On Sunday, a new race debuted: the Chetwynd Deer Park 10k. A collaboration between Chetwynd Deer Park and Newport Running Club, the course took runners on a 2-lap route around the site of Newport Show, passing through incredibly scenic parkland, which hopefully made up for the tough elevation challenges!

…And they’re off! The inaugural Chetwynd Deer Park 10k gets under way!

Starting at the south end of Park Pool, runners initially followed the west shore of the lake, before turning left and ascending the escarpment that runs through the centre of the parkland. Once at the top, they turned right and did an anti-clockwise loop of the western fields of the park, before returning down the hill to the start area, and repeating for a second lap before finishing at the same place they started.  

The runners set off towards the lake on lap 1

129 runners completed the race, and it was Tomasz Pokorniecki who took the overall win, finishing in a time of 42 minutes, 27 seconds. Newport & District RC’s own James Triplett was second, running a time of 43:58, and the podium was rounded out by Brandon Heywood, who finished in 44:39. Lauren Turley, in 5th, was the first female finisher overall, in a time of 44:59. Laura Rigby was 7th overall in 46:42, and the women’s podium was rounded out by Kerri Santopietro, who clocked a time of 48:25 in 11th place overall. Chloe Mahy was fourth female in 13th with her time of 49:38.

The field snakes its way through the scenic parkland!

Newport & District RC were well represented on both the running and volunteering side of the event, and as well as second-placed James, there were 10 other NDRC runners taking part. David Thomas was 26th overall in a time of 53:07, just over a minute and a half ahead of John Carney, who took 31st place in a time of 54:24. Colin Mahy was 35th with his time of 55:33, whilst Simon Smith finished in a time of 57:44 for 47th position. 

Some of “Team NDRC” pose in front of the lake!

Dale Fordham was 56th overall with a time of 1:00:06, followed by Phil Hardy, who was 59th in 1:00:49, and Rik Skingsley, who was 66th in 1:02:23. Simon Taylor was 74th overall in a time of 1:03:13, and Rob Newton clocked 1:05:41 to finish 83rd. Unfortunately, Nigel Ingram had to pull up after the first lap due to injury and did not finish the race. Anne Strowger and Helen Holdroyd both completed the course in their role as sweepers.

Full results and photos (paid) can be found here: https://www.stuweb.co.uk/race/3BI

A few more photos taken by a marshal can be found here.