Trotters 5 - Written by Stewart Jones of Burden Road Runners

Well as you all know this was a new race which was "FLAT", well I have to confess I forgot to put Flat compaired to the historic races Burnden have put on.

But what I did do and I think you will all agree is I booked the weather, we couldn't have asked for better weather this time of year and I think the scenery

was perfect a little road and track taking you through an open farm were you could see Deer, Ostriches, Lama's and all sorts of animals, that's if you had the

time to look around and take in the view, but I know as a runner (some might say) you miss all the scenery when your fully committed to racing and focusing just on the race.

At 10am on Sunday the 6th March the race began and just under two hundred runners were off. This was a good mix of runners with 112 grand prix runners and the

rest made up of other clubs and non-club runners. At the front Marc Tillotson took the lead and quickly settled down and at the end of the first loop had commanded

a good lead, he was followed by a group with the likes of Nick Leigh from Altrincham, Thomas Carson from Bolton, Paul Mannion from Astley and Tyldesley, Stuart Sharp form Radcliffe

and Colin Rigby again from Astley and Tyldesley. they were followed shortly afterwards by the leading lady runners. Heading the lead was Maria Lowe of Astley + Tyldesley, followed by Kirsty

Preece from Burnden and Jose Maley again from Astley + Tyldesley

As the runners finished the race they were met by great support from people watching the race giving bags of encouragement.

All finishers were handed a technical T-Shirt. Also given out were goody bags and spot prizes which were all donated by Up and Running so I would

like to say a "Big Thank You" to them to help making a very good day.

I was stood at the finish with Andy Staveley and we both spoke to many runners after the race had finished, the feed back we got was very positive with people stating it was a

race they would return to next year, so again thanks for the positive feed back and thanks to all for their support. CHEERS

1st male Marc Tillotson, 2nd Nick Leigh, 3rd Thomas Carson

1st Female Maria Lowe, 2nd Kirsty Preece, 3rd Jose Maley

1st Male team: Marc Tillotson/Thomas Carson/Shay Walker - Bolton

1st Female team: Maria Lowe/Jose Maley/Jean Mann - Astley + Tyldesley

Mens Vets

V40 Paul Mannion, V45 Sean McMyler, V50 Steve Nolan, V55 Ken Fowler, Vet 60 Tony Hesketh, V65 Dave Weywell, V70 Phil Martin

Ladies Vets

V35 Caroline Scholes, V40 Kirsty Preece, V45 Jean Mann, V50 Joan Jackson, V55 Sheila Jones, V 60 Eileen Royal

1st Junior Male Daniel Johnson

1st male vet team: Paul Mannion/Colin Rigby/Sean Moran - Astley + Tyldesley

1st female vets team: Caroline Scholes/Jayne Dickinson/Catherine Jones - Bolton