The Start of the BHAM! 10K featuring
Phoebe Aspinall, Alex Coombs, Rosie Park and Matt Lusby.
We have a packed news report featuring results from the first race in the Street 5K series, the start of the cross-country season with updates from the Wessex and Gwent Leagues, the latest Somerset Series race—the BHAM! 10K—and more. Read on for all the details.
Street 5K - Race 1
The start of the 2024/25 series took place on Wednesday 9th October. It was great to see many juniors participating in the 1K and 2K races. Rowan Kelly and Zoe Frost were the first boy and girl to finish the 1K, whilst Toby Hirst and Ruby Shaw finished first in the 2K.
The junior 1K and 2K runners lining up at the start.
In the 5K race, Harrier Adam Gibson secured a first-place finish, just ahead of Jamie Williamson in second. Laura James led the women’s division, comfortably finishing ahead of runner-up Phoebe Aspinall. Special thanks to MJL Heating and Plumbing and Kinisi Run Hub for generously providing some of the prizes.
In addition to awards for the top male and female in each age category, we introduced a random cash prize draw for the top three in a selected category. This month, senior men and women were awarded. Which category will be chosen next month?
Prize categories still to be drawn:
Male/Female Junior
Male/Female Senior
Male 40/Female 35
Male 50/Female 45
Male 60+/Female 55+
Best Age Graded Male/Female
Photographs of the prize giving can be found here.
Junior 1K and 2K results can be found here.
5K results can be found here.
5K Harrier Results:
1st Adam Gibson - 15:50
3rd Alexander Coombs - 16:11
4th Christian Green - 16:14
6th Matthew Lusby - 16:24
8th Oskar Beck - 16:55
9th David Hirst - 17:56
12th Harry Allen - 18:05
16th Addie Butcher - 18:42
19th Dan Williams - 18:57
20th Jamie Williams - 19:10
21st Phoebe Aspinall - 19:18
23rd Jonathan Williams - 19:29
27th Andrew Piper - 20:07
32nd Harrison Williams - 20:38
34th Ethan Harvey - 20:46
41st Lousia Saunders - 21:14
42nd Rosie Park - 21:16
44th John Wilkinson-Ratcliffe - 21:41
48th Robert Moore - 21:57
51st Zoe Dale - 23:06
54th Fergus Crawford - 23:30
55th Thomas Kendrick - 23:34
56th Melissa Aspinall - 23:38
58th Mark Pople - 23:45
63rd Carol Buckland - 24:32
67th Louise Williams - 25:22
75th Gary Tubridy - 26:33
79th Karen Shears - 28:58
Best age graded result on Wednesday was by u15 Oskar Beck with 83.8%. Best for the women was probably by former Wells Harrier, now Taunton AC, Laura Jones (nee Parker) tbc, who was also the women's category winner in the night. Laura incidentally achieved a Senior England vest when training & competing for the Harriers.
The next 5K will take place on Wednesday 13th November 2024. Enter online here.
Wessex League XC
The first of the Wessex League fixtures took place on Sunday 6th October at Learoyd Road in Canford Heath. We had a large turnout of juniors racing in a variety of age groups, many running their first ever cross country fixture. The next race is on Sunday 3rd November at Bryanston School. If you’re interested in running, register here. Entry fees are covered by the club. You do not need to register if you have already registered for the first race.
Harrier Results:
U11 Boys:
12th Milo Cook - 8:32
U11 Girls:
8th Elizabeth Droggrell - 8:52
U13 Girls:
3rd Harriet Scott - 13:53
4th Lara Pinsent - 13:58
5th Sadie Littlechild - 13:59
12th Ruby Shaw - 14:49
22nd Mia Shore - 16:14
U15 Boys
3rd Harry Dawson - 14:41
5th Jamie Dawson - 15:12
7th Will Packer - 15:37
U15 Girls
9th Poppy Shaw - 18:21
10th Seri-Ann Merrick 20:05
U17 Women
2nd Ayla Chard - 16:58
4th Amelie Cook - 17:56
5th Esmé Littlechild - 18:28
Senior Men
9th Robbie Hawkins - 32:22
Gwent League XC
Adam, Mark, Matt, Stephen, Alex, Dan, Dan and Sophie post race.
The first race of the Gwent League XC season kicked off on Saturday, October 12th, at Pembrey Country Park. A strong group of Harriers made the 260-mile round trip to South Wales to compete under favourable conditions. The challenging course offered a mix of terrain—fields, woodlands, and sand dunes—making for an exciting and varied race. Thankfully, all races wrapped up before a heavy downpour swept over the area.
There was some spectacular running from the Harriers with Izzy Kettle, Sophie Nicholls, Oskar Beck, Matt Lusby, Alexander Coombs, Adam Gibson and Daniel Maydew who all finished in the top 10% of their race or age category, earning themselves a Gwent League t-shirt.
The men’s senior team finished the day in 6th in Division 1, a good start to the new season.
The next race will take place at Llandaff Fields, Cardiff, featuring the first UK Cross Challenge fixture of the season and drawing top national and international runners. If you haven’t registered for the Gwent League yet and would like to compete in this or any of the upcoming events, please email Secretary Alex Coombs with your name and date of birth to secure your spot. There’s no need to re-register if you’ve already signed up for this season’s Gwent League; just be sure to keep your race number and bring it to the next fixture.
Oskar Beck tackling the course.
Harrier Results:
U13 Girls
2nd - Izzy Kettle 11:20
19th - Harriett Scott 12:46
U17 Girls
13th - Amelie Cook 19:53
17th - Isobel Stacey 20:14
U20 Women
2nd - Sophie Nicholls 17:19
Novice Boys
43rd - Milo Cook 6:29
U15 Boys
2nd - Oskar Beck 12:11
50th - Dominic Cook 15:53
Male Senior
28th - Matt Lusby 32:38 (9th V35)
33rd - Alexander Coombs 33:00
42nd - Adam Gibson 33:46
43rd - Daniel Maydew 33:49 (14th U23)
158th - Dan Williams 37:54 (33rd V45)
233rd - Stephen Nicholls 40:19 (15th V55)
368th - Mark Pople 46:25 (55th V55)
Full results can be found here.
BHAM! Trail 10K
Andrew Piper taking on the hill just before the finish
The next race in the Somerset Series race calendar was the BHAM! Trail 10K, taking place on Sunday 6th October, starting from Bower Hinton Farm in Bower Hinton. The fun, varied course (with some confusion with the signage and marshalling) saw Harriers dominate at the front. Matt Lusby and Alex Coombs couldn’t be separated crossing the line and no one was sure who got the victory, but was finally handed to Matt after some deliberation. Phoebe Aspinall achieved another race win with Rosie Park taking second spot.
Matt and Alex with their trophies
Harrier Results:
1st Matt Lusby - 38:21
2nd Alex Coombs - 38:22
4th Phoebe Aspinall - 46:32
10th Andrew Piper - 49:18
13th Rosie Park - 50:25
34th Melissa Aspinall - 57:52
50th Rod Little - 1:02:08
80th Karen Shears - 1:18:16
Phoebe and Rosie with their awards
More photos can be found here.
Full results can be found here.
Cardiff Half Marathon
Sunday 6th October 2024
All smiles from Jeremy, running a half marathon PB.
Harrier Results:
Jeremy Linter - 1:20:31
James Hodges - 1:30:04
Sharon Bowles - 2:29:42
Lynne Elstob - 3:06:47
News Reports
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this week’s report. If you’ve raced recently, please remember that we can only include your results if you send us a race report or photos to let us know about it. Send your race details and photos to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to be featured in the next report.
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)
October 2024
(SS) Sunday 20th October 2024 - The Mendip Muddle
Sunday 29th October 2024 - The Stickler
Wednesday 30th October 2024 - Club pub run (venue TBC)
November 2024
Sunday 3rd November 2024 - Wessex XC League (Race 2 - Bryanston School)
(SS) Sunday 3rd November 2024 - Herepath Half
Saturday 9th November 2024 - Gwent League XC (Race 2 - Llandaff Fields, Cardiff)
Sunday 10th November 2024 - The Drogo 10
Wednesday 13th November 2024 - Street 5K (Race 2)
(SS) Sunday 24th November 2024 - Brent Knoll MT
Wednesday 27th November 2024- Club pub run (venue TBC)
Saturday 30th November 2024 - Gwent League XC (Race 3 - Blaise Castle, Bristol)
December 2024
Friday 6th December 2024 - Wells City Harriers Annual Christmas Meal (Wells Golf Club)
Sunday 8th December 2024 - Tri County XC Championships [Gloucestershire XC League Race 3] (Bath University)
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 22nd December 2024 - Baltonsborough Christmas Pudding Race
Monday 16th December 2024 - Final Monday evening training of the year
Tuesday 17th December 2024 - Final Tuesday evening training of the year
Tuesday 17th December 2024 - Club Paarlauf (Millfield Athletics Track)
Tuesday 17th December 2024 - Club Christmas curry (venue TBC)
January 2025
(SS) Wednesday 1st January 2025 - Chard Flyer
Wednesday 8th January 2025 - Street 5K (Race 3)
Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th January 2025 - U13/U15 & U17 Individual Championships
Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th January 2025 - The National Running Show (NEC Birmingham)
Wednesday 29th January 2025 - Club pub run (venue TBC)
February 2025
Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd February 2025 - Individual Indoor Championships
Saturday 8th February 2025 - Gwent League XC (Race 4 - Margam Park, Port Talbot)
Wednesday 12th February 2025 - Street 5K (Race 4)
Wednesday 26th February 2025 - Club pub run (venue TBC)
March 2025
Saturday 1st March 2025 - Gwent League XC (Race 5 - Venue TBC)
Wednesday 12th March 2025 - Street 5K (Race 5)
Wednesday 26th March 2025 - Club pub run (venue TBC)