parkrun – 11/04/2026

17 April 2026 - By Steven Alder

Well done to all of our runners this week doing a parkrun. Witham RC could be found in Chelmsford Central, Thomas Mills, Mersea Island, Gunpowder, Maldon Prom, Great Notley, Markshall, Frank’s Farm, Thetford, Highwoods, South Woodham Ferrers, ARU Writtle, Wickford Memorial, Rushmere, Walmer and Deal Seafront, Penrhyn (Wales), Dover Waterfront and Colchester Castle.

We had quite a few parkruns with just the one attendee from Witham RC completing their tourism, but it’s nice to see we spread out. Well done to Damien Walsh who came in 9th out of 187 at Dover Waterfront in 19:24. Chrissy Israel-Jones went to Penrhyn whilst on a family holiday in Wales and completed the course in 31:38. Patrick Hincliffe remained local and went to Colchster Castle where he managed 38:58 and 1st VM70-74. Lisa Leader was visiting Walmer and Deal Seafront where she got 29:21 and Mike Struthers got 37:11 at Rushmere and 1st VM75-79.

Nicola Digby went to Wickford Memorial and completed that in 51:45 whilst volunteering as a parkwalker. Ross Silverton went to South Woodham Ferrers to grab 1st VM75-79 in 31:35. Highwoods saw Karen Pickering also grabbing a 1st in her age grade (VW40-44) in bang on 25minutes. At Thetford was Giles Sowerby in 24:02 and Steven Alder at Frank’s Farm in 29:59, where he realised if he legged the last bit (1km downhill) he could get sub 30 (only just!). Dawn Shilling went to Gunpowder and completed that course in 32:03.

Over in Chelmford we had Leo Cole (21:07) and Andrew Smith (23:19). The Beazeleys visited Thomas Mills where Chris got 24:09 and Nichola got 26:41 (1st VW55-59). The Reads went to try out ARU Writtle, with Andrew getting 29:55 and Angela getting 33:15.

Maldon Prom had a good range of runners, seeing Ian Cuthbert (21:47), Steve Hookings (24:16), Vicki Riley (24:46), Geoffrey Reddin (25:44), Ian Lucas (28:46), Adam Regan (38:53), Mary Burns (56:54& 1st VW75-79) and Joe McEwan (56:56). Over at Great Notley was Youssef Oucouc (21:43, course PB and 1st VM35-39), Bill Smythe (23:46), Mick Conroy (24:28), Craig Vernon (33:18 for his 300th parkrun) and Lysia Jiggins (1:04:25 and Tail Walker).

Markshall saw Banksy (19:34 and pacer), Clive Smith (27:29) and Karen Flowers (32:09). And finally at Mersea Island was Daniel Griffiths (26:16), Adam Hocken (29:47), Sue Shippey (35:11) and Beth Shippey (35:16).

The full set of results can be found here. Don’t forget to add Witham RC to your profile to be included!

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New parkrun coming near Chelmsford on 2nd May 2026!

That’s right, Stony Brook School parkrun will be starting in a few weeks time and is only an 8 mile drive from Chelmsford. You do one lap of a track and then the course enters the woods for a trail out and back, passing scenic Burges Pond. Unfortunately for us, it’s Chelmsford in Massachusetts, USA. But maybe there will be another one in the area at some point?