Five long serving members of Prestatyn Running Club recognised at festive lunch...

*(Above): Bernie Jones (centre) with award recipients Duncan Longley, Mike Davis, Dave Hughes and Roger Harrison-Jones. George Nixon was not present.

Five long serving members of Prestatyn Running Club recognised at festive lunch.

 

 A total of over 200 years of involvement in athletics by five members of

 Prestatyn Running Club were recognised at a pre-Christmas lunch.

 The club is unique throughout the region in having so many long serving

 members who are still active, and tribute to their remarkable record was

 paid by Bernie Jones, secretary of the North Wales Cross-Country Association

 at an event at the Eagle and Child, Gwaenysgor.

 Welsh Athletics meritorious awards for at least 15 years' service were

 presented to former club chairman Mike Davis and to the current post-holder

 Duncan Longley. 

 Duncan joined the club in the mid-1990s and has filled a variety of roles,

 including chief marshal at regional and national championships,  and

 registration and results co-ordinator for several races.

 He is a qualified Run Leader and has figured prominently in the club's

 Couch to 5k sessions.

 Mike has been a PRC member since 2010, having previously been chairman of

 Skipton Runners Club. He remains an enthusiastic member, supporting all club

 events and has helped organise numerous races as well as being competitive

 in his age-group.

The club committee itself decided to honour three of its supervets, Roger

 Harrison-Jones, David Hughes and George Nixon, each of whom has competed in the North Wales Cross-Country League for over 50 years - an amazing record.

 Bernie detailed the successes of all three at regional, national and

 international level on road and country, and emphasised the respect in which

 they are still held in athletics circles. 

 In the past all three have received the Bebbington Shield from the North

 Wales Cross-Country Association for their loyalty to the League.

 Club President Gareth Hughes commented: "As a club we have been very

 fortunate in having such outstanding servants who have contributed so much

 to the club and to the sport in general.

 "Many of our newer members aren't aware of their impressive achievements as

 Roger, Dave and George are so modest. All three are superb role-models for

 the younger members."

*Storm Darragh put paid to the entire North Wales Parkrun programme on

 Saturday as well as the third Borders League fixture in Anglesey on Sunday.