Over 50 of the Wells City Harriers were in action this past weekend of March 2nd & 3rd. There was a strong team presence when 40 competed at the final fixture of the Gwent League Cross-country match at Brecon on Saturday and some good performances at the Bath Half marathon on Sunday by another squad of the endurance athletes. Headlines at the cross-country are taken by Luke Prior winning the u15 boys race and League title and by Matthew Dickinson, Lilly Hawkins and Lloyd Collins, overall winners of the League titles for the u17 men, u17 women and V50 categories respectively. Al Jones was first man in for the Harriers at Bath in 80.21 for the 13 mile circuit with a number of others pacing themselves well through the City.

For Photos see panel of the right, and List of Photos in Rogues Gallery on the left

On Saturday morning the Harriers found Brecon bathed in bright sunshine for the 5^th fixture in the tough XC league. First off for the team in the u11s novice race were two of the Harrier’s Monday junior training squad when Luke Macpherson finished off his season with an excellent 6^th place, and Daniel Hughes ran a solid 50^th place. As a year young, Daniel will be young enough to run in the same age group next year but gains valuable experience. Luke finishes in 7th overall after the 5 fixtures - that's excellent after his first year in competitive cross-country with the Club.

In the u13 boys race, the team will receive the silver medals after the performances at this final fixture.  Bradley Seager led the team home in 7th place, with Alex Williams in 11^th, Dylan Dukes, 20^th, Chris Ellis, 21^st, Luke Baker 22^nd, and Joe Heath in 28^th for some great packing. Alex was 6th overall and Bradley 8th overall after the 5 fixtures

In the u15 boys group the  Harrier team have also been crowned u15 champions and that the race day winner Luke Prior will be champion u15 boy. Luke was 1^st, with Oliver Dickinson 8^th, James Williams 10^th and Johnny Ellis 21^st This was a great sequence of running for Luke over the 5 matches:2^nd, 2^nd, 3^rd, 2^nd and 1^st.Oliver Dickinson was 6th after 5 fixtures with James williams 9th and Sam Sommerville 10th overall. That's soem great team packing to ensure the gold medals!

In the u15 girls race it was great to see the regular squad out competing again. Charlotte Baker was again top ten, 6^th here, with Amy Darcy 18^th, Tash Jones 20^th, Jess Morris 23^rd and Darcie Cook 28^th. Charlotte is confirmed as 4th overall  in the final League standings. The team have finished in overall 5th position.

For the u17 men Matthew Dickinson ran an excellent relaxed race to do enough to win the u17mens title and with Matt Cole in 11^th they  have done enough for the team to take 2^nd place overall after 5 matches. In the final League standings, Oliver Fox was 5th overall.Sam Harding was 9^th in the same race for the u20 men and was overall 2^nd for the u20s across the 5 fixtures due to his consistent running. Kieran Young from our Tuesday evening training group was overall u20s champion.

For the u17 women Lilly Hawkins and Rebecca Carver have had some great runs this season – so much so that they have finished 1-2 in the League standings after 5 matches, and here they finished off with Rebecca taking 3^rd place in the race and Lilly in 4^th, with Abigail Gibbons gaining good team points in 7^th. This sealed the victory for the u17 women – League champions. Abi finished 6th overall after the 5 fixtures.

The senior mens race saw 10 Harriers toe the start line. Jack Bancroft, after a recent 3 week spell of training in Ethiopia, flew round for 12^th place in a time of 33.43 for the 9.5km course.Paul Maskell was next in 27^th, then Lloyd Collins in 39^th – finishing overall League Champion for V50 category. Tom Dukes 55^th, Simon Prior 86th, Graham Goldsmid 109^th, Nathan Baker 134^th, Geoff Cole 148^th, Cris MacPherson 154^th, Rex Whitcombe 167^th, Steve Dickinson 169^th and finally the Chairman following up the rear (again!) Paul Chadwick in 178^th. That was some good running and has sealed the Harriers into 4^th in Division one of the men’s League, and 2^nd V40 team and 3^rd V50 team overall. In addition to Lloyd’s League Champion status for the V50s, Graham Goldsmid finished in overall 5^th place for the v50s.

For the senior women we had an excellent turn out of 5 Harriers in a vain attempt to stave off relegation from Division One, but even so there was some gutsy running. Katrina Prior made a return to the team after injury with her70th placing. Sam Baker was next home in 96^th, then Louise Williams 11^th, Gill Macpherson 126^th and Julia Dukes 136^th. That’s some good running.

The Baker family won in the unofficial battle of the Harrier familes with all 4 members competing in their respective races - thus pipping the Dukes; the Priors,and  the William's familes who only manged 3 team members each!

Meanwhile on the Sunday at the Bath Half amongst the assembled 11,000 runners were a great assortment of Harriers. Al Jones ran an excellent 80.21 for overall 154^th place. Then came Adam Cox with 1.33 ; Mike Rusca 1.39; Berni Mundy in 1.40 just ahead of Rita Powers in 1.40; Robert Moore in 1.46 training for the London Marathon; Michael Duckett in 1.49; Sharon Bowles in 2.12; and Sheila Patterson in 2.29.That's some excellent running by all - most of whom attend the harrier's Wednesday evening training sessions.

Harriers are reminded that membership fees are now due for the new year starting April 1st and that they should make every effort to support the 144^th edition of the Street 5km road race to be held on Wednesday March 13^th. (If not racing then please come and do your bit by marshalling).

GWENT TEAM RESULTS after 5 fixtures:

u13 boys - 2nd

u15 boys  - 1st

u17 men - 2nd

u15 girl - 5th

u17 women - 1st

Senior men - 4th in Div 1

V40 men - 2nd

V50 men - 3rd

Can we improve on this next year?