LSARRC News 27th December 2016

Mel Koth

Kirsten Burnett

Most athletes take Christmas day off – but only in preparation for races soon to come. On the following day there is the popular Worden Park Boxing Day 10k, and the day after that the even more popular Ribble Valley 10K.

This year over 300 runners ran off their turkey dinners at the picturesque Worden Park race in Leyland. Amongst them were Mel Koth and Kirsten Burnett from Lytham St Annes Road Runners. Mel’s time was 43:49 to finish as the third FV40 lady and 66th overall, while steadily improving Kirsten came 201st with a time of 53:10.

The next day over 1000 competitors lined up in Clitheroe for the Ribble Valley 10K. Although it is a tough climb to the finish it is run on traffic free roads and is generally regarded as a fast course. Athletes travel from far and wide for this race so there is usually a high standard. This year was no exception with the winner recording a time of 29:33 and over 230 competitors recording times of under 40 minutes.

Chris McCarthy

Lytham’s Chris McCarthy achieved an excellent time of 33:54, easily a personal best. Such was the standard of the race however he finished down in 61st position. Andy Draper, Paul Veevers, Neil Tate and Thomas Howarth all achived times well under the 40 minute mark to finish in the top 200. Barbara Holmes was the second FV 55 and Colin Laidlaw was the 12th V60.

Barbara Holmes

Lytham Results from Ribble Valley: Chris McCarthy 61st, 33:54; Andy Draper 114th, 36:19; Paul Veevers 154th, 37:33; Neil Tate, 160th 37:37; Thomas Howarth 172nd, 37:54; Barbara Holmes 414th, 45:16 and Colin Laidlaw 480th, 47:01.

Paul Veevers

LSARRC News 20th December 2016

LSARRC Xmas Relay

On Thursday was the club's December monthly handicap brought the year to an end in fine style with a hard fought close race which saw eleven runners recording their fastest time of the winter, seven of them PBs. First place went to Sarah Bradshaw for a second successive time while newcomer Jackie Murray finished second ahead of very experienced handicap competitor Debbie Cooper.

Jeremy McCandless on 208 retains his lead on the annual points table but his nearest challengers, Greg Oulton 199, Claire England 178 and Colin Laidlaw 170, all have races in hand.

Full Results:
1, Sarah Bradshaw 34.46 PB; 2, Jackie Murray 31.25 PB; 3, Debbie Cooper 27.02; 4, Steve Tate 30.40 PB; 5, Alex Tate 21.26; 6, Claire England, 27.43; 7, Sarah Bagshaw 36.04 PB; 8, Laura Byrne 31.38 PB; 9, Rob Parker, 27.45 PB; 10, Greg Oulton 29.01; 11, Tom Howarth 21.08; 12, Karen Lanigan 34.27; 13, Colin Laidlaw 25.41; 14, Jeremy McCandless 30.31; 15, Alan Elstone 24.04; 16, Kirsten Burnett 30.12; 17, Dawn Lock 48.08; 18, Pam Binns 37.21; N/C, Peter Reid 28.19; N/C, Michelle Sheridan 36.14; N/C, Kathy Gaunt 26.56 PB.

This Saturday many Lytham runners competed in different parkruns throughout the country. Felicity Wolohon ran her 50th parkrun at Princes Park Liverpool and was first female with a time of 20:58. Well done Felicity.

Greg Oulton also completed the Cuerden Valley parkrun. As the weather was far from perfect on Saturday Greg set off late to the start after having to de-ice his car and drive through foggy conditions, meaning he arrived after the race had begun. Not letting this stop him Greg still ran the race catching up with the back runners within a mile, managing to complete his parkrun in 29 minutes flat.  After this Greg traveled to Avenham Park in Preston to race in the Cheeky Santa Dash 5k in aid of cancer charities, Ben Bowel Movements, Mummy Star and Rosemere Cancer Foundation. Running on tired legs and on a hilly route Greg finished the run in 28:01, an excellent racing weekend Greg! He also passes on thank to race commentator Brian Porter, who I’m sure provided motivation towards the end of the run!

Also on Saturday was Lytham’s 51st parkrun, and saw 197 runners competing, 23 of which were Lytham runners. The first Lytham runner to finish the race this week was a junior George Denye with an impressive time of 19:55. Joanna Goorney was the second Lytham runner back with 20:00, Neil Bayntun- Roberts was third with 20:37 and Mark Selby was fourth with 20:32. Morgan Pritchard was next back with 22:12, Neil Tate in 22:14, Max Talbot in 22:58, Gerry Browne in 23:17, Sydney Ramsden in 24:36 and Jessica Ramsden in 27:22.  Louisa Denye finished in 27:24, Laura Byrne in 27:25, Pat Bullen in 27:28, Bob Clough at 28:15 and Gillian Oliver in 28:59.  Ruth Bye was the next runner back in 29:46, Jeremy McCandless in 30:04, Sarah Bradshaw in 30:09, Michelle Sheridan in 31:00 and Sarah Bagshaw in 31:49.

LSARRC Xmas Relay

On Sunday was LSARRC’s annual fancy dress Christmas relay and junior 2k races on Lytham Green. 12 senior runners arrived to do this race and were put into 4 mixed ability teams, Turkeys, crackers, sprouts and puddings. The relay race was won by the turkeys team with a combined time of 67m 19s, crackers were next with 73m 36s.  Sprouts were third with 77m and 20s and puddings finished in 83m 41s.
The Junior 2K prizes went to the winner Luke Tate, first girl Darcey Tate and the youngest competitor, 4 years-old Sebastian Veevers.

LSARRC News 13th December 2016

Paul Veevers at the Longridge 7

Mel Koth

Sunday morning saw the 33rd Longridge Christmas Pudding 7 mile road race taking place. The course sets off from Longridge Community Centre and climbs steadily for 4.5 miles until reaching the top of  a misty Jeffrey Hill. A rapid decent then sees the runners heading back into Longridge. The challenging but scenic route proved popular with this year’s 331 starters. The race was won by Chris Arthur of Blackburn Harriers in a very quick 37:53, a full 2 minutes ahead of the next finisher. First lady was Catherine Howard of Knowsley Harriers in 44:56. First back for Lytham St Annes RRC was Paul Veevers, one of the clubs newer members, in 45:25 for an impressive 15th place. Paul was followed home by Mel Koth 70th and second FV40 in 52:38, Richard Storey 110th 56:50, Pam Hardman 192nd 1:04:32, Peter Reid 211nd 1:05:53 and Sylvia Gittens 269th and the second vet 70 in 1:11:09.  For all finishers there were seasonal awards of Christmas puddings and a medal of a pudding.


Last week the club’s Monday night juniors group, led by coach Debbie Cooper,held their annual indoor athletics competition against Kirkham Grammar junior school. For many of Lytham’s athletes this was their first ever competition. Lytham were represented by children aged from 6 to 13 years, whereas KGJS brought their under 11 A team. They all did speed bounce where the Lytham A team triumphed. Lytham’s Ruby Hodgkinson and Amara Thorpe were the first girls’ standing high jump while Charlie Wiltshire was the first boy. Lytham were first again in the girls’ two lap and four lap races. All of the children took part in at least 3 events during the hour. While Kirkham Grammer won overall everyone thoroughly enjoyed the event, giving the children an excellent and friendly introduction to competitive sport.

LSARRC juniors and Kirkham GS juniors

Laura Byrne - Lytham Hall parkrun

In the weekly Lytham Parkrun Lytham St Annes RRC’s Jo Goorney was the first lady home. finishing the 5K run in 20:16. Out of the club’s other ten entrants Sarah Bagshaw notably achieved another pb of 30:51 to move a step closer to that elusive 30 minute barrier.

Finally vet 50 Julia Rolfe raced the challenging Stockport 10 mile race in 01:27:40 to finish a creditable 642nd from nearly 1000 competitors, and fifteenth in her category.

LSARRC News 6th December 2016

Morgan Pritchard - Lytham Hall junior parkrunner of the year

The Guys 10 returned on Sunday following last year's cancellation due to course flooding and it proved a popular race. Conditions could not have been more perfect for distance running, the sun shone and any morning chill soon disappeared once the race started. Five Lytham St Annes Road Runners Club members made the journey to Guys Hamlet for the 10 mile road race which takes place on rural roads between Bilsborrow and Inskip. The course itself is flat and fast. Unfortunately, one the Lytham entrants, Andy Draper, took a tumble at 8 miles which ended his race. The race was won by Rob Affleck of Preston Harriers in 54:11, first lady was Elizabeth Greenwood of Blackburn Harriers. First home for LSARRC was Tom Howarth in 1:02:31 for 24th position, with Richard Storey next back in 105th place in a new PB time of 1:14:43. The real star for Lytham though was Sylvia Gittins, the first FV65 in an excellent 1:35:45 with fellow FV65 Pam Binns not too far behind, finishing in 1:42:38 in her first run of this course. The reward of a Lancashire cheese at the finish made everyone’s efforts even more worthwhile!

Christmas comes early in Cumbria with the Hoad Hill Harriers Xmas Pudding 10k on Sunday.  Joanna Goorney was Lytham’s only representative in the cold and sunny conditions. Like the Guys 10, the weather was almost perfect for the very pleasant undulating out and back course in the rural setting of Ulverston in the South Lakes.  It was a very friendly and well-organised race with 238 finishers in the 10k.  FV45  Joanna finished 30th overall and 2nd lady in a time of 39:50.

Chris McCarthy - Lytham Hall parkrun

The Lytham parkrun on Saturday mornings is becoming more and more popular with club members and non-members alike. Last Saturday steadily improving Chris McCarthy became the first Lytham runner to record a time of under 17 minutes for the 5K event. Chris also just won the event, with Lytham’s Jo Goorney the first woman finisher.  23 club members took part, with 91 Lytham club runners who have partook at some point since the event started a year ago.

Eric Wrigley amd Terry Hellings

Sue Hawitt acting as 28 minute pacer at Lytham Hall parkrun and Bob Clough