The club is very grateful to Jo Yarnall and James Nelson for organising the 2026 handicap races. In previous years these have variously been titled the Ron Reynolds races, after Ron, who revived the handicap after a gap of many years, also the ARC Race series. We have now reverted to the original title Club Handicap.
Last year's winner was Chris Moon, with Sarah Bishop and Chris Boden taking runners-up trophies. Who will take the crown this year?
Last year's winner was Chris Moon, with Sarah Bishop and Chris Boden taking runners-up trophies. Who will take the crown this year?
The series consists of 5 x 5k races, one each month from April until August. In these races, all runners' abilities are levelled, so that every runner, regardless of speed, has an equal chance of being the winner. Everyone will given a start time according to their current 5k time, with the person who has the slowest 5k time setting off first, then others following at times calculated so that all should finish at around the same time.
Congratulations to Abby Wright, who finished first in the May run, which used the same slightly altered route as April to avoid roadworks. She joins Vicki Baddeley as the winners of the monthly runs so far this year.
The full results can be found in the dashboard above, as well as here, along with a comprehensive statement of the rules.
2026 dates are:
The full results can be found in the dashboard above, as well as here, along with a comprehensive statement of the rules.
2026 dates are:
- Tues 14th April
- Tues 5th May
- Tues 2nd June
- Tues 7th July
- Tues 11th August
- Each event starts shortly after 7pm.
- We will all run the same 5k route, which starts and finishes at the Stick and Wicket car park gate. The route can be found on this Strava segment.
- The idea is that if everyone runs to form then they should finish at the same time, meaning that runners of all abilities can compete against each other.
- Approx. 30-40 runners take part
- Start times are set initially using a 5k race time you submit - this may be your best recent parkrun time but you need to be realistic if you know you have not been racing to the full at parkrun!. After the first race, start times will be tweaked according to your finishing time.
- The person with the slowest 5k time will set off first.
- Then runners will set off in 30 second intervals using start times calculated as above, so if the slowest person has a 5k time of 42 minutes and someone else has a time of 32 minutes then the second person will start off 10 minutes after the first person.
- The parkrun timing app will be used so when you finish and cross the line you will be given a position token. You will then be asked to write down on sheets provided your name next to the finish number you were given.
- The total running time will be calculated by adding the start time to the running time on the night.
- 30 points* will be awarded for the first finisher, 29 for the second etc, all the way down to 1. All who take part will be awarded at least 1 point.
*The starting number will be decided by the organiser, according to the number of participants, but will always be the same throughout the season... - The overall season's winner, runner-up and third place on points will be awarded trophies at our annual Presentation Evening.
- You will only need to compete in 3 races to qualify for the end-of-season prizes - the points table is calculated on your 3 best scores.
- There is a social time after each handicap event with members bringing some food to share.
Competitors and organisers in the first club handicap race of the year, 14th April 2026