More than 300 runners, joggers and walkers launched their coaches and launched the leisure field on Saturday July 19, while Parkrun was officially launched in Fordingbridge.
The plans to bring the 5 km free weekly race to the Green Espace were underway from May 2023, when advisor David Millar presented the idea to the Fordingbridge municipal council.
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Parkrun then gave the route the boost “in principle”, and the council covered start -up costs of £ 4,000.
The director of the race, David, then brought together a team of volunteers to organize test events and “take control” of the Parkrun de Churchill Gardens in Salisbury in preparation for the Fordingbridge inaugural race.
David said it was “magical” to see so many people to make their way around the route while Hyde Band played in the background.
“Each parkrun is really different, and so many work is devoted to it,” he said.
“We all wanted to see what it would make you fill the back of runners. Wonderly, this is the case. We have an entire leisure field and runners with regard to the eye. We are delighted.
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“When it was only the germ of an idea, the municipal council was really favorable, but we could not make it work because there was no path all around.
“The municipal council already intended to build a circular path, but we had to wait until finished.
“So it’s been two years, but a year was to build the way and prepare the course.
“Since last year, we have been recruiting people to help manage it, bring volunteers together and make all the documents. This is the third iteration of the course we have tried. ”
David Millar delivers his first briefing (Image: Newsquest) He also thanked the neighboring parkruns, including Salisbury, Brockenhurst and Moors Valley, for their support.
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“Parkrun is a charming organization because everyone helps each other,” he said.
“Runners like it because it’s a great way to go out and make a 5 km race, and others like the social aspect and feel good on a Saturday morning.”
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Peter White applauded “Mayor Corner” runners (Image: Newsquest) Robert Wilkinson, co-founder of the Fordingbridge Running Club and member of the Parkrun Committee, said: “It’s great to finally start.
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“David and the council deserve all the merit of having put this together. We are all grateful to be part of it and see everyone in the city enjoy it.
“There are so many passionate runners, and it’s a wonderful place to run.”
The basic volunteer team consists of David Millar, Robert Wilkinson, Janie North, Rebecca Gardiner, Joanne Scott -On, Stephen Sutch, Matt who, Vicky Miller and Louise McIntosh (Image: Newsquest)
Ethan Jung, who comes from [[Fordingbridge]]But now lives in Basingstoke, was the first finisher of a speedy 16:39. The first Hannah Barnard finisher, from Stonehenge Striders Running Club, finished the course in 19:58.
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Parkrun takes place every Saturday at 9 a.m. Participants can join volunteers for coffee at the Riverside kiosk after the event.
The mainly flat course includes four laps of the park on a mixture of gravel and tarmac, plus a short grassy section.
