We headed to Pomphrey Hill parkrun in Bristol because it actually comes under the Gloucestershire parkruns! It turns out this was actually one of two that I haven’t done yet!
Pomphrey Hill Playing Fields, Pomphrey Hill, Mangotsfield, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, BS16 9NF
Pomphrey Hill parkrun Facilities
The parkrun is accessible by car, bus, bicycle, or on foot. There is plenty of parking, toilets and shelter. Also boasting a play area and visitors book!
First timers briefing happened by the shelter and toilets but the main briefing was at the start.
The Pomphrey Hill parkrun sign is also at the start (because it says start on the other side)
Pomphrey Hill parkrun Course
Three clockwise laps of the perimeter of the playing fields. Described as largely flat and run on gravel and tarmac paths – including the uphill stretch fondly nicknamed “Up Pomphrey”. Although the latter was a little muddy for event 489.
The start has predicted finish time start positions but unfortunately I don’t think the people in front of me realised this and so it was a slow start.
Never mind with that hill it was never going to be a PB course but more a get out and get it done. The hill can be a bit narrow and so difficult to overtake – but to keep left and overtake on the right.
The big hill wasn’t the only elevation on the course, but what goes up also comes down.
My Experience
Pomphrey Hill parkrun I would describe as a rewarding course. You feel that you have got out and achieved something but also the volunteers were fantastic.
Reasonably clean course, but there is a bit of a mud, and so my not so muddy trainers now have mud on them (these are not my indoor totally clean gym shoes so don’t worry!).
It was raining so I took my pink jacket – which I took off and left near the area where the first timers briefing was. Thanks to the great photographer (Gary Woodruff) for capturing me in each stage of undress as I warmed up! It’s not often these days I even start in my vest top!
The first time I reached the top of the hill the marshal told me it would be easier next time. The next time I walked up – and when I got to the top I said why it was easier! The third lap not only did I walk Up Pomphrey but also the bit near where the first timers briefing was. Therefore, I didn’t catch up with my husband but all things considered I was happy with my time of 27m 35s!
The Finish
After running past where you started the finish is further up on the right – I had seen it on previous lapswhich always helps me. However, Ithought the finish was sooner than it was – and also where the cones were – but that wasn’t the actual finish. Ended up speeding up too soon – but helped the person in front of me who turned around, saw me, and went faster!
My hands were so cold that I could hardly write in the visitors’ book; however, didn’t seem any point in writing in it before I experienced the course!
Volunteers
18 of the 30 volunteer slots were taken up by members of the local Park Nordic Walkers group – many of them regulars at Pomphrey Hill parkrun. For six of them it was their very first time volunteering.
Regular volunteer, Jackie, was celebrating her 70th birthday. She has volunteered on 76 occasions and has completed 287 parkruns!
There’s a volunteers QR code to make it even easier to sign up to help out in the future 6 weeks.
A special thank you to volunteer Sarah, with her big sponge hands to encourage you before you go up Pomphrey. Hardest part was people not just running up – it is quite a relentless hill too. But then not being able to get past or run at your speed.
Pomphrey Hill parkrun Stats
For Pomphrey Hill parkrun Event 489, there were 271 participants – 131 male, 132 female and 8 unscanned. First finisher Robert had an age grading of 82.95% coming in at 17:30. Times ranged from this to 1:03:51. With the First Lady coming in at 23:43.
8 people were doing their very first parkrun and a further 35 were tourists
8 amazing individuals finished in sub 20. There were 134 sub 30s (just over 49%) and 33 people got PBs. The average time was 30:19 by that event.
Over 60s
Incredibly there were 43 over 60s. That is just under 16% of the participants.
9 over 60s completed Pomphrey Hill parkrun in a time of sub 30. That is 32% of all sub 30 runners were over 60!
The fastest over 60 participant finished in a time of 22:50 (71.46% age grading).
- 14 VM60-64 – 5 sub 30
- 4 VM65-69 – 2 sub 30
- 4 VM70-74 – 1 sub 30
- 2 VM75-79
- 9 VW60-64
- 8 VW65-69 – 1 sub 30
- 2 VW70-74
Other Nearby parkruns that we have done:
- Somerdale Pavilion parkrun (the Curly Wurly) – 3.7m
- Three Brooks parkrun – 4.5m
- Wotton parkrun – 11.6m
- Severn Bridge parkrun – 12.5m
It sounds like quite a challenging course. Well done! Great pictures too.
As it’s South Gloucestershire, I don’t believe it’s a Gloucestershire parkrun! Outsiders don’t understand they’re completely different areas, so it may have been classified as Gloucestershire by someone who doesn’t understand the difference.
Hmm yes maybe. Three Brooks is too – least I have them definitely covered now.