As was the case over Christmas weekend, the New Year weekend also brought with it the opportunity to run two parkruns in as many days, and Newport & District Running Club’s members were out to take advantage of the opportunity! Despite the fact that rain hit most local parkruns on New Year’s Eve, and Alderford Lake parkrun (in a big way!) on New Year’s Day, enthusiasm was not dampened, and there were even milestones celebrated by two runners!

(L-R): John Stokes, Darren Hesbrook-Edwards, Oliver Stokes, Harry Stokes, Donna Hesbrook-Edwards, Rodney Jones, Sophie Dolding, Phil Dolding in the rain on New Year’s Eve

Telford parkrun was well-attended by Novaportan runners on New Year’s Eve, with three generations of the Stokes family (John, Oliver and Harry), Neil Fairbrother, Phil Dolding, Rodney Jones, Andrew, Sarah & Harry Wilmot, and Darren & Donna Hesbrook-Edwards all in attendance. Donna’s run was particularly notable, it being the 100th time she had run at Telford parkrun (in her 190th parkrun overall). Donna and Darren were back at Telford on New Year’s Day, and they were joined by Louise Patterson, Emily & Tom Pope, as well as Andrew, Sarah and Harry Wilmot.

Donna Hesbrook-Edwards marked her 100th Telford parkrun in her 190th parkrun overall

On New Year’s Eve, Louise Patterson volunteered to do the pre-event course check at Isabel Trail parkrun in Stafford. She then ran the parkrun itself and was joined by Tracey Powell. At Alderford Lake on Saturday, Ellen Deighton was joined by Tom and Emily Pope for two laps of the lake, whilst Edward Wardroper ran at Colchester Castle, before running at Highwoods on New Year’s Day, and Joe Phillips ran at Wimbledon Common. Other NYE NDRC runners included Martin Murdoch at Shrewsbury, and Nick Watts and Kirsty Rollings at Crewe. Kirsty’s run was her 100th parkrun ever, earning her the official black “100 milestone” t-shirt, and she managed to co-indice the milestone with New Year’s Eve.

Louise Patterson was course checker and runner at Isabel Trail parkrun on New Year’s Eve

New Year’s day brought a mixed bag of weather depending on where you were, and at Trentham Gardens conditions were surprisingly warm and sunny for early January. Lining up for a lap of the lake were the Stokes family of John, Oliver and Harry, as well as Phil Dolding and Neil Fairbrother. It was a bit wetter a few miles away at Alderford Lake, and Ellen Deighton was amongst 111 participants who might as well have swum around.