Having started last July, after visiting over 40 parkruns, Bryn the Baton is nearing the conclusion of his journey around Wales. After an outing at Pontypool parkrun the relay headed north into Mid Wales, visiting the Newtown parkrun‘s 218th event! This time it was the town’s Sunday Striders taking the baton round the course.
The Celebration Relay provides Run Wales registered groups like the Sunday Striders with an opportunity to showcase their group, share information about their activities and encourage more people to participate in social running outside of their regular weekly parkrun. We are encouraging groups to support their local parkrun by offering to volunteer as well as run, jog or walk at the relay events.
42/48: Celebration Relay Run Report – Newtown parkrun
Even though it was July, the risk of rain and thunderstorms in Powys’ county town might have had a few checking the weather forecast. However, runners remained undeterred as they headed out for parkrun, the event even turning out to to be its highest ever in terms of participation at a huge 247!
Newtown parkrun begins in the pretty Dolerw park, with all 247 participants enjoyed running, walking and jogging a course mostly following the path alongside of the River Severn.
Carrying the baton this week were members of the Sunday Striders, a social running group formed 7 years ago by Maldwyn Harriers Athletics Club. The group welcomes all abilities from beginners through to those who might have a little bit more experience and has a wide range of members who run at different paces.
Whatever your ability you’ll be warmly welcomed, with the clubs aim being to help build members social groups and confidence through the value of social running.
In such a picturesque area of Mid-Wales, members often plan fun outings and events while inviting others to run in their own locality and experience different places to run. Working with Run Leader Caroline, there are a number of qualified run leaders to help you settle in and find your feet.
Group members at Newtown parkrun took on a variety of roles on Saturday, including marshalling, finishing tokens, timekeeping, briefing the first timers and tailwalking. There were even 10 members who took a turn with the baton around the course.
The day also featured a double celebration, coinciding with the 75th Birthday of the NHS. Several runners were even dressed up to celebrate the occasion!
The Sunday Striders’ very own Cath Sherlock, also the day’s Run Director, received the NHS Hero Award for volunteers on behalf of Newtown parkrun!
This week the event was made possible by 20 volunteers who made the event happen:
Karen ARTHUR Andrea BLAYNEY, Susan BONSALL, Ivor G. BREEZE, Rachel BUTLER, Patricia DAVIES, Sarah DENTON, Andrew ELLIS, Colin FRANCIS, Rob FRANCIS, Jill HILLMAN, Llinos HUGHES, Richard L JONES, Brian MORGAN-WORLEY, Sarah SANFORD, Andrew SHERLOCK, Catherine SHERLOCK, Glenn STILL, Gwyneth TYRER CLARKE, Suzanne WILLIAMS
Today’s results and a full event history can be found on the Newtown parkrun Results page. This week was its 218th event. In that time just over 4,000 participants have completed nearly 25,000 runs and over 250 individuals have volunteered nearly 4,000 volunteer occasions.