Our SheUltra ladies did themselves & the club proud - Gareth's press report 13th April 2025

Prestatyn Running Club’s Magnificent Seven did themselves and the club proud when they joined 1,700 other women in the SheUltra 50k event on the Llyn Peninsular at the weekend.

The unique event, where all the marshals, first-aiders and those manning the food stations, were women, was launched to raise money for cancer charities, which fitted nicely with the Feel, Find, Mind campaign led by Emma Birchall, one of the Prestatyn participants.

The route began in Abersoch and followed the coast before heading inland to Botwnnog and then back to Pwllheli, and while the aim of many of the participants was merely to complete the 50k while enjoying the scenery, others, having trained over many months, were determined to run the distance.

Ally Reid was in the latter group, and was delighted to finish in 129th place in 6h 38m 16s, placing her 10th in the over-50 class.

“The hills were brutal but the scenery was fantastic and the event was very well-organised,” she said.

The other placings were: 332 Mandy Cartwright 7-41.23, 335 Sophie Johnson 7-41.16, 341 Cath Wood 7-44.31, 589 Cara Jones 8-55.18, 1075 Helen Alefounder 11-44.36, 1076 Emma Birchall 11-44.42, 1077 Julie Evans 11-44.44.

Another of the club’s in-form ladies, club treasurer Sue Hughes, has been rewarded for strong performances over recent months by being selected for the Welsh L65 team for the 5k international against England in Shrewsbury on May 17.

 Gordon Jones was also named in the squad but has had to withdraw through injury.

Club captain Jonah Armstrong has been clocking several pbs in recent weeks and in last week’s Chester Spring 5 he managed to record a 2-in-1. Not only did he set a new best for the full distance but en route took a second off his 5k record.

In a high-quality race he finished 13th overall and Marc Jones won the M60 class. Placings: 13 Jonah Armstrong 27.19 (pb), 50 Oliver Birch-Jones 30.38 (pb), 85 Marc Jones 32.45, 128 Darrell Jones 35.15, 185 Judah Eastwell 38.05, 228 Steve Weedman 40.22.

On holiday in the Lake District Mark Dakeyne took to the hills again, this time in the Loughrigg fell-race from Ambleside. The straight-up-and-down four-mile race involves 1,000 feet of climb, and Mark finished in 51.28.

Vic Manley, yet another in good form these days, made his fell-running debut in last week’s Moel y Cilgwyn race at Fron, near Caernarfon, the second in the Tuesday night series.

The placings were: 34 Gareth Jones 24.38, 104 Vic Manley 29.44, 136 Martin Cortvriend 31.44, 142 Nem James 32.04, 153 Ann Claire Jones 34.03, 159 Nicki Triggs 35.05.

While they were all hitting the heights Tom Coen went underwater He joined a large field in the Mersey Tunnel 10k and was another to record a pb, clocking 46.28.

There was plenty to celebrate, too, in the Nova Parkrun in which Dafydd Montgomery set another pb and Lisa Lines took another step on the road to full fitness by being the first female finisher.

Results: 4 Dafydd Montgomery 19.16 (pb), 7 Oliver Birch-Jones 20.04, 13 Dave Ellis 20.34, 14 David Hudd 20.44, 19 Darrell Jones 21.55, 28 Lisa Lines 23.38, 77 Gareth Hughes 27.42, 79 Nem James 28.01, 83 Dan Williams 28.32, 98 Nicki Triggs 29.39, 104 Mike Davis 30.12, 123 Claudia Smith 31.23, 124 David Roberts 31.41.

Other Parkruns:-

Newborough Forest: 61 Steve Weedman 25.22, 158 Debbie Weedman 31.29.

Ellesmere Port: 34 Martin Cortvriend 24.36.