PAUL Duke ran a new personal-best time as he was first Burnden Road Runner home at the second Curley’s trail race.

His time of 20mins 7secs – a PB on this tough course by eight seconds - gained him fifth position – one ahead from the previous week’s results – as well as first Burndener to finish.

Andy Staveley put in a fantastic performance, returning from injury to achieve a super time of 23:08 and Gareth Lowe was back, shaving a further four seconds from his time to cross the finish line in a brilliant 24:00.

David Smith followed Lowe to become the fourth Burndener to finish in a splendid time of 25:09 just ahead of Steven Bate in a brilliant 25:42.

Philip Glassbrook was sixth BRR in a great time of 32:25.

The Curley’s triple threat, organised by Mad Bull Events, is a tough cookie and challenges even the most -seasoned runners with its countless ups and perilous downs.

The picturesque route of the Rivington 10 Mile, another cracker by Mad Bull Events, is a deceiving beauty.

Taking runners from its start at the Bowling Green by the Upper Rivington Reservoir, it is a carefully mapped out circular trail around the woodland and fells of the Lancashire beauty spot.

Travelling up Knowsley Lane and past Anglezarke Reservoir, runners are rewarded by the spectacular views around White Coppice and reach elevation heights of 1,048 feet at the summit of Great Hill before circling back around Wheelton Plantation.

Andy Dunleavy, just a week after completing the Manchester Marathon, was first Burndener home in 1:24:15, winning first V60.

Martin Whitehead, a 2021 Beginner graduate, was not far behind – finishing in 1:33:14.

Kathryn Baron and Shirley Robinson followed in 2:27:00 and Jennifer Forkin and Cheryl Dunleavy in 2:32:05.

Burnden’s ladies captain, Vicki Hamer, was visiting Norway this week and took in the local parkrun at Toyenparke, Oslo, finishing in a great time of 25:19 and achieving first place in her age category.

Closer to home, Duke was delighted to achieve his goal of a sub-20 at the Leverhulme Park course and finished in a super-swift 19:53 – in the top 10 at number six and first Burndener to finish.

Top lady to finish at Bolton was Sarah Watton in 22:22 – first overall lady as well as first Burnden lady. Gwen Kinloch was third lady in 23:36.

Burnden Bee graduate, Emma Moorcroft, returned to conquer Cruella and completed the course in 38:10, one minute and 43 seconds quicker than the previous week’s debut.

A further 13 Burnden members achieved sub-30s at Bolton Parkrun – a brilliant achievement – and another seven came in under 35 minutes.

Results: Andy Dunleavy 21:09, Gareth Doherty 21:34, Mark Jackson 22:35, Stephen Horsman 22:44, Steven Bate 23:20, Anne Ferguson 24:38, Linda O’Byrne 25:29, Andy Warburton 26:22, David Aulton 27:52, Simon Irving 28:15, Francesca Caine 28:26, Jenni Partington 29:00, Philip Glassbrook 29:53, Nia Bell 30:32, Teresa Riley 31:10, Paul Johnson 32:01, Sandra Caine 33:02, Richard Blake 33:10, Ian Mann 33:38, Anthony Fulop 34:49, Jennifer Forkin 36:01.

Heaton Parkrun was visited by Gayle Gerrard and Chris Greenall who finished in times of 24:27 and 25:21 respectively, while Worsley Woods welcomed Adrian Ashburn who crossed in 32:12.

Liz Hopley, Simon Marland and Sue Blackman represented at Witton Parkrun – finishing in respective times of 33:29, 36:53 and 36:53, while Mark Butler went further afield - travelling to Land’s End for a time of 31:16.

Steven Snape went even further and finished Germany’s Donaupark Parkrun in a cracking time of 38:07.

Burnden’s Bees - the new Beginners’ Group - will be starting their adapted 0-5K programme on Monday, May 9 from Smithills Sports Centre between 6-7pm. There is no charge for the 12-weekly sessions.

The club’s graduate Bees – the Inbetweeners’ group (5-10K), as well as a weekly long run and efforts session, all currently run on a Monday evening from Smithills Sports Centre at 7pm. There is a fee of £1 for each of these weekly sessions.

For more dteals on club events, visit the website at www.burndenroadrunners.co.uk.