LSARRC News 23rd March 2022

Juniors at the Mad March Hare

MAD March hares had nothing on Lytham St Annes Road Runners’ athletes’ speed this weekend.

A packed racing schedule saw a strong squad of runners take on the Mad March Hare 5km, 10km and fun runs in Preston’s Moor Park, a mother-daughter duo racing in Pilling and 13.1 miles over in Wilmslow.

Claire and Maddy at Pilling

The first race of the weekend was Saturday’s Pilling 10km, which saw Claire Markham and daughter Maddy running in green.  The pair ran the fast, flat course together, finishing in 52:22.

The following day it was the turn of the runners in Preston, with a mix of seniors and juniors making the short journey for the Mad March Hare.

Sue Hawitt (24:31), Roy Stevens (27:15) and Juli Wiseman (31:06) all took on the 5km distance, while Mark Selby completed the 10km course in 44:43 for fourth place overall.

There was a strong showing from the club’s youngsters, with the fun run forming part of junior road race championship.  Seven runners took part and filled the first seven places, with Jayden Richardson leading the way in 4:14.  Just a few seconds separated Joe Alker (4:48), Reuben May (4:53) and Kiefer Richardson (4:57) in second, third and fourth respectively.  Next two home in fifth and sixth were Evie Alker (5:31) and Eve Selby (6:14) finishing as first and second girls.  Arthur May was seventh in 6:25.

Mel Koth at Wilmslow HM

The prize for the weekend’s longest competitive run went to Mel Koth, who headed to Wilmslow Half Marathon.  The well-supported race takes runners through the beautiful surroundings of Wilmslow, and Koth ran well to finish strongly in 1:31:32 - sixth V45 out of 163 and 35th lady overall.

Despite Sunday’s junior parkrun taking place just a few hours before the juniors’ Mad March Hare race, Jayden Richardson finished first at Park View in 7:25 while Reuben May (8:25) and Kiefer Richardson (8:40) ran new personal bests for third and fourth.  Jack McNiven also ran a personal best of 8:09 for second, while Georgina Andrews (8:42) was first girl. Jessica McNiven (9:02), Joshua McAfee (10:03) and Lewis Ames (12:04) also represented the club.

At Saturday’s Lytham Hall parkrun the club filled the first three places with Rosa McKelvie first in 17:37, followed by Alistair Leivers (17:37) and Joe Greenwood (18:08).  There were new PBs for G Cunliffe (22:58) and Evie Alker (26:38).  Also running were Mark Selby (21:31), Chris Cottam (21:42), Chris Bowker (23:13), Freddie Markham (23:39), Andrew Draper (23:53), Stephen Wise (24:25), Peter Reid (24:57), Barry Broughton (25:49), Kirsten Burnett (26:53), Joe Alker (26:57), Archie Belfield (27:48), Jennifer Hill (28:21), Pamela Binns (29:28), Sue Hawitt (33:57), Michelle Sheridan (34:49), Sarah Cook (36:00), Terry Hellings (43:24), Juli Wiseman (53:08) and Laura Byrne (53:10).