VETERAN Mel Walker continues to sweep all before him as he racks up a host of honours in his quest for international recognition this year.

Walker notched another success at the Blackpool Airshow 10K, finishing first in the V70 category with a time of 44min 41secs. The event incorporated the Northern Masters Championship so the Burnden flyer is currently Northern Masters V70 champion at 3,000m and 5,000m on the track and 5K and 10K champion on the road.

This latest success came just three days after he was first V70 home at the latest Sale Sizzler 5K, recording another PB of 21:41 in the process. He is hoping these great runs are enough to catch the selectors' eyes when they choose the England squad to compete in the UK International Cross Country in Dublin in November.

Phil Eccleston included the Blackpool 10K in his continuing preparations for the Snowdonia Marathon, finishing third in a strong field with a time of 35:43.

A staggering 42 members took part in the Astley Park 4.4-mile midweek race. Steve Nolan led the club home finishing ninth in 26:10 to take the V55 category prize. Keith Thomas was third in the same category, crossing the line in 28:47.

Burnden took the top two places in the U20 section with George Butler crossing the line in 29:07 and Liam Christie following on in 34:14.

Kirsty Normanton was first F45 in 30:22 while Paula Pilling claimed first F40 in 31:16 and Gwen Kinloch was first F55 in 31:37. Lesley Fisher was third F55 in 33:10 and between them, these four performances secured the ladies' team prize on the night.

Paul Christie picked up second V60 prize for his time of 30:54 and Shirley Staveley completed the prize haul, finishing second F50 in 35:00.

Other results: Rob Short 28:14, Lee White 28:28, Paul Duke 28:46, John Turner 29:40, Marcus Taylor 30:17, Adrian Merritt 31:15, Laurence Keighley 31:18, Tony Wall 31:21, John McMyler 31:25, Simon Marland 32:29, Matt Barker 32:52, Lyndsay Derbyshire 33:18, Mark Butler 33:23, Don Nichol 33:32, Craig Philpot 33:55, Anne Ferguson 34:12, Jackie Oakes 35:40, David Newman 35:42, Katy Thompson 35:59, Jeff Pendlebury 37:52, Clair Marland 41:39, Nicola Hardy 42:47, Louise Wall 44:22, Sheila Christie 44:55, Jessica Sammon 45:53, Joanne Darby 46:15, Rita Ledwards 46:16, Diane Morrison 47:13, Ann Butler 47:14, Sue Blackman 48:37, George Ogden 50:37, Amanda Ogden 55:32.

The 7.5-mile Boulsworth Fell Race course rises from Trawden Showground near Colne and provides a stern test for runners. Lesley Fisher was the eighth female runner to finish, taking first place in the F55 category with 56:46. Don Nichol was second V60 in 57:21.

Lawrence McDonald was the club's sole representative at the Badger Trail 10K in Bamber Bridge, completing the course in 49:52.

It proved an immense week for George Butler. After knocking nearly five minutes off his 2014 time at Astley Park, he took 36 seconds off his parkrun PB at Beckton in east London, coming second in 19:23 before tackling the London Triathlon Olympic distance 24 hours later.

Butler put in a cracking performance to finish 789th out of nearly 4,000 finishers with a combined time of 2:37:55. He completed the 1500m swim in the Royal Albert Docks in 34:59, the 40K bike ride in 1:12:35 and rounded it all off in impressive style clocking 43:50 in the 10K run.

Ann Butler was sixth F45 home in the Super Sprint distance. She followed up her 400m swim time of 14:58 with 28:18 for the 10K bike ride and 16:22 for the 2.5K run to post a combined time of 1:09:09.