FOR athletes, October usually heralds the start of the cross-country season, but this year, the first of the month – next Sunday – instead sees the opening fixture of the Borders Road Running League.

With a number of new recruits and several established members in good form, Prestatyn Running Club’s new men’s and women’s captains will be hoping to get the series off to a strong start at the Caernarfon 10k course.

Only four members lined up in Sunday’s (September 24) 10k in Farndon, which enhanced its reputation for producing fast times.

Paul Sanders led the quartet home in 109th place overall, with a time of 46.54, and he was followed by Marc Jones (113rd in 47.15), Reg Jonas (157th in 50.42) and Roger Harrison-Jones, who was 287th and won the M85 class in 66.29.

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Prestatyn Running Club represented in Spain and the Netherlands

Meanwhile, 13 members travelled to Warrington for a parkrun on Saturday, and Dave Ellis extended his great form by coming third in a large field of more than 420.

Results: 3 Dave Ellis 19.08 (PB), 30 Marc Jones 23.13, 40 Steve Weedman 23.52, 51 Paul Sanders 24.31, 72 Ann Claire Jones 25.39, 82 Sophie Johnson 26.11, 157 Nem James 26.13, 161 Nicki Triggs 29.17, 180 Mandy Cartwright 29.47, 241 Debbie Weedman 31.44, 258 Emma Birchall 32.17, 306 Julie Evans 35.05, 364 Suzanne Evans 38. 36.

One of the club’s newest top “finds”, Jamie Betts, also finished third in the Nova parkrun, setting a new PB, with the consistent Oliver Birch-Jones just two places behind.

Placings: 3 Jamie Betts 18.43 (PB), 5 Oliver Birch-Jones 19.46, 23 Andrew Scott 25.02, 24 Ben Thomas 25.03, 25 Andy Clark 25.04, 50 Mark Dakeyne 27.22, 117 Steve Hatfield 39.37.

Martin Cortvriend took another major step towards a full recovery by breaking 24 minutes in the Burnage parkrun in Stockport, finishing 46th overall in 23.53.

Another on the gradual comeback trail is Luke Bodman, who finished 31st in his parkrun in Greenfield Valley with a time of 42.43.