In October 2023 four of our members decided to start some parkrun touring by heading to the Hague in the Netherlands and doing the Zuiderpark parkrun. Since then we have went to York, Warsaw, Inis Meáin and Stranraer. Below is our report on the latter two and also what Cow Fest is all about which took place at Orangefield parkrun on 15th June. Thanks to Paul McCorry for the 3 reports and hopefully we’ll get some more trips and also reports on the first three trips.
Jablonna Parkrun Warsaw
Report to follow. Video of our run is available here.
Agnew Park Stranraer
Des, Aaron, Rowena, Tommy and Paul all took the Belfast to Cairnryan evening ferry as foot passengers with David taking the earlier ferry. For those that took the later ferry (which was smooth enough so no sickness issues), found no taxi or buses on arrival and had a nice wee adventure walking to get local bus down the road and quite late on with the bus also turning up late too – typical buses.
Thankfully it was a short trip to Stranraer and the bus driver kindly dropped them off at the North West castle Hotel which was massive and loads of rooms a bar (but not open at that time of night) and restaurant, swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi and games room, bowls, pool/snooker/table tennis tables).
But they were all there for the Agnew parkrun, so off that morning it was just a short walk to the parkrun which is beside the water and pond with swans, of which was nice and flat but loads of turning points (mostly turning left, one right turn) and run along the pier and well organised.
It was a short stay in Stranraer where they had a lovely afternoon walking about, tasty lunch and coffee and visit of the tower before whistling back to the ferry for home (bit more choppy sea but still no sea sickness issues). The group had a fun time and just to note the ferry/hotel and many coffee places being doggie friendly.
PMc
Cow Fest Orangefield
Every year a designated parkrun is picked from each country for the ever growing UK parkrun tourists to host a cowfest at that country location, this time from NI it was held at Orangefield. Several members of BRC are members of the group and attended the cowfest with other Cowlers at the parkrun.
The cowfest is associated to the Parkrun tourist and Cowell groups, of which the Cowell group was setup for those who have done parkrun at many different location parkruns. It got its name because the first parkrunner to complete 100 different parkrun events was Chris Cowell. The term cow-cowl was also then coined and members of the group can be identified at parkruns by yellow clothing with black/white cow patterns – as the first part of Cowell is Cow, so now you can spot those tourists at your next parkrun.
PMc
Inis Meáin
For the Inis Meáin (Inishmaan) trip – several of the lads from the club (Des, Aaron, Paul and Tommy) took a 4 and half hour road trip to Galway with a fun stop on the way as the Satnav added a detour just after half way but turned out to be a well deserved pit stop. In Galway they took a 8min (doggie friendly) flight to the Aer Arann Islands from Connemara Airport (Aerfort Chonamara) in Inverin and with our pilot Tommy at the helm they were in good hands and landed safely and journey was smooth and fun.
We stayed in a B&B about 20 mins walk from the airport with great scenery along the way and banter with another detour, but to the only pub on the island and a quick pint which was tasty. A lovely couple runs the An Dun B&B and is one of two on the island which is across from the fort with great views of the island and surrounding areas and not far from start of the parkrun , the one shop on the island and not far from the pub. On Friday night, there was music played in the pub by a couple with one playing on the Harp who was amazing and very inviting and always looking for audience participation.
The parkrun on the Saturday morning is at 11am and run by the locals who were mostly in the pub the night before and were great to talk too and welcoming, the run itself starts near top of a hill and runs around main parts of the island (church, shop, pub, craft shop) back round to community centre and the local wildlife (Moos) and up the tough going hill and back round and finishes up a bit of the hill and at the community centre. Some parkrunners took the ferry to the island that morning to get to the parkrun, but they walked from the port to the parkrun with enough time before the start… The lads took the plane back to Galway the following morning with a different pilot this time and spent time in Salthill & Galway City centre and had lovely lunch in Galway & shopping and enjoyed there whistle stop time there. The lads would like to thank Aaron for doing all the driving there and back home again and can’t wait for their next adventure..
PMc