Last Brockenhurst parkrun of the year throws up razor-close finish
The last Brockenhurst parkrun of the year threw up one of the closest finishes over the last 12 months, with the first four finishers crossing the line within 10 seconds of each other.
First finisher Thomas Evans of Winchester & District AC, who set a new Brockenhurst parkrun record last time out, finished six seconds ahead of New Forest Runners, who set a Brockenhurst personal best (PB) of 17:37.
Evans set a new Wilverley Inclosure course record of 16:00 at the last event, but he had a more sedate run to lead the field home for the time in 17:31.
Crossing the line at the same time was M20 Roland Turnell-Ritson and the first woman across the line, W40 Ellie Monks, who both ran 17:41.
Double course record holder Monks of Southampton AC led the ladies home for the 51st time in 17:41, just 12 seconds away from her course record below, setting the highest age grade score.
From a field of 250 participants, Thomas Wilks crossed the line as the first junior in eighth position after posting a massive PB at 19:25, almost two minutes faster than his previous best. Wilks is the grandson of Brockenhurst parkrun co-event director Steve Wilks.
Our first girl was W11 Elsa Norris of New Forest Juniors AC, and the top male age grade score went to New Forest Runners’ M65 Paul Loveridge.
M65 Steve Hull of New Forest Runners ran the Brockenhurst event for the 72nd time, but two weeks ago, he ran the Greenwich parkrun to mark his 500th parkrun. Hull has also volunteered 134 times, with 76 of those being race director.
There were 19 volunteers on the day who braved the cold. They were Katy Hughes, Mick Aanglim, Katrin Pritchard, Andrew and Sarah Richards, Paul Bailey, Jo Murphy, Catherine Maguire, David McQuillan, Bea Murphy, Helen Crooks, Tessa Habberley, Keith Mitchell, Lucy Chanter, Barbara Walton, Sharon Herman, Simon Thatcher, Jane Butterworth, and Gaye Andrews.
Results: 1, Thomas Evans, 17:31; 2, Sean Harnett, 17:37; 3, Roland Turnell-Ritson, 17:41; 4, Ellie Monks, 17:41; 5, Alex Hunt, 18:17; 6, Ralph Wilson, 18:29; 7, James Stocker, 19:09; 8, Thomas Wilks, 19:25; 9, Gavin Hows, 19:37; 10, Paul Cockburn, 19:47.
