Stirling junior parkrun celebrated its first birthday recently (Sunday 14 June) as 50 youngsters enjoyed their weekly 2K timed run around King’s Park.

And there was an extra special celebration as seven-year-old Bailey Chohan became the first junior in Scotland – jointly with Arron Crombie from Helix junior parkrun – to gain an Ultra Marathon wristband.

Bailey was presented with the special band – which marks the completion of 50 runs and an amazing 100km - by Commonwealth Games mountain biker Kerry MacPhee who took on the volunteer role of lead bike at the event.

A delighted Bailey said: “I’m really chuffed to have got my Ultra Marathon band and I just love coming to parkrun every week.

“I always say to my mum: `If it’s on, I’m there’ and I’ve not missed a single run since it started last year.” Proud mum Hazel, of Cambusbarron, said: “Parkrun has been fantastic for Bailey and my nine-year-old son Elliott.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for children which is practically on our doorstep.” Stirling junior parkrun began on 15 June last year and has run every Sunday – apart from a few weeks when other events have been on at King’s Park – clocking up a total of 50 runs.

A total of 424 different runners, including participants from seven athletics clubs, have completed 2372 runs covering a total distance of 4744 km during that time.

And on the anniversary, the organisers handed out certificates to the group’s most consistent runners.

Bailey won first prize for the most runs in the boys’ category followed by his brother Elliott in second place and Kyle Saunders in third place.

In the girls’ category, Emma Myles was first followed by Katie Rugg in second place and her sister Kirsten Rugg third.

There were also certificates for the volunteers who make Stirling junior parkrun happen each week by covering roles such as marshalling, timekeeping, barcode scanning and tail-running.

Lesley Myles, from Doune, was named `Most Volunteeringest Volunteer 2014-15’ after volunteering 42 times for the Stirling event.

Parkruns are a global network of free, timed recreational runs that take place every weekend – with 5K runs on Saturdays for adults and 2K junior runs on Sundays for children aged 4-14.

Jog Scotland’s Billy Mitchell kickstarted the Stirling group which is led by events director Chris Perkins and a core team of Gillian Banks, Jennifer Merry and Graham Brown.

Chris Perkins said: “Stirling junior parkrun has had a fantastic first year which has exceeded all our expectations.

“It’s been wonderful to see so many youngsters running round the park every week with big smiles on their faces.

“I’d like to thank everyone for a great inaugural year - the core team, Stirling Council for letting us use the park, all our amazing volunteers and of course our fantastic runners.” Gillian Banks, who was tail-runner at Sunday’s event, added: “It’s been great to get involved in Stirling junior parkrun and being a volunteer every Sunday is the highlight of my week.

“I’d like to thank Kerry MacPhee for coming along on Sunday – she’s been an inspiration to many local children over the years and is a prime example of how hard work, commitment and determination pays off.

“But most of all she has a love of sport and knows that you have to have fun while you’re doing it which is what Parkrun is all about.” For more information about Stirling junior parkrun, check out www.parkrun.org.uk/stirling-juniors.