TROPHIES, medals and honours galore have come the way of Prestatyn Running Club members during the past week in a busy week of races and the club’s annual awards night.

On Bank Holiday Monday (August 26), eight members joined a big field for the Moel Famau race from Cilcain, which saw three of them pick up national awards.

The 4.6-mile race incorporated the North Wales fell-racing championship and the Welsh short-course championship.

Martin Cortvriend won gold in the M70 class in both championships, while Gareth Jones took silver in the M40 class in both.

Ann Claire Jones won gold in the national championship in her L50 category and silver in North Wales.

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In the past year, Martin has now won North Wales titles on the fells, road (the Holyhead 5-miler) and trail (Fairy Freckled Cow race), as well as silver in cross-country.

Placings in the Cilcain race were: 46 Gareth Jones 40.49, 144 Martin Cortvriend 49.57, 157 Ann Claire Jones 51.10, 186 Mark Dakeyne 53.39, 204 Reg Jonas 55.16, 208 Sophie Johnson 55.47. 240 Helen Alefounder 64.36, 249 Claudia Smith 70.40.

Two days later, four of the club’s men made the trip to Blackpool for the 7.5k Night Run on the promenade.

Skipper Dave Ellis led the quartet home in 29.08, and was followed by Paul Sanders (33.53), Andy Carter (40.42) and Nem James (45.33).

The same night, Ben Thomas and Nicki Triggs also had a seafront outing, competing in the sixth and final event in the Wirral Seaside 5k series.

Ben finished 195th in 26.37, with Nikki 218th in 28.33.

Just 48 hours later, three of the Blackpool quartet were in action again, this time in the Mid-Cheshire 5k in Kingsley, which has become one of the country’s most competitive events, with no fewer than 279 finishing inside 17 minutes.

The placings were: 463 Dave Ellis 17.48, 468 Jonah Armstrong 17.49, 568 Andy Parry 18.45 (pb), 782 Paul Sanders 20.40, 923 Andy Carter 24.35.

Understandably, after their exertions Dave, Paul and Andy Carter took things pretty easy in their parkruns on Saturday morning.

In his first outing on the Nova course, George Williams had a great run, coming second in 18.57.

Other placings were: 3 Cam Askan 20.15, 7 Jamie Betts 21.15, 11 Darren Thompson 22.06, 12 Dave Ellis 22.07, 18 Steve Weedman 23.14,30 Andy Clark 24.56, 33 Paul Sanders 25.13, 39 Reg Jonas 25.53, 45 Mark Dakeyne 26.08 (pb), 62 Gareth Hughes 28.10, 84 Debbie Weedman 30.33, 92 Claudia Smith 31.27, 92 Jo Lewis 31.38, 104 Rachael Peel 32.41, 114 Helen Baxandall 33.30, 134 Jo Edwards 38.34.

Other Parkrun results:

Ellesmere Port: 48 Sophie Johnson 21.23, 65 Mandy Cartwright 28.56.

Greenfield Valley: 14 Ann Claire Jones 25.07 (1st lady), 54 Steve Hatfield 37.16.

Ruthin: 14 Arwel Jones 25.07.

Chester: 88 Andy Carter 25.20.

Penrhyn: 108 Helen Alefounder 28.40.

Sandringham (Norfolk): 25 Ed Shirt 23.20.

On Sunday (September 1), four members took on the tough Gladstone 9 challenge in the hills above Penmaenmawr.

The nine-mile circuit involves 2,800 feet of climbs and at times visibility was down to a few feet.

Mark Dakeyne finished 67th in 2-10.19, Ann Claire Jones 72nd (2-15.28), C;aire Atterbury 91st (2-46.12) and Cara Jones 93rd (2-52.00)

After leading the club through the tricky post-Covid period and organising most of the club’s twice-weekly runs, James Rogers was named as the club’s member of the year for 2023-24 at the annual presentation night at the Scala.

There was a good turnout for the event, which was hosted by current chairman Duncan Longley and which also included light-hearted quizzes, a chance to order the club’s new-style vests and T-shirts, and a review of the year by club president, Gareth Hughes.

The trophy winners were: Male road-runner: Dave Ellis. Female road-runner: Sue Hughes. Male cross-country runner: Gordon Jones. Female cross-country runner: Emma Birchall. Male fell-runner: Lee Bailey. Female fell-runner (equal): Sophie Johnson and Mandy Cartwright. Most improved male: Marc Jones. Most improved female: Nicki Triggs. Best newcomer: Ceri Vaughan. Men’s captains’ award: Martin Cortvriend. Ladies’ captains’ award: Debbie Jones. Grand Prix winners: 1 Liz Martin, 2 Ann Claire Jones, 3 Marc Jones.

Mementoes were also presented to those who had completed the requisite number of races in the North Wales Cross-Country League, Borders League and Tuesday Night Fell Series.