Men’s captain Gareth Doherty was first home for Burnden at the annual Santa Dash four-mile trail race this year, a notorious toughie which flies runners up the fells of Rivington.

Doherty finished in 34mins 5secs and secured second overall position in the race.

The hilly course, more aptly named the ‘Santa Slog’ for some, follows the perilous paths from Curly’s Fisheries to the Two Lads and back again and welcomes a Christmassy array of fancy dress.

There were no Scrooges to be seen this year - just many Santas, reindeer, the odd present and a pair of candy canes.

Season’s greetings awaited the runners at the Two Lads monument - hailed by a grinning Father Christmas bearing a sack full of Curly Wurly chocolate bars.

Stephen Horsman was second home for the club in 35:44, followed by Andrew Crawford, in 36:35.

Three top ladies this year were Vicki Hamer, in 40:52, Anne Ferguson, in 41:07, and Melissa Husbands, in 44:36.

Other results: Lawrence McDonald 40:35, Gareth Lowe 41:53, Ivan Brown 42:27, Andy Warburton 46:02, Marie Parkinson 46:10, Jocelyn Chadderton 47:35, Ged Turner 48:02, Steve Holt 48:23, Ravi Patel 49:52, Nia Bell 52:59, Jenni Partington 58:28, Kath Baron 1:06:35, Emma Walker 1:06:35, Anthony Fulop 1:09:10, David Morrison 1:10:25, Julie Morrison 1:10:26, Jennifer Entwistle 1:14:40, Jennifer Forkin 1:14:42, Katie Walsh 1:14:44, Sarah Brown 1:14:46, Kathryn Berry 1:14:53.

Christmas Day parkrun is a special time - gathering at the local parks in all weathers to run 5K when you could be curled up with presents and a brew is worth a mention to those hardy enough to lace up their trainers at this most wonderful time of the year.

At Bolton, Matt Dewhurst was top of the Christmas tree for the club as he cracked a sub-20 and achieved second overall position in 19:16.

Perfecting their PBs on this Christmas Day were Francesca Caine, in 24:23, and James Brown, in 26:17.

Second home was Mark Cannon (22:42), followed by Phillip Fryer, in 22:46. First lady for Burnden was Vicki Hamer, in 25:58.

Other Bolton results: Andrew Crawford 23:18, Stephen Horsman 23:19, Lyall Mew 24:12, Michael Kermode 24:14, Andrew Norman 24:33, Andy Dunleavy 24:55, Michael Caine 26:04, Verity Harrison 26:09, Ravi Patel 27:54, Steven Bate 28:52, Gayle Gerrard 29:16, Paul Johnson 29:22, Simon Entwistle 30:35, Gareth Doherty 31:44, Tom Stratton 31:44, Neil Counsell 31:56, Katherine Baines 32:02, Linda Doherty 32:02, Maggie Slamin 32:50, Andrew Parkinson 33:25, Chris Worthington 33:30, Sandra Caine 34:19, Jennifer Entwistle 34:59, Emma Walker 35:55, Steven Snape 37:06, Cheryl Dunleavy 40:06, Sarah Brown 44:02, Jennifer Forkin 44:04, Justin Bones 44:04, Joyce Tyldesley 45:24.

Some club members were tourists even on Christmas Day. Nia Bell was over in Wilmslow and finished the course in 32:08, while the Marlands were in Lister Park, Bradford where Simon finished in 24:18 and Sue in 34:56.