Weekly News – Sunday 7th September 2025

September 9, 2025

Westbury Harriers Weekly News

Hi everyone,

Hope you’ve all had a good week, whether you’re wistful about the end of summer or excited for crisp Autumn days to come! Going forwards, we’re going to be using a slightly different newsletter format so that all the key notices come at the beginning. Hopefully this should make it a bit easier to keep up to speed with everything that’s going on.

Thanks to all those who have signed up for the Midland Road Relays on 20th September. Do remember that the Gwent League Cross Country season is fast approaching so do get those dates in the diary (more info in notices below), and there are also lots of other opportunities to run for the club in other regional and national events – again more details below.

In this week’s newsletter:

Club notices
Training this week
Race reports / results
Upcoming races

CLUB NOTICES

MONDAY TRAINING GROUPS

*REMINDER: ALL GROUPS ARE NOW BACK AT COOMBE DINGLE ON A MONDAY NIGHT*

As the nights start to draw in, please do get your high-viz and head/body torches ready.

We have made a slight change to the structure of our Monday Groups. Group 3A has not been operating as a separate group for some time. The availability of Leaders and numbers of runners meaning we have been combining that group with Group 2 or shuffling runners up to Group 2 or down to 3B. To simplify things we will no longer be posting a 3A run and the options on Run Together will be Group 2 or Group 3. For those runners who have been booking on to 3B, you will now book on to Group 3. There may be some additional runners towards the front of the group but no change to the group overall.

For those who have been running with 3A the position is a bit more complicated. You will now need to book on Group 2 or Group 3. This might be a tricky decision for some runners, particularly as Run Together doesn’t allow you to see who is booked on and whether or not there will be others towards the back of Group 2 that you can run with.

Our suggestion is that you book on to the Group you intend to run with. When you arrive at training you can speak to the Leaders, see who else is running and change group if necessary. All we ask is that you make sure that the Leaders of both the group you originally booked on and the group you are now running with know what is happening.

This also applies to anyone across the other groups who may be unsure about whether or not they could move up to the group above.

GWENT LEAGUE DATES

This is our main cross-country team event. Suitable for all club members, all ages, all abilities. We have people running from groups 2-6 regularly. We do well as we turn out on mass. Everyone scores for the team, individually and for their age group. We want FULL teams in each age group. Cost is £5 + admin fee per race, payable via RunTogether. If you think running around a field in a slightly soggy part of Wales is not fun, think again! It is fabulous fun! Running can be quite an individual sport, but this is really where it comes together as a team and a club with a great atmosphere. The first event usually eases us in gently as the weather is usually kind. Do come and give a Gwent League a go, whether you can do one race in the season, or all five, whatever your contribution it really does help.

Gwent League dates 2025/2026 season

Saturday, October 11th 2025 Margam Park
Saturday, November 8th 2025 Cardiff in conjunction with Cross Challenge
Saturday, December 6th 2025 Blaise Castle
Saturday, February 7th 2026 Chepstow Race Course
Saturday, February 28th 2026 Parc Bryn Bach

REMINDER: Junior Training Subs

As the new term starts, there remain a number of athletes whose training subs for this term remain outstanding. Every junior member has been sent an email requesting payment. Subs are payable via the online store (https://membermojo.co.uk/westburyharriers/store). You should select Autumn Term 1 2025/26 Junior member training fees. The subs remain £20 for the whole term, and covers all sessions (Mondays/Thursdays) at Coombe Dingle. Yate track sessions are payable separately as this is a fee charged by Yate and District AC. We will be monitoring attendance and confirming that subs have been paid. Thanks everyone!

TRAINING THIS WEEK

MONDAY – Tempo Session:

Group runs from Coombe Dingle sports complex at 6.30pm. These are perfect sessions for a Tempo pace run. Equally there are plenty of groups available if you want a recovery or social run. Book via RunTogether.

TUESDAY – Track Session:

Track session at Yate 7pm – Seniors book on via RunTogether App.

WEDNESDAY – Hill Session:

Adults, all abilities. Meet every Wednesday at 12pm, corner of Saville Road by the Downs. Sign up on RunTogether App.

THURSDAY – Interval Session:

Coombe dingle sports complex, on grass – 3 sets of –

3 mins (90 secs recovery) – 2 mins (1min recovery) – 1 mins (1 min recovery)*

3 mins @5k pace, 2 mins and 1 min quicker than 5k pace

(*Apologies – this session was planned for last week but we ended up doing something slightly different. But don’t worry – the 3,2,1 sets will return this week instead!)

RACE REPORTS

Despite the torrential rain today, there were some great results for Westbury Harriers in local races. Congratulations to Olivia Zeltner who took 1st female at the Westonbirt 10k in 42.56. Also well done to Elen and Ian Ruck who ran the Alderton 5k today. Elen was 2nd female (only 10 secs behind the winner) in a great time of 18.38, with Ian dipping under 21. Well done to everyone who raced today or who braved the weather for a training run!

UPCOMING RACES / CLUB CHAMPS

A reminder that we have an events calendar on our website where you can keep track of dates for training, events and races. https://westburyharriers.co.uk/events/events-calendar/

Thanks to all those who have signed up for the Midland Road Relays on 20th September. Other upcoming county, regional and national events are listed below. Please remember the club pays the entry fee for these events and supports with transport costs. If you are ever wondering, would this event be suitable for me? Please ask your team manager.

Avon Cross Country Championships

Sunday 14th December 2025 Bath University

Held in conjunction with the Gloucestershire Cross Country league fixture. Suitable for all. Has age category prizes.

South West Cross Country Championships

Date not yet available – usually first weekend in January (2026)

More suitable for those who run in groups 1-3.

English National Cross Country Championships

Saturday 21st February 2026 – East Park, Segefield, County Durham.

Suitable for all ages and abilities. It is an en mass celebration of running – fantastic fun and always a true cross-country course (slightly challenging but totally doable!).