GAVIN SMITH made a successful return to Hampshire in the latest Southampton Parkrun event.

The former Winchester AC athlete is currently registered with London club Newnham & Essex Beagles.

But he is based in Kenya, where he coaches and trains with some of the leading distance runners who use the training camp facilities in the African country.

Smith won the 33rd Southampton Parkrun event held on the Common with an outstanding time of 15 minutes and 40 seconds on the 5k course.

With the local road race calendar slightly less active than for many weeks, the local Parkruns enjoyed a bumper weekend.

The total turnout at the three events in Southampton, Eastleigh and Netley Abbey nudged 600 particpants, no doubt helped by a pause in the seemingly constant wet weather.

Southampton topped the charts with 337 competitors, not far off their record of 358 set on January 5 this year.

Netley Abbey had 127 runners for their 50th Parkrun, compared to their record of 204 last April.

As for Eastleigh, who were celebrating their award for contribution to the growth of sport from Eastleigh Borough Council, they had 85 runners for their 139th Parkrun.

Their record entry is 290.

There was a milestone recorded in the Netley event, where John Tussler became one of only 15 runners to compete in 100 Parkruns.

Of his century, 57 Parkruns have come at Netley, with Eastleigh his next favourite course with 35.

The events are becoming increasingly popular throughout Hampshire, with regular 5k runs also being staged in Andover, Basinsgtoke and Havant as well as on the Isle of Wight.

Parkrun results in today's Daily Echo.