parkrun & GRL reports

parkrun organises free, weekly (Saturday 9am), 5km timed runs in the UK and around the world. They are open to everyone, free, and are safe and easy to take part in http://www.parkrun.org.uk/

They are great for all abilities, from those just starting out to families of all ages, for the novice as well as the elite runner. Many Joggers regularly take part and volunteer with local events being hosted in Soham Village College (7.3 miles/16 min by car from Newmarket), Coldham’s Common (Cambridge, 11.7 miles/18 min), Fulbourn Hospital (12.6 miles/19 min), Cambridge (Milton Country Park, 12.9 miles/20 min),  Haverhill (15 miles/26 min), Bury St Edmunds (16.5 miles/23 min), Clare Castle (16.6 miles/31 min), Littleport (18.9 miles/32 min), Brandon Country Park (19.4 miles/24 min), Thetford (19.7 miles/25 min), Wimpole Estate (25.4 miles/36 min) and Great Cornard (25.6 miles, 51 min). Once registered you can enjoy them anywhere around the country, in fact around the world!  You are welcome to walk, jog or run these events according to your preference and level of fitness.

Another free weekly timed 5K that has now appeared on the local scene is Great Run Local (GRL), which starts at the bottom of Newmarket Heath’s Warren Hill on a Sunday at 11:15am; see: www.greatrunlocal.org/  There is also the option of a shorter 2.5K run for children and adults. The nearest alternative GRL courses are at Walsham-Le-Willows and Needham Lake, which start on Sundays at 9:00am and 9:30am respectively.

Newmarket Jogger and keen parkrunner Chris Aylmer has kindly offered to write a weekly report on how the Joggers have got on. Abbreviations:  PB = all-time parkrun personal best, cPB = course PB, YB = best parkrun time so far this year.

STOP PRESS!!! FULBOURN HOSPITAL parkrun STARTS DECEMBER 7th! See you there next week? Nothing like a first event…nearly as good as a 500th! SatNav Code: CB21 5EF. Distance from Newmarket 12.6 miles/19 min.

Newmarket GRL results for 1st December 2019 @11:15am

5K: Elke Hausler 22:32, 4th of 29 overall & 1st Female of 8, 79.2%; Neville Clarke 24:14, 7th, 68.3%. Well done Elke, 1st female finisher and another excellent run by Neville.

2.5K: Harvey Thomas (Junior Jogger) 12:41PB! 1st of 16 overall; Lilly Basing (Junior Jogger) 14:54 PB! 3rd & 1st F of 5. Excellent first male and first female positions for Harvey and Lilly and both with PBs too!

Thanks to the volunteers: Giles Macrow, David Merchant, Gaye Margarson, Sianie Painter, James Plowman, Helen Wass, Sue Scargill, Anna Mayhew.

Newmarket Joggers parkrun Report for Sat 30th Nov 2019

LOCAL VENUES: Bury St Edmunds (233 participants): Ruth Eberhardt 25:16; Iain Perry 27:29 (1 second off a cPB!). Cambridge (446): Richard Jones 22:17; Brian Munns 22:59; Adrian Whittle 23:37; Baz Colley 25:28; Jim Withers 26:52; Wayne Hargreaves 27:36; Rebecca Fordham 30:44; Robert Hawkins 30:45; Tom Elton 31:21; Sarah Kinston 33:02; Rebecca Hannah 34:37; Alexia Smithson 34:51. Clare Castle (119): James Tweed 22:31. Coldham’s Common (283): Melanie & Harley Tindale volunteers, thanks. Soham Village College (138): James Thomson 23:10 cPB!; Hannah Pollard 31:12 cPB! YB!; Chris Aylmer 31:44; Christine Windsor 32:34.

TOURIST VENUES: Bicester [Northeast Oxfordshire] (201): Henry Hamilton 19:58. Redcar [North Yorkshire](152): Alison McKenzie 26:39. York (509): Emma Newman 23:15.

FIRST IN AGE GROUPS: Richard Jones 1st of 23; James Tweed 1st of 9; Christine Windsor 1st of 2. NEXT BEST: Brian Munns 3rd of 23; Emma Newman 3rd of 22; Ruth Eberhardt 2nd of 13; Alison McKenzie 2nd of 10; Jim Withers 2nd of 8; Henry Hamilton 3rd of 11; James Thomson 2nd of 7; Rebecca Fordham 6th of 21; Adrian Whittle 10th of 34; Hannah Pollard 4th of 11; Sarah Kinston 8th of 16.

Newmarket GRL for 24th Nov 2019 @ 11:15am

5K: Charles Jones 21:11, 1st of 39 overall (74.1%); Neville Clarke 23:10, 3rd (71.5%); Elke Hausler 23:50, 6th & 1st F of 8 (75.9%); Joe Cormack 26:18, 13th, Giles Macrow 28:53, 23rd. Well done new Joggers member Charles Jones, 1st overall finisher this week, following his 2nd position last week. A great run also by Elke Hausler, 1st female finisher. Neville Clarke put in a top effort as always, to finish in 3rd place. Joe Cormack and Giles Macrow are grinding out some decent times on this difficult course.

2.5K: Tom Wilson 12:10, 3rd of 26 overall; Lilly Basing 14:58PB! 8th & 4th F of 11; Stephanie Greenwood 15:20PB!, 10th & 5th F. An excellent run from Junior Jogger Tom  Wilson in 3rd place. Also great efforts by Lilly Basing and Stephanie Greenwood, who both achieved PB times.

Thanks to the volunteers: David Merchant, Sue Scargill, Gaye Margarson, Paul Forshaw, James Plowman, Debbie Read, Angie Underdown, Giles Macrow, Chris Aylmer.

parkrun Report for Sat 23rd Nov 2019

LOCAL VENUES: Brandon (109): Neville Clarke 23:00; Iain Perry 26:17. Bury St Edmunds (226): Ruth Eberhardt 29:52. Cambridge (410): Emma Newman 23:39; Rebecca Fordham 27:47; Alexia Smithson 34:13. Clare Castle (142): James Tweed 22:24. Coldham’s Common (288): Richard Jones 22:05; Phil Blundell 23:04; Brian Munns 24:25; Melanie Tindale 24:39 & volunteer, thanks; Jim Withers 27:01. Soham Village College (203): Tom Elton 23:06; Elke Hausler 23:09; James Thomson & Norah in buggy 25:21; Robert Hawkins 25:44; Giles Macrow 27:05; Wayne Hargreaves 28:17; Sara Brown 29:51; Hannah Pollard 31:33; Chris Aylmer 31:38; Christine Windsor 31:42; Isabel Vicente 38:27.

TOURIST VENUES: Fulham Palace [SW London] (550): Henry Hamilton 19:39.

FIRST IN AGE GROUPS: Emma Newman 1st of 23; Richard Jones 1st of 17; Phil Blundell 1st of 14; Melanie Tindale 1st of 9; Elke Hausler 1st of 4 & 3rd F of 87; Christine Windsor 1st of 3. NEXT BEST: Henry Hamilton 3rd of 27; James Tweed 2nd of 15; Rebecca Fordham 3rd of 19; Tom Elton 4th of 19; Brian Munns 6th of 17; Hannah Pollard 4th of 9; Ruth Eberhardt 4th of 9; Iain Perry 5th of 11; James Thomson 3rd of 6; Robert Hawkins 5th of 10.

The Soham Village College parkrun got off to a good start with 203 participants in the inaugural event, including nine Newmarket Joggers. It’s a clockwise 3-lap course, with lots of twists and turns in each lap, going around playing fields on grass and through the school buildings area on hard paths. It was fairly muddy but OK with trail shoes on. The parking is free and there is a seated, makeshift cafe near the finish in an upstairs school room, where you can relax after the run in the warm and buy tea, coffee and snack bars.

It is rumoured that Fulbourn Hospital parkrun will soon be up and running, maybe in a couple of weeks….keep searching Google!

FULHAM PALACE parkrun:  Fulham Palace itself used to be the principal residence of the serving Bishop of London from the 11th Century until 1973. Now it’s more of a stately museum set in attractive grounds, with a walled garden and botanical gardens; also adjoining public gardens in Bishop’s Park with a large lake. The current main building dates from ca. 1500 in the reign of Henry VII.

Henry Hamilton has visited Fulham Palace parkrun (est. 2013) three times now, completing all runs in the 19 minute zone, with a PB of 19:08. This parkrun course is a fast and flat 3-lapper along hard paths encircling Bishop’s Park, which backs onto the Thames and is part of the original gardens of Fulham Palace. The parkrun passes by one side of Craven Cottage, Fulham FC’s football ground, which will no doubt attract local football supporters for a bit of exercise before the afternoon match. Fulham FC is actually doing rather well after being relegated from the Premier Division last year and could go back up in 2020. The Cambridge/Oxford Boat Race starts not far downstream from here and passes by Bishop’s Park on its way from Putney to Mortlake….maybe a good viewpoint.

Newmarket GRL on Sunday 17th Nov @ 11:15am

5K: Charles Jones 21:08PB! 2nd of 45 overall (74.2%); Jon Brooker 21:10PB! 3rd (70.4%); Elke Hausler 23:51 8th, 3rd F of 15 (75.8%);  Rebecca Fordham 26:29PB! 22nd, 5th F (62.3%); Nicole Smith 27:26PB! 23rd, 6th F (58.6%); Malcolm Osbourn 28:03 26th (63.0%); Giles Macrow 29:52 32nd (49.1%). Well done with all those PBs!

2.5K: Cerys Bithell 11:45PB! 3rd of 33 overall, 1st F of 10; Connor Bithell 13:39 6th; Ellie Bithell 13:58 7th, 3rd F. Great running by Cerys for first female finish and PB!

Thanks to the volunteers, including, Sianie Painter, Anna Mayhew, James Plowman, Gaye Margarson, Paul Forshaw, Sue Scargill, Caroline McIntosh, Helen Wass, Angie Underdown.

NJ parkrun Report for 16th Nov 2019

LOCAL VENUES: Brandon (96 participants): Alexia Smithson 36:56. Bury St Edmunds (275): Paul Dockerill 24:11; Ruth Eberhardt 24:53; Stephanie Greenwood 31:28; Anna Mayhew (went with mother Jill as tail walker, thanks) 48:47. Cambridge (422): Emma Newman 24:16; Iain Perry 25:05 (YB! cPB! PB!); Rebecca Fordham 25:47. Coldham’s Common (282): Richard Jones 22:00; Brian Munns 23:11; Adrian Whittle 24:08 (cPB!); Jim Withers 26:55; James Thomson + Norah in buggy 27:06 (acting as 27 minute pacer, thanks); Chris Aylmer 29:58. Thanks to Phil & Emma Blundell, volunteers. Huntingdon (297): Jan Holmes 29:09. Thetford (226): Elke Hausler 22:27; Giles Macrow 26:35; Sophie Adams 28:15 (YB! cPB! PB!). Wimpole Estate (331): Rob Hawkins 26:04 (cPB!); Wayne Hargreaves 28:03; Tom Elton 28:40.

  Above left: James Thomson, 27 minute pacer, with Norah in the buggy on Coldham’s Common. Above right: Brian Munns, Jim Withers and Adrian Whittle at the start of the parkrun. Photos: Chris Aylmer

TOURIST VENUES: Wimbledon Common (448): Henry Hamilton, with dog Amber, 24:08. Rutland Water (290): Sarah Kinston 30:05 (cPB!). Cannon Hill [South Birmingham] (708): Christine Windsor 30:00 (First Timer!).

FIRST IN AGE GROUPS: Rebecca Fordham 1st of 20; Richard Jones 1st of 15; Elke Hausler 1st of 13 & 3rd F of 102. NEXT BEST: Ruth Eberhardt 2nd of 19; Emma Newman 3rd of 19; Christine Windsor 2nd of 8; Jim Withers 2nd of 8; Brian Munns 4th of 15; Jan Holmes 4th of 12; Sarah Kinston 7th of 20; Sophie Adams 4th of 11.

 

Newmarket GRL results for Sunday 10th Nov 2019 @ 11:15am

5K: Charles Jones 21:14 PB!, 1st of 40 overall; Ellie Bithell 25:28, 1st Female of 11 & 12th overall; Wayne Hargreaves 26:58 PB!, 18th; Chris Aylmer 32:08, 33rd; Christine Windsor 32:31, 7th F & 34th; Stephanie Greenwood 33:15 (First Timer!), 9th F & 36th; Sianie Painter backmarker, thanks.

2.5K: Cerys Bithell 12:25, 1st Female of 10 & 2nd of 30 overall; Lauren Bithell 15:32, 2nd F & 4th; Gaye Margarson & David Merchant backmarkers, thanks.

A very good weekend for the Joggers in the GRL! Brand new member Charles Jones followed up his victory in the 5K Handicap on Tuesday, with a first finish and PB in the 5K, earning a very good age grade of over 70%. Ellie Bithell also came up trumps with a first female finish in the 5K, while Wayne Hargreaves did well to achieve a PB. In the 2.5K, Junior Jogger Cerys Bithell did very well to finish first female home and 2nd overall, following on from her win in the 5K Fun Run at Lode last Sunday. Younger sister Lauren Bithell was not far behind in 2nd female position. Well done all those who ran.

Thanks to the volunteers, including Richard Jones, Helen Wass, Gaye Margarson, Sue Scargill, Sianie Painter and David Merchant.

NJ parkrun report for Saturday 9th Nov 2019

LOCAL VENUES: Cambridge (493 participants): Alexia Smithson 35:07. Bury St Edmunds (269): Ruth Eberhardt 29:57. Brandon (124): Neville Clarke 23:27; Adam Maltpress 23:39; Brian Munns 23:53; Jim Withers 28:25; Caroline McIntosh 34:49. Clare Castle (107): James Thomson 21:25; James Tweed 22:37. Great Cornard (168): Alan Thornhill 30:25 . Haverhill (54): Chris Aylmer 30:59. Coldham’s Common (326): Jon Brooker 21:26; Richard Jones 22:25; Rob Hawkins 24:46 cPB! PB!.

TOURIST VENUES: Richmond [Richmond Park, South West London] (484): Clive Purbrook 24:41; Belinda Schofield 28:27. Rutland Water (333): Sarah Kinston 30:20.

FIRST IN AGE GROUPS: Richard Jones 1st of 16; James Tweed 1st of 9; James Thomson 1st of 5; Caroline McIntosh 1st of 3; Neville Clarke 1st of 3; Chris Aylmer 1st of 2. NEXT BEST: Jon Brooker 3rd of 22; Clive Purbrook 5th of 14; Ruth Eberhardt 7th of 19; Brian Munns 2nd of 5; Sarah Kinston 9th of 22; Rob Hawkins 7th of 16; Belinda Schofield 4th of 9.

Newmarket GRL report for Sun 3rd Nov 2019 @11:15am

5K: Joe Cormack 25:24, 8th of 30 overall; Wayne Hargreaves 27:54, 16th; Giles Macrow 28:33, 18th. 2.5K: No Joggers.

Thanks to the volunteers, including: Giles Macrow, David Merchant, Gaye Margarson, Anna Mayhew, Sue Scargill, Janet J, Debbie Read, Helen Wass.

NJ parkrun report for Sat 2nd Nov 2019

LOCAL VENUES: Brandon (81): Adam Maltpress 26:06. Bury St Edmunds (188): Ruth Eberhardt 27:30. Cambridge (340): James Tweed 21:38; Iain Perry 25:26; Sarah Kinston 30:19; Alexia Smithson 36:11. Coldham’s Common (223): Richard Jones 22:36; James Thomson + Norah in buggy 24:57; Stephanie Greenwood 31:26. Littleport (98): Christine Windsor 32:03. Thetford (196): Elke Hausler 23:44; Chris Aylmer 29:23. Wimpole Estate (231): Wayne Hargreaves 29:22.

TOURIST VENUES: York (389): Emma Newman 24:29.

FIRST IN AGE GROUPS: Richard Jones 1st of 13; Elke Hausler 1st of 9; NEXT BEST: James Tweed 2nd of 25; Sarah Kinston 2nd of 19; Emma Newman 4th of 15; Ruth Eberhardt 5th of 12; Iain Perry 5th of 11; Chris Aylmer 2nd of 4.

Newmarket GRL 27th Oct 2019 @ 11:15am

5K: Elke Hausler 23:15, 4th of 43 overall & 1st Female of 10 ; Malcolm Osbourn 28:14, 24th; Sianie Painter 29:53, 27th & 5th F; Jenny Osbourn 36:48, 39th & 9th F. 2.5K: Harvey Thomas (Junior Jogger) 8th of 29 overall. Well done to all who ran and special congratulations to first female finisher Elke Hausler.

Thanks to all the volunteers, including: Paul Forshaw, Gaye Margarson, James Plowman, Helen Wass, Sue Scargill, Anna Mayhew.

NJ parkrun report for Sat 26th Oct 2019.

OCAL VENUES: Brandon (107): Iain Perry 26:37. Bury St Edmunds (323): Neville Clarke 22:34; Jessica Podd 26:25; Sophie Adams 30:00; Ruth Eberhardt 30:16; Paul Dockerill 31:02. Cambridge (384): Richard Jones 22:36; Rebecca Fordham 25:59; Alison McKenzie 26:02; Alan Shand 26:25; Christine Windsor 31:42. Clare Castle (96): Angela Brennan 30:44 (cPB!); Aaron Self 32:14. Coldham’s Common (261): Brian Munns 23:23; Jim Withers 27:18. Thetford (219): Elke Hausler 22:41; Giles Macrow 26:58. Wimpole Estate (236): Emma Newman 24:14; Wayne Hargreaves 28:07.

TOURIST VENUES: Parkville [Melbourne, Australia] (299): Henry Hamilton 21:32. Sheringham [North Norfolk Coast] (141): Jon Brooker 23:38. Sizewell [East Suffolk Coast] (85): James Thomson 21:18.

FIRST IN AGE GROUPS: Elke Hausler 1st of 11; Jon Brooker 1st of 10; Brian Munns 1st of 8; Neville Clarke 1st of 7; Jessica Podd 1st of 3; Jim Withers 1st of 2. NEXT BEST: Rebecca Fordham 2nd of 21; Richard Jones 3rd of 19; Alison McKenzie 4th of 19; Emma Newman 2nd of 8; Sophie Adams 5th of 14; Henry Hamilton 7th of 19; Christine Windsor 2nd of 5; Alan Shand 4th of 8. Well done to all those!

Newmarket GRL 20th Oct 2019 @ 11:15am

5K : James Thomson 20:44, 1st finisher of 22 overall; Elke Hausler 23:33, 1st female finisher of 7; Anna Mayhew 32:10, volunteer. 2.5K: No Joggers involved.

Congratulations to James Thomson, who was first finisher overall and to Elke Hausler who was first female finisher! After pushing a buggy on the flat Haverhiil course the day before, the hills were obviously no problem for James!

Thanks to all the volunteers, including: Sue Scargill, Gaye Margarson, Anna Mayhew, James Plowman, Helen Wass, Debbie Read.

NJ parkrun report for Sat 19th Oct 2019

LOCAL VENUES: Brandon (113 participants): Kate Warboys 30:10; Stephanie Greenwood 31:21; Adam Maltpress 24:21 (unofficial time…unfortunately forgot barcode). Cambridge (379): Richard Jones 22:51. Coldham’s Common (258): Chris Aylmer 29:37. Haverhill (51): James Thomson with Norah in buggy 23:56; Ruth Eberhardt kindly volunteered as a helper. Littleport (139): Emma Newman 24:16; Christine Windsor 32:59; Emma Reader and Jeremy Reader kindly volunteered as helpers. Thetford (260): Paul Dockerill 19:31 (cPB!); Elke Hausler 22:31; Giles Macrow 26:54.

TOURIST VENUES: Henstridge Airport [Somerset](128): Jason Beeton 28:53. Poolsbrook [Derbyshire](199): Alan Shand 27:55.

FIRST IN AGE GROUPS: Paul Dockerill 1st of 12; Elke Hausler 1st of 10 & 3rd F of 122!; Emma Newman 1st of 8 & 1st F of 66!; Christine Windsor 1st of 2. NEXT BEST: Richard Jones 3rd of 20; Adrian Whittle 6th of 18; James Thomson & Norah 2nd of 5!; Jason Beeton 2nd of 4; Kate Warboys 4th of 8. Special congratulations to Emma Newman for coming home first female at Littleport.

Two interesting parkrun tourist venues this week. Henstridge Airfield is in Somerset, close to the Dorset border and is the current home of the Somerset & Dorset Air Ambulance. The parkrun itself (est. 2018) doesn’t go along the airport runways like it might in one of those disused RAF wartime airfields. This one is fully functional! The 2 lap route actually skirts around the outside of the nearby motocross track, over grass, trail and hard paths. It also goes beside a brook and close to the River Cale for an attractive setting. There is a nice cafe at the airfield clubhouse nearby.

Alan Shand chanced upon Poolsbrook (est. 2016), near Chesterfield in Derbyshire, for his second ever parkrun . This takes place in Poolsbrook Country Park, the encouraging result of the transformation of the former Poolsbrook Colliery, which was as unsightly a mess of excavation and slag heaps as ex-coalmines can be. In the centre of the park there is a lovely lake, which the parkrun route circles three times. There is a very nice cafe to relax in afterwards.

NJ GRL report for Sun 13th Oct 2019 @11:15am

5K: Elke Hausler 24:01, 4th of 37 overall, 2nd of 4 known female runners. Great run Elke!

2.5K: Lilly Basing (Junior Jogger) 14:58 PB!, 4th of 35 overall and 2nd of 9 female participants. Well done Lilly!

Thanks to all the volunteers including: Gaye Margarson, David Merchant, Paul Forshaw, Sue Scargill, Helen Wass, James Plowman, Giles Macrow.

NJ parkrun report for Sat 12th Oct 2019

LOCAL VENUES: Brandon (97 participants): James Thomson 21:36; Iain Perry 26:42; Alan Thornhill 32:29. Bury St Edmunds (273): Stephanie Greenwood 30:02. Cambridge (391): Richard Jones 23:10. Clare Castle (96): Alison McKenzie 26:00 cPB! =YB! =PB! Coldham’s Common (246): Brian Munns 22:58; Jim Withers 26:47. Littleport (138): Emma Reader 36:07. Thetford (244): Elke Hausler 22:58.

TOURIST VENUES: Greenwich [Avery Hill, SE London] (295): Joe Cormack 24:03. Huntingdon (262): Jan Holmes 22:47 cPB!; Sarah Kinston 31:38. Kettering [Wicksteed Park in Northamptonshire] (461): Emma Newman 23:11. Rutland Water (296): James Tweed 21:18.

FIRST IN AGE GROUPS: Jan Holmes 1st of 8; Elke Hausler 1st of 7 & 2nd F of 113; James Thomson 1st of 7. NEXT BEST: Emma Newman 2nd of 18; Richard Jones 2nd of 16; Brian Munns 2nd of 15; James Tweed 5th of 28; Sarah Kinston 7th of 25; Joe Cormack 8th of 21; Alison McKenzie 3rd of 7.

Looking at the tourist venues this week, Kettering parkrun (est. 2016) brings back childhood memories, taking place inside Wicksteed Park, which was one of the first amusement parks to be opened in the UK back in 1921. The land was owned, developed and supplied with play equipment by Charles Wicksteed, son of a Unitarian minister, who is credited as being the original inventor of the children’s slide, which was made from bare planks of wood in those days, with no hand rails. All the amusements were free for the local children. His project was philanthropic and a way to give thanks for the end of the First World War. He envisaged creating a type of people’s model village with an open space and playground for the children. This never exactly materialised and his energies went more into the spreading of his amusement park ideas to other towns, cities and abroad. Commercially, he could supply these parks with play equipment. He also introduced (not invented) his own designs of waterchutes, maypoles, swings, miniature railways and fairground carousel rides. I can’t remember whether it was a primary school outing, a church choir day out or something else, but I remember going on a coach trip to Wicksteed Park in Northamptonshire when I was around 8-10 years old. I remember particularly enjoying a train ride on the miniature railway. As for the parkrun, it is quite a varied 2.5 lap route, going around the boating lake, over parkland, beside the River Ise, over the railway line at several points and running across pontoon bridges, which probably makes your legs feel funny.

Greenwich parkrun might seem slightly confusingly named as it is situated over 3 miles to the southeast of Greenwich Park and the Royal Observatory. However it is very close to the University of Greenwich secondary campus in Avery Hill, which houses sporting facilities, university buildings and student accommodation. The original college buildings were erected in Woolwich on the south bank of the Thames in 1891, and were called Woolwich Polytechnic, the first polytechnic in the UK. It later merged with other polytechnics to become the Thames Polytechnic in 1970 and then the University of Greenwich in 1993, when it moved into the Old Royal Naval College buildings in Greenwich as its main campus. The parkrun itself is a well established one, which started out in 2010. It’s a 3 lap route around Avery Hill Park in attractive landscape, with some tree-lined pathways and tree cover around the perimeter. There is a very nice cafe in the park to enjoy refreshment after the run.

Huntingdon parkrun (est. 2013) is a nice shady 2 lap route in Hinchingbrooke Country Park, run largely through woods on well kept pathways with some open parkland too. The open part of the route passes by an ornamental lake and then goes beside Alconbury Brook as it meanders through the woods. Like Greenwich parkrun, there is a very nice cafe in the park to enjoy refreshment and a chat afterwards. This parkrun verges on being classed as “LOCAL” on these pages, being 31 miles from Newmarket and around a 46 minute car journey according to Google. It will be certainly be quicker and nicer to travel to when all the roadworks on the A14 are complete.

We’ve described Rutland Water parkrun (est. 2015) a few times, but no harm repeating. It’s a lovely, picturesque out & back route around part of one side of Rutland Water, which is about 20 miles northwest of Peterborough, 61 miles from Newmarket. It starts and finishes near the “stunning” Normanton Church, which is situated on its own tiny island in the water. It was saved from the deliberate flooding of the area while constructing the  Rutland Water dam in the 1970s. The lower half of the church was below the required water level and the church was de-consecrated and ready to be demolished. After a public outcry, it was filled with cement and rubble from the floor up to the level of the windows to avoid any flooding; then it was surrounded by an embankment to prevent water ingress and provided with a causeway to reach it from the mainland. It’s now used primarily as a wedding venue. The parkrun route is flat and fast over mainly hard paths with the midway turnaround point of the parkrun situated halfway across the dam, which should provide tremendous views of the surroundings. Again, there is a nice, convenient cafe at Normanton Park Hotel, near the church location.

NJ GRL report for Sun 6th Oct 2019 @11:15am

5K: Jon Brooker 26:29 PB! 10th of 21 overall (possibly ran with daughter Eadie?).

2.5K: No Joggers ran.

Thanks to all the volunteers, including: Anna Mayhew, Gaye Margarson, Sue Scargill, Helen Wass and Janet J.

NJ parkrun report for Sat 5th Oct 2019

LOCAL VENUES: Brandon (132 participants): Mike Sales 26:49; Sarah Sales 29:12. Bury St Edmunds (307): Neville Clarke 22:00; Anna Mayhew 26:13; Alison McKenzie 26:17 cPB!; Ruth Eberhardt 29:20. Cambridge (436): Emma Newman 22:43; Rebecca Fordham 24:58; Iain Perry 25:52 YB!; Aaron Burns 27:57. Clare Castle (128): James Tweed 22:26. Coldham’s Common (314): Brian Munns 22:43 cPB!; Richard Jones 23:17; Adrian Whittle 24:59; Jim Withers 26:13 cPB! YB! Littleport (175): Jan Holmes 27:18; Sophie Adams 28:49 YB!; Sarah Kinston 29:25; Christine Windsor 29:33; Rachel Allen 35:18 YB!

TOURIST VENUES: Wimbledon Common (520): Henry Hamilton & Amber 21:17 Amber PB! York (484): Kate Warboys 28:47 YB!

FIRST IN AGE GROUPS: Emma Newman 1st of 24; Rebecca Fordham 1st of 22; Neville Clarke 1st of 10; James Tweed 1st of 8; Sarah Sales 1st of 7; Jan Holmes 1st of 6. NEXT BEST: Anna Mayhew 2nd of 16; Brian Munns 2nd of 15; Alison McKenzie 3rd of 16; Richard Jones 3rd of 15; Henry Hamilton 4th of 13; Sarah Kinston 6th of 19; Sophie Adams 4th of 12.

 

Above: Henry Hamilton at Wimbledon Common parkrun with PB achiever Amber. Photos: Thanks to Henry Hamilton

NJ GRL report for Sun 29th Sep 2019 @11:15am

5K: Malcolm Osbourn 28:23, 14th of 28 overall; Chris Aylmer 32:50, 20th.

2.5K: Cerys Bithell 11:51, 1st Female of 11 and 2nd of 30 overall…well done!; Lilly Basing 14:57 PB!, 5th  F; Connor Bithell 20:39, 10th overall.

Thanks to all the volunteers, including David Merchant, Helen Wass, James Plowman, Caroline Mcintosh, Gaye Margarson, Paul Forshaw and Joe Cormack.

NJ parkrun report for Sat 28th Sep 2019

LOCAL VENUES: Brandon (132 participants): Clive Purbrook 26:03; Belinda Schofield 29:21. Cambridge (536 ): Richard Jones 24:27; Rebecca Fordham 25:21; Adrian Whittle 25:32; Malcolm Osbourn 27:04; Baz Colley 30:33; Carol Mcintosh 34:34; Jenny Osbourn 35:46. Clare Castle (125): James Tweed 21:43. Coldham’s Common (347): James Thomson 21:56; Sophie Adams 29:39 YB!; Stephanie Greenwood 29:54; Sarah Kinston 31:49; Rebecca Hannah 32:01; Rachel Allen 37:45. Great Cornard (179): Paul Dockerill 19:44 cPB! Haverhill (53): Chris Aylmer 29:41. Littleport (164): Christine Windsor 29:07; Emma Reader 34:30 cPB! YB! Thetford (272): Jason Beeton 23:26 YB!; Giles Macrow 28:08.

TOURIST VENUES: Melton Mowbray [Leicestershire](160): Emma Newman 22:58. Sloughbottom [Norwich](235): Alan Thornhill 29:38 YB! Victoria Dock [East London](183): Phil Blundell 20:39 YB! PB!

FIRST IN AGE GROUPS: Rebecca Fordham 1st of 24; Emma Newman 1st of 5; Paul Dockerill 1st of 4; Jenny Osbourn 1st of 2; Christine Windsor 1st of 2; Belinda Schofield 1st of 2. OTHER GOOD PERFORMANCES: James Tweed 2nd of 13; Richard Jones 5th of 23; Malcolm Osbourn 2nd of 7; Carol Mcintosh 2nd of 6; Jason Beeton 4th of 12; Phil Blundell 6th of 18.

At the local venues, Rebecca Fordham continues to impress. It’s the third week in a row that she has been first finisher in her sizeable age group of FV45. Emma Reader is making headway and posted her best parkrun time this year at Littleport, as did Sophie Adams at Coldham’s Common and new member Jason Beeton at Thetford.

Looking at the tourism scene, Emma Newman tried out the reportedly stunning Melton Country Park (no Milton spelling error!) in Melton Mowbray. This is a 2 lap course which crosses little wooden bridges, goes round the side of a lake and under a disused railway arch as it meanders around the picturesque parkland. It started out well in January 2015 but hit a low point in 2016 when numbers sank well below 100 for a while. Now it can count on at least 150 most weeks and sometimes 200. Emma had a very good run for her first time here, coming first in her age group by 4 minutes.

Alan Thornhill chanced by Sloughbottom parkrun in Norwich, perhaps not the most attractively named parkrun in the UK. It started only in May this year and is already bringing in over 200 participants a week, so very popular with the locals. It’s a single lapper over hard path and grass, starting and finishing in Sloughbottom Park, with an out & back section terminating in a loop around another smaller park. Alan was in good form with his best parkrun time this year.

Phil Blundell went one better at Victoria Dock parkrun in East London, with an all-time parkrun PB to his name. This parkrun started in March 2018 and after a fairly slow start has really established itself over the past year, attracting 150 to 200 weekly. It’s an unusual double out & back horseshoe-shaped route around first the north and then the south side of the dock with plenty of dockland scenery to interest the eye. Giles Macrow was the first Jogger to run here in 2018 and ran it again in June this year.

Newmarket Joggers parkrun report for Saturday 21st September 2019

LOCAL VENUES: Brandon (67 participants): Brian Munns 23:38; Stephen Cousins 24:06; Danielle Jones 26:09; Jim Withers 27:20. Bury St Edmunds (319): Elke Hausler 23:37; Ruth Eberhardt 28:28; Paul Dockerill 30:28. Cambridge (481): Richard Jones 24:24; James Thomson & Norah in buggy 24:45; Rebecca Fordham 25:29; Aaron Burns 30:33; Christine Windsor 32:02. Clare Castle (215): James Tweed 22:24; Iain Perry 27:02. Coldham’s Common (263): Phil Blundell 20:53 (cPB! =YB! =PB!); Melanie & Harvey Tindale volunteers; thanks! Haverhill (62): Chris Aylmer 28:08. Littleport (192): Neville Clarke 20:57. Thetford (236): Giles Macrow 26:17.

TOURIST VENUES: Cardiff (820): Emma Reader 38:09. Fulham Palace (542): Henry Hamilton 19:52 (150th parkrun!). Heslington (307): Emma Newman 22:41 (cPB!).

BEST IN AGE GROUPS: Rebecca Fordham 1st of 21; Emma Newman 1st of 15; Elke Hausler 2nd of 17; Phil Blundell 2nd of 15; Ruth Eberhardt 2nd of 14; Neville Clarke 1st of 5; Henry Hamilton 7th of 35; Brian Munns 1st of 4; James Tweed 3rd of 12; Richard Jones 7th of 25; Giles Macrow 8th of 18; Chris Aylmer 1st of 2; Stephen Cousins 2nd of 4; James Thomson & buggy 17th of 34.

 

Newmarket Joggers GRL report for Sunday 15th September 2019 @11:15am

5K: Wayne Hargreaves (27:23 PB!) 14th of 25; Sianie Painter (32:31, speedy tail walker….watch out Callum and George Wilkinson!). Well done Wayne, who is improving rapidly on this route.

2.5K. No Joggers involved.

Newmarket Joggers parkrun report for Saturday 14th September 2019

LOCAL VENUES. Brandon (139): Adam Maltpress (23:19). Bury St Edmunds (304): Paul Dockerill (22:16); Rebecca Hannah (34:38). Cambridge (435): Iain Perry (28:33). Littleport (208): Emma Newman (22:40, 1st female finisher!).

TOURIST VENUES. Whitstable [Kent](358): Hannah Parsons (23:34 YB! PB!). Netley Abbey [Southampton](274): Adrian Whittle (28:39). Loch Neaton [Norfolk](162): Aaron Burns (29:43).

BEST IN AGE GROUPS: Emma Newman 1st of 15 and 1st female finisher of 91; Hannah Parsons 2nd of 16; Adam Maltpress 2nd of 7; Paul Dockerill 3rd of 10.

Newmarket Joggers GRL report for Sunday 8th September 2019 @11:15am

5K: Baz Colley  (26:52) 24th of 44 overall; Giles Macrow (31:50, volunteer helper) 38th. The best time this year from Baz, not quite a PB which was 26:48 in 2018.

2.5K: Sianie Painter (14:38 PB!) 14th of 48 overall and 3rd female of 12. Well done Sianie on a good 2.5K hilly time trial.

Newmarket Joggers parkrun report for Saturday 7th September 2019

LOCAL VENUES. Cambridge (566): Baz Colley (24:17 cPB! YB! PB!); Rebecca Fordham (24:50 cPB! YB! PB!); Aaron Burns (30:09). Clare Castle (107): James tweed (21:03 cPB!). Coldham’s Common (303): Phil Blundell (22:15); Brian Munns (22:48 cPB!); Jim Withers (26:42); Kate Warboys (29:17 cPB! YB!). Littleport (200): Emma Newman (23:20, 1st female finisher!); Jan Holmes (26:26 cPB! YB!); Christine Windsor (29:34); Sarah Kinston (30:24); Emma Reader (34:41 cPB! YB!).

TOURIST VENUES. Fountains Abbey [N.Yorkshire](353): Ruth Eberhardt (23:49). Netley Abbey [Southampton](280): Adrian Whittle (25:05). Newcastle (672): Chris Aylmer (29:26). Stewart [Middlesbrough] (301): Alison McKenzie (26:00 cPB YB! PB!).

BEST IN AGE GROUPS: Rebecca Fordham 1st of 33; James Tweed 1st of 9; Emma Newman 1st of 8 and 1st female of 94; Ruth Eberhardt 3rd of 23; Alison McKenzie 2nd of 15; Christine Windsor 1st of 5; Phil Blundell 4th of 20; James Thomson 3rd of 10 with Norah in buggy!; Baz Colley 17th of 38; Jan Holmes 1st of 2.

Newmarket Joggers GRL report for Sunday 1st September 2019 @11:15am

5K(23): Elke Hausler (24:53), 5th of 23 overall & 1st Female of 10; Wayne Hargreaves (31:01) 15th; Rebecca Fordham (35:04) 9th F.  2.5K(20): Rebecca Fordham (10:51) 1st of 20 overall & 1st Female of 9; Anna Mayhew (28:13), volunteer helper.

The area behind the woods was closed off due to the Newmarket Town Charity Ride, so the 5K course consisted of two laps of the 2.5K course in front of the woods, a much harder course than normal with the steep ‘Kenyan Hill’ to climb twice. Elke Hausler did very well to come home first female finisher in a good time. New member Wayne Hargreaves got his first taste of the Newmarket GRL and coped well. Rebecca Fordham put all her effort into the first 2.5K lap and then carried on for a second lap as a recovery, so got times for both distances. Her time of 10:51 for 2.5K is among the best recorded for this course.

 

For previous archived reports from January 2019 please follow link:

Archived parkrun & GRL reports

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

:09) and Abbie (31:)