BURNDEN’S Mel Walker is a step nearer his goal of being awarded an England vest this year as he ran his fastest 5k of the year at the British Masters event in Horwich.

He crossed the line in 22mins 31secs, just missing out by a few seconds on fourth place in the M70 category.

He has now laid out his schedule for forthcoming races when he hopes to post more fast times at 5k and 10k to earn selection in September to run for England in the over-70s category at the UK International Cross Country in Dublin in November.

Steve Nolan ran 17:47 to come sixth overall and first M55 in the Joseph Holt Brewery 5k race in Horwich on the same day and the first junior girl home in the one-mile fun run was Burnden member Adrian Merritt’s nine-year-old daughter Isabella.

Four days earlier, Nolan led home a 57-strong Burnden team at the Horwich Jubilee 5 Series race, posting a superb time of 29:04 to finish first in the M55 category and 13th overall.

He was followed by Rob Short (31:28) and Keith Thomas (31:34). Walker put in another strong run to win the M70 category in 36:58.

Kirsty Normanton was first F45 to finish in 33:27. Lesley Fisher was first of the F55 runners to complete the course, with Anne Ferguson second in that class in 37:38.

Ladies' captain Gwen Kinloch won the F50 category in 33:58, with Shirley Staveley third in 36:57. Paula Pilling was first home in the F40 placings in 35:06 with Holly Craggs third F35 home in 36:47.

Paul Christie was second in the M60 category with 34:24 and Anthony Foster was third M65 in 44:56.

Other results: Lee White (31:41), Paul Duke (33:04), John Turner (33:23), Andy Duffy (33:37), George Butler (33:45), John McMyler (34:27), Tony Wall (35:28), Lyndsay Darbyshire (35:39), Colm O’Brien (35:50), Adrian Merritt (35:54), Steven Yates (36:24), Craig Philpot (36:27), Matt Barker (37:04), Mark Butler (38:12), Don Nichol (38:27), Katy Thompson (38:44), Neil Critchley (38:58), Jackie Oakes (39:11), Kris Worsley (39:15), Trevor Fishwick (40:13), Carolyn Barker (40:24), Chris Greenall (40:25), Liam Christie (40:28), Phil Lamb (41:08), Jeff Pendlebury (41:38), Sarah Sutcliffe (41:48), Dave Pearson (42:17), Clair Marland (43:23), Martin Twining (43:58), Nick Haworth (44:49), Alec Cottrill (45:06), Maria Parkinson (45:47), Sheila Christie (46:30), Louise Geoghegan (49:23), Susan Williams (49:23), Joanne Darby (49:26), Rita Ledwards (50:09), Julie Bower (50:15), Sally Cottrill (51:31), Jessica Sammon (52:29), Christine Pendlebury (55:26), George Ogden (56:05), Gillian McGowan (59:33), Mandy Ogden (1:00:02).

Rob Short claimed 14th place in the Last Drop Loop Fell Race, leading the club to the finish in 45:16. Paul Duke was the next Burndener to cross the line, his 46:15 earning him 19th place.

Lesley Fisher was again the best F55 runner with 51:17 while Katy Thompson won the F40 prize with 57:50. Lorraine Halwood took second place in the same category in 59:18. Karen Taylor was first F50 to finish with 1:17:45.

Tony Wall came home second in the M55’s with 50:39 while Don Nichol’s 54:23 earned him second place in the M60 category.

Other results: Ian Pudge (52:26), John Hall (1:04:38), Dave Pearson (1:04:38), Alec Cottrill (1:17:44), Julie Bower (1:17:49), Peter Whiteside (1:17:50), Diane Morrison (1:24:17), Louise Geoghegan (1:24:17).