THE cross-country season may be some weeks away but Prestatyn Running Club captain Dean Longley is already is great form.
After winning the Llanfair TH 10k the previous weekend he came second in the third race in Deestriders’ off-road grand prix.
He might even have won - but did the gentlemanly thing and shouted to leader David Alexander (West Cheshire) when he went slightly off course.
George Nicholls and Des Davies had their own personal battle, with the former edging it by seven seconds and Des in 33.33.
The other local runner competing was club chairman Arwel Jones who finished in 35.42.
In the second race in the series Darrell Gavin took two minutes off his previous time, and last week he sliced another two minutes off after changing his tactics and deciding to go off fast.
On a ‘high’ after that result he also turned out the following evening in the Gobowen five-mile race and was delighted with his time of 36.49.
The only other Prestatyn member at Gobowen was Matt Sims, who finished sixth in 29.25, some way outside his personal best.
Off-road placings: 2, Dean Longley 29.13; 21, George Nicholls 33.26; 22, Des Davies 33.33; 38, Arwel Jones 35.42; 45, Darrell Gavin 35.57; 46, Steve Hatfield 37.15 (2nd M60); 59, Phil Jones 41.21 (2nd M65).
Two days later Phil turned out in the Fox Trot fell-race in Colwyn Bay, a new seven-mile event through woodland and hills, involving 1,000 feet of climbing.
He was the second O-60 finisher in 71.27, while Gay Waring also took part, finishing 43rd in 80.10.
After a month with relatively few races Gareth Hughes has been named by club chairman Arwel Jones as runner of the month for July after his 20.23 timing in the Race The Train 5k in Caernarfon.
On September 1 the club will hold another social run, this time at Rhewl, near Ruthin, where the club used to visit each year.
The run will be followed by a meal at the Drovers Arms.