AFTER a lengthy Covid-induced barren spell the race calendar is rapidly filling, with road and off-road races now coming thick and fast.

Many runners in two 10k events on Sunday were competing for the first time in 18 months and they had to contend with heatwave conditions.

Two of Prestatyn Running Club’s super-vets won their categories in Sunday’s Nick Beer 10k in Llandudno, which attracted a capacity field of 500.

Steve Skates was the club’s first finisher, coming 40th overall in 39.08, his time reflecting the tough conditions. He was third in the M40 class.

Just four places behind him Gordon Jones had a brilliant run to win the M60 group in 40.02.

Other placings were: 66 Will Williams 42.51, 91 James Rogers 45.46,114 Martin Cortvriend 47.46 (1st M65), 208 Helen Ashworth 55.41, 215 Alli Reid 56.14, 234 Liz Martin 57.46, 310 JoLewis 64.57, 327 Helen Baxandall 67.14, 337 Eva Brewer 68.59, 368 Karl Martin 74.01, 393 Julie Evans 87.00. 394 Suzanne Evans 87.10, 396 Karen Roberts 87.16.

Three Prestatyn members were among the huge field for the Chester 10k . The ever-improving Luke Bodman was 192nd in 43.55, Roger Harrison-Jones was 1,958th overall and second M80 in 1-14.54 and Nem James 2,030th in 1-17.02.

Last week four members travelled to Wilmslow for the popular 10k and for three of them it was their first competition in 18 months.

In a high-quality event Steve Forsyth was 41st in 34.09, and he was followed by Steve Weedman (503rd in 46.29), Any Clark (635th in 48.40) and Kat Prestwich (712th in 50.03).

Martin Cortvriend put his experience to good use in the Tal-y-Fan race from Rowen, having done the event three times previously. The 8-mile race involves 2,580 feet of ascent and his knowledge of the best lines helped him to finish in 23rd place overall and second M60 in 1-38.43.

His training partner Iwan Jones was 37th in 1-49.46, and club captain James Rogers was 45th in 2-02.42.

Julia Evans broke new ground when, after months of training, she completed her first ultra marathon, the 36-mile Lakeland Trail race, covering 7,000 feet of ascent and three mountain passes.

Julia finished a highly creditable 235th overall from 350 starters in 10 hours 35 minutes.