Gareth's Press Report - 18th August 2025

Though there is a proliferation these days there are still some long-established events which many club runners make sure are noted in their diaries.

One of those is the Capenhurst 5k, organized by Ellesmere Port Running Club, which always attracts a good quality field and, being flat, produces fast times.

So it was last week when 17 members of Prestatyn Running Club took part and seven of them finished inside 20 minutes. Among them was Matty Smith, who recorded his best time since 2019 and Marc Jones, who just missed out on a top-three placing in the competitive M60 class.

Eve Manifold recorded her fastest 5k time other than that for the Race the Train 5k in Caernarfon which isn’t included in rankings because of the downhill gradient.

The placings were (chip times): 45 Jonah Armstrong 16.46, 52 Tom Carter 16.59, 93 Dave Ellis 17.52, 132 Matty Smith 18.42, 151 Dean Longley 19.12, 181 Marc Jones 19.46, 187 Steve Stocker 19.55, 197 Canyon Wilson 20.14, 199 Darrell Jones 20.26, 202 Eve Manifold 20.30, 263 Meg Lewis 22.41, 266 Dan Liddle 22.59, 266 Zack Webster 22.55, 277 Nem James 23.39, 296 Martin Cortvriend 24.48 (2nd M70), 301 Arwel Jones 25.09, 338 Gareth Hughes 28.01 (1st M75).

Instead of going to Capenhurst Alex Ryder once again travelled to Stretford for the latest Trafford track meeting. He is still working his way back to full fitness, and clocked 10-41 in the 3,000m, finishing fifth in his heat. As a training exercise he then ran the 800m in 2-31.

On Saturday he was among 24 members who turned out in the Nova Parkrun and was the club’s first finisher in fourth place overall. Five of the 24 had attended the club’s social run/walk in Cyffylliog the previous evening.

The Nova results were: 4 Alex Ryder 19.18, 4 Dafydd Montgomery 19.41, 7 Oliver Birch-Jones 19.48, 11 Darrell Jones 20.47 (pb), 15 Paul Sanders 21.55, 16 Dave Ellis 21.56, 22 Lewis Pierce 23.35, 28 Lisa Lines 24.18, 32 Neil Davidson 24.29, 37 Steve Weedman 24.38, 38 Will Lines 24.42, 50 Eve Manifold 25.42, 53 Philip Howarth 25.50, 81 Mark Dakeyne 27.42, 92 Nem James 28.04, 114 Andy Scott 29.55, 116 Rachel Jackson 30.03, 123 Cath Wood 30.19, 125 Meg Lewis 30.32, 145 Debbie Weedman 31.57, 163 Lesley Furneaux 33.48, 168 Emma Birchell 34.03, 198 Linda Friar 39.45, 206 Roger Harrison-Jones 42.36.

Other Parkrun results:-

Ruthin: 68 Glenda Roberts 31.01.

Chester: 381 Steve Hatfield 38.44.

Sheringham (Norfolk): 90 Reg Jonas 26,27.

Montalto Estate (Co Down): 82 Martin Cortvriend 28.31.