Where was the queue for scanning? Where was the tussle to keep runners in order in the finish funnel? Five months ago we’d have said ‘what an amazing turnout’. Today, with a mere 101 runners, it felt like a ‘quiet day at the office’! Well, I guess it could have something to do with a small local race taking place on Sunday (or perhaps the Tewkesbury half marathon). So good luck to everyone taking part in the Bristol 10k (or other races). We hope that parkrun has helped in your training and look forward to hearing how you get on.

In a repeat of last week’s result, Sally Johnson (Nailsea RC) led the women home in 20:21 and Robin Dallman (Bristol and West AC) was first man in 18:03. For Sally, this was her sixth lead position in seven events, while Robin secured first place for the second week running.

For the women, Tracy Allan (Bristol and West AC) took second place in 21:54, followed by Charlie Wakefield in 24:58. The men’s results were closer, with Matthew Battensby finishing second in 18:12 and Martin Bird (Nailsea RC) placed third in 19:10.

The age grade rankings were topped by Tracy Allan, whose time equated to a result of 76.6%, and Martin Bird who achieved 76.4%, so moral victories for Tracy and Martin! And four other runners broke the 70% barrier, a significant achievement on our challenging course.

So, good times but no PBs recorded at the front this week. Elsewhere in the field, however, favourable running conditions led to a crop 24 PBs. That’s an improvement for 35% of our returning runners. Continuing their impressive run of best times were Joe Gillett (7 PBs in 9 runs), Sue Campbell (7 PBs in 7), Claire Drewett (6 PBs in 7) and Judith Hoskin (5 PBs in 5). And also clocking up regular improvements were Paddy Jerred, David Nash, and Wendy Pinker (3 PBs in 3 events), and James Lockyer (3 PBs in 4). Congratulations to everyone who improved their times this week and, if you didn’t, just keep returning and the PBs will look after themselves.

On the subject of returning, we welcomed 34 newcomers to Ashton Court this week. We hope you enjoyed the run and will come back regularly if you’re local, and whenever you’re in Bristol if you’re a visitor. This week’s visitors included parkrunners from Brueton, Forest of Dean, Newport and York: all very different events and we’d love to know how Ashton Court compares.

Finally, congratulations to George Hutton whose run today makes him the latest Ashton Court junior to qualify for the parkrun 10-club. We look forward to seeing you in the club t-shirt soon.

As always, many thanks to this week’s volunteers. We rely on them to put on a safe and enjoyable event every week, so please consider joining the team and helping out from time to time. It’s fun, it earns you lots of competition points, and you just need to email AshtonCourtHelpers@parkrun.com

For the latest news and information, follow us on this website, Facebook (Ashton Court Bristol parkrun) or Twitter (@ashtonctparkrun).

Men’s result:

1   Robin DALLMAN - 18:03
2   Matthew BATTENSBY - 18:12
3   Martin BIRD - 19:10

Women’s result:

1   Sally JOHNSON - 20:21
2   Tracy ALLAN - 21:54
3   Charlie WAKEFIELD - 24:58

Course records:

Men: Matt ELLIS - 16:39 (event number 30, 26/11/2011)
Women: Lucy RICHENS - 18:38 (event number 39, 28/01/2012) 

Age Grade: Andrew HARRISON - 81.66% (event number 43, 25/02/2012)

Report by Geoff

Fifteen Ashton Court park runners, and two making their parkrun debut, managed to get up earlier than normal for a Saturday, assembled on the Downs and set off for Cardiff to sample the delights of their parkrun.

The trip had been inspired by several of the B&W runners wanting an easier Saturday morning and the opportunity to attain a 5k PB on a flat course. 2011/12 Points Table winner Alan Wilcox from the Hogweed Totters also decided to have a change of scenery for his 51st parkrun.

Cardiff fitted the bill perfectly as it is an out and back course running from close to the A48(M) alongside the River Taff, into Bute Park, with a loop around there, then back to the start. The route is also 100% asphalt, on a wide path/cycle track with no sharp bends.

The extra numbers from Bristol assisted in Cardiff attaining a new attendance record of 378.

Generally the improvement was in the region of 4-5% off Ashton Court PBs, with Rikki Porter and Pete Mountain improving by almost 7%. For most runners that will be over a minute improvement.

Three of the group were in the first twenty finishers with Charlotte Green being the second Lady.

For those who made their debut - next stop Ashton Court?

Report by Roger B

BRIDGE INN SUMMER 5K SERIES 2012 - NEW HEADQUARTERS

TUESDAY EVENINGS AT 7:30pm 29 MAY 2012, 26 JUNE 2012, 31 JULY 2012

With effect from the next race in the series on Tuesday 29 May 2012, the HQ for the Bridge Inn Series will now be at the Sports Pavilion, Pomphrey Hill Playing Fields, Pomphrey Hill Mangotsfield, Bristol, BS16 9NF.

This location will offer improved facilities for this series of races and includes:

• Male and female showers and changing rooms
• Off road car parking
• Licensed bar

The course will be unchanged along the cycle track adjacent to the Bristol East By-Pass (A4174). This is an out and back route on traffic free pathways, well marshaled, with a lead bike and a mop up runner at the rear of the field.

Registration will commence at 6:30pm and prize giving will be at approx 8:40pm

Pomphrey Hill details and directions here. Map here.

This week saw two landmark events at Ashton Court. The first was reaching 3000 registered runners: a fantastic achievement in just over a year. The second was Nick Kirby’s final appearance as run director before he leaves us for the flatter parkruns of Leeds. Nick has been with us since the earliest planning stages and has helped make Ashton Court parkrun the wonderful event that it is. So thanks Nick for everything you’ve done and very best wishes for the move, from all your parkrun friends.

A beautiful morning brought out another large field, with 174 runners taking to the course this week. We were pleased to welcome 43 first timers including visitors from Edinburgh, Worseley Wood and Roundshaw parkruns. Representing the latter, parkrun tourist Tony Gallagher now has 96 parkruns to his credit at 43 different locations. We also exported some parkrun tourists of our own this week. So if you missed some familiar faces, they were probably part of the Bristol and West contingent who went to Cardiff to see what a flat parkrun feels like!

Back at base, the spring sunshine seemed to have ignited the competitive spirit. There were some great performances and some impressive sprint finishes as runners ‘encouraged’ each other to the line.

For the men, Robin Dallman’s determination over the last 11 events finally paid off with a new PB, a first run under 18 minutes and the first place that he’s been looking for, in a time of 17:49. But he had to work hard for it, outrunning Tim Britton (Great Western Runners) in the final 50m. For Tim this also meant a new PB and second place in 17:54. Jack Mosse, on only his second appearance, knocked 1:34 off his previous time to take third in 18:50.

For the women it was a similar story of new PBs. First woman home was Sally Johnson (Nailsea RC) for the fifth time in six appearances. A 21 second PB gave Sally a first place time of 19:57 and her first run under 20 minutes. Julia Belyavin followed in 20:52 for a new PB and a first run under 21 minutes. And third place went to parkrun visitor Joanna Robbins in 21:31.

With the defection of some of our more ‘mature’ runners to Cardiff and other events, there were fewer ‘wily vets’ competing for age grade honours. Seven runners recorded an age grade of 70% or more, which is a significant achievement on a hilly course like ours. Sally Johnson led the women with an age grade result of 74.2%, while Jonathan Taylor’s eighth place finish and time of 19:45 gave him the best men’s age grade of 74.1%.

Of course, while we applaud the front runners, we’re just as interested in people’s achievements across the field. At the beginning of the year, some runners declared their targets for 2012 and we keep a close watch on their progress. This week Grainne Stables took another 26 seconds off her time, leaving her just half a minute away from her 28:30 goal. Alex Leitch specified a target we can all relate to: simply to run injury free. If this week’s sprint to the line is anything to go by, he’s back to form and long may that last.

Overall, 59 returning runners secured PBs. Some of them were running for only the second or third time, and it’s not unusual to make large gains as you get used to the course. However, special mention should be made of second-timers Robin Boon, Poppy De Courcy-Wheeler and Louis Jones, who all took more than 2 minutes off their debut times, and Louise McDowall who took a staggering 4:46 off hers. They’re clearly all getting the hang of Ashton Court!

Elsewhere there were too many impressive gains to list every one. But parkrun is really about gradual improvement and we noticed a number of runners for whom this is clearly working at the moment. Mel Warren and Pippa have both achieved 10 PBs in 12 events, impressive in both cases, but particularly for Mel who only started running with us in mid-January. Also on a roll are Andrew Logan, Becci Colquhoun, Ben Swift, Billy Edwell, Charles McDowall, Neil Miller, Sally Johnson, and Sophie Robinson who all have 3 or 4 PBs in their last 3 or 4 events.

Looking at the 2012-13 points competition I see that, embarrassingly, I seem to be leading the men’s contest. This is entirely due to my taking early advantage of the opportunity to earn a full 100 points each for up to three volunteer sessions. From this point the only way for me is down through the rankings, but you can play your part in the competition (and my demise) by running frequently and fast, with a spot of tactical volunteering for good measure! Currently the ‘real’ leader in the men’s contest is Robin Dallman on 295 points and the women’s leader is Becci Colquhoun on 283.

Last but not least, three junior parkrunners, Charlotte Livesey, Huw Evans and Otto Kingston, have now qualified for 10-club membership. Well done! We hope to get your club t-shirts to you soon and look forward to seeing you wearing them with pride, out on the course.

So, as we thank this week’s volunteers for another superb job, please consider joining the volunteer team and helping out from time to time. Just email AshtonCourtHelpers@parkrun.com

For the latest news and information, follow us on this website, Facebook (Ashton Court Bristol parkrun) or Twitter (@ashtonctparkrun).

Men’s result:

1   Robin DALLMAN - 17:49
2   Tim BRITTON - 17:54
3   Jack MOSSE - 18:50

Women’s result:

1   Sally JOHNSON - 19:57
2   Julia BELYAVIN - 20:52
3   Joanna ROBBINS - 21:31

Course records:

Men: Matt ELLIS - 16:39 (event number 30, 26/11/2011)
Women: Lucy RICHENS - 18:38 (event number 39, 28/01/2012) 

Age Grade: Andrew HARRISON - 81.66% (event number 43, 25/02/2012)

Report by Geoff

Conditions were far better this week for event 53 as the sun came back out and spring returned to Ashton Court.  Once we had seen off the first of two mobile fairground rides (the second one was persuaded to move on by Linda seconds before the first runners started to arrive back), 178 parkrunners took to the course including 42 first timers.  We also welcomed parkrun tourists from Newbury, Basingstoke and Brighton & Hove.  Thank you all for visiting us here in Ashton Court!

First across the line was first timer, Tom Morris, in a time of 17.19.  Well done on a great run, Tom and welcome to Bristol!  In second place, Robin Dallman clocked up his 5^th ‘podium’ place in a time of 18.11 while Jared Linden followed shortly after in third place in 18.23.

In the women’s event, Sarah Everitt of Bristol & West AC sealed her 8th win in 21.20.  Tracy Allan, also of Bristol & West AC, finished second in 21.57 with Tamsin Chick of Westbury Harriers third in 22.19.

The best age graded results this week go to Pete Mountain with 77.48%, Tracy Allan with 76.39% and Steve Duddell with 74.60%.

Huge congratulations this week go to Alan Wilcox of Hogweed Trotters who becomes the first AC parkrunner to join the parkrun 50 Club.  We’re looking forward to presenting Alan with his new red 50 Club t-shirt soon.

Special mention also goes to Mel Warren who achieved his 9^th PB in 12 appearances and has now improved his age grading by more than 10% since January 2012.  Susan Campbell smashed her personal best for the 7^th time this week while Joe Hacker and Becky Colquhoun each clocked up their 6^th PBs.  Claire Drewett and Rich Pearce each achieved their 5th PBs in their 7^th and 8^th events respectively.  Well done to all of you.

Leading the new men’s and women’s points championships respectively, are our very own Event Director, Geoff Keogh and our Run Director for this event, Linda Woodburn.  Each has the maximum 200 points thanks to their volunteering efforts over the last two weeks.  Well done both of you and thank you both for all of your hard work at the events themselves and behind the scenes.

Talking of big thanks for hard work, our regular Run Director and core team member, Nick Kirby, will be joining us next week (12^th May) for his final AC parkrun before heading off up north where Hyde Park (Leeds) parkrun is waiting to claim him as one of their own.  We will miss you, Nick!

Finally, thanks as always to our volunteers this week.  If you would like to volunteer – and don’t forget there are 100 points up for grabs for each volunteering activity done per year up to maximum of 300 points – do send us an email to AshtonCourtHelpers@parkrun.com.  

Also, don’t forget that you can keep up with the latest news by signing up for our Twitter (@ashtonctparkrun) or Facebook (Ashton Court Bristol parkrun) groups.

Men’s Result:
1. Tom Morris: 17.19
2. Robin Dallman: 18.11
3. Jared Linden 18.23 

Women’s Result:
1. Sarah Everitt: 21.20
2. Tracy Allan: 21.57
3. Tamsin Chick: 22.19

Course Records:
Men: Matt Ellis - 16.39 (26/11/11 – Run 30)
Women: Lucy Richens – 18.38 (28/01/2012 – Run 39)
Age grade: Andrew Harrison – 81.66% (25/02/2012 – Run 43)

Report by Steph