For many months, Burnden Road Runners have been supporting Bolton Wanderers in the Community to put on a 10K running event and this weekend saw the hours of planning come to fruition. With over 1,100 runners, in a brilliant Bolton-based community event which saw BWFC legend John McGinlay starting the race and ‘King of the North’, Andy Burnham – Mayor of Greater Manchester – taking part and congratulating runners, it was truly a community event to remember.
Special credit must go to Sarah Walton, club member, who reconnected Bolton Wanderers with Burnden and recommended us to Bolton Wanderers in the Community when they were setting up the race. Without her the Club wouldn’t have been involved so thank you, Sarah!
A big shout out also to Chair Andy Dunleavy, Media Guru Lawrence McDonald and Trotters’s Trail Events Team Rep, Alyson Cullen for their excellent organisational skills in supporting the race, which they were only too happy to do. After all, Burnden Road Runners’ links to Bolton Wanderers go waaaay back!
Below you can read about the BWFC link to our fantastic club and just where that ‘Road Runner’ name came from. More can be found on the Club’s website here - About us | Burnden Road Runners
Fast forward to Sunday 28th April and it was a truly special day to see over 1000 runners gathered at the Toughsheet Stadium at Middlebrook to run a 10K race in aid of lots of different charities. It was an honour to gather for the Burnden Team photo in front of the ‘We are Bolton’ sign and to have Andy, Alyson and Lawrence greet us as we crossed the finish line. The route itself was well supported by lots of BWitC marshal volunteers and members of the public lining Chorley New Road whilst runners were kept on track with a host of pacers from Burnden.
A nod here to Josh, Aidy, Paul, Martin, Jennifer, Jenni and Melissa….who kept an eye on their watches to make sure every runner met their goals.
Epitomising Burnden is all about in terms of friendliness and support, this is the experience of one of our pacers, Aidy Ashburn.
“There is no better feeling than helping others..2km to go I met a guy called Ashley. I'm not sure of his story but I knew he was running for a charity. He was struggling when I met him but, unfortunately, I had to leave him behind. As I crossed the line something just took over me and I did a u-turn. I had to find Ashley and bring him home. He managed to get under 1hr. He never thought he would. Knowing he'll be so proud now.”
Aidy was also there to cheer every runner home as they approached the finish line, which was very welcomed at 1:11:48! Well done and thank you, Aidy, from all of the runners I’m sure!
With a whopping turnout of 81 Burndeners, including many new members, the results are a shining example of how many differing speeds we celebrate at Burnden – a Club where all abilities are welcomed and encouraged. Paul Christie, former Chair, has noted that there were 3 Burnden ladies in the first 10 finishers and 7 in the first 20 ladies’ finishers, which is excellent.
The New Starters’ group has been training for the 10K on 12 (mostly) dark, cold, wet Monday nights since January and we Run Leaders are so proud of their accomplishments. Huge well done to Megan Lord who completed her first 10K in 59:32 and to Rachel Mitchell-Denson - 1:04:41, Cherelle Giles - 1:06:09, Hazel Price – 1:07:47, Jeanette Robinson – 1:13:12, Katie Bewley – 1:24:07, Susanna Smith – 1:24:08 and Suzanne Walmsley – soon to be Burnden and running with Bolton Wanderers’ Fit Fans - 1:51:41.
Our Top of the Bolton Pops – all Sub 40s in crackin’ times were led home by the ever-swift Mark Whittington in 37:43. Mark was also 1st MV50 out of 98.
Suleman Badat was 2nd BRR in 38:16 and Lyall Mew rounded up the trio with a PB in 38:58.
For the ladies, our Golden Circle were Sarah Watton in 42:08 – also crowned 2nd SNR Lady of 176, Lyndsay Darbyshire – 1st FV50 of 97 in 45:58 and Gwen Kinloch in 46:33 who also took home 1st FV60 of 22 in 46:21.
Vet Categories featured some more Burndeners in the shape of Ed Ashton who finished 3rd MV60 of 36 in 43:51 – also a PB. Shirley Staveley took 2nd FV60 of 22 in 48:27 and Anne Ferguson picked up 3rd FV60 in 49:10. Philip Glassbrook was 1st MV70 of 8 in 57:33.
Here are all other results – with the PBs first billing - but they’re all ‘alreet’ in our view!
PBs – Paul Willan – 43:06, Martin Archer – 45:08, Rick Winnard – 51:22, Bernie Jones – 53:26, Julia Hall – 53:29, Nicola Halsall – 56:10, Louise Righini – 57:33, Natasha Clarke – 1:00:30, Joanne Eddleston – 1:06:52.
Andrew Norman – 41:44, Michael Kermode – 41:59, Martin Fielding – 42:11, Samuel Ashton – 43:55, Paul Duke – 44:58 (Pacer), Steven Walton – 45:29, Marcus Hamer – 46:10, David Smith – 46:22, Andrew Crawford – 46:33, Francesca Caine – 46:41, Martin Cullen – 47:15, Dean Covill – 47:16, Colm O’Brien – 47:32, Simon Marland – 48:28, Vicki Hamer – 48:41, Jonathan Sangster – 49:13, Paul Christie – 49:30, Harrison Riley – 49:41, Gayle Gerrard – 49:41, Martin Whitehead – 49:49 (Pacer), Tim Taylor – 50:42, Jitendra Patel – 51:09, Mark Charlton – 53:12, Alistair Marland – 52:59, Andy Warburton – 53:30, Steven Bate – 55:31, Teresa Riley – 55:53, Aidy Ashburn – 56:00 (Pacer), Ravi Patel – 57:08, Jason Attwood – 57:53, Lisa Berry – 57:58, Sarah Walton – 58:01, Nia Bell – 58:46, Josh Palmer – 59:42 (Pacer), Don Taylor – 59:58, Carolyn Edwards – 1:00:13, Nicola Hardy – 1:01:06, Carol Richardson – 1:01:38, Luke Newell – 1:03:04, Melissa Husbands – 1:04:24 (Pacer), Susan Wood – 1:04:48, Joanna Warburton – 1:04:51, Anthony Fulop – 1:07:27, David Allen – 1:07:41, Jenni Partington – 1:09:34, (Pacer), Jen Forkin – 1:11:48, Shirley Robinson – 1:11:49, Ian Mann – 1:14:03, Debra Hennessey – 1:14:53, Gillian McGowan – 1:15:45, Sue Marland – 1:17:42, Cheryl Dunleavy – 1:18:20, Jennifer Entwistle - 1:18:36 (Pacer).
Phil Glassbrook – MV70 Cat winner commented on the race,
“Never have liked running on that type of surface but…being on home "turf" it was a very good run all round. Great event made all the more so with BRR running buddies and friends. Well done new members and friends!”