RUNNING
PARKRUN 5K
Reports from the various Parkrun events held over the Christmas / New Year period are summarised below.
Christmas Eve
BRJ’ers made returns to Brixworth Country, Gorleston Cliffs, Holkham, Irchester Country, March, Rushcliffe, Snowden Field (Mark Sampson took 1st place overall) & Sunny Hill. Storey’s Field is recognised as the local Parkrun that delivers the most PB’s & it delivered yet again. Marcela Gracova’s great time of 00:18:11 secured a 3 Sec Club PB (#9 of 2022) & extended her dominance as Women’s 5K Champion over former member Sabrina Crothall (00:18:42). In addition, Jess Barrett-Drylie PB’d by 30 Secs which was PB #2 of the year. Our unluckiest athlete was Keelan Duffy who missed his existing Club PB by just 3 Secs.
There were BRJ Parkrun Debuts at Market Bosworth Country Park (in Gareth Thomas’s Debut Club 5K) & for Marco Wassersleben at Priebnitzgrund (Dresden, Germany) who secured the Runner-Up position. At Huntingdon, Gerry Pye completed Parkrun #100.
Christmas Day
Gareth Thomas made a BRJ return to Conkers & secured himself a 1 Min 17 Sec Club PB, #2 of 2022. At Huntingdon, Keelan Duffy took the Runner-Up position & Alex Mitton completed Parkrun #300.
New Years Eve
BRJ’ers returned to Bolton, Centre Vale, Eden Project, Ferry Meadows, Itchen Valley, Littleport (Keelan Duffy completed Parkrun #300), Mildenhall Hub, Peel (Course PB for Jane Ainscow), Pocket (Course PB for Sue Ray), Southwick Country (Gareth Thomas completed Parkrun #125), Storey’s Field & Wimpole. At Albert (Melbourne, Australia), Abigail Bridge made her Club 5K Debut. Michelle Caspersz BRJ Debuted at Harrow & at Huntingdon, David Spurle completed Parkrun #150.
New Years Day
A number of BRJ’ers made returns to Catton, Panshangar, Rickmansworth & South Manchester. Alice Noyes made a BRJ Debut at Andover, whilst at a very muddy Huntingdon, Alex Howard & Chloe Wilson completed Parkrun milestones of #125 & 250 respectively.
Ely New Years Eve 10K
The final running event of 2022 in which to achieve a Club PB & to register a score in the 2022 Senior Running Champs took place at Little Downham near Ely for the first time since 2019. By the time the Black Watch Bagpiper had signalled the race start the forecasted rain had not started, but did greet some runners in the later stages. As with most years, the wind blowing across the open Fenlands was the major issue & although warmer than in most previous years it did affect the field as they transited the long stretch of the course heading Westwards, meaning that no Club PB’s were secured this year. The sound of the Bagpiper at the crest of the hill at 8K was welcome as was the bottle of beer presented to finishers in lieu of a medal.
Although having already competed in the Littleport Parkrun, Keelan Duffy led home the 17 BRJ finishers. Mark Jackman also ran a Parkrun (March) before racing at Ely. Amanda Roland-Convey led home our lady runners.
Both Jon Daulton & Fiona Holland made Club 10K Debuts, whilst Alison Orrell & Kevin Ryan secured Age Category podium positions. The full set of club results include the Age Graded Scores counting towards the Running Championships.