Westbury Harriers Weekly News
Evening all,
Hope everyone’s been enjoying their running this weekend. A reminder that there are three great events coming up this week – the #RunandTalk week event on Monday after club training, the first XC fixture of the season on Saturday and the inaugural Black to the Trails event in Blaise Castle on Sunday! Don’t miss out – all details below!
In this week’s newsletter:
- Club notices
- Training this week
- Race reports / results
- Upcoming races
1. Club Notices
RUNANDTALK WEEK
Join us on 5th October after Adult, Junior and Academy runs, to support #RunAndTalk Week and have a chat with a cuppa, cold drink and snack. We’ll hopefully be outside if the weather allows but will have a space inside if the weather is poor. It would be great to see as many of you as possible after your run and if you’re not running, please come along anyway. It’s good to talk 🙂
GWENT LEAGUE – FIXTURE #1 – Saturday 10th October @ Pembrey Park (SA16 0EJ)
A reminder that the first XC fixture of the season is this Saturday at Pembrey Park. Pembrey is the furthest fixture, but well worth the journey. It is a lovely course. Fairly flat, with some undulations. 1 short sharp incline up a sandy part onto the ridge, a nice section through a forest and always good underfoot with springy grass, no mud. It is a scenic venue, with a cafe and various activities https://www.pembreycountrypark.wales/ if you have family with you to entertain.
And great news! Following a suggestion at the AGM, the club is trialing a new perk this year and covering all entry fees. So the XC fun is free!
Please sign up ASAP via the links below.
Senior/Masters Women – https://clubspark.englandathletics.org/WestburyHarriersRunningClub/Coaching/Book/8b55f241-622c-4f4f-a86a-1f1e9ccbf694
Senior/Masters Men – https://clubspark.englandathletics.org/WestburyHarriersRunningClub/Coaching/Book/2ad9c8a1-6810-4c43-bd37-7af9b59f4bb4
Masters 65+ Men – https://clubspark.englandathletics.org/WestburyHarriersRunningClub/Coaching/Book/97fae70e-fc49-4aba-8a5f-1ec9d5c0b6cf
Timetable & Fixture Information
Women and V65 Men – 13.15 (7.15km)
Men – 14.35 (9.15km)
For anyone new to the club or that has not participated before, the Gwent League is one big team effort. Whatever age or ability you are, you score for the team, your age group team (and all the age group teams younger than you) and as an individual. So we really encourage everyone to get involved as we need you. We have people come back year after year, so we know it is ‘fun’. We appreciate your time coming to participate and know some people can’t make all fixtures, but do try to make 1 or more.
Team managers will assign you a number and these will be available for you on the day in the team folder, located in the club tent. DO NOT throw away this number, it is for all fixtures. We now return these to the folder in numerical order after the race so we don’t lose them. Please sign up in advance particularly for the first fixture so team managers can get numbers sorted.
You will need to wear you club vest or T-Shirt (White with blue hoop). Spikes or trial shoes are usually needed. However, for Pembrey you would be OK usually in trainers.
If you can’t make this first fixture but are definitely running at one of the others, please let us know so we can assign you a number. Last year the league lost a lot of money on unused allocated numbers. So we don’t want to allocate anyone a number who is not running but it is much easier for us to get the majority of people signed up to begin with. We can add people throughout the season.
Your team managers for the Gwent League are Geraint Torrington (manager.men@westburyharriers.co.uk) for the men and Tamsin Chick (manager.women@westburyharriers.co.uk) for the women.
Any questions please speak you your team manager at training or message them
BLACK TO THE TRAILS – Sunday 11th October at Blaise Castle Estate
A reminder that Black to the Trails is happening this Sunday at Blaise Castle! It’s set to be a fantastic event. The BTTT team will be using the clubhouse at Blaise and some WH volunteers will be on hand throughout the day to help out and represent the club. There’s still time to enter (1k, 5k and 10k options available) and under 16s run for free. More details and SIGN UP HERE: https://www.blacktothetrails.co.uk/bristol
REMINDER – British Masters Cross Country Relays – Saturday 24th October 2026 at Horspath Athletics Stadium, Horspath Rd, Oxford, OX4 2RR
Team managers have already been in touch but a reminder that entries close for this event on 10th October. If you want to run, please let your team manager know ASAP.
2. 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 – Tempo Session:
Track at Yate
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:
7pm at Coombe Dingle Sports Complex.
6 x 3mins (1 min recoveries) Aim for 5k pace/effort for 3mins
Option to drop down to 5. Reduced effort for those racing the Gwent XC.
3. RACE RESULTS/REPORTS
No official race reports this week but I know several Westbury Harriers were taking part in a couple of local-ish half marathons today. A quick scan of the results pages gave me the info below but huge apologies if I’ve missed anyone. The newsletter team loves receiving race reports and photos so please do remember to share your running adventures!
CARDIFF HALF:
Well done to Ben Rawlins for an amazing run at Cardiff Half today, finishing 30th place in a super competitive field, in 1:07:48 (potentially a new PB?) Also congratulations to our two other Westbury runners – Emma Jones in 1:43:37 and Matthew Bambery 1:44:45. Excellent running everyone!
WESTON SUPER HALF:
Seven WH runners tackled the Weston Super Half today – fantastic running everyone. Particular shout out to Reuben and Phil for their category wins, and Jonny for a PB.
4. 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/
And club champ races here: Club Championship – Westbury Harriers
Upcoming club relays
Saturday 24th October – British Masters Cross Country Relays – Oxford
Provisional Gwent League Dates 2026/27 season
Saturday October 10th Pembrey County Park
Sunday November 8th Cardiff (rugby fixture on the 7th)
Saturday December 5th Blaise Castle
Sunday 14th Feb. 2027 Trelai Park, Cardiff (Cardiff AAC)
Saturday/Sunday March 6th /7th (date and venue TBC)
Other local races:
Sunday 25th October 2026: The Clock Change Challenge (CLUB CHAMPS) – AUTUMN – Clock Change Challenge – Course Maps
Sunday 1st November 2026: Nightingale Nightmare (CLUB CHAMPS) – Nightingale Nightmare 2026 (This sells out quickly!!)
Thursday 19th November 2026: Weston Prom #3 – (CLUB CHAMPS)
Thursday 17th December 2026: Severn Bridge Night Race – (CLUB CHAMPS) RogueRuns – Severn Bridge 5 Night Race (This also sells out quickly)
Please send anything you might want to see in the newsletter to: communication@westburyharriers.co.uk
SOCIAL MEDIA
WESTBURY HARRIERS FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/groups/westburyharriers/
WESTBURY HARRIERS INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/westbury_harriers/
If anyone is on Instagram, we would love for you to tag us, so we can share your posts/stories taking part in club events or other races!
Editor: Hannah Large
