PRESTATYN Running Club triathlete Oliver Birch-Jones marked his 18th birthday by leading the club's contingent home in the third race in Deestriders' Off-Road Grand Prix series.

He finished seventh overall in 26.11 to win the Under 20 category, and in doing so took almost two minutes off his time in the first race in June.

The 25-strong contingent, which made up a quarter of the entire field, included several recent young recruits whose performances augur well for the future.

Particularly impressive was Eve Manifold who was the first of the club's eight ladies.

Results: 7 Oliver Birch-Jones 26.11 (1st U20), 8 Dave Ellis 26.20 (1st M40), 20 Cam Askan 28.42, 21 Marc Jones 28.45 (3rd M60), 26 Evan Lewis 29.01, 37 Ed Shirt 30.34, 58 Martin Cortvriend 33.49 (1st M70), 61 James Rogers 34.11, 62 Eve Manifold 34.19, 64 Ann Claire Jones 34.45 (3rd L50), 66 Meg Lewis 35.23, 74 Andy Carter 37.38, 75 Mark Dakeyne 37.47 (3rd M65), 84 Jo Lewis 39.00, 85 Nicki Triggs 39.17, 87 Alan Jones 40.16, 88 Helen Alewfounder 40.25, 89 Helena Cox 40.28, 90 Mike Davis 40.52 (1st M75), 92 Gareth Hughes 43.35 (2nd M75), 94 Nem James 45.22, 97 Emma Birchall 47.54, 100 Julie Evans 57.35, 101 Steve Hatfield 57.35 (3rd M75).

Elsewhere, Nicki Triggs and Nem  James returned to Moreton last week for the fifth and penultimate race in the Wirral Seaside 5k series. 

The weather has been either hot or miserable for each race so far, and this time, it was the former.

Nicki finished 185th in 27.11 and Nem 212th in 29.20.

Less than 48 hours after the Shotton race, Dave Ellis did a real captain's job in leading clubmate Ed Shirt through to a huge PB in the Nova parkrun.

In the same event, Sue Hughes, who also celebrates a milestone birthday in a few days' time, defied the years with a strong finish to draw level with Jo Lewis.

Placings: 6 Ed Shirt 20.00 (pb), 7 Dave Ellis 20.00, 11 Cam Askan 21.11, 28 Jamie Betts 23.46, 58 Mark Dakeyne 27.04, 61 Ally Reid 27.14, 66 Sue Hughes 27.59, 67 Jo Lewis 27.59, 77 Alan Jones 28.52, 97 Steve Stocker 30.02, 103 Rachel Jackson 30.56, 152 Steve Hatfield 39.58.

Conwy Parkrun: 66 Steve Weedman 23.50, 94 Meg Lewis 24.57, 97 Eve Manifold 25.08, 119 Andy Clark 26.21, 191 Liz Martin 29.09, 238 Karl Martin 31.16, 249 Debbie Weedman 31.48.

Ruthin: 54 Cathy Wood 29.28.

Cardiff: 76 Marc Jones 20.39.

Harrogate: 293 David Roberts 33.35.

Chester: 170 Andy Carter 28.31.

Wythenshawe: 56 Martin Cortvriend 23.17.

Penrhyn: 114 Helen Alefounder 28.48.

Dolgellau: 56 Claudia Smith 28.39.