26-05-2025
Burndeners return ‘Supersonic' times in Mancunian sunshine
The AJ Bell Great Manchester Run brings tens of thousands to running in what is described as 'the original and best-loved running event' for its start to finish Mancunian party vibes - and Burnden Road Runners were heavily involved on the day.
Centrally located in the city, the half-marathon and 10K races take runners around the city's iconic landmarks including the two football stadiums of Old Trafford and the Etihad.
Burnden's performances were 'Supersonic' in the home of Oasis.
Ravi Patel was in double figures - with not one but two medals round his neck as he paced friends in both distances to 1hr 59mins 25secs in the half and 59:10 in the 10K.
Andrew Horrocks completed 13.1 miles in an astonishing 1:22:21, and following minutes later was Gary Avison in a speedy 1:30:59.
Martin Whitehead sped up his time by a super seven minutes this year - finishing the half as third Burnden male with a PB of 1:39:32.
Gayle Gerrard was first Burnden lady home from the half in 1:46:02 and Lisa Berry led the 10K ladies home in an impressive 1:01:52.
Other results: Half-marathon - Emma Smith 1:53:48, Laura Thornley 1:56:36, Steven Walsh 1:59:10, Kimberley Lowe 1:59:25, Peter Wood 2:24:43, Julie Morrison 2:31:00, David Morrison 2:31:00; 10K - Carol Richardson 1:04:54, Sarah Jane Wells 1:18:49.
The weather blessed another successful outing to the seaside, where 11 Burnden members completed what is one of the flattest, fastest and friendly sprint events in the North West of England, which includes a 400m pool swim, a 20km bike leg on closed roads along the prom area and a 5k run heading towards Lytham and back.
The St Annes Sprint Triathlon is an inclusive event starting from the leisure centre on a picturesque beach-front location in the centre of St Annes. The organisers put on three non-adult races as well as the full adult event.
First in for the club was Lyall Mew, coming back from injury with with an 11th overall position and times of 8:48 swim, 36:47 bike and 22:10 run giving him an overall time including transitions of 1:11:07.
He was closely followed by Martin Fielding (8:29 swim, 37:48 bike and 23:21 run) finishing in 1:12:25.
Third place went to Tri captain Mike Caine (8:01 swim, 38:24 bike and 23:52 run) totalling 1:13:07, while first in the female category was Marie Parkinson in 1:27:38 (9:01/48:30/26:58).
Other results: Gareth Doherty 1:13:14 (9:13/39:36/21:58), Keith Thomas 1:22:59 (8:13/44:41/26:53), Simon Entwistle 1:28:12 (10:05/42:17/30:07), Kath Berry 1:34:01 (11:01/48:33/29:50), Steve Holt 1:40:26 (15:32/50:49/30:51), Jo Fielding 1:42:06 (10:34/50:25/36:08), Ged Turner 1:42:48 (14:45/46:42/38:22).
The Marlands - Simon an d Sue - ticked a race off their bucket list last weekend as they headed to the North East to complete the Pier to Pier 7-mile race.
Starting on the beach at South Shields, it is a tough course with sandy terrain for a mile or so before heading up the coastline on a mix of trail paths.
It then hits the promenade and returns back via the beach to Roker Pier, Sunderland.
Simon crossed the line in 53:52 and Sue finished in 1:23:21.
Andy Horrocks deserves some credit this week as he takes a well-deserved rest after hitting four major events in just four weeks and gaining a double set of PBs.
After achieving a sub-three hour time in the Manchester Marathon at the end of April, then 3:06:00 at Leeds Marathon, he recorded a PB at Manchester Half last weekend and completed Horwich Triathlon, Horrocks deserves to hang up his trainers.
Meanwhile, Steve Walton was off to Wales again to conquer the Snowdonia Half Marathon and smash some PBs on the way.
Walton collected great records all around the course and beat last year's time by five minutes.
Conquering Conwy's challenge with courage, he scaled the summit in 1:59:13.
