ADRIAN Merritt led home 18 Burnden Road Runners in the Yarrow Bluebell 10k Trail Run.

The tricky route along trails weaving through Yarrow Country Park in Chorley was muddy underfoot which meant only a few harboured dreams of a personal best.

Heavy overnight rain had also swelled the River Yarrow – which runners had to cross twice – making it a lot deeper than expected and therefore a very eventful section of the race.

Merritt finished a highly impressive 14th in a field of 247 in 50mins 2secs, less than five minutes behind the winner.

Lesley Fisher was close behind, finishing first in the F55 category in a time of 51:21.

Mel Walker was the third member of the club to finish, clocking 54:54 to be first again in the V70 category. Between them, these three fine runs secured the team prize.

Other results: Elaine Roper (58:14), Kris Worsley (59:44), Nicola Hardy (1:16:20), Lucille Corrigan (1:16:22), Les Kaneen (1:16:22), Diane Morrison (1:19:28), Joanne Darby (1:19:28), Jackie Cairns (1:25:17), Karin McGuinness (1:28:15), Dave Beevers (1:29:41), Jessica Sammon (1:34:17), Gillian McGowan (1:34:27), Rita Ledwards (1:34:30), Louise Geoghegan (1:42:50), Anne Larkin (1:42:50).

Peter Whiteside travelled to the North East at the weekend to run the City of Sunderland Half Marathon in shocking conditions – driving rain and a strong wind made it a tough one this year so his 2:18:14 is a real credit to his staying power.

Isaline Pollitt and John Turner vied for the honour of being the first Burndener to complete the Horwich Pool Triathlon, and in the final reckoning, Pollitt edged it by just over three seconds.

This early season test for the club’s triathletes is a tough one – 500m in the pool, a hilly and constantly undulating 40k through Belmont and Chorley on the bike and then an 8.6k run up Rivington Pike.

Turner emerged from the swim in 12:04 with Pollitt finishing the 20 lengths in 13:52. She then established an advantage on the bike, going through it and both transitions in 1:36:19 to Turner’s 1:41:34. It was then down to the run and although Turner (45:21) managed to close the gap, Pollitt’s 48:44 was just enough to deny him the leading club spot.

Other results: Tim Taylor (swim 12:00, T1+bike+T2 1:36:21, run 53:00 = 2:41:21), Peter Partington (13:39, 1:41:01, 52:16 = 2:46:56), Marcus Taylor (14:20, 1:49:46, 45:43 = 2:49:50), Susan Williams (15:44, 2:14:09, 1:06:13 = 3:36:06).

Three club members travelled to Preston on Bank Holiday Monday for the Avenham Park 5k with Neil Critchley first home in 23:27, followed by Liz Hopley (30:15) and Melissa Eccleston (33:12).

Colm O’Brien, Jane Forrest, Keith Thomas and Pete Hopley made the trip to Wray village near Lancaster on Monday to run the Wray Caton Fell Race, a tough but scenic 6.8 miles with 1,099ft of climb.