A BUSY weekend of racing started early on Saturday morning for Denbigh Harriers.

Many run leaders and Harriers supported the latest Run for Fun graduates around the Conwy Parkrun course for their first ever 5k.

A clear morning at Conwy saw eight graduates complete the course, with all of them thrilled by their achievements - and quite rightly so.

Harrier Sarah Bayliss also ran a personal best performance of 26.26 as she continues to return strongly from injury.

Results: Run for Fun members: Katie Sutherland 31.39, Sioned Roberts 33.13, Eurian Mitchelmore 34.00, Sharon Stubbs 34.02, Sarah Thompson 35.43, Gwen Salusbury 35.44, Diane Lloyd 35.55, Janet Jenkins 36.23. Harriers: Philip Hayes 25.18, Paul Goffey 25.48, Sarah Bayliss 26.26 (pb), Sali Powell 30.35, Julie Roberts 30.36, Anwen Brown 31.39, Diane Roberts 32.14, Ian Jones 33.14, Hywel Roberts 33.18, Roger Snaith 33.59, Andy Morris 35.45, Bob Neale 35.56, Robert Parry 36.23.

Bushy Parkrun: Sian Pritchard 27.08.

Elsewhere, four hardy Harriers turned out for the hilly Llantysilio Fell Race.

This is a 6.2-mile race with an eye-watering 2,300 feet of ascent, climbing up Moel Morfudd and Moel y Gamelin.

Conditions were good and the views of the Dee Valley were splendid.

Tony Wood was the first Harrier home in 17th position in a time of one hour and five minutes.

Ceri Belshaw was the fourth lady and 37th overall in one hour and 16 minutes, just missing out on a podium position during her first race of the weekend.

Sioned Lloyd Griffiths was 65th in a time of 1-29, followed by Menai Baugh, finishing in 66th position in 1-32 and winning the F60 prize.

Sunday started sunny and with no wind after a hard frost overnight.

The conditions were looking good for fast times at the Denbighshire 5k and 10k races, but make no mistake, these are hilly, tough road races.

The 10k must be one of the hardest races in the calendar, while the 5k goes spectacularly off-road in the final mile.

In her second race of the weekend in the 10k, Ceri Belshaw not only made the podium, but she was the first lady home in 47.12, showing her speed and skill both on and off the road.

In the men’s race, new member Huw Williams (43.14) the first male Harrier home in 18th place.

All of the Harriers, many of them new runners, posted very good times in this tough race.

Over the 5k course, Martin Cortvriend finished third in an astonishing 21.57 as the first M60, just 30 seconds and 40 years behind the overall winner!

Ron Birch was the first M70 in 39.26, with Chris Baldwin's time of 26.08 enough to give him second place in the M60 class.

Clwyd and Catherine Owen showed their continued improvement having recently graduated from the club's Run for Fun programme.

Harriers' results

10k: 18, Huw Williams 43.14; 21, Phil Hayes 43.42; 28, Ceri Belshaw (1st lady) 47.12, 44, Ian Jones 50.12; 51, Bob Neale 51.43; 59, Sali Powell 52.42; 77, David Spencer 54.59; 91, Abigail Corfe 57.20; 100, Hannah McDonnell 58.40; 118, Helen Davies 61.48.

5k: 3, Martin Cortvriend (1st M60) 21.57; 12, Chris Baldwin (2nd M60) 26.08; 22, Clwyd Owen 30.56; 48, Ron Birch (1st M70) 39.26; 49, Catherine Owen 40.28.