Images courtesy of Leo Cossham
Lancaster’s running club was pipped to the post in this year’s Roses running event, but still managed to gain an impressive and important 6 points for Lancaster’s overall Roses tally.
The Men’s A and B teams both won their events, winning 4 and 2 points for the university respectively. However, York Men’s C Team won their event, as well as winning in all three of the Women’s categories.
18 men and 18 women entered the competition, with their scores corresponding to their position on the leaderboard, with the aim of the game to accumulate as few points as possible.
The runners ran a 5km race in dry, overcast conditions allowing for the athletes to run some jaw dropping times without the pressure of too much rain or sun; the club’s distance captain, Jacob Cann (pictured), ran the day’s fastest time to come first in the men’s event with a staggering time of 14:37. This was made even more impressive by the fact that he ran a 17:30 5km straight after his race; utterly outrageous.
One of the club’s ‘Run Leaders’, Leo Cossham, picked up a podium too, coming third in the Men’s category with similarly outrageous time of 15:27, and Transport Secretary, Matt Briggs, capped off a fine day for the As in 4th place.
In the Women’s categories, Anna Philips (pictured) paced a rapid 20:40 to come third overall and pick up some vital points. Social Secretary Imogen Wilson and Ellen Sayles strode into 8th and 9th place respectively for the Women’s A team.
For the Men’s B team and the Women’s C team, consistency was the word. Aaron Doyle, Reuben Copley, and Andy Thomas finished 6th, 7th and 8th respectively to not only crush their B team competition, but York’s A team too. Leona Upton, Molly Riding and Amelia Page of the Women’s C team came 12th, 13th, and 14th respectively to finish above the Women’s’ B team but came just short of winning their event.
After a year of all too much running practice, Lancaster’s Running and Athletics Club were finally able to put some of their relentless lockdown training into action and did so with good success; under a minute separated the Women’s C team from victory which would’ve resulted in an overall draw. Nonetheless, Lancaster’s running club continues to excel with over 100 members and prove that #RosesAreRed.
When asked for a quote on this year’s event, the running club eloquently said, “York swims in the shallow end”.
Here’s a list of the weekend’s athletes:
Anna Philips, Imogen Wilson, Ellen Sayles; Leona Upton, Molly Riding, Amelia Page; Jessica Dean, Merlyn Gilldaley, Dasha Allard.
Jacob Cann, Leo Cossham, Matt Briggs; Aaron Doyle, Reuben Copley, Andy Thomas; Richard Joisce, Calum Laing, Matthew Green.
