After flat courses in Wrexham, Colwyn Bay and Dolgellau in recent weeks last weekend’s fixtures provided a stark contrast with hills, hills and more hills.

Even Sunday’s Borders League race at Thurstaston on the Wirral, which was largely along the former railway track, produced a surprise, with a long, steady climb around the halfway mark.

That was a doddle, however, compared with the climbs some of the members faced over the weekend. On Saturday Ann Claire Jones and Helen Alefounder were among 500 competitors in the Hebden 15-mile race in Yorkshire.

The race – actually 15.9 miles – involve 3,000 feet of ascent and wonderful scenery, and the pair finished in four hours. 

Not content with that, Ann Claire then turned out the following day at Thurstaston,

Also on Saturday was the first of this season’s Welsh Fell-Racing Championship races, the six-mile Tarren Hendre race from Abergynolwyn, which climbs 600 metres in the first 3.5 kilometres.

Lee Bailey, who described the conditions underfoot as “good and soft”,  led the club’s trio of runners home in 18th place overall, with a time of 62.30. Mandy Cartwright was 97th in 1-35.14, with Sophie Johnson four places further back in 1-40.56.

There were several fine performances in the Borders League race with Alex Ryder and Rachel Shipley again the club’s first finishers despite the former not being 100% fit after a calf injury.

Some of the club’s regulars were missing but it was also good to welcome back second-claim member Tony Benton after two years away from road racing.

The placings were: 74 Alex Ryder, 76 Steve Stocker, 78 Rachel Shipley, 94 Oliver Birch-Jones, 114 Darren Blazier, 170 Ben Thomas, 194 Dan Liddle, 204 Marc Jones, 234 Paul Sanders, 273 Canyon Wilson, 275 Tony Benton, 278 Victoria Whitehead, 300 Martin Cortvriend, 315 Ann Claire Jones, 327 James Rogers, 351 Andy Scott, 361 George Nixon, 374 Gareth Hughes, 384 Nicki Triggs, 385 Liz Martin, 397 Claudia Smith, 398 Grahame Shone.

A party of 11 members travelled to Runcorn on Saturday for a change of scenery at the Phoenix Parkrun, with Dave Ellis coming second in a nippy 19.19.

Other placings were: 16 Marc Jones 22.11, 23 Paul Sanders 23.44, 47 Andrew Carter 27.38, 62 Nem James 28.50, 63 Liz Martin 28.52, 65 Debbie Jones 29.04, 67 Karl Martin 29.23, 99 Emma Birchall 33.39, 123 Julie Evans 37.22, 125 Suzanne Evans 39.49.

Ruthin Parkrun: 70 Roger Harrison-Jones 30.39.