02/10/2024
Cold weather lingers on, but parkrun forges ahead still after 20 years
BETTY’S BAY – This coming Saturday parkrun will celebrate its twentieth year of existence. From thirteen people doing the first one in Bushy Park, Londen, it grew to millions doing it at one of 2500 venues in 23 countries early on a Saturday morning.
Described as a free, community event where you can walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate, there is much more to this phenomenon that is still going from strength to strength.
In general it can be said that parkrun is positive, welcoming and inclusive, there is no time limit and no one finishes last. Everyone is welcome to come along.
Last Saturday was a good example in case at the Betty’s Bay parkrun when despite very cold weather there was a good turnout. The parkrun takes place in the Harold Porter Botanical Garden.
At other venues in the Overberg, it was a surprize to see Bruce Fordyce and his wife Linda there. Bruce, apart from his ultra marathon heroics in his younger days, is credited with bringing parkrun to South Africa. See table below for the regional statistics.
In Bredasdorp Dr At Putter, who caught the eye with his participation in the Voet van Afrika Half Marathon earlier this month, completed his 99th parkrun and is well on his way to reach the milestone of 100 finishes in the week that he turns 90!
Following are summary statistics of last Saturday’s Betty’s Bay event:
Event # 255
Finishers: 113
Volunteers: 21
First Timers in Betty’s Bay: 8
Very First-time participants: 3
New PB’s: 12
Top Results:
First Male: Zola Turkstra (JM15-17) – 21:49 (New PB)
First Female: Alison Mellon (VW40-44) – 28:17
Best AGS: Carol Bersenyi (VM75-79) – 69,99%
Number of finishers with an AGS of above 60% - 6
Milestones
25 finishes: Nicola van der Merwe (VM35-39) and Grant Immelman (VW50-55)
Most finishes
431 finishes: Patrick Saal (VM70-74)
Participants with 200 and more finishes: 2
Participants with more than 100 finishes but less than 200: 27
Parkruns in the Overberg Region on Saturday 28 September 2024
Event Number Finishers Volunteers First Timers New PB’s
Betty’s Bay #255 113 21 8 12
Benguela Cove #23 87 17 25 14
Hermanus #363 142 28 28 13
Groeneweide #154 70 16 11 5
Cape Agulhas #64 64 14 20 3
Bredasdorp #214 52 12 11 4
Swellendam #269 42 12 1 5
Caledon Golf C #69 36 8 7 9
Somerset West #303 102 16 13 14
CAPTIONS
Photo 1 Start
Race director Lee Boyd gives a warm welcoming to all who braved the cold weather to participate in some or other way in the Betty’s Bay parkrun.
Photo 2 Finish
Race director Lee Boyd and the time keepers wait for the last finisher and tail walker to come in.
