THERE were few opportunities for members to compete at the weekend as the weather again played havoc with race schedules, writes Dave Beevers.

Snow forced a number of races to be cancelled, including the Inskip Half Marathon which had been a training target for several Burnden runners.

However, the snow only added to the special atmosphere when 232 finishers lit up the Rivington hills with their head torches at the Nightrunner 10K event, the last in a series of three evening races.

The run began at Rivington and Blackrod High School and headed off along familiar trails, taking in local landmarks including the Pigeon Tower and Rivington Pike.

Michael Cook led a quartet of Burnden runners home in a time of 1hr 20mins 48secs with Lorraine Halwood not far behind in 1:28:06.

Diane Morrison and Julie Newton followed on, finishing within seconds of each other in 1:38:09 and 1:38:16 respectively.

David Newman was the only club member to tackle the Four Villages Half Marathon in Helsby, Cheshire.

He completed the popular race around the villages of Helsby, Manley, Mouldsworth and Dunham-on-the-Hill in 1:48:04.

The club’s annual race the Trotters 5 will this year revert to its original route. Building work on the bridge leading to Smithills Open Farm meant that last year’s race was run in the opposite direction to normal on a slightly modified route.

There are no such restrictions this year, so runners starting from Smithills Coaching House will go back to heading up past the farm on the first stretch before heading over trails and returning down Smithills Dean Road at the end of each lap. Entry details are available on the club’s website at www.burndenroadrunners.co.uk.