Burnden Road Runner’s Ian Mann, who completed his first Half Marathon in October, has shared his thanks to all who donated to his fundraiser for The Burnt Chef Project.

Mann is an integral member of his club and has built up his running from the Burnden Beginners to half-marathon distance with a remarkable level of training and discipline. He is now the stats man - with a head for numbers as well as legs for running - and will be calculating the all important winner of the Alexandra Parkrun competition.

He said: “A massive thank you to everyone who donated to my fundraising running for the Manchester Half-Marathon in October.

“I really appreciate everyone’s support and helping me make a difference for Hospitality Mental Health. I raised an incredible £435, which will provide the following support for hospitality workers - supports 71 people by using the UK text service; covers the cost of eight therapy services for free to hospitality professionals; The Burnt Chef Project.”

Back in the mists of February, club captains Linda and Gareth Doherty welcomed Burndeners to the very first race of the new Club Championship season - Alexandra Parkrun, in Moss Side, Manchester, is a flat and fast course and the intention for this challenge was to run the course in February and December and offer a prize for the most improved club runner.

Results remain to be seen shortly and the unknown prize is much coveted, but the results are in for the December challenge in a field of 440 parkrunners.

A special mention goes to Couch to 5K graduate, Suzi Walmsley, who celebrated her 25th parkrun at Alexandra, crossing the line amid cheers of support in a parkrun PB of 51mins 14secs.

Mark Whittington was first home in an astounding 17:56 - a new parkrun PB. He continues to make tidal waves at Burnden - often leading the pack at club races. This speedy time comes just a week after Whittington stormed home at the Blackburn 10K in 37:07. Next home was Suleman Badat in 18:24 and Paul Duke in 18:58.

First lady home was Francesca Caine, in 21:22, followed by Vicki Hamer, with a PB of 22:29, and Linda Doherty, in 24:19.

Results:

PB setters - Andrew Norman 19:58, Mike Caine 21:39, Simon Marland 22:50, Jenni Partington 24:27, Bernie Jones 26:42, Sheila Christie 26:51, Sarah Brown 28:05, Sandra Caine 28:09, Nia Bell 28:54, Natasha Clarke 29:05, Andrew Parkinson 30:36, Shirley Robinson 33:22, Jennifer Forkin 33:22;

Other finishers - Lee White 19:07, Lyall Mew 19:38, Ryan Moore 21:00, David Smith 21:59, Adrian Ashburn 22:04, Ravi Patel 22:34, Martin Archer 23:06, Martin Cullen 23:26, Paul Christie 24:10, Andy Dunleavy 25:52, Simon Entwistle 26:38, Richard Blake 27:31, Kathryn Berry 28:19, Katie Walsh 28:55, Carol Richardson 30:12, Emma Walker 31:03, Gillian Morris 31:03, Jennifer Entwistle 31:46, Sue Marland 35:07, Cheryl Dunleavy 36:09, Michelle Livesey 37:33, Gillian McGowan 43:43.

It is that special time of year when the Tolkien Trail pulls its winter boots onto its hobbit feet and invites an array of fantasy creatures to run the summer course counter-clockwise.

Just one lone Bilbo this year - Tony Fulop - was off on a quest to find the finish line and he brought home a precious PB from his travels.

Runners follow a path of inspiration for ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Hobbit’ author, JRR Tolkien, starting from the Avenue of the beautiful Stonyhurst College where Tolkien wrote parts of the saga. Runners then race through Hurst Green Village before descending down the field known as ‘Mount Doom’ to meet the Tolkien-esque woodland. After racing down towards Cromwell Bridge, built in 1562, the steps out of ‘Fangorn Forest’ start to lead runners home from.

Fulop was hobbit-happy to finish the ‘eleventy-one’ (11.1km) course with a PB of 1:34:16, knocking three minutes from 2022’s time of 1:37:15.