(above: u17 & u20 women at the first of the Gwent League fixtures on Saturday)
There's been some excellent running at this past weekend's Cross Country fixture up in Cardiff --the first of the Gwent League fixtures, and this follows on from the performances at the Wessex League held earlier in the month. The Gwent League fixture also featured the UK Cross Challenge fixture, and not all Harriers entered for that particular seperate event. Top billing goes to the individuals who were first in the Gwent League on Saturday: u15 Tom Webb; u17 Sophie NIcholls; u20 Dan Maydew
Wells City Harriers has always been a strong Club for cross-country running ever since its founding some 40'odd years ago. Individuals and teams have competed at the very highest of regional and national level (*), and we continue to develop and deliver our coaching over the autumn and winter seasons to enable this to continue. Reminder: Entries for the next Wessex XC League fixture are needed by Saturday 5pm- see below.
Meanwhile some Club members have been in action on the road and this past Sunday saw the Bath Half Marathon finally take place, after being postponed several times. That man Matt Lusby can't be denied - after racing at Gwent League on the Saturday you can guess where he was on the Sunday!
Read on also to make sure you know the dates of various XC races, and the Championship races coming up - don't miss the entry deadlines. Remember to check the Team tab on a regular basis as more information gets posted.
(* We've previously had the individual winner of the National XC Championships (Frank Tickner twice - in 2007 & 2009), had 5 Harriers selected for TeamGB at XC over the years, and as a team, the men & u17 women have previously won outright the Gwent League. It looks like we might be on the way back with the men's team as we seek to climb back up to Div 1, and who knows if any of our current crop of juniors might be good enough to be a national champion one day! - Full honours board here)
Gwent XC League - Cardiff - Saturday 15th October
Jon James reports on the senior men competing
“The first fixture of the Gwent cross-country league was held last Saturday in Llandaff Fields in Cardiff on a mild autumnal day, though some rain in the morning had softened the ground to the point where a bit of mud was on show! As in recent years, the fixture also hosts the UK cross-challenge event and this year it also hosted a world series event which brought in some African runners – as several of these have run under 27 minutes for 10K the standard was high!
The senior men’s team performed well, continuing the form that saw them win division 3 last year. First home was Chris Green, finishing in 24th position in a time of 31.09 for the 9.6K course, and clearly shaping up well for the Abingdon marathon that he is running next weekend.
Matt Lusby ran a sensible, controlled race and finished in 46th place with a time of 32.17, much improved on the 65th position of last year. He was closely followed by Jon James (52nd place, 32.24), who won the 55-64 age group race, and a much-improved Alex Coombs (61st, 32.43), who finished around 50 places higher than when he ran here 3 years ago.
The all-important 5th and final scoring spot was taken by Henry Sage, running well to finish in 167th (35.52). Backing up the team really well, and completing his first cross-country race of this nature, was Adam Sutton who finished in 186th place with a time of 36.33.
This all meant that the team made a winning start to life in division 2! Hopefully this form can be continued at the next fixture on Saturday 12th November at the Blaise Castle estate in Bristol.”
Well done team, and again to Jon seen in the photo below holding up his individual trophies from last season as presented on Saturday - 1st V45 &1st V55. Jon has once again been selected to compete for England at the Veteran's XC International - this time being held in Dublin next month.
Simon Prior reports on the junior Harriers competing at Cardiff:
First up was the u13 boys race and saw a strong run from Leyton Finn 21st in the Gwent league after a few weeks set-back with a niggle. This is a great confidence boost for him. 67 finishers
U15 boys - There were 3 great performances by the boys
With Tom Webb building on some strong performances of late with 1st in Gwent league; Charlie Court next home making the top 10 with 10th, and Gabriel Chatard in his 1st season with Wells and racing had a fine run to come 14th. This field had 77 finishers and the results show how strong these boys ran
U15 Girls - This was a well supported race for Wells with four of our u15 girls competing
Leading the girls home was new signing Gemma Tolputt 3rd in the Gwent and 8th in British Athletics Cross Challenge showed great race craft. Not far behind saw Daisy Davies 6th in Gwent and 13th in the Cross Challenge. Daisy is definitely returning to form after recent strong runs on the road and XC
Evie Horsfall making her debut on the mud for Wells was 24th in the Cross Challenge and 27th in Gwent league Evie is becoming stronger every race. Matilda Hicks also a a recent signing and a step up for her she didn’t disappoint with a strong run 50th place in the Gwent league. 80 finishers
U17 men
This saw Jack Harvey our only runner but didn’t disappoint with a top 10 finish for 8th in the Gwent league again returning to some form on the mud. 50 finishers
U17 women - Again there was a strong turn out for Wells
Leading way home Sophie Nicholls ran a well judged race for 4th in the Cross Chllange and 5th in the overall u17/20 race and 1st in the Gwent league Sophie waiting to hear if selected to run for England at Home-countries. Next in Iris Courtney u17 was 10th in the cross challenge with a strong run and 2nd in the Gwent league – a great start to her first XC with Wells
Again new signing Lucy Acott is improving every race since her confidence boost of qualifying for English Schools on the track and was 22nd here in Gwent League. Macy Noad finishing off the team with a great run for 26th, considering she was race swimming the night before. This shows her commitment to her team.
U20 women
Hannah Blundy showed she is on her way back after a difficult few months with 2nd in the Gwent league a good start to her racing season.
U20 men
Dan Maydew making transition from road to mud after competing for England over 10k in Italy last month, didn’t disappoint with 5th place in the Cross Challenge and 1st in the Gwent League. Dan is now waiting to hear if he has earned selection to race for England at the Home Countries international”
Senior women
There was also a good run by our sole representatives Laura James for 52nd in the Senior womens race, out of 326 finishers.
Cross country coming up – next fixtures - don't miss the entry deadines!
See Team tab link here for all the relevant info and links to websites & entry details if we have them. Dates & most venues are now confirmed for many of the Championship races.
Running in either of the two Leagues we compete in is FREE to Harriers and YOAC members (enter as a Harrier). For all the Championships you make the entry yourself.
Sunday 30th October Bryanston School, Blandford Forum Dorset (Wessex XC League) – enter direct by 22nd October 5pm using link by the deadline (no entry on the day) - select Team Member regsitartion when entering - free to enter the League. If you want to compete in the Dorset Championships you will have to pay (usual eligibility for Dorset - resident in Dorset or born there). The Harrier flag will be there.
Saturday 12th November Blaise Castle Estate, Bristol (Gwent XC League) – let team managers know week before at coaching if you are running, as we anticipate the League moving to pre-entry only & chip timing. We'd like to encourage as many juniors & seniors as possible to compete at this fixture. The Harrier tent will be there. For a previous report see here: In 2012 we managed to get 49 Harriers competing at Blaise! (for those who have been around a while you might note that u13 Jessic Cooksey in the 2012 report is now a professional rugby union player with Wasps - well done Jess!)
Sunday 27th November University of Bath – Somerset County XC Championships as part of the Tri-Counties Championships (with Avon & Wiltshire) – individual entry required to be paid for on entry. See links off Team tab. Usual eligibility for Somerset (resident in Somerset or born there; ditto for Avon in case we have any signed up members living in Avon who are running)
If you as a parent or senior member are at one of these fixtures please take some good photos or agree with others to write up a report for the Harrier website - don't expect busy coaches to have time to do write ups please - we need to know what conditions were like, times & positions of any Harriers, etc. Send to me This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for publication, and we also send in a shortened version to the local newspaper. If you don't tell us then we can't publish it on this website which is the Harrier record.
Bath Half Marathon - Sunday October 16th
Graham Goldsmid reports
“Zak first home for the Club
Last Sunday saw the return of the popular Bath Half marathon back after a 2 year break with a new 2 lap course around Bath. Lining up at the start along with over 6500 runners on a sunny October morning were 6 members from the Harriers.
First home for the Harriers was Zak Hurrell (SM) who was 35th in a great time of 1.12.59, then came Matt Lusby (SM) fresh from running at Cardiff in the Gwent league the day before, who was 184th in 1.23.13.
Next home for Wells in 367th place was Club Chairman Graham Goldsmid (V60) in a time of 1.28.44 followed by club super vet Mat Sparkes (v65) who had run at the first Bath half in 1982! Mat was 811th in a time of 1.37.33 then came Martin Bailey (V50) 1646th in 1.46.56.
Mike Bosley (V50) recovering from his London marathon run was 1741st in 1.47.53 with Matthew Chapman (V50) 4279th in 2.10.54, Mike Ommannay (V40) was 4,533rd in 2.13.46 and then Harriett Daly (SF) who was 6416th in a time of 2.49.43
Well done to all who took part”
(Below: Graham strides out at the Half)
London Update: Mike Bosley ran a sub-4 at London: 3.58. Mike was one of the two Club members to get a guaranteed London place in our Annual ballot. Our other Ballot winner, Richard Morgan, has been injured so has deferred his entry to next year. If you are a paid up Harrier member, entered the main ballot for the next London Marathon, and are rejected in the ballot then you can be entered into our Club ballot next time. (Other conditions apply!)
SOCIAL DATE FOR THE DIARY
Wells City Harriers Annual Dinner is to be held at Wells Golf Club on Friday 2nd December. This brings together all the elements of the Club. (Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday sections)
2 course meal with raffle, bog seat award and Quiz. £20 for Senior Members and partners and £15 for Juniors and parents. Bookings/Tickets available next month at coaching/training sessions. (Please make sure your membership is up to date to attend this Club subsidised event!)