Sunshine brings out 237 participants for the latest Brockenhurst parkrun held at Wilverley Inclosure

james.henley@advertiserandtimes.co.uk

Published: 22:45, 04 March 2025

| Updated: 15:10, 06 March 2025

WITH the sunshine’s arrival, 237 people ran, jogged and walked the latest Brockenhurst parkrun held at Wilverley Inclosure in sunny but chilly conditions.

The ever-consistent Southampton AC duo of Callum Olden and Ellie Monks led their respective fields across the line yet again – Olden leading the men home for the 30th time and Monks leading the women for an impressive 57th.

Southampton AC's M20 Callum Olden was the first finisher for the 30th time

Olden raced around the course just 15 seconds away from his Brockenhurst personal best (PB) with a time of 16:46, setting the highest male age grade score.

Brockenhurst parkrun double women’s course record holder Monks led the women home in 17:27, just five seconds away from her course record. The speedster set the highest age grade score and earned second place.

Ellie Monks was the first female finisher for the 57th time and she set the highest age grade score

In the junior ranks, Joshua Ayling took the honours in a parkrun PB of 18:56 on his ninth Brockenhurst run to finish sixth overall. Oscar Coupe of Halterworth Harriers was the second junior in 19:31 and one of the three juniors in the top dozen finishers.

Travis Vanjara made a great start to his 5k parkrun journey by finishing 12th and third junior in an impressive 19:50. He will be representing New Forest schools in the Hampshire Schools Cross Country Championships in Basingstoke next week.

Travis Vanjara ran 19:50 on his first ever 5k parkrun

The speediest girl for a second consecutive week was W10 Amara Marden of Lymington Athletes in her fifth parkrun.

Amara Marden of Lymington Athletes was the first junior female

The Brockenhurst event had its second shark spotting, with Simon Helyar, who is training to run the London Marathon in an attempt to break the world record for the fastest marathon in a full-body inflatable costume, finishing ninth in a time of 19:32 despite the inflatable outfit.

Simon Helyar is training to break a world record at the London Marathon

Helyar, a GP, is raising money for Children with Cancer UK. To donate, visit justgiving.com/page/simontherunningshark

The 516th event was made possible by 22 volunteers. They were Judith Clarkson, Mick Anglim, Tristan Chapman, Nathan Dudman, Katrin Pritchard, Jo Murphy, Caroline Pemberton, Luisa Holt, Rosemarie Osborn, Steve Wilks, Oliver Eveleigh, Jack Prince, Vivienne Baxter, Peter Wilson, Barbara Walton, Christopher Potter, Fran Hallam, Jane Butterworth, Gavin Duckett, Travis and Zack Vanjara, and Rajwinder Kaur.

Results: 1, Callum Olden, 16:46; 2, Ellie Monks, 17:27; 3, Cam Gutteridge, 17:48; 4, James Hulbert, 17:58; 5, Josh Murray, 18:53; 6, Joshua Ayling, 18:56; 7, Matthew Forster, 19:02; 8, Oscar Coupe, 19:31; 9, Simon Helyar, 19:32; 10, Richard Mayo, 19:39.

Other Sport James Henley