FLASHBACK: When Conwy Parkrun beat Covid and reached World Cup Final

Report by Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

Updated from April 26, 2020

Last Saturday Conwy Parkrun and others across the UK fell victim once again to extreme weather conditions, this time caused by snow, ice, and freezing temperatures.

During these past few weeks, a succession of exceptional storms have also forced the cancellation of many similar and popular events.

These important decisions to cancel, taken by appointed run directors, were quite right and essential to help protect the health and safety, not only of participating runners, but also that of the hardworking volunteers and marshalls who freely offer their time each and every week.

Last Saturday (January 11), should have been Conwy’s 10th anniversary, but due to the postponement
will now go ahead this week – subject to weather – at the RSPB Nature Reserve.

This temporary lull in the busy parkrun calendar though, reminded me of the torrid time of Covid, which first struck in 2020, and continued for much of the next 18-months, with a long series of parkruns and other running events cancelled.

Far from being totally downhearted however, innovative running enthusiasts though, used this opportunity to organise a series of individual virtual events, with athletes competing online in local 5k, 10k, or varied distance runs, without any potential health risks.

It was also a time, when due to these exceptional and restrictive circumstances, Chester parkrun officials introduced a unique online competition to try and find the most popular parkrun venue both in the UK, and worldwide, with a special World Cup of Global Tourism event.

The idea was to encourage parkrun regulars, and their supporters, to vote online for their favourite tourism location.

The response was quite extraordinary, and it soon created a fascinating knock-out type challenge staged over several rounds, with thousands of people voting online and eventually nominating some 24 parkrun venues, including popular tourist locations from around the World, with some based in Australia, Germany, Holland, Norway, and around the UK. 

As the competition took hold, it later seemed quite bizarre, and perhaps a shade unfortunate that two teams situated about 30-miles apart in scenic North Wales, should eventually meet in the Grand Final 

Newborough Forest from Ynys Môn eventually won this epic local derby parkrun battle over
their North Wales rivals Conwy, to lift this prestigious global tourism prize, with both teams
recording a record number of votes.

It was perhaps also confirmation that the spectacular scenery, and the warm, friendly welcome always offered to visitors in normal times, was fully appreciated worldwide. 

In a dramatic 24-hour final and all staged online, Newborough led for most of the way, and backed by tremendous Island support, fully deserved their victory.

The eventual finalists had proved their popularity throughout, with each team celebrating outstanding successes on their journey to the finals, with both defeating quality overseas opposition. 

Conwy beat Bibra Lake from Australia, Amsterdam, and Barry Island before eventually facing Newborough, who had previously knocked out Welsh rivals Swansea Bay, Georgengarten from Germany, Yeppoon from Australia, and The Eden Project.

The choice for supporters of both parkruns had been made even more difficult in this match, as people were only allowed to vote once via Facebook, or Instagram, and the fact that many runners often took part in 5k runs at both locations.

For Conwy though, it was probably a ‘Bridge Too Far’ after completing two tough matches the previous week, including a close, record-breaking semi-final encounter with Barry Island only the day before. 

The competition though, proved a massive hit throughout those challenging times, and created a tremendous amount of interest throughout the parkrun community. And although some early matches only attracted a few hundred votes, this new concept quickly gained momentum, with a record 2,700 voting in Conwy’s semi-final tie, followed by over 4,300 people supporting both teams in the final.

Newborough Forest won this spectacular World Cup Final by just 300 votes, but their deserved lap of honour and celebrations remained on hold until lockdown restrictions were eventually lifted. They were worthy winners, and both teams proved a credit to both the global parkrun community, and especially to North Wales!

The World Cup of Parkrun Tourism 2020 – round by round results:

1st round results:
The Eden Project 68-28 Richmond, Ashton Court (Bristol) 12-80 Bibra Lake (Western
Australia), Stavanger (Norway) 47-55 Amsterdam, Rother Valley 25-81 Edinburgh, Riverside
(Chester-Le-Street) 72-22 Queen Elizabeth (Horden, Hants), Newborough Forest
(Anglesey) 103-10 Brockenhurst (New Forest), Fountains Abbey (Yorkshire) 61-43 Fell Foot,
Swansea Bay 25-69 Barry Island. 
Round 2: Lovstien (Norway) 38-63 Barry Island, Normandy Hall (North Lincs) 60-31 Cardiff,
Georgengarten (Hannover, Germany) 38-67 Newborough Forest, Yeppoon (Australia) 49-29
Riverside (Durham), Amsterdam 55-12 Doddington Hall (Lincoln), Whitley Bay 27-47 The
Eden Project, Edinburgh 53-43 Fountains Abbey, Bibra Lake (Australia) 45-53 Conwy.

Quarter finals: Normandy Hall 26-57 Barry Island, Amsterdam 47-100 Conwy, Yeppoon 12-
95 Newborough Forest, The Eden Project 51-50 Edinburgh.

Semi-finals: The Eden Project 46 -115 Newborough Forest, Barry Island 1,200-
1,500 Conwy.

World Cup Global Tourism Final

Newborough Forest 2,300 – 2,000 Conwy