TOM Carter is best-known as an 800-metre runner, a distance at which he represented Great Britain in the European under-23 championships, but he is no slouch when it comes to the rough stuff as well.

The latest Prestatyn Running Club recruit turned out in the Green, Green Grass of Home fell race in the Clwydian Hills and proved that talent is permanent by finishing fifth overall, just one place and 11 seconds behind fellow club member Steve Skates, who is vastly more experienced on the hills.

Results: 4 Steve Skates 42.47 (2nd M40), 5 Tom Carter 42.58 (3rd SM), 16 John Simpson 50.56 (3rd M50), 25 Lisa Lines 55.42 (3rd Lady), 53 Steve Brown 64.24, 56 Helen Ashworth 65.33, 65 Sophie Johnson 68.31, 68 Mandy Cartwright 69.27.

The same evening, Chris Yorke had a “blinder” in the Race the Train 5k in Caernarfon, taking 10th place overall and first in the M50 category in a brilliant 16.54.

Other placings were: 82 James Rogers 21.28, 137 Andrew Scott 23.39, 174 Cara Jones 25.26, 176 Liz Martin 25.40, 189 Alan Jones 26.23, 194 Karl Martin 26.52, 211 Roger Harrison-Jones 28.36 (1st M85), 233 Julie Evans 31.23, 241 Lesley Furneaux 34.06, 243 Suzanne Evans 34.59.

Three days after his fell race, Tom Carter faced a different hill challenge in the Greenfield Valley Parkrun, and with a winning time of 17.08, was more than five minutes of the second finisher.

Other club placings were: 11 Sophie Johnson 26.50, 14 Mandy Cartwright 28.09.

Nova Parkrun: 9 Darren Thompson 22.10, 14 Martin Gill 23.40 (pb), 20 Ann Claire Jones 24.41 (1st Lady), 26 Andrew Scott 25.34, 46 Emma Birchall 31.26, 48 Debbie Weedman 31.59.

Chester: 191 Steve Hatfield 32.58. Sloughbottom Park (Norwich): 122 Helen Alefounder 36.49.

Martin Cortvriend took a break from parkruns and instead switched to a gallop – in fact the Gyrn Gallop, a 10.6k multi-terrain race at Rhiwlas, near Oswestry.

He finished 12th overall and, unsurprisingly, won the M70 class in 56.14.

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Another 50-year-old in good form is Craig Smith, who came 10th overall and second in his age category in last week’s tough Mulberry Half-Marathon in Conwy, with a time of 1-40.39.

Only three members joined the large field for Sunday’s Helena Tipping 10k in Wrexham, with Roger Harrison-Jones once again winning his supervet category.

Results: 232 Darren Thompson 44.40, 262 Steve Weedman 45.59, 515 Roger Harrison-Jones 65.21.

The club’s annual relay races will be held this Wednesday (July 27) at Rhyl’s Marine Lake, and will start at 6.30pm.