ON A sunny morning for the 65th Barry island parkrun, 109 runners turned up to enjoy their run by the sea.

After two weeks on the alternative course, it was back to the original course with just the two ascents of Heartbreak Hill to test the runners’ hamstrings. In the near-ideal conditions, 27 runners achieved a course personal best time.

Richard Jackson-Hookins, from Penarth and Dinas Runners, came in first with a time of 18:25, followed closely by junior Alfie Davies with a new PB of 18:49. Third, from Les Croupiers, clocking a PB of 20:19 was Robert Evans.

First woman finisher was regular visitor Joanne Donnelly from Newcastle (Staffs) Triathlon Club with a time of 21:22. Second was Andrea Hurman from Penarth and Dinas Runners at 23:43 and first time visitor Roni Margerison from Lliswerrry Runners was third in 25:31.

Among the finishers were 12 first time Barry Island runners, including four-year-old Freya John who ran a very impressive 51:08 accompanied all the way around the 5k course by her grandparents, Mark and Sarah Gronow and tail runner Ian Thorne.

Freya was a very happy little girl sprinting over the finish line, cheered on by volunteers and other runners.

Children from the age of four upwards can all parkrun. Between the ages of four and 10, they must run (or walk or jog) within arms’ length of a parent or guardian adult. From age 11 onwards, they can run unaccompanied. Other junior first timers this week included Jasmine Cave, Lleucu Sion and Ffion Spence.

There were representatives from 13 different running clubs taking part. From close to home were Penarth and Dinas Runners, Seriously Mad Runners (Barry), Barry and Vale Harriers, Women’s Running Penarth, Les Croupier RC, Pegasus RC, Bridgend AC, Pontypridd Roadents AC, Aberdare Valley, Lliswerry Runners.

From further afield were runners from Wye Valley Runners, Aberystwyth AC and Newcastle (Staffs) Triathalon Club. However, to underline the fact that parkruns aren’t just for club runners, nearly two thirds of the field were not registered as a member of a running club.

Some of the PB times this week were from Saxon Arthur-Dyer (JM10) with 22:26, Ryan Price (SM25-29) with 25:35, Bethan Hardman (JW10) with 25:49, John Deakin (VM70-74) with 28:22, and Rebecca Marytsch (VW45-49) with 38:42.

Looking ahead, the next club takeover run is planned for August 20. At these, all the volunteer roles are taken over by members of a club or running group.

Next up will be the purple and green crew from Seriously Mad Runners (Barry). They will organise the run, set-up and marshal the course, support and encourage the runners and process the results. Another paced run is also on the cards later in the summer for runners with an eye on improving their times with the help of a volunteer pacemaker.

Barry Island parkrun is a free, weekly 5k timed run and is open to anyone of any ability - runners, joggers or walkers alike. It starts at 9am every Saturday morning, usually under the Eastern Shelter of Barry Island promenade, near the beach huts.

Find out more on the run website at parkrun.org.uk/barryisland. It takes around 20 volunteers to put on Barry Island parkrun every week and the organising team’s always on the look-out for more.

Anyone wishing to help out can get in touch by sending an email to barryislandhelpers@parkrun.com. Just like parkrunning, age is no barrier to parkrun volunteering and children, accompanied by an adult, are always welcome.