Gareth's Press Report - 28th July 2025

As strong contingents of Prestatyn Running Club headed west for two popular races last week it was the club’s male roadrunner of the year Marc Jones who completed the “double”.

After winning the M60 class in the Race the Train 5k in Caernarfon on Wednesday he did the same on Sunday at the Breakwater 5-mile race in Holyhead, which incorporated the North Wales championships.

In the 5k the trio of Dan Williams, Dave Ellis and Oliver Birch-Jones were placed third in the team competition, and, with Eve Manifold, third also in the mixed team event.

The placings were: 9 Dan Williams 16.53 (1st M40), 16 Dave Ellis 17.28 (2nd M40), 17 OliverBirch-Jones 17.39, 35 Marc Jones 19.02 (1st M60), 48 Darrell Jones 19.40 (2nd M60), 57 Eve Manifold 20.36, 63 Judah Eastwell 20.49, 87 Meg Lewis 21.46, 105 Steve Weedman 22.46, 111 Nem James 23.03, 113 Zack Webster 23.17, 150 Rachel Jackson 24.02, 198 Nicki Triggs 27.05, 202 Cara Jones 27.17, 211 Debbie Jones 27.37, 225 Debbie Weedman 28.29, 246 Lesley Furneaux 30.49, 247 Emma Birchall 30.56, 274 Julie Evans 37.21, 275 Simon Bonfield 38.34, 279 Suzanne Evans 40.53,

Just five days earlier Nem James had been the club’s sole representative in the Ras yr Wyddfa international race. Though he has taken to the hills this summer it was his debut in such a testing and prestigious event and he finished in 2-51.29.

While several members doubled up at the weekend by running Parkruns the day before the Breakwater 5 Cara Jones and Julie Evans did two races in 24 hours. On Saturday they travelled to Dolgellau for the annual Ras Ffordd y Dol, another 5-miler with a stiff climb in the first mile. Cara finished in 47.12 and Julie in 66.44.

The out-and-back Breakwater race is naturally often affected by strong winds but conditions were excellent this year. The club positions were: 17 Dave Ellis 29.47, 30 Marc Jones 32.59 (1st M60), 37 Lewis Pierce 33.49, 79 Meg Lewis 37.16, 85 Zack Webster 37.54, 99 Phil Howarth 39.37 (2nd M70), 108 Arwel Jones 40.42, 113 Ally Reid 41.22, 149 Cara Jones 44.53, 163 Mike Davis 48.25, 165 Casey Blake 48.53, 166 Eve Manifold 48.53, 167 Tilly Jones 48.53, 178 Emma Birchall 53.00, 181 Jo Edwards 53.58, 187 Julie Evans 64.39.

The most encouraging feature of the weekend’s Parkruns was the return of Luke Bodman. who has been out of competitive action for a long period.

In the Nova run in Prestatyn he was not only the club’s first finisher but set a new pb in the process.

 The placings were:- 10 Luke Bodman 20.31 (pb), 14 Jamie Betts 20.43, 17 Alex Ryder 21.02, 24 Dave Ellis 22.11, 42 Marc Jones 24.12, 45 Meg Lewis 24.14, 47 Nem James 24.25 (pb), 51 Neil Davidson 24.50, 72 Reg Jonas 26.26, 92 Rachel Jackson 27.32, 109 Casey Blake 29.00 (pb), 199 Grace Longley 35.59 (pb), 200 Dean Longley 35.59, 240 Roger Harrison-Jones 42.18.

Other Parkruns:-

Ruthin7 Steve Weedman 23.35, 39 Debbie Weedman 29.16.

Erddig: 127 Glenda Roberts 30.14.

Chester: 322 Steve Hatfield 39.01.

Harrogate: 290 Nicki Triggs 29.49.

Land’s End: 8 Steve Stocker 20.42.

Samford Parklands (Queensland): 19 Martin Cortvriend 24.00.