THE Greenfield Valley parkrun is not one of the most popular in the region and because of its long incline doesn't attract runners looking to record a fast time, which makes the performance of Prestatyn Running Club's Ben Williams on Saturday (April 2) all the more remarkable.

A fortnight after winning there in a nifty 18:29, he produced an amazing run, slicing his personal best down to a course record of 16:26.

That is even one second faster than the record for the flat Nova Parkrun course, as Ben finished five minutes clear of his nearest challenger.

At the same venue, Sophie Johnson and Mandy Cartwright were first and third ladies respectively and Martin Cortvriend took three minutes off the M70 record.

Placings: 1 Ben Williams 16:26, 3 Martin Cortvriend 22:21, 12 Sophie Johnson 25:47 (pb), 16 Many Cartwright 27:35 (pb).

Other parkruns: Nova: 23 Andrew Scott 25:14 (pb), 41 Rachel Jackson 28:48, 47 Bill Scrivan 30.27, 68 Eva Brewer 35.08.

Conwy: 3 Chris Yorke 18.49, 4 Gordon Jones 19.08.

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Prestatyn Running Club members take on 2,100ft, 10km course

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Meanwhile, after their effort in the steepest road race in Harlech the previous week, two of the club's ladies, plus off-road captain Steve Brown, took to the hills again on Saturday.

Steve led the trio home in the Ras Moel Wnion near Bethesda, a 7k race involving 1,500 feet of climbing.

Steve finished 56th in 66:25,and was followed by Anne-Claire Jones (60th in 82:48) and Julia Evans, who was one place and four seconds behind.

Nine members opted for much flatter, though no less arduous, races. Gethin Evans and Sian Beck joined 14,000 other runners in the Manchester, clocking 3:37:50 and 3:43:40 respectively.

The Sanlam half-marathon from Prestatyn to Kinmel Bay and back is advertised as having "a few undulating hills" but nothing that competitors would notice.

Luke Bodman was the first Prestatyn finisher in 14th place overall, with a time of 91:33.

Just behind him in 16th place, and third M50, was Craig Smith in 92:42.

Other results were: 40 Steve Weedman 1:41:21, 144 Linda Friar 2:27:24, 147 Stuart Quayle 2:29:08, 149 Nem James 2:25:13

It has now been confirmed that supervet Martin Cortvriend is a Welsh champion.

His time of 1-40 in last week's Cardiff half-marathon initially placed him as second in his category in the Welsh championship but his suspicions were aroused when he saw a photograph of the supposed winner, who looked much younger than claimed.

Welsh Athletics officials and the race organisers accepted that the runner must have run in someone else's number and so have awarded Martin the trophy.

The results in last week's Borders League fixture at Mold reveal that the club's men finished third on the day in Division Two, and with two races to go currently lie fourth.

The women were fifth, and hold that position on aggregate.

The finishing times were: 14 Andy Bromley 28.02, 22 Ben Williams 29.13, 30 Canyon Wilson 30.25, 53 John Simpson33.03 (2nd M55), 111 Steve Haimes 36.57, 132 James Rogers 38.41, 146 George Nixon 39.39 (2nd M65), 157 Arwel Jones 40.22, 163 Ann Claire Jones 41.03, 168 Andrew Scott 41.53, 169 Sophie Johnson 42.04, 174 Steve Brown 42.32, 178 Ally Reid 42.54, 179 Gareth Hughes 42.58 (1st M75), 180 Jenna Bagnall 43.09, 189 Cara Jones 44.46, 196 Liz Martin 45.21, 206 Matty Smith 47.00, 210 Debbie Jones 48.05.