In our weekly look at the ever-popular parkruns across Suffolk and North-East Essex, we feature Saturday’s 284th staging of the Ipswich parkrun

East Anglian Daily Times: Runners get into their stride at Saturday's Ipswich parkrun, which attracted a field of more than 400. Picture: ADELE CHAPLINRunners get into their stride at Saturday's Ipswich parkrun, which attracted a field of more than 400. Picture: ADELE CHAPLIN (Image: Archant)

Fields of 400-plus have been a regular feature of the Ipswich parkrun in recent weeks, and that was also the case at Saturday’s 284th staging of the event at Christchurch Park.

Runners, joggers and walkers covered a 5K distance on a two-lap course from near the Mansion House Cafe – Christchurch Park is the winter home of the Ipswich parkrun, away from the normal Chantry Park venue which tends to be quite waterlogged at this time of the year.

Paul Wain, of Ipswich JAFFA, led home the field in a time of 17mins 45secs, some way off his personal best of 16:57.

Darren Shepherd, an over-45 veteran from Framlingham Flyers, was second home in 18:10, followed closely by Felixstowe Road Runners’ Gary Taylor (third with 18:11). Bethan Fothergill was the first female in a PB of 23:02.

East Anglian Daily Times: They're off and running at the start of the 284th staging of the Ipswich parkrun. Picture: ADELE CHAPLINThey're off and running at the start of the 284th staging of the Ipswich parkrun. Picture: ADELE CHAPLIN (Image: Archant)

As always, there were many taking part in their first-ever parkruns.

These ‘first timers’ included Surya Kollapudi, Adam Sellers, Katie Brown, William Johnson, Greg Rice, Anna Elliston, Jenson Ashlee, Kirstie Bates, Barbara Nolan, Ebru Fleming, Donna Willats, Cathy Johnson, Marie Malkin and Oliver Jennings.

East Anglian Daily Times: One man and his dog: action from Saturday's Ipswich parkrun. Picture: ADELE CHAPLINOne man and his dog: action from Saturday's Ipswich parkrun. Picture: ADELE CHAPLIN (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: Taking the lead: dogs as well as runners were a familiar sight at the Ipswich parkrun, held at Christchurch Park. Picture: ADELE CHAPLINTaking the lead: dogs as well as runners were a familiar sight at the Ipswich parkrun, held at Christchurch Park. Picture: ADELE CHAPLIN (Image: Archant)