Press Report 18/12/2012

Catherine French, Rob Goodall and Debbie Cooper complete
a Christmas scene at the Hurst Green Turkey Trot.

As we sprint towards Christmas, December races often adopt a festive theme and Lytham runners were out working up a Yule appetite at a few of these events this weekend. You’ll spot a festive race by the fast moving field of runners in fancy dress – spurred on by the prizes on offer for best costumes. At Sundays ‘Hurst Green Turkey Trot’ - a 5 mile trail race held out near Clitheroe, LSARRC’s very own Rob Goodall, dressed as a very convincing reindeer, was awarded best costume in race and went home happy with an armful of Christmas goodies. The race attracted a festively charged field of 145 entrants and took place on a perfectly crisp, sunny and still day: a real bonus after the recent icy snap and some heavy rainfall. The course was largely trail – mostly ascent for the first half and descent for the last, going through a dark, interesting and very muddy wooded section on the return. Club members Debbie Cooper and Catherine French, also in full festive attire, completed the scenic and good humoured race. Finishing times: Catherine French 1:01:52, Rob Goodall 1:01:53 and Debbie Cooper 1:01:54.

Andy Sneddon and John Wild took part in The Lakeland Trails first staging of the ‘10k Sticky Chocolate Trail Run’ at Cartmel on Saturday, in what could be described as a ‘Beauty and Beast’ of a course. The event promised mud and it did not disappoint! An undulating course starting and finishing at Carmel Racecourse gave the 340 racers mud, deep mud and even deeper mud, knee deep and beyond in places, with a number of hills thrown in for good measure. Although very testing the race proved to be enormous fun and expertly organised, as usual, by Lakeland Trail. There was the welcome reward of a Cartmel Sticky Chocolate pudding for all finishers. John Wild finished in 72m20 212/340 and Andy Sneddon in 74m25 221/340.

Andy Sneddon sprints home at the 10k Sticky Chocolate Trail Run .

At the Great Langdale Christmas Pudding 10k on Sunday, Club high achiever Andy Draper had his sights set on a new Personal Best, and did not come home disappointed. The scenic course is an out and back slightly undulating route following the Great Langdale Road, Starting at the New Dungeon Ghyll, running to The Langdale Estate in Elterwater and returning to the New Dungeon Ghyll. Draper ran a superb race, finishing 5^th overall of a field of 268,  in 34:56 and taking almost a minute off his previous personal best. His efforts were also rewarded with a prize Christmas pudding, as were all race finishers, including the elves, santas and reindeers!

LSARRC News 12th December 2012

U11 Boys Simon Holt and Harry Booth at Kendal for XC

Competition spirit warmed up the cold winters day which greeted Lytham runners at the beautiful Crooklands, Kendal, on Saturday for the third fixture of the Mid Lancs Cross Country series. A short hilly course was the order of the day, the number of laps varying according to category.  Three junior members of the club ran the event. In the U11 boys race 8yr olds Simon Holt and Harry Booth both gave good accounts of themselves with Simon finishing 32^nd in 7:48 and Harry 40^th in 8:16. In the U13 Girls race Emma Moulding produced a fantastic run to finish 7^th in 11:14.  The senior ladies were out to make their mark and defend their place in the 1^st division, following a 6k, 3 lap course. Katharine Hoyland was home first for the Women’s team (29:37), followed by Felicity Wolohan (31:29), and Catherine French (33:50). In close pursuit were Julia Rolfe (34:55), Fiona Geldard (35:39), Janice Cobley (36:18), Pamela Binns (38:10),Sylvia Gittens (38:13) and Dawn Lock (in under 60 min). LSARRC now proudly top the VF55 category in this competition. The senior men's team, following a 10k four lap course, was lead by the usual suspects of Andy Draper (38:17), Tom Howarth (39:54), Graham Webster (40:55), Terry Hellings (42:20), closely followed by Steve Quarmby (45:40) and Mark Selby (46:11) completing the 6 team members to count. Squad performances also came from Stan Greenhalgh (47:19), Colin Nelson (47:52) and cross country debutante Andy Sneddon (1:03:49). Greg Oulton started but was disappointingly unable to finish due to injury. In finishing 12th out of 22 teams and with early success in Burnley, the men’s team has every chance of moving out of the top of division 4 and gaining promotion back into division 3. In summary, another fantastic day for LSARRC XC.

The Senior LSARRC XC Squad

Colin Laidlaw strides the Longridge  7

On Sunday Lytham club members Colin Laidlaw, Sylvia Gittens and Vicki Cummings took part in the Longridge 7 mile race. The event followed a tough hilly course, but one which affords great views over the valleys. Laidlaw put in a pleasing performance, passing 5 or 6 runners on mile 4 up Jeffery Hill and maintaining his position to the finish. He completed the race in 52:05, 58^th place in a field of 213. Vicki Cummings was 152^nd overall, finishing in 1:04:32 and Sylvia Gittens was 171^st to complete in 1:08:15.

 

‘Team Ashworth’ were away to Bradford for a weekender at the start of December and whilst away they competed in the inaugural Bradford City 10k run. It took place on a glorious cold and crisp winter morning, with both Laura and Kev enjoying the course (despite all entrants running about 1k short of the ‘10k’ distance due to a marshalling error). Laura did exceptionally well to scoop the prize for first lady V35 (chip time of 38:58), whilst Kev too had a decent run to finish 61^st out of the total 538 competitors with a chip time of 35:41.

Rob G and Debbie C gaining their lead on the bikes!

Rob Goodall and Debbie Cooper set up a race challenge with pals around the Tocholes and Darwen Moor area on Sunday. It involved a 5.2 mile trail/fell route with about 700ft of climb, Debbie and Rob running, the other 2 competitors on mountain bikes. The bikers took an early lead with the downhill start but by the first mile the runners caught them on the hill out of Tocholes wood and then extended the lead on the climb up to Darwen Moor. The runners knew the hills would favour them but anticipated that once on the moor, the bikes would chase them down. However, the recent weather made conditions difficult atop the moor, particularly for the bikes, forcing them to dismount and push for for good sections. The runners, oblivious to their advantage, still pushed hard, and with the last mile mostly downhill, made it their quickest mile of the day to finish in just over an hour. The bikers had had it hard over the tops and approached the finish about 20 minutes later. The biking contingent have requested a re-match next year, hoping that fairer weather might swing the result a little closer!

LSARRC News 5th December 2012

The Lytham St Annes runners have been taking wintry conditions in their stride and displaying their usual zest in a range of events this week. On Sunday seven members took on the Guy’s 10 mile challenge starting from Bilsborrow near Garstang, hosted by Garstang RC. The course followed one flat, fast scenic lap progressing along St Michaels Road, Pinfold Lane, Preston Road, and returning through Woods Lane/Sowerby Road back to St Michael’s Road. In a field of 318, Peter Cruse’s performance won him first place back for both the club and his MV50 age category, finishing in 23^rd position overall in 1:01:43. Tom Haworth was next home, 29^th finisher overall in 1:03:01, followed by Steve Quarmby, 124^th in 1:36:37 and Trevor Willoughby 198^th, 1:22:15.  Andy Sneddon hit a good PB with his 1:36:37 time, 286^th finisher, which concluded a remarkable fortnight for him in which he achieved four personal bests including a 10k, a half-marathon and the club handicap. Janice Cobley and Bec Willetts ran for the women, Willetts as 225^th finisher in 1:25:46 and Cobley finishing in a creditable 1:36:30 in 282^nd place achieving her a high silver in Lady’s race standards.

                                 A line-up of the first 5 finishers in the November club handicap, from left,

                                 Jeremy McCandless, Janice Cobley, Derek Caborn,Pam Binns, and Andy Sneddon.

Also on Sunday Colin Laidlaw and Graham Webster travelled to Leigh for the Northern Veterans Athletics Club annual time prediction race. Distinguishing this event is that prior to racing, runners declare their predicted finishing time and the winner is the person whose actual time is closest to their predicted time. The 35 entrants ran either a 5k or a 10k course, almost entirely along parkland trails. Webster opted for the 10k and was first over the finish line in 38:50, positioning him 15th in the competition finishing 50 seconds quicker than his predicted time. Laidlaw also running completed the course in 42:40, 60 seconds quicker than his predicted time for 16th place.

Club member Greg Oulton made his half marathon debut in Las Vegas this weekend, finishing in a good time of 2:03:58.

Thursday’s frosty November evening brought out a number of good performances amongst regulars at the clubs monthly handicap fixture, seven of them running PB’s. Of particular note were those of Andy Sneddon, who won the race, and Laura Ashworth. Records show Laura’s previous best to have been set way back in November 2006 and, as she has competed in almost every handicap since, it was a remarkable run.  Another PB for Rob Goodall keeps him at the top of table with an increased his lead over nearest challengers Alex Wiggins and Joe Greenwood.

Two new runners took part, Carla Robinson and Barbara Holmes, along with Derek Caborn returning after a long absence.  

 
Lytham's mature ladies are topping the Mid Lancs League cross country tables after last week's event at Liverpool. Finishing second to Southport Waterloo AC and Red Rose Runners in the first round, they now head the WV55's table with 18 points and stand in good stead for a medal at the April Presentation. Pleasing results also for the gents, who find themselves top of the Mid Lancs cross country table (Division 4) after 2 fixtures. Club members are preparing to produce more inspired performances at the next stage of the competition on Saturday at Kendal.

LSARRC News 26th November 2012

Ladies cross-country team

In one of LSARRC’s best ever turnouts, 20 senior club enthusiasts and a selection of youngsters made an impact at the Mid-Lancs Cross Country League held at Sefton Park in Liverpool on Saturday. The competition attracted the cream of national cross country talent, this event also being the European Trials in advance of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Poland. The fixture gives up-and-coming athletes the opportunity to match themselves against established cross country stars.

Terry Hellings and Tony Croft at the Liverpool Race

The atmosphere was lively as competitors at all levels mixed, and the scenic race venue, steeped in rich autumn colours, provided a beautiful backdrop. Recent heavy rainfall rendered several parts of the course perilously muddy and heavy-going underfoot but luckily the rain held off for proceedings, as runners raced the moderately undulating course comprising laps of the park.

First out were the Club's six juniors taking part in the U11 Boys' and U15 Boys' and the U13 Girls' races. Next were the senior women, and lead runner Mel Koth did exceptionally well to run the 8.1k in 36:13. Following her two and a half minutes later was Katharine Hoyland, running her first cross country and taking the second "A Team" place in a good 38.59. Laura Ashworth completed the team in 40.34. Making up the "B Team" were Felicity Wolohan, Catherine French and Pam Hardman. Koth, Ashworth and Hardman scored in the WV35 category; Hardman together with Janice Cobley and Fiona Geldard counted in the WV45 and Cobley, Sylvia Gittins and Pam Binns made up the WV55 team.

Andy Draper

Andy Draper was the outstanding Lytham contender finishing the 9.8k course in 37.37 while sixty-year old Graham Webster gained a high place in his age category finishing in 41.06. Completing the team were Thomas Howarth, Terry Helling, Tony Croft and Kevin Ashworth. Full Mid Lancs. Newcomers Ashworth, 42.50 and Mark Selby, 45.56, both made creditable cross-country debuts. The club also scored in the MV40 category with a team of Webster, Helling, Croft and Ashworth, the first three of whom also qualified well for the MV50 competition.

FULL RESULTS:McCain Cross-Challenge: U11B - S. Holt, 65, 8.57; H. Booth, 103, 10.11. U13G: E. Moulding, 31, 12.51. SW: M. Koth, WV35, 93, 36.13; K. Hoyland, SW, 114, 38.59; L. Ashworth, WV35, 126, 40.54; F. Wolohan, SW, 133, 41.18; P. Hardman, WV45, 146, 45.16; C. French, WV35, 147, 45.48; J. Cobley, WV55, 151, 46.44; F. Geldard, WV45, 152, 46.46; S. Gittings, WV55, 159, 48.24; P. Binns, WV55, 163, 51.44; D. Lock, WV55, 170, 59.43. SM: A. Draper, SM, 170,37.37; T. Howarth, SM; G. Webster, MV60, 262, 41.06; T. Hellings, MV50, 299, 42.23; T. Croft, MV50, 304, 42.23; K. Ashworth, MV40, 314, 42.50; C. Laidlaw, MV50, M. Selby, SM, 391, 45.56; C. Nelson, SM, 409, 47.14.

LSARRC News 19th November 2012

The Lytham Greens were out in force and running on characteristically good form in the fourth and final of the Guild race series, the Preston 10 miler, on Sunday. In ideal conditions, the race started at South Ribble from Hutton Grammar School, taking in a double loop of Hutton, Longton and Walmer Bridge on a fast flat course. In a field of 659 entrants, 10 LSARRC members raced, with Andy Draper leading the squad home. In what was a tense finish, Draper narrowly missed out on the place above but came back in 6^th place overall in a cracking time of 57:36, earning him a personal best. Peter Cruse was next in with a 1:00:58 finish, 18^th place. There was a flourish of PB’s within the results: Simon Denye hit one in 01:02:21, 17^th place overall, also a silver standard run, Graham Webster was 1^st M60 in 01:04:31 finishing in 45^th place. The Ashworth’s added to their spree of racing achievements, Kevin Ashworth finishing in 1:07:23, 73^rd overall, beating his previous PB for this distance by 3 minutes and Laura Ashworth in 178^th position, recording 01:15:58, this race confirming her Silver status in Lady’s race standards. Pam Hardman was 432^nd overall in 01:26:27, another PB and Gill Murphy, in her first event since June having struggled with injury, ran a confidence inspiring race finishing 368^th, in 01.26.39 which was comfortably within her target time. Rob Goodall also came in under his 1hr 30 target, 425^th overall in 01:29:20 and Pamela Binns rounded up a great set of results with her 01:41:57 finish, running a Silver standard performance and netting a PB. 

Over in Cumbria on Sunday veteran members Bill and Dawn Lock were in attendance for the inaugural staging of the Arnside Knott Fell Race. Race organizers Dallam AC had sought an alternative venue after years of successful cross-country races in nearby Eaves Wood were halted by access problems. The out and back 5.5 mile, 919 foot climb route took competitors over the shoulder of the Knott before climbing from sea level at New Barnes Bay to the trig point. From a field of 150 entrants Bill and Dawn, the LSARRC contingent,  finished in times of 70:40 and 78:00 respectively.
 
Club member Tony Croft braved the elements and took on the Full Tour of Pendle fell race on Saturday. This is one of the classic races in the fell running calendar and incorporates a 17 mile route from the village of Barley. The 11 check points take runners on a tour that involves 4800ft of accent, six steep climbs and 4 steep descents. Fortunately the rain stopped before the start of the race the cloud lifted to give good visibility. This was Tony’s first comeback to fell racing in 3 years, but maximum effort earned him a very creditable finish of 4hrs 03min.  

Andy Sneddon

 Andy Sneddon was back to racing on Sunday in the Conwy half marathon, running the event with determined grit which earned him a PB at this distance by over 9 minutes. Sneddon finished in 2h 17m 52s, 1335^th in a field of 1592 runners. The scenic course, starting and finishing at Conwy Castle, comprised around 75% road and 25% beach and gravel tracks, and took in a full circuit of the Great Orme including around 500 feet of climb between miles 5 and 7. 

 

LSARRC News 12th November 2012

Graham Webster

LSA Road Runners Club news is glittering this week as members Graham Webster and Barbara Holmes put in gold winning performances in their respective fields. At Stormont, Belfast on Saturday Webster secured the gold medal at the British and Irish Masters Athletic Federation Cross Country International Championships, as part of the England team. He ran the 8k course of 4 laps over 2 split level football pitches in cold but mostly sunny conditions, finishing in 32m 11s so achieving overall 12^th place in the V60 category.

Barbara Holmes

On 3^rd November Barbara Holmes competed in the UIPM 2012 World Biathle in Dubai. In this challenging competition consisting of continuous 1000m run, 100m sea swim and 1000m run she also struck gold, becoming World Champion for the 3rd year running in the Masters Ladies B group (age 50-60 years). This year saw tough and fresh competition within Holmes’s age category but her desire to win cut through. To qualify for the GB Team she won at the British Biathle Championships which were held in Salford Quays in July, (again for the 3rd year running). 

Lytham Members at the Windmill 10k

The Lytham Road Runners pulled out great performances at the Windmill 10k, Lytham, on a crystal clear Remembrance Sunday. The race attracted a sizeable crowd of entrants, and the fast and flat course followed a lap which took in the coastal front of Lytham and Fairhaven Lake. Prior to the race starting, a moving tribute was made to those lost in war and the two minute silence was observed; the tranquil setting perfect host to the scene. The LSARRC turnout was strong, with eight ladies and nine men competing.  Joe Greenwood put in a strong performance and was home first in 7^th place overall, finishing in 36.29. Peter Cruse followed in 10^th position, securing best in V60 category, finishing in 37.23, and next for the men was Roy Upton in 33^rd place, 41.10. Both Rob Goodall and Graham Young achieved PB’s, Young running his best 10k for 3 years.  The ladies produced a crop of outstanding performances doing the Club proud. Katharine Highland, 78^th overall, was first back for the girls and first in her F age category. Laura Ashworth’s 45.13 time made her 84^th finisher overall and 2^nd VF35 in the race – a personal best by a two minute margin and yet another silver performance in Lady’s Race Standards. Janice Cobley continued the Gold run for LSARRC with her 54.43 finish. She won the VF60 category in the race, and in her finishing time easily hit a Gold standard performance for the F60-65 age group. 

Windmill 10k Results (of 553 entrants overall) Men: Joe Greenwood, 7^th, 36.29, Peter Cruse 10^th 1^st V50 37.23, Roy Upton 33^rd,41.10, Colin Laidlaw 63^rd, 43.45, Graham Young 236^th, 52.09, Paul Burrows 255th, 52.55, Rob Goodall 270^th,53.59, Gregory Oulton 327^th, 55.54 (pacing), Jeremy McCandles 398^th, 59.32.

Ladies: Katharine Highland 78^th (1^st in F category) 44.50, Laura Ashworth 84^th  (2^nd VF35, silver standard) 45.13, Catherine French 192^nd,50.27, Felicity Wolohan 206^th, 50.40, Pippa Hughes 218^th, 51.23, Janice Cobley 298^th (1^st VF60) 54.43 (gold standard), Elizabeth Walton 309^th, 55.07, Karen Lanigan 326^th 55.54.

LSARRC News 5th November 2012

Saturday saw the Club on fine form with Lytham St. Annes RRC fielding four teams for what has become an annual trip to the ECCA Cross-Country Relay Championships. The event was held at Berry Hill Park, Mansfield, where the event has been staged since 1989.The sleet and rain at the start of the day was a little disparaging but later sunshine and blue skies improved the outlook for club morale and all competing.

Some of our ladies at Mansfield

 First out on the undulating course were the women's A and B teams lead by Sylvia Gittins and Pam Binns who put in good first legs in 17.23 and 18.20 respectively to take their teams into 118th and 119th places. Second leg A team runner Janice Cobley ran a good leg of 16.48 before handing over to Fiona Geldard who brought the team in five places up with the team's fastest leg of 16.26. Lytham's A Team finished in 50:38 and 102nd.

Terry Hellings was the men's captain for the day and he split the men into two evenly matched teams. In the men’s competition Terry Hellings and Willie Richmond raced against each other. They finished 40 seconds apart with Richmond finishing in 21:06 to Hellings 21:46 for 167th for the B Team against 175th for the A team. The margin widened slightly on the second leg with Stan Greenhalgh finishing in 22:33 and 164 for B and Greg Oulton in 26:37 and 174 for A. Third leg runners Nigel Simpkin, 24:02, 162nd and Steve Quarmby, 21:55, 174th finished well but left A Team's Thomas Howarth with too much to do to catch B Team's Graham Webster in spite of doing the faster leg and the club's best. Howarth finished in 20:21 to Webster's 20:32. The two teams finished in 145th in 1:28.15 (B Team) and 151st in 1:30.41 (A Team).

FULL RESULTS: SENIOR WOMEN - LSARRC'A': 50.38.05 102 / 102: (1) S. Gittins,17:23.3 (118); (2) J. Cobley,16:48.3 (107); (3) F. Geldard, 16:26.4 (102); LSARRC'B': (1) P. Binns, 18.20.9 (119); (2) D. Lock, 20.42.0 (109). SENIOR MEN: LSARRC'B': 1.28.15, 145 / 157: (1) W. Richmond, 21.06.8 (167); (2) S. Greenhalgh, 22.33.2 (164); (3) N. Simpkin, 24.02.6 (162); (4) G. Webster, 20.32.3(145); LSARRC'A': 1.30.41, 151 / 157: (1) T. Hellings, 21:46.0 (175); (2) G. Oulton, 26.37.7 (174); (3) S. Quarmby, 21.55.6 (165); (4) T. Howarth, 20.21.7 (151).

Andy Sneddon

Sunday. Andy Sneddon not only survived the tough Helvellyn 15k trail race but also achieved his best finish so far. In freezing conditions, against an icy wind and on slippery terrain he completed the race in 1:47:01 finishing 315^th out of 392. John Wild also ran for LSARRC, and finishing in 277^th place.  

Pam Hardman, Rebecca Willets and Peter Cruse were entrants in the Derwent 10 miler. The day was cold and sunny, with the Keswick course affording gentle undulations and spectacular views of Derwent Water and the snow capped mountains.

Trevor Willoughby flew the flag for Lytham running an 8.5 miler through the Yorkshire villages, finishing in 71:21. It was a well marshalled race, boasting good prizes and an outstanding hotpot served up to replenish competitors afterwards.

 

Over on Australian shores at the weekend Mark Willett ran in the Sydney 10k, sneaking in under 40 minutes with a sprint inside the Olympic stadium!