Gareth's Press Report - 26th July 2026

The contrast in challenges taken on by members of Prestatyn Running Club over the past week could hardly be greater – ranging from a 100-mile ultra involving 24,000 feet of ascent to a slightly downhill 5k.

With two of the club’s ladies also becoming North Wales champions it’s been an interesting few days.

Undoubtedly the greatest achievement was that of David Hudd (pictured), who completed the 100-mile Lakeland 100 trail race.

A veteran of several ultras, he was determined to finish as an injury had forced him to pull out two years ago.

“Completing it this time made it all the more satisfying,”  .

“In most of my previous ultras I have felt like dropping out at some stage, but not this time,” he said.  “I felt strong, despite the torrential rain over the last five hours.”

The race started in Coniston on Friday evening and David finished in 35h 26m 13s, in 239th place and was 43rd in the M50 class.

It was left to six ladies to fly the club flag in Sunday’s Breakwater 5-mile race in Holyhead, which incorporated the North Wales championship.

In her first race for some time Ann Claire Jones won gold in the L50 class and Glenda Roberts took the L65 title.

The full placings were: 25th lady Ann Claire Jones 32.08, 34 Glenda Roberts 33.21 (also 3rd L65 in open race), 47 Cara Jones 36.48, 48 Helen Alefounder 37.38, 54 Katie Newe 39.16, 65 Julie Evans 50.04.

As usual, the club was well represented at the annual Race the Highland Train 5k in Caernarfon which always produces fast times.

The outstanding performance on the evening was that of Oliver Harrison-Jones who led the 26-strong Prestatyn squad home in 11th place overall, with a superb time of 16.28. Ryan Bateman was just one place behind him.

The positions were: 11 Oliver Harrison-Jones 16.28, 12 Ryan Bateman 16.46, 20 Andy Parry 17.45, 28 Danny Williams 18.04, 31 Dafydd Montgomery 18.14, 43 Jamie Betts 18.37, 52 David Tudor 19.31, 68 Darrell Jones 20.07 (2ndM60), 83 Judah Eastwell 20.57, 103 Andy Thomas 21.56, 108 Ben Thomas 22.14, 124 Nem James 22.51, 159 Philip Howarth 24.24 (2nd M70), 190 Andrew Scott 25.35, 209 Nicki Triggs 27.02, 215 Cathy Wood 27.30, 219 Helena Cox 27.51, 224 Karl Martin 28.18, 225 Cara Jones 28.21, 226 Liz Martin 28.30, 230 Debbie Jones 28.41, 246 Claudia Smith 30.43, 257 Clare Manley 32.32, 262 Roger Harrison-Jones 33.38 (1st M85), 267 Lesley Furneaux 34.21, 276 Julie Evans 37.39.

The same evening the club’s other Oliver  - Birch-Jones – travelled to the Birkenhead 5-mile race, a long-standing quality race. He finished 31st overall in 29.25.

Supervet Martin Cortvriend was among members who doubled up at the weekend, following an outing in the Lurgan Park Parkrun in Craigavon with a run in Sunday’s Hillsborough Castle 10k, in which he won the M70 class in 51.45.

As so often in the past, competitors in the Nova Parkrun faced a headwind in the opening and closing stages on the prom but it didn’t seem to hinder most, and the club claimed 11 of the top 30 places.

Placings: 3 Jonathon Puleston-Jones 19.46, 4 Dafydd Montgomery 19.46, 8 Ben Lewis 20.53, 15 Robert Grima 22.40, 17 Eve Manifold 22.58 (1st lady), 22 Alex Ryder 23.07, 23 Lewis Pierce 23.10, 25 Tom Coen 23.23, 26 Jack Lally 23.26, 27 Owen Gibson 23.27, 28 Jenna Bagnall 23.30, 33Paul Sanders 24.54, 54 Neil Davidson 25.54, 62 Katie Baker 26.45, 77 Geraint Blackwell 27.41, 102 Tilly Jones 29.17, 158 Claire Manifold 32.12.

Other Parkrun results:- Conwy: 76 Nem James 27.03 (pb), 102 Liz Martin 28.55, 137 Karl Martin 31.33.

Greenfield Valley: 23 Andy Carter 27.45, 64 Steve Hatfield 41.09.

Park in the Past: 116 Cathy Wood 30.53.

Flint: 32 Andy Thomas 24.03, 71 Ann Claire Jones 27.13 (pb), 112 Helen Alefounder 30.55 (pb).

Lurgan Park: 50 Martin Cortvriend 26.45.

Nant y Pandy: 103 Katie Newe 34.01.

Garvagh Forest (Coleraine): 28 Brian Williams 29.50.

Bury St Edmunds: 75 Reg Jonas 25.39.