THE cross-country season opened on a very satisfactory note for Prestatyn Running Club, with the men’s and women’s teams laying a solid foundation for the remaining four fixtures.

The Wrexham course for the first fixture of the Grand Prix Express North Wales League was much firmer than expected, producing some fast times.

Team captains Steve Skates and Helen Ashworth led by example, each leading their squads home, and though several regular runners were missing there were excellent, encouraging debuts from Steve Haimes and Nicola Eatherington.

The men finished sixth in Division One and well within reach of a couple of clubs above them, while the women were fourth in Division Two.

Placings: Men: 9, Steve Skates 31.12 (2nd M40); 22, Josh Cerefice 32.29; 43, Leon Bagnall 34.20; 83, George Nicholls 36.52; 93, James Williamson 37.26; 97, Steve Haimes 37.37; 116, James Rogers 39.00; 121, Steve Weedman 39.43; 145, Des Davies 42.27; 150, Steve Brown 44.07; 151, Arwel Jones 44.38; 162, Stuart Quayle 52.03. Men O-65: 3, George Nixon 26.06. Men O-70: 4, Mike Davis 31.28; 7, Steve Hatfield 37.07. M75: 5, John Hickman 33.24. M80: 1, Roger Harrison-Jones 33.46 (1st M80). M65 team: 1st.

Ladies: 45, Helen Ashworth 27.21; 50, Joy Hickman 27.51; 102, Liz Martin 32.34; 117, Helen Baxandall 33.39; 118, Cara Jones 33.40; 151, Clare Manley 38.53; 152, Emma Birchall 39.10; 155, Debbie Jones 40.00; 150, Julie Evans 44.02.

The opening fixture of the North Wales Junior League was also held at the same venue and the club’s youngsters put up a good show. Girls under 13: 20, Eden Jones 14.33. Boys under 13: 6, Joseph Duffy 12.26; 14, Callum Fox-Byrne 13.24.

Just a few hours before turning out in Wrexham, Steve Brown and Helen Alefounder ran in the Wepre Parkrun in Connah’s Quay. Results: 29, Steve Brown 25.05; 61, Helen Alefounder 31.01 (pb). Conwy Parkrun: 29, Sian Beck 21.54; 45, Martin Gill 23.25.

Less than 24 hours later and the same pair competed in their third race in 24 hours – the Bangor 10k.

Helen Alefounder was the fourth lady in 58.02.

Other results: 12, Gareth Brandrick 44.08; 28, Steve Brown 49.00; 58, Will Williams 54.58 (pb).

Despite having run at Wrexham, James Rogers took 10 minutes off his course personal best in the Bangor half-marathon, coming 35th overall in 1-36.37.

In the same event, Hannah Carty also set a new pb of 1-50.11.

Other members travelled further afield at the weekend.

Lisa Johnson clocked an excellent 1-52.59 in the Cardiff half-marathon and her training partner Hannah Garnett was 210th in the Chester Metric Half-Marathon in 2-20.38.

In the same race, Andy Clark was 227th in 2-22.26 and Kat Prestwich 436th in 2-38.55.

At the same venue Gethin Evans and Darren Thompson were in the large field for the full marathon. Gethin was 671st in 3-34.25 and Darren 1,215th in 3-57.47.

Meanwhile, Steve Forsyth returned to the village where he grew up for the final Pattingham Bells 10k trail race, with a lot of standing water making it tougher than usual.

In good form at present, he finished third overall in 38.30.

The busy programme continues next Sunday with the first Borders Road-Running League fixture at Caernarfon.