Volunteers key to June parkrun comeback

Fareham parkrun event director Andrew Smith is quite literally counting down the days to the potential restart date of the hugely popular community 5k run.

The Fareham resident is one of thousands of keen runners across the country to have been lifted by news from the UK branch of the organisation of a planned June 5 restart in England.

That’s under 100 ‘sleeps’ until an agonising wait - after all events nationwide were stopped last March because of the pandemic - can be ended.

The Saturday morning 5k runs have increased in popularity nationally and across the area in recent years with courses locally in Havant, Lee-on-the-Solent, Whiteley, Portsmouth Lakeside, Southsea and Fareham.

Smith remains optimistic numbers will not drop off when events return - indeed, more runners might be keen to take part in parkruns when they do finally restart.

The Fareham event director said: 'We’re just saying it’s 99 sleeps until the day - not that we’re counting.

'We’ve obviously got a lot of prep to do prior to that.

'We’re very excited about it when everyone emerges from their isolation and whatever.

‘A lot of people will be looking at the lockdown pounds that they’ve put on and thinking, ‘ohhh,’ and others that haven’t ran for a while will be thinking, ‘that’s probably enough time for me now to get out, a few couch to 5ks, before the big day starts.

‘There’s plenty of time, people can plan, they can come back slowly and not go completely crazy and the reassurances from the government and various running associations will improve as we get closer to that deadline.’

Smith will contact the numerous volunteers who used to turn out weekly at the course to see if they are comfortable with returning.

Making sure parkruns are safe for everyone is paramount in making sure it returns.

During the Fareham parkrun’s 212 events, 637 people have volunteered - compared with 7,247 different runners taking part.

Smith explained: ‘Our biggest issue is not with the runners, it’s actually with the volunteers; although a lot of those are eldery and they will be into their second jab by then, there could still be some concern.

‘Without the volunteers we can’t run the event so we’ll be contacting our volunteers to see with each of them what their individual circumstances are and how willing they are to come back.

‘That’s going to be our task for the next six to eight weeks but, by and large, we’re all very excited.’

Junior events for children aged between 4-10 are due to begin again from April 11.

■ Got a grassroots sports story for The News? If so, please email sport@thenews.couk or contact head of community sport Simon Carter on 02392 622141.

Miles Harding knows more than most when it comes to understanding how crucial amateur boxing clubs can be within communities across the country.

During his 20-year stint as a coach at Leigh Park ABC, he is in no doubt both he and other trainers played a part in helping members 'avoid prison or trouble' through the club.

And that is why he has such great concern at what the future might hold for gyms and amateur venues across Britain amid the pandemic.

The grassroots boxing scene, along with all other sport at 'non-elite' level across the country, has been hit hard by the Covid-19 outbreak.

Amateur clubs are currently closed for the third time in less than a year with the country placed under a third nationwide lockdown.

The picture is bleak across the board but grassroots boxing was dealt a further blow as it was not one of 11 sports included to receive Government funding support through the £300m Sport Winter Survival Package.

But Harding, pictured, now a professional trainer working with Michael Ballingall's crop of fighters, says something must be done to ensure the future of amateur boxing in Britain.

‘I would like to see that the help amateur boxing clubs need is given. I don’t know what will happen to these clubs,' he confessed.

‘For the right sort of town and community, the boxing club is very important.

‘Quite a few of the boys from the boxing club have gone on, you think when they come through the door, ‘we’ll do well to keep you out of prison or trouble,’ but some of them have got a good little business, kids and a stable family.

‘I’ve saved some people, I can pat myself on the back, kids that should have been locked up have gone onto be builders, plumbers, gone into the Army and been a success.

‘We go to places like the nasty end of Wales, Bristol and London - it’s more than a youth club, put it that way. I do worry a little bit about it.'

Leigh Park ABC is now run by

Billy Bessey who returned to the club where it all began for him as a 10-year-old just over a year ago.

Despite the struggles faced, Harding is delighted to see his former gym being 'brilliantly' run.

But it's those he doesn't know as much about he remains fearful for.

‘The one big thing that worries me at the moment, my old club is Leigh Park ABC which is being brilliantly run by Billy, but some clubs are in real trouble,' added Harding.

'I see that Anthony Joshua put some money in but I’m not really sure if it filters all the way back and it’s not really his job, it’s for the Government to do.

‘Some of these boys, say Billy who’s an ex-soldier who works on the bins and does this in the evening, it’s not his full-time job.

‘They’re community places, for sure.' - LEWIS MASON