LSARRC News 25th January 2022

Ross McKelvie, Graham Webster, Gill Draper and Greg Oulton at Power of 5k

The personal bests keep on coming for Lytham St Annes Road Runners’ ladies.

Seconds have been tumbling from 5k times, with both Gill Draper and Jennifer Hill hitting new heights this weekend.  Draper’s success came under the lights at Lancaster in the Power of 5k, on the cycle track at Salt Ayre Leisure Centre.  Targeting the club’s diamond standard for her age category of 19:10, a superb performance in the night’s A race saw her record an impressive 18:27 - taking a staggering 56 seconds off her personal best.

Also running in the A race on Friday night was Ross McKelvie. And he also did the club proud, running 15:59 for 10th place - his second fastest time over the distance, just eight seconds off his own club record.

Team-mates Graham Webster and Greg Oulton ran in the B-race, finishing in 21:45 and 25:45 for 8th and 10th respectively.

Jennifer Hill at Blackpool parkrun

Hill’s new personal best came a day later, at Blackpool parkrun.  She finished first lady in a time of 20:29, smashing her target of a sub-21 race to record a new 5km and parkrun PB.

Gillian Oliver was also in action this weekend, running in the Lancaster a race Series 10k in Pilling.  She finished in 1:08:19.

Marathon training squad on Sunday

Sunday saw the launch of the club’s marathon training runs - open to anyone locally who fancies company on their long Sunday runs.  This first week saw 10 club members head from Fairhaven toward Warton on an out-and-back run, with runners splitting up according to pace. Members are taking part in St Annes 10-mile race this weekend before tackling 13 miles on February 6.  The group will meet at the Fairhaven ice cream kiosk at 9:45am - all runners are welcome and can run as much or as little of the planned route as they wish.
            
Lytham’s juniors had a busy weekend of parkrun action, with impressive performances at Lytham Hall and Park View.  In the 5km run, Jayden Richardson ran superbly to finish 11th overall and first in his JM11-14 category in 21:18.  Joshua McAfee finished 2nd JM10 in 33:26.

On Sunday, at junior parkrun, 11 of the club’s juniors took part.  Lytham filled the first four places with Jayden Richardson first home in 7:23 with Oliver McBurney, Adam Jackson and Joe Alker taking the next three places in 7:51, 8:20 and 8:35 respectively.  Georgina Andrews finished as first girl and sixth overall in 8:37.  Also running were: Reuben May (8:50 - new PB), Jessica McNiven (9:19), Evie Alker (9:34 - new PB), Kiefer Richardson (9:49), Jack McNiven (10:02), Joshua McAfee (10:15).

Full Lytham Hall parkrun club results: Jonathan Tuck (3rd - 19:06), Neil Tate (21:17), Darran Ames (21:59), Chris Bowker (22:24), Dan Gregson (23:29), Chris Cottam (23:48), Maddy Markham (25:45), Claire Markham (26:10), Barry Broughton (26:13), Kev Murray (27:19), Liz Canavan (27:23), Gill Draper (27:24), Bob Clough (29:01), Adrian Sargent (29:30), Pamela Binns (30:43), Stephen Tate (31:04), Sylvia Gittins (31:57), Ruth Bye (32:44), Jacqui Murray (33:26) and Lewis McAfee (33:48).

LSARRC News 18th January 2022

Lytham men at Blackpool XC

Cross Country was the main event for Lytham St Annes Road Runners, with the local fixture of the Mid-Lancs League attracting a strong turn-out from both the junior and senior teams.

And there were some excellent performances from the 29 athletes who headed to Blackpool's Lawson's Field, with top ten finishes from both the men's and women's teams.

Joanna Goorney was Lytham's stand-out performer, finishing 10th in the 6km ladies' race and 1st FV50.  Goorney is part of Lytham's over-35 and over-45 teams, both along with Catherine Carrdus (35th, 27:34) and Mel Koth (38th, 28:22), who finished second on the day in both categories and sit top of both Mid-Lancs Leagues with now un-assailable leads with just two fixtures remaining.  The trio also finished 5th team overall to sit third in the season's division one standings.  Also top of the pile for the season so far are the club's female over-55s, with Barbara Holmes finishing 1st FV60 at Blackpool in 28:49 (46th) and Sylvia Gittins first FV75 in 41:15. Julie Wiseman (37:17) completes the team, who celebrated their third victory of the season at Blackpool.  The ladies B team of Clare Taylor (61st, 30:10), Maddy Markham (73rd, 31:12) and Claire Markham (75th, 31:39) finished 14th overall, while Kirsten Burnett (104th, 36:13) completed the ladies line-up.

Mel Koth at Blackpool XC

There was a strong turn-out of 14 Lytham runners for the 10km mens' race, and Ross McKelvie was the first green runner home, 23rd in 35:54, followed by Joe Greenwood in 36:53 (34th).  The rest of the A team. Jonathon Tuck (54th, 38:28), Andrew draper (61st, 38:41), Dominic Garrett (72nd, 39:17) and Alex Tate (39:28) followed home in quick succession to secure 8th place for the team.  The B team was made up of Thomas Howarth (42:52), Mark Hughes (45:44), Dan Gregson (46:34), Richard Storey (48:21), Neil Tate (52:16) and Paul McAllister (53:56), and finished 22nd overall.   Peter Thomson (54:18) and Greg Oulton (58:14) also finished for the greens.  Tuck, Draper, Hughes and Gregson combined to secure a 9th place finish in the vet 40 category, while Storey, McAllister and Thompson were 12th in the vert 50 category.

In the junior races, five of the club's youngsters competed.

First up was Georgina Andrews who finished 20th in 2km under-11 girls race in 9:34, while in the under-11 boys race, Archie Belfield ran 8:38 over the same distance to finish 10th.

Lytham had two representatives in the 3km under-13 boys race, with Adam Jackson (26th in 14:03), getting the better of team-mate Freddie Markham, who was just behind in 15:07 (32nd).

Finally Oliver Thomson's run of 16:19 was good enough for 20th place in the 4km under-15 boys race.

At parkrun, Lytham's stand-out performances this weekend came from Gill Draper who ran a new PB at Blackpool parkrun to finish 1st lady in 19:33, while Neil Tate was first home for the club at Lytham Hall, 5th in 20:36.

At Sunday's junior parkrun Joe Alker and jack McNiven took first and second in 8:20 and 8:26, while Evie Alker was first girl in 9:43.  Joshua McAfee ran a new PB of 10:00, while Reuben May (9:02) and Jessica McNiven (10:49) also ran.

LSARRC News 11th January 2022

Competitive racing was back with bang for Lytham St Annes Road Runners Seniors.

With 2022 barely a week old, there was a first victory and opening personal best of the year for Gill Draper at the Lancaster Winter Series 5km.  Gill's finishing time of 19:23 saw her as first and seventh overall in the event, which took place in driving wind and rain last Saturday morning.

Also racing in Saturday's inclement weather were the club's cross country runners who braved the mud bath at Blackburn's Witton Park for the Lancashire Cross Country Championships.  The Championships are perfectly placed for runners to assess how much they have overdone it over the festive period, with 10 Road Runners making the trip.

It was a strong for the men's team with 7 runners taking on the 9.8km 4 lap course.  First back for Lytham was Joe Greenwood, finishing 41st in a time of 40:49.  Next home was Jonathon Tuck, who crossed the line 60th in a time of 43:46 followed by Thomas Howarth (72nd, 45:14).  Next across the finish line was Neil Tate (93rd, 49:22) with Stephen Wise (116th, 58:47), Paul McAllister (117th, 1:00:19) and Lewis McAffee (119th, 1:01:28) bring home the Lytham Runners.

Overall, the men's team consisting of Greenwood, Tuck, Hawarth, Tate, Wise and McAllister finished in 10th position.  The vets team consisting of Tuck, Tate, Wise and McAllister also finished 10th.

Just two ladies race the 6.7km course with Joanna Goorney 13th in 29:10 picking up a silver medal in the Vet50 category.  Kate Price Edwards also ran well finishing 36th in 36:03.

 Archie Belfield was Lytham's sole junior representative, doing the club proud with a 4th place finish in the U11s' race, coming home three seconds off the podium.

On Sunday  morning, Michelle Sheridan ran the Garstang 10k,  completing the undulating course in a time of 1:12:19.

Pamela Hardman headed to Delamere Forest to compete in the Trail 13 Half Marathon, finishing as first Vet60 in 2:20.

Last weekend's parkruns saw Andy Draper take first place for Lytham, finishing top of the pile at Lytham  Hall in 19:30.  Jennifer Hill was first lady in 22:43 hot on the heels of clubmates Mark Selby (22:16) and Darren Ames (22:38).

There  was also a first placed spot for the club at thee Park View junior parkrun with Jayden Richardson finishing first in 7:59 with Joe Alker second in 8:24.  Jack and Jessica McNiven finished 7th and 8th in 8:56 and 9:20 while there was a personal best for Evie Alker, who was 10th in 9:39.  Finally Keifer Richardson racked up his 150th parkrun as he was 15th in 9:34.

The remaining Lytham Hall parkrun results were as follows: Chris Cottam (22:46), Chris Bowker (23:39),  Jayden Richardson (24:10), Claire Markham (26:25), Barry Broughton (27:52), Freddie Markham (28:10) and Adrian Sargent (30:37).

LSARRC News 5th January 2022

Julie Wiseman

It was a strong turn-out to ring in the New Year with a parkrun from Lytham St Annes Road Runners.  Ross McKelvie stormed home on New Year’s Day to take first place at Lytham Hall, in a time of 17:56.  He was followed by club mate Joe Greenwood who made it a one-two for the club in the first event of 2022, finishing second in 18:51.  Gill Draper led the ladies home and was the next of the green team to finish, First Lady and sixth overall in 20:39.  Also inside the top 10 was Mark Selby, who finished ninth with a time of 21:38.  In total, there were 27 finishers from LSARRC on Saturday, including juniors Oliver Thomson who came 11th in 22:46 and Maddy Markham who finished 84th in 28:00.

And there was a 100th volunteering credit to celebrate for Julie Wiseman, who tail-walked with club mates Sue Henry and Rebecca Willetts - complete with celebratory balloons.

The club’s first competitive race of the New Year was run by Mick Widdop on Sunday - the Central Lancashire Half Marathon.  The 13.1 mile race from Lea Town is organised by Fylde Coast Runners, and Mick finished in 1hr 55.

And there was a strong junior turn-out for 2022’s first junior parkrun at Park View on Sunday.  First to finish for Lytham was Jayden Richardson in a time of 7:56 for second place with club mate Archie Belfield close behind in 8:09 for third place.  Georgina Andrews finished fifth overall and second girl in 8:34.  Reuben May eighth in 9:05 and Jessica McNiven ninth in 9:16 were next home for Lytham, while Evie Alker ran a new personal best to finish 12th in 9:53.  Also representing Lytham were Kiefer Richardson (16th in 10:17), Joshua McAfee (21st in 10:44) and James McAfee (22nd in 11:13).

Full Lytham Hall parkrun club results: Darran Ames (21:59), Andy Draper (22:02), Jennifer Hill (22:26), Chris Cottam (23:20), Barbara Holmes (23:34), Chris Bowker (24:28), Stephen Wise (24:37), Peter Thomson (26:45), Greg Oulton (26:51), Barry Broughton (28:24), Claire Markham (28:28), Liz Canavan (29:24), Bob Clough (30:53), Adrian Sargent(31:35), Pam Binns (32:20), Louise Charnock (33:00), Michelle Sheridan (36:35).

LSARRC News 22nd December 2021

Alistair Leivers

 A first-class century marked the final parkrun of the year at Lytham Hall.  Lytham St Annes Road Runners’ Alistair Leivers sprinted round his 100th parkrun to finish nearly a full two minutes clear of the field in 16:30 - equalling his personal best.

And there was a healthy turn-out of team mates for the final parkrun of 2021, with the event’s volunteers taking a well deserved rest on Christmas Day.  Just nine seconds separated the next five club runners.  Neil Tate was the second Road Runner to finish, 14th place in 21:31, followed just three seconds behind by Gill Draper (21:34), who was 2nd lady at Saturday’s event.  Darran Ames (21:35) and Mark Selby (21:39) were hot on their heels, as was Jennifer Hill who was 3rd lady in 21:40.  Graham Webster followed in 22:11, Louise Cox in 22:24, Chris Bowker in 22:58 , Dan Gregson in 23:07,  Stephen Wise in 25:48, Terry Hellings in 27:14, Barry Broughton in 28:33 and Pamela Binns in 29:25.  Coming home just under half an hour was Bob Clough in 29:56, followed by Sylvia Gittins in 32:14, Ruth Bye in 35:13, Sue Henry 35:48 and Michelle Sheridan in 35:56.

Darren Ames and Jennifer Hill at Lytham Hall parkrun

Onto Sunday and it was also the final run this year for the club’s junior parkrunners at Lytham’s Park View.

There were six juniors in action and they performed well, filling four of the first five places.  First home for Lytham and finishing 1st overall was Archie Belfield in 8:23 with club mate Joe Alker just behind in 2nd place with a time of 8:27.  Georgina Andrews finished as 1st girl and 4th overall in 8:42, while Reuben May ran his third consecutive personal best time to finish 5th in 9:00.  Evie Alker was 2nd girl in 10:24 and fourteenth overall.  Also representing Lytham was Joshua McAfee, who finished 18th in 11:24.

LSARRC News 15th December 2021

Longridge Xmas Pudding Run 

It was a festive-themed dash through the hills for Lytham St Annes Road Runners this weekend, as members took on Longridge's Christmas Pudding Run.  Five members of the green team took on the race, with the tough, undulating course taking them on a seven-mile route over the Longridge fells – with a Christmas pudding for every finisher.  Dan Gregson was the first Road Runner home in Sunday's race, finishing in 54:05.   Claire Markham was next in 1:05:39, followed by Lia Murphy in 1:12:49, Sue Henry in 1:17:07 and Michelle Sheridan in 1:29:23.  

And there was also Sunday racing to be had over in east Lancashire, with the Blackburn 10k.  Mick Widdop was the club's only representative in the 6.2 mile race, finishing in 51:36.

For Julie Wiseman, there was a race with a difference on Saturday night as she donned her head-torch and trail shoes for the Grizedale night run.  Wiseman completed the 5.7 mile course through the forest in 1:09:03.

Gill Draper at Lytham Hall parkrun

At Lytham Hall parkrun Gill Draper led the way for LSARRC, finishing 4th overall and 1st lady in 20:39, with husband Andy just behind in 21:05.  Mark Selby was 10th in 21:47, followed by Mark Hughes (22:28), Chris Cottam(22:46), junior Freddie Markham (25:54) and Neil Tate (25:54).  Claire Markham finished in 27:28, with Bob Clough (29:23) just ahead of Pam Binns (30:52).  Julie Wiseman finished in 46:45 and Sue Henry in 47:06.

On their travels, the McAfee family took part in Newborough Forest parkrun on Anglesey.  Junior member Joshua completed the course in 29:34 alongside dad Lewis.

Just two of the club's juniors took part in Sunday's Park View junior parkrun and both achieved their highest-ever finishing positions.  Kiefer Richardson  was 6th in 10:11 and Evie Alker was just behind – 7th overall and 2nd girl – in 10:19.

LSARRC News 8th December 2021

 It was a case of from coast to country this weekend, as two Lytham  St Annes Road Runners took on the Myerscough 10 miler.  Pam Binns and Syliva Gittins flew the flag for the green team at the event, organised by Garstang Road Runners Club.  And it was a successful Sunday for the duo, with Pam finishing the course in 1:39:04 for first FV75, and Sylvia coming in just behind for second place in the category in 1:39:27.

Lytham Hall parkrun Couch to 5k graduation

24 hours earlier, LSARRC members braved the deluge of rain and mud at Lytham Hall parkrun to celebrate the club's first Couch to 5k graduation since pre-covid.  A group of new runners have been supported by club members each Monday night to complete the nine-week beginners programme, and on Saturday five of them ran their first Lytham Hall parkrun to mark finishing the course.  Dave Booth led the way finishing 110th in 32:24, followed by Maria Hall (32:34), Wendy Jennings (41:46), Susie Harwood (42:25) and Emma Robinson (42:42).  The club's next Couch to 5k programme is starting on Monday, January 17 at 6:30pm, and full details are available on the "Lytham St Annes Road Runners" Facebook page.  The sessions are led by trained coaches and are free, run in small groups to ensure everyone is supported to achieve their goals.

Freddie Markham at Lytham Hall parkrun

With a quiet weekend for racing there was a good turnout of club runners at Lytham's parkrun, with some leading the way out front and others supporting the couch to 5k graduates.  Alex Tate took first place in 19:29 while Gill Draper was third overall and first lady in 20:52, and Chris Cottam (eighth – 22:23) and Darran Ames (ninth - 22:28) also made the top 10.  Dan Gregson was just behind in 22:50, Jennifer Hill third lady in 22:54, followed by Graham Webster in 23:09.  Junior Joe Alker managed to use the mud to his advantage to set a new personal best of 23:45 running alongside Neil Tate (23:45).  Claire Markham finished in 26:11 with junior Freddie Markham just behind in 26:34 and Barry Broughton in 29:15 and Greg Oulton in 32:25.  Supporting the Couch to 5k runners were Sue Hawitt (32:37), Terry Hellings (41:47). Sarah Cook (42:25) and Kirsten Burnett (42:43), while Sue Henry (47:11) and Julie Wiseman (47:12) were tailwalkers.

At Sunday's park View junior parkrun, Oliver McBurney was first to cross the line in 8:01 with Jessica McNiven first girl and seventh overall in 9:35.  New member Reuben May put in his second consecutive personal best performance to finish fourth in 9:16.  Also representing Lytham were Joshua and James McAfee, 12th and 13th in 11:02 and 11:44 respectively, and Lewis Ames (14th – 11:45).