Lostock AC welcomed a whopping 55 Burnden members to their popular ‘6 Miles of Smiles’ race last Sunday and the road-based course was a great opportunity to sneak in some PBs.

Part of the Central Lancashire Grand Prix, the local, flattish 6 has always had a good turnout with its dance music workout to start and its guaranteed finisher’s medal to end.

The distinctive black-striped vests were out in force and the sheer quantity – 55 in a field of 442 - has awarded the club a free place for next year.

There were maximum efforts all round from Burnden members with first finisher Matt Dewhurst a highlight - 12th overall in an astonishing 34mins 7secs.

Second male was Suleman Badat in 35:37 and third Mark Whittington, in 36:25.

Sarah Watton was first Burnden lady in a super 41:49, with Gwen Kinloch second in 43:46 and Francesca Caine third in 47:13. These great results helped Burnden to also win the Ladies’ team prize.

Personal course records were plentiful for Burndeners with Carol Richardson taking six minutes from last year’s time in 59:38, Martin Cullen culling 16 seconds from 2023 with 44:39 and Jennifer Entwistle taking more than three minutes off her best, finishing in 1:00:58.

Tony Fulop knocked off a minute as he came home in 1:02:34, Steven Walsh took two minutes off his best on his third Lostock outing with a time of 47:18 and, ultra trainee, Paul Willan, waved goodbye to 16 seconds off his best with 41:45.

Burnden results: Paul Duke 36:59, Ravi Patel 39:28, Lyall Mew 39:33, Gareth Doherty 39:52, Martin Whitehead 40:39, Mark Cannon 41:13, Stephen Horsman 42:13, Andrew Crawford 43:22, Michael Caine 44:21, Adrian Ashburn 44:32, Marcus Hamer 44:33, David Smith 45:32, Simon Marland 46:04, Keith Thomas 46:20, Ivan Brown 46:55, Colm O’Brien 47:27, Vicki Hamer 47:35, Lawrence McDonald 47:49, Anne Ferguson 47:51, Marie Parkinson 49:27, Neil Counsell 49:33, Linda Doherty 49:38, Marcus Chester 49:39, Mark Charlton 50:43, Mark Butler 50:55, Francis Mackin 51:09, Ged Turner 51:13, Andy Warburton 52:46, Emma Walker 53:17, Steven Bate 54:03, Kathryn Berry 54:46, Bernie Jones 55:01, Todd Cameron 55:14, Carolyn Edwards 55:32, Richard Burnett 55:57, Luke Newell 58:31, Philip Glassbrook 59:11, Gillian Morris 59:19, Louise Righini 1:00:26, Natasha Clarke 1:01:01, Sandra Caine 1:02:49, Sue Marland 1:08:59, Cheryl Dunleavy 1:16:25.

The 2023/24 cross-country season for Burnden has now finished and several members picked up awards.

Red Rose League: Anne Ferguson - first V65 category, Gwen Kinloch - second V60, Steve Nolan - second V60.

South East Lancs League: Gwen Kinloch - second V60, Anne Ferguson - first V65, Lyndsay Darbyshire - first V55, Keith Thomas - second V65; Team prizes - Ladies’ Vet 40 (second), Ladies’ Vet 50 (first).

Team captain, Paul Duke, said: “I am very proud of our cross-country team - for those members who have won awards but also the members that gave cross country a try, some of whom have not run cross country since high school.”

The team consisted of: Kathryn Baron, Nia Bell, Ivan Brown, Francesca Caine, Mark Cannon, Marcus Chester, Lyndsay Darbyshire, Matthew Dewhurst, Anne Ferguson, Tony Fulop, Gareth Doherty, Linda Doherty, Paul Duke, Danny Glynn, Verity Harrison, Stephen Horsman, Melissa Husbands, Bernie Jones, Gwen Kinloch, Gillian McGowan, Lyall Mew, Steve Nolan, Jenni Partington, Ian Pudge, David Smith, Andy Staveley, Shirley Staveley, Keith Thomas, Ged Turner, Andrew Warburton and Mark Whittington.

Highlight races as voted for by the team were:- 1 - Liverpool Euro Cross Challenge, 2 - Sefton Park, 3 - Beacon Park, Skelmersdale, 4 - Marl Pits, Rossendale, 5 - Leverhulme Park, Bolton, 6 - Town Park, Runcorn.

Meanwhile, Burnden newcomer, Rick Winnard, made a splash at the weekend with a cracking time of 53:14 at the Stanley Park 10K in Blackpool, organised by Fylde Coast Runners,

Fareham Running Club’s Sarah Don started the great initiative last year of inviting all running clubs to hold a Food Bank Run, where members bring a donation of non-perishable food to a nominated training night and the food is donated to a local food bank.

Gareth Doherty and Mark Whittington organised Burnden’s offering and after a great response from members, donations have been taken to Farnworth and Kearsley Food Bank.

Burnden parkrun results: Ekebergsletta, Norway - Gareth Lowe 25:18, Jenni Partington 31:47; Bolton - Marcus Chester 21:39 (fifth), Tom Stratton 22:02 (seventh), Martin Whitehead 22:10 (eighth), Paul Drew 25:36, Katherine Baines 25:45, Rick Winnard 27:52, Ravi Patel 27:53, Vicki Hamer 28:47, Paul Johnson 29:45, Linda Doherty 30:59, Nicola Halsall 30:59, Andrew Crawford 31:00, Gareth Doherty 31:03, Steven Snape 32:20, Gemma Chapman 32:24, Maggie Slamin 33:42, David Allen 36:25, Joyce Tyldesley 38:06, Debra Hennessey 38:36, Ian Mann 39:57, Andrew Parkinson 42:51, Ian Pudge 44:35, Luke Newell 1:01:26; Heaton Park - Mark Jackson 23:35, Gayle Gerrard 26:05; Marple - Simon Marland 26:10, Sue Marland 38:08; Birkenhead - Steven Walsh 24:35; Haigh Woodland - Carol Richardson 41:15; Fletcher Moss - Michael Kermode 20:36; Philips Park - Nia Bell 31:03.