A number of the Wells City Harrier members have been in action this past week competing at track & field matches with Holly Bigger competing at national Championships, a number supporting the Olympiads at the final South West League match where Georgina Burrows had some good runs, and Mike Biss & Owen Astington achieving a personal best at the recent BMC meeting. Meanwhile Harriers have also been in action off-road and on the road and we look forward to the cross-country season and the forthcoming Street Night 5k Series which gets underway next month - the 31st year of the Clive & Angela Thomas Series! Read on also about training sessions.
U17 Holly Bigger competed at the England Athletics u17 Championships at Bedford recording a time of 2.20 for the 800m which is just shy of her personal best at the distance whilst in the last of the South West League fixtures, the combined team with Yeovil Olympiads finished the season in 8th place, out of 12 teams, over the 4 fixtures which commenced in late April.
The contribution by Harriers to the team was much appreciated and especially so by u15 Georgina Burrows where she helped ensure that in that age group the Yeovil team was the best of all the u15 girls teams across the 4 fixtures. At the final fixture on Sunday 1st September, once again held at Exeter Arena, Georgina was just shy of her personal best in her 200m sprint with a time of 29.15, and gained valuable points for the team and a pb with her 2.45 clocking in her first ever run over 800m. Also competing from the Harriers on Sunday was Helen Southcott & u17 Lizzie Ingram in the 3000m race where they clocked 10.47 (pb) and 11.15 respectively. Lizzie also achieved a 16.41m distance in the discus throw. For the men, v40 Tom Dukes doubled up with a 2.15 clocking in the 800m and an 18.04 in the 5,000m.
U23Michael Biss and senior man Owen Astington both recorded personal bests at the Exeter Arena British Milers Club fixture last Wednesday, 28th August. Michael achieved his first sub-2 minute clocking for the 800m when he ran 1.59 whilst Owen’s training has paid off when he recorded a 4.37pb for the 1500m distance. Missing out a pb at the same meeting was u15 Jack Harvey who ran 2.22 for the 800m.
There’s now very limited opportunities to achieve a pb at track and field this season but on Sunday the Yeovil Olynpiads have their 50th Anniversary Open Meeting. See here for details and entry link.
Off-road this past weekend Nick Weaving competed in the tough ultra over 50k or so – the Conquest of Avalon – finishing in a commendable 17th place out of 81 runners in a time of 5hrs 24 mins.
On the road, at the recent Battle of Sedgemoor 10k, held on the Sunday 25th August, v60 Matt Sparkes had a good run for his clocking of 42.03 (36th) with Rosie Parks 48.09 (113th), Natalie Winstone 49.48 (126t) , Karen Shears 303rd in a large field of over 400 runners in total. The race was part of the Somerset Race Series with the next race being at this Sunday’s Ash Excellent 8, from Ash Martock.
TRAINING continues as per usual at Millfield with the Monday and Tuesday sessions now using the fields across the road from the track whilst the track is being refurbished. Keep checking back to the website in case these arrangements change. Parking available over the road adjacent to the hut which also has the toilets and water. The session plan for Tuesdays for September and October can be seen on the Training tab. Non-members can come along and give the sessions a try and then join the Club for a discounted training fee (£2 per week for members; £3 for non-members)
COMING UP
CROSS COUNTRY SEASON – Wessex League coming up soon! see information here - first fixture on Sunday September 29th. Please register with our team manager Neil Biss that you intend to compete asap. Parents of juniors - play your part by team managing an age group for the Club.
WESSEX LEAGUE XC - TEAM MANAGER Neil Biss- register at least 2 weeks ahead of a fixture; obtain details from NEIL This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Harriers pay for the fully paid up members of the Club to compete.
GWENT XC LEAGUE - TEAM MANAGER Simon Prior - some senior Harriers and others may wish to compete at the tougher Gwent XC League - speak to Simon Prior or Jon James on a Tuesday if interested. Contact Simon on 07980 289547
STREET NIGHT 5k Flier here – first race on Wednesday October 9th and accompanying 1k and 2k races for juniors. Entry forms available soon or use the Run Britain link to enter the Series in advance with a big discount for online early entries.Harrier members and parents of juniors - you can help by volunteering to marshal for this Series - please contact Lynne Elstob. Graham Goldsmid or sign up on volunteer sheet.
& finally......HAVE YOU GOT A REPORT OR PHOTOS FOR THE HARRIER WEBSITE?
Paul will not be around to edit or produce website reports for the next period of time - please send submissions through to Graham for publication or offer to help by posting up reports and photos of individual and team performances.