NEARLY one hundred runners from as far afield as Belfast and Birmingham were under starter’s orders at Levengrove Park on Saturday in the town’s latest parkrun event.

The weekly Levengrove parkrun is going from strength to strength after having to be put on hold as a result of the pandemic – and the lighter mornings and (slightly) warmer spring weather are bringing plenty of runners out for the 5K event, with 94 people running, walking or jogging the course on Saturday.

Limbering up for the start

Limbering up for the start

The first women finishers in Saturday’s field were Anna Blake, a first-timer from Willowfield Harriers in Belfast, in 20 minutes and 14 seconds, Lucy Beattie, another first-timer, in 24:08, and Lynn Fairbairn in a new personal best of 24:43. The first junior female was Georgia Garside, another first-timer, in a time of 26:56.

The first male finishers were Adam Kennedy in 19:05, Ben Forrest, another first-timer, from the University of Birmingham Tri Club, in 19:37, and David Wiggins, yet another first-timer, in 20:07. Ross Atkinson was the first junior male to finish in 26:37.

Alongside run director Sharon and funnel manager David Kennedy, Saturday’s volunteers were Lindsay Theobold, Kirsty Ormond, William Rooney, Emma Woodliff, Mark Woodliff, Emma White, John Whoriskey, Anna Napier, Sam Napier, Damien Theaker, Chloe-Louise Conroy, James Hunter, Joyce MacEwa, Sam Glover, Beverley Clarke, Harry Woodliff, Abigail Haug, Dylan Turner and Wilson Hamilton.

The Levengrove parkrun, like all parkrun events across the UK, is open to all ages and abilities and takes place every Saturday at 9.30am.

Gilan MacLeod and Joyce McEwan

Gilan MacLeod and Joyce McEwan

To sign up either as a runner or a volunteer, or simply to find out more about the event, email levengrove@parkrun.com, see parkrun.org.uk/levengrove, or check out the ‘Levengrove parkrun’ page on Facebook.