LATEST UPDATE: Welsh 5k and junior parkruns expected to return on August 21st.

By Don Hale


PARKRUN UK LATEST NEWS:

Welsh 5k and junior parkruns expected to return on August 21st


UPDATE: Parkruns could finally be returning to Wales on Saturday August 21st. 


*SEE NEW/REVISED STATEMENT FROM Parkrun UK ON AUG 6TH:


Parkrun UK’s head of event delivery, Helen Hood, published a statement today about the expected return to parkrun in Wales and Scotland early next month. 

Over five-hundred events returned last weekend in England and organisers in Wales and Scotland are now preparing for the 1k junior parkrun to recommence on the same date as the full 5k distance runs.

 

Scotland and Wales updates

 

Ms Hood admitted today: ‘Following recent announcements from the Scottish and Welsh governments, we are working towards returning 5k events in both Scotland and Wales from Saturday August 14th.

‘We are in contact with landowners to confirm permission for events restarting on this date and will continue to work closely with ambassadors and event teams in order to do our very best to make it happen.’

 

Junior parkrun

 

The Parkrun official also added: ‘Junior parkrun is now open across all of the UK, and we remain committed to welcoming 11-14 year-olds back to all of our junior events at the same time as 5k events return in each country.

‘From this Sunday, following the return of 5k events in England 11-14 year-olds will be able to walk, jog and run at junior events again. Likewise, should the 5k events restart in Scotland and Wales on Saturday 14 August, as we anticipate, this younger age group will be able to walk, jog and run at junior events from Sunday 15 August.

‘It was fantastic to see over 10,000 children participate at 250 junior parkrun events across the UK last Sunday, supported by nearly 5,000 volunteers.’

 

As we move through the reopening process for parkrun and junior parkrun, we’re publishing a UK-specific update every Friday to keep ambassadors, event teams, parkrun communities, and landowners informed on our progress. 

 

*To check the status of your local parkrun event and/or to get involved, please visit local event pages on the website and associated social media.

 

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

 

Helen Hood, Head of Event Delivery, Parkrun UK

 

 

 

 

Don Hale is a former award winning investigative journalist and now a best-selling author who has created a very popular blog post linked to numerous social media sites. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025.

Comments

Post a Comment

Your comments are welcomed

Most recent posts

Charlotte braved the ice and mud in the Delamere Forest half marathon - plus a night out at the Conwy Urban race.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above left - Charlotte Rose Wilton Jones with her running friend Tanya Beattie after completing the challenging Delamere trail half marathon. Charlotte braved the ice and mud in the Delamere Forest half marathon...plus a night out at the Conwy Urban race. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   NWRRC member Charlotte Rose Wilton Jones competed in the tough Delamere Forest half marathon trail event last weekend in her first race back after having her twins. Charlotte ran with her running friend  Tanya Beattie  and recorded a good time of 2 hours 14 minutes and 40 seconds over a very icy, muddy, and slippery course, and after the race she confirmed: “Last Sunday,  I ran the Delamere Half Marathon. My first race back since having my twins in August last year. It felt great to be back racing, even though the cold, icy and muddy conditions made it tough, and my legs struggled at times.” And last Thursday night,  Charlotte quickly recovered to ta...
Read more

Fast times from the gun at the Twin Piers 10k and North Wales championship race...

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above – some of the NWRRC team at the start of the Twin Piers race.   Fast times from the gun at the Twin Piers 10k and North Wales championship race... Report by Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Over 300 quality athletes competed in the annual Arthur Bebbington Twin Piers 10k race last Saturday afternoon, which covered a scenic route between Llandudno to Colwyn Bay piers. Entrants came from a vast range of nationwide running clubs and social runners, with the event well organised by  Colwyn Bay AC , and it also formed part of the  North Wales Regional 10k championships. Meirionnydd RC  claimed a unique hat-trick in the 10k with three of their team taking the first three finishing places overall.  Owen Roberts  was the runaway winner of the race in a fast gun time of 31 minutes and 59 seconds, with  Ben Harding  second, and a minute adrift in 32,59, whilst  Gwion Roberts  took the third spot, and he was almost a mi...
Read more

Milder conditions, plus another major local race, boosted parkrun numbers...plus NW parkrun results round-up

By Don Hale
Image
*Steve Gardner (*pictured above) finished 7th and won his VM60 age cat Milder conditions, plus another major local race, boosted parkrun numbers...and parkrun results round-up... Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   The Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun proved a magnet for visiting athletes once again, which this week was boosted by hundreds of people travelling to the area for the Twin Piers 10k race held later that day. Thankfully, the weather conditions were much better than in recent times, with bright sunshine and milder temperatures, that probably inspired a flurry of personal best (PB times) and proved an ideal warm-up for the afternoon event. The first three male finishers at Rhos were all first timers with  Tony Coyne  (Belle Vue Racers) the first man home on his course debut with a great performance in 17 minutes and 56 seconds. He was followed by  Mickey Armstrong  in 18.21, and  Danny O’Reilly  (Chester Tri Club) in 18.36. The first...
Read more

Conwy Urban Night orienteering event proved a success.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - Gwen Charlton who organised the Conwy Urban event. Conwy Urban Night orienteering event proved a success. Report by Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   A brand-new Urban Night orienteering event held in and around the historic town of Conwy proved a great success last Thursday night with over sixty runners taking part in several individual or team categories. The event, which was postponed from the previous week due to the freezing conditions, attracted first time orienteers and some more experienced athletes from a varied range of backgrounds including road, fell, trail and triathletes. It also led to a family double with husband and wife Sam Drinkwater and Anna Drinkwater each winning their respective male and female individual categories. Organiser  Gwen Charlton  promoted the event as a chance to explore the Medieval streets of Conwy, and the 60-minute plus challenge included locating and discovering key information from a number of checkpoints...
Read more

Hundreds of parkrunners braved the icy conditions in North Wales

By Don Hale
Image
*Alex Aldous is pictured above with the leading pack at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkun on the promenade. Hundreds of parkrunners braved the icy conditions at many North Wales locations... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael Finnie and Danielle Peevor. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   There was another excellent turn out at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday, despite the freezing temperatures and icy conditions underfoot, which caused the postponement of several other local events, at Conwy and Nant y Pandy amongst many others. The rather sandy 5k course at Rhos probably helped athletes to keep their feet and once again this particular parkrun attracted a host of visitors from far afield, and quite remarkably, nine out of the first ten finishers were course debutants! Sam Lewis Jones  (Parc Bryn Bach RC) was the first finisher on his course debut in just 16 minutes and 54 seconds, with the second runner unknown, but in 3rd place was visitor  Ian Lowe  (Oswes...
Read more

North Wales Cross Country Champs report from the Treborth Track, Bangor race on 10/1/2026.

By Don Hale
Image
North Wales Cross Country Champs report from the Treborth Track, Bangor race on 10/1/2026.   A special report and photograph cortesy of Bernie Jones, the secretary of the NW Cross Country League. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 A big thank you to Eryri Harriers for hosting the North Wales Championships for the second-year running. Bangor is always testing and this year was no different.  Thank you to all the volunteers, not just on the course but behind the scenes and especially to Helen Blair for coordinating everything. Unfortunately, due to be stuck in one foot of snow we did not have the chip timing services of Dave Peters and had to revert to old school timing and recording.  “A late Friday night sorting out numbers from my loft ensured we were able to go ahead! I would therefore like to thank all the officials who enabled me to do some coordinating and sort out individual medals. THANK YOU ALL. Without them there would be no Championships. ALL TEAM MEDALS AND AGE GROU...
Read more

BMAF 10km championships - Goodwood Motor Circuit, Chichester 1st Feb 2026 - Don't delay!

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - a previous 10k start on the Goodwood Race Circuit. BMAF 10km championships - Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit at Chichester 1st February 2026. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 In its eighth year based at the Goodwood Motor Circuit, the 2024 race attracted a huge field of athletes, including some of the best masters athletes in each age group from across the UK.   We have already 63 entries for the BMAF 10k Championships to be promoted on Sunday 1st February 2026 at the Goodwood Motor Circuit, Chichester, Sussex.  Due to parking limitations at the venue, the event does have a strict entry limit.  Those 63 entries wanted to be the very first to enter before we announced there were only 600 race bibs left. The race organiser says they could all go before the end of the year.   So if you want to be part of a 5 Star competitive 10k experience on a traffic free fast course  please act fast.   We are awarding medals on this occasion based on chip timin...
Read more

Proud moment for athletics coach John Hatton and a popular former midwife Sharon Buckley.

By Don Hale
Image
*John Hatton (*above left), with Sharon Buckley at the Conwy half-marathon. Proud moment for athletics coach John Hatton and a popular former community midwife Sharon Buckley. It was a proud moment this weekend for athletics coach, MC and promoter, John Hatton as he saw his new running protegee  Sharon Buckley – a well-known former North Wales midwife - cross the finish line at the challenging Conwy half-marathon with a remarkable time. John, who is heavily involved with North Wales Road Runners , Conwy parkrun , and is also a keen supporter and promoter of a host of charity events, confirmed: “Over the last 6 months I have been training Sharon, who is 60, to run her first half-marathon which she did today in 2.34.17, which is a fantastic achievement. “Sharon was a highly respected midwife in North Wales, and at one time she received an award as the top midwife in the Betsi Cadwalader Health Board for her dedicated service to the community.” *John Hatton was on hand last ...
Read more

John and Carla’s Deganwy Dash voted the ‘Best Sporting Event of the Year,’ and raises thousands for Children's Cancer Charities.

By Don Hale
Image
*Picture above - Deganwy Dash race organisers John Hatton and Carla Green John and Carla’s Deganwy Dash voted the ‘Best Sporting Event of the Year,’ and raises thousands for Children's Cancer Charities. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   The Deganwy Dash was voted the Best Sporting event of the year within Conwy County at the annual Conwy Sports Awards last Friday night at Venue Cymru. Well organised by  John Hatton  and  Carla Green  from  North Wales Road Runners , this popular annual 5-mile race from Deganwy Quay to the RSPB Nature Reserve, and back via Conwy Cob, always attracts over 350-plus mixed ability runners who raise thousands of pounds for charity. The main charity includes generous donations to Children’s Cancer charities, and for the past few years it has been run in memory of a young local student Rohan Ingley, who sadly lost his life due to cancer, and has been known as 'Rohan's Run.' Award...
Read more

Visitors set a hot pace on a cold, frosty morning at the Rhos parkrun – plus other results and reports from the region.

By Don Hale
Image
*Runners listen to the briefing at the start of the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun. Visitors set a hot pace on a cold, frosty morning at the Rhos parkrun – plus other results and reports from the region... Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 Pictured above and below - the mass start of the Rhos parkrun. It was another jam-packed and fun-filled occasion on Saturday morning at the new Llandrillo yn Rhos (Y Promenade) parkrun last Saturday following a record-breaking attendance on Christmas Day. Despite the freezing temperatures and a generous covering of heavy frost around the region, with the icy conditions causing the cancellation of rival events at  Conwy  and at  Nova , the Rhos parkrun, possibly aided by a light layer of sand at key points, was given the green light, much to the delight of 576 eager entrants. And many runners later expressed their gratitude to the run director  Dougie Graham  and his RD colleagues,...
Read more