For 2023, the National Virtual Mob Match took place a little later than usual, on 18^th 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.

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.

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).

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 2^nd fastest female finish for Chris Woolnough (ECCW). Fastest young person was Nathaniel Widdows of Grace Church Dulwich Runners.

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 20^th 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 2^nd 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! 😊

…and finally…

A selection of photos for you all to enjoy…

It was fantastic to be back, and I’d love to do a big report to do it justice, but circumstances mean a little something is better than nothing!
With some late additions we had 91 running for the Churches – a great number.

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.

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.

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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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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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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Thank you all so much for coming, 13 ran for Chiltern, 12 for Good Shepherd, 8 for Holy Trinity Church Wallington, 3 for Emmanuel, 10 for St Patrick’s Tigers, 5 for Croydon Vineyard, 1 for New Creation Church London, 1 for All Saints West Ewell, 16 for Selsdon Baptist Church, and 10 for Grace Church Dulwich– 79 runners in total!

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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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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.

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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