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).

LSARRC 17th March 2020

Another record-breaking performance by Liz Abbott at the Trimpell 20 Mile race.
 
The Trimpell 20 Mile race, an event often used as part of the training for the now cancelled London Marathon was held on Sunday 17th and 6 of Lytham’s athletes took part.  Liz Abbott was first home for Lytham finishing 16th overall and 2nd female in 2:06:16 breaking the club record in the process.  Liz now holds the club record for every distance from 5k to marathon.  Also running for Lytham were Andrew Draper (22nd in 2:11:13), Neil Tate (59th in 2:24:16), Gill Draper (62nd in 2:24:44), Sarah Cook (328th in 3:19:45) and Susan Hawitt (355th in 3:25:16).

Parkrun news, Ross McKelvie was first home at the Lytham Hall parkrun with a new personal best time of 16:54.  Paul Veevers was 3rd in 18:48.  The next senior athlete home for Lytham was Mark Selby, in 20:25 for 12th.  Other Results:  Darran Ames 21:20 (21st), Chris Bowker 21:49 (27th), Stephen Wise 23:56 (59th), Mark Hughes 24:43 (76th), Finlay Hughes 25:13 (87th), Peter Thomson 25:18 (89th),  Kirsten Burnett 25:21(90th), Claire Markham 26:33 (111th), Jen Trohear 27:43 (131st), Elizabeth Canavan 27:53 (135th), Claire England 28:17 (140th), Vicki Richardson 28:36 (146th), Maria Tierney 29:47 (170yh), Robert Parker 29:51 (174th), Adrian Sargent 29:52 (175th), Pamela Binns 29:53 (176th), Bob Clough 30:26 (182nd), Sarah Cook 30:47 (187th), Laura Byrne 30:48 (188th), Sylvia Gittins 30:59 (191st), Julie Wiseman 46:56 (264th), and Sue Henry 46:56 (265th).

At the Blackpool parkrun Catherine Carrdus was first female home in 19:36 and Heidi Haigh was 4th at the Fleetwood Promenade parkrun in 25:06.  Further a field at the Storthes Hall parkrun Joanna Goorney ran the course in 23:37 for 1st female spot, and Jennifer Hill rant the Witton Park parkrun in 57:44 for 52nd.

Junior news

Lytham’s Sophie Bohannon was selected to represent Lancashire in the English Schools Cross Country Championships held at Sefton Park, Liverpool on Saturday 14th, and an event that attracts the best young athletes in country.  Sophie finished as 8th counter in the Lancashire junior girls team completing the 3000m course in 12:45 and ensuring Lancashire won the Stedman Trophy for the highest placed 8th counter.

Lytham’s junior athletes were out in force and producing some excellent performances at Saturday’s Lytham Hall 5k parkrun.  First home for Lytham’s junior athletes was Matthew Holton finishing 8th in 20:01 and 2nd in his JM11-14 age group with Oliver Thomson 3rd same age group and 15th overall in 20:48.  Jayden Richardson 1st in his JM10 age group and 20th overall in 21:17.  Ben Gregson ran well to finish 31st in 22:18 and as 2nd JM15-17.  Maddy Markham incorporated parkrun as part of a long training run but still finished as 1st JW15-17 in 22:38. Making their parkrun debuts were Oscar Drysdale (75th in 24:43) and Kiefer Richardson (145th in 28:35).  Also representing Lytham were Oscar Holmes (47th in 22:56), Morgan Pritchard (40th in 22:42), Adhamh Holton (80th in 24:59), Finlay Hughes (87th in 25:13), Freddie Markham (110th in 26:31) and Nicholas Holton (216th in 33:13). 

Lytham juniors also put in some excellent performances at Park View junior 2k parkrun with 8 from the 1st 9 finishers and with the first 3 of Matthew Holton (1st in 7:09), Jayden Richardson (2nd in 7:19) and Oliver Thomson (3rd in 7:38) all producing personal best performances.  Also producing personal best performances were Kiefer Richardson (12th in 9:13), Georgina Andrews (13th in 9:14), Evie Alker (22nd in 10:22) and Joshua McAfee (30th in 11:15).  Also representing Lytham were Joe Alker (4th in 8:09), Finlay Hughes (6th in 8:34), Oscar Drysdale (7th in 8:36), Adam Jackson (8th in 8:41), Roman Holmes (9th in 8:47) and Jessica McNiven (17th in 9:42).

LSARRC News 10th March 2020

Liz Abott - 1st lady at Inverness HM

On Sunday 8th March Lytham’s Liz Abbott returned to Inverness to defend the half marathon title she won in 2019.   She did so successfully finishing as first female in a very competitive race with an excellent time of 77:53. The route starts alongside the banks of the River Ness near the centre of Inverness and takes in many of the city’s icons. A warm Highland welcome awaits all runners as they approach the finish line on entering Queen’s Park Stadium at Inverness Sports Centre.

Joanna Goorney at the UK Inter Counties
Cross Country Championships

On Saturday, Joanna Goorney travelled to Prestwold Hall, Loughborough for the UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships representing Lancashire in the Senior Women’s race.  Unusual for cross country, the distance was the same for both the senior men and women at 10k but in actual fact it was over 11k with some very tough muddy sections.  Joanna finished in 193rd place in 55:25.

LSARRC ladies at the Red Hot Toddy 10k

Also, at the weekend, Sylvia Gittins, Pam Binns and Kirsten Burnett travelled to Todmorden for the Red Hot Toddy 10k.  This challenging but friendly club race starts with over 1300 feet of ascent before sweeping back down into the picturesque town.  Pam and Sylvia took 1st and 2nd FV70 category prizes with 66:52 and 67:45, while Kirsten finished in 59:14.

Parkrun News.
Alistair Leivers was first at the Lytham Hall parkrun with a personal best time of 16:30. Followed by Chris McCarthy and Ross McKelvie in 2nd and 3rd.  Gill Draper also ran a pb time of 19:46 for 2nd female spot.  Andrew Draper, Neil Tate, Chris Bowker, Claire Markham, Stephen Wise, Jason Sheridan, Elizabeth Canavan, Adrian Sargent, Maria Tierney, Jen Trohear, Trevor Roberts, Bob Clough, Sarah Cook, Graham Young, Robert Park and Julie Wiseman.

Around the country, Pamela Binns and Sylvia Gittins completed the Blackpool parkrun held at Stanley Park.  Heidi Haigh and Claire England finished the Fleetwood Promenade parkrun.  Jonathon Ladd was a tourist runner at the Stretford parkrun, G Browne was at Inverness, Sue Henry at Millom parkrun, Jennifer Hill was at Preston and Andrew Mullaney at the Woodhouse Moor parkun.

Junior News
6 of Lytham’s junior athletes ran in the Lytham Hall 5k parkrun on Saturday and first home for Lytham juniors was Matthew Holton continuing his excellent recent form to finish 16th overall, 1st in his JM11-14 age group and equalling his persona best time of 19:50.  Also finishing 1st in the age categories were sister and brother Maddy and Freddie Markham who finished 27th and 1st JW15-17 and 91st and 1st JM10 in 21:31 and 24:55 respectively.  Also representing Lytham juniors were Morgan Pritchard 34th in 22:00, Adhamh Holton 60th in 23:48 and Charlie Ormerod 80th in 24:30.

Lytham’s young athletes were out in force again at Sunday’s Park View junior 2k parkrun with 13 taking part.  Lytham athletes filled the first 4 places with Matthew Holton taking first place in 7:22, his 4th consecutive personal best time for this event.  Jayden Richardson finished in 2nd place and as 1st in JM10 age group with a time of 7:24, just 2 seconds behind his team mate.  Also running a personal best time was Oliver Thomson finishing 3rd in 7:45 with Archie Belfield 4th in 7:56.  Also representing Lytham were Oscar Drysdale 6th in 8:21, Roman Holmes 10th in 9:02, Georgina Andrews 13th in 9:43 and 2nd in her JW10 age category, Kiefer Richardson 16th in 10:07, Adam Jackson 18th in 10:11, James McAfee 21st in 10:28, Evie Alker 23rd in 10:32, Lewis Ames 26th in 11:01 and Joshua McAfee 32nd in 11:42.

LSARRC News 3rd March 2020

LSARRC break records at Salt Ayre.

LSARRC members at the Power of 5k race, Lancaster

6 of Lytham's competed in what turned out to be a record-breaking night at the Power of 5k race held on a fast, flat 4 lap course at Salt Ayre, Lancaster on Friday.  First home for Lytham was Ross McKelvie finishing 10th overall in 16:09 breaking his own club record by 1 second.  Also setting a new club record was Liz Abbott who comfortably beat the old record finishing 14th and as 1st female in 17:13 just 2 places and 1 second ahead of teammate Chris Mcarthy.  Michelle Chadwick ran well to finish 25th quickest in 18:43.  Barbara Holmes was the 3rd Lytham record breaker of the evening finishing 38th in 20:20 and as 1st FV60 to comfortably break the club FV60 record.  Also representing Lytham was Kathy Gaunt finishing 46th and as 2nd FV50 in 23:29.

Claire Markham

The 6th and final mid-Lancs cross country meeting of the 2019/20 season took place at Ryelands Park, Lancaster on Saturday 29th March.  How fitting on a leap day as there were many reasons for the Lytham ladies and men’s team to be leaping for joy.  After a strong season the ladies secured the V35 and V45 first place plus 2nd place in division 2 just picked to the post by Lancaster University on their home turf meaning that Lytham gain promotion and will compete within division 1 next season.  The men also gained 2nd place in division 2.

Peter Thomson

At Ryelands in a strong performance the ladies came in 4th team overall made up of Catherine Carrdus (26:47), Joanna Goorney (27:13) and Mel Koth (27:57), the same 3 came 1st team in both the V35 and V45 category.  Barbara Holmes (28:46), Claire Markham (31:17) and Pamela Hardman (34:12) came back in 17th team position out of a total of 32 teams.  Julia Rolfe (34:28) and Kirsten Burnett (35:57) made up the 8 strong ladies’ team for Lytham.  Barbara, Pam and Julia were awarded 4th team back in the V55 category.

Neil Tate

The senior men with a 9 strong team had a tough 4 lap run which was 9.6 km in distance with the ground being well churned and muddy by this point in the day.  Andrew Draper (38:32), Jon Tuck (39:07), Tom Howarth (39:36), Ross McKelvie (40:41), Dominic Garrett (40:45) and Neil Tate (41:30) were the first runners back resulting in 7th place team from a total of 24.  Paul Veevers (42:12), Mark Hughes and Peter Thomson (53:28) made up the senior men’s team for a strong finish.

The highlights of the weekend parkruns were Ross McKelvie and Gill Draper being the first male and female finishers.  Ross ran the Lytham course in 17:01 and Gill completed the course in 20:30.

Junior News

 8 of Lytham St Anne’s RRC junior athletes also competed at the final fixture of the Mid Lancs cross country league held on Saturday at a wet and windy Ryelands Park, Lancashire.  In the 2k under 11 boys race Archie Belfield was first home for Lytham finishing 24th in 8:09 with Lucas Tuck 68th in 10:00. 

Lytham also had 2 athletes the under 13 boys 3.4k race where Oliver Thomson was first back for Lytham in 28th place in a time of 13:12 and Finlay Hughes 45th in 15:40.  Brogan Murphy was Lytham’s only representative in the 3.4k under 15 girls race finishing 31st in 14:27.  Maddy Markham was Lytham’s highest place finisher completing the 4k under 17 women’s race in 17:12 for 6th place.  The last of Lytham’s junior athletes were in the under 17 men’s race where Oliver McIntyre ran well to complete the 6k course in 25:10 for 11th place with Ben Gregson 18th in 27:35.

On Thursday 5 of Lytham’s junior athletes took part in Lytham St Anne’s RRC monthly handicap race (a 3.45 mile run around South Park, Lytham), with 4 of them producing personal best performances.  Maddy Markham defied the handicapper to finish comfortably first in a personal best time of 23:40 moving her up to the 10th quickest female ever on the course.  Matthew ran exceptionally well to finish in a personal best time of 22:06 for 4th place with Oliver Thomson also running a personal best time of 23:35 for 5th place.  Laura Bremner also ran a personal best tome of 25:44 finishing 17th placing her 16th on the all-time female list.  Sophie Bohannon also ran finishing 18th in 25:01.

Matthew Holton took in the Poolbeg (Dublin) parkrun on Saturday finishing 15th overall and as 2nd Jm11-14 by 1 second in a personal best parkrun time of 19:48, his 2nd personal best of the week.

Lytham’s junior athletes took the first 2 places in the Park View junior parkrun with Joe Alker finishing 1st in 8:19 and Oscar Drysdale 2nd in 8:23.  Georgina Andrews finished 6th in 9:33 and 1st in her JW10 age category.   Lewis Ames finished 16th in 11:30. 

LSARRC News 25th February 2020

Markham ladies shine at Lostock for LSARRC

Maddy and Claire Markham took part in the Lostock 6 mile road race on Sunday.  The conditions were wet and breezy as 453 runners took to the course.  Both Lytham runners achieved 3rd in their respective age categories of junior female and V45F.  Maddy coming home in a time of 43:17 and Claire in a time of 47:34.

Sylvia Gittins and Pam Binns ran the Brighton half marathon on 23 February in very wet and windy conditions, there times were: Pam Binns 2-19-06 and
Sylvia Gittins 2-25-20.  This year it was the 30th anniversary of the Brighton Half Marathon so there were lots to celebrate.

Numerous runners completed parkruns and the highlights were as follows.  Michelle Chadwick ran 19:51 at the Preston parkrun for the first female spot.  Alistair Leivers was 5th at Coventry, Joanna Goorney was first in 21:31 at Huddersfield.

Fist spot at Lytham parkrun went to Ross McKelvie in 17:24, Chris McCarthy was 2nd and Jonathon Ladd 4th.  Mark Hughes and Kirsten Burnett opted to run the Blackpool parkrun.

Junior News
Lytham member Lewis McAfee held a fund raising “Action for Children 5k” on Thursday 20th at Palatine Leisure Centre and 7 of Lytham’s junior athletes competed.  First home for Lytham juniors was Matthew Holton finishing 21st in 20:03 just getting the better of Maddy Markham finishing 22nd with an identical time.  10 year old Jayden Richardson was next Lytham junior athletes finishing 31st with an impressive time of 20:38.  Ben Gregson 35th in 21:37 just held off the challenge of Morgan Pritchard who finished 36th also in 21:37.  Also representing Lytham’s juniors were Freddie Markham (50th in 23:58) and James McAfee 79th in 36:00.

4 of Lytham’s junior athletes took part in the Lytham Hall 5k parkrun and first home again was Matthew Holton finishing 10th overall and 1st in his JM11-14 age group in 20:55.  Oliver Thomson was 25th and 2nd JM11-14 in 22:31.  Also representing Lytham were Adhamh Holton 26th and 2nd JM15-17 in 22:33 younger brother Nicholas Holton 177th in 33:15.

On Sunday Maddy Markham was Lytham’s only junior athletes competing in a wet and windy Lostock 6 mile race and ran well to finish as 3rd junior female and   108th overall from 453 finishers in a time of 43:17.

In Sunday’s Park View 2k junior parkrun Lytham junior athletes filled the first 7 places  with Matthew Holton in his 3rd race in 4 days finishing 1st in a new personal best time of 7:26 just 1 second in front of 2nd placed Jayden Richardson in 7:27.  Oliver Thomson (3rd in 7:58), Archie Belfield (4th in 8:27), Joe Alker (5th in 8:28), Oscar Drysdale (6th in 8:36) and Freddie Markham (7th in 9:00) filled the next 5 places.  Also representing Lytham were Adam Jackson (9th in 9:20), Georgina Andrews (11th in 9:55), Kiefer Richardson (14th in 10:06), Lewes Ames (25th in 11:19) and Evie Alker (27th in 11:33).