A GLORIOUS late summer Saturday morning saw 98 runners take on Barry Island parkrun number 72, ably supported by a 21-strong volunteer team.

Among the runners were 15 first-time visitors, 10 junior runners and representatives of 13 different clubs, including Roberttown Runners from Ynysybwl and, from further afield, Itchen Spitfires RC.

Since it started in May 2015, 1,732 different runners have now completed 6,545 5k runs covering a total distance of 32,725km.

Sunshine and a light sea breeze made for some great running conditions, and it was no surprise that nearly a quarter of the field managed to record a course personal best time this week. The long list included four of the first seven finishers, father and daughter team Paul (20:46) and Harriet Kehl (25:08) and returning-to-form Richard Williams, whose 23:12 saw him reclaim the Williams family course record by six seconds from daughter Caitlin.

Others clocking up PB’s included Liz Mallen (28:26), Rhian Ryall (29:37 - and her third PB in her last four runs), Rebecca Marytsch (35:42) - her ninth PB in 14 parkruns since June this year.

Joanne Bagwell, one of the founding members of local club Penarth and Dinas Runners back in 1988, who’s making a steady return to running also recorded a third course PB in four runs, with her time of 36:18.

There were milestone runs this week for runners Andrew Britton, completing his 50th parkrun, and for Andrew Sedgmond who reached three figures with his 100th parkrun - he has also volunteered at more than 200 parkruns.

In the volunteer team, Sue Gershenson reached her 25th volunteering milestone and was acknowledged by the runners as she took up her regular slot on the promenade. Sue is often accompanied, in all winds and weather, by her father and oldest member of the regular volunteer team, octogenarian Richard Hemlock.

Dominic Farr of Barry and Vale Harriers, led the field home in a time of 18:19, with visitor Daniel Baker from Itchen Spitfires RC second over the line in 18:32. Robert Newman continued his series of strong performance to come in third with a new PB of 20:12.

Robert still leads the men’s annual points competition, ahead of John Magee (Les Croupiers RC) and Mike James. Determined to get back to running after an injury lay-off, Mike turned up and ran this week with his arm in a sling.

Alex Brown, in her first ever parkrun, was first female finisher (24th overall) in 24:37, with juniors Harriet Kehl and Caitlin Williams second and third respectively in times of 25:08 and 26:02. Caitlin still leads the women's annual points competition, with a narrow lead over mum Lisa and sister Bethan.

Paul Kehl (VM50-54), of Pontypridd Roadents RC, recorded this week’s best age-graded time with a 71.6 per cent score corresponding to his new course PB time of 20:46.

A few weeks ago, Gary Brown from Penarth and Dinas Runners, had taken on the course in a giant panda suit, as a trial run for his upcoming Belfast and Cardiff half marathon attempts.

Gary is raising money for Llandough hospital’s cystic fibrosis centre’s Better Life charity. Supported by parkrunners and clubmates Ben Butler-Madden and Richard Jackson-Hookins, and despite a few bumps along the way and nearly overheating on occasion, Gary successfully completed the Belfast half marathon on Sunday in a time of two hours 11 minutes.

Catch the panda next in the Cardiff half marathon on Sunday, October 2, where he’ll be competing with another Barry Island parkrun regular, course record holder Oli Williams, who’ll be running as a lion, raising money the Noah’s Ark Appeal.

This week’s run director was one of Barry Island parkrun’s two event directors, Lyn Evans. Lyn has just been appointed as one of three new parkrun ambassadors in Wales.

In this role, he will be responsible for supporting a number of the current parkrun teams across South Wales, from Llyn Llech Owain (near Ammanford) and Porthcawl to Grangemoor in Cardiff.

Additionally, Lyn will help set new parkruns in the area, including 2k junior parkrun events.

Lyn commented: “I’m very proud to have been invited to be one of the parkrun ambassadors in Wales. parkrun is such a great thing to be part of and I’m looking forward to working with the brilliant volunteer teams across the region and to helping bring new parkruns to the area. I’m particularly excited that one of my first tasks will be to help set up a junior parkrun at Barry Island.”

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.