THE first fixture of the Borders Road Running League at New Brighton on Sunday (October 16) saw one of the biggest fields in the league’s history, with more than 400 finishers.

The Prestatyn Running Club squad of 22 included four second-claim members, all of whom made a huge contribution to the mens’ and ladies’ teams.

There was a league debut for Tom Carter, who was involved in a race-within-a-race with clubmates Alex Ryder and Steve Skates.

It couldn’t have been closer, with Alex, in the form of his life, getting the better of the two veterans, and the three finished 24th, 25th and 26th.

Provisional placings (5.1 miles): 24 Alex Ryder, 25 Steve Skates, 26 Tom Carter, 38 Darren Blazier, 75 Steve Stocker, 94 Amie Smith, 125 Rachel Shipley, 168 Dave Ellis, 191 Emma Collins, 206 Martin Cortvriend, 256 Sophie Johnson, 267 Cara Jones, 276 Gareth Hughes, 277 Grahame Shone, 285 Sue Hughes, 291 Alan Jones, 296 Liz Martin, 365 George Nixon (error), 383 Steve Brown (error), 403 Nicki Triggs, 410 Mike Davis, 436 Nem James.

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Though it was initially reported last week that three club members had been selected for the Welsh team for the British and Irish Masters’ cross-country international in Dublin on November 12, a fourth – Gordon Jones – has now been added.

Though he missed the opening North Wales League fixture in Bangor and is also unavailable for the second race in Newtown this coming Saturday, he has been selected on past form, having represented Wales on road and country.

He is in the M60 team.

Meanwhile, with attention being focussed on the Borders League, it was not surprising that only a handful of members turned out in Saturday’s parkrun.

Results: Nova: 6 Oliver Birch-Jones 20.34, 16 Martin Cortvriend 24.26m 18 Martin Gill 24.55, 28 Rachel Jackson 28.02 (pb), 38 Linda Friar 31.52.

Ruthin: 42 Roger Harrison-Jones 31.52.