Celebration time as Statham completes parkrun century

The Liss runner was joined by quite a few members from her club to help celebrate the achievement.

Her run record includes 47 at Frimley Lodge parkrun, 35 at QE, eight runs at Havant, four runs at Chichester, three at Guildford, two at Bangor and one at Alice Holt.

Liss club members James Leighton, Andy Statham, Carmen Evans, Andy Paton and Alison Strudwick all ran.

The good weather on Sunday ensured a solid turnout with 75 runners completing the course at the challenging Gravel Hill, Horndean venue.

Other club members from Denmead Striders, Stubbington Green Runners, Winchester & District, Victory, Portsmouth Triathletes and Gosport Road Runners were among the finishers.

Chris Smart was first across the line with a time of 20min 43sec and Mark McDonald was second (21.15).

Naomi Shaylor was first lady with a time of 23.59.

Young Freya Hampshire, was next with a time of 24.22 and that gave her an excellent age grade rating of 70.04 per cent – the best of the week at the QE parkrun.

The event has a fantastic course and always a really nice atmosphere.

It starts with a short uphill stretch before a steep downhill and then an undulating section.

The big hill is a real test with a long push all the way up, with one or two bits of respite, before another right turn and a steep downhill section.

Then it’s a deceptive challenge along the bottom path before the final push to the finish.

The course record is held by City of Portsmouth athlete Alex Teuten who has recorded a time of 16.29.

Chichester’s James Baker has a best of 16.33 on this course with Julian Manning only the third runner to go under 17 minutes (16.56).

Fay Cripps holds the female course recorded with a time of 20.13 with City of Portsmouth youngster Elizabeth Hedley next (20.33).

After the run there is a chance to enjoy coffee and cake served at the cafe at the country park.

If you are able to help out with volunteering duties or fancy running a parkrun for the first time see the website parkrun.org.uk/queenelizabeth/ for more information.

All parkruns start at 9am every Saturday.

They are free, timed 5k events.

You register and download a barcode which you take with you to be scanned at the finish.

Results are then uploaded by the volunteers and you get a time and finishing position.

The QE parkrun event is also a great opportunity to get some training in for races like the Summer XC on Wednesday, June 29 (7.15pm) and the Gravel Hill 5 on Saturday, July 16 (4pm).