BANANAMAN WINS ON PARK RUN RETURN

Saturday saw the long-anticipated return of popular Parkrun events nationally, with the 5k time trials back on at local spots in Newbiggin, Druridge Bay and Blyth.
As expected there were big numbers at all events, although the 225 finishers at the most popular local fixture at Druridge Bay couldn’t match the 471 who took part on the Town Moor in Newcastle or the 390 at Whitley Bay.
The Druridge Bay Parkrun saw Matty Briggs first home in 16m 34s with teenager Liam Roche next home in 17m 5s. John Butters was 4th (17m 40s) and Ian Harding 5th (17m 57s). Cat Macdonald was first female finisher in 8th place.
Briggs’s first place was matched at Blyth, where Connor Marshall was first back in 15m 59s with James Tilley 4th in 18m 4s, although the numbers were surprisingly low, with less than 200 finishing.
Mark Snowball was first home for Morpeth at Newbiggin, finishing 2nd in 18m 19s, with some 118 completing.
Andy Lawrence was first finisher at Whitley Bay in 16m 11s, all the more remarkable as he had chosen to resurrect his banana costume as worn in the London Marathon a few years ago. Sadly, he was unable to provide us with his splits.
Finally, fans of TV’s Eggheads may care to note the presence of CJ de Mooi on the Town Moor - where he ran a very respectable 17m 39s for an 84% age-graded percentage.