Dedication to running shows when not even Christmas Day or Boxing Day can pass without lacing those trainers and Ged Turner and Verity Harrison showed it in abundance as they took on the Whinberry Naze fell race on the 26th.
Amongst an array of prize fancy dress and amid Smartie treats from Santa Claus at the top of a 2-mile steep ascent, Vee finished the Rossendale run in 37:59 and Ged was just beaten by Princess Leia and crossed in 42:17.
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HOBBITS…
A trio of hobbits were on a quest this winter to find their own precious and bring some treasured times across the finish line. The ever popular and enduring Tolkien Trail was back for the winter season and saw Carolyn ‘Balin’ Edwards finish over 4 minutes faster than last year in 1:22:48. Hobbiting behind with spellbinding times of their own were Gillian ‘Bilbo’ McGowan and Teresa ‘Thorin’ Riley in identical times of 1:43:44.
The Trail around Little Mitton is an epic mix of enchanting woods, fields, (very) muddy trails and road as runners follow the path of inspiration for Lord of the Rings author, J.R.R. Tolkien.
TRAILS & ALES & A HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE
Once again, there was a healthy Burnden presence for the annual Mad Bull race on New Year’s Eve. Racing 10K around the Horwich hills and finishing to the sound of bagpipes were a lucky 13 runners from the Club – led home by Jonathan Sangster in 57:56. First lady was Lyndsay Darbyshire in a swift 1:12:37.
Other pipe-tabulous results - Andy Staveley – 1:04:06, Ed Ashton – 1:07:33, Anne Ferguson – 1:12:47, Ged Turner – 1:21:48, Ravi Patel – 1:22:01, Lyall Mew – 1:22:01, Sarah Watton – 1:24:19, Vicki Hamer – 1:24:20, Kath Baron – 1:28:39, Mark Merrick – 1:28:42, Anthony Fulop – 1:54:36.
Anne Ferguson commented,
“Brilliant race, dry, good running conditions, wet under foot as expected. Good turnout from Burnden”.
THREE DO RIBBLEY WELL IN CLITHEROE
A triple set of Burnden runners chose the Ribble 10K on New Year’s Eve. The Clitheroe road race is organised by Blackburn Harriers and incorporates the Northern 10K road championships, welcoming an elite field.
It is a popular post-festive classic on fast, undulating traffic-free roads through the Ribble Valley’s stunning surroundings.
Adam Austin was round the course in 49:17 followed by Mark Charlton in 51:53 and Carol Richardson in 1:03:46.
There were festive parkruns a-plenty over the Christmas period – the 23rd and 30th December as well as on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Here is the round-up of the parkrunners from Burnden (in date order) with a special mention for Gillian Morris who cracked her 100th on the big day and for Nia Bell who hit 200 on the 30th.
Saturday 23rd December
Bramhall - Michelle Carter – 26:11
Heaton Park – Mark Jackson – 22:30, Chris Greenall – 25:48, Steven Bate – 26:05, Gayle Gerrard – 28:23, Mark Charlton – 30:46
Preston – Adam Austin – 23:30
Pontefract – Adrian Ashburn – 22:44
Princes, Liverpool – Shirley Staveley – 23:45
Bolton – Mark Whittington (6th position) – 20:21, Martin Whitehead – 21:55, Michael Kermode – 22:32, Stephen Horsman – 23:32, Andy Dunleavy – 24:07, Mark Cannon – 24:09, Chris Worthington – 24:13, Gwen Kinloch – 24:24, David Smith – 24:46, Verity Harrison – 25:33, Ivan Brown – 26:32, Simon Entwistle – 27:33, Lyall Mew – 27:48, Andy Warburton – 28:19, Kathryn Berry – 28:38, Ged Turner – 28:54, Gareth Doherty – 30:10, Ian Pudge – 30:11, Katherine Baines – 30:19, Paul Johnson – 30:47, Gillian Morris – 31:38, Teresa Riley – 31:44, Carol Richardson – 33:00, Nia Bell – 33:06, Philip Glassbrook – 33:08, Jennifer Entwistle – 33:35, Sarah Brown – 33:48, Steven Snape – 34:16, Marcus Chester – 35:14, Michael Caine – 35:31, Sandra Caine – 35:33, Linda Doherty – 35:34, Joyce Tyldesley – 38:19, Jocelyn Chadderton – 40:35, Emma Walker – 40:36, Gillian McGowan – 41:35, Cheryl Dunleavy – 44:59, Ian Mann – 49:24.
Worsley Woods – Suleman Badat – 19:27
Cheadle Hulme – Anthony Fulop – 42:32
Oakwell Hall – Simon Marland – 25:50, Sue Marland – 40:06
Fleetwood Promenade – Paul Duke – 24:30
Christmas Day – Monday 25th December
Matt Dewhurst – Heaton Park – 17:41, Mark Charlton – 24:31
Worsley Woods – Carol Richardson
Delamere – Nia Bell – 31:43
Roberts Park – Simon Marland – 24:22, Sue Marland – 34:08
Hyndburn – Anthony Fulop – 37:21
Bolton - Suleman Badat (4th position) – 20:16, Andy Dunleavy – 22:03, Lyall Mew – 22:06, Mark Jackson – 23:03, Mark Cannon – 23:13, Jonathan Sangster – 23:32, Gareth Doherty – 23:46, Stephen Horsman – 24:02, Michael Caine – 25:25, Martin Cullen – 25:36, Francesca Caine – 25:46, Anne Ferguson – 26:07, Sarah Watton – 26:34, Andrew Crawford – 26:41, Paul Johnson – 30:14, Jenni Partington – 30:25, Gareth Lowe – 30:30, Gillian Morris – 31:16, Neil Counsell – 32:50, Teresa Riley – 33:15, Steven Snape – 34:02, Marcus Chester – 35:25, Simon Irving – 36:32, Linda Doherty – 36:34, Sandra Caine – 36:39, Alyson Cullen – 36:39, Jocelyn Chadderton – 37:22, Joyce Tyldesley – 37:40, Cheryl Dunleavy – 41:06, Sarah Brown – 41:08, Ian Mann – 44:20, Jennifer Forkin – 44:33.
Saturday 30th December
Heaton Park – Adrian Ashburn – 25:02, Chris Greenall – 26:24
Hyde – Nia Bell – 32:10
Bolton – Martin Whitehead (6th position) – 22:02, Stephen Horsman – 23:57, Chris Worthington – 25:13, Marcus Chester – 25:13, Simon Entwistle – 27:08, Lyall Mew – 27:58, Vicki Hamer – 28:02, Emma Walker – 30:30, Gillian Morris – 31:08, Paul Johnson – 31:39, Gareth Doherty – 32:10, Linda Doherty – 32:10, Verity Harrison – 33:47, Steven Snape – 34:06, Joyce Tyldesley – 38:39, Josh Palmer – 39:10, Luke Newell – 51:26
Wythenshawe – Michael Kermode – 22:28
Worsley Woods – Suleman Badat – 19:05
Ormskirk – Ian Mann – 42:07
Watergrove, Rochdale – Mark Jackson – 23:53
Haigh Woodland – Andy Dunleavy (10th position) – 21:28, Cheryl Dunleavy – 37:55, Carol Richardson – 41:01
Stretford – Sarah Brown – 31:36, Michelle Livesey – 37:46
Bramshall Road – Simon Marland – 25:49, Sue Marland – 35:57
Old Railway Trail, Llangollen – Tom Stratton (8th position) – 20:44, Katherine Baines – 35:05
New Year’s Day – 1st January 2024
South Manchester
Lyall Mew – 20:40
Michael Kermode – 22:20
Gareth Doherty – 23:55
Jenni Partington – 26:55
Luke Newell – 28:41
Ian Mann – 40:25
Haigh Woodland – Nia Bell – 33:34 (200th), Teresa Riley – 33:34
Bramhall Park – Simon Marland – 26:46, Sue Marland – 37:13