Gareth's Press Report - 21st June 2026

Nine o’clock on Saturday morning means just one thing to thousands of runners, joggers and walkers – and that is Parkrun time.

Many participants rarely, if ever, venture beyond their local courses while some attempt something different each week and others are Alphabet Parkrunners, ticking off venues which begin with different letters.

A clear leader of Prestatyn Running Club’s Travellers’ List is veteran Martin Cortvriend, whose 433 appearances have been in 222 different Parkruns around the world.

The runs he has visited range from Etna, on Sicily, and Minnipi, in Brisbane, to Cokers – at the National Forest in Leicestershire – and Wormwood Scrubs, not the prison but in Shepherd’s Bush Park.

While Martin was ticking off his latest – at Penrith on Saturday – another club member, Claudia Smith also reached another milestone in Prestatyn with her 250th Parkrun. Of those, 83 have been in the Nova event.

Martin had a busy few days before Saturday’s Parkrun.  On Wednesday he was the only Prestatyn member  in the Up The Beast fell-race at Maeshafn, near Mold. Though only 7.5k it is really testing with 425 metres of climb. He finished 69th in 66.08.

The day after his Penrith run he competed in the Bampton Sports fell-race, near Haweswater, a 5.5 mile race with 860 feet of climb, and was 24th in 70.18.

Three members made the lengthy trip to the Nantlle Valley for the Tal-y-Mignedd race,  the penultimate event in the Tuesday Evening series. Neil Davidson finished 89th in 59.18, Karl Martin 111th in 69.40 and his wife Liz one place and 14 seconds behind him.

With no local races at the weekend 38 club members were in Parkrun action, 16 of them on the Nova course.

Results of the Nova run: 10 Jonathon Puleston-Jones 201.7, 15 Robert Grima 21.21 (pb), 22 Ben Lewis 22.07, 26 Jamie Betts 22.39, 27 Eve Manifold 23.03 (1st lady), 28 Lewis Pierce 23.04, 31 EdShirt 23.39, 31 Judah Eastwell 24.09, 37 Paul Sanders 24.29, 38 Marc Jones 24.39, 54 Tilly Jones 25.43, 59 Ann Claire Jones 26.12, 90 Jo Lewis 29.13, 156 Claudia Smith 32.55, 186 David Tudor 36,04, 259 Helen Alefounder 47.40.

Other results:- Llandrillo-yn-Rhos: 105 Ben Thomas 24.16, 207 Rachel Jackson 28.03, 240 Rhian Jones 28.53, 251 Cathy Wood 29.16, 276 Cara Jones 30.17, 320 Sarah-Jane illiams 32.45, 394 Emma Birchall 36.40, 410 Clare Manley 38.14 (pb), 444 Julie Evans 43.22, 445 Nicki Triggs 43.32, 475 Suzanne Evans 52.14, 476 Sue Hughes 52.15.

Greenfield Valley: 18 Brian Williams 28.08, 68 Debbie Jones 53.07 (Tailwalker).

Park in the Past: 55 Andrew Carter 26.11, 81 Glenda Roberts 28.53.

Conwy: 127 Karl Martin 31.06 (pb).

Pont y Bala: 25 Andy Thomas 25.12.

Penrith: 85 Martin Cortvriend 24.32.

Trentham Gardens: 167 Jenna Bagnall 26.27.

Vicarstown (Co.Laoise): 65 Katie Newe 33.13.

Carrigfergus: 6 Jack Lally 20.59.

Next weekend the club is holding its annual social weekend, this time in Anglesey instead of Aberdaron. After taking part in the Newborough Forest Parkrun they will have a social run near Aberffraw, and a meal has been organised on Saturday evening.

While enjoying their running in the good weather members should spare a thought for a stalwart of the club, ex-captain Arwel Jones, who recently had surgery on his foot and will have to wear a boot for a couple of months.

Celebrating Claudia's 250th parkrun with cake