INTREPID Keith Thomas covered nearly 2,000 miles to capture two trophies in less than a week.

After finishing quickest in the veterans' over-55 category over the 7k route of the midweek Astley Trail Race at Chorley in 27mins 55secs, where he came 14th overall, he flew out to Corfu to take on the gruelling Kassios Dias Trail Half Marathon and won his category again.

It’s one of the toughest half marathons in Europe .The multi-terrain course takes in some breathtaking scenery but the steep hills, boulder fields and dried river beds make it a tough ask.

It is no surprise no-one on the day got under the two-hour mark.

Thomas defied the course and heat to finish 10th overall in a time of 2:39:47.

He was one of four Burndeners making the trip to the Greek island. Lesley Fisher continued to impress finishing fifth lady overall and first in the F55 category, crossing the line in 3:20:46.

Don Nichol was next home in 3:58:01 with David Pearson surviving a horror fall to recover and post 4:30:13.

Also returning with trophies from the weekend were Lee White and Kirsty Normanton, who took on the Blacksticks Blue 10k, an undulating course taking in the scenic beauty of the Bowland Forest.

Both had great runs – White was 10th overall and first in the V40 category while Normanton finished in 42:55, second lady and first in the V45 category.

Paul Duke travelled to Staveley in the Lake District for the Kentmere 17k Trail Race and posted a superb time of 1:29:03 to earn 42nd place in a strong field of 208 over the testing course.

Burnden had six representatives in the Great Manchester Run, Europe’s biggest 10k event.

Neil Critchley was the first of them to finish, in 45:07, with Sean Owens (48:30) his closest club challenger.

Other results: Helen Shan (1:08:29), Rebecca Martin (1:08:30), George Ogden (1:13:51), Mandy Ogden (1:15:10).

Shirley Staveley finished first in the L50 category in the Astley Trail Race in 33:33. Her time along with great efforts from Katy Thompson (33:40), Anne Ferguson (33:49) and Clair Marland (39:52) helped the club to third in the team results.

Other results: Laurence Keighley (32:09), Colm O’Brien (32:40), Andy Staveley (32:49).