Saturday 15th August 2020

LOWTHER TRAIL HALF MARATHON

For the first time since the lock-down started in March some Burnden runners were able to compete in a non-virtual race at last weekend’s Lowther Trail Half Marathon. Don’t get me wrong, the virtual races that some of us have been competing in have been good and a welcome distraction in these strange times, but nothing compares to the real thing! Having said that it wasn’t ‘business-as-usual’ at Lowther where, due to the event being chip times, staggered start times were the order of the day. Six runners would line up in front of the castle and be set off together before another six would line up 5 minutes later to receive their starting orders.

Ed Ashton was the fastest Burnden runner over the course, finishing in 66^th place overall in a time of 1 hour 57 minutes and 5 seconds. This was a great result for Ed who last year had to retire from the race just before the halfway mark. Next up was the evergreen Keith Thomas who clocked 2:09:30. Behind Keith just 45 seconds separated the next two Burnden finishers with Steven Bate (2:26:31) just pipping Ged Turner (2:27:16). The remaining four Burnden runners were two couples who decided to navigate the challenging, undulating and picturesque course together.

First Shirley and Andy Staveley set out to complete the course where, 12 months previously Andy had such a shattering knee injury that it effectively ended his racing career. Taking their time and relishing the scenery on such a lovely day Shirley (2:50:29) finished ahead of Andy (2:52:02) who bizarrely managed to run on the uphill sections of the course.

Finally, in what will probably be their final race in Burnden colours, David Haire (2:53:06) and Nadia Raza (2:57:39) both enjoyed the scenic Lakeland surroundings of this fantastic Lake District event. I’m sure that everyone at the club wishes them both all the best, even if Nadia’s new job is on the wrong side of the Pennines!

Tuesday 30th July 2020

BRITISH MASTERS VIRTUAL 5k RELAYS

Although road racing, as we know it, hasn’t been taking place this last few month’s that doesn’t mean that there hasn’t been any competitions to enter! The British Master’s Virtual 5K Relays were held from the 14^th to the 20^th of June and attracted over 4,100 entries. This event celebrated the Master’s Road Relay Championships which usually takes place on a Saturday at Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield. Burnden entered a total of 10 runners for this event in which participants had to run an out-and-back or circular 5 kilometre course, recording their times using either Garmin or Strava, and then submit their results via an online platform. The club came away with 2 top 10 finishers as Gwen Kinloch finished 6^th in the lady vet 60’s and Mel Walker was 9^th in the male over 75 category. We managed to enter two teams in the 10 year categories – a lady vet 55-64 team of Gwen Kinloch (21 minutes 34 seconds), Anne Ferguson (23:00) and Kate Ellis (24:14) who finished an impressive 8^th team overall in their category. Paul Christie (22:55), Andy Warburton (23:23) and Mel Walker (25:28) also competed in the male vet 55-64 category even though Paul had to downgrade an age category and Mel had to downgrade 2 age categories. Fastest of the Burnden runners was Paul Duke who ran his 5K course in 18 minutes and 29 seconds. Other finishers from the club were: - Neil Counsell (21:11), Francis Mackin (24:15) and Lawrence McDonald (28:26).

All the results from the competition can be found by clicking here.

Tuesday 17th March 2020

BOLTON 5k

Burnden supplied almost a quarter of the field at this Bolton 5k with 51 members finishing the new runner friendly route in and around Leverhulme park. The race which was the second in this years Central Lancs Grand prix series saw 3 of the men's team finish in the top 17 which included a great tussle between Jonathan Sangster ( 17:58), Paul Duke ( 18:07 2 M40) and Richard Pollitt ( 18:17 3 M40). In the Ladies race Sarah Watton returned to form with a personal best( 20:43) and 4th Lady overall, Gwen Kinloch( 20:55) was not far behind and claimed first F60.