LSARRC News 16th May 2017

Ross McKelvie and Mike Toft at start of Lytham Inter Club

Barbara Holmes followed by Mel Koth

Lytham St Annes Road Runners hosted a record-breaking, highly successful inter-club race on Thursday. Ably organised by Bob Clough, the second race of the summer series broke all attendance records with 413 competitors running the five miles making for a superb atmosphere.

Despite many Lytham club members putting their racing shoes to one side for marshalling duties, the club also enjoyed its most successful inter-club race for many years. Chris McCarthy, Mike Toft and Joe Greenwood braved the strong headwind, typical of St Annes Promenade, to finish in the top ten and lead the open team to third place.

Lytham top ten finishers: Chris McCarthy, 5th, 27:49; Mike Toft, 8TH, 28:27; Joe Greenwood, 9th, 28:36; Andy Draper, 12th, 29:20; Alex Tate, 19th, 29:55; Tom Howarth, 2926th, 30:10; Neil Tate, 30th, 30:20; Paul Veevers, 35th, 30:39; Catherine Carrdus 48th, 31:39  and Ross McKelvie 49th, 31:43.

Catherine Carrdus

This was bettered by the ladies who, lead home by Catherine Carrdus in second, Jo Goorney in third, and with Michelle Hook also in the ladies’ top ten, finished first, beating Blackpool by a single point. Barbara Holmes and Mel Koth were the other members of the successful team.

The same ladies but with Kathy Gaunt instead of Michelle Hook finished second in the FV40 category while Graham Webster, Terry Hellings and Colin Laidlaw were third in the vet 60s to round off an excellent night for Lytham.

Gill Draper, Jennifer Aldworth and Stephen Tate at the start of the Inter Club

One of Lytham’s best ever athletes is Sue Samme but on Saturday it was her daughter’s turn to show what she can do. Proud mother Sue watched from the stands as Layla Foley ran in her first 1500 metres race at the Lancashire County Championships in Blackpool. Proving that genes really do make a difference, 20 year-old Layla, a Manchester University student, ran a tactical race to gradually make her way through the field. Despite having little track experience, Layla overtook four athletes on the final lap to win in 04:56.9. 

Layla Foley at the Lancashire Track and Field Championships

On Sunday Lytham juniors were well-represented in the Worden Park 1mile fun run in Leyland on Sunday, taking the first five places and with a total of twelve in the top 20. First as ever was 11 year-old George Denye in 6:07, closely followed by Morgan Pritchard and Sophie Bohannon. In contrast, Neil Tate ploughed a lonely furrow for the club in the full 10K race to take 17th spot in 38:58.

On Friday Greg Oulton ran the 5.1 mile Pinhaw fell race from Earby, in Pendle. The race includes 800 feet of ascent in the first half before rounding the trig point and returning down the same way. After the recent good weather there was no mud to contend with on the off road sections, but it still wasn't easy. Greg finished in 52:22, well within his target time of an hour.