THORNBURY parkrun reached a major milestone on Saturday, celebrating its 200th event at Mundy Playing Fields.

The free, weekly 5k community event has welcomed more than 4,907 participants of all ages since its first run in November 2017.

The event - which has also been supported by 464 different volunteers - has gone from strength to strength – aside from being temporarily paused during the pandemic.

Co-event director Jim Constable said: “All those involved in parkrun love it. 

“I still talk to people in Thornbury who have never heard of it or don’t know what it is. 

“They are always amazed when I tell them we are at the Mundy’s every Saturday and average roughly 80 people each week. And that it’s free!”

There have been approximately 17,430 finishes at the parkrun.

Gazette Series: Runners at the start line of the 200th Thornbury parkrunRunners at the start line of the 200th Thornbury parkrun (Image: Thornbury Parkrun)

Gazette Series: Volunteers Malcolm Carr and Richard Illingworth from Thornbury Parkrun Volunteers Malcolm Carr and Richard Illingworth from Thornbury Parkrun (Image: Thornbury Parkrun)

Gazette Series: Runners and volunteers celebrating the 200th Thornbury parkrunRunners and volunteers celebrating the 200th Thornbury parkrun (Image: Thornbury Parkrun)

Gazette Series: Rob Edwards travelled from Exeter to take part in the 200th Thornbury parkrun - which was his 300th parkrun Rob Edwards travelled from Exeter to take part in the 200th Thornbury parkrun - which was his 300th parkrun (Image: Thornbury Parkrun)

Last Saturday’s run on March 23 saw 104 people taking part in the event including Rob Edwards, from Exeter, who ran his 300th parkrun (and his second in Thornbury).

Organisers say visitors running the Thornbury parkrun are a regular occurrence, from both the UK and overseas, and are always warmly welcomed. 

Saturday’s run director was Jen Cox who was also supported by many volunteers, including numerous youngsters as part of their Duke of Edinburgh award.

Anyone interested in volunteering or taking part can visit - www.parkrun.org.uk/thornbury

It takes place at Mundy Playing Fields just before 9am on Saturdays.