South of England Fell Running Champs; Track & field 2024 wrap up; & Training update

Details: Written by Paul Chadwick; Created: 10 September 2024; Last Updated: 10 September 2024; Hits: 416

aaaaAlfieBeck determined

(Above: a determined u11 Alfie Beck in the 75m sprint at the Yeovil Games last Saturday)

This past week has seen Harriers of all ages from u11 to V70 out competing hard at the various disciplines of athletics - at track & field in Yeovil or Exeter; at some tough fell races on the Isle of Wight; and on the road at the Great North Run.

This round up covers the South of England Fell Running Championships, the end of season wrap up from the track & field athletes especiallly those who have competed at SW League and at the Open events; and also has a little bit about our Harrier training nights on a Monday and a Wednesday.

aaaaPaul finish 3rd IoW race

South of England Fell Running Championships - Ventnor, Isle of Wight - Saturday & Sunday 7th & 8th September 2024

Three tough races in a weekend to compete at:
Saturday 11am St Boniface Fell (AS) 3.8km with 235m of ascent
Saturday 3pm The Ventnor Horseshoe (BM) 12km with 443m of ascent
Sunday 10am The Wroxall Round (CL) 21km with 487m of ascent

The conditions were very wet with heavy rain during the 2nd and 3rd races with more mud than usual on the course. For those who don't know the Isle of Wight there is a considerable area of downland in the interior which is soon reached after the steep climb up from the Promenade at Ventnor. (see start below). To count for the SEAA medals all three races need to be completed.

aaaaStart of 3rd race IoW Sept 24

I first competed at the Southern Fell Running Championships back in 1995 and the first 4 editions I contested were very tough single race events held in the Lake District (Coledale Horseshoe 8m 3,000ft asc) and then at the Breidden Hills (7.6m 2,300ft asc) but in 1999 the Championships moved to the Isle of Wight and are very ably race directed and managed by Ryde Harriers, and are, in some ways, an even tougher proposition...

This year Harrier V70 Pete Wright (seen below with me after Race no2) was one of the elder statesman competing and ran the first two races, one up from last year, as he makes a steady comeback into racing again. I ran and completed the Championships for the 22nd time and came away with the V60 SEAA Silver medal to add to my earlier senior & V40 collection, mainly from the 1990's. Finish positions & times: Paul 35th (27.33); 33rd (1.27); 38th (2.20) & Pete 45th (32.07); 44th (1.40). Matthieu Marshall (Headington RR) who was just behind Christian Green at last month's Snowden Fell Race won the Championships outright again whilst Cat O'Shea (Victoria Park ) won for the women.

aaaaPete Paul post IoW race 2

Since 2000 I've administered these Southern Championships on behalf of the SEAA but have now handed on responsibility to Christian Poulton of Cambridge Harriers (London). There's undoubtedly at least 3 senior Harriers who could go and win these Championships outright, and probably win the Team Golds too. Next year maybe?

Below with the Mayor and Race Director Chris Lewis as I finally complete my medal handing out task and they give me my V60 Silver!

aaaaPaul presnting Fell medals Sept 24

Track & Field wrap up

SW Athletics League Fixture 4 - Exeter Arena Sunday 1st September

The final fixture saw the joint team with Yeovil Olympiads finish in 4th position out of the 11 teams in the League, behind Exeter, Armada (Plymouth), and Wimborne. The result hauled the team up to 5th in the final end of season League table, with Taunton also getting ahead of the Yeovil team.

The best of the age groups overall for the Club was that by the u15 girls who finished 2nd overall where I know that they had athletes prepared to take on other unfamiliar events to score valuable points - well done Elspeth Perkins from our Monday group with her efforts especially in the field events!

U13 girls: Ruby Shaw 1st 200m 30.19(pb); 4th 800m 2.37; 6th LJ 3.64m(pb)
U13 boys: Harrison Skuse 2nd 200m 30.46; LJ 3.56m; 5th 100m 14.59
U15 girls: Elspeth Perkins 1st 200m 29.06; 9th Discus 13.58m; 5th Triple Jump 8.75m
U15 boys: Oskar Beck 1st 800m 2.07; 1st 3000m 9.52
U17 women: Amelie Cook 2nd 800m 2.31; Lara Cook LJ 4.23m

aaaaRuby 800m Open eve

James Shaw whose u13 daughter Ruby (seen above) has been competing for the SW League team this year:

"Ruby has really enjoyed our debut season as a year 1 U13, competing down in Exeter, on 4x different occasions this season.

I think the experience as a parent watching has been great for my child’s confidence meeting new fellow athletes from around the south west in her age group, and of course developing as a young athlete.
The events gave Ruby the opportunity to compete in 800 metres, 1500 metres, Long Jump, 100 metre, 200 metres and the 100 metre Relay.

Thanks to YOAC/Wells City Harriers, and to Larry her Team manager (from YOAC) for passing on his advice to the young athletes and coordinating the event entries in advance. "

Ben Skuse whose u13 son has been competing for the SW League team comments:

"The SW League has been a fantastic opportunity for Harrison to gain some experience in competition, and he has thoroughly enjoyed it. I would say it has played a large part in Harrison improving his PBs (e.g. 100m from 14.92s last year to 13.99s this year). He's also made friends with some of his competitors from all over the South West. We will definitely ask to be included again next year"

The Harrier's thanks to all the team managers from the Yeovil side.

Yeovil Games - Bill Whistlecroft Arena, Yeovil, Saturday 7th September

The weather turned on the day from being quite pleasant to a bit of a deluge, just like on the Isle of Wight! It didn't deter the determined of course from having some great performances at this traditional end of season Open. The u11s had the best of the weather before it closed in.

aaaaMatt Oskar Pete G Sept 24

(Above; Matt Lusby, Oskar Beck and Pete Grist in the 1 mile race)

u11 boys:Milo Cook LJ 3.19m & 75m 12.78 & 600m 2.05(pb) & howler jav 11.75m; Alfie Beck LJ 2.95m & 75m 12.80 & 600m 2.13 & howler jav 25.46m.
u13 boys: Harrison Skuse 100m 14.12; 200m 30.40 (pb); Toby Hirst 800m 2.31
u15 boys: Oskar Beck 1st 1 mile 4.47 (pb); Dominic Cook 1 mile 6.20; Addie Butcher 3000m 11.01;
u17 women: Amelie Cook 3000m 11.53; 400m 47.82.
Senior Men: Matt Lusby 1st 1 mile 4.38(pb) & 2nd 800m 2.03; David Hirst 800m 2.12 (pb); Luke Prior 1st 3000m 8.52; Christian Green 3000m 2nd 9.27;

aaaawet YeovilGames Sept 24

The Harrier's thanks as ever to the volunteers who help officiate at the various SW League matches at Exeter and the Open Meetings at Yeovil. Without volunteers who have trained to be technical officials we wouldn't have the competitions.

If there are any senior Harriers or parents who'd like to help out by becoming qualified officials pleased contact the Chair or Secretary. We at the Harriers currently only have 1 qualified Track & field official.

Report from the National Athletics League team yet to be received - will add later.

National Schools Games - Loughborough Friday 30th August 2024

u17 Tom Webb put in another outstanding performance to win this prestigious Schools title to go with his others when coming from a long way back in the home straight of the 3000m to win in a time of 8.35. He's pictured below on the podium again.

aaaaTom Webb Schools Championships Sept 24

Harrier Training Update

The Monday Harrier sessions for juniors are once again in full swing. A new intake of some 17 youngsters have come and tried out and will decide in the next week if coached athletics is what they want to do.

We now have 3 sets of youngsters attending who are the 3rd generation to be Harriers...

Those aged 10 and above will be starting to train hard for cross-country competition and the vast majority in this age group are expected to look to compete once a month at League XC and to target the Somerset County XC Championships in December. This past Monday they were put through their paces with a modified Gacon Test. Lots of hill work coming up in the weeks ahead!

aaaaMonday track Sept 24

Parents are always encouraged to get involved and help out at these sessions to better understand the aims of the sessions and how they are delivered - they are the potential Club coaches and team managers of the future.

The Wednesday Harrier running groups from Wells Leisure Centre continue as usual and Sharon will update us about the steady group that she & Lynne lead in the next web posting, whilst the last Wednesday of the month pub runs have been held over the summer months from various locations - most recently from the Queen Vic at Priddy.

Contact Andrew Piper, Nick Stevens or Richard Morgan for details of the next pub run. Thanks to Ellie for this photo of the group out on the Mendips in late August & thanks to Richard for leading.

aaaaPub Run Aug 24

Good luck to u15 Oskar Beck who competes this coming weekend at the National Cross Country Championships. Hopefully a report from the Great North Run to follow....

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)

September 2024

Wednesday 11th September 2024 - Yeovilton 5K (Race 6)

Saturday 14th September - Saucony National Cross Country Championships

Saturday 21st September 2024 - South of England Road Relays

October 2024

(SS) Sunday 6th October 2024 - BHAM Trail 10K

Sunday 6th October 2024 - Mother Tuckers 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

Sunday 27th October 2024 - 'The Stickler' Dorset Three Peaks