MORE than 130 runners from as far afield as London, Manchester and Poole turned out for the first ever park run in Monmouthshire last Saturday (July 29).

Fastest man in the inaugural Caldicot 5km parkrun was Cardiff’s Oli Williams, who filmed his run with a head cam and posted it on YouTube, finishing in 16 minutes 18 seconds.

Second around the Severn Tunnel Junction course in Rogiet was Bath’s Jim Webb in 17.20, with first local home Alex Tuck from Chepstow Harriers third in 17.41.

Quickest woman was Katrine Svane from Bath in 18.09, with Chepstow’s Georgie Prior second, just beating Harriers clubmate Niki Morgan by a second in 19.57.

Fastest Caldicot Running Club member was Katy Luff who was fourth fastest woman in 22.44.

Entrants who travelled all the way from Croydon to join in the free weekly timed run slept in their car over night to make sure they didn’t miss the 9am start of the UK’s newest parkrun.

Other runners travelled from Lydney, Barry, Newport, Cwmbran and Bryn Bach, with a few Little Stoke Apricots from Bristol spotted.

Run director Helen James said: “I’m delighted to see the first run, a great turn out and lovely to see lots of tourists.”

Volunteers as young as four helped out at the first Caldicot event, which was supported by parkrun ambassador Fiona Cross, co-founder of the Torfaen runs.

“This is a great example of the community and council working together,” said Ms Cross.

“Thanks to their drive and determination the community can now enjoy this free weekly run, jog, walk or volunteer.”

The new run joins the Forest of Dean parkrun at Coverham Enclosure in Five Acres, the Newent parkrun at the Forest Leisure Centre and the Lydney parkrun at Lydney Boating Lake, which all take place on Saturday mornings at 9am.

There is also a junior Forest of Dean parkrun over 2km on Sundays at 9am.

To join in, you need to be a registered parkrun runner, and you can apply for a membership barcode card at www.parkrun.org.uk

Oli William’s film can be viewed on YouTube.

For more information about the Caldicot parkrun, go to www.parkrun. org.uk/caldicot