COURSE records were shattered and personal best times were achieved as the first anniversary of the Saturday morning Poole Park Run was celebrated in style.

Nearly 300 runners of all ages and abilities turned up near the cricket pavilion to run 5km round the park.

“It’s not just for elite runners, it’s for everybody,” said Mel Carroll, the day’s race director.

But while some were running for fun, others were using it as useful preparation for the London Marathon on April 22.

Among them was international marathon runner and member of the Bournemouth Athletic Club, Steve Way.

First home in 15.06 minutes, the 37-year-old beat a record he set a year ago.

“This is a good course to do before the marathon,” said Steve from Penn Hill.

“It’s nice and short and you’ve got nice fresh legs.”

He has run the London Marathon six times and last year came 21st with a time of 2.19.38, the fifth British runner to finish.

Liz Yelling, from Parkstone, who is chasing the final Olympic marathon place, won the woman’s race with 16.30 minutes, another course record, and came sixth overall.

From 65 runners a year ago when the weekly runs began, they have topped 300, with 294 turning out for the anniversary run.

Among them were youngsters Nicole Saini, 15, and Charlotte Kirkpatrick, 14, who are doing Duke of Edinburgh awards, Rex Toop, 66, and Jud and Paula Kirk who ran with their children Matthew, 18, and Katie, 15.

Jud, a member of Bournemouth AC, said: “It’s a real family event. It’s a relaxed atmosphere and if you don’t have a particularly good run, it doesn’t matter.”

Visitors are welcome and one woman came from Kettering to take part, while a 75-year-old woman from Canada, staying with her son in Poole, also took part.

“It’s an absolutely fantastic venue and the results are these people,” said Mike Cure, who instigated the event after visiting one at Eastleigh.

Awards were handed out to points winners Jud Kirk, Dave Brylewski and Dave Heath and Ginette Craig, Vanessa Long and Paula Kirk, along with non-running volunteers Nigel Harding, Chris Hopkins and Brenda Palmer.

Cakes, including one in the shape of a trainer made by marshal Leila de la Mare who runs Crazymoose Bakery, were devoured afterwards and the event even has its own poet Keith Mann, whose special verse can be read on parkrun.org.uk/poole.