Arena parkrun club record breakers…if you want to be the best…

With all the excitement of the BM weekend, we nearly missed out on some very important results from last weekend’s parkrun’s.
There were no less than 3 new club records and 2 improvements set. For the first of the improvements we make our way down to the Hove Prom where Anthony Snelling turned it on to take 1st place but it came with a new PB of 16.39 which beat his previous best of 17.11 set back in October 2016. A cracking time from Anthony which further cements his 5th spot in the club records and edging ever closer to that 4th spot. I think Al Silvester can feel Anthony’s breath on the back of his neck now.
Hove Promenade parkrun Men
1 Richard Clayton 2017 16m 22s
2 Timmy Gedin 2016 16m 28s
3 Luan Huynh 2016 16m 29s
4 Al Silvester 2016 16m 34s
5 Anthony Snelling 2018 16m 39s

Over to one of the hardest courses on our parkrun records as we take in Bevendean Down. We say well done to Andy Clarke who got a new PB with his time of 22.31 and 5th male home.
It was Helena Rooney, who I think must have got lost this weekend, as she found herself at Bevendean for her debut of this course. Helena came home as 2nd lady but her time of 23.01 has now landed her on to the wall of fame as she claims 4th spot in the club records, not a bad debut really.
Bevendean Down parkrun Women
1 Tara Shanahan 2017 21m 12s
2 Katherine O’Hara 2016 21m 24s
3 Caroline Wood 2016 21m 35s
4 Helena Rooney 2018 23m 01s
5 Jackie Rymell 2017 23m 55s

Heading along the coast to Worthing and a very rare excursion for Mr Paul Gasson on only his second run here. Paul took a brilliant new PB time of 20.03 but it’s the age grading record that takes Paul to the top of the class with a new record of 82.88% moving him up from 2nd spot to 1st.
Worthing parkrun Men – Age grading
1 Paul Gasson – 82.88%
2 Joe Ashley – 80.82%
3 Dan Vaughan – 80.13%
4 Al Silvester – 79.84%
5 Andy Payne – 79.42%
Taking in the coast the other way we then get to Peacehaven and this is where we had a double whammy for the club records.
Gary McKivett making a rare parkrun appearance and perhaps doing a reccy for the club parkrun series (or not) made his Peacehaven debut and smashed the club record which was held by David Gifford with 19.03. Gary’s time of 17.33 was not only the fastest Arena club time but was also the 4th fastest time recorded at this coourse. With such a quick time also comes with it the club age grading record so a great day out for Gary and good to see his speed back out there.
Peacehaven parkrun Men
1 Gary McKivett 2018 17m 33s 
2 David Gifford 2017 19m 03s
3 Jim Watson 2017 19m 06s
4 Ricky Coleman 2017 19m 48s
5 Rob Derkin 2017 21m 12s
Peacehaven parkrun Men – Age grading
1 Gary McKivett – 76.07%
2 Jim Watson – 74.48%
3 John Thompson -71.58%
4 Rob Derkin – 71.31%
5 David Gifford – 68.85%
On the same card we saw Caroline Wood shaking it up for the ladies records as she took on this course for the fourth time and with a time of 20.24 she extends her lead at the top of the records. As per Gary McKivett, Caroline also extends her lead in the age grading by quite a gap now as it’s moved on from 83.84% to 86.44%.
Peacehaven parkrun Women
1 Caroline Wood 2018 20m 24s
2 Jenny Hughes 2017 22m 55s
3 Joanne Marshall 2017 23m 03s
4 Angelina Smy 2017 23m 14s
5 Georgia Steers 2017 23m 40s
Peacehaven parkrun Women – Age grading
1 Caroline Wood – 86.44%
2 Jenny Hughes – 80.07%
3 Brigitte Groves – 65.00%
4 Helen Block – 64.37% 
5 Angelina Smy – 64.35%
I think there might be a few people who might not have wanted to hear these results for Peacehaven as I’m sure some will have been looking to pick up bonus points for the clubs parkrun series challenge. Talking of which, just a reminder that the next parkrun series is approaching us very fast and is the Hove Prom parkrun on Saturday 28th April. Our run director for this, Al Silvester will be sending out further details very soon.
Massive congratulations to all of our record breakers and I can feel it in the air that this year is going to be a good year for records being broken judging by the first quarter of the year.