BURNDEN’S Glen Kenyon defied the saturated conditions to come second overall in the Northern Vets 10K and 5K trail races at Smithills Country Park, writes David Beevers.

The start and finish of the course had been reduced by heavy rain to a mixture of sodden grass and thick mud but Kenyon kept his footing to be first Burndener home in 41mins 54secs, just 22 seconds behind the winner.

Paul Duke was the second member to finish, chasing down another runner so hard in the final yards he lost his footing and enjoyed a mud bath clocking a time of 44:49 and earning fourth place overall.

Marcus Chester was third member in 48:50, securing a Burnden 1-2-3 in the M40 category.

Lesley Fisher was first lady runner and eighth overall, completing the sapping course in 49:01 followed by ladies’ captain Gwen Kinloch in ninth place with 50:12. Anne Ferguson’s 53:50 secured the top three places for Burnden in the ladies race.

Andy Duffy (51:35) and Don Nichol (54:05) completed the club’s finishers over the longer distance.

It was a bitterly disappointing day for Peter Whiteside who suffered a pulled calf injury part way round and was forced to pull out.

Jeff Pendlebury was the only member to tackle the 5K course, crossing the line in 28:56 to earn him fifth place and first M55.