Category Archives: Event Reports

01Mar/23

churchrunner (Inter)National Virtual Mob Match returns

For 2023, the National Virtual Mob Match took place a little later than usual, on 18th February, with a decent turnout at many parkruns around the UK and beyond.

In total there were 230 volunteers, walkers and runners participating for 25 Christian running groups/churches.

A big thank you to parkrun and all of the volunteers who make events up and down the country (and across the world) happen through their dedication and commitment to their local communities.

Where did we run/walk/volunteer?

An incredible 124 different parkrun locations were visited covering Jersey, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England.

A rainbow over Strathclyde parkrun

By far the furthest away of all venues was Deep Run parkrun across the pond in Richmond, Virginia! Amazingly, the alphabet was close to being covered by the first letter of each venue with only Q, U, X, Y and Z not represented!

I sampled a fairly new parkrun close to home at Stockley Country Park, the first in the London Borough of Hillingdon, a fantastic trail course.

Stockley Country parkrun, Hillingdon

Clubs and churches – who ran?

Wrangthorn Runners – The Salvation Army – Tailenders Running Club – Sutton Christian Centre Runners – St Patrick’s Tigers – Springfield Church Springers – Selsdon Baptist Church Runners – Rising Brook Runners – Refresh Church Runners – Lighthouse Church Runners – KMPC Runners – jOG Norwich – HTH Runners – Holy Trinity Church Wallington – Grace Church Dulwich Runners – Good Shepherd Runners – Emmanuel Runners – Emmanuel Church Chuggers – Croydon Vineyard Church Runners – Christian Vision for Men – Christian Runners UK – Christ Church Purley Runners – Chiltern Church Runners – Cheam Baptist Church Runners – Berry Lane Methodist Church

Once again, some familiar names and some new, 25 in all.

Results

This year, we used a simple scoring system which rewarded participation and there were bonus points for the fastest few young people, women and men. A big well done to Christian Runners UK who fielded by far the greatest number of runners/walkers & volunteers totalling 62 people, which included the fastest woman (Rebecca Sprowell) and man (Ollie Campbell).

Club Points Participants
Christian Runners UK 70 59
Tailenders Running Club 31 28
The Salvation Army 26 24
Chiltern Church Runners 25 22
Holy Trinity Church Wallington 18 9
Good Shepherd Runners 11 10
Grace Church Dulwich Runners 11 7
Christ Church Purley Runners 10 10
Christian Vision for Men 10 10
Selsdon Baptist Church Runners 9 9
Emmanuel Runners 7 6
St Patrick’s Tigers 6 4
Emmanuel Church Chuggers 6 3
KMPC Runners 4 4
Rising Brook Runners 4 4
Wrangthorn Runners 4 4
Cheam Baptist Church Runners 3 3
HTH Runners 3 3
Springfield Church Springers 3 3
jOG Norwich 2 2
Lighthouse Church Runners 2 2
Berry Lane Methodist Church 1 1
Croydon Vineyard Church Runners 1 1
Refresh Church Runners 1 1
Sutton Christian Centre Runners 1 1

In an effort to give every club a fair chance, we also calculated the average points per person. Congratulations to Holy Trinity Church, Wallington and Emmanuel Church Chuggers, Woodley for finishing joint top of that table, thanks to a sterling set of performances by the Siu family of Cindy, Stephen, Hazel and Zoe (HTCW) and 2nd fastest female finish for Chris Woolnough (ECCW). Fastest young person was Nathaniel Widdows of Grace Church Dulwich Runners.

Club Points/Person
Holy Trinity Church Wallington 2.00
Emmanuel Church Chuggers 2.00
Grace Church Dulwich Runners 1.57
St Patrick’s Tigers 1.50
Christian Runners UK 1.19
Emmanuel Runners 1.17
Chiltern Church Runners 1.14
Tailenders Running Club 1.11
Good Shepherd Runners 1.10
The Salvation Army 1.08

What’s next?

For those of you based in the south of England, or for anyone who fancies a tourist trip, our next mob match is at Dulwich parkrun on 20th May 2023 – do come and join us if you are able.

Notable mentions…

Cheryl Hudson (Good Shepherd Runners) returned for her first parkrun since breaking her leg back in September last year! We were pleased to learn that Sylvia Symes (St. Patrick’s Tigers) made an impressive return, her first parkrun since lockdown, with the 2nd quickest all-time performance in her age category at Crystal Palace parkrun. Last, but by no means least, Hannah Gordon (Good Shepherd Runners) celebrated a PB in fine style with doughnuts…and why not! 😊

Doughnuts to celebrate a new PB!

…and finally…

A selection of photos for you all to enjoy…

Bedgebury Pinetum
Forest of Dean
Littlehampton Prom
Christian Runners UK
Christian Runners UK
Christian Runners UK
Christian Runners UK
Even a pony!
In front of some grand gates
Banstead Woods
Good Shepherd Runners
Worcester Pitchcroft
Token sorting
11Feb/20

Running in Faith – the National Virtual Mob Match 2020

Another January National, and it looks like we got a good turnout.

In total there were 245 runners (7 up on last year), across 94 parkruns (up 26 on last year year) running for 20 Christian running groups/churches. Please note some runners are not listed in the individual results due to GDPR issues.

Obviously none of this would be possible without parkrun – so a big thank you to them.

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29Oct/19

Nonsuch Inter-Church Mob Match (Oct 2019)

Brilliant to see you all, 14 ran for Chiltern, 14 for Good Shepherd, 1 for Croydon Vineyard, 5 for Grace Church Dulwich 1 for All Saints West Ewell, 6 for Holy Trinity Church Wallington, 16 for St Patrick’s, 2 for the Salvation Army, 6 for Selsdon Baptist, 2 for Tandridge Deanery, 1 for Sutton Christian Centre, 2 for Hook Evangelical, & 1 for Cheam Baptist – so 13 different Churches.

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16Sep/19

Tarrant on Tour – Parts 1-14

So one of the Chiltern Church Runners is going on Tour, big time, and you can follow his adventures here – so here is part 1;

Photo of me running at Bishan parkrun, Singapore. Lesley and I took a taxi to make sure we got there. Nice core team and Volunteers. Slow time as has had to stop as so hot. It was a bit hazy due to Indonesia burning to make way for palm trees. Haze due to the wind direction it also closed the two in KL, so some tourist who had gone there came down and ran East Coast, as the haze was less down here.

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31Jul/19

Roundshaw Inter-Church Mob Match (Jul 2019)

Thank you all so much for coming, 41 ran for Chiltern, 19 for Good Shepherd, 1 for Tandridge Deanery, 10 for Holy Trinity Church Wallington, 7 for the Salvation Army, 1 for Emmanuel, 8 for St Patrick’s Tigers, 1 for Christ Church Purley, 8 for Croydon Vineyard, 1 for Springfield, 1 for All Saints West Ewell, 1 for Christian Runners UK, 2 for Grace Church Dulwich and 5 for Selsdon Baptist – 106 runners in total!

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31May/19

Lloyd Inter-Church Mob Match (May 2019)

Thank you all so much for coming, 17 ran for Chiltern, 9 for Good Shepherd, 8 for St Patrick’s, 6 for Holy Trinity Church Wallington, 11 for Emmanuel, 9 for Croydon Vineyard, 6 for New Life Christian Centre, 8 for Grace Church Dulwich, 4 for the Salvation Army, 6 for Tandridge Deanery, 2 for Springfield Springers, 1 for Church of the Holy Family, 1 for Redeemer, 1 for St Thomas Dulwich, and 38 for Selsdon Baptist 127 – runners in total – a massive total.

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02Feb/19

Running in Faith – the National Virtual Mob Match 2019

Another January National, and it looks like we got a record turnout– better weather was a help this year.

In total there were 238 runners (68 up on last year), across 89 parkruns (half as many again as last year) running for Christian running groups/churches. Please note some runners are not listed in the individual results due to GDPR issues.

Obviously none of this would be possible without parkrun – so a big thank you to them.

parkruns – where did we run?

Lloyd, Roundshaw Downs, Rushcliffe, Riddlesdown, Banstead Woods, South Norwood, Riddlesdown, St Alban’s, Dulwich, Ally Pally, Nonsuch, Swindon, Horsham, Southwick Country, Melton Mowbray, Hastings, Catton, Stormont, Orangefield, Jersey, Bushy, Walsall Arboretum, Cannon Hill, Princes, Mile End, Wimpole Estate, Cheltenham, Hillsborough, Tonbridge, Harcourt Hill, Conwy, Bromley, Long Eaton, Peterborough, Southport, Wycombe Rye, Forest Rec, Catton, Raphael, Braunstone, Cotsford Fields, Manor Field, Coldham’s Common, Heslington, Catford, Perry Hall, Stevenage, Colney Lane, Brueton, Arrow Valley, Markeaton, York, Finsbury, Southampton, Sheffield Hallam, Belton House, Burnham & Highbridge, Kettering, Chelmesford Central, Fell Foot, Eastbourne, Leamington, Northampton, Fareham, Rother Valley, Cleethorpes, Montrose, Rothwell, Conkers, Pontefract, Eglinton, Wakefield Thornes, Tamar Trails, Woodhouse Moor, Oxford, Tilgate, Upton Court, Newent, Beeston, Tooting Common, Harrow, Richmond, Cannock Chase, Isabel Trail, Poolsbrook, Eastleigh & – Yokine in Australia (well done Rupert of Holy Trinity Wallington) as well as Clermont Waterfront in the USA (thanks Karen for Chiltern Church Runners), Tokoinranta Finland (Salvation Army).

So not just National – but very International this time.

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17Oct/18

Nonsuch Inter-Church Mob Match (Oct 2018)

Brilliant to see you all, 23 ran for Chiltern, 18 for Good Shepherd, 2 for Croydon Vineyard, 5 for Sutton Vineyard, 1 for All Saints West Ewell, 6 for Holy Trinity Church Wallington, 18 for St Patrick’s, 2 for Springfield, 2 for the Salvation Army, 4 for Selsdon Baptist, 3 for Tandridge Deanery, 1 for Sutton Christian Centre, & 1 for Cheam Baptist – 86 runners in total, and from 13 different Churches.

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We were spread from position 19 to position 674 – we helped push Nonsuch to being 3rd biggest parkrun in the country that week.

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