DESPITE some unscheduled showers, 117 runners and a 22-strong volunteer team turned out to mark Barry Island parkrun’s first anniversary event on Saturday morning.

With the Ty Hafan Rainbow Run using part of the regular course, it also meant a switch to the three-lap alternative course this week.

Before the start of the run, event directors Ian Thorne and Lyn Evans presented certificates to the runners who’d topped the first annual points tables - Mike James, Richard Wilder and John Frazer in the men’s competitions and Lisa, Caitlin and Bethan Williams in the women’s competition.

To mark the event’s anniversary, Christine Gibbons, chair of parkrun UK, had travelled down for her fourth Barry Island parkrun. She thanked the volunteer team on behalf of parkrun UK and all its parkrunners for establishing a friendly parkrun in a great location with a wonderful, inclusive community spirit.

Chris handed over to guest starter for the day, Marco Zeraschi, to get event number 53 underway. Marco has been a great supporter of the run from the outset and was applauded by the runners and volunteers before giving the signal to go. Anniversary musical accompaniment was provided by a team of 118 runners, with several runners and volunteers contributing cakes for the post-run celebrations.

Oli Williams of Les Croupiers RC, was first over the line in 18:27 - the 14th time in 14 appearances. Matt Hurford, also from Les Croupiers RC, was second over the line in 18:43. Gareth Poston of Port Talbot Harriers and AC, was third finisher in 19:34. Oli and Matt also finished in first and third places respectively in the Legacy Leisure Porthkerry 5 MT race the following day.

In the women’s placings, it was Amy Gomer (Les Croupiers RC), who was first over the line in 23:08, Paula Allen from Pegasus RC was second in 25:18, with Sioned Edwards third in 26:21.

Making his second Barry Island parkrun appearance was Jeff Aston. Jeff is one of the small but distinguished group of 12 runners - the ‘Ever Presents’ - to have run in every London marathon since it started in 1981.

The field featured 29 first time visitors to Barry Island. Amongst them were core team member Stephen Wood and regular volunteer Debbie Williams.

Both were actually running their very first Barry Island parkrun - typifying the generosity of the volunteers who put on parkruns around the UK every week. Both managed to dodge the cameras.

Speaking about her own parkrun experience so far, the morning’s run director, Kirstine Hughes said “You can't help but think back to the start of it all when we as a small group met at Marco’s for the first time to run (in my case walk) the course, discussing pros and cons of the routes we were looking at. It just seems impossible to think that we are a year old. We have made some great friends in our little parkrun family. I personally feel like a proud mum when I see all my buddies running off into the distance, then seeing them finish, looking at the results and seeing who got PBs and who ran well. I honestly don't know what my life would be like without this on a Saturday morning. Here's to more birthdays, more friends and more cake.”

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 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.