Buckley smashes Burnley Lions record

Records tumbled at Burnley Lions 10K race in Colne last Friday.

Race four of the Pendle and Burnley Grand Prix had good conditions - cool, but dry with moderate breeze.

Last year’s winner, Alan Buckley of Leeds City AC, stormed off to a good start and built up a substantial lead by the halfway stage, which he maintained until the end, knocking 13 seconds off Craig Metcalf’s 1993 record to run home in 31 minutes 44 seconds.

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Only three seconds separated second and third placed runners Mark Swannell (Bolton Harriers) and Gary Shaw (Clayton Harriers), Mark bringing in a time of 35 minutes 8 seconds.

Jayne Butterworth of Skipton AC came in as first lady with a time of 43 minutes 51 seconds, followed 21 seconds later by another Vet45 lady Dianne Hagger of Ilkley Harriers.

Debbie Wilson of Clayton Harriers came in as third lady.

Other records to fall were men’s Vet60 - Evan Cook (Blackburn Harriers) taking a magnificent 1 minute 19 seconds off Barry Mitchell’s record, achieving 39 minutes 39 seconds; Mens Vet65 – Barry Mitchell managing 43 minutes 21 seconds to take 28 seconds off Ted Orrell’s 2006 record; and they don’t just get older, they get better, with Orrell beating his own Vet70 record of two years ago with a time of 45 minutes 22 seconds, a full minute and 42 seconds faster.

Jennifer Adams had a remarkable run for the ladies Vet60 category, with a time of 49 minutes 33 seconds, which broke Marion Wilkinson’s 2007 record by a terrific 2 minutes 37 seconds.

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Prizes were presented by sponsor Terry Lonergan of Complete Runner.

Thanks go to the race sponsor, Park High School, Colne cricket club, Colne Police, all the people who helped marshall and time the race and, of course, the 170 runners who took part.

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