u17 Tom Webb (above leading out the runners) has continued to show great form and won last Wednesday’s early September version of the Yeovilton 5km in 15.12 with some great running. Graham Goldsmid and Rosie Parks also picked up age category 1st prizes,
Meanwhile a couple of Harriers made it over to the Isle of Wight for the tough three-race Southern Fell Running Championships this past weekend where there was a considerable drop out rate after the 2nd race held on the Saturday afternoon due to the blistering heat. v60 Paul, seen below, finished 39th overall in the Championships.
This report also wraps up the results from the Harrier members who competed in the final South West League match held on Sunday 3rd September, celebrates Iris Courtney’s Team England run, and reminds all about the forthcoming Cross Country season.
SEAA fell running Championships – from Ventnor, IoW 9th & 10th September 2023
Paul reports:
“The Southern Fell Championships was once again embedded in the Isle of Wight series very well organised by Ryde Harriers. Starting and finishing from the sea front at Ventnor all the races take the runners inland over the downs with classic steep climbs, and descents, especially in the run in to the finish (see photo above).
Wells City Harriers have a long tradition of competitors at this event and had particular success in the mid-1990s and into the first few years of the century when a number of senior Harriers were outright Southern winners.
The Championship requires competitors to run in three tough fell races - 2 on the Saturday and 1 longer one on Sunday.
This year there were a total of 140 entries although by the Sunday race fewer than half completed all three races. The Saturday afternoon conditions of high temperatures took its toll with many runners then dropping out.
V70 Harrier Pete Wright made a return to the races after a gap and planned only to run in the first race on the Saturday as he hadn’t raced for over a year. He finished 88th in a time of 34.07.
V60 Paul Chadwick was competing for the 25th time in the Southern Championships and despite losing a large chunk of 2023 to injury, used his course knowledge and determination to finish all three races and end up 58th in the Series, 39th overall in the Southern Championships as not all runners were eligible:
Race 1 - 3.8k with 235m ascent 77th 29.20
Race 2 - 12k with 443m ascent 74th 1.36
Race 3 - 21k with 487m ascent 66th 2.33
The overall Southern Champions are Matthieu Marshall (Headington RR) & Hazel Norton-Hale (Victoria Park & TH AC)
Paul has administered these Southern Championships on behalf of the SEAA since 1999 but is now standing down and has handed on responsibility for presenting medals etc to Christian Poulton of Cambridge Harriers (London).
The next relatively local fell races for Harriers to contest are the Mendip Muddle on Sunday October 22nd and the Drogo Ten on Sunday 12th November. Both offer very runnable, but tough circuits.”
Yeovilton 5k Race – 6th September
Report from Graham:
“A very hot first Wednesday evening in Sept saw 9 members from Wells compete at the Yeovilton 5k race. This was the re-arranged May fixture which had to be cancelled back then due to a flooded course!
Wells junior Tom Webb running in his first Yeovilton 5k led a smaller than usual field from the start and was a clear winner in a time of 15.12. which was over a minute faster than the second place runner.
Other Wells finishers were
7th : U20 Male : Oliver Castle : 18.35
12th : V40 Male : Phil Paddick : 18.49
19th : V60 Male : Graham Goldsmid : 19.13 - First Male v60
23rd : V50 Male : Craig Foley : 20.04
29th : V50 Male : Andrew Piper : 21.08
30th : V35 Female : Rosie Park : 21.14 - First Female v35
47th : U20 Female : Sophie Lewis : 24.56
54th : V65 Female : Karen Shears : 30.04”
The final race in this year's Yeovilton Series is Wednesday 13th September and then we can switch to the monthly Street Race Series from Wednesday 11th October (see Race tab for details and entry link)
South West League final fixture – Exeter, 3rd September 2023
At the 4th and final fixture of this League, there were, once again, a good number of performances by Harriers from the Monday training group:
U17 Lara Cook 100m 13.90 & 200m 29.43
U13 Oskar Beck 800m 2.20.91 (1st)
U13 Jack Barker 800m 2.41.09
U13 Dominic Cook 800m 2.50.94
U17 Amelie Cook 800m 2.33.16 (pb)
U15 Grace Baker 3000m 12.06
In addition, our Young athlete of the year was also running well
U17 Tom Webb 800m 1.59.89 (1st)
Well done to all from both the YOAC and Harrier side for this year.
In terms of overall team results the combined Yeovil & Wells team slipped from last year’s (2022) 2nd place, so team managers next season will obviously want to get more athletes out competing next year.
Our thanks as ever to Dave Varney, who administers the League, and all the officials and team managers.
Final South West League Table 2023
| Overall | |||
| Pos | Club | Mch Pts | Lge Pts |
| 1 | Wimborne | 8068 | 51 |
| 2 | Exeter H | 7128.5 | 46 |
| 3 | Armada | 6862.5 | 44 |
| 4 | Cornwall AC | 5845 | 35 |
| 5 | Poole AC | 5742.5 | 35 |
| 6 | Taunton | 5727 | 35 |
| 7 | Yeovil | 4730 | 28 |
| 8 | N. Abbot / Torbay | 4809 | 27 |
| 9 | Newquay & Par | 4438.5 | 23 |
| 10 | North Devon | 2300 | 15 |
| 11 | Dorchester | 1634.5 | 11 |
| 12 | South Devon | 1495 | 10 |
| 13 | Mendip | 285 | 3 |
Welsh Athletics International – Cardiff, 26th August
u20 Iris Courtney was called up to win her first Team England selection for the u20 womens 1500m race at this invitation race held in Cardiff.
Iris ran an excellent 4.34 to win the bronze, and is seen below on the podium on the right.
News you might have missed - Harrier members John & Rachel Glaisher were on hand to celebrate the achievement of their son Dougal in his latest charity raising feat for Diabetes. Just amazing!
Read on for detail using this link here.
The Cross Country season is almost with us - check the team tab for fulll details of dates & venues and ensure you enter in advance - you can enter online directly for the Wessex XC league now.
All entries to the Wessex or Gwent XC League are free to Harriers (&YOAC) members - please ensure your membership is up to date! More information form the Harrier Secretary Alex Coombs.