IT’S been hills, hills and more hills for members of Prestatyn Running Club in the last couple of weeks.

Prolific racers Ann Claire Jones and Helen Alefounder travelled to the Yorkshire Dales for the Settle Saunter, which proved to be anything but a saunter.

The 23-mile trail race involved 3,500 feet of ascent, and the pair, running together, did exceptionally well to finish in 70th and 71st place in seven hours and eight minutes.

Meanwhile, eight members headed for the home of British fell and trail racing in the Lake District for the annual Coniston races.

Mike Davis and Helen Baxandall opted for the 10k trail race, finishing 54th and 104th respectively in 78.10 and 91.04.

Three of the club’s six members in the half-marathon gained podium places.

Marc Jones was 38th overall and third M60 in 1-54.46 and was followed by Ally Reid (80th, 2-16.36 – 3rd L50), Liz Martin (82nd, 2-16.59), Sue Hughes (84th, 2-21.02, 2nd L60), Jo Lewis (90th, 2-41.41) and Karl Martin (91st, 2-48.08).

The 11th race in the Joe Brown Tuesday Night Series of fell-races on Tal-y-Mignedd in the Nantlle Ridge proved one of the toughest, with 550 metres of climbing in the first 3k and then a headlong dash back down.

Six Prestatyn members made the journey, Lee Bailey once again leading them home.

The placings were: 10 Lee Bailey 39.22, 36 Gareth Jones 44.22, 76 Ben Thomas 53.00, 93 Martin Cortvriend 57.12 (2nd M70), 103 Ann Claire Jones 60.06, 107 James Rogers 62.12.

Two of them, Ben and Ann Claire, were in action again the following evening in the Hotfoot Up Famau race in the Clwydians.

Ceri Vaughan has been in great form recently but injured her ankle, prompting Ben to stay with her until Nicki Triggs took over and escorted her back to the start.

The finishing places and times were: Sophie Johnson 59.53, Mandy Cartwright 52.40, Ben Thomas 68.46, Ann Claire Jones 73.32.

Jonah Armstrong, another in fine form at the moment, came 19th overall in the Tatton Hall 10k, clocking 40.35.

Off-road specialist Cathy Wood joined a large field for the Salomon Trail Half-marathon in Coed-y-Brenin, coming home 249th in 3-04.59.

In the Aldeford Triathlon in Whitchurch young Oliver Birch-Jones finished fourth overall and won his age category.

Also on Saturday, Nicki Triggs competed in a rather unusual event, the LoveSwimRun competition in Llanberis.

It comprised four swims totalling 3.5k and four runs totalling 12.5k. Nicki’s aggregate time was 3-29.

Members were in action at seven different parkrun venues throughout the country, with Nem James chalking up his 100th participation.

Nova: 2 Dave Ellis 18.46, 3 Cam Askan 19.41, 23 Steve Weedman 24.23, 26 Ann Claire Jones 24.38, 41 Andy Scott 26.12, 44 Mark Dakeyne 26.23, 45 Sophie Johnson 26.24, 64 Nem James 29.19, 66 Mandy Cartwright 29.21, 78 Debbie Weedman 30.42, 90 Jo Lewis 32.23, 109 Linda Friar 35.59.

Greenfield Valley: 57 Steve Hatfield 38.24.

Brierley Forest (Notts): 106 Claudia Smith 29.20.

Chester: 158 Andy Carter 28.34.

Gladstone (London): 39 Marc Jones 22.35.

Cleethorpes: 4 Jamie Betts 19.29.

Ellesmere Port: 21 Martin Cortvriend 24.51.