Gareth's Press Report - 7th September 2025

For over 30 years Deestriders’ Off-Road Grand Prix has almost felt like an in-house competition for Prestatyn Running Club, and this year’s series was no exception.

In last week’s fourth and final race, one-third of the competitors were in the red vests, and 15 members came away with end-of-series awards in their age-groups.

Among them were Erin Thomas, Lewis Pierce and Philip Howarth, for whom it was their first year in the competition.

The placings in the final race were: 5 Oliver Birch-Jones 25.52 (1st U20) , 11 Dave Ellis 26.58, 13 Dafydd Montgomery 27.24, 15 Lewis Pierce 28.10, 18 Evan Lewis 28.57, 28 Marc Jones 31.26 (2nd M60), 29 Erin Thomas 31.22 (3rd lady overall, 1st U20), 30 Judah Eastwell 31,27, 33 Zack Webster 31.58, 41 Philip Howarth 34.00 (1st M70), 43 Nem James 34.21, 46 Mel Lewis 35.19, 49 Tilly Jones 37.02, 51 Sue Hughes 38.38 (1st L65), 155 Nicki Triggs 40.27, 56 Debbie Jones 40.33, 57 Carly Wong 41.01, 58 Mike Davis 41.47 (1st M75), 63 Emma Birchall 46.46, 66 Liz Martin 46.46, 66 Steve Hatfield 51.53 (2nd M75), 68 Julie Evans 57.00 (2nd L60).

Age-group awards went to Lewis Pierce (2nd SM), Matty Smith (2nd M35), Tom Carter (1st M40), Steve Stocker (2nd M50), Marc Jones (2nd M60), Philip Howarth (eql 1st M70), Mike Davis (1st M75), Steve Hatfield (2nd M75), Erin Thomas (1st Lu20), Meg Lewis (1st SL), Liz Martin (3rd L45), Debbie Jones (2nd L55), Emma Birchall (3rd L55), Julie Evans (2nd L60), and Sue Hughes (1st L65).

It was Sue’s second award of the week, as two days earlier she won the L60 class in the Ruthin 5k.

Eight club members took part, and their placings were: 5 Dafydd Montgomery 18.54 (3rd SM), 15 Steve Stocker 20.48, 46 Martin Cortvriend 24.49 (1st M70), 48 Elly Reid 24.53 (1st L50), 60 Sue Hughes 26.44 (1st L60), 69 Gareth Hughes 27.46 (2nd M70), 88 Helen Alefounder 29.43, 116 Julie Evans 39.33).

It was a busy weekend for the club with almost 50 members competing in various parts of the country, and some of them doubling up in two events.

Philip Howarth, who joined the club only last summer, added yet another trophy to his collection when he won the M70 class in Sunday’s Caernarfon half-marathon, which incorporated the North Wales championship.

The club placings were: 40 Darrell Jones 1-36.21 (2nd M60), 85 David Hudd 1-44.24, 113 Zack Webster 1-48.22, 195 {Philip Howarth 1-58.39 (1st M70), 119th female: Cathy Wood 2-14.05 (3rd L60 and 2nd in NW championship), 156 Claire Clarke 2-24.45, 368 Sion Jones 2-44.56.

On the same day Marc Jones also took on a half-marathon, the Big Half in London, and clocked 1-36.

Undoubtedly it was off-road captain Gareth Jones who took on the toughest challenge, the Ultra Eryri 50-mile race. After a 6.30am start in Betws y Coed, it took in the summit of Yr Wyddfa, Glyder Fach and Glyder Fawr before returning via Llyn Crafnant. The wind was so strong, however, that the Heather Terrace section on Tryfan was by-passed. Gareth finished a superb 26th in 11-16.55.

Club members chalked up two victories in the weekend’s Parkruns through Alex Ryder on the home ground of the Nova run and Tom Carter in the Tamar Lakes run in Devon. The first female in the Nova run was former Prestatyn member and Welsh international Katie Parry, originally from Rhyl and now based in Leeds.

The results were:- Nova: 1 Alex Ryder 19.16, 3 Dafydd Montgomery 20.12, 12 Dave Ellis 21.45, 13 Ed Shirt 22.07, 15 Judah Eastwell 22.09, 16 Paul Sanders 22.20, 18 Jamie Betts 22.27, 19 Darrell Jones 22.32, 31 Lisa Lines 24.01, 32 Will Lines 24.04, 40 Neil Davidson 24.48. 52 Beth English 25.49, 78 Gareth Hughes 28.00, 80 Casey Blake 28.11, 150 Claire Manifold 33.34, 196 Steve Hatfield 38.57, 206 Linda Friar 40.14, 237 Emma Birchall 53.13.

Greenfield Valley: 19 Reg Jonas 26.43.

Wepre: 87 Claudia Smith 26.45.

Past in the Park (Hope): 42 Martin Cortvriend 24.13.

Tamar Lakes: 1 Tom Carter 17.05.

Uckfield (Sussex): 99 Karen Bancroft 41.56.