LSARRC News 21st February 2017

LSARRC runners at the GNW Half Marathon

Starting the racing weekend early, Debbie Cooper and Greg Oulton both ran the night time fell race Mr Sparkle's Dark 'un over the Darwen moors on Friday night. Debbie Cooper completed the race in 48:59 just sneaking under 50 minutes, whereas Greg, despite running it four times before, managed to get lost (along with 6 other runners!) and accidentally turned the 5 mile race into an 8 mile training run, taking 1:47:26 to finish. Fortunately the weather was perfect - very little wind, warm and dry. And an 8 mile run over the fells in the dark with only moonlight, starlight and head torches to light the way is a great experience.


This weekend saw Lytham Hall parkrun reach its 60th event in fairly mild conditions and saw 207 runners take part in the event, including 13 Lytham runners, to kick start their weekend. The first Lytham runner back, and first overall, was Chris McCarthy in an impressive 17:01, Neil Tate was second back for Lytham and fourth overall in 18:30, and 7th overall was Joe Greenwood in 19:31. Following Joe was Morgan Pritchard in 22:29, Terry Hellings in 22:36 and Eric Wrigley in a new PB of 23:35. The first Lytham lady back was Kirsten Burnett also achieving a new PB in 24:17, followed by Des Heron in another PB time of 24:51 and Gillian Oliver for second Lytham lady back, also achieving a PB in 28:05. Jeremy McCandless was next back in 29:14, Sarah Bradshaw in 30:32, Sarah Bagshaw in 30:59 and Paula McCandless in another PB time of 31:28. 5 new PBs in one week, well done to all!

Neil Tate at Lytham Hall parkrun

Three other parkruns were also attended by Lytham runners; Ian Tate ran the Warrington parkrun in a time of 20:41 for 16th position; Neil Bayntun-Roberts ran the Aberystwyth parkrun in 19:39 for 7th place overall, and Michelle Sheridan ran the Fell Foot parkrun in Newby Bridge in 35:46.

Morgan Pritchard - Lytham junior parkrun

Sunday morning saw the third Lytham junior Parkrun where 121 competitors braved the drizzly weather, up on previous weeks. Lytham’s JM10 Morgan Pritchard, running the race for the first time, came second on the back of his parkrun the previous day in a time of 8:16 while Charlie Ormerod set a PB to finish third in 8:29. Sydney Ramsden (8:53), Amara Thorpe (9:20) and Jessica Ramsden (9:28) were the first three girls. PBs were also set by Lytham juniors Eric Wrigley (8:45), Lewis Bentley (9:01), Amara Thorpe, Jessica Ramsden and Sophie Tate (13:05).  Preston junior parkrun was attended by George Denye who comfortably won the race in 7:40 over the 2k undulating course. Very well done to all our juniors!

Sunday morning also saw our runners participate in three races: 1 5k race and 2 half marathons. Russ Chew was our sole representative at the Central Lancs 5k in Bolton in a time of 25:26.

Mel Koth - GNW Half Marathon

Along the Fylde coast it was the Great North West Half Marathon held on Blackpool Promenade. Despite the weather being drizzly and breezy as would be expected at this time of year, Lytham runners posted some great times and the club was very well represented with 13 runners brandishing their green vests. First home for the club in an impressive 1:19:20 and 15th overall out of a field of 994 runners, fantastic result Joe! Second home for the club, and 47th overall was Neil Tate in 1:24:40 followed by brother Alex Tate in 1:27:39. First lady home for Lytham in the midst of marathon training was Mel Koth in 1:38:19 for 4th Vet 40 and 199th overall. Following Mel was Louise De-Gier Flood in 1:49:10, Roy Stevens in 1:51:19 and Kirsten Burnett in 1:53:54. Nest home for Lytham was Stuart Henderson in 1:54:59, Robert Parker in 1:55:58, Laura Byrne in 2:08:42 closely followed by new Lytham member Natalie Toft in 2:09:49, and finally Rachael Wignall in 2:49:14.

Further afield in Wrexham, two Lytham runners ran the Village Bakery Half Marathon. Tom Howarth representing the Lytham male runners finished in a time of 1:21:47, only a minute of so behind his personal best, and Felicity representing the Lytham ladies achieving a PB time by over two and a half minutes despite being in the middle of training for the Manchester marathon, finishing in 1:31:58. Fantastic running by both, well done!

Some great running by Lytham Road Runners this weekend, especially for those setting PBs and in the middle of training for spring marathons – well done to all!!