Gareth's Press Report - 17th May 2026

Two members of Prestatyn Running Club have received a unique honour by being named as the North Wales Cross-Country Association’s first Life Members.

The announcement was made at the Association’s AGM in Gwersyllt where both Roger Harrison-Jones and Gareth Hughes had turned up to represent the club.

Roger, still competing at the age of 89, is a legend in the sport, having won the very first North Wales League fixture in 1958.

He has gained numerous honours including being reserve for the Welsh team for the Empire (now Commonwealth) Games in 1958, captaining the Welsh cross-country team five times and picking up awards at international level.

Gareth, 80, who founded Prestatyn Running Club in 1982 and is currently club president, was recognised for his work in organising local, regional, national and international competitions, and finding challenging courses at different venues. He also still competes in road and cross-country events.

Both have previously received Meritorious Awards from Welsh Athletics.

Twenty club members were among the large field in Sunday’s Chester half-marathon, some of them having taken things easy in the previous day’s Parkruns.

The finishing times were (chip times): 102 Dafydd Montgomery 83.22, 121 Oliver Birch-Jones 83.58, 300 Lewis Pierce 89.05, 317 Ben Lewis 89.46, 344 Kieran Williams 89.44, 423 Adam Jeffers 91.57, 444 Luke Bodman 92.20, 520 Marc Jones 93.32, 1166 Zack Webster 1-41.31, 1337 Judah Eastwell 1-43.28, 1496 Jonah Armstrong 1-44.59, 1591 Jack Hughes 1-42.48, 2218 Tilly Jones 1-50.07, 2027 Andy Thomas 1-50.46, 2658 Olivia Timms 1-54.19, 3220 Owen Gibson 1-56.50, 3410 Alice Archer 1-56.29, 4270 Laura Rich 2-06.27, 5556 Casey Blake 2-19.04, 5627 Claire Manifold 2-20.05.

Karl Martin had his best run in a long time in the latest event in the Tuesday Evening Fellracing Series, a severe up-and-down race on Y Garn. He was the first of five members in the line-up, coming 94th overall in 52.48.

Other placings were: 98 Neil Davidson 54.05, 101 Mark Dakeyne 56.23, 102 Phil Howarth 56.37, 106 Liz Martin 63.01.

Twenty members turned out for a “naked” 5k on the Dyserth walkway in which they had to guess their finishing time and leave their watches behind.

The most accurate estimate came from the club’s most improved women, Tilly Jones, who was just six seconds out.

The results were: Tilly Jones 23.54 (6 secs)), Andy Thomas 25.54 (16s), Chris Bennett 23.06 (24s), Tom Coen 20.25 (24s), Owen Gibson 25.28 (32s), Ben Thomas 25.54 (39s), Judah Eastwell 23.13  (47s), Nem James 27.13 (27s), Phil Howarth 27.16 (49s), Dean Longley 23.22 (50s), Paul Sanders 23.23 (57s), Nicki Triggs 30.07 (57s), Dafydd Montgomery 18.47 (1m13s), David Hudd 20.09 (1m21s), Nick Chadwick 20.49 (1m41s), Helena Cox 30.05 (1m56s), Sue Hughes 26.26 (2m.04), Cathy Wood 27.30 (2m10s), Stephen Langley 23.55 (2m20s), Laura Rich 26.18 (3m24s).

Alex Ryder travelled to Manchester once again for the Trafford open track meeting and was slightly disappointed with his time in the 3,000 metres, taking just a second of his previous time, finishing in 10-20.

On Saturday he was part of a club double as he and Lisa Lines were the first man and woman in the Nova Parkrun.

Results: 1 Alex Ryder 18.21, 3 Evan Lewis 19.22 (pb), 5 Dean Longley 19.54, 11 Lisa Lines 23.59, 12 Erin Thomas 23.30, 13 Tom Coen 23.30, 16 Oliver Birch-Jones 23.33, 17 Ben Lewis 23.34, 30  Tilly Jones 24.37, 34 David Ellis 24.48, 45 Andy Thomas 25.37, 55 Rachel Jackson 26.24, 66 Dafydd Montgomery 28.01, 108 Cathy Wood 31.32, 147 Judah Eastwell 34.46, 177 Mike Davis 38.37, 178 Jo Lewis 38.38, 208 Jamie Betts 56.08 (Tailwalker).

Other Parkrun results:- Wepre: 86 Cara Jones 33.42, 121 Julie Evans 46.49.

Park in the Past: 26 Martin Cortvriend 24.07 (pb), 55 Andrew Carter 26.15.

Erddig: 289 Clare Manley 40.26.

Milford Waterfront: 62 Claudia Smith 32.46.

Swansea Bay: 303 Debbie Jones 29.36.

Penrhyn: 202 Katie Newe 31.30.

Roma Pineto (Rome) : 3 Jack Lally 22.38.