An appeal has been launched for help in setting a new world record for the biggest gathering of runners named Jones.

Already more than 800 athletes have signed up for the fifth Jones Crisps Anglesey Half Marathon on Sunday March 4 – with almost 10 per cent of them called Jones.

Race organisers Always Aim High, based in Llangefni, 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

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