STEVE Nolan took three M55 category wins on successive days in the Radcliffe 3-Day Challenge, finishing third overall when the races were counted together.

Nolan came 20th in the opening Bull Hill Fell Race, covering the 5.2miles and 1,100 feet of climb out of Hawkshaw over Holcombe Moor in 39mins 56secs, then backed that up by finishing fifth in the 5-Mile Summer Cross Country the following evening in 37:57 before coming fourth on the final day in the 5-mile Multi-Terrain Race in 31:19.

Burnden’s women came home with a haul of prizes. Lesley Fisher was second overall over the three days, with Isaline Pollitt third just 55 seconds adrift of her and Anne Ferguson fourth overall. Their efforts secured the team prize.

Fisher was first F55 in the Bull Hill Fell Race in 50:23, followed by Pollitt who was second F45 in 51:13. The placings were reversed in the cross country race the next day, with Pollitt’s time of 44:51 – again second F45 – edging out Fisher who finished first F55 in 45:21. Kirsty Normanton, who had chosen not to run the previous day, beat them both home to be first F45 in 43:19.

Normanton led the Burnden ladies home again in the final race, finishing fourth of the female runners in 35:51 and was again first F45. Fisher was sixth lady home and second F55 in 38:17 and Pollitt seventh and second F45 in 38:52. Anne Ferguson was second F55 in the first two races with times of 52:26 and 48:01 and was third F55 in the final race, ninth lady home in 40:53.

Jane Forrest was first F50 to finish in the cross country race, sixth lady home in 51:33. She was second F50 in the other two races, recording times of 56:45 in the fell race and 43:35 in the multi-terrain event.

In the multi-terrain event, Shirley Staveley was first F50 in a time of 40:10.

Twelve club members completed all three races with Don Nichol first M60 in the cross country in 46:17 and second M60 in the multi-terrain race in 38:39. Katy Thompson followed up her time of 59:38 in the fell race with two runners-up spots in the F40 category, completing the cross country in 55:23 and the final event in 41:59.

Results:

Bull Hill Fell Race: Andy Staveley (38:36), Steve Nolan (39:56), Keith Thomas (42:30), John Turner (46:13), Andy Duffy (46:45), Martyn Pollitt (46:51), Laurence Keighley (47:40), Lesley Fisher (50:23), Isaline Pollitt (51:13), Matt Barker (51:59), Don Nichol (52:07), Anne Ferguson (52:26), Lawrence McDonald (55:40), Jane Forrest (56:45), Colm O’Brien (57:17), David Aulton (57:45), Katy Thompson (59:38), Tony Foster (1:06:22).

Summer Cross Country: Andy Staveley (36:51), Steve Nolan (37:57), Keith Thomas (40:36), Lee White (42:27), Andy Duffy (43:10), Kirsty Normanton (43:19), Isaline Pollitt (44:51), Lesley Fisher (45:21), Don Nichol (46:17), Martyn Pollitt (46:36), Matt Barker (46:54), Anne Ferguson (48:01), Jane Forrest (51:33), Katy Thompson (55:23), Tony Foster (1:03:44).

Multi-terrain Race: Steve Nolan (31:19), Keith Thomas (34:54), Lee White (35:12), Ed Ashton (35:41), Kirsty Normanton (35:51), Andy Duffy (36:24), Martyn Pollitt (37:07), Lesley Fisher (38:17), Don Nichol (38:39), Isaline Pollitt (38:52), Colm O’Brien (39:05), Matt Barker (39:06), Shirley Staveley (40:10), Anne Ferguson (40:53), David Aulton (41:59), Katy Thompson (41:59), Jane Forrest (43:35), Julie Newton (48:49), Tony Foster (49:29).

Mel Walker continued his quest for an England vest later in the year with two local 5k runs. He ran his fastest mark of the year at the Sale Sizzler in 22:04 before completing the Lytham Carnival 5k in 22:26 to take the V70 prize despite a strong headwind for the second half of the race.

Three Burnden runners tackled the Lions Bridge Marathon, a six-lap loop from Gin Pit village, Tyldesley over trails through Lilford Park. Lorraine Halwood led the trio home in 4:41:59 with Bev Walker and Maria Parkinson finishing together in 5:24:01.

Trevor Fishwick tackled the half marathon over the same course and came home in 2:21:44.

Phil Lamb was the sole club representative at the Decathlon We Love Manchester 10k at Sportcity, completing the course in 49:46.

Three Burndeners teamed up for the Horwich NHS Triathlon Relay. Ann Butler took on the 400m swim in the pool at Horwich Leisure Centre, clocking 11:26. George Butler took over for the 21k bike leg around Horwich and Rivington and was 11th to finish the tough course in 48:24. Diane Morrison completed the 5k run in 26:10 to give the team a total time of 1:26:00 and 15th place overall.