HOST of Burndeners turned out to run the Great Manchester Half or 10K last Sunday.

Centrally located in the city, the half began bright and early at 8.30am with the 10K taking part later in the day. Both races take runners around the city’s iconic landmarks including the two football stadiums of Old Trafford and the Etihad.

Lots of Burnden Bees were there to take on the challenge – for some their first half.

Chelsea Entwistle, who struggled to run 5k a year ago absolutely smashed her running goal by finishing in a super time of 2hrs 18mins 33secs.

Jason Attwood, spurred along by Aidy Ashburn in 1:52:28, achieved his first sub-two hour half in a brilliant 1:52:32.

Martin Whitehead was first male Burndener home in a speedy 1:46:34 and Gayle Gerrard was first female in 1:52:57.

Other results: Martin Fielding 1:48:40, Michelle Carter 1:54:39, Thomas Wilkinson 2:07:26, Josh Palmer 2:14:17, Simon Irving 2:16:16, Louise Righini 2:32:47, Cheryl Dunleavy 2:36:28, Lauren Hulme 2:40:31.

The 10K-ers did brilliantly well. Gary Aylett was first home in 47:35 with Lawrence McDonald next in 50:33 and Francesca Caine in 50:43.

Other results: Mark Turner 59:32, Tess Riley 1:00:31, Nia Bell 1:00:34, Sandra Caine 1:00:40, Jennifer Entwistle 1:08:48, Simon Entwistle 1:08:49, Ian Mann 1:11:17, Gillian McGowan 1:26:11.

It was an extra special race for Shirley Robinson and Robert Bell as both members joined up with team-mates to run for charities.

Robinson has been leading a work running night to train up her colleagues from Premex to run the 10K in aid of Bolton Hospice and she finished in a fine time of 1:08:24.

Bell ran for Manchester-based ‘Dogs 4 Rescue’ with 13 others – mostly non-runners – raising more than £5,000 to help rescue dogs from the UK and abroad. He finished in 1:04:37.

Elsewhere, club member Tess Riley was running the 26.2 at Exeter this week.

Organised by Exeter City Football in the Community, it is a flat, traffic-free course run on the footpaths and cycle tracks around the River Exe and Exeter Canal.

Despite describing the course as beautiful but tough, hot and very flat, Riley finished in a great time of 5:07:46.

Closer to home, Carolyn Edwards was the sole member flying the club colours at the Anderton Boat Lift 10K and described it as ‘a lovely, gently undulating, trail run with a nice goody bag at the end – well recommended’.

Starting and finishing at the impressive Anderton Boat Lift, the scenic route takes runners through parks, including Anderton Nature Park, and along the River Weaver with some stunning views along the way.

Edwards finished in a good time of 1:06:40.

It was all eyes on the pies as 46 Burndeners headed eight miles south west from Bolton for the Club Championship trail race at Wigan.

The 10K looped course takes in the scenic bridleways of Amberswood, following mixed terrain of peaceful woodland trails and wide open gravel paths.

Flat and fast, it is a perfect PB-smashing opportunity while enjoying the gorgeous countryside of the nature reserve – formerly a mining area.

Gathering at Springview Sports and Community Club - the race HQ - there was time for a warm-up lap around the field.

With the promise of Wigan’s signature cuisine at the finish and the opportunity to grab some points in the Club league, Burnden’s runners were focused and inspired at the start line.

Category prizes were abundant as many members achieved top times – placing them either first or second vet winners or within the leading 10.

Mel Walker was awarded first V75 with 58:48 – also beating the first over-70 runner – a great personal achievement for Walker, who is now 79.

Other top category winners were Gwen Kinloch - first female V60 in 46:27 and Andy Dunleavy - first male V60 in 42:07.

Lyndsay Darbyshire was first female V50 in 45:45 and Keith Thomas first male V65 in 46:18.

The second categories were numerous as Gayle Gerrard achieved second V45 in 51:16 and Nia Bell was second female V60 in 1:01:32.

Stephen Horsman was second V60 with 43:52, club chairman Paul Christie was second male V65 in 47:18 and Philip Glassbrook was second V75 with 1:00:34.

Sarah Watton was fourth overall female and fourth senior in 43:53, while Jonny Sangster and Lee White were neck and neck. Sangster swung it, finishing in sixth overall position and fourth senior with an eye-watering 38:17 with White not far behind in 39:14 – awarding him eighth position and second V45.

Other results: Gareth Doherty 43:05, Sam Ashton 43:31, Ed Ashton 44:17, David Smith 45:31, Jason Attwood 47:01, Paul Drew 48:12, Vicki Hamer 48:56, Ged Turner 49:20, Adrian Ashburn 49:36, Tim Taylor 49:37, Andy Warburton 50:57, Linda O’Byrne 52:09, Mark Butler 54:22, Verity Harrison 54:33, Julia Hall 55:43, Nicola Hardy 57:59, Gillian Morris 59:38, Emma Walker 59:38, Louise Righini 1:00:37, Chelsea Entwistle 1:05:28, Robert Bell 1:07:37, Rachel Prior 1:07:38, Sharon Drew 1:07:47, Jennifer Entwistle 1:08:07, Anthony Fulop 1:10:51, Sarah Brown 1:10:51, Ian Mann 1:12:42, Jennifer Forkin 1:13:37, Shirley Robinson 1:13:48, Cheryl Dunleavy 1:13:55, Debra Hennessey 1:15:11, Michelle Livesey 1:16:18, Trevor Eagle 1:29:34.

Burndeners have been busy over the last fortnight and are gearing up to helping Bolton parkrun celebrate its 500th birthday.

Special mention from the club goes to new member, Michael Hampson who achieved first place at Bolton parkrun on May 14 in a stupendous time of 17:33.

Paul Duke was first Burnden Road Runner home over the new course at the first of Horwich RMI Harriers’ three Jubilee races.

Over the 5.4 miles, Duke finished in 35mins 44secs, giving him 11th overall position. 

Gareth Lowe was next in 40:37 and the trio of David Smith, Gwen Kinloch and Lyndsay Darbyshire finished within seconds of each other in 42:40, 42:44 and 42:51 respectively.

Other results: Vicki Hamer 44:57, Lawrence McDonald 48:03, Andy Warburton 48:40, Mark Butler 50:53, Philip Glassbrook 56:34. 

The second race is on June 15 and the third, part of the Club Championship and Central Lancs Grand Prix is on July 20.

Tim Taylor was off to London to compete in the exciting and challenging course of the Wimbledon 5 mile – the first race of a series.

The route demands runners to tackle the boggy Rifle Butts, run alongside bubbling Beverly Brook and climb the tricky ‘Toast Rack’. Designed as a deliberately tougher than average run, it is also accessible to runners of all standards.

Taylor described the five-mile race as a ‘lovely route’ and that the hills grumbled about by locals are what we would call ‘undulations’.

Taylor was beaten to third in Men’s V60 by five seconds but achieved an impressive 41:37.

Elsewhere, Gareth Lowe was officially Burnden’s furthest travelled member last week as he flew to Finland to compete in their largest half-marathon. 

The Helsinki City Run has been held since 1994 and kicks off the Finnish summer season – maintaining its crown as the country’s most popular half.

Flat and fast with seaside scenery, it’s an experience the Finns encourage runners to experience in their capital city.

Describing the race as pretty flat and on mixed terrain, Lowe added that there are ‘great views of the city, ocean, islands and forests’.

Lowe flew to the ‘Finnish’ line at the iconic Helsinki Olympic Stadium in a fantastic 1:41:09.