Latest race in the Somerset Series and more great T&F news from the States

Details: Written by Paul Chadwick; Created: 23 May 2023; Last Updated: 23 May 2023; Hits: 825

aaaaTown Tree race pic final

Wells City Harrier members have again been out competing in a variety of events since the last web report. The 7th round of the year long Somerset Race Series took place last Wednesday 17^th May from Kingsbury Episcopi with the Town Tree Trail 10k multi-terrain race master-minded and well organised by Adam Hawkins.

Runners are able to run through the private ‘garden’ of one of the local farmers/land owners who has spent several years creating a multi-acre trail past sculptures, ponds, arches and bridges with great views in all directions. Harrier headlines at the race were taken by Graham Goldsmid finishing top ten , and 1^st V60, and Rosie Parks, 1^st female for the 2^nd year running.

Meanwhile on the Track & Field side, we have another report of the three Harriers studying & competing hard in the USA. All have very realistic hopes of gaining another TeamGB vest this season (no pressure!) and their early season form suggests that, so far, their plans are on track. There’s a fair chance that the three will be part of the GB team at Espoo in Finland in July for the European u23 Athletics Championships. Fingers crossed!

It's also good to see that a number of the Harrier trained Monday juniors will be competing for the joint track & field team with Yeovil at the SW League match this coming Sunday (28^th May) and some will be competing the following weekend (10^th June) at the Somerset Schools Track & Field Championships. Good luck to all.

STOP PRESS: I hear that 3 senior Harriers had some great runs at this year's Cader Idris Fell Race - read on below

Also another reminder about the Harrier AGM and some Annual Awards at Tramways, Wells 7.45 for 8pm start next Wednesday 31^st May.

(Below : Ollie Thorner clearing 1m 94 in the High Jump on his way to winning his first decathlon of the year)

aaaaOllieHJ May23

Over 40 Wells City Harrier members were out competing hard at the weekend – County T&F Championships & Bristol road races.

Details: Written by Paul Chadwick; Created: 16 May 2023; Last Updated: 20 May 2023; Hits: 833

aaaaMaya Sprint finish 100m

(Above: Maya was competing for the first time at the County Champs and had a couple of excellent sprint performances)

At the Somerset County Track & Field Championships the Monday Harrier group were well represented with 16 juniors taking part – some for the very first time ever in serious competition, and several for the first time at the County Championships. In addition there were a number from our Tuesday training group and others from the wider Club taking part. Of course, our team-mates from Yeovil Olympiads were also very well represented at all age groups.

Harrier headlines might belong to u13 Oskar Beck and u20 Sophie Nicholls for breaking the Championship records at specific middle distance events, but I was as pleased with the three 9 year old Harriers who I saw competing on the Sunday of the 2-day Championships taking their first steps at competition.

Also on the Sunday was a contingent of Senior Harriers at the Bristol 10k and Half-Marathon road running events amongst big fields of runners. I also hear there were some other senior Harriers enjoying the multi-terrain race from Shepton Mallet along the old Somerset & Dorset railway line in the new ‘Runaway Train’ race – report awaited.

Read on for details and more photos. Track & Field photos mainly by Tom Bufton

aaaaZak Bristol half top 10 pic

(Above: Zak finished top 10 at Bristol)

Early season pbs at Track & Field whilst one of the youngest Harrier members wins inter-area XC match

Details: Written by Paul Chadwick; Created: 09 May 2023; Last Updated: 09 May 2023; Hits: 698

aaaaElise April 23

Wells City Harriers have been able to help a number of its athletes excel in various athletic disciplines – 10 have now competed for TeamGB since 1999.(*) A small number have been able to gain athletic scholarships to train in the States – usually on 4 year programmes with their College fees & accommodation all paid, and combining studies with structured training.

There are currently three of the Harriers on athletic scholarships over there and this week’s web posting reports on early season performances as they each strive to gain more TeamGB vests at forthcoming Championships this summer season. U23s Elise & Ollie Thorner are now into their 4^th year in the States, whilst Harry Barton is part-way through his 1^st year there. All are at different US Universities Elise (above) at New Mexico; Ollie at Washington & Harry at Youngstown, Ohio.

Meanwhile, this coming weekend is the annual Somerset County Athletic Championships and over 20 Harriers from age 9 to senior level will be competing in a variety of events. Who knows if one or two of these will go on to be TeamGB athletes? 9 year old Alfie Beck will be giving it his best shot after recently winning the Somerset Junior Schools Years 3&4 cross country race!

This report also includes a posting on forthcoming road and off-road/fell races that senior members might wish to consider.

Harriers excel at Spring Marathons, Glastonbury Road Runs and the first of the SW League Track Matches

Details: Written by Paul Chadwick; Created: 02 May 2023; Last Updated: 11 May 2023; Hits: 781

aaaaNatalie at London

(Above - Natalie Winstone running with a Club place at London)

This week’s web report takes in the recent Spring marathons which a number of Harriers from our Tuesday and Wednesday training groups have been competing in. Many, particularly those racing at London, have been raising good money for charity along the way. NOW WITH ADDED REPORT FROM GLASTONBURY & CARDIFF 5k

We also have some great photographs from the Glastonbury Road runs of this past weekend – our thanks to Ian Derbidge for supplying these and now a report from Graham. There is also some extra photos - from the Cardiff 5k & one from the London Mini-Marathon. Thanks to all this week's contributors...

Also this past weekend we had some great performances by juniors at the first of this season's South West Athletics League matches held at Exeter Arena. A report is included below of some of the Monday juniors taking part. Oskar Beck ran a pb in the 1500m to move into the top 3 on national rankings for the distance so far this early season.

News also of the date of the Harrier’s Annual General Meeting coming up on Wednesday 31^st May starting at 8pm (just time to squeeze in a quick run with the Wednesday group!) at Tramways, West Street, BA5 2HN. We will have some Annual Awards to give out that night too.

(Below - Melissa Aspinall at the Glastonbury Round the Tor 10k - photo by Ian Derbidge)

aaaaMelissa Aspinall 10k

Easter 2023

Details: Written by Admin; Created: 21 April 2023; Last Updated: 16 May 2023; Hits: 913

GOOD TURN OUT FROM WELLS MEMBERS ACROSS ALL AGE
GROUPS AT RACES OVER A BUSY EASTER PERIOD
ALEX COOMBS WINS AT FIRST YEOVILTON 5K RACE

alex coombes yeovilton

(Alex Coombs leads the field at 1^st Yeovilton 5k race on a wet/windy evening)

Easter is always a busy time with a number of local races over the holidays at Bath, Yeovilton, Shapwick, and the start of the track season with the open meeting at Yeovil.