Gareth's Press Report - 12th July 2026

Prestatyn Running Club members are fortunate in having such different courses to run on, from the fast, flat promenade to the steep Gwaenysgor hill and intermediate venues such as the sand dunes and playing-fields.

Luckily, the club also has an ideal circuit for its annual relays at Rhyl’s Marine Lake, each lap being just short of 1,500 metres and last week four teams of seven lined up in what turned out to be a fascinating contest.

The winning team, with an aggregate time of 41.58, comprised Andy Thomas, Brian Williams, Ed Shirt, Jack Lally, Jack Richards, Rhian Jones and Tom Watkiss.

Second, in 43.54, were Andy Scott, Jack Hughes. Katie Baker, Nem James, Oliver Birch-Jones, Paul Robson and Phil Howarth.

In third place, with a time of 44.34, were Ben Thomas, Claudia Smith, Dafydd Montgomery, Geraint (?), Nicki Triggs, Owen Jones and Zack Webster, and 4th (46.39) were Caleb (?), Cathy Wood, Helena Cox, Judah Eastwell, Laura Rich, Liz Martin and Owen Gibson.

On Saturday three members joined a high-quality field in the 5k at the Shrewsbury Festival of Running, which incorporated a Wales v England masters’ international. .  Representing Wales, Tom Carter was 36th in 16.23, and he was followed by Alex Ryder (17.54) and Andy Parry (19.11)

he temperature was around 30 degrees in Shrewsbury, and it was almost as stifling at 9am for the Nova Parkrun which featured 30 club members, one of whom, Nicki Triggs, chalked up her 100th run. Ed Shirt, in fact, relished the heat, setting a new pb while coming in his best-ever second place.

The placings were: 2 Ed Shirt 19.12 (pb), 19 Robert Grima 22.28, 24 Andy Thomas 23.29, 31 Judah Eastwell 24.09, 34 Dafydd Montgomery 24.27, 35 Jack Lally 24.27, 36 Erin Thomas 24.28, 51 Martin Cortvriend 25.52, 54 Reg Jonas 26.27, 61 Neil Davidson 26.45, 66 Brian Williams 27,06, 88 Gareth Hughes 29.21, 92 Zack Webster 29.29, 94 Alice Archer 29.32, 107 Olivia Trimms 30.18, 109 Andy Scott 30.30, 110 Chris Bennett 30.30, 119 Sue Hughes 31.22, 124 Rhian Jones 31.49, 128 Rachel Jackson 32.15, 136 Claire Manifold 32.45, 140 Casey Blake 33.04, 141 Nicki Triggs 33.09, 142 Ben Thomas 33.10, 143 Nem James 33.11, 181 Claudia Smith 36.51, 218 Steve Hatfield 45.08, 234 Julie Evans 55.81 (Parkwalker), 235 Emma Birchall 55.32 (Parkwalker), 236 Linda Friar 55.38 (Parkwalker).

Other Parkrun results:- Llandrillo-yn-Rhos: 37 Paul Sanders 21.09 (pb).

Pont-y-Bala: 57 Glenda Roberts 27.13.

Park in the Past: 54 Andrew Carter 26.51.

Nant-y-Pandy: 121 Katie Newe 34.36.

Alderford Lakes: 18 Paul Robson 24.31.