Clay on form as Tring parkrunners clock up personal bests aplenty

The drier conditions at Tring parkrun means that numbers are beginning to pick up – with 130 runners enjoying the 5k run at Tring Park this week.
Nine members of the Vegan Runners competed at Tring parkrun this weekNine members of the Vegan Runners competed at Tring parkrun this week
Nine members of the Vegan Runners competed at Tring parkrun this week

Once again the conditions meant that runners are improving their times, with 63 of those who have run at Tring before achieving a PB.

Of those who have run at Tring on a number of occasions, the biggest improvements were from three ladies; Celine Wilcock (2 mins 50 secs), Kate Crossland (2 mins 21 secs) and Katrina Bond (2 mins 18 secs).

Among the rest of the competitors, 34 were running at Tring for the first time, with 17 running their first ever parkrun.

There was a very young feel at the front of the field, with the three fastest finishers having a combined age of just 52.

Jordan Clay of Leighton Buzzard AC was first over the line in 17:50, Tring RC runner Stephen Burgess was second in 18:50, and he was closely followed by his Tring team-mate Dom Evans – with all three improving their Tring parkrun times.

For the ladies, Tring RC’s Sophie Green was first home in 21:14 on her first appearance, with Sarah Needleman of Chiltern Harriers AC in second and Ruth Rutt in third.

Often parkruns are used as opportunities for groups to meet. This week nine members of the Vegan Runners Club met up at Tring, with Mick Smith the first member round in 22:31.

The fastest junior girls this week were Rachel Belsey, Eva Pudney and Daisy Kiddle. Among the younger boys, both Freddie Bateson and Sam Burnell had good runs.

Freddie Bateson, Catherine Wright, Jordan Clay, Ruth Rutt, Sarah Needleman and Mick Smith achieved new records for their respective age categories, while junior runner Ben O’Keeffe won a t-shirt for completing his 10th parkrun.

Registration for Tring parkrun is free at www.parkrun.org.uk/tring

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