Some of Bury AC’s superb band of volunteers received worthy recognition last Friday at the England Athletics Regional Volunteer Awards.

The awards recognise the contribution of volunteers to the world of athletics, and is open to volunteers of the 250-plus affiliated clubs in the region. Bury AC had nominations in four categories and came home with three awards.

First up, Clare Devine won the Newcomer to Volunteering Award. Known as the regular timekeeper at Heaton Parkrun, she joined Bury AC last year and has already completed qualifications in both timekeeping and field judging, as well as helping out with junior training sessions. She has quickly established herself as a popular and valuable member of the club and the award is well-deserved.

Bury’s other winner was trustee and men’s captain, Byron Edwards who won the Club Leader of the Year Award, a recognition of his key role in driving Bury AC’s increasing success on the roads and in track and field in recent years.

Finally, Fiona Healy, who is the lead coach for Bury AC’s juniors, was runner-up in the Coach of the Year category. The club’s junior section is thriving under Healy, whose growing team of volunteer coaches are delivering brilliant sessions every week to children from Year 3 upwards.

Meanwhile, on the roads, 10 Bury athletes took on the Knutsford 10k last Sunday with five achieving new personal bests. First across the line, in fifth place overall, was Martin Clark, with a PB of 31mins 25secs. Clark continues to improve rapidly since joining the club a couple of years ago, as does Sinead Taylor, who knocked more than two minutes off her PB to finish fifth woman in an a rapid 35:26. Close behind Sinead was Byron Edwards (35:28, third V50), followed by Bury 10k winner Abi Warburton (36:52 PB and sixth woman), Craig Sykes (37:08 PB), Alia Braithwaite (38:16), Paul Marshall (38:47), Alex Leach (39:32 PB) breaking the 40-minute barrier for the first time, Sarah Flett (41:32) and Danny Potts (43:53), making a return from injury.

Further afield, Tim Pockney took on the Ealing half-marathon, finishing 92nd out of more than 3,500 runners, bringing home a new PB of 1:24:36.