It was a marathon weekend for PRC - Gareth's press report 20th April 2025

Registering a personal best is always satisfying, but Prestatyn Running Club's captain Jonah Armstrong did it in style in Sunday's Manchester Marathon, his pace being a minute per mile faster than he did in London last year. Jonah clocked 3-06, and although it wasn't quite what he had hoped for he was justifiably pleased. "I struggled from 18 miles and was glad to finish, but was happy overall," he said. On his marathon debut in the same race Craig Smith finished in 3-37.09. Four club members were among the 56,000 who lined up in London, and another in-form athlete, George Williams, clocked 3 08.37, five minutes inside the pb he set in Chester last year. Andy Parry, Dan Liddle and Zack Webster were all making their debuts at the distance. Andy finished in 3-30.10 and Dan, about 40 years after his parents Graham and Susie, who were also club members, ran in London, clocked 3-50.34. Zack, who went through halfway in 2-25, was forced to pull out. Meanwhile, although she failed to gain a place in the actual line-up, Ally Reid completed the Virtual London Marathon, finishing in 4-44-23 to earn her medal and T-shirt.

The weekend's Parkruns provided a boost not only for individual members but for the club as a whole. In June the club will be fielding a team in the Welsh Castles Relay for the first time since 2019, a reflection of the club's current strength and status. Only three of the 20 members selected for the team have competed in the two-day event in the past but hopes are high, and five of them produced personal bests in Saturday's Parkruns.

In total, 10 members recorded pbs on the day. Among them were Tom Carter, who chalked up another victory in the Nova race, and Arwel Jones, the club's most experienced Castles participant, who has run all but three of the race's 20 stages. Placings: 1 Tom Carter 17.15 (pb), 9 Jamie Betts 20.21, 10 Lewis Pierce 20.32 (pb), 59 Martin Cortvriend 24.50, 61 Arwel Jones 24.55 (pb), 283 Neil Davidson 63.46 (Parkwalker).

Greenfield Valley: 5 Dave Ellis 20.36, 10 Darrell Jones 22.33, 13 Judah Eastwell 22.53 (pb), 17 Marc Jones 23.16 (pb), 23 Meg Lewis 24.12 (pb), 28 Helen Ashworth 24.59, 30 Steve Weedman 25.12, 38 Philip Howarth 26.10, 39 Vic Manley 26.19, 44 Will Lines 27.04, 45 Lisa Lines 27.04, 57 Sophie Johnson 28.01, 62 Cathy Wood 28.37 (pb), 70 Rachel Jackson 29.11 (pb), 74 Debbie Jones 29.21, 84 Debbie Weedman 30.58, 86 Mandy Cartwright 31.01, 89 Mike Davis 31.25 (pb), 97 Emma Birchall 33.25, 102 Clare Manley 34.16, 117 Steve Hatfield 39.36.

Ruthin: 3 Darren Thompson 20.44 (pb).

Dolgellau: 22 Helen Alefounder 30.00.

The run of good form was not limited to the Parkrunners, either, as seven members turned in praiseworthy performances in the latest event in the Tuesday Night Fellraces. The infamous 3 Hills race at Penmaenmawr is probably the steepest in the series, but the Prestatyn members were undaunted. Off-road captain Lee Bailey once again led by example, coming 18th in 36.18, and he was followed by Gareth Jones (38th in 41.05), Ben Thomas (61st in 45.22), Ceri Vaughan (71st in 47.52), Mark Dakeyne (109yj in 53.59), Martin Cortvriend (115th in 55.26), Nem James (129th in 71.07) and Nicki Triggs (130th in 71.09).

After a very successful trial last week the club will be hosting the Borders League relays at the Ffrith Park on May 7th, and it is hoped that those members not selected for any of the club teams will turn out to help on the night. The race will be followed by the presentation of League awards.