🎩 The Draw Is Done – Let the Knockout Begin (Again!)

After a high-stakes night at the pub, filled with pint glasses, tactical chatter, and a fair bit of drama, the SBH Parkrun Knockout Competition is officially underway for another round!

🎩 A Change in Management...

Now, we must address the elephant (or rather, the giant top hat) in the room. Anna put in a valiant effort wearing the iconic steampunk headpiece, but faced with a tiny head and an oversized hat, gravity completely won the battle! The hat swallowed her whole—pulling right down over her eyes and leaving her utterly blind to the draw.

Having lost her seat as official draw-master due to total lack of vision, our independent adjudicator Oliver stepped in to save the day, expertly pulling out all 16 pairs.

And since Anna was officially relieved of her duties, Bernice has now stepped up to take total charge of the weekly spreadsheet wizardry! 📊✨

• 

• 

⏱️ The Mission: Round 1

We aren't going to bore you with a long explanation of the rules here—if you need a refresher on how the benchmark system works, head over to the SBH Parkrun Knockout Challenge page.

If you still have questions after checking the website, feel free to drop a message in the SBH at parkruns WhatsApp group or ask Bernice directly!

Here is what you need to know for Round 1:

• Deadline: All pairs need to finish their Round 1 match ideally by 31st October.

• Opportunities: You have 7 parkruns over the coming weeks to complete your duel.

• The Matchup: Get in touch with your opponent and agree on a venue. Running the same parkrun course on the same morning is highly encouraged for maximum drama!

• 

💡 Top Tip for Week 1!

Why not get Round 1 done and dusted this coming Saturday at Tawd Valley parkrun?

Since Ormskirk parkrun is cancelled this weekend—and especially if you are marshalling at the Madley 10k on Sunday—it’s the perfect excuse to lace up, meet your rival at Tawd Valley, and battle it out for glory!

Check out the match-up photo below to see who you've drawn, contact your opponent, get out there, and may the best benchmark-crusher win! 🏆💛🖤