Saturday’s Parkrun

Big Presence at Conkers
Saturday’s Parkrun was the first opportunity to record a Parkrun time in this year’s Club Championship and a magnificent 19 Club members dragged themselves out of bed early & lined up on the start line. Befitting the nature of ‘parkrun’ recently new parents Dan & Felicity & Gerry & Abi got in some quality family time and introduced their very young off spring to the contours of the Conker’s route. Of those there to race Andy Hawtin led the way with a superb 5^th place finish in 18.20. Demonstrating the emerging competitive nature of a group of runners at the Club places 8 to 12 was occupied by SDRR members. Jack Leafe led the way with 18.48 with Shane Chapman agonizingly close in a new PB of 18.49. Colin Mee, after a long journey from Norwich, also recorded a new PB and a terrific age related performance with his 18.51. Paul Chapman and Andy Orme completed this quintet of finishers with times of 19.21 & 19.31 respectively. Not that far behind in 22^nd & 23^rd places were Steve Leafe (20.24) & Parkrun debutant Jon Mayman (20.37) who both managed, on this occasion, to get the better of youngster Gavin Horton (22.05). Christina Cooper, who recently recorded an excellent PB of 20.51, was next to finish in 22.17 & 4^th place in the women’s race followed by another ‘first timer’ Kelly Knight in 22.28 and 6^th place. Gary Price & Tony Phillips both ran well to record 22.57 & 23.25 respectively with the ever improving Carolyn Ife next in a competitive 28.16. Rebecca Atkins (32.08) & Cath Johnson (32.46) completed the finishers for the Club on a morning when SDRR made their presence felt.