The hot bank holiday weekend saw a large turnout of Harriers from all age groups out competing in 3 local races with much success. On Sunday at the Avon AA 5K Road Relay Championships, Luke Prior led a Wells senior men’s team to victory, while on the same day at The Battle of Sedgemoor 10k, Zoe Kurle was first female home. This was followed up on the Monday by another Harriers victory when club vet Andrew Hennesey won the 5 mile Baltonsborough Road Race.
(Start of leg 1 at Avon with Luke Prior, Daniel Maydew & Mike Glover for Wells) Pic - Bernard Mealing Snr
A hot Sunday saw 3 teams from Wells take part in the Avon AA 5k Road Relay Championships held at Cleeve Cricket club. First overall were the Wells Senior men’s team, Luke Prior on leg 1 ran the fastest time of the day in 15.44, followed by Kieran Young in 16.32, Oliver Dickinson in 16.13 and Sam Sommerville in 16.30. 12th were a Wells Mixed team, Mike Glover ran 18.59 on leg 1, followed by Katrina Prior in 22.53, Deb Glover in 21.53 and Kieran Young (Again) in 17.39. Next in 13th place was a Wells Junior boys team who ran well led off by Daniel Mayhew on leg 1 in a time of 19.05, then Bradley Glover in 20.39, Bernard Mealing in 21.01 and Leo Stockham in 21.13.
Junior Boys Team at Avon (Pic - Bernard Mealing Snr)
The other local race Sunday was the Battle of Sedgemoor 10k at Langport, this was race 13 in the Somerset series and 11 Harriers lined up with 385 other runners at Huish school the new race start. First home for Wells in 4th place was Senior male Chris Green in a nippy time of 35.22, followed by Vet 50 John Glaisher who was 12th in 38.12, then in 18th place came V40 Neil Biss in 40.07 just beating V50 Graham Goldsmid on the line, who was 19th in 40.08. Next home and first female was Senior female Zoe Kurle 23rd in a time of 40.50. followed by V40 Rachel Glaisher 51st in 44.08. Next was Senior female Ali Blaney 81st in 46.07, V40 Andy Robinson was 131st in 49.48, Senior Female Gaby Rowe 157th in 51.58, V50 Cath Goldsmid 163rd in 52.12 and 228TH was V60 Karen Shears in 58.30.
Our congratulations also go to Wells Harrier Hannah Blundy who won the shorter 2.5k race at Langport in a time of 10.10 Next day on the Bank Holiday Monday,
12 Harriers competed at the Baltonsborough 5 mile road race, a event which is supported by the club. First home and making a successful return to his home village was long standing club member V40 Andrew Hennessy, who won in a time of 28.25. Next for Wells in 10th place and first V50 was Andrew Piper in 35.01, just in front of V40 Mike Bosley 11th in 35.11. V40 Peter Clothier was 12th in 35.48, V50 Mike Rusca was 14th in 35.59, V50 Simon Carr was 18th in 36.57, then came another long serving club member V50 Paul Knight who was 19TH in 37.09. Next in 26th place was first Wells Senior female Megan Rusca in 38.36. Senior female Gaby Rowe was 30th in 40.08, V45 Barbara Mercer was 31st in 40.24, V60 John Moody was 39th in 44.16, and V60 Pete Wright was 65th in 54.03.
In the Junior 1.5 mile race at Baltonsborough, 4 Wells Juniors took part William Carr was 2nd in 8.59, Toby Watson 4th in 9.29, Nico Bosley 9th in 10.52, and Poppy Clothier 19th in 14.38 Well done to all the Harriers who took part in these races in hot conditions
The next Somerset series fixture is the ‘Ash Excellent 8’ on Sunday 10th September please see club website for details