(Above - u15s on the start line at the first Wessex League fixture - photo by Mark)

 

There was some great running by the Harriers at the past weekend’s Cross-country fixtures. (Saturday & Sunday 17^th & 18^th October). Harrier members of all ages from both the Monday & Tuesday night Harrier training groups that train at Millfield track, and the Tuesday night groups that train at the Yeovil Arena (Harrier members by virtue of our 20-year partnership with Yeovil Olympiads) took part.

 

For some, this was their first outing in the Harrier vest; for others they were clocking up 20 years plus of Harrier running! Many thanks to all team managers.

 

Read on for full report and an update on the Street 5k Series – need to enter in advance - no entry on the night.

First Cross-Country Fixtures 2021/22

First up, on the Saturday (17^th October) in the tougher Gwent League fixture held at Llandaff Fields, Cardiff, the races were combined with the 5-fixture British Athletics Cross Challenge. Headline performance by the juniors here was from u13 Will Birchall, from the YOAC side of the Club, who stormed to victory well clear of the chasing field. Not to be outdone, his younger sister u11 Ellie Birchall also won her race!

 

Amongst the seniors was Harrier coach Jon James who had a stand out run to be 1^st V55 (50^th overall) in the huge field of 432 men.

 

Gwent Results:

U11 girls (1.25km) – 1^st Ellie Birchall 5.04

U13 boys (2.78km) – 1^st Will Birchall 8.38; 28^th Leyton Finn 10.17

U15 boys (3.2km) – 17^th Henry Birchall 10.44

U15 girls (3.2km) – 16^th Macy Noad 12.18

U17 men – 19^th Harrison Williams 18.51

Senior Men (9.6km) – 50^th Jon James 32.06; 65^th Matt Lusby 32.52; 178^th Andrew Deamer 36.49

 

(NOTE TO ALL THAT COMPETE: If you compete at the 2nd fixture on Sunday 14th November please ensure you send in a report and any good photos for the website in the few days after the fixture - don't leave it to others)

 

The following day, Sunday 18^th October, saw another squad of Harriers compete at the Wessex Cross Country League. The fixture was held at Ferndown, near Poole.

Pick of the day here would be the 2^nd places achieved by u13 Daisy Abernathy and u15 Finlay Downes, with u15 Jemima Seagrove also having a great run for 3^rd. There were a number of Harriers competing for the very first time at League cross country and all acquitted themselves well. Likewise, a number of new team managers were on the learning curve so well done to them too – Mark Seagrove & Cindy Valuto who stood in when the appointed team managers were away.

Wessex Results

 

U13 boys (3.23km) - 10th Vincent Seagrove 15.21: 15th Nnaemeka Nwagbogu 17.15

U13 girls (3.23km) - 2nd Daisy Abernathy 13.05; 6th Emily Miller 13.32; 7th Isobelle Stacey 13.36; 18th Erin Lumsden-Barker 15.15

U15 boys (3.8km) - 2nd Finlay Downes 13.50: 10th Jay Carey 15.14

U15 girls(3.8km) - 3rd Jemima Seagrove 16.55; 10th Sian Valuto 17.18

U20 men (7.92km) - 4th Will Armstrong 32.24

Senior Men (7.92km) - 8th Matthew Cole 30.45: 22nd Dave Kitcher 36.42: 23rd Geoff Cole 37.28

 

(Above - Sian Valuto had a great race for 10th in the u15 girls. Photo by Cindy)

 

Well done to all that competed! Now the challenge is to try and double the number of Harriers that competed at these fixtures by the next fixture. For Gwent League, next fixture on 14th November, please speak to Simon Prior & Jon James at our Tuesday Harrier training, or to coaches at the YOAC training.

For Wessex League, next fixture is on 7th November - make sure your name is on the list as submitted by team manager Stuart Dowden on 5^th October or if you missed that deadline, please enter yourself following this link here.

It costs nothing to enter (either Wessex or Gwent League) as the Harriers have already paid the team entry – all part of the Harrier membership. Contact Wessex team managers at Harrier Monday training or Stuart via email address below.  All parents to assist team managers.

 

Check out the Harrier website team tab for any more information (e.g. about age groups etc; start times of age group races; race location etc). You will find team managers at Wessex League by the Harrier flag with your number (as long as you have entered !).

DEADLINE for 2^nd fixture (7th November) is 5pm on 30^th October - please don’t miss this deadline! (its amazing how many folk missed the 5^th October one!!) Speak to Stuart or the other parent team managers now to let him/them know you are entering & competing. 

Stuart's e-mail is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Championship races coming up:

Check out the Team tab on the website for information and links when available for the various Championship races - there will be deadlines for entries to be made online: Somerset County XC Championships; South-West XC Championships; etc

 

 

Street 5k on 10^th November – Race the Night!

These races are supported by

Hecks Cider & Apple Juice (Street);

The Somerset Cheese Company (Ditcheat); &

The Pilton Cider Company.

32nd year of the Series oterwise known as the Clive & Angela Thomas Street 5k.

5k runners

Please ensure you enter the 5k race (or Series) by 7pm on the 9^th November (night before the race) as entries will close at that point – no entries on the night. Follow this link to the RunBritain website to enter & pay online. Collect numbers at Harrier training, or on the night of the race by 7.15pm. Please wear a mask in Race HQ before and after the race. These races are supported by Hecks Cider & Apple Juice (Street); The Somerset Cheese Company (Ditcheat) & The Pilton Cider Company 

1k & 2k runners

Junior Harriers for 1k (Years 5&6) and 2k (Years 7&8) races can enter at Harrier Monday night training on 25^th October or 1^st or 8^th November. Please speak to Paul. Parents & secondary school students should wear a mask inside Race HQ before and after the race.

VOLUNTEER MARSHALS - Sign up. If you are a parent of a junior Harrier or a senior Harrier we need you to volunteer to marshal at one of these monthly Street races. Sign up on rosta available at Monday & Tuesday night training or be allocated to one of the months if we are short of names. It's a less than an hour commitment. Arrive no later than 7.10pm and depart by 8.00pm, 2nd Wednesday of the month.

 

Enquiries for Street 5k & Junior 1k& 2k to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or to Ed Tickner or Paul Chadwick

 

(Below - Juniors at the start of the 1k & 2k races outside the Royal British Legion Club in Street, December 2019 - photo by Paul)