WE WISH IT COULD BE PARKRUN EVERY DAY!

Christmas Day for runners starts with Christmas Parkrun! Perfect for making room for that big meal, 9am on the 25th December brought freezing weather and festive cheer to Leverhulme Park. A total of 35 Burndeners donned their Santa hats, elf ears and more to run the 5K course with 185 others.

Mark Whittington was first in and fifth overall with 20:25 followed by Andy Norman in 23:55 and Stephen Horsman in 24:31.

First Burnden lady home was Vicki Hamer in 25:24 followed by Anne Ferguson in 26:19 and Katie Walsh in 30:19. Connor Barrett achieved a PB in 25:44.

Other results for Christmas Day – Phil Fryer – 24:49, Gareth Doherty – 27:28, Marcus Chester – 27:41, Lyall Mew – 29:22, Andrew Crawford – 29:23, Jake Quinn – 30:12, Kimberley Lowe – 30:57, Ravi Patel – 30:57, Tony Woodiwiss – 31:03, Gillian Morris – 31:30, Linda Doherty – 31:52, Sarah Woodiwiss – 31:52, Tess Riley – 32:20, Gregg Beardwell – 33:36, Louise Bentley – 34:02, Amy Smith – 35:25, Emma Walker – 36:18, Andrew Parkinson – 37:26, Cheryl Dunleavy – 37:46, Debra Hennessey – 38:26, Jen Forkin – 38:42, Julie Mann – 42:08, Andrew Mann – 42:09, Ian Mann – 43:46, Sarah Jane Wells – 46:47, Steven Snape – 1:04:25, Joyce Tyldesley – 1:04:27.

IT’S A CRACKER!

28th December saw a gathering of Santa Hats in Rivington for the Burnden organised Christmas Cracker Relay. Sarah Brown as Santa and her little helper marshalls – Kath, Andrew, Alyson and Phil – set groups of numbered runners off around the course near Liverpool Castle. Beginning with a warm up, runners on average ran around 5K each, passing a cracker between each other, and were picked up by the number 1s for all members to finish together. No times were recorded as it was just festive fun but there was some competition between Andy, Louise and Tasha who pipped Gareth and the two Jens to win the day!

RIBBLE 10K SEES PBS APLENTY

The Ribble Valley 10K is a popular race and listed among many runners’ favourites. Held on traffic-free roads in Clitheroe and renowned for its scenic, rural course, it attracts around 1,500 runners between Christmas and New Year.

Special mention for Gayle Gerrard who on her 7th time of running was only 4 seconds from a 10K PB but was super pleased to get a Ribble PB – finishing in 45:25 – her fastest time since 2014 and as the sole Burnden lady here – well done!

Other results featuring perfect PBs - Michael Kermode - 37:51 (PB), Gareth Webb – 41:43, Connor Barrett - 43:29 (PB), Justin Bones – 54:32 (PB), Gregg Beardwell – 58:09

HOLLY JOLLY NORMANS

Rachel and Andy Norman found a new race to smash this week in the Jolly Holly Jog 10K. Held in Ripon, Andy described the race as hilly, muddy, brilliant fun with great scenery and a highly recommended belter! The couple finished the jog in 1:01:24.