GWEN Kinloch and Lee White top the pile as the Burnden Road Runners Club Championship reached its climax.

The Championship is a Burnden annual staple and began in the summer after a gap in 2020.

There was an initial choice of 10 races for members to complete – reduced to nine after the Bollington race cancellation – and these were chosen by the two club captains – for the ladies, Vicki Hamer, and the men, Marcus Chester.

Members had to complete at least five of the nine events to qualify – these included the Sale Sizzler 5K, the Lancaster Half, the Rivington Half, the Trafford 10K, Through the Villages 8 miles, the Myerscough 10 mile, the Santa Dash 4 mile, a September parkrun event and a marathon.

Depending on their position in each race, members were awarded points and the results have been calculated.

The top 10 in the ladies rankings are 1. Gwen Kinloch – 250 points; 2. Lyndsay Darbyshire – 245; 3. Anne Ferguson – 241; 4. Teresa Riley – 234; 5. Linda O’Byrne – 230; 6. Jennifer Forkin – 219; 7. Cheryl Dunleavy – 212; 8. Nia Bell – 212; 9. Louise Righini – 211; 10. Gillian McGowan – 195.

The 10 ten in the men’s section was tense right until the end but White swung it and sailed into first place with 247points, leaving three tied for second place.

The rankings are: 1. Lee White – 247 points; 2. Andy Dunleavy – 242; 3. Mark Jackson – 242; 4. Paul Duke – 242; 5. Peter Hopley – 235; 6. Aidy Ashburn – 224; 7. Neil Counsell – 214; 8. Gareth Lowe – 213; 9. Steven Bate – 213; 10. Adam Austin – 207.

The time of 9am on December 25 brought freezing wind and festive cheer to Leverhulme Park as 17 Burndeners donned their Santa hats, elf ears and more to run the 5K parkrun course with 185 others.

In the Christmas Day event, Mark Jackson was first past the post with the top time of 21mins 45secs with Gareth Lowe second in a swift 23:50 and Gayle Gerrard first female in a brilliant 27:35.

Other results: Michael Caine 28:54, Francesca Caine 28:56, Gareth Doherty 29:02, Tony Woodiwiss 33:10, Gillian Morris 33:29, Emma Walker 33:30, Anthony Fulop 34:28, Sandra Caine 34:29, Linda O’Byrne 35:41, Sarah Woodiwiss 35:41, Ian Mann 36:14, Cheryl Dunleavy 38:57, Jennifer Forkin 38:59, Simon Irving 39:27.

Elsewhere, Pete and Liz Hopley headed to Hyndburn Parkrun, finishing in superb times of 21:56 and 34:34 respectively, while Simon Marland and Sue Blackman visited Clitheroe Castle Parkrun, finishing in great times of 27:09 and 37:41 respectively.

Mark Butler was the sole Burndener at Bramhall Parkrun, finishing in a brilliant 33:11.

The Burnden Bees – Burnden Road Runners’ Beginners’ Group - will be meeting on Saturday mornings at Leverhulme Park from January 15 at 10am for anyone with a New Year’s resolution to take up running.

The club’s experienced and qualified leaders will take people from a walk to a jog to a run in an adapted Couch to 5K model – slowly building up to running the parkrun course.

If you or a friend have always wanted to try running but have not quite stuck with it, Burnden’s friendly Bees will encourage you to spread your wings.

If you are not a beginner runner but would still like to join a sociable and friendly group, Burnden’s Inbetweener, Long Run and Efforts groups also meet on Monday evenings at 7pm from January 3.

Visit the website at www.burndenroadrunners.co.uk for more information about getting involved.