parkrun review 22nd January 2022 incl. the FIRST GREAT SALTERNS parkrun

Well, over two and a half covid-interrupted years after it was first suggested, the Great Salterns parkrun finally came to fruition.

It is the culmination of a huge amount of hard work behind the scenes where we had trial events way back in 2019. In fact my spreadsheet (of course)!! has a run with Kev Budd listed on 31st October 2019 to check the course and a 5th trial run on 4th January 2020. Of course, everything was paused and parkrun stopped from March 2020 to July 2021. I especially remember Louise Griffin who suggested reversing the course to clockwise and Ash Mayhead who agreed to fill in the unique, but ultimately dangerous water jump. We got the three local councillors on board and ran regulary aroiund there on a Saturday morning, when permitted, to acclimatise the local walkers and dog walkers to the sight of runners on the course at 9:00am on a Saturday morning. Negotiations with Costa, Portsmouth College and Hilsea Blackcaps Cricket Club, where Mick has been very helpful, have ensured the event has taken off and we are grateful for money donated from many sources including an amount from the former Great Salterns Preservation Society of which I am still the Treasurer! Other, larger donations are shown on the GS parkrun page.We have been helped a lot by Ian Gregory and Paul Wainwright, non BFC members and Dave Willims the local parkrun ambassador.

Anyway, onto the run itself.

A total of 238 runners took part at Great Salterns parkrun event #1

Kev Budd and I were both 13 runners out on our predictions. We were initially worried about being swamped with parkrunners especially those who chase inaugral runs. However our fears were unfounded and a manageable number turned up. We had told local clubs and word had got out but not too early to cause a problem.

When I arrived to help the course set-up with Jason Smith we saw a familiar face, that of local speedster Jacob O'Hara doing laps to familiarise himself with the course. He actually did the parkrun within a 14k run. He set a very fast initial course record with Denmead's Julian Manning, another who regularly wins his parkruns 2nd.

Baffins Fit Club numbers were down on what some may have thought, but this was due to the huge amount helping out. These were Helen Mayhead as RD, Kev Budd as Event Director and Billy Jules Bilton, Suzanne Bristow Anastasi , Terrie Ann Brown, Denise Courtney, Eric De Greef, Jason Forbes, Kate English, Louise Griffin, Jason Smith, Kevin Matthew, Bill Mayhead, Kevin Rowsell, Joshua McPheat, Alison Southwell, James Yorke and myself.

Position ↓ Gender Position ↓ parkrunner ↓ Club ↓ Run Time ↓

1 1 Jacob OHARA Unattached 00:16:39

11 11 Lee HAMMOND Baffins Fitclub 00:20:49

25 1 Kirsty AKED Unattached 00:22:13

33 32 Paul GRIFFIN Baffins Fitclub 00:22:41

36 35 Ian BRISCOE Baffins Fitclub 00:22:47

37 36 Brett RUMFITT Baffins Fitclub 00:22:49

41 40 Alex GANNON Baffins Fitclub 00:22:53

47 45 Jason SMITH Baffins Fitclub 00:23:27

58 55 Ian SAYNOR Baffins Fitclub 00:24:58

63 4 Rebecca KNOWLES Baffins Fitclub 00:25:06

65 61 Craig LUNN Baffins Fitclub 00:25:23

68 64 Paul NORRIS Baffins Fitclub 00:25:39

77 71 Geoffrey NEWMAN Baffins Fitclub 00:26:26

105 16 Julie ALLAN Baffins Fitclub 00:28:51

111 20 Kim STROUD Baffins Fitclub 00:29:07

118 94 Nick Lay Baffins Fitclub 00:29:22

131 33 Fiona BUCK Baffins Fitclub 00:29:51

133 35 Olivia SCAMMELL Baffins Fitclub 00:30:01

137 100 Keith CAUNT Baffins Fitclub 00:30:40

156 111 Colin SOUTHWELL Baffins Fitclub 00:32:06

157 112 Kevin AYLWARD Baffins Fitclub 00:32:07

162 114 Kev BUDD Baffins Fitclub 00:32:18

163 115 James YORKE Baffins Fitclub 00:32:18

168 51 Ashleigh BERRYMAN Baffins Fitclub 00:33:04

208 83 Alison NEWMAN Baffins Fitclub 00:38:35

237 103 Terrie BROWN Baffins Fitclub 01:03:37

238 104 Alison SOUTHWELL Baffins Fitclub 01:03:38

The course was drier than the previous week and the infamous water jump is no more. However, just after it and again coming out onto the grass in the far corner, it was still slippery. Trail shoes are a must at this time of year at least.

I noticed some particularly good runs from Becci Knowles, 4th female, Alex Gannon an All-parkrun PB! and Paul Griffin, and after a few weeks it will be interesting to see how the event develops. It will be great when Mick can offer coffees and teas at the cricket hut. So, a massive thank-you to all who have been involved from BFC and other clubs and individuals along the way. Volunteering will be needed on a regular basis and we are lucky to have a strong core of volunteers. However I have noticed that some parkruins, whilst becoming ever more popular, sometimes struggle for help and need to put out last minute appeals. We have seen stats of some of the speedier runners (not our club) who have hundreds of parkruns but hardly any volunteer roles. Many roles mean that you can also run too. Any suggestions for Great Salterns, please feel free to speak up.

Ok, there were other runs taking place and we will go 2 miles south to Southsea.

A total of 427 runners (not much lower than normal, so we didn't affect then much) took part at Southsea parkrun event #365

1st male and female were also local running legends. Another legend Katherine Newell volunteered as usual. Fiona Shaw continued her welcome comeback.

Position ↓ Gender Position ↓ parkrunner ↓ Club ↓ Run Time ↓

1 1 James BAKER Unattached 00:15:45

17 1 Emma MONTIEL Unattached 00:19:13

166 130 Paul HARRISON Baffins Fitclub 00:26:18

180 136 Kam FAN Baffins Fitclub 00:26:47

210 44 Fiona SHAW Baffins Fitclub 00:27:48

358 213 Robert TURNER-DIAMOND Baffins Fitclub 00:35:29

374 219 Richard TWOSE Baffins Fitclub 00:37:30

425 165 Katherine NEWELL Baffins Fitclub 00:57:56

A total of 580 runners took part at Finsbury parkrun event #533

Hayley Irvine became our 1st runner here in North London.

The route consists of almost two complete anti-clockwise laps on tarmac paths. It starts on the road around Finsbury Park near the cafe just past the black gates. The route follows the road around the park before taking the path on the left (heading uphill) just opposite the bridge over the canal and just after the black gates on the road. At the top of the hill the route meets the road but veers straight around the boating lake, past the Athletics track, before heading through the gardens past McKenzie Pavilion and the playground and back to the start. On the second lap after rounding the lake and going through the gardens, the finish is on a first track next to McKenzie Pavilion.

Position ↓ Gender Position ↓ parkrunner ↓ Club ↓ Run Time ↓

1 1 Peter COOK Unattached 00:16:47

39 1 Ellie DAVIES Unattached 00:20:25

535 182 Hayley IRVINE Baffins Fitclub 00:34:19

A total of 241 runners took part Torbay Velopark parkrun event #195 including Rebecca Niles who was 6th female and alsoonly 4 secs off her PB of the previous week.

Position ↓ Gender Position ↓ parkrunner ↓ Club ↓ Run Time ↓

1 1 Ollie THOROGOOD Unattached 00:18:18

5 1 Naomi FLANAGAN Unattached 00:19:20

40 6 Rebecca NILES Baffins Fitclub 00:22:56

A total of 208 runners took part at Portsmouth Lakeside parkrun event #226

Numbers were high here too, so Portsmouth looks like it can suppost another event.

Position ↓ Gender Position ↓ parkrunner ↓ Club ↓ Run Time ↓

1 1 Kris NICHOLSON Unattached 00:18:46

6 1 Nicci ROBERTSON Unattached 00:20:46

73 60 Chris MATHEWS Baffins Fitclub 00:27:40

140 102 Gary SEAMAN Baffins Fitclub 00:33:21

178 118 Colin EDWARDS Baffins Fitclub 00:38:42