Episode 445 - Rainbows, Recordings and the Riesling Trail
2026-03-13
HostsLyndell Murray Sarah Jefferson Simon Mackley Tony O'Connell
GuestsSheridan Laws Sue Mayfield
Show notes
PALM26, the best time of the year! Lyndell, Sarah, Simon and TOC took the podcast to the Clare Valley in SA. The Adventurers enjoyed a live pod recording at Clare Rise Bakery. There was talk of all things Clare Valley and an interview with the ED Sheridan Laws and one of the RDs, Sue Mayfield. Adventurers popped into Dazza’s live, the quizmaster worked his magic and there were milestones a plenty. Disclaimer: Lots of carbs were consumed in the recording of this podcast.
Enhanced transcript
Checked transcript — speakers named, sound described, segments marked.
Read the transcriptGuests
Sheridan Laws
Her parkrun journey (first parkrun Torrens, June 2014; second at Rockingham WA; joined Clare Valley at its second event and took over as ED ~18 months in), what she loves about run directing and volunteering, the Clare Valley community as a second family, why adventurers should visit (small field of 60-70, wineries, railway trail), and her Bushy Park bucket-list wish.
Sue Mayfield
How her husband Alan (chairman of the Riesling Trail committee) got her into parkrun, starting at Clare Valley's second event in 2016, 304 volunteer credits and heading for 500, parkruns in Sweden and England (including a memorable cow-filled paddock), why Clare Valley is worth visiting, and a wish to run parkrun in Munich with her sister.
In this episode
Dazza's
Lyndell at [00:08:04]: "we would normally go to our Dazza's section but Dazza is on holidays this week" — so the live audience supplies it instead, with three volunteers describing their parkrun morning: Helen (Yackandandah Rail Trail), Bianca (Parramatta, PB at Clare Valley today) and David from Newy. TOC then adds an unscheduled fourth: Andrew Blander (home parkrun Cooks River, Sydney), who ran his 250th at Clare Valley and deliberately shifted the milestone a week so friends at Palm could be there.
Launches and anniversaries ("Where is the cake?")
Sarah at [00:11:15]: "now it's time for launches. However, in Australia and New Zealand, it is obviously still Saturday... It looks to be no launches in Australia so far today." TOC adds that it covers Australia, New Zealand, Japan and nearby time zones — nothing happening "in parkrunville other than palms". A nil return this week.
Meet the ED
Live on-stage interview with the two hosts of the day's event: Sheridan Laws, Event Director of Clare Valley parkrun (218 runs at 27 locations, 215 volunteer credits), and Sue Mayfield, one of its run directors (182 runs at 16 locations, 304 volunteer credits). Covers Sheridan's first parkrun at Torrens in June 2014, taking over as ED ~18 months after the event started, and her Bushy bucket-list wish; Sue's start at the second Clare Valley event in 2016 via her husband Alan (chairman of the Riesling Trail committee), her push toward 500 volunteers, a memorable cow-filled paddock parkrun in England, and a wish to run in Munich where her sister lives. Interviewed by Tony O'Connell and Lyndell Murray.
Quiz time — Philstad (leading on six points at the final score readout; no explicit winner announcement recorded)
Live Palm quiz run by quizmaster Simon Mackley, with Chris scoring and Sam as referee. Four contestants: Philstad (WA, 488 parkruns), Leigh (NSW, 264 parkruns), Cherie Martin (SA-born, 223 parkruns at 124 locations) and Ryan Stoddard (QLD, tourist streak 146, Wilson Index 205). Question types: multiple choice, higher/lower, Who Am I, Where Am I. Topics included SA Statesmen numbers, Australian parkruns starting with V, Clare Valley's course records (Madeline Heiner 17:16; an elite male 14:58), and the seven parkruns worldwide containing "Clare". Final score readout has Philstad on six points, well clear; no tiebreaker was needed. Trophy made by Stephen Davis; prizes included a Clare Valley tea towel, an Adventurers buff, local olive oil, a stubby cooler and a fridge magnet.