WHAT a great weekend it proved to be for running.

Denbigh Harriers had a glorious morning for a run on Saturday in Rhyl.

Even the wind didn’t seem as bad as usual as 565 runners set off from Rhyl to race to Prestatyn and back along the seafront, racing this established fast and flat 10-mile race that incorporated the North Wales 10-mile championships.

Four Harriers supported this local race, with Joe Welch first home in a personal best of 61.57.

This was enough for him to finish 13th overall and the fifth M35.

Joe was the second VM35 in the North Wales 10-mile championships.

Next home was Emma Collins in a fantastic 75.01, which was over 13 minutes ahead of her nearest rival.

Emma convincingly claimed the VF55 category in the race and she was crowned the VF55 North Wales 10-mile champion.

She was the 13th lady and 91st overall.

Ruth Crowther, in her first 10-mile race and the longest race to date, finished next in 310th overall.

She was the 100th lady and 23rd in her VF45 category - and second in the North Wales championships - in 1-32.35.

The fourth Harrier across the line was Dawn Marshall, who was delighted to get a personal best in 1-34.52, taking over two-and-a-half minutes off her previous best.

She was also awarded bronze in the VF40 North Wales 10-mile championships, while she was the 110th lady.

The Ruthin 5k and 10k were well attended and eight Denbigh Harriers took part in both races.

It was beautiful day for running on a good and mainly flat course.

In the 5k, there were great personal bests for Jess Jones and Elen Baugh, with Elen just missing out on being the third woman.

David Baugh was the fourth man and first M50, with Ian Jones supporting Jess on her run.

In the 10k, Shaun Hughes had a fine run to finish second by some margin.

Dan Jones achieved a great personal best, as did Mari Williams, while Meinir Hughes enjoyed the fine weather on this pleasant course.

Ruthin 5k: 5, David Baugh (1st M50) 20.38; 10, Elen Baugh 22.34 (pb); 73, Jessica Jones 31.57 (pb); 74, Ian Jones 31.57.

Ruthin 10k: 2, Shaun Wyn Hughes 36.00; 7, Daniel Jones 39.06 (pb); 58, Mari Williams 49.46 (pb); 242, Meinir Hughes 1-15.29.

Three Denbigh Harriers turned out for the first race in the Welsh Fell Running Championships series.

The Sheeptracks race is a challenging mountain navigation race, 18.9 miles in distance with 4,300 feet of ascent on unmarked sheep tracks through the heather, bracken and gorse of the Clwydian Hills.

For the O-60s, there is a shortened version of the main race - a 12-and-a-half mile race with 3,270 feet of ascent on the same unmarked route.

Tony Wood ran the 18-mile race, which is closer to 19 miles, through the energy-sapping heather, gorse and bracken down steep descents and up even steeper ascents in a very decent time of three hours, 51 minutes and 54 seconds.

Enjoying the glorious weather and running the shorter version of the race, with her daughter Katy as company, was Menai Baugh.

She finished strongly as the first O-60 lady in a time of three hours, 15 minutes and eight seconds.