Blaise Gwent Volunteers. Volunteers needed for the Blaise XC on Saturday 2nd March. Please let Caroline know if you’re interested in helping with the following: Marking the course from 8am. Carpark from 10:15am. Early Marshall 11:00am to 2:10 and late marshal from 2:10-4:00pm. Senior women race at 1:20pm and the senior men at 3:00pm. We also need some help in tallying up the results for the juniors in preparation of medal presentations for individuals and teams. Don’t forget, if you volunteer you can bag some club championship points as well.

Blaise Car Parking. It would be appreciated if runners and helpers could either walk/cycle or park some distance away from Blaise and walk in next Saturday. The car park fills up very quickly and we would prefer to save spaces for those competitors travelling in from further afield.

Kit Sale. Don’t forget new kit sale tomorrow night 6.30-8.30pm in the bar area at Coombe Dingle. Junior and senior vests, hoodies and buffs. We will be getting in crop tops and long/short sleeved T-shirt’s but these have not yet arrived. There will be samples to try for size. We also have older style kit for sake at reduced prices and some second hand kit/spikes. Cash or cheques made payable to Westbury Harriers. Vests £15/£12, Hoodies  £20/£18 (Adult/Children) and Buffs £8.

Blaise Gwent Runners. On the topic of Blaise, if you’re planning on running do let the respective team manager know.  The women’s team is on track to have the biggest turnout with over 30 runners already signed up, can we make it even more? We also need more men running in this final event, even I’m planning on doing it and I’ve never done a Gwent league race before! It’s on home turf so you have no excuses, give it a try. Let Scott or Tamsin know via Facebook or men to manager.men@westburyharriers.co.uk and women to manager.women@westburyharriers.co.uk

Member of the Month. Almost at the end of the month again so have you any junior and senior member nominations? If so, send them to member.of.the.month@westburyharriers.co.uk with a reason for nomination.

Race Review- Hogweed Trot.  The Hogweed Trot is a 10k road event organised by the Hogweed Trotters Running Club around the quiet lanes of Yate. It is held in memory of Kevin McConville, a popular member of the ‘Trotters’ who died unexpectedly in 2008.

I took part in last years event, held on a late May Spring bank holiday evening. I remember it well because it was a really hot, barmy evening, not a breath of wind, but a muggy atmosphere which saps all energy. Most sensible people that evening were sitting in their gardens, drinking cold beer and burning sausages on the BBQ.  Not me, I had the prospect of slogging along the lanes of Yate.

Race HQ and registration takes place at Yate Town Football Club where there’s parking, toilets and changing facilities. I got there in plenty of time before the 7pm start, so while waiting around in the car park (and I kid you not, I could smell sausages cooking) I got to chat with plenty of Westbury Harriers.  As it was also an Avon County Championship event the turn out for the club was large, over 20 runners in fact.

Although the WH group was impressive the overall field size was not huge, just over 400 in total. It therefore has a nice friendly atmosphere and all of the runners at the start line seemed relaxed, although all were looking forward to the event.

Yate is only a stone’s throw from Bristol but you really do feel a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The race route is along country lanes which see very little traffic on a normal day, on a bank holiday evening it was extra quiet, so quiet you could hear a sausage sizzle! Runners start from the football club, head out along Engine Common Lane, then up to the 3k point along Limekiln Road.  The interesting section is along Hall End Lane as you do a short U-turn and run back on yourself, providing the opportunity to give fellow WH’s a wave on the other side of the road. From the water stop (approx 5k) it’s then a dash to the finish along the long straight of Dryer’s Lane which just seems to go on for ever! The route is described by fullonsport as ‘a flat, fast course on quiet rural roads’. On a normal UK bank holiday (normal meaning cold and wet) I would agree, but the muggy conditions last year made it more of a challenge.

This year the event takes place on 27th May 2019 (the Spring bank holiday again) and also includes the Avon County Championships.  Five pace makers will run to assist runners achieve sub 40, 45, 50, 55 and sub 1 hour times. All participates also get a medal for completing the event. The entries are via the fullonsport website Hogweed Link. 

Photo. Aidan Noble who achieved a great result, 1st place under 18 in a time of 37:26. Please note Up and Running no longer stock the model of anti-gravity running shoe worn by Aidan.

Diary Dates 

Monday 25th February. Club kit sale at Coombe Dingle, the Pavilion, upstairs.

Saturday 2nd March. Women’s Eating Well and Strengthening Workshop. 9am-1pm. The MayWellness Centre, BS6 7EE

Monday 25th March. Club AGM, 8pm after training

Saturday 6th April. Awards Evening

Monday 27th May. Hogweed Trot (combined with Avon County Championships)

Monday 3rd June Blaise Blazer. 

Championship Events

Saturday 2nd March Gwent League Blaise Castle

Sunday 10th March. Rodway Easy Runner 10k. Rodway Easy Runner 10K

Sunday 17th March. Gloucester 20 Gloucester 20 Link

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