Festive Fun Run caps off successful year for Lancaster and Morecambe Athletics Club

A thriving Festive Fun Run was part of a successful end of year for Lancaster & Morecambe Athletics Club.

Despite the wet weather and cool temperatures, there were over 170 runners including more than 40 who registered on the day of the 22nd 4k event, which was December 28.

There was a great atmosphere with many families and children taking part and lots running in festive gear.

Runners ranged from children as young as four or five years old up to 85-year-old Evelyn Elkington. It was truly a race for all ages.

A total of 37 members of LMAC took part, many with their children or grandchildren.

With a flat route it wasn’t a surprise that the top runners completed the course very quickly with the winner James Brassington of local LMAC crossing the line after only 13 minutes 10 seconds.

Not far behind were three other LMAC members, Matthew Guilder (13:27), Ben Brassington (13:42) and the third member of the Brassington family, dad John in 13:48.

The women’s winner was Emily Japp of Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre AC again this year in fifth place overall with a fast 14:05. The first LMAC female finisher was promising junior Erin Gillan in the very good time of 17:55, placing her seventh female.

Special shoutouts go to Linda Stapleton and Evelyn Elkington, in the V75 and V85 category respectively, who completed the race in 41.02.

For most runners the finishing time wasn’t an issue - the fun run was just that, FUN with a great festive medal at the end. And the huge number of spot prizes and vouchers was much appreciated by all finishers.

The main sponsor this year was HPA Architects in Lancaster with other sponsors being Asda, Morecambe; Barton Grange Garden Centre (Flower Bowl); Body Shop, Lancaster; Lancaster University Sports Centre; Dr Juliet McGrattan; Morrisons, Morecambe; Robert Gordon James Hairdressers, Lancaster; Rowan Wood Massage Therapy, Lancaster; Runners Centre, Lancaster; Scholls Chiropody Clinic, Lancaster and Tesco Carnforth.

LMAC thanked the run’s main organisers Steve Perry, Christine Perry, Susan Lucas, Richard Jones and also all the other volunteers and marshals.

The athletics club had a lot of success in the final few weeks of 2022.

Firstly, on November 26, five LMAC members took part in the Wesham 10k, with Matt Guilder finishing the quickest. He also finished in a very impressive place overall too – seventh in the standings. The results are as follows:

Matt Guilder 36.30

Steve Perry 45.58

Christina McGuire 47.08

Christine Perry 58.14

Maureen Roberts 1.18.42

The Myerscough 10 mile race took place on December 4, with another five LMAC members participating. Steve Perry was the quickest out of the LMAC runners, but everyone finished in respectable times:

Steve Perry 1 hr 15 mins

David Wilkinson 1.27.53

Carole Wilkinson 1.28.45

Ully Kritzler 1.28.50

Emily Stapleton 1.32.09

On December 10, the annual Great Langdale Christmas Pudding 10k was held, and three LMAC members took part:

Chris McGuire 52.54

Mark Simmil 53.56

Elaine Simmil 1.01.53

Elaine and Chris are pictured below at the Great Langdale Xmas Pudding 10k.

On Boxing Day, four LMAC runners went to Ribble Valley to take part in a 10k to burn the Christmas calories!

Beau Smith was the fastest from the club:

Beau Smith 32.59

Matt Guilder 34.46

Emily Stapleton 51.19

Maureen Roberts 1.16.51

There were plenty of individual achievements for LMAC too. Zoe Lock finished the Hoad Hill Harriers Christmas Pudding 10K on December 4 in 52.32.

On the same day, in the Percy Pud in Sheffield, Holly Satterly ran the 10k race in 49.52.

In the 3-1-5 Lancaster Race Series events, also on December 4, Steve Walsh completed the half marathon in 2.04.14, and Luke Davis did the 5k in 16.48.

Steve is pictured below.

On New Year’s Eve, Christine Perry completed her 100th park run, after being told she would never run again by a consultant.

Finally, LMAC’s Michael Roy has been running every day since 2019 for a number of local charities and clocked up 2400 miles in 2022.

For more information on the club and how to join, see the website here.