Great athletic performances by Harriers at the Somerset County Championships & AGM report
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- Written by Paul Chadwick
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(Above - two of our regular Monday training group - Elspeth & Ferne with their medals - photo by Paul)
Harriers were out in force at this year’s County Athletic Association’s Championships, once again held at the Bill Whistlecroft Arena in Yeovil. May 14th & 15th 2022.
For some it was their first taste of County Championships and especially for those juniors training with us on a Monday evening they may well have been a bit nervous before competing, but all acquitted themselves well and set new marks or times and mostly personal bests.
Saturday at the Championships was really sunny and bright whilst on Sunday by mid-afternoon the rain moved in and some competed in the downpour. All part of gaining valuable experience in all conditions. This report is brief and may well miss out some names/performances. If you are a senior Harrier or parent of a junior you can help future reporting by writing up some words about Harriers in a particular event/age group or sending in some good photos – the more action in the photo the better!
Our thanks as ever to the Championship Secretary, David Cooke, who still found time to compete in the 400m in spite of his busy weekend (& the preceding weeks!) and to all of the officials who give up their time to enable these events run like clockwork. Again, senior Harriers and parents of juniors that like competing at Track & Field should consider becoming qualified as an official to ensure these Championships continue into the future….
(Below: The latest Harrier to be awarded Hon Life Membership,for selection for TeamGB, Harry Barton, had a blast at the 110m Hurdles at the County Championships. Next stop - running again this weekend for TeamGB - photo by Paul)
Read more: Great athletic performances by Harriers at the Somerset County Championships & AGM report
Sophie & Dan achieve huge pbs when representing the region; Final call for the AGM
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- Written by Paul Chadwick
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(Above- Dan Maydew wearing his Midlands Counties vest running a great pb)
As we see the start of the Harrier’s participation as part of the Yeovil Olympiad’s teams in the British National League (u17s upwards) – commenced last Saturday - and with the South West League (u13s upwards) due to start next month, Harriers are gearing up for the County Championships this coming weekend (14th & 15th May).
Meanwhile some have been in action recently when selected to represent the Midland Counties at a competitive 5km road race in Cardiff. Well done to u17 Sophie Nicholls and u20 Dan Maydew on their runs where they achieved personal bests. Read on for a report. Dan followed it up with another storming run over 1500m at the British League Track & Field match this past Saturday.
Harriers looking to compete for our joint team with Yeovil, especially in the SW League, should make sure that the YOAC team managers are aware of your availability for the League fixtures and of any performances you achieve this track season so that they can select the strongest squad. Follow this link for information on details of managers.
Good luck to those competing in the County Championships this coming Saturday & Sunday 14th & 15th May. Please send any good photos and a report (preferably of as many Harriers as you spot!) to Paul by 8pm Monday.
Read on also for some of the paperwork for the Annual General Meeting to be held this Wednesday 11th May commencing at 8pm at Tramways. There will also be some Annual awards & the ballot for the Club’s London Marathon places after the close of the formal business.
Read more: Sophie & Dan achieve huge pbs when representing the region; Final call for the AGM
Team England/Team GB selection again? Harrier AGM 11th May detail & call for all to volunteer
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- Written by Paul Chadwick
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(Above - Elise Thorner, nearest camera, competing for Team GB at last summer's u23 European Championships)
Elise & Ollie continue to improve their times & marks
The UK All Time u23 3000m Steeplechase record has been broken by Elise Thorner as selection for this season’s Major Championships beckons for her. - Commonwealth Games in Birmingham (selection for Team England) & European Championships in Munich (Team GB).
Elise’s twin brother Ollie Thorner has also set some early season pbs in his pursuit of the qualifying standard for selection for the Decathlon to the same Championships.
Elise & Ollie are both Hon Life Harrier Members already for their previous Team GB selections at u20 & u23 level. At the AGM on 11th May another of our talented junior athletes, Harry Barton will be awarded his Hon Life Membership for his selection last season for u20 Team GB.
Read on for details of their achievements and about the AGM where all paid up members of the Harrier’s are invited. We are looking for volunteers to join the committee & for specific roles this coming year. Also the Tuesday training session plan for May & June.
(Photo below of a previous Harrier committee from 2018)
Monday & Tuesday eve: 6.30pm for Harrier coached sessions for members at Millfield Track; Wednesday eve : 6.40pm different ability groups road & off-road from Wells Rugby Club.
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HARRIER GROUP TRAINING
The Harrier sessions have been Risk Assessed and are covered by Club insurances for Club members. (When training on your own please only train in public areas and do not use private facilities unless the Harriers have a formal agreement with facility managers for access at specific times of the week - see below.).
We have to follow strict protocol with hiring the track at Millfield - please follow the directions of Club coaches and ensure you register at the beginning of every session to ensure that we can account for everyone present. Club members only. If a member of another Club please complete form to become a 2nd Claim member of the Harriers.
Monday Juniors age 8-15 start 6.30pm at Millfield Track & finish 7.30pm. Please ensure you have joined the Club & book your place for each half-term - payment required half-termly - £15 for the sessions to the end of each half-term/term. (less than £2 per session!). Club members only, but 'taster' session available if we still have spaces for new junior athletes.
Priority given to juniors that compete for the Club (cross-country & road races over Autumn & Winter; Track & Field for our team with Yeovil Olympiads in spring & summer). Coaches: rota of Graham, Paul, Al, Isaac & Emma with soon to be qualified coaches Stuart & Ben helping out. Sprints, Middle-distance, Long Jump; Shot put; turbo-jav (for u11s) in spring & summer; and Endurance running, circuits, hills, in autumn & winter. Numbers limited to 40 per session unless more parents qualify as Coaches. Waiting list in operation when full.
No sessions on Bank Holiday Mondays; or the 2 weeks over Xmas break; or late July & during August when all the volunteer coaches are taking a well-earned break.(last session 18th July 2022 - then resumes 5th September. Registration with Club needed in advance)
Paul at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tuesday older juniors age 14 upwards and seniors, 6.30pm to 7.30pm. Members only. Group warm up. Cost £2 per session to be paid each session or monthly - please register when attending. Enquiries to Graham. Coaches; Jon, Graham, Paul, Al, Tom & Simon (rota). Sessions set by Jon.There will be the option of track session or grass based session. Session plans posted up monthly. Mainly for endurance runners - middle-distance through to marathon.
Tuesday night training programme for May & June 2022 here
come and join us for training & coaching. Join the Club and register before every session trackside. If new, then please introduce yourself to one of the coaches: Jon, Simon, Paul, or Graham
More information from Graham at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Wednesday Social Run for adults in small groups from Wells Rugby Club. Meet outside Wells Rugby Clubhouse at 6.40pm for a 45-60 minute run in three groups.
(1) Beginners/improvers or 'steady group' led by qualified coaches Sharon & Lynne - see contact below.
(2 & 3) Usually a road option and an off-road option for those who have been running a while, some of whom will be training for forthcoming races over 5k to Marathon.
Contact Andy Piper for details of the road/off-road session or for you to advise him that you are intending to join in. The road/off-road session is led by senior Harriers (not coaches). Last Wednesday of the month in Summer there is a pub run led by one of the senior Harriers - different pub each time - about 5 or 6 miles. Usually you can order food before you set off from the pub to eat on your return, or just stay for a drink. This is an informal run where everyone runs at a conversational pace.
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Wednesday beginners/returners group for adults from Wells Rugby Club. Meet outside Wells Rugby Clubhouse at 6.40pm for a 45-60 minute run in groups. Lynne Elstob & Sharon Bowles qualified coaches leading these groups. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
WELFARE OFFICER CONTACT DETAILS - Amanda Bigger This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Also, check out the England Athletics website for the very latest guidance on training and competition.
Please contact Paul if you are just taking up running/athletics or haven't run for some time and want to know more about each Harrier session. All Harrier coached sessions are managed by volunteer Harrier coaches providing guidance & advice for free (all fees go towards facility hire). All Harrier coaches are members of the Club and apart from having an up to date licence to coach have been DBS checked via the Club & Police. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
You may need to BOOK IN ADVANCE for Harrier sessions and will need to be a Member of the Club
WE ARE RECRUITING FOR NEW COACHES
We are again RECRUITING TO THE COACHING TEAM. Please contact Paul, Graham or Jon if you want to know more about what it entails and talk through with Paul how the Club will pay for your Coaching course. See Coaching with England Athletics
ANY Queries - contact Coaching Co-ordinator/Club Secretary Paul Chadwick if you need any other information This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Chairman Graham Goldsmid This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
After making an enquiry about our training sessions and registering your contact details, you can attend 2 sessions for free to check out if the coaching/training is what you need/want. After that to continue being coached/using the training facility we require all individuals to be paid up Members of the Club. It is a condition of our hire agreement with Millfield Track, and Harrier Policy, for all sessions to be organised with members registered.
Couch to 5k group:
For over 2 decades the Harriers have run such courses for those people coming back into running or who have never run - so as to help them get their fitness levels up and runa 5km. Cost: When it operates, then the annual formal 'Couch to 5k' beginners group usually has a modest charge for the entire programme (circa £10-£20). The informal groups running on a Wednesday don't have a charge but we would prefer runners to be members of the Harriers to contribute to our overheads as we pay the Wells Rugby Club to use their facilities, and you will also benefit from Club insurance and discounts on kit etc
Training on other days - another Harrier session for endurance runners can be planned subject to demand - Contact coaches at other sessions for details.
Saturday - occasional monthly hill running sessions for keen juniors (age 14) and upwards once a month. Contact coaches if interested.
Sundays – long off road run for those in training for half or full marathons. Note that on some Sundays many of the group will be racing at an event - Meet: various locations, check with Wednesday Group/contact at training Time: usually about 8.00am or 9.00am
Cost: Free Contact: Mike Rusca/Richard Morgan/Andy Piper or others at Wednesday group
Training with Yeovil Olympiads
We have a reciprocal arrangement with YOAC to train with them at the Yeovil Arena and vice versa.
Their training nights are usually Tuesday & Thursday – see YOAC website for more info; and Saturday mornings sometimes at Ninesprings (Goldenstones) for juniors
QUALIFIED HARRIER COACHES: with date when they first qualified as Assistant Coaches
Full Coach/Level 2: Paul Chadwick (2003); Graham Goldsmid (2004); Jon James (2014); Al Thorner (2014); Simon Prior (2015)
Assistant Coach/Level 1: Chris Collier (2013); Tom Dukes (2013); Ben Tickner (2018); Emma Woodcock (2022); Alexander Coombs (2022).
Coach in Runnning & Fitness: Lynne Elstob (2014); Sharon Bowles (2014)
Coaches receive free Harrier annual membership and appropriate kit
(If you are interested in becoming qualified to coach with the Harriers please speak to Graham Goldsmid or Paul Chadwick. The Club will pay for your coach training but you are expected to contribute to sessions on a regular basis - we are currently particularly keen to recruit some women coaches to work with our junior athletes)
Entries open for Wells Festival of Running 11 September
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- Written by Rosie Park
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Entries are now open for Wells Festival of Running taking place on 11 September 2022.
The festival will include a 10km and 5km road race, as well as a 3.2km run and a one-mile fun run for junior runners.
Previously held in May, the popular local races return for the first time since 2019 with a new early autumn date.
The race starts in the beautiful Market Place under the gaze of two medieval gateways - the Penniless Porch and the Bishop’s Eye. A fast and furious grandstand finish is guaranteed alongside the Bishop’s Palace moat.
Read more: Entries open for Wells Festival of Running 11 September