BOLTON’S endurance team returned to the national level at Birmingham’s Sutton Park for the 6-Stage Road Relay after qualification at Manchester’s SportCity a fortnight ago.

They achieved a respectable 50th position of the 82 field (14th of the northern region representatives), although the cumulative 1hr 57mins 02secs was nearly two minutes slower than last year.

With international star Tom Lancashire unavailable, Tony Valentine led off, returning in 18:45 (49th) – half a minute quicker than in 2015 – confirming his return to form.

Karl Darcy was equally impressive, improving by nearly a minute in 12 months (18:42 – 42nd), while Martin Reid (19:29 – 46th) and Jonny Kay (19:41 – 45th) showed good consistency in returning very similar times despite both being unwell. Running between them, John Knowles (19:26 – 46th) had what coordinator Dave Shaw called “a barnstormer”, before Simon Dally (20:59 – 50th) bookended the squad after answering the call at short notice to represent for the first time at this level.

It was then D-Day for Bolton’s squad of 28 in the Central Lancashire Grand Prix finale at the Gin Pit 5-Miler.

The three-lap trail race hosted by Astley and Tyldesley was to be the decider for the series’ B Team and Veterans’ team trophies between Bolton – already virtual winners of the A Team – and Burnden Road Runners – already female team winners – with the latter having snatched a small but significant lead in both a fortnight ago after a fixture clash at the

NA road relays.

Darcy was Harriers' leading light, collecting an isolated silver behind Leigh’s series open winner Neil Pendlebury, after gradually moving through the gears following his exertions at the nationals.

Tom Carson, still working back to full fitness, started a little too quickly on the opening lap but pulled back two places with an impressive burst over the final 250m for fourth.

Simon Dally and Chris Povey both won their respective M45 and M40 categories before Dom Gavin made it five Blue Vests in the top 10.

Paul Mills, whose improvement this season has been phenomenal, was rewarded with 29th of the 219 field, with fellow vets Chris Pickford and Stephen Bonney being separated by debutant Craig Kenny as the final counters for the CLGP A team who retained the series’ trophy for a sixth consecutive year.

Nick Howarth returned with aplomb to lead the B team, and be final counter for the vets’ team – the trophy’s destiny now depending on how many more vets came in ahead of Burnden’s sixth.

Provisional results indicate Burnden had just enough in hand from their huge relative victories at the two most recent races to keep Bolton at bay which was disappointing, considering Harriers had the upper hand in eight of the 10 CLGP races. Junior Cameron Donnelly had another impressive outing just ahead of the welcome return of Daryl Bentley, with Andrew Gallacher pipping Dom Clarke in the last 50m.

With all of Bolton’s counters in, the fate of the B team title was still undecided – Burnden needed another six.

Cathy Flitcroft demonstrated her class again by promptly winning her F50 category ahead of perhaps the most intriguing battle of the series – the junior female title between Olivia Kearney and Rachel Bailey.

The advantage has swung pendulum-style all season, so it was perhaps appropriate both finished on exactly the same number of points (15) following the former’s better finishing margin of 11 seconds, though provisional results indicate

a victory on countback (by race appearances) to the latter.

Either way, the future of female running would appear to be bright alongside overall series winner Nicki Cartridge.

Cecilia Woods and Gail Harrison also ensured the women finish the CLGP in a best-ever second position in the table, before David Tomlinson won his M75 category.

As for the B team prize, provisional results indicate Burnden crossed the line 160 points better off – the equivalent of just

two counters.

BUH&AC times: Karl Darcy 27:02; Tom Carson 28:09; Simon Dally 29:43; Chris Povey 29:45; Dominic Gavin 29:51; Andrew Cafferky 31:16; Paul Mills 31:56; Christian Pickford 31:59; Craig Kenny 32:02; Stephen Bonney 32:11; Nick Howarth 32:43; Cameron Donnelly 32:51; Daryl Bentley 33:15; Peter Kearney 33:22; Dean Johnson 34:01; Ian Gregory 34:46; Andrew Gallagher 34:58; Dom Clarke 35:00; Andrew Barrow 36:01; Cathy Flitcroft 36:06; Olivia Kearney 37:24; Rachel Bailey 37:35; Cecilia Woods 39:56; John Grimshaw 40:17; David Morrison 40:28; David Tomlinson 43:15; Gail Harrison 44:27; Gerard Tucker 49:35.