Club parkrun championship 2026

Our club parkrun championship is a great way to join other Dragons in parkruns across the region.  Members are divided into mixed gender groups (selected at the start of the year) comprising runners of similar ability with points awarded based on finishing position in the group for each race.

There are two championship trophies up for grabs – the groups winner and the most improved runner.

The following parkruns will host the Championship in 2026:

  • January 31 – Phillips
  • February 28 – Oldham
  • March 28 – South Manchester
  • April 25- Peel
  • May 30 – Chadderton Hall
  • June 27 – Bolton
  • July 25 – Pennington Flash
  • August 29 – Watergrove
  • September 26 – Wythenshawe
  • October 31 – Heaton Park
  • November 28 – Alexandra
  • December 12 – Cheadle Hulme

How it works

The Club parkrun championship runs from January to December. To take part in the championship you must

  • be a member of Dragons at the time of the parkrun
  • be registered with parkrun UK
  • have indicated in your parkrun registration details that you are a member of Dragons Running Club (you can update your details in your parkrun profile)
  • have a time registered in the results for that parkrun
  • have indicated that you wish to take part by providing a parkrun/5K best time from the 12 months prior to the start of the Championship. 

You must complete at least five runs to qualify for either championship trophy. For the group trophy, if you take part in more than five runs, your best five runs will count. 

The groups competition consists of mixed gender group comprising runners of similar ability. Further details are available here.

Within each mixed gender group, the Dragon finishing highest placed in the parkrun from that group gets 10 points, the second placed Dragon gets 9 points, third placed 8 points and so on. The winner of the groups competition is the person with the most points following the final parkrun. If 2 or more members end the season on the same points then the winner is the person with the highest number of points overall. If there is still a tie the groups competition will be shared.

There will also be a prize for the most improved runner. You will be given a base time (based on your best 5K/parkrun time from at least three 5Ks/parkruns during the previous 12 months prior to the start of the championship). If you haven’t done at least three 5Ks/Parkruns in the previous 12 months you can take part in the groups competition but not the most improved runner competition. Anyone joining the club once the championship has started will be eligible for the most improved runner competition the following year.  Your best time from the current year’s club parkrun championship runs will then be compared to your base score to give you an overall increase/decrease figure. The winner of the most improved runner prize is the person who has taken part if at least 5 parkrun club championship events with the highest increase figure. 

Previous parkrun championships