Four types of race were on offer for Burndeners at Staveley but only the 18K was the golden ticket for the Off-Road Championship.

The Staveley races are part of the Lakeland Trails series and take in panoramic views of the southern Lakeland fells.

The Kentmere Trail Race 18K and the Kentmere Trail Challenge 18K are similar sounding but offer a different level of competitiveness. The Trail Race is aimed at the more competitive with a two-hour time limit, whereas the Challenge is longer with runners offered a limit of 3.5 hours to complete the course.

Tackling this version were Paul Duke, who clocked 1hr 29mins 59secs, followed by Gareth Doherty (1:31:32), Lyndsay Darbyshire (1:49:34), Anne Ferguson (1:56:03), Linda Doherty (2:01:13) and Melissa Husbands (2:06:48).

Finishing the Trail Challenge were Michael Kermode (1:39:59), Jenni Partington (2:27:41), Nicola Halsall (2:38:47), Kathryn Baron (2:38:47), Emma Walker (2:38:48) and Anthony Fulop (2:57:57).

Flying the flag at the 5K was sole runner Ian Mann, who crossed the course’s finish line in 1:02:49.

It was quarter slices of joy for four Burndeners as they completed the ‘Piece of Cake 10K’ in Manchester’s Boggart Hole Clough.

Andy Dunleavy was first MV65 in 44:41. Louise Righini, fresh from the London Marathon, was next home in a sub-hour 59:03. Sarah Brown followed to make it three in 1:04:57 and Cheryl Dunleavy reunited the quartet in 1:18:58.

It was a great turnout at the first race of the Astley Trail series this week in Chorley, where Michael Kermode was Burndener first to finish in a breathtaking 26:10, followed by Andrew Crawford, in 27:27.

Burnden’s Vets ladies shone with Lyndsay Darbyshire crowned first FV50 in 28:13, Gwen Kinloch awarded second FV60, in 28:58, and Anne Ferguson collecting third FV60, in 29:54.

Other results: Andy Warburton 32:58, Steven Bate 34:26, Tony Fulop 44:49.

The Ladies five-mile trail at Worsley Woods, organised by Swinton Running Club, featured a pair of superstar Burndeners - Gayle Gerrard and, making her debut, Katie Walsh. Both finished with a sub-hour time - Gerrard sub-45 in 43:01 and Walsh sub-55 in 53:20.

Three Burnden members travelled to Chorley to compete in their 10K race. Dean Covill finished in 50:31, with Bernie Jones following in 56:31 and Carol Richardson in 1:04:57.

Martin Cullen, Ged Turner, Simon Entwistle and Lyall Mew gathered their swim, bike, run gear at the Horwich ‘Kona of the North’ triathlon.

Burnden’s quad of Tri-Stars produced some impressive stats - with Ged Turner shaving minutes off his 2023 times for each discipline and Simon Entwistle making a splash in his debut Tri.

Cullen was in and out of the pool in 12:49, Mew in 14:15, Entwistle in 14:31 and Turner in 19:07.

In the 40K cycle ride, Cullen finished in 1:31:12, Entwistle clocked 1:40:50, Mew rode 1:21:46 and Turner finished in 1:39:42.

Horwich Triathlon is also 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. Mew was up and down in an impressive 46:20, Cullen in 57:19, Turner in 1:01:41 and Entwistle in 1:05:48.

Stephen Horsman was also awarded second V60 for his fantastic efforts.

Gillian McGowan was joined by Kathryn and Andrew Berry on the hilly Tour de Manc Sportive this week and all three did well.

Andre took on the ‘Mad Manc’ - a course of 116 miles with 10,600 feet of climb, while McGowan and Kath opted for a slightly shorter version – the Northern Quarter – still a lengthy 33 miles and with elevation reaching 2,500 feet.

In parkrun, Sarah Watton was first lady at Bolton in 22:52 and Mark Whittington was fourth overall at Warrington, in 18:52.

Other results: Heaton Park - Lee White 19:52, Gayle Gerrard 24:40, Chris Greenall 27:47; Hyndburn - Adrian Ashburn 24:17; Warrington - Mark Whittington 18:52 (fourth); Pennington Flash - Francesca Caine 26:43, Joyce Tyldesley 36:21; Bolton - Martin Whitehead 21:43, Sarah Watton 22:52 (first lady), Ravi Patel 24:44, Lawrence McDonald 25:48, Andrew Norman 27:01, Rick Winnard 27:49, John Simms 30:32, Paul Johnson 30:57, Philip Glassbrook 31:14, Don Taylor 32:04, Natasha Clarke 32:09, Sarah Jane Wells 33:24, Jordan Hulme 35:00, Andrew Parkinson 36:50, David Allen 41:12; Sherwood Pines - Simon Marland 24:30, Sue Marland 36:21; Haigh Woodland - Carol Richardson 37:12, Michelle Livesey 42:09; Stretford - Steven Walsh 23:31; Sale Water Park - Mark Jackson 22:08; Fleetwood - Patrick Filio 23:37; Isabel Trail - Nia Bell 29:04; Alderley Park - Tom Stratton 19:33, Katherine Baines 24:06; Worden - Ally Marland 25:12.