Aussie factor helps boost field for Clair Parkrun

What made the 5k event extra special was the visit of five members of the McGaw family on vacation from Australia. While visiting relatives in Sussex, they had already completed the parkrun events in Hove and Preston Park, before heading north to Haywards Heath.

The family from Newcastle in New South Wales are heavily involved in parkruns in their home state and have completed nearly 200 between them.

The benefits of a 5km run to start off the weekend are clearly spreading across the globe. Mum Karen said: “The Clair parkrun is without doubt the finest and most scenic in Southern England, with the warm hospitality inside the pavilion topping it off.”

Meanwhile, first man home in the race was Haywards Heath’s Andy Guy in 19.40, and first lady was his clubmate Mags Lazell in 21.27.

James Sorbie was the first Burgess Hill Runner in a time of 22.41 and first junior was Lewis Barrett-Berry from Harriers in 23.20.

On Sunday, Burgess Hill Runners sent both men’s and ladies teams to the Sussex Cross Country Championships at Bexhill. The course was horrendously muddy but the teams can be pleased with their ninth (men) and seventh (ladies) places overall.

Individually, Darryl Webb led the men’s team home in 32nd place in 47mins 3secs, followed by Paul Sargent (43rd, 48.25), Neil Grigg (57th, 52.22), Jason Collett (58th, 52.34), John Boxhall (67th, 54.59) and Trevor Symes (76th, 57.37), who again ran the race barefoot.

For the women, Sharona Harrington was 27th in 32.16, followed by Janet Clapton (32nd, 33.09), Jan Lavis (46th, 35.44) and Emma Buckland (49th, 36.23).

Away from competitive racing, BHR held their traditional New Year run starting at Ardingly Reservoir and enjoyed an enormous turnout.

In keeping with their inclusive philosophy, two groups totalling around 40 runners completed either 5 or 11 mile loops around the reservoir, led by Keith Delderfield and Sue Lyle. These are the first in a programme of progressively lengthening marathon training runs that the club will hold on most Sunday mornings between now and the Brighton and London marathons.

Clair parkrun event director Neil Dawson (right) is pictured with David McGaw, having swapped club running tops after the event.