Gareth's Press Report - 10th May 2026

The mood at Prestatyn Running Club’s annual awards night was even more upbeat that usual after the most successful 12 months for many years.

It was fitting that the event, held at Rhuddlan Golf Club, came just two days after the presentations for the 2025-26 Borders Road-Running League in which both the men and women have gained promotion to Division 1.

The ladies have also been promoted in the David Alun Williams North Wales Cross-Country League.

At the Borders League presentations, held at the Nova, where the Prestatyn club hosted the end-of-season relays, individual awards went to Emma Collins (2nd L60), Sue Hughes (2nd L65), Marc Jones (2nd M60), Martin Cortvriend (2nd M70) and Grahame Shone (1st M75).

The success of the past 12 months in terms of growth and results was underlined at the awards night, with numerous nominations having been received in most of the categories

Twelve nominations were received for the main award, that for Member of the Year, the nominees being Meg Lewis, Gareth Jones, Lee Bailey, Dafydd Montgomery, Clare Manley, Nem James, Nicki Triggs, Duncan Longley, Ben Thomas, Mark Dakeyne, Marc Jones and Oliver Birch-Jones.

The winner chosen by his fellow-members was Ben Thomas, who, until recently co-ordinated the training sessions and successfully applied for grants towards the club’s development.

The other award winners were:- Road-running – Alex Ryder and Eve Manifold; Cross-country – Marc Jones and Lisa Lines; Fell-running – Gareth Jones and Rachel Jackson; Most improved – Nem James and Tilly Jones; Best new member – Phil Howarth; Captains’ awardsw – Lee Bailey and Julie Evans; Volunteer of the Year – Emma Birchall; Grand Prix winner – Nicki Triggs.

In Lee Bailey’s absence his report summarising the year’s outstanding  achievements was read by Gareth Jones.

Another busy week of races began with the third race in the Tuesday Evening Fellrunning Series on Moel Lus, near Penmaenmawr, one of the shortest in the series.

The placings were: 31 Gareth Jones 29.22, 47 Jonah Armstrong 30.42, 67 Ben Thomas 32.25, 137 Neil Davidson 37.40, 138 Andy Thomas 37.44, 172 Mark Dakeyne 42.33, 175 Phil Howarth 42.20, 183 Nicki Triggs 44.57, 186 Karl Martin 47.22, 188 Liz Martin 47.25.

On Friday evening three members more than held their own in the usual high-quality field in the Christleton 5k, Tom Carter winning the M40 class in 15.45. He was 31st overall, with Oliver Harrison-Jones 129th in 17.16 and Oliver Birch-Jones 149th in 17.30.

The Snowdonia Half is one of the region’s toughest and most scenic 13-mile races, starting and finishing in Llanrwst. On his second attempt on the course David Hudd took over five minutes off his previous best, clocking 1-39.17 in 29th place out of 690 starters.  Ann Claire Jones was 117th in 2-23.07 and Helen Alefounder 158th in 2-35.42.

On the same day three of the club’s ladies travelled to Llangollen for the  popular10k race, much of it on the canal towpath. Their placings were: 122 Claire Clarke 63.54, 187 Emma Birchall 72.40, 218 Julie Evans 87.12.

A week after his London Marathon outing Nem James showed why he has been named as the most improved member, setting a pb of 1-54.22 in the Newcastle – Gateshead Half and following it up with another pb in the Ellesmere Port Parkrun.

Full Parkrun results:- Nova: 3 Jonah Armstrong 19.02, 6 Dafydd Montgomery 201`2, 11 Adam Jeffers 21.05, 12 Judah Eastwell 21.07 (pb), 13 Jamie Betts 21.20, 21 David Ellis 23.16, 32 Martin Cortvriend 24.05, 34 Neil Davidson 24.13, 43 Jack Lally 24.31, 44 Oliver Birch-Jones 24.33, 45 Zack Webster 24.34, 50 Ed Shirt 24.41, 54 Kieron Hughes 25.01, 80 Alice Archer 27.31 (pb), 90 Mark Dakeyne 28.34, 125 Claire Manifold 31.20, 148 David Roberts 32.12.

Conwy: 8 Ben Garnett 19.57.

Flint: 7 David Hudd 21.15.

Llangollen: 8 Lisa Lines 20.41 (1st lady)45 Glenda Roberts 27.37.

Ellesmere Port: 39 Nem James 24.32 (pb).

Park in the Past: 74 Andy Carter 28.12.

Penrhyn: 178 Katie Newe 31.42.

Sheringham (Norfolk): 42 Reg Jonas 25.09 (pb).