CROSS-country running would not be the same without a decent helping of mud, and there was plenty of it at Bangor for the first fixture of the North Wales junior and senior leagues.

The competition was also as keen as ever, and Prestatyn Running Club had both quality and quantity on show.

Among the 25 members competing, seven were making their cross-country debuts for the club.

One of the debutants, Marc Jones, had his own battle with clubmate Darren Thompson.

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Prestatyn Running Club represented in Spain and the Netherlands

Just behind them, Reg Jonas, who narrowly failed to qualify for the M6 class this season, had an excellent run.

The senior men finished a close third overall in Division Two and with a decent turnout in the remaining four fixtures, promotion is a real possibility.

Ceri Vaughan, who last ran cross-country for the club as a junior, had a fine run, leading the women’s team.

Unsurprisingly, Roger Harrison-Jones won the M65 class but the most impressive performance was that of Gordon Jones, who was second in the M65 category.

Senior men: 15 Tom Carter (3rd M40), 65 Lee Bailey, 86 Dave Ellis, 128 Ben Thomas, 130 Marc Jones, 137 Darren Thompson, 138 Reg Jonas, 147 John Clayton-Hughes, 155 James Rogers, 159 Martin Gill, 161 Newm James, 162 Sion Jones, 163 Karl Martin. Team: 3rd. Masters’ team: 6th.

Over 65s: 2 Gordon Jones, 26 George Nixon, 27 Gareth Hughes (2nd M75), 36 Roger Harrison-Jones. Team: Prestatyn 3rd.

Ladies: 52 Ceri Vaughan, 82 Helen Ashworth, 91 Ann Claire Jones, 104 Sophie Johnson, 125 Nicki Triggs, 126 Elen Roberts, 127 Liz Martin, 132 Rachel Jackson. Team: 8th. Masters’ team: 9th.

NW Junior League. Girls under 11: 12 Olivia Standring-Jones. Girls under 13: 18 Tia Calland.

There was a one-two for the club in Saturday (October 14)’s Nova parkrun, with Jamie Betts claiming his first victory and his friend Cam Askam finishing one minute behind.

Steve Skates took things relatively easy as he tries to overcome injury and Dave Ellis had a solid run just a few hours before his cross-country effort.

Placings: 1 Jamie Betts 18.48, 2 Cam Askam 19.42, 11 Steve Skates 20.58, 15 Dave Ellis 22.04, 79 Lesley Furneaux 32.14.

Other parkrun results: Greenfield Valley: 22 Debbie Jones 28.41 (pb), 35 Phil Jones 38.40, 37 Steve Hatfield 38.55.

Brockenhurst (New Forest): 38 Martin Cortvriend 24.32.

Old Railway Trail (Llangollen): 11 Andy Carter 22.52.

Bellvue (Sault St Marie, Canada): 11 Julie Evans 35.40.

Prestatyn junior parkrun: 4 Olivia Standring-Jones 10.17, 23 Ffion Standring-Jones 17.39.