Weekend Roundup - Saturday 1 August 2026

🏃 Parkrun

August opened with 26 of us out at parkrun across 11 different venues, from a nature reserve on Anglesey to a football ground in Stoke. A morning of proper achievements too, with two personal bests, two course bests and five age category placings between us.

Six of the group made Clarence their Saturday morning, and John Bradford was first of the contingent home after a strong run up near the front of the field. Mark Taylor was next back and looking comfortable, while Lucie Tighe had a morning to remember, taking a course best and topping her age category into the bargain. Christopher Mihalyi kept things ticking over nicely, and Stephen Crowe produced something rather special on the course he knows better than anyone in the group, a brand new course best and 1st in his age category. Michael Aiken had the best job of the morning, pacing Owen and Poppy round, and Owen rewarded him with a shiny new personal best. That is what Saturday mornings are all about.

Chris Chris was the group's representative over in Ilkley, taking on the grass and trail paths at East Holmes Field beneath the moor. A lovely spot for a Saturday morning and a solid run to go with it.

Our biggest turnout of the weekend, and what a morning it turned into. Aaron Stones was first back for the group and did it in style, knocking out a brand new personal best and finishing 3rd in his age category. Laura Tomkins was in fine form too, matching her best ever time at Heaton to the second and taking 2nd in her age category. Paula Crosland then went and produced a personal best of her own, which is a wonderful thing to do this deep into a parkrun journey, and she picked up 3rd in her age category as well. Paul Cox came home just behind Paula after the two of them ran together most of the way. Dale Richards was on pacing duty, guiding a whole group of runners round to their target and doing a brilliant job of it. Paul Jenkinson was in his usual reliable form, Ros Dines put in a fine effort, and Chris Grayshon rounded off the Heaton group.

Delphine Bugarel found the loveliest way imaginable to spend a birthday, a birthday run through the Nant y Pandy nature reserve at Llangefni on Anglesey, where the route winds along woodland paths and raised boardwalks over the marsh. She ran strongly to finish 2nd in her age category. Many happy returns Delphine!

Julie Smith flew the flag on her own at Peel and had a fine morning of it.

Christopher Kinsey headed over to Pennington Flash for a run round the water. Always a pleasant one on a summer morning.

Andrew and Alison Whitehead kept their touring habit going with a trip to Phoenix Park in Runcorn, a tarmac route that loops through the park and out along the canal. Both ran well, and Andrew came home 2nd in his age category.

Kath Biddle takes the prize for the most unusual venue this week, running at Vale Park in Burslem, home of Port Vale Football Club, on a mix of grass, gravel and trail paths around the ground. She ran strongly and finished just outside the podium places in her age category.

Angela Pradena headed over to Widnes and ran well round the course. A good morning's work.

Three of us tackled the trails at Worsley Woods, with Derek Case heading up the pack. Rachael Fiske ran well behind him and Fiona Case completed the trio. A properly good woodland course and a nice way to spend a Saturday.

Tracy Wroe represented the group at Wythenshawe and put in a solid effort round the park.

🏅 Races

Sunday 2 August

John Bradford made it a proper weekend double, backing up his Saturday morning at Clarence with the York 10k on Sunday. It is one of the loveliest city races in the country, a flat and fast loop out from York Racecourse that takes in the ancient city walls, Clifford's Tower and the Minster, with crowds lining the route the whole way round. John took full advantage of it and came home with a brand new personal best. Brilliant running.