21 July 2026

The RUNdown - 20th July 2026

A quiet week but parkruns aplenty!

It was a quiet week on the race front, with no league or summer championship events, but the Barrow Runners more than made up for it with a whopping 44 parkruns across the breadth of Britain from North Wales to Sandringham. Even Yvonne Redfern briefly contemplated a parkrun this week (or at least engaged in some meaningful discussion around what a NENDY is).

Usually on a quiet week, you can at least rely on Winxy to have done some sort of race. This week, it's fellow Tri star Chris Trzcinksi who has come to our rescue. Bloodied but unbowed from last week's tumble, the heroic Chris competed in the Belvoir Castle triathlon (for the third time - a tri-triathlon?).

On to the parkruns, and we should begin with Rebecca Chandler who went back to where parkrun began back in 2004: Bushy Park. Rebecca had no problem following the course as there were 1532 other runners taking part (!)

Justine and Rob Phillips visited Coronation Park where everyone's favourite run director ticked off his 100th location. Of those 100, Bushy Park is also Rob's most visited with 289 runs (and a PB of 17:29 I might add). Great to see Justine back too!

A few of us made the short trip to Dishley, hoping that the extreme heat might alleviate the course's usual difficulties. It worked for Kathy Robinson who picked up a parkrun PB and an age-category win.

Some of our experienced parkrunners were making headway with their alphabet challenges. Dawn Storer and the Dennisons (plus Joe Darling) ticked off those tricky U and Y letters respectively while on their travels with Dawn finishing as first female at University of Northampton. Closer to home, Rachel Vatter and Nick Castle ticked off their G at Gedling, finishing 1st and 3rd in their genders respectively. With only the near impossible Z remaining, a tantalising trip to Zuiderpark (or perhaps Zouch) awaits? Watch this space.

Skipper Mark Sadler took part in the Mole Valley parkrun which is apparently set in a vineyard (good practice for the Marathon du Medoc, Mark - I'm up for it if you are). The undulation came as a surprise to Mark until he remembered that vines grow on hillsides...

Lee Godrich headed east to the Sandringham estate. Sadly, there was no sign of HRH or other members of the royal family, so he brought his family with him instead - there were 6 first-timers among them and, naturally, plenty of PBs!

Sadly, there is no Watermead Junior Parkrun to report on this week as the event was cancelled due to a lack of volunteers: a reminder that we all need to do our bit to keep this wonderful institution going.

Enjoy the quiet as we have a busy week next week with the Three Club Challenge and Garendon Gallop!

Belvoir Castle (Standard) Triathlon

Chris Trzcinski 03:21:42

1500m swim 36:26

45km cycle 01:35:19

10km run 01:02:00

Parkruns

Beacon Hill Country Park parkrun

Michael Cheverton 00:20:53 3rd SM30-34🥉
Mats Vermeeren 00:23:04
Rachel Bentley 00:23:10 3rd in gender!🥉 1st SW30-34 🥇
Poppy Ballantine 00:24:29 1st SW25-29 🥇
Malcolm Cook 00:25:35
Theo Plasser 00:33:03 2nd JM11-14 🥈
Felix Plasser 00:33:04
Danny Hall 00:42:07

Black Rocks parkrun

Rebecca Brooks 00:32:43 2nd VW65-69 🥈

Bushy parkrun

Rebecca Chandler 00:22:26

Coronation Park parkrun

Justine Albert 00:22:51 2nd in gender! 🥈1st VW50-54 🥇
Rob Phillips 00:22:52

Dereham parkrun

Katy Young 00:47:02

Dishley parkrun, Loughborough

George Burdett 00:19:41 1st VM50-55 🥇
Richard Perkins 00:23:12 2nd VM45-49 🥈
Kathryn Robinson 00:24:09 3rd in gender! 🥉1st VW55-59 🥇Parkrun PB
Paul Meneely 00:30:21
Amanda Rashleigh 00:32:03

Gill Elliott 00:32:36 1st V60-64🥉

Durlston Country Park parkrun

Roger Griffiths 00:36:15

Gedling parkrun

Nick Castle 00:18:26 3rd overall! 3rd in gender! 🥉1st SM25-29🥇
Rachael Vatter 00:22:11 1st in gender!🥇

Gorleston Cliffs parkrun

Paul Bentley 00:27:22
Karen Griffin 00:40:59

Mole Valley parkrun

Mark Sadler 00:25:55 1st VM65-69🥇

Rushcliffe parkrun

James Woodford 00:21:41
Kristie Matthiae 00:22:32 1st VW45-49 🥇
Greg Biddle 00:23:46
Millie Crane 00:24:43
Jack Peasgood 00:27:02
Heather Dunkley 00:27:40
Laura Shepherd 00:30:26

Julie Felstead 00:42:45

Sandringham parkrun

Lee Godrich 00:24:26 3rd VM40-44🥉

Shanganagh parkrun

Caroline Abraham 00:33:44

University of Northampton parkrun

Dawn Storer 00:23:50 1st in gender!🥇
Simone Clarke 00:50:28
Andrew Price 00:50:33

Watermead Country Park parkrun

Liam Harvey 00:18:29 1st VM35-39 🥇
Becky Hewitt 00:20:48 2nd in gender! 1st SW30-34 🥇
Hollie Elliott 00:24:46 1st VW35-59🥇

Y Promenâd parkrun, Llandrillo-yn-Rhos

Claire Dennison 00:25:50 2nd VW55-59🥈
Joe Darling 00:26:22

Keith Dennison 00:27:07

Prepared by George Burdett