Gareth's Press Report - 20th July 2025

It was going to happen sooner rather than later – and Prestatyn Running Club’s captain Jonah Armstrong was understandably delighted when he claimed his first race victory last week.

It came in the 3,000-metre race at the Trafford Open Track Meeting in which he was seeded in the third race of the evening.

His aim was to break 9m 45s, and he executed it perfectly, recording negative splits and crossing the line in first place in 9-41.

On Saturday Jonah took on a captain’s role and agreed to help Matty Smith achieve his goal in the Nova Parkrun. Again, things worked out well and Matty, who is making a rapid return to fitness, finished 10th in 19.49.

Dafydd Montgomery was involved in a fascinating four-way battle and although he lost out in a sprint finish he had the satisfaction of recording yet another pb.

Erin Thomas and Eve Manifold made it 1-2 for the club’s ladies and the race also marked another step in a return to race fitness for supervet Roger Harrison-Jones.

The Nova placings were:- 4  Dafydd Montgomery 18.14 (pb), 5 Dave Ellis 18.52, 10 Matty Smith 19.49, 11 Jonah Armstrong 19.54, 13 Dean Longley 20.05, 21 Erin Thomas 21.17 (pb), 22 Darrell Jones 21.18, 26 Lewis Pierce 21.33, 28 Eve Manifold 21.49, 29 Judah Eastwell 22.06 (pb), 35 Paul Sanders 22.59, 50 Steve Weedman 24.22, 53 Neil Davidson 24.29, 77 Zack Webster 26.01, 107 Cathy Wood 28.36, 119 Casey Blake 29.22, 120 Andy Scott 29.23, 138 Debbie Weedman 31.02, 214 Steve Hatfield 38.37, 246 Roger Harrison-Jones 47.27, 247 Claudia Smith 47.39.

Other Parkrun results:- Ruthin: 26 Arwel Jones 25.02.

Shrewsbury: 583 Julie Evans 44.33.

Llangollen: 53 Glenda Roberts 29.16.

Penrhyn: 111 David Hudd 27.36.

Harris Avenue (Queensland): 9 Martin Cortvriend 25.03.

Park in the Past (Hope): 172 Andrew Carter 29.38.