THE opening fixture in the Red Rose Cross Country League at Leigh Sports Village saw Steve Nolan take the V55 category in the senior men’s event in a time of 41mins 55secs.

Marcus Taylor was the next member to finish, in 45:41, followed by Martyn Pollitt in 46:11. Phil Glassbrook was first V70 in 47:20. Burnden’s other men completing the course were Rob Short (46:25), Marcus Chester (47:24), Gareth Doherty (47:29), Andrew Duffy (48:04) and Tony Wall (50:24).

In the senior women’s race, Paula Pilling was first home, 19th overall with a time of 23:34. Isaline Pollitt was second L50 in 24:31 and Anne Ferguson was third L55 in 25:25. Their positions combined put them third in the team standings. The other finishers were Shirley Staveley (25:54), Mumtaz Patel (26:05), Linda O’Byrne (27:32), Kath Page (29:00), Sheila Christie (29:02), Louise Wall (32:14) and Liz Hopley (36:26).

The fourth race in the Barrow Bridge 5K Series saw a number of successes.

Paula Pilling led the way again, sixth overall, first lady and first F40 in 21:07.

Burnden had five members in the first seven female finishers. Isaline Pollitt was second female finisher and first F50 in 21:46, with Jackie Oakes fifth fastest female and first F45 in 22:45, followed by Lucille Corrigan second F45 in 23:38 and Gayle Gerrard third F40 in 24:42.

Tony Wall was the first male Burnden member to finish, second M60 in 21:58. There were also age-group wins for Mel Walker, who was first M70, in 25:43 and Neil Critchley, first M50 in 28:07.

Elaine Roper was second F55 in 26:06, Jeff Pendlebury second M55 in 26:24, Phil Glassbrook second M70, in 26:53, Louise Wall second F50 in 28:30 and Karen Ratcliffe was second senior women in 32:09.

Denise Hodgkinson claimed third F45 in 26:59 and there were third places for Howard Sparke in V45 with 27:16, Debra Hennessey in F50 in 29:46, Anthony Foster in M70 with 32:17 and Jessica Sammon in the senior women’s category with 37:16. Other runners were Kerry Stevenson (27:56), Louise Fox (28:04), Vanessa Knowles (28:52), Tracey Lowe (29:48), Rita Ledwards (30:21), Linda Haines (30:31), Pauline Shepherd (33:55), Simon Darby (34:22), Joanne Darby (34:23), Christine Pendlebury (36:56), Ann Hardman (37:54) and Tracy Cameron (48:02).

Mark Jackson, Lorraine Halwood and Jackie Oakes travelled to Huddersfield for the King of the Hill Marathon. Mark finished the tough course in 4:41:56, with Oakes and Halwood crossing the finish line together in 4:58:03 for joint second.

Five members took on the Manchester Half Marathon with Denise Hodgkinson first home in 2:12:20, followed by Joanne Darby and Jackie Cairns, who crossed together in 2:31:58. Karen Ratcliffe finished in 2:45:22, Gillian McGowan in 2:48:47 and Ann Hardman 2:59:35.

Keith Thomas was first to finish the Mallorca Half Marathon, in 1:35:30, followed by Don Nichol in 1:51:25 and Julie Riddle in 2:11:15. Stewart Jones was first in the 10k in 47:46. Steve Riddle crossed in 55:53 and Dave Beevers completed the club representation in 1:41:00.