DUNOON’S first official parkrun got off to a flying start on Saturday as 119 runners, joggers and walkers crossed the finish line at West Bay.
The launch of West Bay parkrun Dunoon last weekend marked the culmination of almost two years of work by the volunteers behind Promrun Dunoon, who have been staging a free weekly 5km event in the town since October 2024.
Their long-term ambition was to bring the global parkrun phenomenon to Dunoon, and on Saturday that finally became a reality.
The inaugural event attracted participants from across the UK and much further afield, with visitors travelling from Australia, Aberdeen, Cornwall, Cumbernauld, Falkirk, Greenock, Leven, Livingston, Kilmarnock, Okehampton and St Andrews.
Neil Lafferty made a little piece of local sporting history by becoming the first person to cross the West Bay parkrun finish line, completing the 5km course in an impressive 17 minutes and 23 seconds.
The average finish time across the 119 participants was 32 minutes and 13 seconds, while the event’s tail walker completed the course in 58 minutes and 11 seconds.
Despite several members of the organising team having experience of parkruns elsewhere in the country, there were understandable nerves as they prepared to replace the familiar Promrun with Dunoon’s first official event.
Those nerves quickly disappeared, however, as the inaugural run went smoothly, with plenty of cake waiting at the finish line to celebrate the milestone.
Event Director Christina Bartram said: “After wondering if a parkrun would be feasible in Dunoon, I was absolutely over the moon at having 119 people take part on Saturday.
“The whole thing went smoothly, and we had nothing but positive comments and smiley faces all round.”
Parkrun is a global network of free, timed 5km events held every Saturday morning, with participants able to run, jog or walk the course.
West Bay parkrun will now take place every Saturday at 9.30am, starting close to the college, with a first-timers briefing held at 9.20am.
There is no charge to take part, although participants are encouraged to register with parkrun before attending. Registration provides a personal barcode which allows times and participation to be recorded at parkruns around the world.
Children and those with buggies are welcome, although youngsters under 11 must be accompanied by an adult. Dogs can also take part on a short, hand-held lead.
Organisers hope the weekly event will encourage more people in Cowal to get active while also providing a new boost to Dunoon’s visitor economy.
Parkrun tourism has become increasingly popular, with enthusiasts travelling to complete different courses around the UK and overseas.
West Bay could prove particularly attractive to dedicated parkrun tourists because its name begins with the letter W and includes a compass point – both features sought out by participants completing various parkrun challenges.
Christina added: “Thanks to them, we are able to bring the parkrun to Dunoon, which will not only benefit the residents but also businesses as it will bring in tourism to the town.
“And now we are part of the parkrun family, we look forward to welcoming new volunteers visiting to tick us off their list.”
Getting Dunoon onto the official parkrun map has involved considerable work behind the scenes.
The team had to identify and establish a suitable route, complete risk assessments, shadow and take over the running of established parkrun events elsewhere and secure the funding needed for insurance, equipment and other costs.
The launch was made possible with financial support from Dunoon Presents, Shearwater Marine Services, Argyll Forestry Services and Western Ferries.
Christina said: “Without them, this couldn’t have happened.”
While Christina leads the event as Event Director, she is supported by run directors Ciorsdan Fagan, George Fagan, Phil Kidman, Alison Munro, Sarah Norman and Ian Royle, alongside a wider team of volunteers.
A significant number of volunteers are needed each Saturday to fill the various roles required to stage the event safely, and the team is keen to hear from anyone interested in getting involved.
Volunteering also forms a major part of the wider parkrun community, with participants able to record their volunteering activity and work towards milestones in the same way as those completing the courses.
Christina explained: “It also couldn’t happen without our regular volunteers, who give up their Saturday morning.
“From myself and the rest of the team, thank you to everyone involved – runners, walkers, volunteers and visitors.”
Following the success of its first official outing, the team is now hoping to see even more local people joining the West Bay event – whether running, jogging, walking, volunteering or simply coming along to cheer participants on.
West Bay parkrun Dunoon takes place every Saturday at 9.30am, with the first-timers briefing at 9.20am. Registration is free through the parkrun website, while anyone interested in volunteering can contact [email protected].
