Della Hatfield and John Bell ran the fastest parkrun times in the UK this weekend (15th April).

Our weekly parkrun top ten is sponsored by 1001 Running Tips by our editor Robbie Britton. Want to run faster at parkrun in 2023 or your next marathon then order your copy today.(PBs not guaranteed, but very likely).

With an event like the National Road Relays on we often see slower times in the parkrun top 10, as the best of English clubs send their teams to do battle over 12 stages of long and short legs. This year in Sutton Park in the Midlands saw some excellent competition and full report will follow in tomorrow’s weekend round-up.

That didn’t slow our parkrun athletes down too much though. We still saw two women under 17 minutes, one chap under 15 and 15:26 and 17:52 being the times needed for 10th place. The hard work of spring is paying off for many.

Della Hatfield ran a hefty parkrun PB today of 16:43 in York. The City of Hull AC athlete has already been bettering PBs all over the shop in 2023 with 10k and 10 mile already gone with 34:00 at Trafford 10K and 59:23 at Ferriby 10 in March and January repetitively. 2022 saw a big leap forward for the V35 with a 2:49 at London Marathon in October and that form is continuing strong.

John Bell, unattached on the parkrun website but we’re guessing it’s the chap coached by Mark Pollard who runs for Inverclyde, was fastest male runner. 14:48 at Greenock for a 13th parkrun is a solid showing, even if we’re not sure it is his 13th outing. It’s great whatever number it is. Bell has a 14:36 5000m PB from last year so seems the likely culprit for this one, and if so, it’s his first 2023 outing.

The rest of the best (a different spin this week)

Chelsea Rose Baker was second fastest female athlete in 16:58 this week. At super quick Cardiff parkrun, which hasn’t featured as much in recent months, the Bristol and West runner hasn’t been under 18 minutes for parkrun before, but has a 16:51 5k best from the Home Countries International 5K last August and sailed home to a new PB today.

Also up in Scotland Peter Avent was second male runner with 15:11 in Edinburgh. Avent, who has featured in this list an awful lot, ran his fastest parkrun of 2023 but a bit slower than his 14:48 best and behind his 14:33 5k road mark from Sri Chinmoy 5K last May. The legs are coming together though clearly, so we expect a quicker run next time again from the Shettleston Harrier.

Kirsty Walker (17:25) and Joe Sagar (15:17) both stepped onto the virtual podium in third today. Walker, of Reading AC has a 16:19 5000m best and the Loughborough Student has run 16:52 for 5k on the road as well. Sagar, of Spenborough & District, has a road PB of 14:08 at Podium 5k a couple years back and has been busy in 2023 with a 66:21 win at Brass Monkey Half Marathon in January a great way to kick off the year!

The fastest course?

It was looking like a three way split with two marks, but Dulwich parkrun pulled it out of the bag at the last second with a Jonathan Tipper equaling Mark McKelvie with 15:26 for joint 10th spot. You could say he Tipped the balance. I’ll get my coat.

Women’s Rankings

Men’s Rankings