Our hill runners have been in their element - Gareth's Press Report 20th April 2025

The hills have been alive to the sound of footsteps over the past couple of weeks, with Prestatyn Running Club’s hill runners in their element.

The busy spell got underway with the Summit-to-Sea half-marathon – actually slightly over the distance – which began at Moel-y-Parc and finished on the seafront in Prestatyn.

Two club members took on the challenge and both performed exceptionally well. Marc Jones finished 22nd in 2-28.44 but Dafydd Montgomery, who has been in very good form over much shorter distances, produced an outstanding run, finishing 3rd overall in 2-06.27.

Ann Claire Jones was in action three times in eight days, starting with the Llangollen fell-race in which she clocked 3-36.41.

Four days later she was one of seven members who competed in the Moel Lus race in Dwygyfylchi, the third race in the Tuesday Night Series, and on Saturday four of them hit the hills one again in the Fron Four event at Fron, near Caernarfon, which had to be curtailed because of the strong wind.

Moel Lus results: 23 Lee Bailey 28.26, 49 Gareth Jones 31.17, 138 Nem James 40.08, 144 Martin Cortvriend 40.54, 146 Mark Dakeyne 41.00, 163 Ann Claire Jones 44.35, 168 Nicki Triggs 49.53.

The finishing order was much the same in the Fron race, with two of the four gaining podium places. The placings were: 15 Lee Bailey 57.38 (2nd M40), 27 Gareth Jones 63.03, 60 Mark Dakeyne 90.07, 62 Ann Claire Jones 96.37 (3rd L50). The race was part of the North Wales Championship Series.

There was a record field of 369 in Saturday’s Nova Parkrun, with new M70 recruit Philip Howarth making his club debut.

The placings were: 2 Tom Carter 17.48, 16 Jamie Betts 20.54, 21 Eve Manifold 22.06, 24 Dave Ellis 22.24, 36 Marc Jones 23.13, 40 Lewis Pierce 23.34, 63 Meg Lewis 24.42, 67 Martin Cortvriend 25.13, 76 Steve Weedman 25.43, 109 Andy Clark 27.29, 113 Martin Gill 27.48, 100 Philip Howarth 27.17, 122 Dafydd Montgomery 28.17, 130 Nem James 28.35, 142 Cathy Wood 28.56, 153 Nicki Triggs 29.17, 177 Mike Davis 30.24, 180 Debbie Weedman 30.30, 235 Andy Scott 32.30, 342 Julie Evans 43.39, 393 Neil Davidson 66.51 (Parkwalker).

Other Parkruns:-

Chester: 294 Claudia Smith 32.34.

Greenfield Valley: 58 Sophie Johnson 29.38, 60 Mandy Cartwright 29.43.

Ruthin: 12 Darren Thompson 21.33 (pb).

On May 7 the club will be hosting the annual Borders League relays and prizegiving at Ffrith Park and this Wednesday (23rd) the club will hold a trial run over the same course.