The return of the Trotters Trail 5 Mile race brought with it a full trough of superb results and a team prize win for Burnden’s ladies.

With spectacular views of historic Smithills Hall and a winding trail around the surrounding woodland, it was a different race to previous years but no less challenging.

Hordes of happy runners, multiple marvellous marshals, phenomenal photographs and mountains of mud made it a day to remember for the club and the feedback for the new course has been positive.

Race directors, Jason Attwood and Alyson Cullen, with support from coach and chair, Andy Dunleavy, ensured all was in place well in advance of the day.

There were a couple of falls, where runners made a full recovery, and many reports of lost shoes in the squelchy mud - more than a couple of runners actually crossed the finish line with at least one shoe in their hand after the final mud patch.

Paul Duke was first Burnden Road Runner home and 14th overall in a time of 35mins 49secs, followed by Suleman Badat, in 36:51, and Gareth Doherty, in 36:53.

First Burnden lady was Sarah Watton, in 40:51, and with Gwen Kinloch (43:52) and Vicki Hamer (45:21), collected the Ladies’ Team prize.

Kinloch, Anne Ferguson (45:49) and Watton all won their vet categories – V60, V65 and V35, respectively.

Other results: Steve Nolan 38:37, Ian Pudge 39:23, Ravi Patel 39:28, Michael Kermode 39:37, Martin Whitehead 40:08, Stephen Horsman 41:21, Stephen Thorpe 41:46, Marcus Hamer 42:47, Keith Thomas 43:06, Aidy Ashburn 43:07, Paul Willan 43:21, Andrew Crawford 44:12, Martin Archer 44:19, David Smith 44:50, Gareth Lowe 45:19, Patrick Filio 46:15, Colm O’Brien 46:16, Marie Parkinson 46:27, Simon Marland 46:38, Harrison Riley 46:47, Ged Turner 48:18, Andy Warburton 50:01, Rick Winnard 50:41, Stephen Riddle 51:47, Elaine Roper 52:24, Bernie Jones 53:52, Steve Holt 54:58, Gayle Gerrard 55:15, Jenni Partington 56:36, Emma Walker 57:08, Philip Glassbrook 58:30, Gillian Morris 58:51, David Allen 59:16, Nicola Halsall 59:35, Maggie Slamin 59:44, Jordan Hulmer 59:51, Anthony Fulop 1:00:47, Julie Riddle 1:03:01, Natasha Clarke 1:03:54, Rachel Pendlebury 1:03:57, Joanne Eddleston 1:08:19, Robert Bell 1:08:28, Sue Marland 1:10:53, Gillian McGowan 1:25:24 (tail-Runner), Carolyn Edwards 1:25:24 (tail-Runner).

In parkrun, it was a special day for Burnden’s David Smith as he hit the lofty heights of 200 parkruns at Bolton - complete with a balloon - but without a barcode!

Results: Bolton - Andy Dunleavy (eighth) 22:48, Michael Kermode 24:25, Ravi Patel 25:59, Gareth Doherty 26:44, Simon Entwistle 27:15, Rick Winnard 27:49, Vicki Hamer 27:52, John Simms 28:19, Kathryn Baron 28:51, Gareth Lowe 29:07, Paul Johnson 29:50, Luke Newell 30:59, Jenni Partington 31:56, Martin Archer 32:17, Andrew Parkinson 37:33, Cheryl Dunleavy 40:10; Woodhouse Moor - Simon Marland 25:26, Sue Marland 33:28; Heaton Park - Mark Jackson 21:36, Gayle Gerrard 26:17; Oldham - Adrian Asburn 22:52; Wythenshawe - Steven Walsh 24:41; Worsley Woods - Carol Richardson 34:10, Michelle Livesey 37:50, Sarah Brown 39:55; Burnage - Nia Bell 30:49.