parkrun – 23/05/2026 & Whit Monday

28 May 2026 - By Steven Alder

This week saw another extra parkrun event taking place. Following Saturday’s parkrun, the Netherlands hold their extra parkrun on Whit Monday. One member from the club did manage to nip overseas to get the extra completed at Reeuwijkse Hout near Gouda. On the Saturday, Witham RC could be found at Burnham-on-Crouch, Lullingstone, Great Dunmow, Maldon Prom, Markshall, Chelmsford Central, Walton Promenade, Clacton Seafront, Queen’s (Glasgow), Oude Warande (Netherlands!), Jersey Farm, Northampton, Thorney Bay Beach, Prospect, Rendlesham Forest, Great Notley, Plean and Christchurch Park.

Over in Suffolk, Liz Atkinson completed Rendlesham Forest in 42:17 for her first visit at this location. Gus Maby decided to take on Christchurch Park in 24:31. Going around the M25, we had Simon Scott at Prospect in 22:54, Karen Pickering at Northampton in 21:01 and Giles Sowerby at Jersey Farm in 19:31.

Essex’s newest parkrun on Canvey Island, Thorney Bay Beach, saw Shane Ketteridge returning to grab a course PB in 28:58 and Nadia McLeod as 1st SW30-34 in 24:15. Leo Cole who had the best Age Grade in a field of 111 runners and was 1st VM55-59 in Burnham-on-Crouch in 20:48. The Beazeleys were down in Lullingstone, with them finishing together in 32:30 (Chris) and 32:31 (Nichola). Anthony Smith was the only Witham RC member at Great Dunmow, finishing in 32:59.

Michael Poulter completed Walton Promenade again, his 5th time there, getting a course PB in 32:49. Vicki Riley was further down the coast at Clacton Seafront, completing it in 25:08 as 1st VW40-44. Then at Great Notley saw James Goodey (22:18), Nicola Digby (37:19), Simon Handley (37:25) and Patrick Hinchliffe (41:44).

Maldon Prom was as popular as ever, a week before our pacing event. Well done to Dean Whittaker (22:47 & Barcode Scanner), Mick Conroy (24:33), Claire Lucas (25:09), Steve Hookings (25:13), Ian Lucas (26:24), Chrissy Israel-Jones (28:33 & course PB), Anita Grainer (29:08), Banksy (30:38), Lisa Leader (34:01), David Grainger (37:24), Jodee Mayer (39:25) and Natalie Lilley (39:26). Over at Markshall, Angela Read was the tail walker, completing the course in 56:09, with Andrew Read as a Marshal. Dawn Shilling was also at Markshall, completing the course in 31:44. In Chelmsford was Kevin Harper (23:44), Ross Silverton (33:12) and Glen Waller (37:03).

Up in Scotland, we had Ian Cuthbert taking it easy before the marathon, coming 2nd place (1st VM35-39) at Plean in 21:25 and Geoffrey Reddin at Queen’s, Glasgow, completing that in 27:18.

It will probably come to no-one’s surprise that the one member of the club who did a double parkrun in the Netherlands was Steven Alder. After completing Oude Warande in 29:13 on the Saturday, he then completed Reeuwijkse Hout in 28:43.

The full set of results can be found here for the Saturday and here for the extra on Monday.

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Pacing at Maldon Prom parkrun

Nezt Saturday will see WRC runners volunteer as Pacers at Maldon Prom. Good luck everyone, and don’t forget volunteers get free parking at Maldon Prom parkrun!