High Sheriff of Hertfordshire Annie Brewster visits Grange Paddocks junior parkrun in Bishop’s Stortford

The High Sheriff of Hertfordshire was a special guest at the Grange Paddocks junior parkrun on Sunday (July 28).

Annie Brewster, who is a former international athlete, is on a mission to visit every parkrun and junior parkrun in the county during her tenure.

The weekend’s event attracted 69 participants and was organised by 18 volunteers.

The High Sheriff, in all her finery, complete with dress sword, set the runners on their way for the two laps and took the time to cheer them all over the finish line and chat individually too.

Photographer Ian Penson, a prolific parkrunner and regular volunteer at Grange Paddocks, captured the occasion on camera, including Brewster’s request for the volunteers to pose like stags to represent Hertfordshire.

The High Sheriff has been a long-serving member of the Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership (HSP) Board and has adopted ‘Sport for Good’ as the theme for her year in office.

In October, parkrun will celebrate 20 years since it was founded at Bushy Park in London. There are now 16 each of the Saturday 5k events and Sunday 2k events for four- to 14-year-olds within Hertfordshire.