IT WAS another three-figure field at Barry Island on Saturday morning for parkrun number 83, as exactly 100 runners took to the 5k course, supported by a crack team of 20 volunteers.

Taking pride of place amongst them this week were Kevin Moore and Derek Marshall.

Kevin recorded his 25 volunteer milestone, whilst birthday boy Derek notched up his 50th volunteer outing at Barry Island.

Both milestones were announced by run director Lyn Evans, to warm applause from the appreciative runners.

Kevin provides professional quality run photos for the event which are very popular with runners.

Derek is a regular volunteer at local races as well as parkrun, and could be heard directing and cheering runners at both this year’s Cardiff half marathons.

The 10,000 volunteers each week are the life blood of the 400-plus free, timed 5k Saturday morning that take place across the UK. Barry Island parkrun’s are amongst the friendliest and most supportive volunteers out there.

Twenty-three runners clocked up a new personal best time this week. The long list of PB's, from right across the field, included junior Ieuan Williams (22:05) from SYtri, Helen Kerbey (27:50), and three Seriously Mad Runners Helen McCarthy (29:07), Hilary James (35:02) and Rachel Gibbs (37:01).

Visitor Rob Smart, of Octavian Droobers Orienteering Club in Warwickshire, celebrated his 100th parkrun with a new course PB of 24:00. Other visitors included the returning Williams family from Shropshire, and first timer Geraint Jones from Twickenham Rowing Club.

Leading the field home was Jeff Cox (Les Croupiers RC) in a time of 19:57 - the second time Jeff’s been first finisher in his 23 appearances.

Robert Newman came in second in 20:35 with Paul Kehl third just behind in 20:39, Paul’s best placing in 21 Barry Island parkruns.

Marianne Paterson of Cornelly Striders AC, claimed the first female finisher spot (17th overall) in her first appearance with a time of 23:43.

Junior runner Harriet Kehl continued her consistent form and finished second in 25:10, with Nia Hopkin third in a new PB of 27:40.

There were 16 junior runners taking part this week, including six under-10s. Some were ‘veterans’ like Ieuan Williams and Rhys McNabb, both with more than 50 parkruns each. Others are much newer to parkrun.

Anyone from the age of four upwards can register and take part in a parkrun. For safety reasons, under-4s cannot take part in 5k parkruns, and all under-11s must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Local junior runners will soon, however, be able to take part in their very own junior parkrun too.

The announcement of a new junior parkrun in Barry is imminent. junior parkruns are free, timed 2k Sunday morning runs for four to 14-year-olds, where they can run unaccompanied. The junior parkrun team will be putting a call out for volunteers to help organise the event in the near future.

Over the coming festive period, Barry Island parkrun will be going ahead on Saturdays as normal at 9am on December 24 (Christmas Eve) and December 31 (New Year’s Eve). There will be an extra New Year’s Day parkrun at 10.30am on Sunday, January 1, 2017.

The unusual start time is to allow runners and volunteers the option of doubling-up (a parkrun tradition) with a nearby parkrun - in this case Cardiff parkrun in Blackweir, which will take place at 9am.

There’s also the opportunity for a unique to treble by taking in the New Year’s Day charity beach swim at mid-day, too. There was a record attendance last New Year’s Day of 239 which the team would like to beat in 2017.

Barry Island parkrun is a free, weekly 5k timed run and is open to anyone of any ability from age four upwards - runners, joggers or walkers alike.

It starts at 9am every Saturday morning 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’s entirely run by volunteers. Anyone wishing to help out can get in touch by sending an email to barryislandhelpers@parkrun.com.

Since Barry Island parkrun started in May 2015, 1,975 different runners, including participants from 181 athletics clubs, have completed 7,699 runs covering a total distance of 38,495 km, and there have been 1,645 new personal bests.