EMMA Collins showed her class when she took the first VF55 award at the Helena Tipping 10k over the weekend, while Menai Baugh continues to dominate in her age category at local fell races.

Sunday witnessed the annual Helena Tipping 10k, with 745 turning out to run in the wind and the rain.

Ten years ago, this was Emma Collins' first road race.

A decade later and she was only 30 seconds slower than her 2008 time as she finished in 45.16.

She was the first VF55 and also the 17th lady out of 315.

In addition, there were also a couple of other fantastic runs.

There was a personal best of a mammoth 10 minutes for Sharon Griffiths, who finishing in 63.12.

Meanwhile, Lian Jones finishing in 63.43 in her first ever race.

Four Denbigh Harriers turned out amongst the 86 runners who took to the hills for the lovely Green, Green Grass of Home Fell race.

This is organised by Tony Benton, of Denbigh Harriers, and it is marshalled by many of Tony's local friends and the Harriers.

This five-mile / 8km race starts above Llangynhafal and it was run this year on a warm, clear summer’s evening last Wednesday.

The field of runners set off on a challenging route that took in some rarely trodden tracks and afforded some spectacular panoramic views of the Vale of Clwyd and surrounding hills.

On their way, competitors coped with a combination of twisting paths, lung-busting climbs and head-high banks of bracken, before descending over open heath to the finish.

Ceri Belshaw led the quartet of Harriers home with a strong run, finishing in 53.19.

Mathew Jones, who was competing in the race for the first time, crossed the line in 57.07, followed by Katy Baugh in 61.27. Congratulations go to Menai Baugh, whose determined effort saw her finish first in the VF60 age category in 63.44.

On Saturday, the start line of the Push up the Pincyn fell race felt like a winter cross country event as 35 odd runners lined up shivering in their vests.

They faced heavy rain and wind interspersed with hail.

Thankfully, over the 6.2-mile course, the weather eased, but it stayed cool, making the 1,443 feet of climb more comfortable than fell races of late.

The five Denbigh harriers managed to avoid getting bitten by farm dogs, although two other runners were less lucky.

They then enjoyed what is a lovely route through fields to Clocaenog village and then onto forestry tracks and paths to the Pincyn.

The return was through narrow paths and a long climb back to the Clawddnewydd showground.

Menai Baugh was the first VF60 in one hour and 11 minutes, with Elen Baugh finishing in one hour and 10 minutes.

Duncan Jones completed the course in just over an hour, with Mathew Jones just ahead of him in under the hour.

Meanwhile, David Baugh was the third M50 in 56 minutes.

As this was a village show and sports, David was also equal first in the senior couples' walking race with his partner Steve Toogood, from Buckley.

They won £1 apiece!

It was a quiet weekend on the parkrun front.

Jeff Jones ran another personal best for 5k at Conwy.

He was the third M65 and 142nd overall in 27.16, a quite remarkable improvement this year for Jeff.

Sarah Bayliss continued her attack on Wepre with another good run in 28.48.

She was 63rd overall, the first W50 and only two minutes slower than her extremely good recent personal best on this course.

Chris Baldwin set off for some parkrun tourism to Anglesey and he finished 29th in 25.41 at the new parkrun on Newborough beach.

This has the distinction of including a small sand dune after the first half-mile and then a mile of climb of about 150 feet on nice trails through the woods.

This is another challenging parkrun nearly in our backyard.