One sunny Saturday in May

 

It was a simply perfect morning in beautiful Bushy park for event number 876

 

While some park users take it easy in the morning sun…

 

… others will go to any lengths to tan those hard to reach places!

 

And there’s alway time for a quick selfie before running

 

The volunteers queue up to be assigned roles by the volunteer co-ordinators. It's a pretty full on job trying to make sure all our 58 volunteers are in the right place at the right time. Thanks to Donald and Joy it worked a charm

 

Visitors

 

These two were so disappointed to be missing their friend Jenny's 100th parkrun at their local event in Devon that they brought a sign for her. Congratulations Jenny!

 

These four lovely ladies were visiting from Cardiff to celebrate Julie's 100th parkrun (in rhe red). They talked me into a trip to Barry Island parkrun (I won't lie I'm a big Gavin and Stacey fan so I am)

 

The Fareham Crusaders who fancied a run at Bushy. Charlie Fuller at end of the front row on the right ran a PB of 19:41

 

Carol and Wendy visting from Chipping Sodbury and wearing their lockdown parkrun t-shirts (remember when we couldn't all run together - it seems like another lifetime!)

 

The Run

This week 1140 people ran, jogged and walked the course of whom 165 were first timers and 109 recorded personal bests. There were 460 women, which equates to around 40% of the field.  The event was made possible by 58 fabulous volunteers including our run director Ali…

 

 

 

David on lead bike…

 

And four fabulous funnel manager and finish token volunteers (doubling up to stop us running into the bins)

 

As ever a huge thankyou to our volunteers this week

Richard BATE, Chloe BAYLIS, Max BAYON, Donald BELL, Joy BELL, Phil BLUER, Louise BOOLS, Simon BRICKNELL, Debbie BRITTON, Lauren BURKE, Jonathan BURSON, Y BYRNE, Jocelyn COLLIE, Ruby COLQUHOUN, Margot COOPER, Carolyn COOPER-BURROWS, Nicolette CRINALL, Lorraine DILLAMORE, Jack EDWARDS, Richard EVANS, Sadie EVANS, Erin GOODWIN, Suzanne GREEN, Stella HAMMOND, Robby HEDGES, Susan HOWARTH, Melanie HOWES, Gabriel HUXLEY-JENNINGS, Charlotte INGYON, Gemma JONES, Ali KENNEDY, Katie KNOTT, Margaret LE FRANC, Mike LIGHTFOOT, Roanna LYNCH, Amelia MACFARLANE, Iain MACLENNAN, Stephen MARFLEET, Richard MOORE, David MORLEY, Joseph MURPHY, Isaac NOVELL, Keara-Valentine O'BRIEN, Ray O'NEILL, Carmen PALMER, Eleni PAPANDREOU, Zach REID, James RIMMER, David J RODGERS, Katy SIT, David STEWART, Wendy STOKES, Alexander SWEETING, Alexa TYNAN, Rhiannon WILLIAMS, Rhys Thomas WILLIAMS, Kath A WILSON, Colin WOODS

Why not get involved and volunteer?

Setting off in verdant fields of green

 

 

 

The optional steeplechase obstacle

 

Lorraine on her 100th parkrun

 

Another Lorraine, volunteering as a guide for Jo

 

 

A brimful of parkrun love!

 

 

Spot the parkrun founder

 

That's where all the cones went!

 

 

 

Thank you marshal!

 

 

 

The Results

See the full results here

First finishers Men

 

First finishers Women

First finishers Boys

 

First finishers Girls

 

 

 

80% Age Grade

Kudos to the following athletes who achieved an 80% or over age grade

 

 

 

 

 

A few more visitors and a very busy selfie frame

 

Kate and Paul visiting from Curl Curl parkrun in Sydney, Australia. This definitely sounds like a parkrun to visit - Curl Curl is a surfing beach with a lagoon which flows to the sea. The parkrun course is through shaded trees and over the lagoon bridge (for a nice view). Yes please!

 

The family Phelps, it’s the first time they’ve all been together at a parkrun for about 10 years

 

 

 

 

We’re going to need a bigger ... frame.  Or at least a second frame.  The queue for photos was off the scale!

 

Milestones

Congratulations to everyone who achieved milestones this week

Only one new member of the 250 club, it's Bushy regular and super speedy

 

Joining the 100 club this week

 

 

Lorraine, who usually runs at Burgess Park. came to Bushy to celebrate her 100th parkrun. Congratulations!

 

Elizabeth also celebrating her 100th parkrun was delighted to meet PSH

 

Joining the 50 club this week

 

Aude celebrating her 50th parkrun, she usually runs at Eastville parkrun in Bristol

 

And finally

Meet Viktoriia and Hanna from West Ukraine. They arrived in their new home in the UK on Friday (staying with Bushy regular Owain) and were both running parkrun for the first time on Saturday morning.  Welcome both, we wish you well and see you on Saturday!

 

At the Pheasantry

The visitors from Cardiff getting the full Bushy experience by helping out with token sorting. They gave Julie a lovely book with photos from all the different parkruns they've been to together (hope we make it into the next book to celebrate 250 parkruns)

See you on Saturday

Wendy

Thanks to Duncan for the extra photos

 

Don't forget you can now follow us on Instagram
instagram.com/bushyparkrun

Twitter at: www.twitter.com/bushyparkrun
and for Bushy parkrun on facebook
www.facebook.com/bushyparkrun

and for parkrun UK on facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/parkrunuk
Interested in volunteering at Bushy parkrun? Please e-mail bushyhelpers@parkrun.com

Want to give feedback? Have anything to say or want anyone mentioned in future run reports? Please e-mail bushyoffice@parkrun.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visitors galore

As the birthplace of parkrun Bushy is never short of visitors.  In fact, it’s not unusual for a coach to pull up outside the park and discharge a crowd of eager parkrun tourists.  And this Saturday was no different, with over 30 friends from Derbyshire paying their first visit to our parkrun.

Bonkers Conkers – our visitors from Derbyshire

Regulars were unfazed by the large tourist group, although one cheerfully asked, “Are you the bonkers lot from Conkers?”  Yes, was the response because all of them are regulars of Conkers Park and Rosliston parkruns, both south of Swadlincote.

They weren’t the only visitors.   At the First Timers briefing attendees are always asked where they have come from: “Derbyshire…Leicestershire…Bristol…Great Yarmouth…Netherlands,” were the responses on Saturday.  In all 172 participants were running or walking at Bushy for the first time.  Jon CORBISHLEY, visiting from Sydney and a regular at Kamay parkrun, won the prize for travelling the furthest, just pipping another Australian visitor from Brisbane, which despite being further east than Sydney is actually 366 miles closer to London.

 

 Jon Corbishley visiting from Sydney

 

Helen Larkin and Paul Gardner from Chorlton Runners

All of our visitors were able to enjoy the occasion thanks to the hard work of our 61 volunteers, many of whom turn up every week to ensure the smooth running of the event.  We are always looking for new volunteers so drop us an email at bushy@parkrun.com if it is something you would like do either occasionally or regularly.

So a big thank you is due to all of the following:

Alexander SWEETING  •  Andrew HOWARTH  •  Anna SAVILL  •  Carol DICKINSON  •  Carolyn COOPER-BURROWS  •  Charlotte INGYON  •  Chloe BAYLIS  •  David LUNT  •  David STEWART  •  Diana SMITH  •  Diane MULLEN  •  Duncan SCOBLE  •  Erin GOODWIN  •  Gabriel HUXLEY-JENNINGS  •  Heather LOCKWOOD  •  Ian RILEY  •  Isaac NOVELL  •  Izabel GRINDAL  •  Jake FOX  •  James RIMMER  •  James SELL  •  Jeremy TUCKMAN  •  Jonathan BURSON  •  Jonathan DICKINSON  •  Joseph MURPHY  •  Kate MORONI  •  Katie KNOTT  •  Katie MCROBERTS  •  Keara-Valentine O'BRIEN  •  Lauren BURKE  •  Lea ROCHESTER  •  Louis JOLL  •  Mac HARROWELL  •  Margaret LE FRANC  •  Max BAYON  •  Merran SELL  •  Mike LIGHTFOOT  •  Nick BLANCHARD  •  Oliver HESTER  •  Pat MCGRATH  •  Pauline STONES  •  Phil BLUER  •  Phil DAVIES  •  Rachel CHURNEY  •  Rhiannon WILLIAMS  •  Rhys Thomas WILLIAMS  •  Richard BATE  •  Richard EVANS  •  Richard MOORE  •  Richard PATIENT  •  Ruby COLQUHOUN  •  Ryan MULLEN  •  Sadie EVANS  •  Sally ROWE  •  Sharon TEE  •  Sophie GREENWOOD  •  Susan HOWARTH  •  Thomas CASSIDY  •  Tony BURRELL  •  Wendy STOKES  •  Zach REID

 

Run Director Jonny Dickinson addresses the crowd

 

 Wendy and Duncan double act delivering the first timers briefing

 

 

How many volunteers does it take to build a funnel?

 

The view from the front

Among the Derbyshire tourists were Denis DICKINSON, who is Event Director for the Swadlincote junior parkrun, and was running at Bushy with his wife and daughter Elspeth and Clare.  When they arrived they discovered the person in charge at Bushy on Saturday was Run Director, Jonathan DICKINSON  Bushy, whose wife Carol was volunteering and running.  It turned out the Dickinsons weren’t related apart from all being members of the parkrun family.

The Dickinsons

Des CLEMENTS brought his family with him to Bushy as well, and there were three generations of them since his father Nicholas and daughter Lauren were running, while his wife was supporting.  They had made the journey from Bristol to mark the occasion of Des’ 100th parkrun.

 

Des Clements marking his 100th milestone with family

Other runners achieving milestones were Luke BENNETT and Keith HARPER who both completed their 250th run on their first visit to Bushy.  Joining Des in the 100 runs club, were David GOLD, Annette GOULD, Julie GRAHAM and Chantal MATTHEWS.

 

 

Chantal Matthews celebrating a milestone with cake

 

Six participants earned their red 50 milestone t-shirt on Saturday:  Ben GOODWOOD, Jon STANNAH. Sodhi DHILLON, Judy M. NUTTING, Jan GHOSH and Hayley SCOTT.  And eight made the 25 event milestone:  Billy BANNON, Katie LAWRENCE, Neil SWIFT, John SHORTRIDGE, Laurence SMITH, Patrick HICKS, Lisa DAY and Craig BELSHAM.

 Hayley Scott completes 50 runs

Among the other celebrations taking place at Bushy was the 45th wedding anniversary of Verity and Keith RIDING who finished together in positions 1069 and 1070, although Keith was wise enough to let Verity finish first.  Between them the pair have completed 643 parkruns.

Verity and Keith Riding celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary

 

 

 Ralph, sporting the Team Bushy shirt

Andy PICKETT from Dartford Harriers brought a crowd of friends and team mates to Bushy to celebrate his 40th birthday but was clearly planning to mark the occasion with a performance.  He crossed the finish in fifth place and his time of 16:33 minutes was a PB and 23 seconds faster than the last time he ran here in 2019.

 Andy Pickett and friends from Dartford Harriers celebrating his 40th birthday

 

Running round the cricket club

Emerging from under the trees

The final stretch

Steps from the finish

For many of our participants performance is important and they have a goal, milestone or PB in sight when they line up at the start.  So congratulations to everyone who achieved what they were aiming for, as well as to all of our fastest finishers and runners with an age grade higher than 80%:

 

First five men 

 

 

First five women

 First five boys

 

First five girls

Over 80%

 

This week’s 1181 runners brought the total of number of participants to 67,747 at Bushy who between them, have clocker up 663,191  finishes, 65,443 PBs and an almighty 3.3 million kilometres.

 Run Director Jonny Dickinson processing the results, with the all important elves

 

Izabel Grindal

Don't forget you can now follow us on Instagram
instagram.com/bushyparkrun

Twitter at: www.twitter.com/bushyparkrun
and for Bushy parkrun on facebook
www.facebook.com/bushyparkrun

and for parkrun UK on facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/parkrunuk
Interested in volunteering at Bushy parkrun? Please e-mail bushyhelpers@parkrun.com

Want to give feedback? Have anything to say or want anyone mentioned in future run reports? Please e-mail bushyoffice@parkrun.com

 

 

By George it’s Saturday

 

 

Well folks it’s a weird one this week.  Due to a certain virus beginning with C and ending in D the event report has been written from bed (WFB).  There have been roving reporters out in the field gathering stories and photos - many thanks to Izabel, Stella and Sue.  This particular photo is from the archives (May 2018 for the Jubilee) but seems an appropriate shot for St George's Day which as you know is celebrated on April 23rd to commemorate the anniversary of his death in 303 AD.

 

With that in mind let’s take a look at the athlete who finished in position no. 23 Matthew Morbin in a time of 19:04 which is a PB. Well done Matthew!

 

In position no. 303 was Ashley Horsey (a fitting name to remind us of the famous white steed) in a time of 24:32

 

We also had 5 athletes named George taking part George Bloch, Noble, Corner, Wright and Fletcher and one Georgina Garry

 

Luckily I couldn’t find any dragons in the results, but by the looks of it there were a few PB slayers!

 

These guys are ready to tackle anything the course throws at them

 

The Run

 

Our Run Director this week was none other than our co-Event Director Andy Howarth (wearing the red and white of St George)

 

 

When I asked around for information about the run I was told it was a bit windy but the sun came out in the end.  Which to be honest is the best outcome!

 

This week it was event number 873, and 1092 people ran, jogged and walked the course, of whom 130 were first timers and 81 recorded new Personal Bests

 

It was made possible by 57 fabulous volunteers. A huge thank you to you all

 

James SELL • Rosie RENDALL • Steve MILLER • David STEWART • Anna SAVILL • Phil BLUER • Nick SAVILL • Stewart ROSE • Marjory BLUER • Sally BOULTON • Suzanne GREEN • Nick BLANCHARD • John ALTMAN • Alex TICKELL • Ryan MULLEN • Joseph MURPHY • Verity RIDING • Mark BOYLE • Diane MULLEN • Susan HOWARTH • Andrew HOWARTH • Lea ROCHESTER • Catherine HAUGHNEY • Carol SWAFFER • Margaret LE FRANC • David BREWIN • Chloe BAYLIS • Zach REID • Amelia MACFARLANE • James RITCHIE • Keara-Valentine O'BRIEN • Margot COOPER • Diana SMITH • Jonathan BURSON • Charlotte INGYON • Stephen IGGLESDEN • Wendy STOKES • Chris ADAMS • Mike LIGHTFOOT • Richard BATE • Oliver HESTER • Lauren BURKE • Stella HAMMOND • Erin GOODWIN • Sadie EVANS • Christine MILTON • Gert LINDEQUE • Katie KNOTT • Sophie GREENWOOD • Alexander SWEETING • Max BAYON • Ruby COLQUHOUN • Marion GOLDING • Louis JOLL • Marina MARTINEZ-BARROSO • Ava EVENSEN • Jocelyn COLLIE

 

If you would like to volunteer please email bushyhelpers@parkrun.com

 

Sally welcoming the first timers at Bushy

 

A few first time nerves

 

First finishers

 

Men

 

 

Women

 

 

Boys

 

 

Girls

 

 

 

80% age grade

Some very impressive age grades below:

 

 

 

 

Milestones

 

250

 

Congratulations to the following athletes who joined the 250 club at Bushy today

 

 

Mohammad on the left was visiting from Wycombe Rye where he has done 207 of his parkruns and it was his first time at Bushy

 

100

 

Congratulations to the following athletes who joined the 100 club at Bushy today

 

 

Ben managed a new PB for his 100th run. He has run 74 times at Walsall Arboretum, and  twice at Bushy

 

Sarah ran around with her 100 balloon. She has run 49 times at Bushy, and also at Southwark and Clapham Common

 

50

 

Congratulations to the following athletes who joined the 50 club at Bushy today

 

 

We all love an excuse to celebrate so even though it’s not an official milestone, Janice was keen to celebrate her 300th parkrun

 

As was Holly on her 200th parkrun

 

Visitors

 

These happy runners were visiting from Solihull

 

Take one

 

Take two. This group of friends are from various parkruns and arranged to meet at Bushy with Woody the dog to upstage them!

 

Visitors from Croxteth Hall parkrun in Liverpool

 

Justine in the middle is a familiar face at Bushy. She recently moved away and now runs regularly at Dishley parkrun, but she came back today to say hello

 

Selfie time and happy birthday to Julie in the 250 top

 

 

That's all until next week. See you on Saturday

Wendy

 

Don't forget you can now follow us on Instagram
instagram.com/bushyparkrun

Twitter at: www.twitter.com/bushyparkrun
and for Bushy parkrun on facebook
www.facebook.com/bushyparkrun

and for parkrun UK on facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/parkrunuk
Interested in volunteering at Bushy parkrun? Please e-mail bushyhelpers@parkrun.com

Want to give feedback? Have anything to say or want anyone mentioned in future run reports? Please e-mail bushyoffice@parkrun.com

 

Bushy bounces back

 

Boom! 1278 runners, walkers, shufflers and stragglers turbo-charged their way round the butterfly. Cheered, funnelled, timed and sorted by 59 brilliant volunteers. Bushy was back with a bang and the recent sub 1000 athlete counts blasted away for this week.

167 first timers to Bushy this week including 43 doing their first ever parkrun, and the crowd at the First Timer's Welcome was bigger than usual. Maybe it was the beautiful sunshine that had brought everyone out. Prolific volunteer Ann Coward had to shout to make herself heard. More about Ann later...

 

 

Volunteers

We are very grateful to the volunteers who made this event happen: Richard BATE, Nick BLANCHARD, Tim BOWDEN, Jonathan BURSON, Jocelyn COLLIE, Ruby COLQUHOUN, Margot COOPER, Ann COWARD, Nicolette CRINALL, George DAUBNEY, Carol DICKINSON, Jonathan DICKINSON, Lorraine DILLAMORE, Ellie EVANS, Ava EVENSEN, Casper FINNIGAN, Jake FOX, Erin GOODWIN, Paige GOODWIN, Sophie GREENWOOD, Mac HARROWELL, Robby HEDGES, Cathi HEPWORTH, Oliver HESTER, David HOPPE, Andrew HOWARTH, Susan HOWARTH, Tim HURDLE, Gabriel HUXLEY-JENNINGS, Timothy JACOB, Gareth JOHNS, Gemma JONES, Paul KEELER, Mike LIGHTFOOT, Heather LOCKWOOD, Amelia MACFARLANE, Richard MATTHEWS, Fiona MCANENA, Rodney Howard MCCULLOCH, David MORLEY, Diane MULLEN, Ryan MULLEN, Emma May MURPHY, Pat NAIR, Keara-Valentine O'BRIEN, Richard PATIENT, William PINCHARD, Zach REID, Rosie RENDALL, James SELL, David SHIPTON, Simon SHORTT, Diana SMITH, Wendy STOKES, Carol SWAFFER, Alexander SWEETING, Stuart THOMPSON, Alex TICKELL, John WAUGH

Why not get involved and volunteer?

Our top team of scanners at the ready

Token sorting is for all ages

Pacer week

It being the third week of an even month meant one thing. Even numbered pacers from 20 mins to 34 mins. We have in the past had pacers for 40 mins and 45 mins, but there was little demand so it was discontinued.

 

Our crack team of pacers

 

 

This week there were 143 personal best times. Conditions were good, and we had a mob match but the pacers must also take a huge amount of credit.

Visitors

Representatives of 107 clubs took part. Two amongst them were prominent with local clubs The Stragglers and Thames Turbo Triathlon fighting out a mob match. Each club tries to get as many runners out sporting their colours, and sometimes times are compared. This time it looked like Stragglers won the match on numbers alone.

 

 

 

Sometimes dogs count in a mob match, wearing the shirt of course

Ethan was delighted after his first ever "big" parkrun. With Mum Lex

Milestones

250 Club

We had just the one major running milestone this week Step forward Christine FLYNN of Horsell Runners who completed her 250th run and 144th at Bushy. Christine is also a regular parkrun volunteer -  53 times, principally as a marshal and timer.

100 Club

Five people joined the 100 Club. Sathira DON, Joanne SAUNDERS, Nick BRITTEN, Leala PADMANABHAN and Steven COLLINS who travelled specially to Bushy from Launceston in Tasmania.

50 Club

Nine people reached 50 runs. Those knitters better get busy for Harry TIVNEN, Oli WOODALL, Will MILES, Duncan PICKERING, Daniel BALMER, Martin ROSE, Christopher LI, Hugo ELLIS and Pauline STONES. Phew!

Volunteer milestone

There was one other milestone well worth mentioning and that was for a person who has been called the Grandmother of parkrun. Yes our very own Ann COWARD completed her 500th volunteer. What an achievement. Ann celebrated this incredible milestone with cakes and fizz. There are now just 44 people who have reached this lofty mark, including Bushy regular and the Grandfather of parkrun Ray COWARD and our long standing funnel supremo Ray FRANKS.

 

 

  Celebrating success. Ann with Stragglers Head of Performance Kevin Best.

 

Ann is also a demon baker having rustled up this little number for the two Rays a couple of years ago  

Results

Some incredible times and PBs were achieved this week. Here are the main results:

Men

Women

Junior Girls

Junior Boys

High Achievers

90%ers

80%ers

I think they all deserve another Easter egg.

Special thanks to Wendy Stokes for most of the lovely photos in this report. See you next week!

Andrew Howarth

Don't forget you can now follow us on Instagram:

instagram.com/bushyparkrun

Twitter at: www.twitter.com/bushyparkrun
and for Bushy parkrun on facebook
www.facebook.com/bushyparkrun

and for parkrun UK on facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/parkrunuk
Interested in volunteering at Bushy parkrun? Please e-mail bushyhelpers@parkrun.com

Want to give feedback? Have anything to say or want anyone mentioned in future run reports? Please e-mail bushyoffice@parkrun.com