Parkrun proves popular

The weekly Parkrun at Crowland’s Snowden Field attracted an entry of 48 on Saturday.
First to cross the finish line at the end of the 5K course was Thomas Bettinson, in a time of 21 minutes 19 seconds.
Richard Williams, of the Sir Halley Stewart Field-based Halmer Harriers, was fifth in 23:31, with club colleague Adam Caress tenth, 25:32.
Runners varied in age from ten to 84 at the popular event, which is part of a global activity that attracts thousands of runners to parks and paths every week throughout the year.
Saturday saw Halmer Harriers in action at two other events – in Northamptonshire and Dorset. At Brixworth Country Park, near Northampton, Kathryn Chapman finished 100th, 37:27, three places ahead of Jayne Pell, 38:25, of 120 finishers.
Meanwhile, at the Moors Valley Parkrun, north of Bournemouth, Emily Brown was 276th of 618 runners in 29:03.
The Snowden Field event consists of four laps of the playing field in Thorney Road, Crowland, and is free to enter. It is all on grass and starts and finishes at the pavilion.
Other nearby events include Whittlesey, Ferry Meadows (Peterborough), March, Wisbech and Rutland Water.
All Parkruns start on Saturdays at 9am and are open to anyone – runners, joggers and walkers – and dogs are welcome (on short leads) as well as wheelchairs and buggies.
To register and for more details, visit the www.parkrun.org.uk website.
Halmer Harriers run regular Couch to 5K programmes every year. For more information about those and the club, message them via their Facebook page: @HalmerHarriers
A provisional date of Sunday, September 29 has been set for the annual West Pinchbeck 10K.
Last year’s event attracted 272 runners to Lake Drove and was won by Mark Sampson of Huntingdon-based BRJ Run & Tri Club in a time of 34:26.6. The first Halmer Harrier home was Stephen Barrett, 12th in 39:17.8.
A year earlier, Sleaford Striders’ Alan Oliver was first of 217 finishers in 33:49.0. Maija Garkalne was the first Halmer Harriers over the line in 44:33.9 for 35th place, fourth female.