BURNDEN had 30 runners at the second race in the Red Rose Cross Country League at Astley Park, Chorley.

The ladies race followed the juniors on a 4.6k course around the traditionally hilly and muddy tracks and trails across fields and streams in the scenic parkland.

Kirsty Normanton was first home for the team in 23rd place overall, fourth female over-40 (F40) runner in 21mins 8secs.

Gwen Kinloch ran a fine 21:58 for fifth F50 and Anne Ferguson took first F55 in a highly-competitive field with a time of 22:31.

The trio took seventh place overall in the teams and third position in the ladies vets teams.

Results: Kirsty Normanton 21:08, Gwen Kinloch 21:58, Anne Ferguson 22:31, Shirley Staveley 22:57, Holly Craggs 23:06, Jane Forrest 23:51, Katy Thompson 24:03, Lucille Corrigan 24:53, Elaine Roper 25:10, Julie Newton 25:22, Ann Butler 28:41, Louise Wall 28:58, Liz Hopley 29:01, Maria Parkinson 30:14.

The men ran a four-lap course of 9.9k with John Knowles bringing home the team in 25th position.

He was sixth V40 in 39:45, with Glen Kenyon clocking 43:03 and team captain Keith Thomas 43:50 completing the men's team who finished 11th overall and ninth in the veteran's categories.

Results: John Knowles 39:45, Glen Kenyon 43:03, Keith Thomas 43:50, Rob Short 44:20, Pete Hopley 46:21, Marcus Taylor 46:41, John Turner 46:58, Ian Pudge 47:22, Ed Ashton 47:51, Andy Duffy 47:58, Laurence Keighley 49:17, Christophe Menand 49:55, George Butler 50:18, Tony Wall 51:03, Don Nichol 51:05, Colm O’Brien 53:56.

A poignant two-minute silence preceded the Windmill 10k at Lytham where a small contingent successfully battled the breezy course with a headwind in the latter 5k of this fast and flat course.

Paula Pilling continued her winning form by running yet another personal best of 42:39 to finish sixth lady and first F35.

Diane Morrison chopped more than three minutes off her best Radcliffe time to clock an ever-improving 56:20.

Gillian McGowan, completing only her second race at the distance, took a huge eight minutes off her personal best with 1:10:14.

Joanne Darby also bettered her previous fastest time running for Radcliffe by more than four minutes with 1:04:19, and Anne Larkin ran her first ever 10k in 1:15:44.

Louise Geoghegan completed the line up with 1:04:19, all having come through the club's starters group which runs from the Smithills training base at 6pm every Monday.

In the Tuesday Night Bat League, Keith Thomas clocked a respectable 48:20 on the 5.9-mile Moss Chops course which has 585ft of ascent.