Gareth’s Press Report - 15th February 2026

Prestatyn Running Club’s ladies achieved the first part of what could be an unprecedented double at the weekend – and they did it in emphatic style.

They went into the final fixture of the David Alun Williams North Wales Cross-Country League at Oswestry lying in third place in Division 2, albeit just three points behind leaders Aberystwyth University.

They finished the day as champions by three points, gaining promotion to Division 1, and they are in an equally strong position in the Borders Road-Running League.

The senior men finished third in Division 2 and the over-65s’ team also took bronze, while members also came away with a clutch of individual awards.

Though the weather was ideal for running the usual cloying mud on the Oswestry course provided a real test, causing several runners to fall full-length.

The placings in the fifth and final race were:- Senior men and Masters: 9 Steve Skates 31.58 (2nd M45), 40 Oliver-Birch-Jones 36.34, 51 Gareth Jones 37.55, 76 Lee Bailey 40.54, 91 Marc Jones 43.20, 93 Matty Smith 45.40.

Men over 65: 10 Reg Jonas 25.15, 20 Martin Cortvriend 28.02 (3rd M70), 25 Mark Dakeyne 28.02, 29 Philip Howarth 28.46, 30 Arwel Jones 28.54, 36 Gareth Hughes 30.35 (2nd M75), 40 Roger Harrison-Jones 44.16 (1st M85).

Ladies: 10 Lisa Lines 21.43 (1st SL), 26 Leah Hughes 23.21, 35 Helen Ashworth 23.58, 38 Meg Lewis 24.24, 54 Erin Thomas 25.38 (3rd U20), 61 Rachel Jackson 27.01, 78 Sue Hughes 28.58, 83 Glenda Roberts 29.44, 94 Cath Wood 31.48, 99 Emma Birchall 34.77, 100 Katie Newe 35.50, 103 Clare Manley 38.14, 105 Julie Evans 43.59.

The individual awards went to Steve Skates (1st M45), Lee Bailey (3rd M45), Martin Cortvriend (2nd M70), Phil Howarth (3rd M70), Roger Harrison-Jones (1st M85), Lisa Lines (3rd L35) and Sue Hughes (3rd L65).

Medals were also presented on the day following last month’s North Wales championships in Bangor. The recipients were Steve Skates, Marc Jones and Gareth Hughes (gold), Sue Hughes and Emma Birchall (bronze).

Less than 24 hours after racing in Oswestry six of those members were in action again, and three of them picked up awards. The 1,000 competitors in the Nick Beer 10k in Llandudno had to contend with a biting headwind around the Great Orme.

Steve Skates had another outstanding run, finishing second overall and winning the M45class.

The positions were (chip times): 3 Steve Skates 35.30, 14 Oliver Birch-Jones 38.49 (1st U20), 31 Dafydd Montgomery 41.10, 39 Tom Coen 42.13, 59 Marc Jones 43.37 (1st M60), 68 Darrell Jones 44.26 (2nd M60), 143 Millie Robinson 46.57, 148 Zack Webster 47.07, 155 Helen Ashworth 47.52, 164 Martyn Barnaby 48.09, 187 Meg Lewis 48.24, 239 Andy Thomas 49.56, 258 Paul Robson 51.35, 388 Tilly Jones 54.42, 396 Olivia Trimm 54.36, 578 Liz Martin 60.57, 612 Cara Jones 60.41, 622 Debbie Jones 60.59, 662 Helen Alefounder 62.33, 694 Andy Scott 64.18, 728 Karl Martin 66.26, 942 Julie Evans 84.26.

On the same day 200 lined up in the Ruthin 10k, and recent recruit Jack Hughes finished 38th overall in 45.28. In the same venue Alex Ryder, who has a good record, there was fourth in the 5k event, clocking 18.46.

On a weekend in Scotland Ben Thomas and Nicki Triggs took to the snowy hills. Shortly after taking part in the Holyrood Parkrun in Edinburgh they travelled to the Glentress Trail Half-Marathon in Peebles.

The scenic course involved 840 metres of elevation, and Ben finished in 2-32.43, with Nicki clocking 3-10.32.

Parkrun results:-

Nova: 10 Dafydd Montgomery 19.48, 1q2 Adam Jeffers 20.16 (pb), 14 Lewis Pierce 21.08, 20 Alex Ryder 22.18, 21 Dave Ellis 22.22, 39 Andy Thomas 24.14, 40 Nem James 24.20, 50 Debby Williams 25.40, 52 Paul Sanders 25.44, 62 Millie Robinson 26.07, 67 Jamie Betts 26.21, 83 Eve Manifold 27.31, 94 Heather Battersby 27.48 (pb), 115 Alice Archer 29.19, 126 Claire Manifold 29.52, 130 Andy Scott 29.57, 208 Daniel Bull 38.26.

Moors Valley (Dorset): 46 Judah Eastwell 22.40.

Derry City: 14 Jonathon Puleston-Jones 22.39.

Holyrood: 514 Ben Thomas 33.08, 529 Nicki Triggs 33.23.