THE New Year kicked off in fine style for Burnden Road Runner Phil Eccleston who finished sixth at the popular Central Lancs Half Marathon in Preston with a time of 1hrs 18mins 34secs.

On an undulating and icy course around quiet country roads, Ed Ashton also recorded a personal best of 1:31:02 while Lyndsay Darbyshire took almost five minutes off her 2014 personal best with an excellent 1:35:25 to finish 12th lady and second F45 out of a field of 450.

Other results: Lucille Corrigan 1:52:38, Julie Newton 1:57:25, Kelly Sullavan 2:01:04, Fiona Ashton 2:05:07, Clair Marland 2:08:00, Karen Taylor 2:10:08, Peter Whiteside 2:16:45, Ann Butler 2:21:33 and David Beevers 2:44:50.

The festive period featured several races and the Leyland Boxing Day 10K broke the post-Christmas lull, attracting a strong field of more than 300 runners on the roads surrounding Worden Park.

Burnden's Glen Kenyon returned home first for the team in 23rd place in 38mins 18secs and young George Butler, having completed a Christmas Day 5K Parkrun just 24 hours earlier, was paced round to a 42:15 by the slightly older John McMyler.

Other results: Julie Newton 52:48, Louise Geoghegan 1:05:15, Ann Butler 1:05:15, Rita Ledwards 1:06:32 and Gillian McGowan 1:13:09.

A slightly smaller contingent braved the Whinberry Naze Boxing Day Fell Race from Marl Pits at Rossendale.

This popular annual event attracted a field of 228 keen runners over a four-mile course, covering more than 800 feet of ascent and descent on traditionally mud-covered terrain.

Pete Hopley was first back for Road Runners in 68th position in 32:12, followed by Lesley Fisher (first LV55) in 34:14 and Don Nicholl in 40:02.

The Ribble Valley 10K, incorporating the North of England Road Championships, took place on the weekend preceding New Year with a large field of more than 1,500 and a strong competitive edge.

A cool and crisp morning brought about ideal conditions once the frost had cleared with Ashton running a strong 39:50 followed by Mel Walker in 44:48 to claim first M70.

Other results: Gari Jones 54:00, Fiona Ashton 55:03 and Alec Cottrill 56:16.

Elsewhere, Simon Marland travelled to Shropshire to compete in the eighth Sunrise to Sunset challenge.

He completed 44 laps of the country lanes and tracks of Lightmoor, Telford, covering 37 miles between the daylight hours of 8:20am to 4:01pm and retiring after seven hours of running.

Marland earned himself a prestigious fourth place out of 60 runners on his return to ultra running.

In other 2014 races, Andy Staveley competed in the final Bat League of the year in Run Run Rudolph with a time of 39:20.

Meanwhile, the Cross Country Championships at Witton Park, Blackburn attracted a two-man Burnden team of Keith Thomas (second M55) 42:15 and Pete Hopley 46:40.