BURNDEN produced a strong club performance at the first of this year’s Pilling 10k series with Colin Rigby leading the way, finishing fourth overall and second V45 in 38mins 4secs.

The club had three more finishers in the top 10, with Lee White seventh overall and third V45 in 38:53, Rob Short eighth in 39:05 and Paul Duke ninth in 39:07.

There were four Burnden age-group winners. Andy Staveley was first V55 and 16th overall in 41:43, Gwen Kinloch was second in the ladies' race and first F55 in 42:37, Anne Ferguson secured first F60 in 48:39 and Mel Walker came first V75 in 48:41.

Paula Pilling was third female finisher and second F40 in 43:15, with Simon Marland second V55 in 43:19 and Lyndsay Darbyshire second F50 with her time of 46:14.

The club’s great showing earned both the men and women the team prizes at the event.

Other results: Ed Ashton (40:50), Marcus Taylor (41:29), Tony Wall (45:48), Keith Thomas (46:11), Ged Turner (46:40), Adrian Ashburn (46:51), Steven Bate (48:04), Tony Woodiwiss (48:40), Mark Jackson (49:43), David Newman (49:57), Paul Drew (50:13), Phil Holden (51:23), Andy Warburton (52:39), Sheila Christie (53:25), Don Taylor (54:26), Mark Davis (56:48), Julie Riddle (57:32), Nadia Raza (57:46), Fiona Ashton (58:53), Louise Wall (59:48), Sally Cottrill (1:00:04), Nia Bell (1:00:50), Joanne Darby (1:01:16), Jackie Cairns (1:01:16), Debra Hennessey (1:02:00), Rita Ledwards (1:02:11), Sue Blackman (1:07:34), John Hall (1:07:34), Gillian McGowan (1:28:46).

Two members took on the Liverpool Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in hot and draining conditions with Craig Philpot and Kris Worsley crossing the finish line together in 5:11:27.

Seven members tackled the half distance with Sarah Watton the first to finish in a great time of 1:43:09 ahead of Neil Critchley in 1:52:34. Jenna Leeks was next in 2:00:43 followed by Julie Riddle in 2:10:13, Diane Smith in 2:30:00, Karen Ratcliffe in 3:33:55 and Gillian McGowan in 3:33:56.

Jackie Oakes and Sarah Woodiwiss travelled further afield for their long-distance fix, completing the tough Windermere Marathon in 4:19:39 and 4:59:23 respectively.

Tony Wall led home the seven members at the first race in the Horwich Jubilee 5-Mile series in midweek, finishing third V60 in 35:47.

There were two age-group wins. Anne Ferguson was first L60 in 38:22 and Colm O’Brien was first V55 with his time of 38:45.

Lyndsay Darbyshire was second L50 in 37:59, Sheila Christie second L55 in 43:19 and Louise Wall third L50 in 47:17. Jenna Leeks recorded a time of 43:48 as her final preparations for the weekend’s Liverpool marathon.

Darbyshire, Ferguson and Christie’s times combined to lift the club into fourth place in the team results.

Kate Ellis led home the Burnden contingent at the Greater Manchester 10k among illustrious company. She came home in 47:10, followed by Tracey Lowe, who also dipped under an hour in 58:51.

John Egan finished in 1:05:55 ahead of Steven Snape (1:10:00), Joyce Tyldesley (1:22:41) and Faye Fairweather (2:24:24).

Two members took on the half marathon at the same event. Denise Hodgkinson recorded a time of 2:01:09, while Sandra Caine crossed the line in 2:31:06.

Katy Thompson travelled to Cheshire for the inaugural Anderton Boat Lift 10k near Northwich, and came home third F45 in 56:04.

Rob Short was 14th in the Hollingworth Lake 5k event with a time of 17:43.