PRESTATYN Running Club members gathered for a pre-Christmas charity run on Moel Famau.

The end of the year is usually the time for awards to be handed out and without doubt the prize for the oddest race name of 2023 goes to last weekend’s “Piece of String” event.

The trail race on Moel Famau was so named because competitors did not know exactly how far it would be, but that did not deter more than 100 runners from lining up.

It proved to be 8k, with the usual mixture of ascents, descents and mud.

Despite being a relative stranger to such conditions, 17-year-old Oliver Birch-Jones had a superb outing, finishing third in 48.27.

He was followed by Ben Thomas (12th in 53.11), Steve Skates (30th, 59.58), Helen Ashworth (31st, 60.04), Ann Claire Jones (84th, 72.56), Helen Alefounder (92nd, 74.32) and Cathy Wood (96th, 78.57).

With the Nova Parkrun being called off because of the high wind few members were in action at the weekend, with only three finding Parkruns elsewhere.

They were:

  • Greenfield Valley: 32 Debbie Jones 28.42
  • Old Railway Run, Llangollen: 20 Martin Cortvriend 23.45
  • Sherwood Pines: 200 Claudia Smith 30.45

Last week the club held its traditional pre-Christmas run around the town in appropriate seasonal garb, and Dino the Dinosaur managed to keep up with everyone.

Every participant donated goods or cash, with up to £84 being raised for Prestatyn and Meliden Foodbank.