29/05/2026
Burnden Race Report 29th May
Report by Jen Forkin - Well done everyone!
BADAT FIRST HOME AGAIN AT HORWICH
It was a double whammy as the Horwich Coronation trail ticked off a race on both the Off-Road Championship and the Central Lancs Grand Prix.
The trail saw a torrent of Burndeners traversing the fells for the midge-feast challenge - navigating 6 miles of the lesser known Rivington paths around the source and route of the River Yarrow.
Over to the results and first home again for us was Super Speedy Suleman Badat in 40:29 followed by Whippet-quick Mark Whittington in 40:51 and Michael Fast Kermode in 41:17.
First lady was Power Paula Pilling in 46:30, next in was Gwen Geronimo Kinloch in 48:38 and third home was Katie Kwikstep Walsh in 48:47.
Other results – Lee White 41:46, Paul Duke 42:24, Steve Nolan – 44:14, Steve Horsman – 46:34, Mark Cannon – 47:35, Ryan Moore – 48:31, Jake Quinn – 48:41, Gareth Doherty – 48:57, Lyndsay Darbyshire – 50:02, Gayle Gerrard – 51:38, David Smith – 52:09, Gareth Lowe – 52:56, Richard Blake – 53:53, Anne Ferguson – 54:26, Neil Counsell – 54:32, Jenni Partington – 55:48, Paul Cox – 55:59, Kathryn Baron – 56:25, Andy Warburton – 56:36, Mark Butler – 57:06, Paul Christie – 58:43, Elaine Roper – 59:50, Justin Bones – 1:03:13, David Morrison – 1:03:15, Tess Riley – 1:03:22, Steve Holt – 1:03:31, Liz Dawson – 1:03:41, Louise Bentley – 1:04:26, Nia Bell - 1:04:40, Amy Smith – 1:06:51, Emma Walker – 1:07:24, Finley Coyne – 1:09:58, Sarah Brown – 1:10:02, Jordan Hulme – 1:15:32, Gillian McGowan – 1:18:48, Cheryl Dunleavy – 1:18:48, Tony Fulop – 1:25:12.
RETURN OF IAN HESKETH
Staged over many years in various formats, the Ian Hesketh Memorial Duathlon event is a held in tribute to Ian, a member of Horwich RMI Harriers, who died tragically at 27 in 2005. Now run jointly between Tony Hesketh and Burnden Road Runners, the event is a 12 mile cycle sandwiched between two 5Ks set around Ian’s favourite training area, Rivington.
This year, over 50 competitors, including 10 Burndeners, took up the multisport challenge, which tackles a tough route featuring a pedal up hilly Dryfield Lane.
First home for Burnden was Gareth Doherty who took 3rd MV40 in 1:29:46 with his first run coming in at a speedy 23:39, the bike in 42:00 and the second run in 24:07.
Second in was Martin Cullen with 1:46:08 and times as follows – 5K – 25:38 – Bike – 50:57 – 5K – 29:33. Third back was Tony Woodiwiss in 26:56-55:32-29:39 making a finish time of 1:52:07.
Sarah Woodiwiss and Anne Ferguson came 2nd in their respective categories of FV50 and FV60. Sarah stuck with husband Tony – achieving almost identical results in 26:55 – 55:35 – 29:37 – making another 1:52:07. Anne’s first 5K was finished in 28:37, the bike in 1:00:14 and the second 5K in 30:04 – bringing a time of 1:58:55.
Gillian Morris completed the Burnden individuals in her trio of times – 31:10 – 58:24 – 34:31 – bringing her to the finish line in 2:04:05.
The relay teams were both made up of Burnden members and coming first was Team Carolisa – Carol Richardson on the bike and Lisa Berry on the runs. With Lisa back from the run in 32:59, Carol then smashed the bike in 53:58 before Lisa again set off for her second 5K – completing in 35:22 and totalling 2:02:19 for the pair.
In their first Duathlon, Ian Mann and Sarah Brown AKA the BRR Bees finished in 2:27:55 with Sarah completing the two 5Ks in 33:40 and 36:40 and Ian cycling the course in 1:17:35.
Super efforts from all 10 Burndeners at this tough event!
BOILING BOWLEY BANK HOLIDAY
Gwen Kinloch, Andy Warburton and Kathryn Baron took in a toasty treat on Bank Holiday Monday as they ran the Bowley Hill Fell race.
In Gwen’s words, “Mad Scots and English men went out in the midday sun..!” She was super right - it was a scorching day – well into the 30s but in true Gwen speed, she finished the scenic 5.5 miles under the hour in 59:34! Andy finished in 1:09:02 and Kath finished in 1:11:16. Gwen named the free entry to the Great Harwood agricultural show with its very cute pygmy goats as a highlight.
SOUTHPORT TRI – written by Triathlon Captain Mike Caine
Organised by Epic Events, the Southport Standard Triathlon is one of the North West’s most popular triathlon events. Set around the scenic Southport Marine Lake at Waterside Lodge, the standard-distance race consists of a 1,500m open-water swim, a fast 40km bike course on fully closed roads, and a flat 10km lakeside run.
Martin Fielding came in first with a time of 2:44:13.
Josh Palmer who has rejoined Burnden this year made a great comeback with a time of 3:31:52
PARKRUNS EVERYWHERE
Bolton – Tom Stratton – 21:25, Nathan Platt – 22:12, Jake Quinn – 26:40, Rob Moran-Hetherington – 26:48, Nicola Halsall – 29:08, Paul Johnson – 30:36, Howard Sparke – 30:50, Mark Cannon – 30:53, Emma Walker – 35:01, Julie Mann – 35:25, Andrew Mann – 36:50, David Allen – 38:38, Philip Glassbrook – 49:27
Haigh Woodland – Richard Marlton – 22:31
Pymmes – Simon Marland – 23:17, Sue Marland – 33:57
Peel – Kelly Johnson-Owen – 31:25, Mark Turner – 33:48
Worsley Woods – Michael Kermode – 20:37, Gayle Gerrard – 23:28, Linda Coffey – 32:42
Kagerzoom – Steven Snape – 32:38, Joyce Tyldesley – 41:36
Wythenshawe – Katie Walsh – 24:24, Nia Bell – 30:26
Philips Park – Ally Marland – 21:01
Central parkrun, Plymouth – Andy Norman – 23:20
Heaton Park – Alexander Shield – 19:24, Catherine Shield – 26:55, Paul Cox – 27:51, Luke Newell – 37:23
Roundhay – Tony Fulop – 37:59
Whinlatter Forest – Steven Walsh – 32:22
Skipton – Phillip Fryer – 23:39
