ON JUNE 25 it was the 60th running of Barry Island parkrun.

Amongst the 82 runners were 17 newcomers, 11 junior runners and representatives of nine different clubs. Since it started on May 2, 2015, 1,550 different runners have now completed 5,363 runs covering a total distance of 26,815km.

With summer approaching, it was another busy time on the promenade. This week the prom and Eastern shelter were shared with a colourful and buzzing junior lifeguard competition.

Runners took the opportunity to watch the junior lifeguards in action, whilst a few parkrun tourists came along with their lifeguard family members for a run.

Some of the 11 junior runners led the field away from the start line, under the watchful eye of the week’s run director, Lyn Evans. He was returning after a week away as guest run director at Grangemoor parkrun in Cardiff.

Ben Ray (JM11-14 age category) from Barry and Vale Harriers was the first junior to finish, seventh place overall, with a time of 21:45. First time visitor Tom Rees (JM15-17) was second junior over the line in 23:03, 16th place overall. Caitlin Williams (JW11-14) from SMR (Barry) was third, in 21st place overall in 24:19.

Some very junior participants didn’t have to work too hard for a quick time. They left all the hard work to their dad. Simon Arscott pushed his baby buggy to an impressive 31st place in a time of 25:41.

Juniors Jacob (JM14), Lucas (JM10) and not-so-junior Richard David (VM40-44) ran together, with Jacob putting in an impressive sprint finish to come home first of the trio in 39:01.

Amongst the adults this week, a visitor with a troublesome barcode finished first, and so still shows as ‘unknown’ in the results. He was just five seconds ahead of Matthew Ryan in second place in 19:16 with John Magee (Les Croupiers RC) third in a course personal best time of 20:12.

For the women, first across the line (15th overall), and still fresh from winning her age category at Wednesday’s SSAFA 5k race in Cardiff was Lisa Cleary (Penarth and Dinas Runners) in a course PB time of 22:33. Caitlin Williams was second and first time visitor Nia Morgan was third in 25:28.

Amongst the 22 course personal best times this week were Robert Newman (21:02), Cameron Large from Penarth and Dinas Runners (25:12), Joanna Hanks (25:45), Rhys Large (26:48) and Helen Archer (30:53).

Results from parkruns feature age graded scores that allow runners to make rough comparisons of results across different genders and ages. The higher the percentage score the better the performance.

It was Lisa Cleary (VW50-54) who recorded the best age graded score this week, with 76.2 per cent for her time of 22:33. Matthew Ryan (VM40-44) recorded 70.9 per cent with his time of 19:16 (second on age-grading and second overall).

Visitor Mark Dunscombe (VM50-54), from Aberdare Valley AAC, was age graded third, with 69.8 per cent for his time of 21:50 (eighth overall). The age graded course record is held by Angharad Mair (VW50-54) with a score of 88.5 per cent in September 2015, corresponding to a time of 19:55.

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.