GIN PIT STEAMS AGAIN

Burnden were back in the Gin Pit for a muddy 5 miles as the CLGP offering rolled up on the calendar. Named for the area of the Gin Pit Colliery, the race is hosted by Astley & Tyldesley Road Runners and is always a fun event though hazardously narrow in places.

Top three gentlemen were led by speedy Tom Stratton in 33:34 with Suleman Badat seconds behind in 34:18 and Steve Nolan nailing 1st MV65 in 3rd with 34:41. Paul Christie took 1st MV70 in 44:04.

Ladies were on Vet fire guided by Gwen Kinloch who was crowned 1st FV65 in 40:08 and trailed by Kath Baron – 1st FV60 in 42:32 and Marie Parkinson – 2nd FV60 in 43:02. Anne Ferguson took 2nd FV65 in 43:31.

Other gin-tabulous results - Mark Cannon – 35:26, Jake Quinn – 35:57, Phil Fryer – 37:01, Neil Counsell – 38:43, Gareth Lowe - 39:02, Marcus Hamer – 41:09, Gregg Beardwell – 41:15, Kath Baron – 42:32, Marie Parkinson 43:02, Andy Warburton – 44:03, Shirley Staveley – 45:51, Jenni Partington – 46:01, Richard Blake – 46:35, Steve Holt – 50:57, Kath Berry – 51:17, Kelly Johnson-Owen – 55:02, Lauren Hulme – 55:20, Lisa Berry – 55:21, Linda Coffey – 56:23, Ann Butler – 57:15, Julie Riddle – 57:16, Carol Richardson – 57:23, Steve Holt – 58:33, Joanne Eddleston – 1:02:41, Tony Fulop – 1:09:09

SUNDAY XC STARS

Over in Liverpool, the Sunday Cross Country League was well represented by Burnden RR as Captain Paul Duke led a great team of men and ladies for the 4.32 miles of muddy terrain through fields and forest.

No times are recorded for this race but positions are as follows within a field of 298 men and 137 ladies.

68 – Michael Kermode, 102 – Gary Avison, 108 – Steve Nolan, 112 – Paul Duke, 132 – Jake Quinn, 148 – Steve Horsman, 169 – Lyall Mew, 192 – Gareth Lowe, 271 – Andy Warburton, 283 – Steve Holt, 297 – Tony Fulop

83 – Marie Parkinson, 91 – Jenni Partington, 113 – Nia Bell, 132 – Gillian McGowan

TRIO TAKE ON THE ARCHES

Just three at the Radcliffe 13 Arches Half this year but they were three strong flags waving from Andy Norman, Paul Cox and Justin Bones.

The 13 is a glorious tour of the trails with an evil climb to finish – the aptly-named ‘Heartbreak Hill’. Runners visit parts of the Irwell Sculpture Trail, the former Outwood colliery in Radcliffe, Outwood Trail, Philips Park and Prestwich Clough. The 13 Arches of the title is the listed 13 Arches viaduct at the centre of Philips Park. Andy was first home in 1:42:18 and 22nd overall. Paul Cox was next in a swift 2:03:20 and Justin knocked 7 minutes from his previous time to finish in 2:33:34.

NORMAN INVASION OF THE LAKES

Andy and Rachel Norman were back in the Lakes to again compete at the stunning Derwentwater 10 miler. Organised by Keswick AC, the race has been going for over 60 years and is an undulating loop around the water run on entirely tarmac roads.

The Normans conquered this challenge in a superb 1:37:30 – a course PB for Rachel.

ALLITHWAITE 8 ADVENTURE

Four Burnden ladies embarked on a journey to Cumbria this week to race an 8 miler in the small village of Allithwaite, not far from Grange-over-Sands.

Starting and finishing at the community centre, the 8 miles is a mix of trail, fell and a bit of road – with around 1,200 feet of ascent offering stunning views of the Cartmel peninsula in the southern Lake District.

Leading the ladies home was Mumtaz Patel finishing, despite a tumble, in an impressive 1:19:00. Elaine Roper was 1st Vet 65 in 1:29:00 and won a humongous chocolate medal! Third in was Jackie Oakes in 1:31:00 and Joc Chadderton reunited the friends in 1:41:00.