LSARRC News 17th September 2013

Graham Webster  on anchor leg.

 A squad of fourteen LSARRC members, undeterred by the abrupt onset of Autumnal weather, attended the 14th North West Counties Road Relays combined championship (incorporating the Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside Championships) at Salt Ayre Sports Centre in Lancaster on Sunday. In stark contrast to the bright summery weather on Saturday, the skies were dark, the rain poured down and the wind blew. However the Lytham turnout was strong enough to produce two ladies teams of three, and two men’s teams of four.

A pleasant 4.4k course took runners from the home straight of the track through the sports centre car park and out along the wide Wyre-side cycle paths to return after one loop for the Juniors and two loops for the Seniors back into the stadium and finish aside the start.

Front runners Barbara Holmes of the women's A Team and Pam Binns of the B Team had a bit of trouble making the start line but once running overtook a couple of  their leg competitors to hand over to Pippa Hughes, who had a good run recording 21:06 and Janice Cobley respectively.  Last leg runners Fiona Geldard and Catherine French brought the teams home in good style.  Dawn Lock ran 28:02 for one leg of the C Team. The Senior Men had one leg more on a similar length course going off at 2:30pm.  Running the first leg of the faster team was Peter Cruse, handing over to Terry Hellings, Colin Laidlaw and with Graham Webster on anchor leg. The Men's B Team consisted of Mark Selby who returned in 17:53 to hand over to Richard Storey, followed by Greg Oulton and, by a late decision, Bill Lock who had been officiating earlier in the day and who completed his leg in 25:10. 

Relays Full results: Senior Women Team A, 10^th in Lancashire Championships, 1:02:31, 25^th overall. 1.Barbara Holmes (12th) 20:13, 2.Pippa Hughes (12th) 21:18, 3.Fiona Geldard (10th) 21:00. Senior Women Team B, 13^th in Lancashire Championships,1:14:15,  29th overall.1.Pamela Binns (16th) 24:11, 2.Janice Cobley (14th) 23:06, 3.Catherine French (13th) 26:58.Team C, Dawn Lock -- 28:02.                  

4 of The Senior Men's team at the Relays, from L-R:
Bill Lock, Greg Oulton, Terry Hellings, Graham Webster 

Senior Men Team A, 16th in Lancashire Championships, 1:09:25  46th overall. 1. Peter Cruse (13th) 15:53, 2. Terry Hellings (17th) 18:18, 3. Colin Laidlaw (17th) 18:21,  4.Graham Webster (16th) 16:53. Senior Men Team B 20^th in Lancashire Championships, 1:24:05, 52nd overall. 1. Mark Selby (20th) 17:52, 2.Richard Storey (19th) 18:47, 3.Greg Oulton(18th) 22:08, 4. Bill Lock (20th) 25:18.

Mark Willett and Simon Denye headed North East for the 33^rd Great North Run on Sunday. They were amongst almost 56,000 entrants, of 100,000 applicants, who took to the streets of Tyneside for the event. These numbers represent a vast increase in numbers from its beginnings in 1981 when just 12,000 people ran. For Lytham, Simon Denye finished with a big PB on what was a tough wet and windy day in a time of 1:21:26, which sets him up well for his marathon challenge in two weeks. Willett, whose half marathon challenge continues unabated was happy with his1.26.17 finish in the race, just 29 seconds outside of his PB. He crossed the line in joint 500th place out a field of nearly 56,000! Ethiopian star Bekele was first to cross the line in a time of 60:08, with UK Farah just one second behind.

Across the channel in Ballymena, NI, Willie Richmond raced in the Slemish Challenge 17.2m on Saturday. Richmond, using the race as a training opportunity, completed the hilly course in 2:20:35.

LSARRC Press Report 10th September 2013

Joe Greenwood - leading Lytham man, mid stride at
the September Inter Club Grand Prix at Worden Park.
Also pictured, Graham Webster and Peter Cruse.

The Inter Club Grand Prix summer series drew to a close as the final race of the season was run at Worden Park in Leyland on Wednesday. A bright, late summers evening gave competitors from the six Lancashire clubs advantageous running conditions, albeit very warm for all those sprinting over the finish line. Leafy cover from the Park’s trees and the wooded areas provided some reprieve from the humidity. 19 Lytham members made up the total field of 183. Joe Greenwood was first to finish for the club in 19^th place, in 23.22, followed by Tom Haworth in 22^nd, 23.59. Peter Cruse counted next in 28^th, 24.25 and 1^st V50. Graham Webster finished in 49^th, 25.42 and first V60. Upton, Hirsh, Hellings, Koth , Richmond and Laidlaw were counters for the team. Mel Koth was first lady for the club, finishing 14^th female and 92nd overall in 28.08. In the overall results, Lytham came a slightly disappointing 6th in the Open and the Vets, however coming second in the Vet50's, 3rd in the Vet60's and 4th in the Ladies were all very welcome results. The race was won by Jamaine Coleman of Preston in a time of 20.41 with Preston also taking the winning open team.

The Lytham Squad at Worden Park, from L - R:
Oliver Hirsh, Richard Storey, Graham Webster, Tom Haworth, Willie Richmond,
Debbie Cooper, Bec Willetts, Pam Binns, Roy Upton, Catherine French, Joe Greenwood,
Felicity Woolohan, Katharine Hoyland, Dawn Lock.  

The weather thankfully held off and sunshine prevailed the for the Autumn 5K, the first of Blackpool Wyre & Fylde AC's two September open track meetings. The four members of Lytham St. Annes RRC who ran all took awards away with them; three veteran category prizes and one Civil Service medal went to Lytham members.  Peter Cruse, finishing 5th in 18:33, was the first Vet 50 to finish.  Pam Binns and Dawn Lock took the FV50 and FV55 prizes and Colin Laidlaw took the bronze medal in Civil Service 5K Championship with 21:16 and 20th.  It was pleasant to see two newcomers to Lytham also competing.  Neil Tate finished one place back from Colin in 21:32 and Jennifer Aldworth ran 22:31 for 32nd place.

Archie Dowds making an impressive impact in his first competition. 

Ten junior members of the Lytham club competed in the first of a series of two track and field meetings hosted by their neighbouring club Blackpool Wyre and Fylde AC. The hard work of the junior athletes was rewarded with eight medals and twelve personal best performances. The youngest was eight year old Archie Dowds who was clearly undaunted by his first track and field competition. He took silver in the 600m in 2:04.8, silver in the 80m in 12.8 and silver again in the long jump (3.03). In the U11 boys competition the three Lytham boys Simon Holt, James Nicholas and Farron O’Higgins recorded personal bests in all their events. In the 600m Simon Holt finished 2^nd in 1:54.9, James Nicholas was 3^rd in 2:00.2 and Farron O’Higgins 7^th in 2:08.4. In the 80m Nicholas finished 2^nd in 12.3, Holt =3^rd in 12.6 and O’Higgins 9^th in 13.6. In the Long Jump Holt was 3rd (3.64m) and O’Higgins 11^th (3.01m). Three U11 girls represented the club and in the 600m race they all ran PB’s. Hollie Winstanley finished 12^th in 2:14.1, Rebecca Tate was 24^th in 2:29.9 and Georgia Norman was 27^th in 2:37.5. In the 80m Norman was 21^st in 14.1 and Winstanley 28^th in 15.00. In the Long Jump Winstanley jumped 2.84m (22^nd) and Tate 2.53m (27^th). Chloe Norman and Ella Moulding were the two U13girls competing. Chloe ran a superb 800m race to finish 4^th in 2:56.1 and finished 13^th in the 100m in 16.1 and 17^th in the Long Jump (2.94m). Ella Moulding returned to the track for the 1500m and was a comfortable winner in 5:30.5. Layla Foley competed in her first 300m race and ran a very strong race to finish 1^st in her heat and 5^th overall in 46.2.

In a more informal capacity, Pam Binns and Catherine French set out for the Lakes on Thursday and enjoyed two days of land and water activities set amongst the stunning location of Lake Buttermere and Crummock Water.The Lytham ladies enjoyed lakeside running and Catherine braved Lake Buttermere, wetsuit clad, for an invigorating swim in the clear, still waters.  

LSARRC News 3rd September 2013

LSARRC is sad to report the death of Rod Fisher on Saturday 24th August 2013 at the age of 80. He was a co-founder of the Club and very influential in shaping its early development. In April 1998 Rod helped his friend Bryan Grundy to found a running club in Lytham; his original home town. Rod was always most supportive of newer runners. Rod’s enthusiasm was central to the club expanding its activities from just local routes to cross-country, fell running and track and field athletics.  In 2008 a Junior Section was added and the Club now comprises some 80 adult and 40 junior members.  It's come a long way from the small gathering of friends interested in keeping fit that Rod and Bryan started and both take credit for the well-established and dynamic organization it has become today.

The August handicap comp. A post-race photo opportunity...
Ready for the chips and buffet you lot?!

Nineteen entrants were eager for the challenge at the LSARR Club August Summer handicap on Thursday. Participants ran in mild conditions on a still, light evening. Congratulations are due to Colin Laidlaw on winning and to runner-up Tom Howarth who ran a PB. Oliver Hirsh has held the lead since the first race in April but there are other chasers for title, most notably Tom Howarth and Joe Greenwood. Completing the 4.35 mile course were: Colin Laidlaw, Tom Howarth, Oliver Hirsh, Pam Binns, Mark Willett, Debbie Cooper, Richard Storey, Joe Greenwood, Julia Rolfe, Graham Webster, Bec Willetts, Alex Wiggins, Dawn Lock, Brian Porter, Fiona Geldard, Greg Oulton, Catherine French, Liz Boon and Sylvia Gittens.

LSARRC members were out racing the promenade at the weekend at two separate events: the Hilton 10k Saturday and Hilton half marathon on Sunday. For the 10k, Peter Cruse was first to finish for the club in 26^th position, 38.36. He was followed by Oliver Hirsh, 43^rd in 41.07, and just seconds afterwards, Roy Upton, 44^th in 41.14. First Lytham lady Felicity Woolohan put in a great performance, finishing with a PB in 46.45 and 9^th female finisher in 110^th position overall. She is now within a whiskers breadth of achieving a bronze standard time. Next lady was Sylvia Gittens, 207^th in 55.30, and Mark Willett finished the race in 56.34 who ran alongside Ness Horne who is a relative newcomer to the racing. Mark Willett ran the Hilton Half Marathon in dry but very blustery conditions on Sunday. He finished in 1.28.08 and is well on his way to completing his goal of 40 half marathons, this marking the 33^rd , in aid of cancer research.

Mark Willett going strong on the prom
as part of his half marathon challenge. No 33/40: Check!

Graham Webster and Tom Howarth competed at the Lancaster 5k race series on Saturday, in race 3 of 4. The race followed a flat, windy course. Tom Howarth finished 7^th male, and Graham Webster crossed the line 19.01, 19^th finisher and first V60.

Mel Koth competed in the Delamere Trail 10k on Sunday. The scenic course took in some great scenery and tough climb, especially the final ascent up to the "old pale pike". Koth finished 1st lady and 15th overall in 48:20. 

Group shot at the Stannah social run on Sunday.

In a more informal setting, ten members assembled for no 6 of the club Sunday Summer Social runs at Stannah, Thornton. Bill and Dawn Lock, Liz Boon, Bec Willett, Greg Oulton, Terry Hellings, Pam Binns, Janice Cobley, Fiona Geldard and Catherine French all enjoyed the 5 mile rural course which included lanes, fields and long grass, skirted a golf course and followed round part of the wyre estuary with interesting sights of boats in various states of sea-worthiness and intriguing huts and builds. The day was mild and still. Activities concluded with obligatory barms, cakes and hot brews in the visitor cafe. 

Principle event of the day's activities:
Cake.

Pam Binns, Janice Cobley and Fiona Geldard almost (but not quite)
blending in with surroundings.

 This is an early announcement of the 14^th running of the ever-popular Green Drive Five Race at 11am on Sunday 20^th October 2013. This is a 5 mile, fast, flat, largely rural course which starts from Green Drive. The first 300 finishers receive an event technical t-shirt and there will be prizes for all age categories. The race fee is £10 for runners affiliated to a club, or £12 for un-attached runners. Entries can be completed online at ukresults.net, on race day from 9.30am at Lytham CE Primary School. For further enquiries please contact the Race Director, Liz Boon on 07967554740.

LSARRC News 28th August 2013

Going strong on his 40 before 40 half marathon challenge:
Willett at the Fleetwood half marathon. 

Serial half marathon runner and LSARRC member Mark Willett competed in the Fleetwood Half Marathon on Sunday. The race started at Fleetwood YMCA leisure centre, the course following the promenade and streets of the town. He ran the race in hot, sunny conditions and finished in a satisfying 1hr 31. This marked race 32 of his end goal of 40, a challenge which he has undertaken to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Trail and Fell enthusiast Debbie Cooper took on the Chipping Fell Race on Saturday. She had an excellent run on the 7.5 mile course, finishing in 1hr 34, knocking an impressive 15 minutes off last years time of 1hr 49  Drier conditions prevailed this year making the course quite runnable, compared to last, which Cooper described as ‘like running through a swamp for miles!’ Cooper was 4^th lady finisher. The course comprised a steady ascending drag out across the fields to the fells and then a steep climb up Parlick along the ridge. Runners then came off back down the other side and back up Parlick, down and back across the fields. The race involved a testing 1801 feet of climb. The race is part of the Chipping Show, which showcases sheep racing, show horses, a variety of farm animals and a concluding tractor race. Cooper described it as ‘a great day out and a tough little race’.

Club member Julia Rolfe competed in the 5 mile Horwich Jubilee road race on Wednesday.  The race comprises a 2 lap route along the reservoir at Rivington, and then a long gradual ascent on country road. Rolfe came 2^nd FV50 in 40.01.

Last Saturday, with an evening start of 7pm saw Lytham Road Runner Colin Alexander start "Hell on the Humber 2013", a 12 hour night endurance event. It was Colin's 2nd attempt at the popular event now in its 3rd year. The event saw 200 competitors run a 4 mile lap back and forth across the iconic Humber Bridge. Colin was delighted to complete 11 laps totalling 44 miles in some challenging weather of gales and heavy rain. This saw an improvement of 8 miles from last year’s event. Colin said "you wouldn't know from looking but none of the lap is flat. This makes it a tough challenge for a runner of my standard, as do the hours of darkness when trying to keep adding miles to your total. The camaraderie of fellow competitors is amazing and keeps you going during many moments of doubt" Distances covered ranged from 20 miles to the winner, John Nicholson's 76 miles.

LSARRC News 20th August 2013

The fifth Inter-Club Grand Prix, held at Astley Park, Chorley, on Wednesday was run in unsettled weather but this failed to detract from the highlights for the Lytham club which included third placing in the Women's and Vet60's competition. The Club put in a good performance in the Women's and Vet 60s but struggled to fifth in the Vets' and Vet 50's and was pushed into sixth in the Open by stronger teams from Chorley and Red Rose.  For Lytham, who almost traditionally come fourth in everything, sixth in the Open was a disappointment. In time for the starting gun, the rain abated and the race went underway damp but quite pleasant conditions.  Preston's Robert Affleck was in fine form winning in 25:29 and leading in a solid Preston contingent in 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th places to take four of the six top spots leaving Wesham with the remaining two wins.

The full Lytham squad at the 5th Inter-Clun Grand Prix at Astley Park

LSARRC's third-placed ladies team consisted of Mel Koth, Debbie Cooper, Julia Rolfe, Bec Willetts and Fiona Geldard.  Mel Koth, 75th overall, led the team in and put in a good performance to finish in 34:28.  She was well up in the woman's competition in eighth, her highest Inter-Club placing of the season.  Debbie Cooper finished 22nd woman in 38:23 and made the Open team for the first time. Julia Rolfe finished in 39:39, making not only the women's team but also the Vet 50s.  Completing a good team were Bec Willetts, 42:22 and Fiona Geldard, 45:02.

Debbie Cooper and Julia Rolfe at Astley Park

The other success was provided by the Vet's 60's. Graham Webster added another first to his record of Vet 60 wins at Blackpool and Lytham to finish the Chorley course in 31:35, 41st overall.  He was backed up by Roy Stevens, 10th Vet 60 in 37:04 and Pam Binns who didn't let a weekend Half Marathon deter her from finishing 19th Vet 60 in 46:31, to count in the Lytham team.  

Leading LSARRC in were Joe Greenwood and Thomas Howarth. Greenwood finished his first Chorley Inter-Club18th in 29:03 with Howarth just six places back in 29:50.  Mark Willett, the Club's third counter, put in a strong performance, 38th in 31:15, three places ahead of Webster.  Oliver Hirsh continues his rise up the team from 9th at Lytham to 6th at Preston and now with his highest to date, fifth.  Hirsh, 32:15, made 49th overall, 22nd Vet and second counter in the Vet's.  Taking the sixth team place was Kevin Ashworth making a truly noble effort for the Club after completing his first marathon at the Isle of Man only three days earlier.  Ashworth was 58th in 32:57.  Remaining members of the Open team were Koth, Terry Hellings, 76th in 34:28, Stevens and Cooper.

Making up the full Lytham squad were Bill Lock, MV70, 144th, 46:58; Andy Sneddon, MV45, 151^st, 51:13; Dawn Lock, WV65, 154^th, 53:41.

Lytham members were back enjoying a second opportunity to mix and match running, socializing and countryside on Sunday’s summer run this week at the idyllic location of Rivington. A delightful 8 mile course was chosen and led by a Bolton Harriers member, who joined Fiona Geldard, Bec Willett, Bill and Dawn Lock along mostly level terrain beside the beautiful Rivington and Yarrow Reservoirs starting from Rivington's Lower Barn to White Coppice.

Lytham Lady Sue Godfrey put in a fine run after a long break from competition at Birchwood 10k at Warrington on Sunday. She was among a field of 764 competitors, finishing 703^rd in 1:05, which was inside her target time of 66 minutes. She raced in memory of her nephew. The fast, mostly flat course incorporates three inclines, with the final kilometre being in descent. Conditions were breezy and not too hot, with all finishers receiving a towel and a bunch of flowers for the ladies. On Saturday Julia Rolfe and James Whitworth ran the Catforth 5k on a very rainy evening. Rolfe was 1^st VF50 in 24.20 and Whitworth 2^nd V65 in 27.10.

LSARRC News 13th August 2013

Lytham club members are making a habit of scoring at the Mid Lancs League track and field meetings and once again at the fifth round of the competition at Hyndburn on Saturday, they took away a good score. On a mainly dry, overcast and mild day, throwers Jeremy McCandless and Greg Oulton were responsible for adding 21 points between them. This gave the Club a total of 153 for the season and sufficient to hold onto their 8th position in Men's Division II, one of their best in recent years. First on the field was McCandless with his best event, the hammer, in which he threw 13m45 for 6th longest of the day and his biggest points score of 5. He followed this with tenth-place throws of 6m5 in the shot putt (3 points) and 17m07 in the discus (4 points). Team-mate Oulton threw two counting javelin attempts with his longest, 16m58, a PB and also gaining his highest points score of 4. Oulton also achieved PBs in the shot putt (6m22, 12th, 2 points) and the discus (15m41, 11th, 3 points). Sole representative on the track was Graham Webster in the Senior Men's 1500m where he ran 5:13:6 for 14th, pipped for the remaining second division points by new league members Knowsley Harriers.

Combining a relaxing break away with some challenging but scenic Manx road competition, LSARR members Kevin Ashworth ran the full Isle of Man marathon, and Laura Ashworth, Pamela Hardman, Pamela Binns and Janice Cobley took on the half marathon in the same event. The results for the Lytham collective represented a sweep of victory: on Sunday’s race, Kevin Ashworth, running his first ever marathon, finished in an astonishing 3:28:24 in 29^th place overall. In the half marathon, Laura Ashworth won 2nd place in her VF35 category in a time of 1:48:18, Pam Hardman won 2nd place in her age group finishing in 1:56:59, Janice Cobley won 3rd place in her age group in a time of 2.15.39 and Pam Binns won 2nd place in her age group in 2.12.04. The jubilant club members returned with an event glass plaque.

Fiona Geldard and Graham Webster competed in the Northern Vets AC 10k championships at Bispham on Sunday. The undulating course presented a challenge to the 172 entrants, run in windy conditions and the threat of rain. Geldard and Webster crossed the finish line in 41.00 and 58.12 respectively, in positions 54 and 161. Webster took the 3rd vet 60 category and Geldard, returning to competition after a prolonged period of injury, was happy with her performance.

Also on Sunday a group of six Club members met at Tockholes visitor centre for one of the social summer runs. The emphasis on these runs is less on the competition and more on the group and social aspect, but certainly no less of a challenge. This week the five mile course looped up and round the heights of Darwen tower, treating runners to beautiful local views, landscapes and countryside terrain. Luckily the rain held off but the winds were strong at height and the skies dramatic. Debbie Cooper, Ness Horne, Mark Willett, Catherine French, Bill Lock and Dawn Lock concluded the run at the visitor Cafe where chips, barms and hot brews were the order of the day.

Julia Rolfe and Mark Willetts took part in the Pilling 10k last Wednesday on a warm evening. The race started near the Elletson Arms and the course followed quiet country lanes. Rolfe made an impressive finish as 1^st FV 50 in 50.03 and Mark Willetts was 6^th Male in 40.40.

LSARRC News 5th August 2013

The Farleton Knott Fell Squad:
L-R Greg Oulton, Dawn Lock, Terry Hellings, Debbie Cooper

At the Farelton Knott Fell Race on Sunday it was a small but resilient group of Lytham St. Annes Road Runners Club members who tackled the fourth and final round of this year's Inter-Club Fell Series.  Farleton Knott Fell Race was the selected race and the first British Open Fell Runners Association race to be included.

This was the hardest of the season's courses and in wet or windy weather could have been almost impossible.  Tricky even for seasoned fell runners, it promised to test to the limit the less experienced thirty plus inter-club runners.  The first section involved a runnable climb nearly to the summit with a long level stretch that eased the way up.  Similarly, the return, down parallel paths, was also a forgiving passage.  But separating the two simple and scenic sections was a plunge down the southern scree slope to within a field's length of the start and an exhausting climb back to the top some 200 metres above. 

First woman for Lytham Debbie Cooper

Nimble and practiced fell runner Debbie Cooper was LSARRC's first finisher, passing Terry Hellings, the Club's leader at the previous two events, on the steep climb back to the summit.  Cooper finished in 59:44, 90th overall and third women in the Inter-Club standing her in good stead for an end-of-season prize.  Hellings finished 1:01:29 six places back and the other two team members, Greg Oulton and Dawn Lock finished 123rd in 1:15:03 and 125th in 1:31:35 respectively.

Lytham fielded incomplete teams in the Open, Ladies, Vets, 50s and 60s teams.  The four team members performed well enough to take 4th in the Open and went one better in the Ladies, 3rd.

Lytham members Graham Webster and Pam Binns competed in the Northern vets 5000m track Championships at Leigh Sports Village on Wednesday. Pam Binns put in a sterling performance in the 5000m track event placing her in the esteemed position of 1st FV65 (27m 46.9s). This was Binns’ first track race for an undisclosed number of years and probably her first ever 5000m track race. Graham Webster was also 3rd mv60 and medal winner.

In LSARRC Junior’s news, Alex Stanier, whilst on a family holiday in Austria, competed in the local Leoganger Sonnberg 11.5km multi terrain race. Alex rose to the challenge of both the step up in distance and the hilly course and ran a very good race, finishing 1^st in the U17B category and 17^th overall in a time of 49:23.09.