Baltonsborough 5 Miles Report, Mendip Maraunder 30 Miler and Bridgwater Half Marathon

Details: Written by Alexander Coombs; Created: 01 September 2024; Last Updated: 01 September 2024; Hits: 398

Mike Bosley at the finish of the Baltonsborough 5 Miler

This week we have several updates, including information on team events for Road Relays and Cross Country, where all members are encouraged to participate. The Baltonsborough 5 Miles Road Race saw a fantastic turnout of Harriers, while the Mendip Marauder 30 Miler and Bridgwater Half Marathon also had notable performances and results. Additionally, a new Tuesday training schedule has been announced for September and October.

Upcoming Southern Road Relays and Cross Country Season Information

If you're interested in competing in any of the events or would like more information, please contact Alex Coombs, Secretary of Wells City Harriers, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. These events are for both junior and senior members. All entries are paid for by the club. If you’re not yet a member, or would like to change your membership from a social member to a competitive member, please contact member secretary Paul Chadwick. You can find out more information about membership here.

Southern Road Relays – 21/09/2024

This is a team event. Please email us before Tuesday 3rd September to register your interest, and we will contact you if we have enough participants to form a team. You can find more details here.

Cross Country

- Wessex League

The Wessex League is a great introduction to cross country for our junior athletes and also offers races for seniors. You can register here and select "League Team Member Registration (for members of registered clubs)." The races are scheduled for October, November, and December (06/10/2024, 13/11/2024, 15/12/2024). More details can be found on this website.

- Gwent League

The Gwent League offers a more competitive set of fixtures, and we have had some success in recent years. All members are encouraged to participate, as there are separate leagues for age-related runners. We would also love to have more senior female competitors this season. The first three fixture dates have been released. If you would like to register, please email us your name, date of birth, and EA number. Once registered, you will keep the same number for all five fixtures, if you wish to participate in more than one.

Fixtures:

Sat 12 October – Pembrey Park

Sat 9 November – Cardiff (Including Cross Challenge)

Sat 30 November – Blaise Castle, Bristol

Two more fixtures TBC

Baltonsborough 5 Miles Road Race

Report by Pete Wright.

The start of the race featuring David Hirst and Jeremy Linter.

A near perfect warm sunny dry day greeted all the runners and spectators in Baltonsborough to kick start the August Bank holiday show with a 5 mile road race and a Junior 1.5 mile race/fun run. A record field of runners turned up for this summer event surpassing previous years. Starting and finishing from the Village Hall and School, a huge field of over 170 were entered in the main race along with juniors and a few adults covering the 1.5 mile distance. In all events almost 200 were taking part. The 5 mile race started separately to the junior and fun run 1.5 mile race.

1.5 Mile Race/Fun Run

The Juniors competing were greeted with an appreciative crowd at the finish line. First junior age award went to Milo Cook with Toby Hirst second, both from Wells City Harriers. Sebastion King was 3rd from Fleet & Crookham Athletic Club with Ruby Shaw the leading junior female 4th overall also a Wells Harriers. There were 22 finishers and a handful of adults also competing in the Fun Run.

Alexander Coombs finishing with Matt Lusby close behind.

5 Miles Race

The 5 mile race being part of the Somerset 2024 Series of races attracted a large number of South West based running clubs. Somer AC, Yeovil RRC, Crewkerne RC along with a large contingent of Wells City Harriers were well represented including a wide spread of ages including many 60 to 80 year olds. The rapid front runners saw the top five clocking under 30 minutes producing a competitive race between the Wells City Harriers’ Alex Coombs and Matt Lusby barely separated throughout the 5 miles until the last 100 metres with Alex Coombs outsprinting Matt by just 4 seconds across the line. A remarkable 3rd place went to a junior Owen Dix from Radstock’s Somer AC , who was well clear of Wells veteran pair David Hirst and Jeremy Linter in 4th and 5th places. The 1st Female was a 45 veteran runner Alexa King from Hart Road runners clocking 31.21, 2nd was Wells’ Phoebe Aspinall, 3rd was Susan Duncan from Weston AC.

First senior female Phoebe Aspinal crossing the finish line.

Race sponsors were Baltonsborough Parish Council, Baltonsborough Royal British Legion; providing the winners perpetual cups and vouchers for the junior award winners, Train Station and Burns the Bread. This fundraising event supports the Baltonsborough village show. Superbly organised as ever by Kay Franklin with special thanks going to all the helpers, marshalls, timekeepers along with support from Wells City Harriers.

Full results can be found here.

Photos of the event can be found here, courtesy of Ken Hewitt Photography.

Wells City Harrier Results

Harrier Award Winners: David, Alex, Matt, Phoebe, Toby and Ruby.

5 Miles

1st Alexander Coombs - 27:11

2nd Matthew Lusby - 27:15

4th David Hirst - 29:29 (1st V40)

5th Jeremy Linter - 29:59

7th Robbie Hawkins - 31:17

11th Phoebe Aspinall - 31:53 (1st Senior Female)

13th Lawrence Badman - 32:13

16th James Hodges - 32:39

27th Callum Cardwell - 33:39

41st Rosie Park - 35:10

48th Amelie Cook - 35:23

51st Andrew Piper - 35:41

52nd Mike Bosley - 35:44

69th Paul Knight - 37:28

74th Melissa Aspinall - 38:00

93rd Carol Buckland - 40:10

107th Michael Coombs - 41:22

122nd Kim Clark - 44:28 (1st V65)

131st Pete Wright - 46:21

145th Mike Ommanney - 48:11

146th Karen Shears - 48:28

161st Chris Clark - 53:55

Fun Run

2nd Toby Hirst - 9:53

4th Ruby Shaw - 10:05

7th Dominc Cook - 10:48

10th Jonah Barrington - 11:02

12th Milo Cook - 11:10

15th Poppy Shaw - 11:47

18th Noah Foley - 13:23

Mendip Maraunder 30 Miler

Phoebe Aspinall reports:

I had a great race at the Mendip Maraunder 30 Miler on the 31st August. I started steady in the middle of the pack knowing the first half was the hilliest, climbing Ebbor Gorge and Draycott Steep.

Phoebe prerace.

26 km in, after reaching the second checkpoint, I found out I was currently third lady on the course. I decided to push on and caught the second lady within minutes of leaving the aid station putting myself into second place.

For the last 10 miles I threw myself down all the last hills into Weston-super-Mare trashing my quads trying to catch the first lady who I couldn't get in my sights. I had no clue how far ahead she was!

Overall I had a great race finishing 2nd lady and 6th overall out of 120 runners in 5 hours and 8 minutes.

Still looking fresh at the finish!

Bridgwater Half Marathon

Bridgwater Half Marathon, 10K and 5K took place on Sunday 1st September. A group of Harriers took part in the Half Marathon, starting from Morganians Rugby on a course with PB potential, in perfect race conditions.

Stuart Nash and David Hirst racing in Bridgwater.

Harrier Results

3rd Matt Lusby - 1:15:53

12th Henry Sage - 1:20:53

15th David Hirst - 1:23:04

26th Dan Williams - 1:25:45

32nd Stuart Nash - 1:28:33

38th Stephen Nicholls - 1:29:33

Full results can be found here.

More photos can be found on our Instagram Page.

Team WCH with their finisher’s medals.

Training Update

The new training schedule for September and October can now be found on our Tuesday training page here.

Summer grass training session in action.

Dates For Your Diary

Here is a list of upcoming races, including WCH supported races, Somerset Series races, road relays, athletics league fixtures and other notable events. Contact club secretary Alexander Coombs if there is an event you would like adding. (SS = Somerset Series race)

September 2024

Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th September 2024 - Southern Fell Running Championships (IoW)

Saturday 7th September - Yeovil Games

Wednesday 11th September 2024 - Yeovilton 5K (Race 6)

Saturday 14th September - Saucony National Cross Country Championships

Saturday 21st September 2024 - South of England Road Relays

October 2024

(SS) Sunday 6th October 2024 - BHAM Trail 10K

Sunday 6th October 2024 - Mother Tuckers 10K

Sunday 6th October - Wessex XC League (Race 1 - Learoyd Road)

Wednesday 9th October 2024 - Street 5K (Race 1)

(SS) Sunday 13th October 2024 - Burnham Half Marathon