THE Horwich Triathlon beckoned for a quintet of hardy Burndeners and Jonathan Sangster was highest in the club ranks with a brilliant time of 2hrs 9mins 24secs for 29th position out of 269 entrants.

Second was Stephen Horsman with a swift 2:30:22 and 107th position as well as fourth V60, while Andy Dunleavy was third Burndener with a great 2:44:11 and 166th position.

Tim Taylor was just one minute and 29 seconds behind Dunleavy in a sound time of 2:45:40 and 174th position, while Gareth Doherty was 30 seconds behind Taylor in a super 2:46:10 and 178th position – making him the fifth member of the Burnden Tri-quintuplets to complete the race.

Not for the faint-hearted, the tough challenge is open to all abilities and is one of the oldest triathlons in the North West at the grand old age of 25.

It is part of the EPIC Club Championships where Burnden can score points for having competitors in the race and where the club finishing highest in the ranks wins £500 to donate to a charity of their choice.

The swim stats were impressive as Sangster was in and out of the pool in a smooth 11:08 at an astonishing 2:13 minutes per 100m, Taylor in 12:32, Horsman in 13:33, Dunleavy in 16:14 and Doherty in 17:43.

It was then onto the bikes for a 40km undulating cycle ride -the Burnden times being Sangster 1:15:18, Horsman 1:21:47, Taylor 1:31:11, Dunleavy 1:31:12 and Doherty 1:35:31.

Finally, the most brutal part arrived – the discipline in which all four are arguably strongest – the run.

Horwich Triathlon is known as ‘The Race to the Pike’ because of its final leg – the 8.6km gruelling slog up to Rivington Pike and back down to the finish line.

Sangster was back in 40:23, Doherty in 48:37, Horsman in 50:10, Dunleavy in 50:37 and Taylor in 55:35.

While the Triathlon was under way, two members ventured further afield to run the Blacksticks Blue 10K – a popular championship choice a few years back because of its finishing prize of Blacksticks Blue cheese.

Josh Palmer was round the course in a great time of 56:30 and Dave Rushton completed the 6.2, his first race for the club, in a quick 47:31.

Gareth Lowe continued his impressive running performance by pocketing a V40 category win at the Yarrow River Bluebell 10K.

The beautiful woodland route demands runners navigate their way across a river and has some challenging inclines and undulations.

Lowe finished in 54:26 and 29th overall position.

The Astley Trail Series of races are set in the picturesque grounds of Astley Hall in Chorley and take place on the first Wednesday of every month from May to August.

The race series draws runners from all over the North West and eight Burndeners made their way there this week.

Lyndsay Darbyshire achieved first V50 with a great time of 28:25 and Gwen Kinloch was awarded second V60 for her impressive performance – she completed the 5K course in 28:02. Anne Ferguson was third V60 with a super 28:48.

First male Burndener home was Gareth Lowe in another solid performance of 26:17.

Other results: Paul Christie 27:47, Steven Bate 27:59, Mark Butler 30:36, Andy Warburton 31:21.

GB Ultra Ambassador, Sarah Woodiwiss, completed an incredible 50 miles last weekend as she took on the Pennine Barrier 50 Mile Race, which includes just under a dizzying 9,000 feet of elevation.

The route starts at Malham and leads runners round trails taking in Malham cove, the Dry Valley of Watlowes, Malham Tarn, Fountains Fell, Janet’s Foss and the wonderful Yorkshire Three Peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough

Woodiwiss was out on the course for a challenging 16:22:46.

More than 20 Burndeners took part in parkruns last weekend.

At Bolton Parkrun, Mark Cannon was first member and first male to finish in a fantastic 22:01 – giving him ninth overall position, while Vicki Hamer was first female member to finish in an impressive 24:16 and 33rd overall position.

Others who took part included Martin Whitehead, David Aulton, Richard Blake, Francis Mackin, Paul Johnson, Louise Righini, Linda O’Byrne, Sarah Brown, Jenni Partington, Cheryl Dunleavy, Debra Hennessey, Joyce Tyldesley and Gillian McGowan

Other results: Heaton Park - Adrian Ashburn 22:01; Worsley Woods - Paul Christie 22:36, Carolyn Edwards 30:31; Witton - Liz Hopley 31:55; Haigh Woodland - Pete Hopley 19:48; Stretford - Mark Jackson 19:52; Cliffe Castle - Simon Marland 24:44, Sue Blackman 36:05; Peel - Ian Mann 32:40.