SPORTSMEN and women were chilled but not thrilled at the weekend as the big freeze hit 2025's first weekend of fixtures.
But no less than 158 runners got their 5k parkrun fix on New Year's Day at Monmouth's Chippenham Fields.
Mid Wales visitor Matthew Benson of Maldwyn Harriers was celebrating after storming around the course first in a sizzling 17 minutes 19 seconds PB, just pipping Forest of Dean AC's Marcus Bennetto by six seconds.
Parc Bryn Bach’s Sam Lewis Jones was third in 18.44, 13 seconds up on teenager Christopher Benson.
Fifth was Ashley Middlewick of Thames Hare & Hounds in 19.20, five seconds ahead of Alastair Masterton, with Reading Roadrunners' Grant Hopkins next in 20.06.
Ledbury Harriers’ over-55 Steve Rooke crossed in 20.30, followed by fellow vet Russell Morris of Metros RC in 20.59.
First woman home was a local though, Spirit of Monmouth’s Faye Johnson finishing 10th overall in 21.05, 31 seconds up on Alison Stuart, with Stephanie Loveland just pipping Chepstow Harriers' Jane Roscue for third by four seconds in 23.24.
Spirit's Toni Merola crossed in 23.18, FoDAC over-60 Brian Francis in 24.31 and Monmouth Rock Up and Run over-55 Nick Kent in 25.28.
MonRoss Trailblazer Tony Davies ran 25.42, exactly a minute ahead of Spirit over-55 Jeremy Creasey, who squeezed in three seconds ahead of Chepstow over-65 Mike Evans.
Harriers' Denise Evans was fastest over-60 woman in 27.15, pipping MonRoss over-50 Emma Davies by 14 seconds, who crossed with club mates Neil Harper and Catherine Finlay.
Spirit's Marina Wright was close behind in 27.40, followed by her club mate Renske Bouwens in 29.15.
Other Spirit runners were Andrew Hillis (33.07) and Julie Gee (35.09), while Chepstow over-85 Syd Wheeler impressed by crossing in 52.52.
Parkruns also beat the freeze on Saturday, with MonRoss runners attending no fewer than seven separate events, including one in Poland.
Toby Dickens started the year with a 17.45 PB finishing second in Brighton’s Preston Park run.
Will Mynott also finished third overall in 18.25 at Hereford, where Emma Humphries ran a PB 25.04 running alongside club mates Catherine Finlay and Lowri Turner.
Martin Turner ran a 21.08 PB at Mallards Pike in the Forest, where Emma Davies was fourth woman in 24.02 running alongside Matt Webb, with club mates Tony Davies and Adam Gray coming home in 25.20 and 29.52 respectively.
At Lydney, Faye Johnson was first woman again and fourth overall, finishing her 99th parkrun in 21.35.
Dan Sandford was fifth fastest at Five Acres’ Forest parkrun, crossing in 21.14.
And further afield, Gavin Jones took a big step in completing the parkrun alphabet challenge, travelling to Poland and ticking off 'Z' by running a snowy Zielony Jar parkrun in 29.12.
Go to https://www.parkrun.org.uk to register for parkrun and to find locations.
Meanwhile, Spirit’s ‘Couch to 5k’ programme starts on Tuesday, January 14, at 6.50pm at Monmouth School Sports Complex on Hadnock Road.
The C25K is for everyone, whether they have never run before or you want to get more active, and is an easy way of getting fitter and healthier.
The nine-week course costs £20 leading to a graduation 5k parkrun.
Email [email protected] to register or for information