JOSH Birmingham was the first Bury AC finisher out of eight club runners in the prestigious Ribble Valley 10k on Monday.

His time of 33mins 7secs secured 76th place in the top-quality field.

Jack Griffiths was next in a personal-best time of 33:55 for 99th place and Sam Smyth’s 35:16 gave him 12th junior position.

Team captains Byron Edwards and Hannah Lucas recorded 37:47 and 37:53 respectively, giving Edwards 19th in the V45 category and Lucas 19th women finisher. The other Bury finishers were Harriet Griffiths (43:10), Susan Wheeldon-Gorst (47:38) and Harriet Butler (47:41).

A small number of Bury athletes competed at the parkrun at Heaton Park on Christmas Day morning.

First home was Paul Johnston in fourth place in 17:32 and Lewis Whittaker was next, taking 10th in a new PB of 18:06 - just ahead of Jack Griffiths in 11th in 18:10.

Rachel Marshall was first woman finisher, setting a new best of 19:19 in the process.

Giles Bennett finished in 20:15, just ahead of Caitlyn Johnston who set a new PB of 20:19. Next was Sarah Thomas who crossed the line in 20:34 followed by Harriet Griffiths (22:00).

Just before Christmas, The club held it’s presentation evening at the town’s Masonic Hall as chairman Mark Granby opened by crediting the fine performances by Bury AC athletes in 2021 and thanking the trustees and the volunteer coaches, officials and helpers without whom the club could not operate.

Honorary president Jean Simpson MBE then presented the awards that covered the categories of coaches’ male and female athlete of the year, team manager’s male and female athlete of the year, senior Grand Prix competition male and female winners and trustees special awards.

The coaches awards were presented to (underinines) Ethan Statham and Katherine Wolstenholme; (u11s) Harrison Burgess and Lucy Dent; (u13s) Oliver Cooper and Evie Elliott; (u15s) Peter Gardner and Anna Gisbourne; (u17s) Jay Cook and Rosella Togo; (u20s) Gil Vaughan and Halle Davies-Fernyhough; (seniors) Josh Birmingham and Hannah Lucas and (masters) Paul Johnston and Susan Wheeldon-Gorst.

The team manager awards went to (YDL Lower) Ben Gardner and Blessing Idoko; (YDL Upper) Harvey Rossington-Rose and Reilly Carson; (Cheshire League) Patrick Yates and Gabriella Idoko; (Northern League Junior) Natan Witkowski and Reilly Carson; (Northern League Senior) Jack Griffiths and Nicole Palmer.

The Grand Prix category winners were (seniors) Matt Garside and Sarah Thomas; (masters) Byron Edwards and Rachel Marshall.

The Trustees Special Awards went to John Conroy - Club Member of the Year; Nicola Ryan - Most Improved Athlete of the Year; Jack Griffiths - the JT Ratcliffe Award for the Most Competitive Athlete; Roger Morley - the Sandra Newton Memorial Award for the Highest Ranked Field Event Athlete and Alison Dale - Club Volunteer of the Year. She was also presented with her England Athletics North West Coach of the Year Award.