Wells City Harrier members were out in some strength at the weekend competing at cross country. Neil Biss did a great job at assembling a huge squad of 40 Harriers to compete at Aldon Hill, Yeovil on Sunday whilst Simon Prior team managed a select u15 boys team to compete at the national cross-country relays at Mansfield the previous day. Top honours were taken at the Wessex League match by Philip Bridge, Darcy Dryden, Jake Fisher, and Skye Fisher - some of whom may well feature on the podium at the County Cross Country Championships, if not the South-west XC Championships later in the season - no pressure! - Read on for entry links to these Championships. Below - the start of the mens race with Harriers to the fore - Philip Bridge, 685, goes on to win
An u15 boys team competed at the national cross-country relays held at Mansfield, finishing 73rd. The team comprised of Matthew Quarterman, Leo Stockman and Toby Watson with individual times of 7.36, 7.46 and 7.24 for the approximate 2.3km course. This has been a good season so far for the u15 boys squad and they are steadily gaining experience of national level competition.
Closer to home there were 40 Harriers of all ages competing at the Wessex Cross Country League held at Yeovil. The Harriers had four outright age group winners: Philip Bridge winning the senior men’s race, Darcy Dryden the u13 girls, Jake Fisher the u13 boys, and Skye Fisher the u11 girls race.
There were 18 Harriers in the senior men’s race over the almost 9km course with Philip Bridge’s time of 29.08 backed up with 3rd 29.55 Ben Lloyd; 4th 30.26 Sam Harding; 5th 30.36 Matt Cole; 6th 31.00 Tom Thick; 9th 31.44 Dylan Dukes (2nd U20);13th 32.17 Oliver Frost;17th 32.43 Tom Dukes;18th 32.48 John Glaisher; 25th 34.10 Nick Somerville; 26th 34.16 Justin Thomas;27th 34.21 Ed Stahl 30th 34.59 Neil Biss 32nd 35.22 Graham Goldsmid; 35th 36.12 Andrew Tindal; 44th 38.45 Mike Bosley; 46th 39.02 Simon Carr; 47th 40.00 Geoff Cole.
For the senior women 8th 22.55 Rachel Glaisher and the u20 women 2nd was 21.19 Caitlin Carnegie; 4th 22.40 Katie Lloyd; 5th 25.26 Lucy Pittard. In the u17 men’s race 6th 20.30 Chris Ellis; u15 girls 9th 17.19 Kai Snell; u15 boys 5th 14.29 Archie Tyler; 8th 14.47 Fred Fisher;13th 15.16 Will Carr
For the u13 girls: 1st 11.52 Darcy Dryden; 6th 12.45 Mackenzie O'Dea; 9th 13.12 Bali Chapman; 23rd 14.28 Jamie-Leigh Rose; 26th 15.00 Aime Backwell; u13 boys:1st 11.00 Jake Fisher 2nd 11.16 Jack Amor; 6th 12.01 Ollie Bishop; 9th 12.21 Jack Harvey; 13th 12.59 Owen Dukes; 16th 13.28 James Carr. Finally in the u11 girls:1st 8.10 Skye Fisher and in the u11 boys:7th 8.26 Edward Sherman
The entry procedure and deadlines for both the County XC Championships and the South-west XC Championships are now being publicised. The Somerset Championships take place as part of the tri-County Championships (with Avon and Wiltshire) held at the University of Bath on Sunday 10th December with entry deadline of 4th December. The SW Championships will take place on a course at Aldon Hill (different course apparently compared to Sunday's) on Sunday 7th January with a deadline of 22nd December. Races for all age groups from u11 to veterans. Entry on line for these two championships. If you train with the Harriers/YOAC squads then you are good enough to compete at these races! Details for the Southern Championships - Brighton on 27th January are also available.
Note that for those eligible, the Dorset XC Championships are held on Sunday 10th December with a deadline of 27th November - entry by post.
CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP ENTRY LINKS: (dont miss the deadlines!) - please make sure your England Athletics membership is up to date
South of England XC Championships - this year at Stanmer Park Brighton on Saturday 27th January- entry needed on line by 15th December
TRAINING WITH THE HARRIERS
The training squads held at Millfield track - Mondays for juniors and Tuesdays for older juniors & seniors; together with the training sessions held by our partner Club, Yeovil Olympiads, continue to be very popular. If you want to train for cross-country and are not yet a member of a Club then contact us to arrange to come along to a session. Details of all training sessions organised by the Harriers can be found on the tab above with the latest Tuesday training schedule (for November & December).
Other training sessions also available.
ANNUAL DINNER - bookings have almost closed with a 'Full House' sign. Speak to Graham Goldsmid if you haven't booked to see if there is space.
STREET 5k and Junior Races - this Wednesday 8th November. Link to entry form and last months results here.