It’s been another busy weekend for Harriers (Saturday 24th & 25th February). A squad competed at the National English Cross Country Championships at Parliament Hill, in London, on the Saturday with Oliver Fox finishing 6th in the senior men’s race; the u20 twins of Elise and Ollie Thorner were in action at the English Junior indoor Championships at Sheffield; and there was a Harrier 1-2-3 at the Harrier supported Babcary Road race on Sunday 25th February, where Chris Green roared home for first, with Oli Frost 2nd, and Chris Walker completing the set. First on the age graded results, which is how most of the prizes are made, went to Martin Lascelles (Maiden Newton Runners) with Linda Lascelles (Maiden Newton) 2nd overall. Babcary results below. Other Harriers were in action at the Hinton St George Slay the Dragon races. More photos from National XC Championships added at bottom of report.
English Cross Country Championships
A squad of dedicated Harriers went across to London to compete in the prestigious national cross-country Championships. Best result of the day was the 6th place finish by one of the Harrier’s Hon Life members, Oliver Fox in the senior men’s race. This is the best Harrier result since Frank Tickner won the national title in 2007 and again in 2009. Oliver’s time for the 12km course was 40.20. Sam Sommerville also had a great run in the u20 men's race over 10km with 36th place, 35.11, out of 220 finishers. There was a massive 2,328 finishers in the senior men’s race!
Best result for the females was by u13 Hannah Blundy who had a great run for 31st in a field of 467 finishers, in a time of 13.18 for the 3km course. Holly Bigger was 148th in the u15 girls with 16.53 for the 4km distance (464 finishers) and Katrina Prior was 649th in the senior women’s race (1113 finishers). The u15 boys squad ran well and finished in the national team rankings at 30th, with Matthew Quarterman leading the squad home in 64th, 16.50, for the 4.5km course and backed up by Toby Watson in 219th, 18.08; Leo Stockham, 233rd 18.18; and Dan Maydew, 313rd 18.53. Harrier Hon Life Member Luke Prior, now running for Aldershot, Farnham & District finished 13th in the u20 men’s race. Our thanks to Simon Prior for Harrier team managing.More Photos below
One parent's view: "
" We had a great day out, dry crisp sunny conditions, not too windy but quite cold. Great atmosphere, lots of supporters, the course got muddier as the day went on, & quite muddy in places to start with!Great views across London from the top of the hill & quite a spectacle seeing 3000 men running up it !"
(Toby Watson in action)
England Athletics Junior Indoor Championships
Report by Al:
"Wells City Harriers twins Ollie & Elise Thorner both qualified for the England Athletics National Junior Indoor Championships at Sheffield on Saturday and Sunday 23rd and 24th February.
Ollie was up first on Saturday in the 60m sprint and improved his personal best to 7.53 in his heat. Next up was Elise in one of two 800m heats. A run that saw her boxed in for much of the race, left her finishing in 4th place and, with only two to qualify from each heat plus the two fastest losers, it looked unlikely that she would make the final. But with the 2nd heat being a slower race she qualified as 2nd fastest loser. Eighteen hours later she was lining up for the final against some of the best U20 800m runners in the country. An excellent turn of pace down the home straight saw her snatch the bronze medal in a season's best 2 mins 12.05 seconds and earn selection to run for England in next weekend's home international indoor meet in Cardiff.
After a par performance in the high jump, clearing 1m 90cm, Ollie began the Pole Vault competition and his third event of a busy weekend for the multi eventer. Ollie cleared a new PB height of 4m 40 to finish in 5th place out of 10 and move up to equal 6th in the UK rankings for 2018."
Elise on right receives her bronze medal
Ollie goes over for 4.40m
Babcary Road Race
This traditional road race covers 7.5’ish undulating miles and was Race 2 in the Somerset Race Series 2018, sponsored by Cornwall Glass. The local race itself was sponsored by Avalon Sciences, the business of Harrier member and Babcary resident Gary Tubridy. There were 97 finishers in the main race with a handful of juniors in the shorter races. Isabelle Walker won the short road race for the girls.
Despite the cold and blustery conditions, there was lovely sunshine, and for those who ran last year in fact the conditions were somewhat better this year. Chris Green’s winning time of 43.28 was a good return, with 2nd place Oli Frost back in 46.26, and Chris Walker doing just enough with his 46.40 to stay ahead of 4th place finisher Darrel Sheen of Yeovil Town RR (46.55). For the women there looks to have been quite a battle with Linda Lascelles winning in 50.24, 11th overall, with Hannah Moore next home (12th) in 50.41. 3rd for the women was Karen Shapland (Bideford) in 55.29 in 26th place.
(all previous year’s results are on the tab here)
Harrier results saw: local resident Damien Pick 5th 47.13; Justin Thomas 8th 49.22; Andrew Piper 14th 51.29; Matt Rawlingson-Plant 17th 51.53; Graham Goldsmid 18th 52.14; Mike Bosley 19th 52.17; Craig Foley 23rd 54.20; Paul Chadwick 27th 55.53; Ali Blaney 29th 56.06; Harriet Burr 56th 63.01; Jessica Pate 60th 65.49; Alice Knight 61st 65.49; Karen Shears 66th 68.27.
Great running by all with all proceeds from entries and cake & tea sales going towards the village playing fields upkeep. Our thanks to Gary & Sarah Tubridy, marshals and finish recorders and of course the cake-bakers of Babcary!
Next race organised by Wells City Harriers is the final edition of this year’s Street 5k races on Wednesday 14th March (7.30pm) – enter on the night.
Next races supported by Wells City Harriers are:
Sunday 25th March Butleigh 10k multi-terrain (10.30am start) – also part of the Somerset Race Series
Sunday 27th May Wells Fun Runs with races for all ages – 10k race is part of the Somerset Race Series
Details of Harriers organise/supported races are here with entry forms/entry portal where available
More Harriers at Babcary
HINTON ST GEORGE Slay the Dragon race
Also in action on Sunday (25th) were a handful of Harriers at the Hinton St George races. Tom Thick won the 10km race in 38.03 with Ed Stahl also running well for 3rd place in 38.44. There were 197 competitors in total. In the accompanying 'Dragon's Tail' 4km race Harrier Junior, from our Monday training group, Jack Harvey won in 16.56, almost a minute ahead of his nearest rival. Jack also had a great run last Monday (19th Feb) when running for his school in the Somerset Schools XC Championships for school year 7, when he finished 4th overall, out of 90 competitors, at the races held at Kings School, Taunton.
NATIONAL XC PHOTOS
Photos above of Holly and Leo by the official photographers
Photo below of Matthew by Adrian Royle (copyright)