IN ONE of the busiest eight-day spells for a long time, members of Prestatyn Running Club were in action at 15 different venues, the terrain ranging from synthetic track to mountain trails.
New recruit Tom Carter was in a class of his own as he strode through the field in the club’s annual relay competition at Rhyl’s Marine Lake.
His time of 4m 57s for the mile circuit was the fastest by almost a minute and, unsurprisingly, he led his team of three to victory.
Eight teams of three took part and in the end, there was less than three minutes separating them all, testimony to the good work of James Rogers who organised the event.
The winning trio comprised Andy Clark, Tom Carter and Nicki Triggs.
The individual times were: Tom Carter 4.57, Lee Bailey 5.45, Dave Ellis 6.04, Lisa Lines 6.07 (1st Lady), Will Lines 6.19, Steve Weedman 6.26, Darren Thompson 6.44, Martin Gill 6.47, Liz Martin 6.53, Andy Clark 6.56, Napoleon Charaklias 6.59, Mandy Cartwright 7.00, Gary Johnson 7.32, Sophie Johnson 7.38, Gareth Hughes 7.38, Cara Jones 7.54, Alan Jones 7.46, Helena Cox 7.53,Sue Hughes 8.15, Nicki Triggs 8.24, Nem Gladwell 8.46, Debbie Weedman 8.52, Debbie Jones 8.56, Julie Evans and Duncan Longley 9.44.
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On the same evening, Steve Skates led a quartet of members in the Ponderosa fell-race above the Horseshoe Pass, having another strong run to finish second overall and first M40.
Results: 2 Steve Skates 27.02, 66Steve Brown 41.22, 77 Ann Claire Jones 45.24, 83 Helen Alefounder 48.39.
Four days later, Steve came third in the Rhes-y-cae multi-terrain 10k, in which Prestatyn provided 13 of the 40 entrants. Lisa Lines was the first lady home.
Prolific racer Roger Harrison-Jones took on another 10k on Sunday (July 31), the Colshaw Hall event near Knutsford.
His time of 62.39 placed him second over-80 but consolidated his place as second in the M85 category in the GB rankings.
Alex Ryder made the journey to Manchester alone last week, but it was worth the trip as he turned in two excellent performances in the Trafford Open track meeting.
He not only set a new PB of 2-18.30 in the 800 metres, but won his 3,000m in 9-58.43.
Last week Dave Ellis was also the club’s sole representative in the “Dolgellau 5” race, a scenic but hilly event, and finished 14th overall and second M35 in 34.55.
On Saturday (July 30), he led the club contingent in the Ellesmere Port Parkrun, and 24 hours later, lined up in the Holyhead Breakwater five-mile race, which incorporated the North Wales Championships.
Holyhead results: 17 Dave Ellis 32.52, 39 Darren Thompson 35.21.
For Amie Smith and husband Matty, Rome was the infernal city rather than the Eternal City, as they faced a temperature of 35 degrees in the Rome Pineto Parkrun.
Despite the conditions, Amie came fourth overall and first lady.
Parkrun results: Rome Pineto: 4 Amie Smith 20.39, 31 Matty Smith 33.28.
Ellesmere Port: 8 Dave Ellis 21.04, 13 Steve Weedman 22.10, 25 Ann Claire Jones 24.51, 37 Cara Jones 27.21, 39 Helen Alefounder 27.34, 58 Debbie Weedman 29.58, 59 Nicki Triggs 30.08,60 Jo Lewis 30.11, 66 Emma Birchall 31.27, 68 Nem James 33.21, 69 Julie Evans 34.12, 82 Suzanne Evans 37.34.
Ruthin: 25 Arwel Jones 24.34.
Greenfield Valley: 23 Hadyn Johnson 29.52 (pb). Dudley: 27 Martin Cortvriend 22.38. Chester: 128 Steve Hatfield 32.27.
The day after his outing in Dudley, Martin won the M70 class in the testing Southampton Common 10k in 46.58.
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