Martin's Press Report - 19th July 2026

One of the highlights of mountain running in Wales is undoubtedly the long standing Ras Yr Wyddfa, held annually since 1976. This tough race features a 5 mile run from Llanberis to the peak of Yr Wyddfa and back down again. During the headlong return down the mountain accidents are not uncommon and the first aid tent at the finish has often been referred to as the “Hospital Tent”. Returning unscathed this weekend following the gruelling ordeal were three intrepid club members: 171st Gareth Jones 1:46:36, 284th Ben Thomas 1:56:00, 399th Nick Triggs 2:24:29.

Saturday’s parkrun results saw a key milestone being achieved by two club members. Beth English and Lewis Pierce both completed their 50th parkruns at our local event in Prestatyn; Beth also finished in a personal best time as did Owen Gibson, Katie Baker and Geraint Blackwell. 

Full details from the Nova Prestatyn parkrun:

4th Alex Ryder 18:41, 14th Ben Lewis 20:38, 18th Jamie Betts 22:15, 20th Owen Gibson 22:19, 22nd Eve Manifold 22:31, 23rd Lewis Pierce 22:32, 26th Owen Jones 22:47, 27th Dafydd Montgomery 22:47, 38th Andy Thomas 23:43, 40th Michell Meredith-Roberts 23:54, 41st Beth English 23:58, 46th Lisa Lines 24:15, 58th Reg Jonas 25:03, 65th Neil Davidson 25:38, 67th Will Lines 26:00, 68th Katie Baker 26:06, 89th Brian Williams 27:02, 97th Geraint Blackwelll 27:38, 102nd Mark Dakeyne 27:51, 110th Meg Lewis 28:28, 111th Tilly Jones 28:29, 122nd Nem James 29:07, 147th Helen Alefounder 31:28, 177th Claudia Smith 33:47.

Other parkrun results are as follows:

Flint Castle parkrun: 53rd Martin Cortvriend 24:28

Greenfield Valley parkrun: 32nd Debbie Jones 31:10, 55th Steve Hatfield 40:21

Nant y Pandy parkrun: 94th Katie Newe 32:36

Land’s End parkrun: 6th Steve Stocker 21:40

Ruthin parkrun: 33rd Alice Archer 25:53

Park in the Past parkrun: 76th Andy Carter 26:34, 87th Glenda Roberts (also a PB!) 27:08

Saturday was also carnival day in town. The annual Prestatyn Carnival is very popular with locals and holidaymakers alike and Prestatyn Running Club were part of the show once again. A good turnout of club members (in club running kit ) together with representatives from the Nova Prestatyn parkrun volunteer team manned a marquee on the Bastion Road field and joined the parade collecting for the Rotary Club. We expect to see new club members and parkrunners in the coming weeks and a possible Couch to 5K programme is in the pipeline for beginners.

The Trainer Container team of Tom Carter and Ollie Harrison Jones organised a running shoe demonstration/tryout involving a 5K run finishing back at their running shoe shop on the High Street; well patronised by club members and others, the bonus at the end of the run for participants was an ample supply of Biscoff truffles.

This weekly update usually features running events that have taken place in the past seven days. However one club member is currently competing in an event that doesn’t involve running and is still underway. Chris Bennett is cycling in the Pan Celtic Challenge  a multi day race across Ireland and North Wales over a very challenging course. At the time of writing he had completed three quarters of the course and already has covered an amazing 1650 kilometres. His finish in Conwy on Tuesday will be the culmination of an incredible feat of endurance