LSARRC News 29th August 2107

LSARRC at Blackpool Illuminations 10k and 5k runs

Saturday 26th August proved a very busy day for LSARRC as members competed in numerous events.  Emily Balshaw was Lytham’s sole representative at the Mid Lancs Track and Field meeting which was held at Stanley Park in Blackpool.  The under 15 athlete demonstrated her strength in the 800m where she just missed out on a medal finishing fourth in 2:30:8 which was just outside her pb.  Later in the day Emily was back on the track and ran the 200m and again finished 4th but this time gained a new pb of 29:9. Emily joined the club in May and since that time has made great progress in such a short space of time.

Emily Balshaw

At Lytham Hall parkrun LSARRC had 19 runners, who completed the new 2 lap course.  Conditions were good and the twisty course was well marshalled, Joe Greenwood managed to secure second place in a time of 17:39 in a field of 185 runners and Michelle Hook was the first lady home in 19:51 which was a new pb.  7 other members achieved the milestone of completing their 50th run, and Lytham ladies excelled and secured 1st, 2nd and 4th positions in the parkrun.   Other runners included:  Joanna Goorney (20:29,  50th run and 2nd female), Morgan Pritchard (20:47,  50th run), Neil Tate (20:47,  50th run), Jennifer Hill (22:08), James Buckley (24:02), Eric Wrigley (24:19), Graham Webster (24:19 50th run), Ian Balshaw (26:24), Greg Oulton 26:51),  Jeremy McCandless (26:24, 50th run), Jacqui Murray (28:12), Robert Parker (28:56, 50th run), Gillian Oliver (29:52, 50th run), Bob Clough (29:52), Charlotte Thomson (33:05), Terry Hellings (33:06) and Michelle Sheridan (34:31).

Darran Ames of Lytham ran in the Blackpool park run and came 19th in a time of 22:23 and achieved his 50th run, and Julia Rolfe completed an evening 5k course in Lancaster and managed a time of 25:23, running along the banks of the river Lune.

In the evening, several Lytham runners completed at the Blackpool Illuminations 10k and 5k runs.  The race started at 8pm on the promenades of Blackpool and evening run was lit by the world-famous illuminations.  Congratulations to Paul Veevers who came 3rd in a time of 18:33 in the 5K event.   Another one of the highlights was  Kathy Gaunt, Sue Hawitt and Claire England coming 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the lady vet over 50 category.  Results were as follows:  Kathy Gaunt (24:19:7), Susan Hawitt (25:47:4), Claire England (27:54:5), Laura Byrne (29:27:3), Francis Morrison (29:35:1), and Jacqui Murray (30:51:8).

In the 10 k Illuminations run Alex Tate came 4th in an excellent time of 37:37:6.  Other runners included Ross McKelvie (44:25), Melanie Koth (44:58:5), Chris Bowker (48:40:3), Colin Laidlaw (48:44:1), Alexandra Everest (49:37:6), Robert Parker (52:57:2), Kirsten Burnett (55:03:6), Ruth Bye (57:48:6),  and Penny Morrison (1:13:19).

At Park View Junior parkrun in Lytham on Sunday, 9 runners completed the course.  Results:  Amara Thorpe (9:13), Clemmie Tierney (09:19), Charlotte Thomson (09:28), Jake Balshaw (09:37 pb), Charlotte Fisher (09:56), Jayden Richardson (10:01), Lucy Whiteside (10:36), Rebecca Fisher (10:42), and Jack Greaves (11:15).  Congratulations to Jake Balshaw who ran especially well and secured a new pb.

Eric Wrigley ran brilliantly at the Avenham Park junior park run and secured 1st place in a new pb of 8:36.

Also on Sunday Paul Veevers of Lytham competed in the West Lancs Summer Triathlon in Ormskirk which involved a 400m swim, 11.7-mile bike ride and a 5k run.  Paul completed the event in 1:06:34 for 43rd position overall, his run time was17:45 5th fastest on the day.
Lytham Road Runners also attended the activities at Lytham Sportfest on Saturday and Sunday at Park View Playing fields.  With the weather, perfect for taking part in sport, the 90-metre athletics challenge proved very popular over the weekend with children and adults keen to beat their fastest times posted throughput the day.  The club had a chance to talk to members of the public about joining the club and promoting their upcoming race- the Green Drive Five and junior mile on October 22nd.

Club picnic

 Finally, LSARRC hosted a club picnic on Lytham Green on Sunday.  Over 50 members attended the event which included a 2k and 5 k predictor run.  Runners had to predict what time they would achieve and the closest predictions won a prize.  Lots of fun was had by all at the event finished with a enjoyable game of rounder’s.

By Vanessa Thomson