In spite of the wet and humid weather there was a good turn out for the Street Races held on Wednesday 11th October. Two records were broken on the night.
In what was the 198th edition of the 5k race, u17 Harrier Tom Webb won the race by smashing a very long standing age group record with his time of 15.29. For the women, first home was Harrier u20 Sophie Nicholls in 17.46.
In the junior races, (start shown above), Oskar Beck also broke a long standing 2k record with his time of 6.41whilst Elspeth Perkins was first for the girls in 9.48. In the 1k race Rowan Kelly won for the first time in 3.43 and Florence Perkins for the girls with 4.18.
Read on for details and race results link.
For Harriers – last call for the Gwent XC League fixture this coming Saturday. Contact Harrier Secretary Alex Coombs or coach Jon James if you intend to compete.
Photo below: new 2k record holder u13 Oskar Beck with the former 2k record holder Alex Williams.
Street 5k Race - No 198 - 11th October 2023
It was great to see so many out racing on a wet evening! Some were taking part for the very first time whilst others were very familiar faces. There were 75 finishers in the 5k race - the first race in this the 34th year of the Series, now re-named the Clive & Angela Thomas Street Series. We will celebrate race No 200 at the December edition so make sure you enter that one!
Tom Webb (photo below) set off at a blistering pace with fellow Harrier Frank Tickner’s u17 record on this course, 15.41, from November 2000 firmly in his sights. With his fellow Millfield pupil Rory Forbes for company initially, Tom pulled away to run well clear and finish in 15.29, with Rory 2nd in 15.43 – a time itself just 2 seconds outside of Frank’s old one. In 3rd place was Harrier Matt Lusby in 16.03. Tom's time now takes him to the very top of the UK u17 rankings for 5k this current year.
For the women, the Race Director’s daughter, Harrier u20 Sophie Nicholls, was well clear finishing in 11th place overall in 17.46. The Series winner of the last few years, F45 Gill Pearson (Running For Time) was 2nd in a nippy 19.04. 3rd for the women was Louise Mills (Woking AC) in 19.32.
Other age Category winners:
M40 Chris Walker (Burnham Harriers) 17.47
M50 Marko Nurminen (u/a) 17.45
M60 Kevin Stenner (Yeovil Town RR) 21.39
M70 Nigel Baker (Running Forever RC) 26.09
M80 Len Horlock (Burnham Harriers) 28.18
F35 Hazel Shears (Bow Street Runners) 22.02
F55 Carol Buckland (Wells City Harriers) 24.18
F65 Kim Clark (Wells City Harriers) 27.30
Street 5k Results - edition 198 - October 2023
Age graded results?
Unsurprisingly, Tom Webb's 87.9% is at the very top, whilst Gill Pearson's 86.5% is best for the women.
Junior races
Virtually all that competed in the accompanying 1k and 2k races train with the Harriers on a Monday evening.
Oskar Beck has gradually been building up to claim the 2k race record and his recent form on the track over the summer and at Parkruns suggested he would be capable of achieving it. His 6.41 was some 11 seconds quicker than that achieved by former Harrier Alex Williams way back in March 2013. Alex was on hand to acclaim Oskar for his record run.
Rowan Kelly ran a very nippy 3.43 for the 1km race and he may be one to watch in the future – his target will be the 1k record of 3.28 set by former Harrier Curtis Stevens in October 2006.
Junior 1k & 2k Race Results Oct 2023 here
Next Street race date: Wednesday 8th November. Please retain your race number and bring with you to the next race. Enter online in advance for the 5k if at all possible; enter the 1k and 2k race on the night if you’ve not paid for the Series.
The Club’s thanks as ever to the dedicated volunteers who help ensure these races go smoothly - rain, shine or snow. Also to our Race supporters: Phil Rainbow's Somerset Cheese Company; Hecks Cider & Apple Juice; Pilton Cider
Harrier members & parents of juniors – please contact Race Director Stephen Nicholls to advise him of which Street race(s) you can volunteer for: marshalling; finish line; tea & refreshments etc. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
A little bit of history? If you've forgotten about the history of the Street 5k Series from way back you can check out its origins on the Harrier's History page here.
Cross Country coming up
Gwent League this coming Saturday 14th October – make sure you’ve let Alex or Jon know that you are running
Wessex League on Sunday 29th October – make sure you’ve entered by the deadline of 20th October
Harriers (& YOAC members) are free to enter these events as the Club pays entry fees. See dedicated webpage for links and more information.
Note that dates and venues for all the XC Championship races – County, South Wests and Southerns are now set, with deadlines for individuals to make their own entry – pay online.