A big turnout of Burnden Road Runners performed well at the latest Red Rose Cross-Country League meeting in Bolton.

A healthy number of 21 made the short trip to Leverhulme Park and both the men’s and ladies’ teams recorded good runs.

Burnden captain Paul Duke said: “The demanding course involves the famous water crossing where many spectators can be found encouraging the runners through the water.

“It was good to see Verity Harrison back running cross country and she helped her team finish seventh overall along with Gwen K, Lyndsay D and Shirley S.

“Bernie Jones ran her first cross country race for Burnden - finishing in 14th position for her age category.

“The Ladies Vet team finished in fourth place, while Tony Fulop ran in the ladies’ race and finished.

“Special mention to Matt Dewhurst - representing his new club for the first time and finishing in 30th position.

“He helped the men’s team to sixth place with Gareth D, Mark W, Dan G, Steve N and myself.

“The men’s Vet team also finished in fourth.

“It was also great to see Lyall Mew getting involved in cross country and running his first Red Rose race.

“I am very pleased, as captain, with how both teams are performing so far this season and the friendly competition, which is taking place between the Burnden men.”

Results: Ladies’ team - Gwen Kinloch 26mins 18secs (first Vet), Verity Harrison 26:19, Lyndsay Darbyshire 26:24 (third Vet), Shirley Staveley 27:12, Anne Ferguson 27:48 (first Vet), Linda Doherty 29:09, Kathryn Baron 31:46, Bernie Jones 34:04, Nia Bell 34:34 (third Vet), Anthony Fulop 37:33 (first Vet), Gillian McGowan 43:23; men’s team - Matthew Dewhurst 40:51, Gareth Doherty 43:55, Mark Whittington 44:15, Paul Duke 46:12, Danny Glynn 46:44, Steve Nolan 47:12 (second Vet), Lyall Mew 47:33, Mark Cannon 50:34, Stephen Horsman 51:21, David Smith 53:03.

Over in Oldham, Andy Dunleavy, was across the line of the Halloween Half in 1:34:41 - securing first place in Vet Cat 60-69.

This hilly half was no match for Burnden’s chair as his leaping legs smashed through two minutes faster than the same race in 2017.

Mark Jackson is known at Burnden Road Runners for his love of marathons and tough trail runs, and this week was no exception.

He took on one of the three peaks as the setting for his 28th marathon - finishing the Snowdonia marathon (known as the Eryri) in a super time of 5:01:51.

Tom Stratton, always a swift mover, conquered the challenging peak in a stratospheric 3:46:59.

In parkrun, Michael Kermode secured a new personal-best time of 20:17, at Stretford.

Heaton Park saw Chris Worthington finish in 20:45 and Gayle Gerrard in 25:37.

Preston witnessed Adam Austin cross the line in 23:15 and Haigh Woodland saw Carol Richardson finish in 32:57 and Michelle Livesey in 38:55.

At Alexandra Park, Moss Side, Adrian Ashburn clocked 21:31, while at Thames Path Parkrun, Woolwich the Marlands ran with 23:01 for Simon and 31:50 for Sue.

Bolton was host to a variety of Burndeners with special mention to Trevor Eagle, who joined the Mayor and other runners for ‘5K Your Way’ - Move Against Cancer - finishing in 56:56.

Other results: Suleman Badat 20:52 (fifth), Andy Dunleavy 23:59, Simon Entwistle 26:08, Steven Bate 26:22, Paul Willan 26:54, Richard Blake 29:11, Paul Johnson 29:22, Gillian Morris 29:25, Nicola Halsall 29:40, Jenni Partington 31:35, Kathryn Berry 31:54, Sarah Brown 32:35, Philip Glassbrook 32:47, Simon Irving 33:06, Steven Snape 34:35, Jennifer Entwistle 35:59, Gareth Lowe 36:00, Ian Mann 37:26, Joyce Tyldesley 37:41, Cheryl Dunleavy 40:17, Nia Bell 48:44.