Cold weather spurs on runners to new personal bests in Barry Island parkrun

This week's run included 10 first-timers, with 24 new personal bests recorded and members of 13 different running clubs represented at the event.

This week, regular Barry Island parkrunner Mark Ellis and a team of volunteers dressed up as various fruits and vegetables to run the 5km course, raising awareness and supplies for the Vale Foodbank.

Located in Tennyson Road, Colcot, the Vale Foodbank is a non-profit charitable organisation that distributes food to those in need. There are six centres across the Vale that food donations can be made to.

First across the finish line this week was Nathan Christoforato of Penarth and Dinas Runners in an outstanding time of 19.10. He was closely followed David Brown of Seriously Mad Runners in 19.24 and Ben Curtis of Windle Valley Runners in 19.39.

The first lady to finish this week was Abigail Fudge from Windle Valley Runners in a time of 21.10, ahead of Caitlin Williams from Seriously Mad Runners in 24.01 and Liz Lewis of Royal Manor of Portland in 24.05.

Saturday’s volunteers were: Lyn Evans, Ian Thorne, Rhian Lees, Ian Warburton, Claire Thorne, Evan Warburton, Ben Butler-Madden, Sian Matthews, Lynette McNabb, Helen Archer, Nigel Adams, Julie Smith, Christine Thomas, Nadia Hamandi, Linda Chapple, Karen Adams, Ceri Grindal and Alison Woolcock.

On Sunday, it was the turn of the juniors and 43 turned out for the 17th Barry junior parkrun.

Before the event started, Nathan Phillips was congratulated on completing his 11th junior parkrun and given his half-marathon wristband, while Rhys McNabb was also given a round of applause for completing his 21st junior parkrun and gaining his marathon wristband.

Juniors can earn milestone wristbands by completing 11 Runs (half-marathon), 21 Runs (marathon) and 50 Runs (ultra marathon).

The juniors were encouraged from the start by the ever-present group of fantastic volunteers as they went around the course. Without their continued support, Barry junior parkrun would not be able to go ahead each week.

For the girls, Caitlin Williams finished in a time of 8.15, coming first overall, while second-placed Imogen Davies set a new personal best in 8.28. Rebecca Harries finished third in 9.20.

The first finisher for the boys was Rhys Kingdon in a time of 8.35, also a new pb, followed swiftly by second finisher David Barker in 8.50 and Samuel Jones in 9.10.

Of the 43 juniors, four were completing the run for the first time, including four-year-old Ivy Schmidt who had been completing the course as an unofficial junior parkruner alongside her cousins. Eleven personal best times were recorded on Sunday.

This week’s volunteers were: Denise Aplin, Helen Archer, Catherine Barker, Nigel Bleach, David Brown, Amber Condy, Charles Cummings, Rhys Davies, Nathan Dee, Mark Ellis, Craig Gardener, Rebecca Helmore, Lisa James, Mike James, Rachel Jones, Anna-Beth Jordan, Helen Keegan, Sarah Lees, Mathias Maurer, Helen McCarthey, Lynsey Phillips, Phillip Shepherd, Rachel Shepherd, Rhodri Thomas, Sarah Thomas, Gabrielle Western, Sarah Western, Richard Williams, Lisa Williams.

Both Barry Island and Barry junior parkruns rely on people coming forward each week to give their time to volunteer, to ensure the events can go ahead safely.

If you want to get involved, please email barry-juniorshelpers@parkrun.com if you can help out on a Sunday or barryislandhelpers@parkrun.com if you’d like to help out on a Saturday.