Prestatyn Running Club members take on Welsh Castles Relay
For 17 of the 20-strong squad, it was a new experience, and though the standard of competition was higher than ever, they did the club proud.
The team finished a creditable 48th overall.
The team finished a creditable 48th overall. (Image: Submitted) Less than 24 hours after completing mountain stages in the relay, Ben Thomas and Oliver Birch-Jones were in action again in different triathlons.
Ben took on the tough Slateman Tri in Llanberis, a tough enough challenge on its own, and finished in 4-18.42.
Oliver opted for the Boundary Breeze Sprint Tri in Manchester, coming a brilliant 19th out of 120.
In the Slateman Sprint Tri in Llanberis, second-claim member Chris Bennett finished 31st in 1-45.44.
Four of the club's ladies also hit the trails again on Saturday (June 7), competing in the 27.1-mile Pilgrim Marathon on the Lleyn Peninsula, with Sue Hughes winning her age group in 6-31.
Ally Reid kept her company throughout.
Helen Alefounder and Cara Jones finished in 9-15, with Ann Claire Jones four minutes behind them.
10 of the relay squad had warmed up two days earlier by turning out in the first fixture of Deestriders' Off-Road Grand Prix series in Shotton.
In fact, 24 club members took part, representing more than 25 per cent of the total field, and 12 of them gained podium places.
Marc Jones, the club's road runner of the year, was its only representative in the Llanrug 5k, which incorporated the North Wales championships.
True to form, he won the M60 class in both the open race and championship, clocking 20.36.
The previous weekend, the club's mountain specialists and joint captains Lee Bailey and Gareth Jones took on one of the region's toughest challenges in the Welsh 1,000s, regarded as a classic event.
The 32k race starts on the coast at Abergwyngregyn and finishes on the summit of Yr Wyddfa, and this year it was more testing than usual, with 50kph winds on the peaks.
The event incorporated the Welsh Fell Running Championship long race, and Lee, who finished 24th overall, won the M40 class in about five hours and 30 minutes.
Gareth also had a superb run, coming 54th out of 142, finishing about half an hour behind Lee.
Elsewhere, Zack Webster has been on his travels, clocking 53.08 in the Geneva 10k.
Nova parkrun: 1 Tom Carter 17.00 (pb), 20 Jamie Betts 22.32, 36 Reg Jonas 24.19, 38 Neil Davidson 24.24 (pb), 41 Will Lines 24.35, 42 Lisa Lines 24.36, 56 Philip Howarth 25.40, 104 Andy Scott: 29.00, 196 Steve Hatfield 38.18, 221 Suzanne Evans 60.23, 222 Nicki Triggs 60.24, 229 Julie Evans 53.24.
Other parkruns: Greenfield Valley: 18 Steve Weedman 24.58.
Holkham (Norfolk): 86 Debbie Jones 28.22.
Black Ropcks (Matlock): 56 Martin Cortvriend 23.34.
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Rhyl Journal
15 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Prestatyn Running Club members take on Welsh Castles Relay
For 17 of the 20-strong squad, it was a new experience, and though the standard of competition was higher than ever, they did the club proud. The team finished a creditable 48th overall. The team finished a creditable 48th overall. (Image: Submitted) Less than 24 hours after completing mountain stages in the relay, Ben Thomas and Oliver Birch-Jones were in action again in different triathlons. Ben took on the tough Slateman Tri in Llanberis, a tough enough challenge on its own, and finished in 4-18.42. Oliver opted for the Boundary Breeze Sprint Tri in Manchester, coming a brilliant 19th out of 120. In the Slateman Sprint Tri in Llanberis, second-claim member Chris Bennett finished 31st in 1-45.44. Four of the club's ladies also hit the trails again on Saturday (June 7), competing in the 27.1-mile Pilgrim Marathon on the Lleyn Peninsula, with Sue Hughes winning her age group in 6-31. Ally Reid kept her company throughout. Helen Alefounder and Cara Jones finished in 9-15, with Ann Claire Jones four minutes behind them. 10 of the relay squad had warmed up two days earlier by turning out in the first fixture of Deestriders' Off-Road Grand Prix series in Shotton. In fact, 24 club members took part, representing more than 25 per cent of the total field, and 12 of them gained podium places. Marc Jones, the club's road runner of the year, was its only representative in the Llanrug 5k, which incorporated the North Wales championships. True to form, he won the M60 class in both the open race and championship, clocking 20.36. The previous weekend, the club's mountain specialists and joint captains Lee Bailey and Gareth Jones took on one of the region's toughest challenges in the Welsh 1,000s, regarded as a classic event. The 32k race starts on the coast at Abergwyngregyn and finishes on the summit of Yr Wyddfa, and this year it was more testing than usual, with 50kph winds on the peaks. The event incorporated the Welsh Fell Running Championship long race, and Lee, who finished 24th overall, won the M40 class in about five hours and 30 minutes. Gareth also had a superb run, coming 54th out of 142, finishing about half an hour behind Lee. Elsewhere, Zack Webster has been on his travels, clocking 53.08 in the Geneva 10k. Nova parkrun: 1 Tom Carter 17.00 (pb), 20 Jamie Betts 22.32, 36 Reg Jonas 24.19, 38 Neil Davidson 24.24 (pb), 41 Will Lines 24.35, 42 Lisa Lines 24.36, 56 Philip Howarth 25.40, 104 Andy Scott: 29.00, 196 Steve Hatfield 38.18, 221 Suzanne Evans 60.23, 222 Nicki Triggs 60.24, 229 Julie Evans 53.24. Other parkruns: Greenfield Valley: 18 Steve Weedman 24.58. Holkham (Norfolk): 86 Debbie Jones 28.22. Black Ropcks (Matlock): 56 Martin Cortvriend 23.34.
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Trai Hume expects in-demand Ronan Hale to shine on the international stage
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'Yeah, definitely,' said Hume when asked if this was a perfect opportunity for Hale to show what he can do. 'Ronan has done very well with County. His club were relegated but it was a great season for him personally. 'He has scored a lot of goals and hopefully he can get his debut — that is a call for Michael and his coaching staff. 'I have no doubt that if he does get his chance, he will take it with both hands and do well. Ronan is a great player and goal scorer.' While Hale's immediate future is up in the air, Hume has moved to allay the fears of Sunderland fans that he may be about to jump ship. The former Linfield defender has seen his name linked with Everton and Wolves, and speculation over his future is a familiar tale for the 23-year-old. While interest in the player is to be expected, what hasn't changed is Hume's affection for the Black Cats. That relationship is closer than ever after Hume and his international comrade Daniel Ballard helped Sunderland earn promotion in dramatic fashion. Ballard scored a 122nd-minute winner in the second leg of their Play-Off semi-final against Coventry City before Tommy Watson's stoppage-time goal completed a come-from-behind win over Sheffield United at Wembley. Hume and Ballard spoke during a training camp in Marbella this week, with both men sporting winning smiles. The dynamic duo will join Liverpool's Conor Bradley and Crystal Palace FA Cup winner Justin Devenny in the top flight, while Tottenham's Jamie Donley has returned from his loan at Leyton Orient. O'Neill has spoken of the importance of his players competing at a high level and Hume, who joined Sunderland from Linfield in 2022, is convinced his country will reap the benefits. 'It's not in any doubt that when you are exposing yourself to the best League in the world, it will help you,' said Hume. 'You want to try your best to do well there. You can become a better player because of it. "Myself and Dan are still young. Conor and Justin are still young and hopefully we can have many years in the Premier League and that will benefit ourselves and Northern Ireland going forward. 'I have no doubt there are other players in the squad that can get themselves in the Premier League but it is us four at the minute and hopefully we can push the lads and bring them up to the standard that we will set.' O'Neill's side will face Luxembourg, Germany and Slovakia in their bid to reach a first World Cup since 1986. There is a sense of anticipation and excitement around this young team the former Stoke City boss is building. Hume is the new promotion king — after firing Northern Ireland into League B in the Nations League, he helped to steer Sunderland to the Premier League. Team spirit and togetherness matters at club and international level. 'I think it's obviously a wee bit different to a point because you spend basically every day of your life with each other at Sunderland,' he explained. 'You're with each other every day, when you're training and whenever you're outside of football, most of the time you're spending it with your team-mates as well, unless you've got kids. 'But for me, that's what I do, and you get really close with them. International football is kind of different. You've obviously grown up with a lot of people in the squad, so you kind of get that friendship and that bond very early on. 'So it is similar in a way. Obviously, Sunderland have a great togetherness as everyone's around the same age. 'But we have a great togetherness here too and I think that can take you very far no matter where you're playing. So as long as you have that, you're putting yourself in good stead. 'Whenever we do go through tough times or we are enjoying it, we keep a level head and try and stick to the job at hand and stay together.' In March, Northern Ireland drew 1-1 with Switzerland before crashing to a 5-1 loss to Sweden. The former Ballymena United defender played against Switzerland but not the Swedes. O'Neill's side begin their bid to qualify for next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico with an away game against Luxembourg in September before travelling to four-time world Champions Germany. A clash in Denmark will shine a light on the team's resilience on the road. Players like Hume and Ballard have developed a big game mentality. 'Yes, I think it will help us deal with the atmosphere a bit better,' continued Hume. 'Obviously, the calibre of players will be a lot different. I think we will try our best to deal with that. 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