With Burnden’s exciting expansion into Triathlon, it was little surprise that there was a heavy Club presence at Bolton’s ultimate challenge this weekend - the Ironman 70.3 – little sister to the full distance, which took place in 2023.
Organised by the World Triathlon Corporation and with Bolton’s plethora of hills, the half Ironman still packs an impressive punch and was an epic test of endurance for our Tri-team.
All athletes did the Club and Bolton very proud. Matt Dewhurst was the first Ironman home in an incredible overall time of 4 hours 34 minutes – claiming 32nd position of 1,509 athletes! His times for the three elements were as follows – Swim – 27 mins /Bike 2 hrs 28 mins/ Run – 1 hr 33 mins.
First Burnden lady home was Francesca Caine in 7 hours – Swim – 45 mins/Bike 3 hrs 39 mins/ Run 2 hrs 13 mins.
Tri-Captain, Mike Caine, writes of the day,
“Seventeen Burnden members embarked on the new Bolton 70.3 Ironman event this weekend which included one relay team. This was made up of 6 experienced athletes and 11 members who had never experienced this type of event. The poor weather held off to make this challenging event a huge success for Bolton and its people.
The middle-distance triathlon event kicked off with a 1.2-mile open water swim at Pennington Flash. The water temperature was a tropical 19 degrees and no sign of choppy water. This was followed by a 56-mile cycle, taking in a double loop around Leigh and Wigan followed by a double lap of Chorley New Road in Bolton, with 2 climbs of Old Kiln Lane to spice things up. The final part was a half marathon around the streets of Bolton to finish on the iconic red carpet in the centre of the town.”
Here are the other epic results -
Danny Glynn - Swim 31 mins / Bike 2 hrs 39 mins / Run 1hr 43 mins - Overall 5 hrs 2 mins
Lyall Mew - Swim 42 mins / Bike 2 hrs 56 mins / Run 1hr 46 mins - Overall 5 hrs 37 mins
Martin Fielding - Swim 43 mins / Bike 3 hrs / Run 1hr 54mins - Overall 5 hrs 47 mins
Mike Caine - Swim 38 mins / Bike 3 hrs 9 mins / Run 1hr 57 mins - Overall 5 hrs 57 mins
Steve Horsman - Swim 47 mins / Bike 3 hrs 2 mins / Run 2 hrs 1 min - Overall 6 hrs 3mins
Tim Taylor - Swim 39 mins / Bike 3 hrs 10 mins / Run 2 hrs 17 mins - Overall 6 hrs 21 mins
Martin Cullen - Swim 42mins / Bike 3hrs 27mins / Run 2hrs 19mins - Overall 6 hrs 45mins
Burnden Tri Trio Relay - Swim 49mins / Bike 2hrs 57mins / Run 2hrs 54mins - Overall 6hrs 48mins (Alyson Cullen/ Andy Berry/ Gillian McGowan
Steve Riddle - Swim 31 mins / Bike 3hrs 40mins / Run 2hrs 38 mins - Overall 7hrs 17mins
Simon Entwistle - Swim 47mins / Bike 3hrs 54mins / Run 2hrs 43 mins - Overall 7hrs 49mins
Todd Cameron - Swim 52mins / Bike 3hrs 35mins / Run 3hrs 6mins - Overall 7hrs 49mins
Sarah Woodiwiss - Swim 44mins / Bike 3hrs 57mins / Run 2hrs 55mins - Overall 7hrs 58mins
Josh Palmer - Swim 1 hr / Bike 3hrs 54mins / Run 3hrs 3mins - Overall 8hrs 10mins
Diane Smith - Swim 57mins / Bike 4hrs 17mins / Run 3hr 4mins - Overall 8hrs 32mins
WHITTINGTON & BADAT LEAD CLUB THROUGH THE NIGHT
Ironman’s slightly kinder challenge, the Night Run, was underway on the Friday before the big event with almost 1000 runners waiting to set off in waves on Le Mans Crescent.
Two offers – a 5K and a 10K - take runners around and out of Bolton town centre and into Queens Park for a gentle(ish) ramble before looping back around and onto the mighty red carpet for a true Ironman finish.
Mark Whittington was first Burndener and took 4th overall position in the 5K table as he finished in a whippet-quick 18:37. First Burnden lady for the 5K was Mumtaz Patel in 21:26. Louise Righini cracked her 5K PB in 26:10 and here’s a big birthday shout out to Nicola Halsall who turned the big 5-0 on Friday and smashed her race in 28:12!
Over at the 10K, first Burndener home in 5th overall position was Suleman Badat in 38:44. First Burnden lady crossing the 10K line was Marie Parkinson in 49:29.
Other Night-tastic results –
5K – Mark Cannon – 21:06, John Simms – 21:23, Connor Barrett – 22:24, Ivan Brown – 23:45, Mark Charlton – 24:04, Neil Counsell – 24:05, Bernie Jones – 24:48, Michelle Carter – 26:38, Paul Johnson – 26:47, Rachel Norman – 27:14, Lisa Berry – 27:38, Kathryn Berry – 28:19, Megan Lord – 29:18, Carol Richardson – 29:48, Jennifer Entwistle – 30:58, Jordan Hulme – 31:22, Jen Forkin – 31:47, Anthony Fulop – 32:50, Joyce Tyldesley – 34:51, Debra Hennessey – 35:29, Jeanette Robinson – 37:11, Julie Riddle – 37:15, Ian Mann – 40:13, Gillian McGowan – 49:22, Teresa Riley – 49:22
10K – Ravi Patel – 41:42, Gareth Doherty – 42:19, Martin Whitehead – 43:59, Andrew Crawford – 44:01, Steven Walton – 45:29, David Smith – 47:02, Martin Archer – 47:48, Vicki Hamer – 49:31, Linda Doherty – 51:05, Molly Merrick – 52:37, Mark Merrick – 53:07, Jenni Partington – 53:03, Kris Worsley – 54:29, Rick Winnard – 54:58, Craig Philpot – 55:25, Jitendra Patel - 58:31, Philip Glassbrook – 1:00:44, Joanna Warburton – 1:01:00, Sandra Caine – 1:01:45, Luke Newell – 1:01:55, Natasha Clarke – 1:02:40, Emma Walker – 1:05:19, Wendy Larkin – 1:07:05, Joanne Eddleston – 1:17:06.
BURNDEN CLIMB THE STAIRCASE
Darwen Dashers invited all runners to the moors this week for a decidedly hilly fell race up to Jubilee Tower. Named for the shortest but almost vertical climb, ‘Aggie’s Staircase’ is nevertheless popular with many enjoying the thrill of the downs as well as the slog of the ups. Reaching heights of 350 metres, the route passes Robin’s Hood cottage, treks up to the Tower, climbs the rough path of Jacob’s Ladder and descends towards Sunnyhurst. First and furious for Burnden was Mark Whittington in 38:07 and first lady was Lyndsay Darbyshire in 48:30. Lofty results followed with Ian Pudge – 39:50, Paul Duke – 40:34, Andrew Crawford – 42:42, Phillip Fryer – 42:46, Michael Kermode – 43:39, Ed Ashton – 43:46, Keith Thomas – 46:08, Mark Butler – 48:40, Melissa Husbands – 50:13, Andy Warburton – 53:36, Phillip Morris – 53:45, Kathryn Baron – 53:48, Marie Parkinson – 54:49, Ged Turner – 55:49, Steve Holt – 56:26, Jocelyn Chadderton – 59:28, Carolyn Edwards – 1:00:17, Gillian Morris – 1:02:00, Jenni Partington – 1:07:38, Philip Glassbrook – 1:15:44, Anthony Fulop – 1:21:30.
Elsewhere in the world of Burnden, Carolyn Edwards has been a busy bee as, along with finishing Aggie’s Staircase, she also conquered the Trawden 7 mile in 1:19:47 – 12 minutes faster than her time in 2023. Carolyn also achieved a PB of 50:50 in the recent Sue Ryder Solstice Saunter 5 miler at Bolton Abbey.
Michael Kermode hit the big 4-0 and ticked ‘C’ off his alphabetical list of parkruns as he conquered Chadderton Hall in 23:38. In addition to completing his 40th, he also achieved 2nd overall position.
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