Parkrun News Saturday 17 January 2026
22 runners and volunteers at 9 venues marks something of a return to almost normal numbers after a couple of weeks of the deep freeze.
Beccy and Rob made the sensible choice of Alvaston parkrun and both were rewarded with pretty quick times. Beccy ran a 21.28 gaining a 72.75% age grading, 4th lady and 31st overall whilst Robs 22.49 was good enough for a 67.93% and 46th place.
More likely to be sacrificing a bit of speed due to muddy playing fields Misha and Gave chose Ashbourne where Misha was 16th in a time of 24.23 whilst Gav ran 27.48 for 35th place. Misha completed a parkrun double this weekend, running the Shipley Junior parkrun on Sunday where he ran the 2k course in a great time of 8.43 for 3rd place. Well ran Misha.
9 members have been spotted at Black Rocks this week with David Bowden first back in a time of 21.37 for 13th place. Geoff Cooper was second back in 22.06 only 2 places behind in 15th. Mark Moriarty had a steady one running 26.05. Finley Flitter and Bethany Roberts both junior 11 to 14’s had great runs and achieved new PB’s. Finley finishing in a time of 26.27 and Bethany in 27.55. Well done both!
Down at Cardiff and probably therefore “tourist” of the week was Oscar Szabo who ran a nice 21.36 for 111th place at this regularly very well attended venue.
Regular tourist Dennis Holmes made his way to Franks Farm near Cambridge where he found this lovely little venue hosted by Franks Great Grandson to have most of the features of a cross country with an uphill start, variable terrain but most importantly the last 1k all downhill.
Cherry Moger stayed local at Graves park where she possibly experienced a bit of cross country but dealt with the undulations well and finished in a time of 24.20 which earned 4th lady and 45th overall.
Our second most popular parkrun venue of the weekend was the well announced inaugural parkrun at Holme Pierrepont National Watersports Centre, Nottingham. Being a first event attracts a number of parkrun enthusiasts who collect certain challenges. As Holme Pierrepont was supposed to start last weekend but cancelled, everyone knew about it and this resulted in 1,279 people completing it which is the largest number of finishers at a first time parkrun ever. Sarah Witham possibly was quick enough to get to the finish before the chaos began running a nifty 22.08 for 130th place. Roy Austin maybe was just quick enough to avoid the major rush finishing in 28.49 for 429th place but Sarah Austin must have been well caught up in the finish line queues which reports say added 12 minutes to some runners finishing times. Not to worry, its not a race and its all about the fun of it!
Penultimately Malcolm Betts ran Rother Valley once more finishing in 27.01 for 182nd place and was joined at the same venue by Simon Sargeant who completed the course in 37.18 for 400th place.
And finally, old MAC member Jon Birch had a mini away run (for him) at the Queens Estate and the new home of the royal member formerly known as Prince Andrew, Sheringham. John had a steady plod completing the 5k in a time of 30.38 for 68th place. Might be a case of too many puddings over Christmas?
Well run everyone.
