde runners and with good weather, new and superb courses all played out against a backdrop of overhead aircraft taking off and cars on the motor racing circuit and not too much mud, it provided a day to remember.  The streams of runners snaking round the hilly and twisting courses were impressive especially for the Senior Women's race which saw 739 finishers and for the massive Senior Men's race of 1730.

The Senior Women went off at 14:20 providing a fascinating and colourful sight as the leaders hared up the first hill with the rest trailing back over several hundred metres.  Established star Lily Partridge of Aldershot Farnham & District took 35:29 to see off all opposition and contribute to the club's team win.  Sylvia Gittins finished well in 703rd place and 56:43 while Dawn Lock was 736th in 1:09:15.

Steve Ashton

The Senior Men followed at 15:00 with five Lytham men, just one short of a team, competing.  It was another victory for Aldershot Farnham & District as Jonathan Hay crossed the line in 42:09 for the 12k but the coveted team prize went to proud 2013 winners Morpeth Harriers.  First home for LSARRC was Tom Howarth who put in a notable performance to come 756th in 57:05.  Terry Hellings and Graham Webster finished close together in 1288th and 1293rd taking 1:04:45 and 1:04:52 respectively.  Steve Ashton was pleased with his 1619th place and 1:15:39 and Greg Oulton finished 1711th in 1:27:09.

Tom Howarth

The Stanley Park 10k was run over both days at the weekend.  Starting on with two laps on the running track, the course then took in a large lap which looped around the outside and then inside the park, around the lake, through the Italian gardens before back onto the track at the half way mark for a repeat circuit.  Conditions were pretty ideal on both days - a lovely sunny morning, cold nip in the air and slight breeze but ideal for running.  On Saturday, Neil Tate was the club's sole representative finishing 17th in 38:25 out of 289 finishers.  Alan Elstone and Dave Dunn were at Stanley park on Sunday where there were 242 finishers.  For Dave, it was his first 10k in maybe 5 years  but he had no problem beating his anticipated 48 minutes finishing in 32nd place in 44:28 whilst Alan was 29th in 43:45.

The England Masters Indoor Track and Field Inter Area Challenge was held on Sunday at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre in London.  Graham Webster hot footed it down there with tired legs after competing on Saturday at the cross country.  He ran in the 1500m where he came 5th in 5:31:87, the 800m where he was 7th in 2:43:65 and finally, the 3000m where he was 5th in 12:01:15, all in the vet60 category.

Thursday night saw the club's Monthly Handicap race.  It was a fine evening, ideal for racing and many made the most of the favourable conditions to record excellent times for the February handicap; none more so than one of the club's newest members Will McAllister who made his mark by winning only his second race on the 3.44 miles course. Besides Will, others to record PBs were Alex Everest, Claire England and Sue Hawitt while two further notable performances were those by Joe Greenwood, who was merely two seconds outside his PB, and handicap stalwart Debbie Cooper who was just twenty-nine seconds from her PB, one set way back in 2007.

Although there is one round of the annual contest remaining, Sue Hawitt, with 235 points, is now assured of being the 2016 club handicap champion; a thoroughly deserved victory as, in her first year competing, Sue has recorded a PB each time she has run.

LSARRC February Handicap Results: 1 Will McAllister 24.51; 2 Derek Caborn 32.02; 3 Alex Everest 27.26; 4 Debbie Cooper 26.35; 5 Claire England 27.05; 6 Joe Greenwood 19.22; 7 Sue Hawitt 27.59; 8 Jeremy McCandless 30.11; 9 Alan Elstone 23.37; 10 Tom Howarth 20.58; 11 Rachael Wignall 31.51; 12 Graham Webster 23.28; 13 Karen Lanigan 33.55; N/C Graham Young 42.28; N/C Monica Parke 42.28.

Max Talbot

There was a good turn out from Lytham St Annes runners at the 13th Lytham Hall parkrun on Saturday morning despite a number of regulars having gone to Donnington Park instead.  With perfect weather conditions, there were also many PBs from the 173 runners.  Luke Minns of Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde made a return to the parkrun to reclaim the course record which was beaten last week, knocking another 9 seconds off it to finish in 16:16.

Debbie Cooper and Gerry Browne

First back for LSARRC was Andy Unsworth running in his first ever parkrun finishing in 9th in 19:28.  Joanna Goorney was please to go under 20 minutes for the first time on the course with 19:39 in 11th place and 1st female.  Mark Selby was next in with 20:06 with Ian Tate in 31st place and 21:25, both PBs.  The star of the morning was junior Max Talbot who knocked a whopping minute and a half of his previous time to finish in 31st place in 22:40.  Neil Tate followed in 32nd in 22:42 using the run as a warm up for Stanley Park 10k later in the morning.  There was also a PB for Gerry Browne finishing in 38th with 23:25.  Debbie Cooper was 43rd in 23:41.  Two juniors making their debut were Rebecca Tate finishing in 52nd place with 24:59 and Sydney Ramsden in 53rd with 25:03.  Another first timer was Louisa Denye in 55th with 25:08.  All achieving PBs were Sue Hawitt with 25:22 in 59th place, Jeremy McCandless with  28:18 in 92nd place, Graham Young with 29:33 in 103rd place and Paula McCandless with 34:33 in 132nd place.

Sue Hawitt and Rebecca Tate

Bob Clough, whilst visiting his son in Australia, took in a parkrun on his travels.  He took part in the Mount Clarence parkrun in Flinders Parade, Albany, Western Australia.  He completed the out and back course in 28:44 finishing in 26th place out of the 55 runners.