U20 Rory Forbes (Millfield School) & u20 Sophie Nicholls took the winners places at this month’s Street 5k. For Rory (15.38) this was his first ever outright victory at Street, whilst Sophie (17.23) is starting to make a habit of it.
In the accompanying 1k & 2k junior races, all of the winners came from the Harrier’s Monday junior training groups: Rowan Kelly & Florence Perkins in the 1k; Oskar Beck & Elspeth Perkins in the 2k. Photo above shows the 1k & 2k runners all raring to go.
The 5k race was edition number 199 in a sequence going back some 33 and a half years to October 1990 – FREE entry next month to anyone who ran in that very first edition!
Next Month’s edition will have a souvenir for all that compete over the 5k (or in the junior races) and for all the hard-working volunteers that make it happen.
Track & Field Awards 2023:
As part of the combined team with Yeovil Olympiads at Track & Field, we at the Harriers have some very talented junior and senior athletes who turn out in the National British League (Championship Division) – the only Somerset Club at this level – and in the South West Athletics League.
A number of our Harrier members were given awards at the YOAC annual awards evening last Friday. Photo below. Well done all!
Read on for the Street race results and also the entry links for the Somerset County XC Championships in December and for the South West XC Championships in January.
Clive & Angela Thomas Street 5k Series
It was 5k personal bests all round for the first three on the night. U20 Rory Forbes managed to get away from the chasing pack for his victory in 15.38. Jack Rose (Marshall Milton Keynes AC) in 15.49 was 2nd, and the Harriers Adam Gibson 3rd in 15.52.
For the women, Sophie Nicholls was chased by u17 Paige Quinn (Torbay AC) who finished in 17.50 for 17th place overall. U17 Annabelle Souter was on Paige’s shoulder so the final 100m was a frantic sprint finish. Annabelle’s time was 17.54
There was a very good turn out of students from Millfield School competing, but also a number of others either making their debut or returning to the race after a long while. Conditions on the night seemed pretty perfect - cool and still and so many folk ran quicker than last month and thus gained their reward of a bottle of Hecks Cider or Apple Juice. All category winners had the choice of the Somerset Cheese Company's cheese or the Pilton Cider. Our thanks to the race sponsors.
As usual we should thank the Race Director, Stephen Nicholls and all the other volunteers who help make the races go as smoothly as possible. If you are a senior Harrier, or parent of a junior Harrier, please talk to coaches about helping, or advise Stephen as to how you can specifically help next month when we are hoping for a bumper turn out at Race Number 200. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Above: Gill & Graham carried off their category awards)
Prize winners
1st Junior Male & outright winner: Rory Forbes 15.38
1st Senior Male: Jack Rose 15.49
1st V40: Chris Walker (Burnham Harriers) 17.35
1st V50: Graham Still (Yeovil Town RR) 18.49
1st V60: Robert Moore (Wells City Harriers) 21.52
1st V70 Nigel Baker (Runing Forever RC) 26.27
1st V80 Len Horlock (Burnham Harriers) 27.48
1st Junior Female & outright winner: Sophie Nicholls 17.23
1st Senior Female: Amy Hallett (Running For Time) 19.56
1st F35: Rosie Park (Wells City Harriers) 21.19
1st F45: Gill Pearson (Running For Time) 18.27
1st F55: Carol Buckland (Wells City Harriers) 23.55
1st F65: Kim Clark (Wells City Harriers) 27.04
Provisional Results here:
Street 5k Results – edition 199 – November 2023
If any errors please let the Race Director Stephen Nicholls know on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
200 editions of the same race?
For the history of the Street 5k Series we will have some additional detail on the website in the next 4 weeks or so.
Who thinks they have run the most 5k Street races? Please let us know if you've got a record of your races and think you might be top runner (only in the sense of having run here an awful lot!)..or have some of the results from the very first Series 1990/91 - that was actually pre-digital age when the results were written up on sheets of paper!...or have some very early day photographs (probably in Black & White?)...For now take a look at our History page for its first mention.
Junior Races
It was the same again with the junior races as the 4 prize winners also won last month – that’s some consistent running.
Whilst under current UKA rules you can start to race licenced 5k races from the age of 11 (previously it was age 13) we like to encourage our 11 and 12 year olds to get quick over shorter distances – that’s why we introduced the 2k race alongside the 1k race some 20 years ago….
Junior 1k & 2k results – November 2023
Below, the 2k course record holder (set October 2023), who also happens to be in the top ten Uk for u13 800m (2.14.99) time on the track, with his award presented by our partners at Yeovil Olympiads last Friday - best junior male track performance.
Club Christmas Dinner:
The Xmas dinner will be held at Wells Golf Club at 7 for 7.30pm start on Friday 8th December 2023. The price for a two course meal is £20 (£15 for juniors, who must be accompanied). The Entertainment will include the Bog Seat award (what silly thing have you done this year??) the draw for places at the London Marathon, and live music.
Menu options are
-
Roast crown of local turkey with chestnut stuffing
-
Rare topside of beef with yorkshire pudding
-
Medley of seafood in a cream sauce served in a puff pastry case
-
Roasted vegetable, brie & cranberry wellington
followed by
-
Christmas pudding with a cream rum sauce
-
Warm apple pie & ice cream
-
Toffee & honeycomb cheesecake
- Christmas pudding, Apple pie, Toffee and honeycomb cheesecake
Tickets can be booked online via Eventbrite, or talk to Graham (Monday night), Ed (Tuesday night) or Andrew P Wednesday).
Cross Country entries now open:
Tri-Counties XC Championships (including the Somerset Championships) at University of Bath on Sunday 10th December. The Championships are embedded within a Gloucestershire XC League match - entry link here;
South West XC Championships at Ilton on Sunday 7th January. - link here
Deadlines apply - all to enter online in advance, no entry on the day. The Team tab here has the usual links to information about other team opportunities - please talk to coaches if anything is not clear.
Please ensure you have your Harrier vest or top to wear at these events. Contact kit manager at least 2 weeks ahead of event if need be.
Final race in the Somerset Race Series 2023 & other racing opportunities:
Sunday 26th November Brent Knoll Race, followed by the Series presentations - entry detail here
Sunday 17th December Baltonsborough 5 mile road race for charity, supported by Wells City Harriers - entry detail here - everyone receives an Xmas pudding!