All Hail the SW XC & Indoor Champions! Round up from road & mt races.... & sign the petition...
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- Written by by Alex with contribution from Paul
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It’s a new year and the Harriers have already been out competing on the roads, at cross country, and at indoor track & field. This report covers the South West XC Championships, where the Harriers were representing Somerset; the South West Indoors Championships held in Cardiff; and on the roads at the New Year's Day Chard Flyer 10K, and a competitive 10K in Exeter, the First Chance 10K. We also have another Meet the Harriers interview for you to read, and our sister club, Yeovil Olympiads, are looking for support after there is a threat to closure of the athletics track where they train.
There were two South-west Champions from amongst the Harriers at the cross country: u13 Oskar Beck (seen below showing the determination to win!); and u11 Ruby Shaw who follows up her Wessex XC League Champions title.
At the SW Indoor Championships held at the Cardiff Arena, u17 Tom Webb started his year in the same way he left off last year - winning the 1500m. Isaac Slight and Rosie Joynes won SW Golds in the u15 Pole Vault competitions and u17 Lily Jones fought off stiff competition to win Gold in the Long Jump.
Another year (almost) over – Harriers sign off 2023 with some fun
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- Written by Paul Chadwick
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The final training sessions were held just before Christmas and saw the usual fun and games at the Monday & Tuesday track sessions and a festive run in Wells on the Wednesday.
Both the Monday and Tuesday sessions held parlauf relay events for the runners and they were contested as hotly as ever – Paul's teams of three on the Monday and Jon’s pairings on the Tuesday leading to some close contests! Of course, everyone was a winner at the end of the sessions.
Just before Christmas we were also able to celebrate a new recipient of the fabled Wells city Harrier Bog seat and we have a round-up of some of the crazy antics that Harriers have managed in the distant past to win the accolade…
Meanwhile as it’s the final posting of the year we also have the Harrier’s Honour Board for the year to remind ourselves that there’s an incredible array of talented athletes of all ages in our midst! We also have the latest addition of 'Meet the Harriers' for you to read.
Read more: Another year (almost) over – Harriers sign off 2023 with some fun
Pre-Xmas running at Wessex XC League and Baltonsborough Pud race
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As is usual, Harriers have been out racing in various locations this past weekend. There were 24 competing at the final Wessex Cross Country League fixture at Canford; and there were 9 at the Harrier supported Baltonsborough Christmas Pudding 5 mile road race. (Above - the u17 start at Wessex XC)
At the XC, two of the Harriers - u11 Ruby Shaw and u13 Bibi Abernethy - continued their good running of late by winning their races outright on the day. Overall, in the final League standings both Ruby and u17 Amelie Cook won their age groups, based on their three performances.
Meanwhile, at the traditional Xmas Pudding race there were 70 entrants, many wearing Christmas hats/tinsel or proper costumes racing the hilly 5 mile circuit and Harrier Secretary Alex Coombs held off all comers once again to win his home town race. Chard’s Wayne Loveridge was 2nd with Mendip Tri’s Neil Golding 3rd. photo below -All ready on the start line for the briefing by Race Director Kay Franklin.
Kay once again organised this event with the support of villagers and the various officials on the finish line and results service. Kay was raising money for the charity close to her heart – the Rowan Romania charity which is committed to supporting adults with special needs in a long-stay psychiatric hospital in Zarnesti, Romania. Charity link here.
The Wells City Harrier committee sends to all of its members and the wider running community the very best of seasonal greetings for Xmas and we look forward to more running & racing in 2024.
Read on for more reporting & photos
Read more: Pre-Xmas running at Wessex XC League and Baltonsborough Pud race
Excellent running at the 200th edition of the Street Races & Harriers win at the County XC Championships
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We welcomed some very familiar faces and some new ones to the 200th edition of the Street races on Wednesday night. We actually had one competitor, Brian Mountjoy-Row, who had run in the very first edition back in October 1990! Amongst the volunteer marshals we should also point out that Ray & Dan Culliford and Terry Kingham also ran in Street race No1. Our thanks as ever to all of the volunteers who help make the Street races go so well.
Everyone who attended and took part, or volunteered, should have collected their souvenir buff of the 200th edition. If not then please contact the Harrier kit manager Graham Goldsmid to collect.
Headlines are taken by u17 Tom Webb setting a new age group course record when he won the race in a nippy 15.22. u20 Sophie Nicholls was again supreme amongst the women racing the 5k distance. Prizes were awarded by one of the Harrier founder members Berni Mundy, who missed the very first Street race bur ran in the 2nd one!
In the junior races, Rowan Kelly & Florence Perkins won the 1k race, and Oskar Beck & Eva Dowden won the 2k race. Two of the Harrier’s TeamGB athletes, Ben Tickner and Luke Prior were on hand to congratulate the juniors and inspire them to greater glory! Junior results now added - see below
This report also summarises the huge number of great performances by Harriers at Sunday’s County Cross Country Championships. There were outright wins by u11 Ruby Shaw, u13 Bibi Abernethy and u13 Oskar Beck; Somerset Gold medal winners in addition to those three were u11 Rowan Kelly, u17 Daisy Davies and u17 Tom Webb. Not to be outdone for County gold was also 1st V50 Geoff Cole.
Photo below of Rowan Kelly and Ruby Shaw holding their Somerset Gold medals.
Last call for entries to Sunday’s Harrier supported Baltonsborough 5 mile road race with a Christmas pudding for all entries. Enter in advance if at all possible, or on the day. All surplus proceeds to charity. Information and entry link here.
Great running at Blaise Castle XC - Get ready for Street 5k 200th edition
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Wells City Harriers again had some excellent performances at the latest of the Gwent Cross Country League fixtures held at Blaise Castle, Bristol last Saturday, 2nd December. We also look back at some memories of the Street 5k races as we head towards its 200th edition next Wednesday, 13th December.
Headlines are taken at Blaise Castle by u13 Oskar Beck, winning his 3rd Gwent League fixture on the trot; u17 Tom Webb 2nd in his race despite giving away a year to most of his rivals; u17 Daisy Davies for another composed 3rd place; and u11 Harriett Scott 4th.
Of course, we coaches at the Harriers are just as pleased with those taking their first competitive outing in a Harrier vest/top and trying their best – read on for details! Good luck to all Harriers from the Club and our Yeovil partners competing this coming weekend at University of Bath at the County Championships.
The Buffs, based on the Street race logo, which will be given to all of the competitors and volunteers at next weeks Street 5k and junior races event, have now arrived and Graham Goldsmid will make sure everyone gets one on the night when they sign in. 200 editions is 33 and a half years of effort by the volunteers (that’s a lifetime to some) and we’ve seen some great running over that time – read on for some looking back.
Also a shout out for the next Harrier supported local community race which our Harrier member Kay Franklin is organising on Sunday 17th December at Baltonsborough – please enter in advance if you can. All competitors over the 5 mile hilly course receive a Christmas Pudding. Information and entry link here.
Read more: Great running at Blaise Castle XC - Get ready for Street 5k 200th edition