Hello, and happy new year!
I hope everyone has had a great break and is ready to lace up in 2025, whether burning off some of the festive fun or focusing on upcoming races. We really are hitting the beach running with the first club championship race this Thursday at the Wyedean Night Race. If you can’t make that, there are two more: the Ironwood Challenge in February and the final Gwent League in March. Training kicks off tomorrow at Coombe Dingle (the first session of the year) so no excuses from the regulars! If you are a regular at any of our sessions, this time of year is a great opportunity to drag that friend who has been threatening to come along for the last year. If you know any New Year resolutioners, let’s get them through the door! I hope to see old and new faces in the coming months and to run Pari Passu* (as our motto goes).
*For those without a basic grasp of Latin it means – Side by side. (I know because I googled it).
Happy New Year,
Ben
RACE REPORTS
SOUTH WEST CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
A cold and chilly South West Cross Country Championships 2025 down at RNAS Merryfield today, but slightly less mud than in previous years. We had a fantastic junior/senior/master ladies turnout which brought great success and a large haul of medals. In this event the U20s run with the seniors and whilst there are separate U20/senior county teams the club teams are combined. It is wonderful 2 lap 7km cross country course, maybe I can say that as I was watching this year! The course wiggles its way in and out of the woods and then along a really hard long stretch to the side of the airfield, where the grass has definitely not been cut and the wind always seems against you. Our junior runners did really well, as this is a big step up distance wise for many of them.
How exciting was it is to see our Westbury ladies Rosie and Freya leading the field in the top 2 places and maintain that throughout. Congratulations both. Is Rosie the first Westbury South West XC ladies champion someone asked? I think so.
1st Rosie Hamilton-James 27.11, 2nd (1st U20) Freya 27.37, 22nd (3rd V35) Bridget Belfourd 30.45 24th (3rd V45) Katie Hughes 30.55, 37th Elen 32.20, 54th Maeve 35.56, 57th Katie.R 37.15, 59th Meg 38.48
Team Results – A slight muddle, where they had missed Bridget entirely from the results, which was fairly significant as Bridget was our 3rd team scorer. After a recount the senior team got a fabulous silver medal (Rosie, Freya, Bridget, Katie).
In the masters categories a solid run from both Bridget and Katie saw them pick up bronze for V35 and V45 respectively.
Rosie, Bridget and Katie were both part of the senior Avon County team that got silver.
Freya, Elen, Maeve and Katie.R picked up gold medals for the Avon County U20 team.
Thank-you all for running and representing the club.
CLUB NOTICES
Blaise Blazer – Monday 2nd June 2025
Are you handy on a mountain bike?
We are looking for 2 volunteers to trial having lead bikes for the Blaise Blazer race in June. Idea to cycle ahead of the runners to ensure the path is clear of members of the public and marshals know the race is approaching. Would need to be people confident on off road bikes. Due to the nature of the course, it would be sensible to have 2 people as parts of the course are not cyclable, so would need switching over to a 2nd person. If you are interested please contact Tamsin Chick manager.women@westburyharriers.co.uk (or via FB messenger, WhatsApp or text).
REMINDER – LONDON MARATHON RACE SPOTS
We have 2 club places allocated for the TCS London Marathon on Sunday 27th April 2025 and they need to be registered by the deadline of 16:00 on Thursday 27th February 2025.
In line with the committee, this year current Members must show that they had entered the ballot and they must also have been a member at the time that they were rejected. If you are a primary yate member, then you should apply through Yate as they will also have club TCS London Marathon places.
Please register your interest in entering the Draw by e-mailing secretary@westburyharriers.co.uk with the proof you have entered and been rejected from the ballot, and confirmation that you were a member at the time (which will be checked) by Midnight Tuesday 31 December 2024.
UPCOMING RACES
A reminder that we have an events calendar on our website where you can keep track of dates for training, events and races. (Thanks, Vicky, for keeping this updated). https://westburyharriers.co.uk/events/events-calendar/
Club Championship info and rules on this link: https://westburyharriers.co.uk/events/club-championship/
Thursday 9th Jan. Wyedean Night Race – https://www.rogueruns.co.uk/home/our-events/night-runs
Saturday 8th or Sunday 9th February: Margam Park (TBC), Gwent League XC
Sunday 23rd February. Ironwood Challenge – https://nailsea.fullonsport.com/…/ironwood…/profile
Saturday 1st March: Venue TBC, Gwent League XC
Sunday 6th April. The big Cheese race. 15-mile fell race in Cheddar.
Editor: Ben Wood
