IT’S November, and so the mud, wind and rain competitors in a variety of races during the weekend had to contend with was not unexpected.

The North Wales squad had its most successful day yet at the Welsh inter-regional cross-country championships in Newtown, winning the trophy for the best aggregate points total.

Several members of Prestatyn Running Club were originally selected for the squad but illness and injury led to most having to withdraw.

The only club member to turn out was Gordon Jones, and he took gold in the M65 class and also helped North Wales to team gold in the category.

As in Newtown, there was plenty of mud in the Penmaenmawr fell-race, one of the oldest in the region, which is boggy at the best of times.

READ MORE:

Prestatyn Running Club excels at record-breaking event

A quartet of Prestatyn members took on the 11-mile challenge, Steve Skates leading them home in 11th place overall with a time of 1-31.42. Other results: 51 Ben Thomas 1-46.21, Reg Jonas 1-56.57, 134 Mark Dakeyne 2-13.52.

The biggest event of the weekend was the annual Conwy Half Marathon, which attracted thousands of entries.

Despite the miserable conditions and it being further than he is accustomed to, teenager Oliver Birch-Jones was the first member home in an excellent 75th place overall, with a chip time of 1-28.07.

Jamie Betts took 13 minutes off his half-marathon PB, meanwhile.

Other results: 93 Jamie Betts 1-29.51, 415 Marc Jones 1-45.29, 454 Darren Thompson 1-46.39, 539 Paul Sanders 1-48.52, 185th lady Ann Claire Jones 1-56.47, 928 Martin Gill 1-59.29, 992 Andy Scott 2-02.41, 1013 Andy Carter 2-03.52, 374th lady: Elen Roberts 2-09.31.

Some of those who raced on Sunday used Saturday’s parkruns as gentle leg-stretchers.

Nova: 8 Cam Askan 22.17, 21 Marc Jones 24.29, 22 Paul Sanders 24.29, 42 Jamie Betts 28.21, 45 Rachel Jackson 28.32, 53 Nem James 29.44.

Greenfield Valley: 28 Debbie Jones 29.27.

Wepre: 5 Steve Stocker 22.01.

Ruthin: 1 Tom Carter 17.04, 43 Roger Harrison-Jones 30.39.

Ellesmere Port: 36 Sophie Johnson 29.21, 42 Mandy Cartwright 31.19.

Stones Corner (Brisbane): 72 Martin Cortvriend 24.35.

Last week, two members took on different endurance challenges and both were rightly pleased with their performances.

It was wet and windy for the Clwydian Hills fell-race but Lee Bailey coped admirably with the conditions, not only finish fifth overall and second M40 but taking eight minutes off his PB for the 15k course.

It was much brighter for the following day’s Pen Llyn Winter Ultra and Cathy Wood thoroughly enjoyed herself.

She covered the 37.5 mile-course from coast to coast in 11 hours 21 minutes, placing her 139th out of 190 finishers.

This Saturday sees the second fixture in the David Alun Williams North Wales Cross-Country League on a new course at Baschurch, near Shrewsbury.