Plantation Parkrun Turns 6!

For six years, locals and visitors alike have been starting their weekends with a social run through Ayr’s Plantation Park.

Plantation parkrun marked its sixth anniversary on Saturday, February 17, with 25 runners joining the celebrations.

Co-Event Director Stephen Crouther attended the first Plantation parkrun on February 18, 2018 where 90 people attended.

“Since then, we’ve run with 20-30 people each week,” he said.

“It’s good to see people turn up and volunteers turn up to make it happen.”

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Caption: 25 runners took part in Plantation parkrun’s 6th birthday run. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

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A Social Run For All To Enjoy

Since the first Plantation parkrun on February 17, 2018, 926 participants have completed 4,861 parkruns covering a total distance of 24,305-kilometres and a total of 169 individuals have volunteered 1,480 times.

In the 160 events Plantation parkrun Co-Event Director Stephen Crouther has participated in, he said he hasn’t run once, shaving his time from what was once an hour to 53 minutes to complete the 5-kilometre course.

“It’s a run, not a race, so it’s up to people as to whether they walk it or run it,” Mr Crouther said.

“Just get out and be active.”

Plantation parkrun happens every Saturday at Plantation Park where people gather to run or walk a 5-kilometre course through the park and the Juru Walk.

The event is free and open to all ages and abilities.

“It’s a good social get together encouraging people to get out and move,” Mr Crouther said.

Entirely dependent on volunteers, Mr Crouther is proud to claim the Plantation parkrun has never cancelled due to a lack of volunteers in its six-year history.

“To run each week, we really need a run director, timekeeper, someone scanning barcodes, someone handing out barcodes, and a tail walker,” he said.

“We’ve got a good team of run directors which makes this job so much simpler.

“I just want to thank everyone who has supported us over the six years.

“There have been people who have come and gone for various reasons, but I just want to thank everyone who has helped us over the years, there’s been a large number of volunteers and people who support us.

“I particularly want to thank the Council for the support they have given us too; just the fact that we can use this park, it’s a beautiful place, Council keeps it nice and tidy, and we thank them for that.”

To find out more and to register as a participant or volunteer, visit www.parkrun.com.au/plantation.

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Caption 2: Nathan Barrett

Caption 3: Drew Bursey

Caption 6: Cathy Friend

Caption 9: Nick and William Wiseman

Caption 11: Holly Giarrusso

Caption 12: Henrietta Cherry and Holly Alford

Caption 18: Ian Condon and his son

Caption 21: Rowan and Courtney Anderson

Caption 22: Stephen Crouther

Caption 23: Eddie Jones and Matilda Wiseman

Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

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