LSARRC News 26th November 2019

Lytham ladies at Liverpool XC

The main event in a busy weekend for Lytham St Anne’s RRC athletes was the 3rd fixture of the Mid Lancashire Cross Country league, which took place on Saturday 2019.  This fixture was held at Sefton Park, Liverpool, and was incorporated into the British Athletics Cross Challenge and used as a selection trial for the England team for the European Cross-Country Championships.

A perfect day for cross country, and with perfect muddy conditions, saw 7 Lytham ladies and 15 men turn up to represent their club at this prestigious and exciting event.  With the event being combined with the European Cross-Country Championship Trials this gave the everyday club runner a chance to compete alongside the elite athletes.

Lytham men at Liverpool XC

The ladies were first up to tackle their 8.1km course. Joanna Goorney was first back for Lytham in a time of 36m33s, closely followed by Catherine Carrdus (37m04s) and Mel Koth (37m47s) to make up the first team of Lytham runners, finishing 3rd overall, along with securing a fantastic 1st place in the V35 and V45 Ladies categories. Next home was Barbara Holmes (38m49s), Claire Markham (42m01s) and Julia Rolfe (45m13s) seeing the second team of Lytham Ladies home in 21st position overall. Well done ladies.

The final event of the day saw the 15 Lytham men take to the mud over a distance of 9.8km. First Lytham runner to finish was Mike Toft, continuing his fine running form, finishing in a time of 37m30s. Next home for Lytham was Andy Draper (40m30s) closely followed by Jo Greenwood (40m59s). Jonathon Tuck (41m14s), Paul Veevers (41m43s) and Thomas Howarth (41m52s) crossed the finish line to make up the first team of 6 Lytham runners, finishing 10th overall.

Dominic Garrett (42m46s), Neil Tate (43m36s), Ross McKelvie (45m51s), Chris Bowker (47m19s), John Bertenshaw (53m06s) and Ian Tate (55m50s) were the next 6 Lytham runners to secure a team finish, finishing 30th overall.  Tuck, Veevers, Neil Tate and Bertenshaw also secured a 12th place finish in the V40 category.  Mark Hughes (58m17s), Peter Thomson (58m24s) and Jason Sheridan (58m47s) were the final three Lytham runners’ home in a closely contested finish.


With the cross-country season well and truly under way there wasn’t as many park runners as usual.  But the highlights are as follows.  Alistair Leivers was first to finish the Lytham Hall parkrun in 18:04.  Mark Selby finished in the top 10 (7th) in 20:39.  Gill Draper was first female in 21:24.  There were 2 pb’s for Lytham runners Simon Smith (24:23) and Andrew Mullaney (24:24).  Jen Trohear travelled to the Portrush parkrun and was 8th female in 27:43.

Ull boys at Liverpool XC

There were lots to report on regarding junior news this week. Lytham were well represented in the under 11 boy’s race with Archie Belfield leading the team home completing the 2k race in 8:10 for 24th place.  Freddie Markham was next home for Lytham finishing 33rd in 8:30 closely followed by Bobby Hastwell (37th in 8:44) and Adam Jackson (38th in 8:46).  Nicholas Houlton completed the Lytham contingent (61st in 11:44) with the under 11 boys finishing as 8th team.  Oliver Thomson led the Lytham team home in the under 13 boy’s race completing the 3k course in 13:20 for 49th position.  Bringing the team home in 10th place was Finlay Hughes (63rd in 14:46) and Eric Wrigley (74th in 18:10). In the under 15 girls race Sophie Bohannon ran well to complete the 3k course in 12:28 for 15th place.  Completing the team were Brogane Murphy (39th in 13:54) and Evie Houlihan (49th in 14:42) bringing the team home in 8th place.   Lytham’s only representative in the under 15 boy’s race was James Andrews who competed the 3k course in 13:11 for 58th place.  Maddy Markham ran well in the under 17 women’s race to complete the 4.4k course in 19:14 for 16th place.

Lytham juniors at the Best 5k and 1 mile fun run

Lytham’s junior athletes were also well represented at the Best 5k and 1-mile fun run held in Moor Park, Preston.  In the 5k race under 17 boy Ben Gregson ran well finishing 24th in 21:55. Lytham had 7 athletes in the Fun Run and finished with the first 3 boys and first 2 girls.   Jayden Richardson finished  1st in 4:58, Archie Belfield, in his 2nd race of the weekend, finished 2nd in 5:21 and Joe Alker 3rd in 5:35.  Georgina Andrews finished 4th overall and 1st girl in 6:15 and Evie Alker 8th overall and 2nd girl in 7:05. In his 1st race for Lytham Kiefer Richardson ran well to finish 6th in 6:20.

3 of Lytham’s junior athletes took part in the Lytham Hall’s 5k parkrun with Charlie Ormerod first home  in 12th place overall and 2nd in his JM11-14 age group in a personal best time of 21:15.  Lytham’s Oscar Holmes and Morgan Pritchard finished 3rd and 4th in the JM11-14 age groups in 22:39 and 23:38 respectively.

Sunday saw 5 of Lytham’s junior athletes take part in the Park View 2k junior parkrun.  Finlay Hughes and Adam Jackson both in their 2nd race of the weekend finished 2 and 3rd in 8:22 and 8:37 respectively.  James McAfee finished 9th in a personal best time of 10:37 with brother Joshua 30th in 12:38. 

LSARRC News 19th November 2019

Another club record for Lytham athlete Barbara Holmes

Barbara Holmes at the Preston 10 Miler

Tom Howarth at Preston 10 Miler

Barbara Holmes ran in the Preston 10- mile Road race on Sunday.   She was first F60 Northern and Lancashire Championships in a time of 1:15:48.   She also set a new Club F60 record.  The annual Preston 10-mile Road race is a major event for local athletes.  For over 35 years this well-established, and popular race, has brought large fields of over 500 runners to Hutton in mid-November. The fast, flat course attracts many runners looking for a pb.  The race incorporated the Northern Athletics 10 Mile Road Championship, Lancashire AA 10 Mile Rad Championship and National Fire Service 10 Mile Road Championship.  

Michelle Chadwick at Preston 10 Miler

Julia Rolfe and Pam Hardman of Lytham ran the Arnside Knott Fell Race on Sunday 17th November.  The Arnside Knott Race started From Hollins Farm, Far Arnside, Cumbria LA5 0SL on a scenic course above Morecambe Bay and the Kent Estuary Senior Race 6 miles with a 1000ft climb made it a challenging course, but lovely course which was quite muddy in places, according to Hardman.  To finish off there was tea and home-made cakes which made it worthwhile.  Rolfe managed the course in 1:03:33 and Hardman in 1:05:32.

Also, at the Weekend Sylvia Gittins ran the Conwy half marathon in a great time of 2:24:33.  The race took place on Sunday 17th November, the race now in its 10th year is a favourite with runners and the start and finish is on the quayside in front of Conwy Castle.

As usual there were lots of Lytham runners in attendance at parkruns on Saturday, and the highlights were as follows.  At the Blackpool parkrun Catherine Carrdus was first female in a time of 19:55, Joanna Goorney was 2nd female in 20:37.  John Bertenshaw was first male for the club, 25th overall in 22:25, followed by Gary Stansfield in 22:36 for 31st.  Other finishers were Stephen Wise, Claire Markham, Rebecca Willetts, Lewis McAfee, Bob Clough, Sue Henry and Paula McCandless.

At the Fleetwood parkrun Kev Murray was 21st in 22:59 followed by Jason Sheridan 23:09.  4th and 5th female spots went to Kathy Gaunt in 24:14 and Susan Hawitt 24:20. Other finishers were Peter Thomson, Jacqui Murray, Robert Parker, Michelle Sheridan and Sarah Bagshaw.

Jen Trohear completed the Witton parkrun and Claire England ran the Hessington parkrun.  Andrew Draper and Gill Draper travelled to the Fell Foot parkrun.  Andrew was 8th in 19:49, and Gill was 4th lady in 22:51.  Kirsten Burnett completed the Hyndburn parkrun and Maria Tierney the Preston parkrun.

With regards to the juniors Maddy Markham ran at Blackpool parkrun on Saturday, finishing in 17th place 21:06, Eric Wrigley PB 22:44, Charlie Ormerod 22:49 and James McAfee 30:29 also ran.

Oliver Thompson was 7th at Fleetwood parkrun 21:10 on Saturday.

Twelve junior LSARRC members ran at Park View junior parkrun on Sunday. Jayden Richardson ran his Archie Belfield 08:02, Freddie Markham Pb of 08:03, Joe Alker 08:20, Adam Jackson 08:38, Matthew Holton 09:07, Roman Holmes PB 09:15 Jessica McNiven 09:19, Georgina Andrews PB 10:12, Evie Alker 10:49, James McAfee 12:23, Joshua McAfee 12:26.

LSARRC News 12th November 2019

Sue Henry at the Windmill 10k

 At the windmill 10k over the weekend Barbara Holmes was 1st female in the v60 category with a new club time of 44:48.   Over 30 Lytham runners took part, too many to mention, but all ran exceptionally well. Thomas Howarth was first for Lytham 17th 37.14,   2nd john tuck 28th 38.25,   3rd Andrew draper (pushing son Joshua in a pram) 38.31.  Gill Draper was 2nd lady in v35 category 178th 44.31

U11 girls at Hyndburn XC

There was a strong turnout for both the LSARRC Ladies and Men’s team at this weekend’s Hyndburn cross country, the 2nd event of this seasons Mid Lancs Cross Country league.  In extremely muddy conditions underfoot both teams didn’t disappoint.  Making up the first ladies team back and taking first place in the over 18, 35 and 45 teams were Joanna Goorney 8th and 2nd V45 in a time of 27:25 closely followed by Catherine Carradus 14th and 3rd V45 in a time of 28:38, completing the team for Lytham ladies was Mel Koth in position 18th and 4th V45 in a time of 29:13.  The second Lytham ladies team were made up of Barbara Holmes, Claire Markham and Julia Rolfe.  Debbie Francis and Catherine Maclachlan completed the team.

U11 boys at Hyndburn XC

As usual lots of Lytham runners took part in park runs locally and around the country the highlights were as follows.  Susan Samme was 1st female at the Blackpool parkrun in 21:33 and Mark Selby was 5th at the Lytham Hall park run in 20:32.

Senior ladies at XC Hyndburn

The Men came 13th in the Senior Men’s team result and were made up of Andy Draper, Jonathan Tuck, Dominic Garrett, Neil Tate, Paul Veevers and Alex Tate.  In the V40 team results Jonathan Tuck, Neil Tate, Paul Veevers and Peter Thomson came home in 12th place.  Thomas Howarth, Chris Bowker and Greg Oulton completed the team home.

A very muddy cross-country course at Hyndburn was the venue for the second fixture of the Mid Lancs Cross Country league and Lytham St Anne’s RRC junior athletes were out in force.  First event of the day was the 2k under 11 girls race.  Ellie Francis was first home for Lytham finishing 26th in 11:07, Rose McIntyre recovered from fall on the first corner to finish 31st in 11:56 with Rosa Gill finishing 35th and bringing the team home in 5th place. 

Next event was the 2k under 11 boy’s race and 5 of Lytham’s under 11 boys toed the line.  Archie Belfield led the team home finishing 9th in 9:06, the ever improving Freddie Markham was next home for Lytham finishing 21st in 9:46, Lucas Tuck (40th in 10:41) and Nicholas Houlton (49th in 13:15) complied the team which finished 5th overall.  Bobby Hastwell was running well when he unfortunately lost both his shoes in the mud and was forced to withdraw.

Leoma Gill was Lytham’s sole representative in the 2.5k under 13 girls race and finished 40th in 15:58.   Lytham fielded a full team in the 3k under 13 boys race with Oliver Thomson leading the team home finishing 25th in 13:20.  Also representing Lytham were Matthew Holton who ran well on his cross country debut for Lytham to finish 26th in 13:29, Finlay Hughes (30th in 14:16) and Aaron Kirby completing the team which took 5th place.  Lytham had 2 representatives in the 3k under 15 girls 3k race with Evie Houlihan  reaping the rewards of her hard work in training to finish (24th in 14:20) just getting the better of teammate Brogane Murphy (25th in 14:44).  James Andrews represented Lytham well in the under 15 boys 3.6k race to finish 38th in 16:05.   Maddy Markham was Lytham’s only under 17 woman and as the victim of an unfortunate marshalling error but recovered well to finish 8th in 16+:40.  The final race for Lytham’s junior athletes was the under 17 men’s race where Ben Gregson (28th in 30:13) was first home for Lytham with Adhamh Holton finishing 30th in 31:22 on his cross country debut.

Senior men at Hyndburn XC

Just 2 of Lytham’s junior athletes chose to run the Lytham parkrun as most were at cross country.  Charlie Ormerod finished 16th overall in 22:12 and 2nd in his JM11-14 age category just 2 seconds off 1st place.  James McAfee finished 1st in his Jm10 age group in a rime of 33:47.

8 of Lytham’s juniors ran in Sunday’s Park View junior parkrun.  Lytham’s Jayden Richardson was 1st in 7:52, with Freddie Markham none the worse from the previous day’s cross country 3rd in 8:25.  Also representing Lytham were Joe Alker (5th in 8:33), Max Walker (8th in 9:27), Georgina Andrews (17th in 10:42), Evie Alker (18th in 10:52), Finlay Hughes (25th in 11:44) also ran cross country on Saturday and Joshua McAfee (34th in 13:19).  

LSARRC News 5th Novemer 2019

Halloween record for McKelvie at Heron’s Reach

A be-mulletted, mustachioed, sleeveless plaid shirt adorning Ross McKelvie threw it back to the 80's and a first-place finish for Lytham at the Halloween Heron's Reach 5k on Thursday night.

The race went out fast, but the combination of undulating trail, significant water feature, and darkness saw the competition fall away until just McKelvie and an athlete from Keswick AC remained in contention from the 294 runners taking part.

Waiting until the 4k mark, McKelvie picked up the pace and kicked hard for home taking the win in 19:21 and knocking 31 seconds off the long 5k's course record.

LSARRC runner at the Lancaster HM

Eight Lytham runners completed the Lancaster half marathon over the weekend.   A very successful day for LSARRC runners.  The lades won the team prize and the men came second.  Thomas Howarth came 9th overall in 1:22;12.  Neil Tate coming in 5 minutes later in 1:27:45 for 20th.  Lewis McAfee gained a new persona best time of 01:42:58 for 80th and Mark Widdop was 112th in 01:49:30. Kevin Murray managed the course in 01:51;52 for 131st.  Jacqui Murray (2:13:7), Laura Byrne (02:17:28) and Kirsten Burnett (02:27:15) made up the winning ladies’ team.

As usual lots of LSARCC completed parkruns around the country, some of the highlights were as follows.  At the Preston parkrun Jonathon Tuck was 4th in 19:11, a difficult 3 lap course with an unforgiving incline.

At the Lytham Hall parkrun Ross McKelvie finished first in 18:11. Not far behind were other Lytham runners, Alex Tate and Neil Tate were 2nd and 4th.  Other notable performances were junior Oliver Thomson who came 14th in 22:04 and first female was junior Maddy Markham in 23:03.  Pamela Binns ran the course in 28:47 and was the first woman veteran 70-74 to finish.  Other finishers were:  Morgan Pritchard, Eric Wrigley, Freddie Markham, Charlie Ormerod, Dan Gregson, Stephen Wise, Andrew Mullaney, Peter Thomson, Simon Smith, Adrian Sargent, Clemmie Tierney, Greg Oulton, Claire England, Rebecca Willetts, Maria Tierney, Claire Markham, Sylvia Gittins, Robert Parker, Bob Clough, Ruth Bye, Jeremy McCandless, Michelle Sheridan, Sue Henry and Sarah Bagshaw.

Kirsten Burnett travelled to Blackpool and completed the Stanley Park parkrun, and Darran Ames travelled to Fleetwood.  G Browne went further a field to Crathes Castle parkrun and came 15th.

On Sunday there was lots of success at the junior parkrun in Lytham.  Jayden Richardson was first home in 8:01, agonisingly close to breaking the 8-minute mark.  Freddie Markham with a new pb of 8:11 was 3rd overall. Other finishers were Archie Belfield, Eric Wrigley, Adam Jackson, Finlay Hughes, Jessica McNiven, Georgina Andrews, Joshua McAfee (11:56), and  James McAfee.