BURNDEN’S Lesley Fisher scored a remarkable double at the weekend, writes Dave Beevers.

She was first female over-55 and 12th female runner to complete the opening South East Lancashire Cross Country League event of 2016 at Tandle Hill, Oldham, clocking a time of 40mins 8secs.

She followed it up a day later with the F55 prize at the East Lancashire Hospice 10K race at Great Harwood, near Blackburn.

Gwen Kinloch (40:24) and Anne Ferguson (40:58) completed a 1,2,3 for Burnden in the F55 category at Tandle Hill, earning them the first team prize in the Over-45 and Over-50 sections as well as second place in the other three team categories – senior women, Over-35 and Over-40.

Katy Thompson was next to finish the cross country course in 43:31 with Maria Parkinson (53:00) and Brenda Sedgwick (55:18) completing the Burnden ladies finishers.

Glen Kenyon led the Burnden men home finishing eighth overall and second V40 in 42:31, followed by Keith Thomas, second V55 in 46:34, and Don Nichol in 57:58.

Phil Eccleston came within 30 seconds of winning the East Lancashire Hospice race after coming second by three seconds at Bolton parkrun 24 hours earlier, so it was a weekend of near misses for the 2015 club champion.

His time of 34:50 still brought him first place in the senior men category.

Paula Pilling continued her fine form with another PB, finishing first Burnden female runner, third female overall and second W40 in a superb time of 42:53.

John McMyler was back in his Burnden vest, returning with a time of 45:53 while Don Nichol put in a great run to be third M60 in 48:55.

Sarah Sutcliffe marked her return from injury by coming home strongly in a time of 52:54 to suggest her training for the London Marathon is back on track.

Other East Lancs Hospice 10K results: George Butler (46:49), Craig Philpot (52:53), Les Kaneen (55:19), Jessica Sammon (1:07:45), Melissa Eccleston (1:08:38), Gillian McGowan (1:15:51).