One of the best team results for some time at Capenhurst - Gareth's Press Report 17th March 2025

The growth in membership in Prestatyn Running Club over recent months helped produce one of the best team results for some time at the weekend.

 The penultimate fixture of the Borders Road-Running League in Capenhurst saw four recent recruits - Dan Williams, Darrell Jones, Neil Davidson and Zack Webster - make their League debuts and all made excellent contributions as the men took second place in Division 2. They currently lie fourth out of 18 teams in the Improvers’ Table.

 Despite having been ill all week Gordon Jones still managed to win his M65 age-group to extend his unbeaten record, and is one of six members currently holding top three places in their respective groups.

 Though the ladies were down in numbers they, too, were in good form , finishing fourth in Division 2.

 The club’s first finisher, Jonah Armstrong, had a busy weekend, as less than 24 hours earlier he had taken on a different challenge, mixing it with elite athletes in the Podium Festival II mixed mile race in Leicester, in which the women were given a 36-second start and the men were set the task of hunting them down.

Jonah was far from being outclassed, clocking 4m57 to break the five-minute barrier for the first time.

 The Capenhurst placings were: 41 Jonah Armstrong 27.54, 58 Aled Hughes 28.43, 68 Dan Williams 29.12, 85 Andy Parry 29.48, 94 George Williams 30.20, 116 Oliver Birch-Jones 31.16, 118 Darren Blazier 31.19, 133 Alex Ryder 31.50, 139 Rachel Shipley 32.07, 149 Marc Jones 32.28 (3rd M60), 182 Ed Shirt 33.31, 183 Gordon Jones 33.33 (1st M65), 203 Darrell Jones 34.19, 217 Eve Manifold 34.49, 251 Tom Coen 36.57, 257 Tony Benton 37.13, 276 Meg Lewis 38.00, 296 Ally Reid 39.12, 299 Zack Webster 39.30, 300 Neil Davidson 39.36, 316 Arwel Jones 40.30, 331 Martin Cortvriend 42.19 (3rd M70), 344 Jo Lewis 43.33, 360 George Nixon 44.45, 364 Gareth Hughes 45.26 (1st M75), 396 Mike Davis 54.55.

 Ann Claire Jones took to the hills instead of the pancake-flat Capenhurst course and was the club’s sole representative in the Llantysilio fell-race. She was delighted with her time of 1h 42m, which was 14 minutes faster nthan she managed in 2022.

 For eight other members Sunday’s race at Capenhurst was the second of the weekend, having run the Nova Parkrun the previous day. There was a double success for the club, with Tom Carter and Meg Lewis the first man and woman home respectively.

 The placings were: 1 Tom Carter 17.34, 13 Darrell Jones 20.40 (pb), 17 Lewis Pierce 21.35 (pb), 23 Marc Jones 22.12, 28 David Hudd 22.39, 40 Ed Shirt 23.43, 42 Judah Eastwell 23.49, 45 Meg Lewis 23.57, 76 Nem James 25.39 (pb), 86 Zack Webster 26.32, 88 Martin Gill 26.41, 95 Jo Lewis 27.00, 131 Mike Davis 29.56, 137 Sophie Johnson 30.30, 138 Mandy Cartwright 30.30, 156 31.54, 159 Martin Cortvriend 32.00, 173 Sue Hughes 33.26, 174 Nicki Triggs 33,28, 186 Clare Manley 34.22, 187 Emma Birchall 34.23, 244 Julie Evans 47.57.

 Other Parkruns results:-

 Greenfield Valley: 38 Andrew Carter 29.03.

 Ruthin: 59 Andy Clark 29.08.

 Sherwood Pines: 286 Claudia Smith 45.00.

Fletcher Moss (Didsbury): 117 Vic Manley 24.47.