LSARRC News 11th May 2022

Barbara Holmes

LYTHAM's triathlon queen has hit the top spot – yet again.  Barbara Holmes flew the Lytham St Annes Road Runners' flag in Mallorca this weekend, as she took on her first-ever "Ironman".  And, true to form, the British triathlon World Champion blew the competition out of the water to finish 1st in her F60-64 age category and earn herself a spot at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, later this year.
Holmes finished the gruelling course – 3.9km swim, 170km bike ride and a 26.2 mile run – in 12hrs 40mins and one second.

Closer to home, the green team were out in force over the shorter 10km distance on Sunday.  The ladies headed for the hills to take on the Blacksticks 10km, while several runners opted to stay closer to home for the ever-popular Blackpool Beaverbrooks 10km.

Jon Tuck was the first LSARRC runner to cross the line with a new PB of  37:21, and there was a sensational performance on the resort's Promenade from 13-year-old junior Jayden Richardson, who ran 40:49 in his first official 10km race.  Michelle Chadwick also ran extremely well to finish in 41:01 for 3rd lady, closely followed by new member James Whittle, who ran a new 10km personal best of 41:50.  Chris Cottam came home in 43:20, closely followed by junior Morgan Pritchard in 43:30, and Neil Tate in 43:32.  Jennifer Hill ran a family affair with husband Matt and pushing one-year-old son, Vinnie, and finished in 55:10.

Blackpool 10k (l-r Chris Cottam, James Whittle, Neil Tate and centre Jayden Richardson)

Over in Whitechapel, commemorative Blacksticks Blue Cheese awaiting the finishers of the annual 10km road race.  Claire Markham was first to finish for the Road Runners in 53:36, followed by Kirsten Burnett in 1:00:20, Pam Binns – who picked up a prize for first FV75 – in 1:03:48, and Sylvia Gittins in 1:06:51.

Blacksticks Blue (l-r Sylvia Gittins, Pam Binns, Kirsten Burnett, Claire Markham)

There was another 10km race happening in Chorley, with Mick Widdop LSARRC's sole representative.  He ran 53:54 in the event, which took runners through the streets of the town and Astley Park.

And a busy Sunday of athletics also saw Carlisle's Sheepmount Stadium host the second fixture of the Mid Lancs Track and Field League.  Greg Oulton managed to find time away from officiating duties to finish first in the senior men's discus with a throw of 13.72m, fifth in the 1500m in 7:18 and 4th in the 3000m in 15mins 2.5secs.  Ross McKelvie also travelled up the Cumbria for the club and took a comfortable victory in the 3000m in 9mins 37.2secs.

Down South, Paul McAllister ran 57:52 at Woodbridge 10km in Suffolk.