CVMS Takes Over Fulham Palace parkrun
History was made last Saturday as the very first Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School parkrun took place, attracting almost 750 participants, including over 200 CVMS parents, staff and students. This milestone event brought together past and current members of our school community, whether they were volunteering, running or cheering from the sidelines. Alongside this, it marked one of the most significant days in the history of Fulham Palace parkrun, with the 7th highest attendance and the 3rd highest volunteer turnout across 545 events in total.
This shared sense of spirit was central to the success of the day; our Headmaster Mr Cosgrove described the event as “a wonderful occasion which exemplified the strength and togetherness of the Vaughan community.”
At the start of the parkrun, there were two first-timer briefings to support those unsure, with an additional CVMS representative to answer any questions regarding the event or route. This additional guidance proved particularly valuable given the high number of new participants. Approximately 370 were first time runners at Fulham Palace parkrun, with around 250 participating in their first ever parkrun, many of whom stepped out of their comfort zone to support us.
The scenic backdrop further enhanced the experience, with the route consisting of three laps of the park with a straight along the Thames. With only three metres of elevation, it was accessible for all ages and abilities, who were all able to appreciate the stunning river views.
The performance of CVMS students at the front of the field was particularly memorable. Six of the top ten finishers were affiliated with the school- including an outstanding 2nd place finish in 17:12 by one of our fifth form students. This was followed by very strong finishes in 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 9th places, highlighting the exceptional talent within the school community.
Among those competing at the front, Mr Mooney commented on his experience saying: “What a fantastic occasion! Unless we do another takeover, I can safely assume that I will never see so many familiar faces at another parkrun for the rest of my life. They say that parkrun isn't a race, but I can't deny that I was overjoyed to be one of 6 top 10 finishers from CVMS. It was super good fun to compete at the front with some of CVMS' finest young runners. Congratulations to everyone from the Vaughan who completed 5k, huge thanks to everyone who volunteered, and double congratulations to the 3 boys who beat me! Until next time...”
The parkrun featured a wide range of performances across the field with many participants achieving personal milestones and completing the course with determination and enthusiasm whether by walking, jogging or sprinting their way round.
One of our own Lower Sixth top ten runners, Jodh S, whose time was his “best so far” commented that “it was a brilliant success, and it was great to see so many pupils, teachers and parents taking part and volunteering.” He highlighted the level of preparation for the participants beforehand, particularly “the Lower school boys with the daily block runs in the week before.”
Fulham Palace parkrun provided a completely new experience for many participants, offering the opportunity to take part in a large-scale participation event and step away from a school environment.
Miss Vernon-Powell reflected on her experience saying how she “really enjoyed the CVMS parkrun takeover. It was so good to see the whole community in a different location, with parents, pupils, alumni, and staff all interacting in a non-school setting.”
Not only this, but local runners and visitors lined the course to participate or cheer alongside the CVMS volunteers and organisers, contributing to the unique and welcoming atmosphere of the event. The takeover would not have been possible without the organisation, support and dedication of staff, volunteers and the wider parkrun collective who helped put it all together.
Finally, we are proud to have been the first school to organise our very own successful parkrun and hope that this marks the beginning of a new tradition for our school in the years ahead, inspiring other schools to get involved too.
You can view more photos from the event here.
