Paced Parkruns through to Ultras

{Please make allowances for the fact that your editor is overseas this week and next, so less time for getting formats perfect and digging into every result plus photos are more of a challenge}

Old County Tops Fell Race - Saturday 16th May

Aaron Willis ran this ultra event as a pair with Alex Banks as a pair.

The organisers description of this event

 “Held in May, The Old County Tops Fell Race covers 37 miles and involves around 10,000 feet of ascent. The exact distance and amount of ascent are dependant on the route you choose! The Race starts in Great Langdale and takes in the tops of Helvellyn, Scafell Pike  and Coniston before returning to Great Langdale, after which the competitors are fed and watered. The race was first held in 1988, following a test year involving a few Achille Ratti members in 1987.”

Aaron kindly sent this report for how it went for him and Alex.

“It was tough going especially on some of the  steeper descents and although I had the lungs for it I didn't have the mountain legs which made it a slog at times.

Weather was perfect for the first half and had some great views from Helvellyn and Scafell but the rain came in going up to Coniston unfortunately. Nice race atmosphere, very Northern😂”

For those of who who know the Lake District well, here are the summits they bagged whilst clocking up almost 11,000 feet.

⛰️ Grisdale Hause (591 m) • ⛰️ Helvellyn (950 m) • ⛰️ Tongue Head (656 m) • ⛰️ Esk Hause (761 m) • ⛰️ Blunt Top (901 m) • ⛰️ Broad Crag (935 m) • ⛰️ Broad Crag Col (878 m) • ⛰️ Scafell Pike (978 m) • ⛰️ Brim Fell (796 m) • ⛰️ The Old Man of Coniston (802 m) • ⛰️ Little Carrs (692 m) • ⛰️ Wrynose Pass (393 m) 

{No results as of time of publishing}

Guernsey Ultra 36 - Sunday 17th

We dont have many details other than Rob Forbes has won the 36 mile ultra race around the island of Guersney in a time that looks to be almost an hour quicker than last year’s winner!

Fantastic run Rob - look forward to any feedback next week.

Chester half Marathon

After a disappointing Newport marathon, Gary Wood was keen to see how he would fare over the shorter distance at one of his favourite cities, and in brief the answer was - much better.

Deciding on a continuous run rather than “jeffing”, he was broadly happy with his pretty even mile splits, with a faster mile 12 and not losing time over the hilly last mile. The slight frustration was just missing out on a sub-2 hour time, especially as the course mile markers were in synch with his watch except for the last “long” mile, which took his distance to 13.23 miles. But a time of 2hrs 44  only 4 weeks after a gruelling marathon over 5 hours, was a strong comparative improvement, maybe suggesting it would pay dividends to do a few more before going back to the full M. Well done Gary.

1 Jack White (City of Norwich AC) 1.05.58 (chip 1.05.56)

3939 Gary Wood (Cirencester AC) 2.10.03 (2.00.44)

7058 finished

Sunday 17th -  Worcester 10k

Dave Bell had quite a few weeks off injured earlier this year (it probably seemed like years to him), but his first race back saw him break 35 minutes for 10k, so it looks like the worst is behind him. Here’s his brief Strava comment 

“So good to be back racing! 🙌🏻 Pleased with effort today although didn't feel I had the strength on some of the rises. Also didn’t realise how much of the race would be on the canal path and almost got taken out by an angry swan at one point! 🦢”

He just missed the podium, finishing in 4th place but his 34:55 earned him 1st V40 - great to see you back winning things Dave.

1 Jamie Penton (unattached) 34.23

4 David Bell (Cirencester AC) 34.55

364 finished tempoevents.co.uk

16 May 2026, North Cerney Scamper

This was the 2nd year of a small charity event organised by Gareth James.

Angela Hilditch thought it was a great local event (I think she ran it last year too).

1 Callum Fellows (unattached) 41.38

50 Angela Hilditch (Cirencester AC) 1.12.

? finished northcerneyvillagehall.com/fun-run

51Fiver Cotswold Triathlon

Kate Kilby had a trying day - she explains below

“The water temp was apparently 15 degrees but felt colder. I had a disastrous swim, couldn't get my breath after the first buoy and made a beeline for the nearest SUP. Clambered aboard ashamed and disappointed in myself. But after what felt like 5mins but was closer to 2 I jumped back in and finished. Pressure off as race thrown. Bike was cold and breezy but run went well getting just under 50 mins. Came second in my age cat losing by the 2mins I was not swimming 🤣🤣🤣. Did manage a scoot mount and dismount on the bike which I had been practicing. Andy finished too. I was just over 3hours.”

Nick Wall was one of our members taking part as rescue crew - many thanks to him in behalf of all the participants.

17 May 2026, Fiver Cotswold Triathlon, 1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run

1 Ross Hosking (Heathwood Tri) (18.26; 57.33; 38.48) 1.57.47

317 Kate Kilby (Cirencester AC) (38.25; 1.26.52; 49.57) 3.01.32

541 finished

PARKRUNNING

Powell’s school “took over” the Ciren Parkrun this week, with quite a few of our members involved as pupils parents or teachers.  It was good to see Rich Allen back running again and recovered enough to be disappointed with his c. 19 minute 5th place.

Congratulations again to Wendy Nichols for being 1st lady at the hilly Stroud event, and to Ian Barrett for 2nd place at the bijou Stonehouse event, as usual slotted into a longer effort.

Brian and Lorna Harris greatly enjoyed their first overseas Parkruns, in St Anne’s park in Dublin. A 2-lap course in one corner of a huge park to the north of the city centre, this fairly big event had 2 outstanding, and to, them novel features.

Firstly blue-tabbarded pacers targetting every minute from 20 to 35. Brian thought this was hilarious given “it’s not a race”, but was very grateful for the locals knowledge of the 22 minute pacer on how to take account of the downhill and later uphill sections. Brian pushed slightly ahead on his own for the 2nd lap and was delighted with 21:30, his 3rd best Parkruns after adjusting for age (and 7th best age-graded on the day). Lorna also moved slightly ahead of her original pacer, although having run her longest run this year on Thursday this week, a sprint finish was not on the cards.

Remember, Parkrun is NOT a race, these kind pacers are just for your PB attempts

Secondly, the Parkrun HQ was adjacent to a small temporary food market, so having burned off the calories you were sorely tempted to put them back again, especially having to run through a part of the market during the first lap!!

Cirencester: 5 Rich Allen 19.06, 13 Kate Jacobs (1st lady) 20.35, 21 Dave Wright 21.33,

Ruaridh Wright (J) 23.11, 45 Wilfred Williams (J) 23.45, 52 Paul Timms 24.08,

54 Karen Higuera 24.12, 59 Rachel Ranger 24.30, 76 Isla Wright (J) 25.34,

94 Jonathan Higgs 26.25, 99 Rob Tuttle 26.46, 100 Susanna Austin 26.47,

112 Bill Leggate 27.16, 212 Amanda Naylor 30.22, 246 Samantha Timms 31.59,  

273 Kirsty Leggate 33.24, 299 Clare Stickney 35.00, 459 finished.

Tetbury: 42 Stephen Hale 24.50, 64 Alan McAdam 26.53, 88 Rachel McAdam 28.18, 227 finished.

Swindon, Lydiard Park: 77 David Moss 24.10, 510 finished.

Stonehouse: 2 Ian Barrett 19.12, 66 finished.

Stroud, Stratford Park: 18 Wendy Nicholls (1st lady) 24.08, 140 finished.

Evesham: 22 Martin Croucher 21.56, 226 finished.

Severn Bridge: 29 Toby Conway (J) 20.10, 387 finished.

St Anne’s, Raheny, Dublin, Ireland: 45  Brian Harris 21.30, 384 Lorna Harris 33.03,

480 finished.