Packed out park run in Penistone

RUNNERS came in their droves to take part in the first Penistone Parkrun on a fine Saturday morning, with 375 taking part.

Start of Penistone Parkrun (photo courtesy of Steve Frith)

Parkruns are free to enter and occur all around the country every Saturday morning at 9am.

The Penistone Parkrun begins on the showground and runs out and back on the Trans Penine Trail. There were 63 athletes taking part from Penistone Footpath runners. The event was hailed a success and trade at local cafes afterwards was reported as being brisk.

Andrew Heppenstall continued his fine form with a top 10 finish at the Northumberland Cragside 10k. Andrew placed 9th in a time of 37-17. Julie Darigala and Brent Lindsay competed in the Eskdale Fell race on a beautiful spring day taking in Whin Rigg and Scafell.

The race was 18.5 kilometres in distance with 1,275 metres of ascent. Julie completed in a time of 2-48 and Brent 3-28. Elsewhere on the fells Steve Sanders and Myfanwy Cross competed in the Peat Pit Woods Fell race. Steve placed 19th in a time of 20-36 and Myfanwy was 62nd in 26-28.

A good number of Penistone runners competed in the challenging but popular Sheffield Half Marathon. Many achieved personal bests in the cool but run friendly conditions.

First back was Lee Nash in 53rd place in a time of 1-21-22. Lee was closely followed in by Charlie Skipper (1-22-16) and veteran Martin Ball (1-22-24) who were both inside the first 100 finishers.

First lady back for Penistone was Jill Carlton in 1-47-27. Bryan Harrod guided a visually impaired runner round to finish in 1-45-56.

Three generations of the Storey family competed in the Matlock 5k. Lee Storey had a strong run to finish in second place in a time of 18-05. Lee’s father Steve finished in 12th in 21-51 whilst under 12 youngster Joseph Storey was third in the under 12 category.

Julia Johnson claimed 2nd lady over55 at the Vale of York 10 mile race in a time of 1-10-14. Hannah Butcher (1-15-40) and Mark Graham (1-17-09) also took part.