AGM. Just a reminder the AGM will be taking place tonight, directly after training. The normal group runs will be a little shorter than usual to give everybody the chance to get back for the AGM starting at 8pm.
Reports and the agenda will be handed out on the night but to summarise the meeting will cover Chairman’s Report, Accounts, Team Manager Reports, and Sub-committee Reports. Sub-committee reports will include the club championships and provide an update on the development of the Club House at Blaise. There will also be elections for existing and vacant posts. The vacant posts include Press Officer, Club Development Officer, Volunteer Coordinator, Assistant Boys Manager and an Assistant Reception Group Coordinator, although nobody is under any obligation to take on a role. We only want willing volunteers. Finally we end with AOB.
Food and soft drinks will be provided and the University bar should hopefully be open if you wish to purchase a drink.
Remember, this is your opportunity to learn about the club and provide feedback and ideas. I therefore encourage you all to attend.
Awards Night. Only a couple of weeks to go until the prestigious awards night. If you could purchase your tickets via Pay Pal we would be grateful. This then gives us an idea of numbers for catering purposes and helps prevent lengthy queues at the door. Tickets, £5 each, family of three £12, family of four or more £15 and children under 7 are free. Please follow the link for details and payment. Awards Night
Learn to Save a Life: Free CPR and Defibrillator awareness sessions are taking place at Westbury-on-Trym Methodist Church, Westbury Hill. These sessions will provide you with the opportunity to learn life saving skills. Such skills, with prompt action, could save a life. Sessions are hourly, on the hour starting from 10am to 3pm. They take place on Saturdays 13th, 20th, 27th April and are organised by South West Ambulance Service.
Congratulations. It’s been a busy Sunday for Westbury Harriers who’ve competed in various events today. We had the Big Cheese, a trail event starting and finishing in Cheddar at just over 24k with an awful lot of hills. Well done to both Tim Carr and Chris Lowe who completed the course. Perhaps a club champ event for next year?
We then had Alan Uren taking overall 2nd place in the Westonbirt Duathlon. it’s not often I get the excuse to post photos of bikes in a running newsletter so I’m taking it. Photo below of Alan, on a very fancy carbon fibre time trial bike, riding the 22k bike section.
We then had the Forest of Dean Spring Half Marathon. I did it this time last year and the weather was horrible, wet and cold. I really regret not being there today because there were so many Harriers competing. Special mention must go to the women’s team who won first place in the ladies team category. In first place we had Emma Dalton, then 3rd Vicky Tester, 4th Sophie Voller and 5th Bridget White. Plus they all crossed the line within seconds of each other in an amazing 1:28 – also not forgetting this is quite a hilly trail event so a big achievement.
Finally we had Rich Noble as the only representative of WH running in the Weston Super Half (unless I’ve missed somebody). Rich crossed the finish line (on the pier) in a very quick 1:26.
If I’ve missed any events this weekend or your own personal result do let Ewan know via results@westburyharriers.co.uk so it can be included in the full results roundup. We are always keen to hear of personal stories, amusing anecdotes, personal bests, season bests, etc
Diary Dates
Monday 25th March. Club AGM, 8pm after training- food provided.
Saturday 30th to Sunday 31st March. Colin’s Welsh Coast Path. Har-lick (Harlech) to Have-a-sock (Abersoch). The next leg takes us along stunning beaches and past numerous castles. We plan to start at Harlech Castle running along to Criccieth on the Saturday. Then onto Abersoch on the Sunday. Very few hills and approx 18 miles each day. You don’t have to run it all and nobody gets left behind. Accommodation could be at Abersoch on the Friday and Saturday nights. I can guarantee you will have quite an adventure on the weekend coast path events.
Saturday 6th April. 6:30pm, for 7pm. Awards Evening. Westbury Village Hall, Eastfield Road BS9 4AG. What are you waiting for, buy those tickets now!
Friday 17th May. 18:45 – 22:00 Run Fest: The Series. The theme is how to strengthen and improve your running. Run Fest Link
Championship Events
I’m very pleased to report the first batch of Club Championship events for the 19/20 race season. Do be aware that these events book up very fast, so I recommend you don’t hang about -otherwise I’ll grab all the points!
A maximum of 10 races count (I’ll be taking a very tactical approach this year) and you also get 10 points for volunteering at each event (Blaise Blazer, Westbury Wipeout and Blaise Gwent).
Sunday 21st April. Hanham Horror. In the blurb from Bitton Road Runners, ‘have you been down to the woods lately? I’m sure you will be in for a big surprise, because every year on Easter Sunday there’s a great race of mass suffering. Where runners pit their wits against each other, the muddy water, the hills, the 100 plus steps, and just when you thought you had finished, a steep rope climb’. Hanham Horror Link
Sunday 28th April. Horton Bull Run. Held on a pleasant, undulating road course around the village of Horton. The course record stands at 21 minutes and 33 seconds from 2002, can you do better? Horton Bull Run Link
Sunday 5th May. Bristol 10k. What can I say, if you’re a member of Westbury Harriers then this is obligatory, isn’t it? Somebody may have even won a free place, I did! Don’t forget, we meet up for coffee and cake afterwards in the YHA cafe on the waterfront.
Tuesday 14th May. Sri Chinmoy. This takes place in Eastville Park, 2 miles long and only costs a fiver. At such a bargain value it would be rude to say no. Sri Chinmoy Link
Monday 27th May. Hogweed Trot. I did a write up of this event a few weeks ago in my race review. See link for details http://westburyharriers.co.uk/weekly-news-45/
Monday 3rd June Blaise Blazer. Our own event, a mad dash around the hills and tracks of Blaise. Race review to follow next week. Blaise Blazer
