An appeal has gone out to people called Jones to take part in a bid to break a world record.
They are being invited to join the largest collection of runners called Jones, just before the start of the Jones Crisps Anglesey Half Marathon.
Already more than 800 athletes have signed up for the race on Sunday March 4 – with almost 10 per cent of them called Jones.
Race organisers Always Aim High are expecting around 2,500 runners to take part in the three races on the day: the half marathon, Ynys Mȏn 10k run and one-mile children’s race.
Together with Jones Crisps, they want to set a world record, by getting as many people with the surname Jones gathered together on the start line at Menai Bridge.
All the runners will receive a bag of Jones Crisps at the end.
Geraint Hughes from Jones Crisps said: “We’ve worked closely with Always Aim High for some years and it struck me at last year’s Anglesey Half Marathon just how many runners with the surname Jones took part in the race and the other events on the day.
“There’s already been a lot of Jones signing up for the 2018 race so we thought it would be excellent to see if we can break a world record. As far as we can tell, there has never been an attempt at a world record for a gathering of runners called Jones.
“The main race starts at 9am, so we will be gathering people together just before then – so we are encouraging people to come along to take part in it.
“Once the race starts, for the other runners, it will be a case of keeping up with the Joneses.
“We are proud to support Jones Crisps Anglesey Half Marathon and other events across Wales including the Cardiff Triathlon, Slateman and Tour de Mȏn.”
The 13-mile race starts on the world famous Menai Suspension Bridge, then follows the coast road to Beaumaris Castle and back, with thousands of supporters expected to line the route.
The junior runners, split into four age categories, have a one-mile dash over the bridge and through the town ending at the main race’s chequered flag.
All the adults across the finish line for the half marathon and 10k run will be handed a packet of Jones Crisps, to help them replenish their carbohydrate and salt levels after their exertions.
Jones Crisps is the only crisp company based in Wales and owned by Welsh food entrepreneurs. The crisps are made with 100% Welsh grown potatoes. Each crisp is hand cooked in high oleic sunflower oil, to produce excellent old fashioned crisps with a proper thick crunch and punchy flavours.
Always Aim High director Tim Lloyd said: “Crisps are an excellent way for runners to stoke up after a run, to help their energy levels and we know that our competitors love them.
“We’ve had a long partnership with Jones Crisps and we have seen an increase in people called Jones taking part.
“Last year the event saw around 2,000 runners take part, and numbers are up for the 2018 race. Already we have more than 800 entries, far ahead of this time for the last race, so we are expecting a record turnout of competitors.
“As many of those people are called Jones, it would be excellent if we can also set a world record on the day for a gathering of runners, of all ages, named Jones.
“Since we launched the event in 2013 it has been a great boost for Anglesey tourism, with a large number of people staying overnight – the growing number taking part shows that it really is on the map for serious runners.
“The course is over closed roads, so it’s suitable for runners of all abilities, and through some spectacular scenery, and the feedback from runners is that it’s always a lovely event to take in.
“Many of the runners are doing it to raise funds for charities close to their hearts, with thousands of pounds collected since the first half marathon in 2013.
“It’s also a great day out for the supporters – I know it makes a real difference to the runners to have people lining the route, encouraging them on to their personal bests.
“Also, the team from Jones Crisps travel the route beforehand, distributing free packets of crisps, so there’s even more reason for the public to get there early and support the runners.”
Any runners called Jones wanting to help create a new world record and everybody else wanting to register should go to: http://alwaysaimhighevents.com/anglesey-half-marathon/jones-crisps-anglesey-half-marathon-2018
Photos: Always Aim High MD Tim Lloyd and Jones Crisps Director Geraint Hughes with runners Jack Robertson and Kyle MacKenzie
Jones facts
Jones is a surname of Welsh and English origins, meaning “John’s son”.
It remains the most popular surname in Wales with Jones being the surname of 5.5% of the population here,
David Jones is the second most popular name in the UK
It is the fifth most popular name in America, with 0.50 per cent of the population called Jones according to the 2000 census
The film character, Indiana Jones, famously played by Harrison Ford, is largely based on Hiram Bingham III, a professor in the history of Latin America at Yale University, where he worked from 1907-1915.
Famous Joneses
Actors
Bruce Jones (actor) (born 1953), English actor
Catherine Zeta-Jones, Welsh actress
Dean Jones (1931–2015), American actor
Felicity Jones, English actress
Grace Jones, Jamaican-American actress
Griff Rhys Jones, Welsh comedian
James Earl Jones, American actor
January Jones, American actress
Rob Brydon, Welsh actor and comedian; real name Robert Brydon Jones
Rupert Penry-Jones, English actor
Ruth Jones, Welsh actress and writer
Shirley Jones, American actress
Simon Jones (actor), English actor
Terry Jones, Welsh comedian, writer, actor, director, television host
Toby Jones, English actor
Tommy Lee Jones, American actor
Music
Aled Jones, singer from Anglesey, who started out as a choirboy and is now a popular baritone
Brian Jones, English multi-instrumentalist, founder of The Rolling Stones
Caryl Parry Jones, Welsh singer-songwriter and radio presenter
Danny Jones, English singer and guitarist, member of pop group McFly
Darryl Jones, American jazz bassist
David Bowie, English singer-songwriter, born David Jones
Grace Jones, Jamaican-American singer and songwriter
Mick Jones (The Clash), also Big Audio Dynamite
Nicky Wire, Welsh musician; real name Nicholas Jones
Norah Jones, American musician
Quincy Jones, American music impresario, musical arranger, record producer, and film composer
Simon Jones, bassist with The Verve
Tammy Jones (born 1944), Welsh singer
Tom Jones, Welsh singer
Dai Jones, broadcaster and farmer
Geoffrey Jones (1931–2005), British documentary film director and editor
Gethin Jones, TV presenter
Steve Jones (presenter), TV presenter
Politicians
Alun Ffred Jones (born 1949), Welsh Plaid Cymru politician
Ann Jones (born 1953), Welsh Labour Co-op politician
Barry Jones, Baron Jones (British politician) (born 1938) Labour Politician and Member of Parliament for Alyn and Deeside (1970-2001)
Elin Jones (born 1966), Welsh Plaid Cymru politician
Ieuan Wyn Jones (born 1949), leader of Plaid Cymru & Deputy First Minister in the Welsh Assembly Government
Jon Owen Jones (born 1954), Welsh Labour Co-op politician
Arfon Jones, North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner
Football
Cliff Jones (Welsh footballer) (born 1935), Welsh international footballer who played for Tottenham
Cobi Jones, American footballer
Joey Jones, Welsh footballer
Kenwyne Jones, Trinidad and Tobago footballer
Owain Tudor Jones, Welsh footballer
Phil Jones (footballer born 1992), English footballer
Rob Jones (footballer born 1971), English footballer
Vinnie Jones (born 1965), British footballer-turned-actor