Wells City Harrier members continue to be in action across this winter period and last weekend (3rd/4th Feb) saw some great running either at the South West schools XC event, where many Harriers, from both the Millfield training base or the Yeovil track base, ran in the red vest of Somerset schools; or at the British Universities XC Championships (BUCS) held at Brunel University. Elise Thorner gained a top ten finish at the SW County schools event whilst two Hon Life Members had great races at BUCS. Also in action was Ollie Thorner gaining a pb in the indoors 400m.
Elise, in Somerset Schools red, in the leading pack in the senior girls race - photo by Al
Al reports:
Stover School in Newton Abbot hosted this year's South West Schools XC Championships on a soggy course but in unexpectedly cold and sunny conditions. Teams of 10 athletes competed for their County Schools team hoping to not only run well on the day but also to be considered for the prestigious National Schools XC Championships being held this year at Leeds in March.
Wells City Harriers Finishing positions on the day as follows: Junior Girls - Hannah Blundy 16th, Anya Evans 39th, Jasmine Caley 61st, Minor Boys - Jack Harvey 21st, Ollie Bishop 54th, Inter Girls - Lizzie Ingram 14th, Holly Bigger 26th, Jessica Hudson 50th, Junior Boys - Daniel Maydew 9th, Jake Fisher 19th, Fred Fisher 40th, Senior Girls - Elise Thorner 7th, Caitlin Carnegie 28th, Katie Lloyd 30th, Lucy Pittard 51st, Inter Boys - Matthew Quarterman 11th, Archie Tyler 45th, Senior Boys - Ben Lloyd 28th, Dylan Dukes 30th.
The following WCH athletes should be in the frame for the Nationals (but all is subject to selection)
Junior Girls: Hannah Blundy & Anya Evans
Junior Boys Dan Maydew; Toby Watson ; Jake Fisher
Inter Girls: Lizzy Ingram; Holly Bigger; Jessica Hudson
Inter Boys: Matt Quarterman;
Sen Girls: Elise Thorner (*); Caitlin Carnegie; Katie Lloyd; (poss also Lucy Pittard)
Sen Boys: Ben Lloyd; Dylan Dukes.”
Photos below of Ollie Bishop; Matthew Quarterman; Holly Bigger & Dylan Dukes by Al
Meanwhile at the British Universities XC Championships (BUCS) held at Brunel University, also on Saturday (3rd Feb) there were some excellent performances by Harriers, including victory by one of our Hon Life members, Luke Prior, in the shorter race and a great 8th place finish by another Hon life Member, Oliver Fox in the longer race. Luke Prior won the short race over 7.9km in 26.58 well clear of the runner up; with Matthew Dickinson 16th in 27.53; and his younger brother Oliver Dickinson, 29th in 28.13. All run for St Marys College, London. (562 finishers in the short race).In the main race, over a distance of 10km, Oliver Fox (Cambridge Uni) was 8th in 33.23, showing that he is gradually coming back into form whilst Felix Rusby (Bristol Uni) was a solid 114th in 37.28 (333 finishers).
Also in running action at the weekend, Jonathan Davies was 11th at the Blackmore Vale Half Marathon on Sunday (4th Feb).
Meanwhile, Ollie Thorner competed indoors in the Cardiff Met Indoor Open Meeting on Sunday 4th February finishing 3rd in the Pole Vault with 4m 20cm and 2nd in the 400m with a new personal best time of 50.75 seconds.
(*) Al also advises that Elise is currently ranked 12th (11th athlete) in the world and first GB for the 2017/2018 season on the IAAF U18 rankings lists for her 2.12.34 800m indoors at Cardiff a couple of weeks ago. Next up is National Junior Indoors (no pressure!)
Remember to let us know about your competition efforts when running in your Harrier vest, or representing your School/College. Paul files a report every week to the local newspaper and onto the website. Deadline: News by Monday evening to get into the newspaper that week.
DON'T FORGET: STREET 5k COMING UP ON WEDNESDAY 14th February
BABCARY ROAD RACE & BUTLEIGH FORMS will be at the Street race; or you can print one off the website from here