5k Race start under the watchful eye of new Race Director Stephen Nicholls... (photo by Alice)
Some Photos have been added....
The 192nd edition of the Street 5k race took place on Wednesday 12th October. It kicked off the 33rd season of this Series. Race winners on the night were Harrier Alexander Coombs for the men and Gill Pearson (Running For Time) for the women. Two new course records too – Tom Webb (u15) & Len Horlock (V80). Well done to them and to all the others who competed, whether it was your 1st or 100th racing at this event!
There was also some lovely running by the enthusiastic juniors in the accompanying 1k and 2k races. Read on for full report and link to the results.
We also have a report from the Yeovil Olympiads Annual awards night where a number of the Harriers were recipients of awards for their efforts over the Track & Field season as part of the combined team. Of course, as we all know, the efforts of team managers to get good competitive teams out in the National League One, which we won, and the South West Athletics League, where we were runners up, shouldn’t be under estimated. Well done all.
Also included in this report is a celebration of the u17 women's team that finished 6th in the recent National Road Relays - that's some achievement!
...& finally we know that u15 Harrier Tom Webb won the European u15 Biathle last week, following on from a storming run at the London Mini Marathon to finish 4th in the race against competitors from across the UK. He seems to feature a fair bit at present – Good luck to him at the World Biathle coming up!
Clive & Angela Thomas Street 5k Series - Race The Night!
The Street 5k is the Harrier’s flagship event and was started way back in 1989 by a former Chairman, Clive Thomas, and his wife, Angela, as a means of encouraging all to test their racing fitness once a month over the autumn & winter period. It was re-named the Clive & Angela Thomas Series some years back in memory of their efforts. This 192nd edition had conditions which were a tad wet but not too bad for good times.
Some of us recall very low turnouts at some editions across the years (33 from my recollection at one particular race) but also bumper entries on other occasions (131). Tonight the number was 91 finishers and we hope that those that raced enjoyed the lapped race with the timing clock every lap, and might come back next month to see if they can beat that time.
There were a few hiccups with the recording due to a few runners not going through the funnel at the end - we can't record you if you don't go through there!
Remember that for all that enter the Series and run 5 races they get a badged sports towel to celebrate their achievements!
New Race Director Stephen Nicholls, assisted by Henry Sage, were in charge this time out. To query any results or claim any lost property etc please use This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
1st Alexander Coombs (Wells City Harriers)
2nd & 1st Junior Rory Forbes (u/a)
3rd Tom Webb (Wells City Harriers) – Tom was fresh back from being 1st u15 at the European biathle Championships in Greece (biathle is a continuous run-swim-run competition) - set a new u15 course record this Street race
1st V40 Russell Forsbrook (North Somerset AC)
1st V50 Lee McMeekin (Medway AC)
1st V60 Robert Moore (Wells City Harriers)
1st V70 Nigel Baker (Running Forever)
1st V80 Len Horlock (SW Vets) – Len moves into top 5 nationally in this age group as well as setting a new course record for the age group
1st Female (&1st F45) Gill Pearson (Running For Time)
1st F35 Sara Trim (Total Running)
1st F55 Charlie Spencer (Maiden Newton RR)
1st F65 KIm Clark (Wells City Harriers)
(Below - some of the 5k winners gathered after the event - photo by Paul)
Here are the provisional results - any queries to Stephen
October 2022 Street 5k results link here
Street Series records here - as revised this month
All previous Street 5k results, and reports where available, are on the dedicated Harrier website tab.
In the accompanying junior races there was no less effort shown by those that took part. One of our Monday Harriers u13 Eva Dowden was another fresh back from the European biathle Championships in Greece and she took the 2k win in a nippy 8.51. In the 1k race there was a great tussle at the front with Ed Salter running to victory in 3.36 and Harrier Charlie Franchomme 2nd in 3.52. 1st for the girls was Lyra Leach in 4.17.
October 2022 junior results here
Juniors after their 1k & 2k races - photo by Paul
Next Street Races on Wednesday 9th November – try and run a bit quicker!
Please remember to enter online in advance for the 5k race – at least 36 hours beforehand and bring your number back with you to pay again if you’ve not already paid for the Series.
1k & 2k race entry on the night only – we like to encourage Year 7&8s to run 2k and try and beat the course records for that distance, rather than running the 5k. (You can run plenty of Parkrun 5ks)
Our thanks as ever to the volunteers who ensure that the races can take place - if you are a Harrier or parent of a junior Harrier and haven't volunteered yet to marshal ....please let Stephen know which monthly race you will help at....
Harriers gain some YOAC Annual Awards
Yeovil Olympiads Chairman Geoff Cole reports:
"Just to let you know that the following Wells members were recognised at the YOAC annual awards last weekend.
- Barker Cup for Men’s Team Service – Matt Lusby (photo below shows Matt receiving his much deserved award from YOAC President Noel Frost) )
“This athlete showed true grit and dedication to the team this season. He competed in multiple events at the national league and south west league, the highlight being on the weekend of 4th/5th June when he competed in the NAL team in Portsmouth in the 1500m, 3000m and steeplechase and SHOT PUT on the Saturday. Then on Sunday morning he drove to Crewkerne where he ran the 10k in his more usual Wells Vest and came second before driving on to Exeter where he ran the 2000m steeplechase at the SW league, coming second!”
- Men’s Best Track Performance – Dan Maydew for his 8:31 3000m
- Sue Somerset Trophy for Combined Events - Ollie Thorner decathlon 7602 UK #4
- Jumps Trophy for Men - Harry Barton LJ 7.24 & SW League U20s Record!"
Other News, including Road Relays
U15 Tom Webb (see above too) finished off his track season with a 2.02pb for the 800m at the last of the season’s T&F meetings on 24th September – the day after having a storming run at the Aldershot road relays where he ran 9.34 over the 3km distance on leg one to win that statge. He was part of a 3 man Harrier team finishing a very creditable 4th place overall. Other u15 team members there were Gabriel Chatard (10.31) and Charlie Court (9.48). Good running boys.
There were other good individual & team performances at Aldershot and some went on to perform well at the National relays a few weeks later - see below.
The following weekend Tom ran for the South West region at the London Mini Marathon over a distance of approximately 3 miles (the final section of the 26 mile edition). It’s always a great event for juniors, just as it is for the seniors in the full edition. Tom finished 4th.
At the National Road Relays held in the traditional setting of Sutton Park (north Birmingham) on Saturday 8th October the athletes had the usual undulating road to deal with - and a step up in class from the regional races. The Harriers U17 womens team ran really well on the sunny day: Iris Courtney led off on the fast sprint, finishing 14th on her stage in 14.05 for the 3.88km distance; then Lucy Bickerton ran 14.53 to keep the team ticking along, 16th place; and handing on to Sophie Nicholls who ran the final leg in a storming 13.12 (2nd fastest on leg 3). The team finished a very commendable 6th place overall.
Well done ladies! We've added your team achievement to our Harrier Roll of Honour listing here.
(left to right Sophie; Iris & Lucy)
Well done also to a few of our Monday juniors of late – u13 Oskar Beck gaining a 800m pb at the Yeovil Games with his time of 2.31 and then running at Aldershot for a 11.41. Team mate Jack Barker ran 12.35 in the same team whilst Amelie Cook ran 11.59 for the u15 girls team. I understand all then went on to run at the first of the Wessex XC fixtures on 2nd October.
Geoff reports on the last Wessex Fixture here:
"link to all of the photos I took at the first Wessex League fixture...."
NEXT FIXTURES:
Check the team tab for the latest news. Wessex & Gwent League fixtures coming up. Make sure you enter before any deadline! Free for any Harrier/YOAC member.
We have the various XC Championship dates on the tab including ....The date has been set for the National Cross-Country Championships – Saturday 25th February 2023.
The Harriers pay the entry fee of any from the Harriers/YOAC who will go and represent the Club at these prestigious National Championships. Entry will need to be made online by the athlete at least 4-6 weeks beforehand.
Baltonsborough Road Race
The next local community organised race that we support will be the Baltonsborough Christmas Pudding 5 Mile Road race on Sunday 18th December. Get training now….
Entries online via the website - see previous posting. More details and previous race results on our dedicated webpage here.
Reports and photos for the web?
Please send brief reports and good quality photos for inclusion to me by the Monday eve at 8pm for inclusion in the next web posting. (Word docs & pdfs by e-mail are best to send)
If you don’t tell us then we can’t report it.
Paul - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.