BURNDEN CELEBRATES AT ANNUAL AWARDS

After the quiet lull following New Year’s Day, Burnden Road Runners are back with a bang. A host of awards were given to members to celebrate their achievements in 2025 with a special presentation evening held at Little Lever Cricket Club. Among many trophies handed out for racing the various Club Championships, the Members’ Member Award went to Sarah Brown.

SOUTH MANCHESTER SEA OF BURNDENERS

Onto the racing and Burnden turned out in huge numbers to South Manchester parkrun to mark the second run of the Club Championship following the East Lancashire Hospice 10K.

68 sported the iconic grey and black vest in a field of 531 at Platt Fields Park in Fallowfield to run their best effort 5K. This will be compared with the same results from the same parkrun in December 2026 and the most improved member will win a mystery prize!

First home was Mark Whittington – 6th overall in 18:27 followed by Suleman Badat – 7th in 18:48 and Alexander Shield – 11th in 18:58.

The top ladies were led home Francesca Caine – also first overall lady in 20:07. Paula Pilling was next in and third overall lady in 20:40. Vicki Hamer took 4th overall lady in 22:10.

Other results – Lee White – 19:22, Jake Quinn – 19:47, Ravi Patel – 19:50, Gareth Doherty – 19:56, Steve Nolan – 20:02, Andy Dunleavy – 20:04, Gary Avison 20:46, Martin Whitehead – 20:47, Michael Caine – 21:02, Ryan Moore – 21:19, Marcus Chester – 21:54, Andrew Crawford – 22:07, Katie Walsh – 22:36, Phillip Fryer – 22:39, Ally Marland – 22:47, Martin Cullen – 22:58, Gwen Kinloch – 22:59, Gareth Lowe – 23:08, Gayle Gerrard – 23:17, Marie Parkinson – 23:35, James Deveney – 23:43, Linda Doherty – 23:59, Sarah Woodiwiss – 24:09, Tony Woodiwiss – 24:23, Jenni Partington – 24:28, Shirley Staveley – 24:31, Colm O’Brien – 24:33, Kimberley Lowe – 24:56, Anne Ferguson – 25:02, Mark Butler – 25:03, Richard Blake – 25:28, Jane Forrest – 25:29, Andy Warburton – 25:51, Paul Christie – 26:11, Clair Marland – 26:14, Paul Cox – 26:19, Catherine Shield – 26:59, Kathryn Baron – 27:08, Kathryn Berry – 27:30, Justin Bones – 27:40, Teresa Riley – 27:47, Bernie Jones – 28:32, Amy Smith – 28:40, Liz Dawson – 29:07, Gillian Morris – 29:11, Natasha Clarke – 30:07, Kelly Johnson-Owen – 30:25, Sandra Caine – 30:38, Finlay Coyne – 30:49, Luke Newell – 30:55, Ann Butler – 30:57, Chelsea Entwistle – 31:11, Carol Richardson – 31:22, Jennifer Entwistle – 32:59, Joanne Eddleston – 33:38, Lyndsey Berisford – 34:18, Robert Bell – 34:31, Tony Fulop – 35:43, Cheryl Dunleavy – 36:09, Michelle Livesey – 36:38, Shirley Robinson – 37:07, Gillian McGowan – 37:42, Nicola Berry – 38:12, Rachel Prior – 40:23, Ian Mann – 40:28

MARATHON MUMTAZ SCOOPS UP ACCOLADES

Mumtaz Patel is no stranger to the marathon but her recent one was in her words ‘an incredible experience’.

Flying over to Marrakech in Morrocco to run 26.2 takes some commitment to running, which Mumtaz has in spades. And it was in no way in vain as she scooped up a set of achievements of which she should be extremely proud.

Mumtaz achieved the following – a marathon PB of over 11 minutes, 3rd British Female, 2nd V50 Female, 29th Lady and 1st V50 British Runner.

Wow! Mumtaz achieved all of this with a superb time of 3:25:58.

XC SUPERSTARS AND BRITISH MASTERY

Two sets of recent Cross Country races have seen hardy Burndeners take on mud, grass and water features.

Northern Athletics saw a team of men and ladies take on the course at Pontefract with times as follows –

Men’s Team – 12.33km - Michael Kermode – 51:53, Steve Nolan – 56:53, Paul Duke – 59:26. Andy Warburton and Colm O’Brien – 1:00:00 plus.

Ladies’ Team – 8.22km - Gwen Kinloch – 42:24, Katie Walsh – 42:59, Anne Ferguson – 46:13, Jane Forrest – 49:05.

Croxteth Park in Liverpool saw the last Sunday league race for the teams and featured one Burndener in her very first Cross Country experience. Maz Matthews-Wyatt was the only lady in the Sunday team and finished in position 84. The men finished in the following positions – Michael Kermode – 62, Paul Duke – 66, Tony Fulop – 186.

Gwen Kinloch and Andy Warburton showed off some new tricks in the British Masters championships at Chichester. The 10K race was held at the Goodwood Motor Circuit – making it a fast and flat course. Gwen sped round in a smoking 46:00 – giving her 2nd position in the FV65 category. Andy finished in a very respectable 52:23.

HYROX HERO SMASHES SIXTH!

Lisa Berry, Burnden runner and Tri star, has taken it to the next level with her 6th Hyrox event. Originating in Germany and now super popular in the UK and everywhere, Hyrox is a test of endurance, cardio and strength as competitors race 1km between 8 challenging activities. These activities range from the scary sounding Sandbag Lunges to the frankly terrifying Wall Balls.

Lisa finished the Manchester event in an impressive 1:39:28.

WALKER’S MILES

Ever a popular January race for its fast and flat features, there is usually at least one Burndener to be seen along the blustery route. Emma Walker returned for her fourth experience of the course, which starts at the Beach Huts, passes the Spitfire and the Windmill and circles Fairhaven Lake before returning home. Emma finished in a speedy 1:40:00.

BLACKBURN WARMS THE BURNDEN COCKLES

Another regular January feature is the Blackburn Winter Warmer 10K, which featured on last year’s Club Championship list. Encompassing a challenging course with a track start and finish and some serious hills, fewer Burndeners appeared this year but some impressive times were afoot. Suleman Badat was first home in 39:46. Andy Dunleavy was second in with 43:38 and achieved 2nd MV65. Next was Ahmad Badat in 44:17, Connor Barrett in 49:18, David Allen – 3rd MV75 in 1:13:10 and Cheryl Dunleavy in 1:15:21.