THIS is the time of year when the race calendar is always full, but for some members of Prestatyn Running Club, there can never be too many races.

Top of the list is Ann Claire Jones, who has chalked up four races in eight days and claimed podium places in three of them.

It began with the Snowdon International Race and was followed by the Race the Train 5k on the Wednesday, then both the Dolgellau and Holyhead Breakwater 5-milers over the weekend.

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She was too late entering the Holyhead race to qualify for the North Wales championships, but six club members picked up medals.

Among them was Martin Cortvriend, who won the M70 class in a new record time.

The results were: 16 Dave Ellis 30.24 (2nd M40 in championships), 39 Marc Jones 34.17 (3rd M60 and 1st in champs), 61 Martin Cortvriend 37.07 (1st M70 in open and champs), 80 Ann Claire Jones 39.36 (3rd L50 in open), 106 Sue Hughes 44.36 (3rd L60 in open, 2nd in champs), 117 Helen Alefounder 46.24 (3rd L50 in champs), 121 Mike Davis (1sr M70 in champs), 135 Alan Jones 50.41, 141 Jo Lewis 52.27.

Ann Claire was first in her age group on the previous day’s Dolgellau 5, in 40.18.

In the same event, Julie Evans was 94th in 64.16.

Members were rightly “chuffed” with their performances in last week’s Race The Highland Train 5k in Caernarfon.

Five of them came away with age-group awards and there were several other excellent performances, notable from Ceri Vaughan, the club’s first lady and fifth lady overall, and Claudia Smith, who had her best run yet in a club vest.

The only unhappy finisher was Dan Liddle, who struggled home after developing a hamstring problem.

The placings were: 10 Dave Ellis 17.04 (2nd M40), 23 Jamie Betts 18.32, 30 Marc Jones 19.18 (2nd M60), 66 Ceri Vaughan 21.19, 76 Steve Weedman 21.59, 93 Ann Claire Jones 22.55 (2nd L45), 105 Ally Reid 23.25 (3rd L45), 139 Nicki Triggs 25.51, 149 Claudia Smith 26.16, 154 Cara Jones 26.25, 155 Sue Hughes 26.55 (3rd L50), 168 Nem James 27.09, 172 Debbie Jones 27.27, 180 Karl Martin 28.21, 181 Alan Jones 28.24, 183 Debbie Weedman 28.39, 185 Cathy Wood 28.40, 193 Lesley Furneaux 29.23, 199 Jo Edwards 29.46, 223 Dan Liddle 32.11, 232 Julia Evans 33.36, 233 Clare Manley 33.45, 239 Julie Evans 35.20, 246 Suzanne Evans 37.58.

In his first race for a while Andrew Parry led the Prestatyn contingent home in the Helen Tipping 10k the previous week.

The quality of the field was the best ever, with several top-class internationals.

Club placings were: 166 Andrew Parry 41.43, 184 Marc Jones 42.35, 224 Darren Thompson 46.06, 367 Andy Carter 55.53, 391 Helen Alefounder 58.07.

Ally Reid returned to her native Staffordshire at the weekend for the Cannock Chase 10k.

It was stiflingly hot but she managed to clock 58.01 and was second L50.

Though there are no plans in the pipeline to hold a couch-to-5k course, the club is running a “Return to Running” campaign to accommodate ex-members who have either been injured or taken a break and who might be nervous about making a return.

New recruits Ed Shirt and Megan Lewis gave further indication of their potential in recording pbs in the Nova parkrun.

The placings were: 5 Steve Stocker 19.28, 19 Darren Thompson 22.17, 21 Ed Shirt 22.36 (pb), 28 Marc Jones 23.43, 31 Reg Jonas 24.01, 37 Megan Lewis 24.17 (pb), 65 Sophie Johnson 27.33, 80 Mandy Cartwright 28.43, 86 Jo Lewis 29.09, 109 Lesley Furneaux 30.49, 139 Linda Friar 34.38, 163 Steve Hatfield 39.18.

Other parkrun results:

Greenfield Valley: 44 Cathy Wood 31.38 (pb).

Phoenix (Runcorn): 29 Martin Cortvriend 28.52.

Alderford Lake (Whitchurch): 60 Andy Carter 27.23.

Knowsley: 17 Steve Weedman 24.07, 28 Andy Clark 26.27, 68 Debbie Weedman 31.01.

Llanishen (Cardiff): 2 Dave Ellis 18.46.