There have been a number of Wells City Harriers out competing on the fells and the hills this past weekend. Whilst a group went to Charmouth to run to the highest point on the south coast on Saturday, another group went to the Quantocks on Sunday for a tough hill race as part of the Somerset race series, sponsored by M5 Glass. Other members of all ages meanwhile have been competing hard at the 2nd of the Club's South West League Division One matches.
On Saturday at the tough Charmouth Challenge Fell race covering 7.7 miles with 1900 feet of ascent there was a hardy group of some 234 runners assembled to tackle the run to the highest point and back on the south coast at Golden Cap. After a flat 800m start, the race takes all competitors up a steep track for over a mile before levelling out and taking in some of the finest views over the south coast. Various ascents and descents follow before the final mile back down to the finish at the local school.
First home for the Harriers in 30th place was Nathan Baker with a very solid time of 66.13. One of the Club’s former mountain marathon specialists Chris Kelsey was next in 54th place and a time of 71.37, and then came Simon Carr in 93rd position for 78.29, just ahead of Sam Baker in 106th place in a time of 80.06. Making a return to these parts was former Harrier Tom Bush a previous winner of the event who was 6th this year in a time of 56.49 wearing the colours of his new club, Altrincham AC.
On the Sunday, closer to home, there was another group of senior Harriers out contesting the Quantocks Beast 5.7 mile race which was also race 9 in the year-long Somerset Race Series sponsored by M5Glass. Running from Fyne Court on the top of the Quantocks the field of almost 80 runners tackled a 5.7 mile course taking in many of the valleys and hills around Broomfield. First home for the Harriers and outright winner was Nathan Young in a nippy 32.55, some 3 minutes ahead of his nearest rival. Next in for the club was Paul Chadwick, 1st V50, in 11th pace 47.09, followed by Rebecca Carver, 35th in 54.23, and finally Hayley Carver 57th in 60.29. Kieran Young started but didn’t finish the race due to going astray with a small group of runners and following the wrong course. Kieran has put his name forward as potential winner of the Club's infamous 'Bog Seat ' award !
On the track there were a number of good performances at the South West League Division 1 match on Sunday where the combined Yeovil and Wells team finished 2nd behind Poole AC. Amongst the pick of the performances by Harriers was u13 Innes Davidson winning the 200m in 28.9, whilst William Carr ran 2.44 for the 800m, just behind Innes, a year older, in 2.42.
In the u15 girls events Harriet Fox ran 10.55 for the 3000m and Georgia Rogers made her debut at SW League matches with her 13.19 in the same event. Amy Barlow doubled up with the 100m and 200m running 13.92 and 29.77 respectively. Elise Thorner long jumped out to 3.97m and also achieved 6.27m in the shot put. For the u15 boys Josh Thorne was 2nd in the 800m race with 2.13 whilst George Biss collected good points in the same race with 2.59. Dylan Dukes was 4th in the 3000m with his time of 10.29. Ollie Thorner was 4th in the high jump with a clearance of 1.50m, took the shot out to 7.74m, and threw the javelin to 23.71m.
For the u17 men Michael Biss was 6th over 800m with 2.13 whilst in the senior women’s event Emily Smith warmed up for next weekend’s English Schools Championships with her front running the 3000m in 10.31. Tom Dukes was 3rd in the 5000m in 17.21 and also ran 800m in 2.15, ahead of Neil Biss in 2.21. Nathan Baker was competing the day after his Charmouth effort when he competed in the triple jump and shot.
Good luck to all the Harriers and other athletes competing for their County Schools team at this weekend’s English Schools Championships. Full details about the South West Athletics Championships to take place on Sunday August 17th at Exeter Arena can now be seen here
http://www.sw-athletics-academy.co.uk/activities/sw-champs/
Entries to the championships have to be made by July 30th and entry standards apply.
NOTE: that the 3rd League fixture in the SW League Div 1 has been moved from Sunday July 20th to Sunday August 24th. The match is at Exeter. Please put the revised date in your calendar and let team managers know if you are available for selection.