Gareth's Press Report - 1st March 2026

Almost there! Prestatyn Running Club’s ladies turned in another fine team performance in Birkenhead Park on Sunday to extend their lead at the top of Division 2 of the Borders Road Running League.

On the day they finished behind a very strong Wirral AC squad but with two races to go they are well-placed for promotion.

In what was a good all-round showing the top performance of the day came from Erin Thomas who was first in the U20 class.

The men, too, had strength in depth, with nine among the first 100 finishers and although they topped Division 2 on the day they lie third overall.

The placings were: 34 Tom Carter 27.16, 36 Alex Ryder 27.20, 40 Aled Hughes 27.37, 47 Jonah Armstrong 27.57, 70 Oliver Birch-Jones 28.50, 83 Dafydd Montgomery 29.19, 88 Gareth Jones 29.35, 94 Tom Coen 29.49, 98 Darren Blazier 30.12, 111 Jon Puleston-Jones 30.38, 142 Marc Jones 31.45 (3rd M60), 146 Adam Jeffers 31.59, 171 Ben Thomas 32.53, 174 Erin Thomas 32.58 (1st U20), 215 Judah Eastwell 34.36, 216 Eve Manifold 34.37, 225 Emma Collins 35.04 (2nd L60), 239 Meg Lewis 35.54, 254 Tony Benton 36.44, 266 Martin Cortvriend 37.09 (1st M70), 264 Patrick Haberland 38.23, 296 Tilly Jones 39.14, 300 Philip Howarth 39.32 (3rd M70), 324 Mark Dakeyne 40.40, 331 Sue Hughes 41.03 (2nd L65), 332 Neil Davidson 41.08, 341 Rachel Shipton 42.01, 351 Nicki Triggs 43.17, 362 Liz Martin 44.56, 369 Helena Cox 45.29, 374 Grahame Shone 46.17 (1st M75).

Those in Top 10 places in their age-groups on aggregate are:- Oliver Birch-Jones (4th U20), Aled Hughes (7th M35), Darren Blazier (4th M50), Marc Jones (3rd M60), Tony Benton (7th M60), Martin Cortvriend (2nd M70), Philip Howarth (4th M70), Grahame Shone (1st M75), Erin Thomas (6th U20), Eve Manifold (5th SL), Meg Lewis (7th SL), Beth English (8th SL), Emma Collins (2nd L60) and Sue Hughes (2nd L65).

Paul Robson was the latest club member to find that Anglesey is not as flat as many people imagine. In Sunday’s 10k there were plenty of hills and so was satisfied with his time of 50.30 in 78th place.

Eleven of those who turned out in Birkenhead had participated in Parkruns the previous day. In the Nova event Alex Ryder did a great chaperoning job, helping Lisa Lines to slice 26 seconds off her pb. At the same venue Andy Scott recorded his 100th Parkrun.

The placings were: 2 Dafydd Montgomery 19.05, 6 David Hudd 20.19 (pb), 7 Lisa Lines 20.46 (pb, 1st female), 8 Alex Ryder 20.49, 13 Lewis Pierce 21.42, 22 Jamie Betts 22.39, 39 Oliver Birch-Jones 24.20, 44 Andy Thomas 24.55, 50 Dave Ellis 25.29, 52 Paul Sanders 25.33, 67 Mark Dakeyne 26.31, 86 Meg Lewis 28.17, 98 Cathy Wood 29.04, 111 Andy Scott 29.50, 113 Adam Jeffers 29.53, 116 Claire Manifold 30.03, 221 Martyin Cortvriend 51.11 (Tailwalker).

Llandrillo-yn-Rhos: 10 Jonah Armstrong 19.50, 29 Nem James 21.20, 62 Ben Thomas 23.34, 101 Steve Weedman 25.24, 216 Nicki Triggs 29.27, 226 Debbie Jones 29.58, 229 Debbie Weedman 30.09 (pb), 257 Mike Davis 31.18, 297 Emma Birchall 32.47, 379 Clare Manley 39.16 (pb), 381 Julie Evans 39.21 (pb).

Greenfield Valley: 38 Andrew Carter 30.51.

Ruthin: 95 Roger Harrison-Jones 36.12.

Ludlow: 91 Claudia Smith 39.16.

Alderford Lake (Whitchurch): 10 Jenna Bagnall 24.57.