This week’s spotlight on Parkruns, in Suffolk and Essex, falls on the Colchester Castle Parkrun:

East Anglian Daily Times: Runners at the head of the field at the start of the Colchester Castle Parkrun, near the bandstand. Picture: NIGE BROWN.Runners at the head of the field at the start of the Colchester Castle Parkrun, near the bandstand. Picture: NIGE BROWN. (Image: Archant)

The Colchester Castle Parkrun regularly attracts fields over 300 runners, and sometimes even 400-plus, and last Saturday morning was no exception.

A field of 335 congregated at the start, near the band-stand in the Upper Park, to tackle a tough course featuring a stiff incline up and around the castle on each of the two laps.

Edward Mitchell was first home in 18mins 12secs, which was 21 seconds slower than his personal best for this 5K course.

Jonathan Nears celebrated his 49th Parkrun with 18:29 in second. Over-40 veteran Nears, a member of Colchester Harriers, has a best of 17:22 for this course.

East Anglian Daily Times: Gemma and Olivia Barnes, with John Fuller, stretching before the start of Saturday's Colchester Castle Parkrun. Picture: NIGE BROWN.Gemma and Olivia Barnes, with John Fuller, stretching before the start of Saturday's Colchester Castle Parkrun. Picture: NIGE BROWN. (Image: Archant)

Teenager Nebay Debesay, of Braintree & District, was third home in 18:47, a PB, followed by over-50 veteran Andy Raynor, from Colchester Harriers, who clocked 18:52 in his 93rd Parkrun.

Laura Shewbridge, also of the Harriers, was the first female finisher and ninth overall in 19:30. Youngster Jasmine West (15-17 year-old age group) was second in 21:45, and Sadie Moore was a Colchester Castle Parkrun ‘first timer’ in third (21:54).

As usual, there were many ‘first timers’ making their debuts at the Colchester Parkrun.

In addition to Moore, those first timers in the first 100 finishers included Ken Summers, Katy Fidler, Steve Lynn, Gemma Cann, Paul Stephen, Tim Allen and Glenn Hellyer.

East Anglian Daily Times: Malkiat Singh limbers up on Saturday. Picture: NIGE BROWN.Malkiat Singh limbers up on Saturday. Picture: NIGE BROWN. (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: Runnin past the castle at the Colchester Castle Parkrun. Picture: NIGE BROWN.Runnin past the castle at the Colchester Castle Parkrun. Picture: NIGE BROWN. (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: Young and old taking part in the 241st Colchester Castle Parkrun.Picture:NIGE BROWN.Young and old taking part in the 241st Colchester Castle Parkrun.Picture:NIGE BROWN. (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: Louisa Braddock with son, Harvey. at the Colchester Castle Parkrun event. Picture: NIGE BROWN.Louisa Braddock with son, Harvey. at the Colchester Castle Parkrun event. Picture: NIGE BROWN. (Image: Archant)