Sunday 7th May
Westbury Harriers – Weekly News
Editors Piece
Blimey, I’m feeling knackered! Legs were still stiff from the Bristol Half as I was running the towpath event last night. Good thing I’ve got no races this week, oh, hang one, I’ve just realised I’m booked to run the Hogweed 10k on Monday evening, that was rather foolish! I doubt copious beer drinking at the awards night tonight will assist with my recovery either. I think Monday’s plan will be just to jog the event and enjoy the scenery, I just can’t face any more ‘death runs’ for a while!
If you know of any events coming up please e-mail them to me and I’ll include them in the diary section at the end of the newsletter.
Many thanks to Mark for this week’s race report but have you also run a race or taken part in a club championship event? If you have then please send me a brief race report and I’ll include it here. Contributions are very gratefully received and appreciated.
Tuesday Running Session at Yate Track and Thursday Intervals
Hopefully will have a nice warm and sunny evening for our intervals session at Coombe Dingle as we’re on the grass. Lot’s of 5’s this week (unless you want to do 4’s!).
5 x 90 secs (1min recovery), 5 x 60secs (1mins recovery), 5 x 30secs (30secs recovery)
Option to complete 4 of each. Aim to increase pace as the intervals become shorter. Maintain consistent pace for each interval length
Yate Track intervals will be published on Facebook nearer the time.
Club Awards – TONIGHT at 6:30pm!
A reminder that is our annual awards night this Saturday, 20th May at Shirehampton Golf Club BS11 0UL
Arrival from 6.30pm. Awards presentations start at 7pm. A light buffet will be provided and the bar will be open to purchase drinks.
No tickets or anything, just turn up. Partners, family etc all welcome. Look forward to seeing you there.
GWR Towpath Race Mob Match and Club Championship
The first race in the GWR towpath series, a club mob match and the 4th event in the club championship series. It was therefore all about points and what do points mean….prizes! And didn’t they do well?
We were blessed with blue skies and sunshine for the race and fortunately with a spell of dry weather conditions were firm underfoot. Such factors resulted in some very impressive results with a number of distance and course person best and some high finishing places. Plus, with over 30 runners from the club taking part you could guarantee there would be somebody familiar to run with.
Alec Sampson gains maximum club championship points and was also top scorer for the club with a top ten place and 1st V40. Kate Hoffen also had an impressive run taking first place V50 and Hannah Large finishing second senior female.
The first 15 across the finish line also all score toward the team ‘mob match’ award and we finished in 2nd placed, ahead of Bristol and West. Southville were out in huge numbers taking 1st place but I’m sure they will see us as a threat next year!
It’s a great race, an out and back along the towpath but not to be confused by the tow bath race, that’s something completely different! (as I reported previously – thanks autocorrect!) and impossible to get lost. There’s also a whole series of events so if you missed last nights race you still have the opportunity to give it a try. The next competition is Friday 16th June, then Friday 7th July with the final (5k) race on Friday 18th August. You can enter on the night or online using the link below. https://www.greatwesternrunners.org.uk/towpath-series/
AJ Bell Great Bristol Half and 10k, Race Report by Mark Andrews
More than 60 Westbury Harriers took part in these races last weekend, lots more were out on the course to cheer us on. So many great performances, well done to everyone who ran and congratulations to those who achieved their personal aims! Thank you to everyone who came out to support us.
33 runners took part in the 10K which started at 9:30, probably giving them the best of the conditions, it became increasing warm during the morning and many had finished before the half marathoners even started!
Lucy Richens was the first Westbury runner to cross the finish line and 10th lady overall, Minkee Kim and Olivia Zeltner making up the Westbury top three.
An incredible three age group wins for Westbury ladies, congratulations to Lucy, Sandy Masters who is unstoppable at every distance at the moment, and Anne Dockery. (The results tell me where people were placed in their age group but not which Age Group they are in and I’m not going to guess!).
There were Age Group top ten finishes for Laura Smith (9th), Kate Hoffen (5th), Sandra Williams (8th), Emma Jane Orchard (9th), Felicity Russell (2nd), Sandra Sforza (9th), Trish Robson (10th).
Great to see Louise Pretty running on her Big Birthday, Laura Smith racing again for the first time since giving birth to Emily, and lots of others running in a Westbury Vest for the first time. Good to see Westbury well represented amongst the VI Guide Runners too.
31 Westbury Harriers took part in the Half Marathon. A 10:30 start (slightly later for some waves) meant that it was a warm race! The course had changed a bit, the Portway loop extended slightly to include the climb up the hill to Shirehampton, this and a few extra twists and turns towards the end made it seem like a slightly more challenging route than my last attempt in 2019!
The sun came out as promised just as we started, the lovely weather brought the crowds out and the atmosphere was great, but it did get hot especially for the later stages of the race! The finish line was a very welcome sight, even without Jim Murphy there to congratulate us all on our efforts! Hope to see you there next year Jim!
Paul Gardiner was the first Westbury Harrier across the finish line in an impressive 01:17:43, 30th overall and 1st in his age group! Sean Lee and David Vincent made up the Westbury Mens top three. Katie Hughes was the first Westbury Lady, 7th lady overall, and 2nd in her age group.
Despite having her training hampered by injury and leaving her Garmin on charge in the conservatory, Becky Lee was the second Westbury lady home and finished 5th in her age group! Maybe there is something to be said for ignoring the watch and just running at the pace that feels right for you. Rachel Liston completed the Westbury ladies top three, finishing 4th in her age group.
There were further age group top 10’s for Sarah Andrews (3rd), and Ann Lovell (2nd).
With 5 Westbury ladies in the top 100 (and Imogen Ireland in her first race in a Westbury vest in 101st place), the ladies performed particularly well.
I know that there were PBs for Alastair Blackwood, Lorna Miller, Imogen Ireland and Heidi Andrews, congratulations to you all and any others who I didn’t get to hear about!
Too many great performances to mention everyone, but well done to Ben Wood who was feeling slightly jaded either due to his recent Ultra Marathon adventures and/or a stag weekend, but still finished in under 1:30, to George Pickering who finished really strongly in a great time, and Harro Veldman who gave it absolutely everything and literally collapsed across the line. (He was thankfully ok after a short lie down!)
The Full Westbury Results: 10K
- Lucy Richens 40:01
- Minkee Kim 41:27
- Olivia Zeltner 43:15
- Andrew McCarthy 44:14
- Joshua Smith 44:27
- Sam Hodgson 44:33
- Sandy Masters 44:35
- Matt Stevenson 45:21
- Laura Smith 45:29
- India Arikan 45:56
- Marcie Bower 46:08
- Oliver Hodgson 46:33
- Kate Hoffen 46:48
- Dan Sampayo 47:58
- Sandra Williams 48:32
- Emma Jane Orchard 49:26
- Varinder Aggarwal 50:24
- Mark Canwell 50:29
- Anne Dockery 50:46
- Felicity Russell 51:05
- Sandra Sforza 52:09
- James Fox 52:41
- Mark Munday 54:09
- Colin Johnson 56:23
- Ewan Cameron 56:43
- Trish Robson 57:25
- Richard Hughes 1:00:09
- Clare Jordan 1:04:50
- Masie Godden 01:04:54
- Jenny Godden 01:09:21
- Sarah Gould 01:11:45
- Lucilla McGregor 01:12:41
- Louise Pretty 01:18:50
Half Marathon
- Paul Gardiner 01:17:43
- Sean Lee 01:22:19
- David Vincent 01:22:39
- Ian Gawinowski 01:27:35
- Katie Hughes 01:27:41
- David Stellar 01:28:21
- Alastair Blackwood01:29:21
- Ben Wood 01:29:36
- Becky Lee 01:33:31
- Gui Rego 01:39:28
- Ben Whitaker 01:40:06
- Mark Andrews 01:40:54
- Rachel Liston 01:41:16
- Lorna Miller 01:41:16
- Sarah Andrews 01:42:42
- Imogen Ireland 01:42:43
- Matthew Bamberry 01:43:53
- Beretie Traill 01:44:09
- Rebecca Williams 01:46:15
- George Pickering 01:47:17
- Heidi Andrews 01:48:10
- Deborah Hunt 01:49:34
- Harro Veldman 01:50:04
- Trevor Fitsall `01:52:55
- Suzie Marshall Smith 01:54:30
- Jenny Mcphail 01:57:34
- Paul Turner 01:59:34
- Jonathan Swithinbank 02:01:23
- Ka Lun Lee 02:02:43
- Heather Griffin 02:27:21
- Ann Lovell 02:31:22
Club Championship Update
Judy has provided an update, with the latest scores now including the Bristol Half Marathon results. The towpath results are still being computed and will be added soon.
The next events in the series include the Clevedon Midsummer 10k on Tuesday 13th June, the Sri Chimney 2miler on Tuesday 27th June and finally the Age Grader on Sunday 23rd July.
More events in the series will be released soon.
County Track and Field Championships, report by Mike Mewse
Avon Champs Sat 13th at Yate Track and Glos Champs on Sun 14th May at Blackbridge Track, Gloucester.
It was a busy weekend for all our runners with some excellent performances today in the Bristol 10K and Bristol Half Marathon. Other Westbury runners opted for something shorter in the Avon T & F Champs on Saturday in Yate and the Gloucestershire T & F Champs on Sunday in Gloucester with several winning medals. Congratulations especially to Greg Hayward who won the Senior Avon 1500m title and Freddie Cooper who won the Glos County U20 title.
Greg was last seen heading out to celebrate his success – and his 21st birthday – Happy Birthday Greg !
On the Telly- Night of the 10,000 PB’s
The Night of the 10,000 takes place tonight, unique event of track running combined with live music , entertainment and beer drinking (not for the competitors I should add). It does clash with our Awards Night, but don’t worry you can catch up with the action at any time on the BBC iPlayer.
Club Feedback Meeting
Following from the last update in the Weekly News I’m providing some more feedback to members’ questions.
Q. Westbury Harriers should be on Instagram. We should make more use of our twitter feed and public Facebook page.
A. Ben Wood kindly set up an Instagram account for Westbury Harriers, so do check it out. In addition, more admins have been set up on our external Facebook page so we can use this more. Chris Palmer kindly manages our twitter feed.
Q. To reduce the amount we pay to England Athletics as it is outrageous:
A. Realistically we are not going to stop being affiliated to England Athletics (EA). We are and want to continue to be an affiliated running club.
It was suggested that we give feedback to EA saying that some members think they are not getting good value for money.
EA affiliation cost is £17. In comparison to other sports for a competitive licence in 2022 are table tennis £40, gymnastics £20-£44, rowing £60, triathlon £60, cycling £25, netball £37.50, swimming £28.15 and volleyball £24 in 2022.
The administration fee for using RunTogether does not go to England Athletics. That goes to Stripe who administers the payments.
Strava Segment of the Week
Well done to Ruth Ruck on the Blaise Park Run achieving a PR on Strava segment Blaise Corner in a time of 6:02
Diary Dates
Saturday 20th May Club Awards Evening at Shirehampton Golf Club
Monday 22nd May 10k Hogweed Trot and Avon County Championships
Thursday 25th May Weston Prom
Monday 5th June Blaise Blazer Trail Race
Wednesday 7th June Bitton 5k Race 2
Thursday 8th June Rowberry Romp, by TACH
Saturday 10th June Man V Horse
Sunday 11th June Bradley Stock 10k
Tuesday 13th June Race 2 Rose Inn Series, Chepstow Harriers
Tuesday 13th June Clevedon Mid summer 10k (Club Championship)
Friday 16th June GWR Towpath Race 2
Saturday 24th June Maverick Adidas Terrex FoD Trail race, various distances
Tuesday 27th June Sri Chimnoy 2 mile (Club Championship)
Thursday 29th June 19:30 Thornbury 10k Road Race, Thornbury Running Club
Friday 30th June 19:00 Beer and Banger 10K, Nailsea Running Club
Wednesday 5th July Bitton 5k Race 3
Thursday 6th July Tintern Trot Trail Race, Chepstow Harriers
Friday 7th July GWR Towpath Race 3
Saturday 8th to Sunday 9th July Brecon Fans Race Weekend. Horseshoe 10 miler and Pen y Fan
Tuesday 11th July Race 3 Rose Inn Series, Chepstow Harriers
Sunday 23rd July 5 mile Age Grader road race (Club Championship) Rogueruns
Saturday 29th July Magor 10k Road Race massive PB potential on a mega flat route
Wednesday 2nd August Bitton 5k Race 4
Tuesday 8th August Race 4 Rose Inn Series, Chepstow Harriers
Friday 18th August GWR towpath race 4
Saturday 19th August Race the Train, trail event and you chase the choo choo
Monday 21st August Club Charity Hash and Cake Sale
Sunday 27th August Severn Bridge Half Marathon and 10k
Saturday 16th September Relish Running Cheddar Road Race
Friday 29th September – Sunday 1st October. Trail running weekend, Peak District.
Saturday 30 September – Sunday 1st October World Athletics Road Running Champs Riga 1 mile, 5km and half marathon
Sunday 17th September Copenhagen Half Marathon (part of the Super Half Series)
Sunday 17th September Oldbury 10 miler Thornbury Running Club
Sunday 24th September Forest of Dean Autumn Half Marathon
Sunday 1st October Cardiff Half Marathon (part of the Super Half Series)
Editor this Week
Ian Gawinowski is Westbury Harriers Communications Officer and can be contacted via communication@westburyharriers.co.uk
