Karen Shears making her way through the corn at the Haselbury Trail 10K
The Harriers achieved impressive success at the Haselbury Trail 10K this week, with podium finishes for club vice chairman Christian Green and the ever-present Matt Lusby. We also have updates on our Tuesday training sessions and the upcoming cross country season where registration for the Wessex League is now open. Don't forget to enter the Wells City Harrier-supported Baltonsborough 5 Mile Road Race!
Haselbury Trail 10K
A massive turnout by Wells City Harriers marked the Haselbury Trail 10K, showcasing the club's strength and depth. The two-lap course offered a challenging mix of road, trails, cornfields, and the infamous 'Horrible Hill', testing the mettle of all participants. The weather conditions were near perfect, adding to the day's competitive spirit.
A few Harriers post-race with their finishers tumblers.
In a thrilling display of endurance and strategy, Harrier Christian Green emerged victorious, fending off a formidable early challenge from clubmate Matt Lusby. This intense battle concluded with a spectacular Harrier one-two finish. Both athletes were rewarded with unique rock trophies and bottles of wine, a testament to their outstanding performances.
More race photos can be found on our Instagram and Facebook pages.
Christian Green receiving his winners cup and trophy.
The Haselbury Trail 10K is a key fixture in the Somerset Series, with the next event being the Wells City Harrier supported Baltonsborough 5 Mile (details below).
Harrier Results:
1st: Christian Green - 36:18
2nd: Matt Lusby - 37:12
7th: Alexander Coombs - 39:14
15th: Nick Stevens - 44:35
32nd: Jonathan Williams - 48:39
48th: Rosie Park - 49:56
105th: Robert Moore - 58:02
109th: Paul Chadwick - 59:14
124th: Kim Clark - 1:02:37
149th: Karen Shears - 1:10:02
151st: Chris Clark - 1:10:57
Matt Lusby collecting his runners-up trophy.
Enter Baltonsborough 5 Mile
Mark your calendars for Somerset's annual Baltonsborough Five Mile Road Race, set to take place at 11:00 AM on Monday, August 26, 2024 (Bank Holiday Monday). Hosted with support from Wells City Harriers, the event features the main five-mile race, along with a combined 1.5-mile fun run and a 1.5-mile junior race.
The Baltonsborough Five Mile Road Race is a meticulously measured course, winding through slightly undulating country lanes. The race will both start and finish at Baltonsborough Village Hall, and it is the 13th race in the Somerset Series.
Entries are now open. Don't miss out—enter by following this link.
Tuesday Training
Last week, we spiced up our usual Tuesday evening session with a quadrathlon, inspired by the current Olympics held in Paris. Participants competed in four events—200m, shot put, long jump, and 1500m—with scores calculated through age grading to determine the overall winner.
Calculating points for different age groups can be challenging, especially since we didn’t use different weight shots as recommended. Despite this, we managed to create a fairly even competition.
Stuart Nash attempting the shot put.
Check out some videos on our Instagram page.
Congratulations to our male winner, Oskar Beck, and our female winner, Evelyn Wigley!
Results from the Quadrathlon
Thinking about joining us for a Tuesday training session? Click here to find out more. Your first taster session is free!
Cross Country Update
With the track and field season nearing its end, our focus will shift to the upcoming cross country season. Our club participates in two leagues: the Gwent League and the Wessex League. We encourage all members to join as many events as possible, with the club covering the entry fees.
The Wessex League is an excellent introduction to cross country for our junior athletes, while also offering races for seniors. Register here and select "League Team Member Registration (for members of registered clubs)”. There are races in October, November and December (see below).
The Gwent League provides a more competitive environment, where our male senior and vet teams have recently excelled, and our junior athletes have delivered impressive results. This year, we are especially looking for more senior women to join, as we've had low participation in recent seasons. More details about the Gwent League will be released soon.
To learn more about cross country racing, click here.
You can expect a variety of race conditions throughout the cross country season.
Dates For Your Diary
Here is a list of upcoming races, including WCH supported races, Somerset Series races, road relays, athletics league fixtures and other notable events. Contact club secretary Alexander Coombs if there is an event you would like adding. (SS = Somerset Series race)
August 2024
Wednesday 14th August 2024 - Yeovilton 5K (Race 5)
Wednesday 14th August 2024 - South West PB Series (Race 3)
Wednesday 14th August 2024 - Crook Peak Cake Race
Sunday 18th August 2024 - Frome Running Festival (5K, 10K, HM)
(SS) Monday 26th August 2024 - Baltonsborough 5 Mile
Thursday 29th August 2024 - Yeovil Evening Open 4
September 2024
Sunday 1st September 2024 - South West Athletics League (Match 2) Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to enter.
Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th September 2024 - Southern Fell Running Championships (IoW)
Saturday 7th September - Yeovil Games
Wednesday 11th September 2024 - Yeovilton 5K (Race 6)
Saturday 21st September 2024 - South of England Road Relays
October 2024
(SS) Sunday 6th October 2024 - BHAM Trail 10K
Sunday 6th October - Wessex XC League (Race 1 - Learoyd Road)
Wednesday 9th October 2024 - Street 5K (Race 1)
(SS) Sunday 13th October 2024 - Burnham Half Marathon
(SS) Sunday 20th October 2024 - The Mendip Muddle
November 2024
Sunday 3rd November 2024 - Wessex XC League (Race 2 - Bryanston School)
Wednesday 13th November 2024 - Street 5K (Race 2)
(SS) Sunday 3rd November 2024 - Herepath Half
(SS) Sunday 24th November 2024 - Brent Knoll MT
December 2024
Wednesday 11th December 2024 - Street 5K (Race 3)
Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th December 2024 - Indoor Combined Events Championships
Sunday 15th December 2024 - Telford 10K
Sunday 15th December 2024 - Wessex XC League (Race 3 - Canford School)
Sunday TBC - Baltonsborough Christmas Pudding Race