Athletics club celebrates 50th anniversary

Lancaster and Morecambe Athletics Club 50th anniversary. Junior and senior members

The day included an obstacle course and club championship for the juniors, a 50 lap event with one of the club’s founder members Arnold Bibby taking everyone around the final lap, the senior club championship 5k race and free food from the ‘Bavarian Swing Grill’.

The foundations of the club began to form in 1962 when two small clubs merged, Primrose AC and Lunesdale AC joined to become Lunesdale and Primrose AC.

Then in 1965 Lunesdale and Primrose AC merged with the College of Further Education AC to become Lancaster and Morecambe Athletic Club.

The club’s oldest member, Arnold Bibby joined in 1949 and was secretary in 1962.

A new cinder athletics track was built in the early 1960s at Lancaster and Morecambe College.

This was the club’s base for many years until building work began in 1997 on a new clubhouse at Salt Ayre Leisure Centre.

From ten members in 1949 and very basic facilities, the club has now over 400 members with track and field facilities, and a purpose built clubhouse.

Anyone who is interested in finding out more about the athletics club can visit the website www.lancasterathletics.co.uk/

nThe final event in the Lancaster 5k race series attracted a huge number of Lancaster runners as the event also incorporated the club senior and veteran championships.

William Onek finished second overall in a speedy 15m.55 to win the club senior men’s championships.

In next was David Brown running well in 16m.38 to finish fifth overall and one position behind was Mark Leadbetter with a strong run of 16m.47.

The winners in the club’s male veteran age groups were Calvin Routledge in the over 45 category running well in 17m.37, James Edwards over 40 category in 18m.30, David Wilkinson over 55 in 20m.48 and George Parrington veteran 65 in 23m.26.

In the women’s race Jayne Perry took the win running a fantastic 19m.05 and also earning first place in the club veteran 35 category.

The other winners in the club’s women’s veteran age groups were Chris McGuire running a good 22m.47 for the over 50 category,  Carole Wilkinson in the over 55 category running well in 23m.15, in the over 45 Helena Lewis with a good run of 23m.36, Evelyn Elkington took the veteran 75 category with a super 32m.08.