Burnden Road Runners’ men’s captain Gareth Doherty was first home at the Edenfield Fell race as club members took on the mighty ‘Scramble Hill’.

Organised by Rossendale Harriers, competitors start this 10.3K challenge from Edenfield Cricket Ground, travelling along road and path before crossing Cowpe Lowe, Rossendale Way and Tottington Moor before navigating back across Scout Moor and New Hall Close.

The sting is the final climb up Scramble Hill - so named as runners literally scramble up to the peak and then bump downwards on their backsides. Reaching an ascent of 477 metres, it’s not for the hill-phobic but the stunning views are well worth the torture.

Doherty finished in 19th place in 55mins 31secs out on the fells. Paul Duke was second Burndener in 59:32 and third was Andy Dunleavy, in 1:02:17. Verity Harrison was first female for the club and seventh female overall in 1:06:54.

Other Burnden results: Gareth Lowe 1:03:22, Keith Thomas 1:06:23, Lyndsay Darbyshire 1:08:23, Andrew Crawford 1:08:41, Michael Kermode 1:08:45, Anne Ferguson 1:09:29, Marcus Hamer 1:14:01, Vicki Hamer 1:15:42, Ged Turner 1:17:05, Mark Butler 1:17:23, Andy Warburton 1:19:01, Steven Bate 1:22:02, Mark Turner 1:22:57, Philip Glassbrook 1:33:26, Kathryn Baron 1:33:26, Anthony Fulop 2:04:45, Shirley Robinson 2:29:37, Cheryl Dunleavy 2:30:56, Gillian McGowan 2:32:27.

Burnden men’s team were awarded fifth place with 95 points for their first three finishers – Doherty, Duke and Dunleavy, while the ladies’ team was second with 28 points collected by Harrison, Darbyshire and Ferguson.

Adventuring Burndeners were up in the hills last week to compete in the Leo Pollard Memorial Race, organised by Lostock AC, in aid of Bolton Mountain Rescue and in memory of their honorary life president, Leo Pollard - a keen fell runner who passed away in 2018.

‘Challenging’, ‘exhilarating’, ‘tough’ and ‘fun’ are some of the adjectives to describe the seven-mile fell race and there was an abundance of great times for members.

Mark Cannon was first through the fells in 1:06:51, with Mark Jackson following in 1:07:43 and Gareth Lowe in 1:08:10.

Other Burnden results: Keith Thomas 1:11:14, Neil Counsell 1:13:14, David Smith 1:13:50, Philip Glassbrook 1:39:07, Emma Walker 1:41:15, Jenni Partington 1:47:00, Kath Baron 1:47:00.

Beginning at the Top Barn in Rivington, runners faced a steep climb up to the Pike and then circulate both Rivington and Smithills moor – taking in Brown Hill and Crooked Edge Hill to reach the Two Lads monument. Circling again around Holden’s Plantation and Smithills Shooting Hut, it is another climb almost to the mast before traversing back across Rivington Moor in stunning approach to the Pike. Racers then retrace their steps to finish at the starting point.

Running along the canal towpath of Gargrave this week was talented runner, Paul Willan flying a solo flag for Burnden at this ‘Grim Up North’ organised race. Offered a choice of six race distances at the ‘Glorious Gargrave’, Willan opted for the 32-mile Ultra and was second male, third overall, in a superb time of 5:50:17.

With not just one ultra runner this week, there must have been something in the air as Maggie Slamin caught the bug and took on the 20-mile version of the Montane Trail Ullswater Way.

This scenic route, which includes a Wainwright summit, starts and finishes at Jenkins Field in Glenridding. Slamin followed the stunning Ullswater Way, which is a complete lap of Ullswater, and completed the distance (plus an extra 1.6miles) in an impressive 6:02:03.

Cyclist Tim Taylor was in Northern Italy to take on the Granfondo Stelvio climb - located in the Lombardy town of Bormio. Described as ‘one for the mountain goats’ the Stelvio is one of the most beautiful and iconic cycling climbs in the world, reaching ascents in excess of 4,000 metres on its longest route.

Taylor did well for 77 miles, riding in the rain until the event was cancelled just before the big climb because of the inclement weather.

Another cyclist out and about this week, though a little closer to home, was Gillian Morris who signed up to 50 miles on the ‘Tour of Cambridgeshire’s newest addition’. She followed a flat route on closed roads with views of the beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside and conquered her 50 miles.

Usually one of the Burnden members puts on an adventurous run on the Bank Holiday in the absence of training and Ged Turner stepped up and organised a beautiful run around the Jumbles, Edgworth, Turton and Wayoh. Followed by a coffee and a catch up, it was a great muster run for all abilities.

Burnden original, Simon Marland has tied the knot with recent London Marathon runner, Sue Blackman and all of Burnden send their very best wishes and congratulations.

Of course, this parkrun-mad couple had to squeeze in a couple of 5Ks and where better than in Denmark and Sweden.

As the countries celebrated their national holidays, there were extra parkruns. Simon completed the Danish Faelledparken in 23:51 and the Swedish Vaxjosjon in 23:39, while Sue finished Faelledparken in 31:01 and Vaxjosjon in 30:56.

Not content with their Scandinavian adventures, the couple also finished Watergrove Parkrun, in Rochdale, with Simon finishing in 27:01 and Sue in 36:07.

Mark Cannon, a super Burnden runner and a regular feature in the top 10 at Bolton Parkrun, completed his milestone 100th parkrun lst week. Cannon made his mark as second Burndener in eighth overall position in 21:14

Bolton’s front Burndener was the Suleman Badat, who was through the finish in a brilliant time of 20:21 and in fifth overall position. Andy Dunleavy was 10th overall in 21:21 and first Burnden lady was Sarah Watton, who claimed second overall female in 24:33.

Other Bolton results: Ian Pudge 21:25, Lyall Mew 22:18, Martin Whitehead 23:30, Martin Cullen 24:18, Jonathan Sangster 24:34, Chris Worthington 24:34, Roy Tatlock 26:06, Linda O’Byrne 26:52, Gareth Doherty 29:25, Gillian Morris 30:18, Philip Glassbrook 30:29, Paul Johnson 31:41, Alyson Cullen 33:22, Storm Hunt 38:21, Cheryl Dunleavy 38:55, Gillian McGowan 42:36, Lauren Hulme 56:45, Jocelyn Chadderton 56:45, Gemma Chapman 1:03:40.

Results elsewhere: Heaton Park - Chris Greenall 26:26; Pennington Flash - Jenni Partington 28:20, Gareth Lowe 28:21, Joyce Tyldesley 35:47, Steven Snape 36:17; Worsley Woods - Mark Jackson 20:35, Dave Rushton 25:58; Penrith - Holly Craggs 25:20; Ormskirk - Francesca Caine 23:13; Stretford - Adrian Ashburn 21:12; Cliffe Castle - Carolyn Edwards 29:22; Greenfield Valley - Nia Bell 30:46; Peel - Carol Richardson 32:39, Michelle Livesey 37:25, Andrew Crawford 37:49; Largs Prom - Lawrence McDonald 23:11.