Parkrun removed all speed records earlier this week and announced it will no longer be publishing data including first-place finishes, gender, course and age records. The organisation says it is because its runs are not competitive.
The move came amid criticism over transgender women being allowed to compete in the female category. In December, at least three Parkrun female records were held by transgender women, according to the thinktank Policy Exchange.
Speaking to Sky News, former Team GB Olympic swimmer Davies, who campaigns against trans women competing in female sporting categories, cast doubt on Parkrun’s claim that the deletion was not sparked by the debate.
Davies had spent five years campaigning for Parkrun to change its approach to records – but she is unhappy they have been removed completely.
The Olympian had instead suggested that “extra categories” could be added for trans athletes.
Source: Sharron Davies questions Parkrun’s decision to delete records after trans row
About bloody time. Parkrun was meant to be a weekly fun-run in the park, for people of all ages and abilities. Instead, it morphed into a monster. People now visit other countries just to compete in parkruns and post their times on their worldwide 0nline results tables.
Last time I looked on their website, you couldn’t even just rock up to the park to take part in one. You had to enter yourself into categories first, and do all the app/online bollocks. Many thousands of people have never taken part in a Parkrun because of this.
Going back to what they originally intended to be is a long overdue move.