PRESTATYN Running Club’s “old stagers” pit them themselves against the country’s top veterans at the weekend – and came away with two sets of team medals

Both the M55 and M65 trios took bronze in the British Masters’ cross-country championships in Birmingham thanks to excellent efforts by all six runners.


The M65 squad almost missed out, however, for third place was originally given to the host Birchfield club. It was only on the way home, when they checked the results, that the Prestatyn members realised they had been wrongly done by.

Afer a couple of phone calls to the organisers it was confirmed that they were, in fact, third and they will receive their medals in due course.

The placings were: 94 Gareth Hughes 29.04, 108 David Hughes 30.30, 114 Phil Jones 31.19.

 

There were high hopes for the M55 trio of Griff Owens, George Nixon and Neil Owen and they proved justified when, in a high quality field, they also claimed bronze. Griff, who was second M60 in last year’s championship in Belfast, just missed out on an individual medal this time, finishing fourth.

Racing against athletes aged 35 to 64, Griff was 106th overall in 32.04, George was 129th in 33.18 and Neil was 30 seconds further back in 138th place.


Less than 24 hours later Griff and George were back in action in the Border League fixture in Mold, where the men, despite numerous absentees, recorded their best points total of the season. Matthew Anwyl again led the squad home, and once again there was strong support from Gordon Jones and Oliver Harrison-Jones. It was also good to see Dean Longley returning to action, and there was a debut from new recruit John Jones.


The ladies, too, were under-strength but there was good news in the return from injury of Sian Beck and the continued improvement of Sharon Jones.


The placings were: 25 Matthew Anwyl 30.08, 30 Gordon Jones 30.21 (3rd M50), 49 Oliver Harrison-Jones 31.37, 54 Griff Owens 31.47 (1st M60), 57 George Nicholls 31.53, 71 Martin Cortvriend 32.32, 80 George Nixon 33.13, 90 Gareth Bailey34.02, 103 Tony Benton 35.13, 117 John Hughes-Roberts 36.00, 124 Gareth Harrison-Jones 36.16, 130 Mike Lindsay 36.28, 133 David A Jones 36.44, 155 Glenda Davies 37.57, 157 Sian Beck 38.11, 163 Amie Bagnall 38.50 (1st U20), 190 Eleri Goddard 41.26, 191 Sharon Jones 41.33, 207 John Jones. 43.16, 216 Helen Baxandall 44.49.

There was disappointment this week with the news that the club has not been granted a place in this year’s Welsh Castles Relay, which is regarded by many members as one of the highlights of the calendar. The event has become so popular and places are limited, that 20 clubs are missing out.

In last week’s Silverstone half-marathon, where the course included sections of the motor-racing circuit, Gareth Bailey clocked 1-35.12 in 385th place, and his brother Craig was in 3,015th place in 2-00.02.

Matthew Anwyl has been named as Runner of the Month for February following his 1-23 clocking in the Wrexham half-marathon and being first man home for the club in the Border League in Christleton.

Members are reminded of the AGM on March 25 at Offa’s Tavern, the sports quiz on March 29 and the annual social on April 2, tickets for which are now available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Phil Jones and Steve Hatfield