LSARRC News 27th April 2022

Lytham Ladies at the Wray Scarecrow 10k

 There aren’t many rural 10k races which feature minions, Her Majesty and Boris Johnson in the crowd…all made of straw of course.  They were just some of scarecrows on display at Wray’s annual scarecrow festival, where Lytham St Annes Road Runners ladies headed for Saturday’s 10km run.  A team of six from the club tackled the undulating course around the outskirts of the rural village, with Mel Koth running well to snatch 3rd lady in a time of 43:07.  Claire Markham finished in 50:42, Kirsten Burnett in 01:00:06 and Liz Canavan in 01:00:19.  Pam Binns ran 01:03:34 and Sylvia Gittins completed the team in 01:04:32.

With flatter terrain back on the Fylde Coast, three of the club’s runners took part in Blackpool’s Festival of Running.  Dan Gregson ran Saturday’s 10km race, which takes runners north along the promenade, and ran well to finish 25th in 47:04.

Junior Reuben May took part in the 2km race on the lower and middle walk at North Shore, and finished an impressive 3rd in 8:27.

Sue Henry

The following day Sue Henry ran her first half marathon, the route taking runners between North Shore and Squires Gate.  She finished 377th overall in 2:20:36.

There was a challenge for three of the club’s runners, who took to Preston’s Guild Wheel as part of UCLAN School of Justice’s monthly fundraising challenge in aid of the Shingwa School in Zambia.nnLinda Chadderton and Emma Johnston ran the first 11.5 miles of the loop, before passing the baton to fellow club member Mark Johnston to complete the loop.

At Lytham Hall parkrun, Joe Greenwood was the club’s first finisher, 3rd overall in 18:47, with junior Jayden Richardson 6th in 20:11.  Gill Draper ran 20:31 for first lady, with James Whittle and Chris Cottam hot on her heels - both setting new PBs of 20:32 and 20:39 respectively.  Mark Selby (21:21) and Andrew Draper (21:48) both finished inside the top 20, followed by Maddy Markham (22:29), Jennifer Hill (22:39) and Neil Tate (24:21).  Also running were Peter Reid (24:32), Joe Alker (24:59), Barry Broughton (25:12), Freddie Markham (25:17), Peter Thomson (25:54), Stephen Wise (26:24), Kev Murray (27:03), Greg Oulton (27:16), Jen Trohear (29:32), Jacqui Murray (30:57) and Adrian Sargent (34:26).

Emma Johnston and Linda Chadderton running the Guild Wheel

Lytham were represented by eight of their juniors at Sunday’s Park View junior parkrun, and filled the first four places.  Jayden Richardson, in his second parkrun of the weekend, was the first to cross the finish line for the eleventh consecutive time in 7:16 with club mate Jack McNiven second in 8:09.  With identical times of 8:27 Reuben May and Georgina Andrews were third and fourth with Georgina also first girl.  Also representing Lytham were Jessica McNiven (7th in 8:51), Kiefer Richardson (11th in 9:28), Evie Alker (12th in 9:42) and Joshua McAfee (18th in 10:30).

LSARRC News 20th April 2022

LSARRC News 13th April 2022

Lytham's ladies made a sensational return to Interclub as they secured top spot on the leaderboard after the season’s first race.

Back for the first time since 2019, the Interclub series brings together runners from Lytham St Annes Road Runners (LSARR), Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde, Thornton-Cleveleys, Wesham, Preston Harriers, Red Rose and Chorley Harriers running clubs over a seven fixture season, with clubs competing for the series title across a host of categories.

And after Blackpool hosted the season’s first fixture at Stanley Park last Wednesday, it’s LSARR leading the way in both the senior ladies and FV40 categories.  The ladies team was made up of Jo Goorney (4th lady, 26:40), Mel Koth (5th, 26:52), Catherine Carrdus (6th, 27:15), Louise Cox (11th, 28:45) and Helen Rennie (23rd, 30:44).  Jo, Mel, Catherine and Louise also counted for the vet 40 team, where they were joined by Claire Markham who finished in 31:38.  

The top 10 men and women score for the team overall, and Lytham currently sit 5th.  Mike Toft was first home for the club, 5th overall in 21:25, followed by Ross McKelvie (8th, 21:56), Joe Greenwood (29th, 23:43), Jonathan Tuck (34, 24:08) and Stephen Wilde (51, 25:24).  Next to count was Dom Kirby (64, 26:07), Thomas Howarth (70, 26:37), followed by Joanna Goorney, Chris Cottam (79, 26:50) and Mel Koth.  Also running for Lytham were James Whittle (26:53), Mark Hughes (28:46), Graham Webster (28:59), Dan Gregson (29:06), John Bertenshaw (29:11), Maddy Markham (30:47), Jennifer Hill (30:56), Peter Reid (31:58), Pam Hardman (32:05), Steve Wise (32:15), Mick Widdop (32:27), Paul McAllister (34:15), Peter Thomson (34:28), Alex Wiggins (34:32), Ian Tate (34:45), Julia Rolfe (34:51), Barry Broughton (34:55), Ruth Williams (35:05), Catherine MacLachlan (35:49), Roy Stevens (36:43), Linda Chadderton (37:03), Greg Oulton (37:16), Julie Wiseman (38:40), Emma Johnston (38:44) and Pam Binns (38:45).  In the other categories Lytham sit 6th in the vets, 5th in the vet 50s and 3rd in the vet 60s.

At Saturday’s Lytham Hall parkrun there was a big turn out for the club, with 31 runners taking part.  The club’s first finisher was Andy Unsworth in 18:49 for 3rd place, with Catherine Carrdus 10th overall - and 2nd lady - in 20:59.  Junior member Jacob Wilson ran a new PB of 22:46, while Terry Hellings ran his 100th parkrun in 39:30.

At Sunday’s junior parkrun it was back to the summer course across the playing field at Park View.  Junior Jayden Richardson was the first runner home in 7:28, with team-mates Joe Alker and Reuben May taking 2nd and 3rd respectively in 8:09 and 8:24.  Jessica McNiven was first girl in 8:54 - 6th overall -with Kiefer Richardson 7th in 8:59.  Evie Alker finished in 9:20 as 3rd girl, Joshua McAfee was 17th in 10:08 and Jack McNiven 20th in 11:00.

LSARRC News 6th April 2022

Kate Price Edwards and Lewis McAfee at Manchester Marathon

From the streets of the North West to the banks of the Seine, April means one thing for Lytham St Annes Road Runners - it’s marathon time.

Gill Draper at Manchester Marathon

The 26.2 miles of Manchester and Paris were on the agenda for five of the club’s runners, and while London may have delayed the city marathon until the autumn, there were 13.1 miles on offer for the capital’s Landmarks Half.

In Manchester, Gill Draper racked up the first personal best of the day as she ran 3:14:22 to secure the club’s diamond standard and a Good For Age place at next year’s London Marathon.  Kate Price Edwards was next to finish, also securing herself a personal best and a shot at London 2023 with 3:43:18. And it was the same story for Clare Taylor, whose PB of 3:48:33 will also see on her on the streets of the capital next year. Lewis McAfee also ran well to finish under four hours, clocking 3:58:56.

Across the Channel in Paris, Kirsten Burnett took the green jersey international as she took on the city’s marathon, which takes runners past iconic landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower.  Kirsten ran well to finish in 4:51:50.

Kirsten Burnett at Paris Marathon

In England’s capital city, Sue Hawitt and Michelle Sheridan lined up for the London Landmarks Half Marathon. Soaking up the atmosphere on crisp, clear day, both runners described the event as “fantastic”, with a well-supported route.  Sue finished in 1:56:57 while Michelle “jeffed” 30 secs running to 30 secs walking to finish in 2:55:54.

Closer to home there was more success over shorter distances.

Chris Cottam was the club’s sole representative in the Fleetwood 10km, coming away with a new PB of 42:50 over the distance.

On the fells, Leanne Nield took on a tough 4.5 mile race on Pendle Hill, finishing in 53:32.

And Ross McKelvie came out on top of a tactical 3000m on the track at the Blackpool Wyre and Fylde Athletic Club Winter Warmer, winning the race in 9mins 51secs.

Under 11 boys at the BW&F Winter Warmer

He was joined on the track by five of the club’s junior athletes, with Jack McNiven, Jacob Wilson and Reuben May all making their track debut in the under-11 boys 600m race.  All three made an excellent debut to track racing finishing first, second and fifth respectively in 1:55.8, 1:59.2 and 2:13.5.

And there was also a winning track debut for Georgina Andrews, who finished first in the under-11 girls 600m in 2:7.7.

Jessica McNiven ran a personal best of 15secs in the 100m for second place in her heat and 32.1 secs in the 200m for fifth place.