Brutal Bagshot 5 - 30th December 2023
If you enter a running event that describes itself as the “Brutal Bagshot 5” then you probably have a good idea of what awaits you, regardless of the weather. So when Annie signed-up for this event, which had been relocated from its usual Longmoor location, to accommodate training of Ukrainian troops, she probably wasn’t expecting a terrain that would be anything other than, well brutal, I suppose!
The area is used for military training, including for Alpine drivers, covering a series of super steep tracks called High Curly by the locals. The area is split in two elements, connected by an underpass. Both sides enjoy significant hills and on the south side there is a plateau with hundreds of water features of all shapes, sizes and depths.
Annie is no stranger to the demands made of competing in challenging events and she skilfully completed the 5.1 mile course in a time of one hour, 29 minutes and 45 seconds. For any of those 300 runners who really wanted to get the most for their money, there was a ten-mile option (which attracted a further 100-plus participants), but required repeating the same course again!
Parkrun - 30th December 2023 & 1st January 2024
Parkrun is great fun at any time, but can be something extra special over Christmas and New Year, with some venues offering an extra event on one or both of these festive
days. The weather didn’t help matters this week and a several organisers had to cancel scheduled runs this weekend due to the conditions. Among those did go ahead
included:
Cheltenham Pittville Park: There was a huge field of 762 runners at the regular Saturday parkrun, with Chris Dry, one of their regular participants,
completing the crowded course in 32:08.
Cirencester: Another popular venue, was able to proceed, despite the wet and cold conditions, and was muddy under-foot!! This didn’t deter
Dougal Hamilton-Smith - 23:56 (JM15/2), Louise Hamilton-Smith 30:57 (VW40/3) and Liz Hulcup 30:58 (VW70/2).
Clair: Clair Park, Haywards Heath, West Sussex means something special to Margaret Hollamby, having helped establish this very popular parkrun event over
nine years ago, when she and Alan were living in the area, and both of whom achieved exceptional course PBs there – 22:22 and 22:38 respectively. On Saturday,
Margaret completed the hilly and twisty course only to be overtaken, after finishing, in the finish-funnel (unintentionally of course), with her
time of 26:54 being reassigned to the other runner; however, she was still happy to be allocated 26:58.
Warwick Racecourse: On Saturday, Susan Hunt completed this 5k course in 25:45 (VW55/2), only to return again on New Year’s Day, along with over 400
other runners, including Julie and Patrick Smith. Susan’s time was 26:22, with Julie finishing in 39:44 and Patrick in 39:48.
Highlights
Cirencester Park parkrun 30th December 2023.
Evidence of muddy conditions at Cirencester Park parkrun 30th December 2023.
Louise and Liz at Cirencester Park parkrun 30th December 2023.
Warwick Racecourse parkrun
Julie, Patrick and Susan at Warwick Racecourse parkrun 1st January 2024.
Other reports may be found on our recent race reports page.