LSARRC News 12th March 2019

 The trio of Koth, Webster and Hellings impressed over the weekend.

On form Graham Webster competed in the British Masters cross country championships held in Stormont, Belfast on 9th March. Graham finished the 6k race in a time of 28:17 to take 15th place overall and 4th in his MV65 age category.  On the same day, Terry Hellings competed in the New Longton 10k on Saturday 9th.  In adverse conditions Hellings ran well to finish 50th in 45:55 also picking up the prize for 1st place in his MV65 age category.

Graham  Webster finishing the British Masters XC Champs

On Sunday 6 Lytham runners faced the horrible weather at Irwell 20-mile race near Manchester.  Melanie Koth ran superbly was the first lady to finish the course, and it was 4 minutes before the course had another female finisher, they experienced all four seasons during the race, heavy rain, hailstorm, heavy snowfall and a little bit of sunshine. Due to the weather conditions a lot of park paths were flooded, deep with mud, more like a xc race. The marshals were amazing, very supportive and encouraging!

Lytham runners at the Irwell 20 mile race

First back for Lytham was Neil Tate, 22nd overall, 2:27:06, Mel Koth was 30th overall, 1st lady, 2:35:43, Sue Hawitt 160th overall, 3:11:19, Lewis McAffee 161st, 3:11:33, Heidi Haigh 175th, 3:16:36.

 Several runners completed parkruns across the country over the weekend.  Jonathon Tuck, John Graeme Bertenshaw and Julia Rolfe completed the 3 lap Preston parkrun the times were as follows (22:15, 25:10 and 26:33.  Joanna Goorney was the second female finisher at the Huddersfield parkrun and G Browne completed the Inverness parkrun.  Chris McCarthy was 2nd at the Lytham parkrun finishing in 17:19, Ross McKelvie was 9th in 20:27 and the Darran Ames 15th, in 21:43.  Claire Markham was 3rd female in 23:26, other results Richard Harry Storey 23:50, Jason Sheridan 27:54, Julie Wiseman 31:12, Susan Hawitt 31:51, Jeremy McCandless 33:40, Michelle Sheridan 34:52, Maria Tierney 34:52, Claire England 36:30, Clare Taylor 36:49 and Sue Henry 38:04.

Junior News
Lytham’s Sophie Bohannon earned her first county vest when being selected to represent Lancashire in the Inter Counties Cross Country Championships held at Prestwold Hall, Loughborough on Saturday 9th March.  Sophie justified her selection running well in the under 13 girls race to finish 104th overall in a time of 14:15 and as 3rd counter for the Lancashire team helping Lancashire into 16th place.

Saturday also saw four Lytham juniors ran in the Lytham Hall 5k parkrun.  First home for Lytham juniors was 15 year old Maddy Markham who ran well in difficult conditions to finish 10th overall and 1st her JW11-15 age category in a time of 20:26.  Ben Gregson was next in 13th place also taking first place in his JM15-17 age category in 21:29.  11 year old Clemmie Tierney also took first place in her age category of JW11-14 finishing 69th overall in 26:16.  12 year old Morgan Pritchard recovering from injury completed his 94th parkrun in 27:35 finishing 87th.

Torrential rain did not deter 43 hardy junior athletes running at the Park View junior parkrun on Sunday including 6 Lytham juniors.  First home for Lytham was Jayden Richardson finishing 1st in 7:43 comfortably of second placed Joe Alker also a Lytham athlete finishing in 8:31.  Freddie Markham was next Lytham athlete finishing  7th in 9:28.  Despite the adverse conditions Evie Alker improved her pb by 7 seconds finishinvg 20th in 10:53.  Also flying the Lytham flag were brothers Joshua and James  McAfee  finishing 40th and 43rd in 15:13 and 17:55 respectively.