Saturday 29th January
Westbury Harriers – Weekly News
Editors Piece
I’m pleased to see the Great Western Runners (GWR) Towpath series has returned for 2022. This is a very popular 10k series (with a 5k to finish off) taking place over the summer months. It’s possible to enter the whole series or just a couple when you have a spare Friday evening. Many of us in the club would head over to The Cottage Inn on the harbour-side to celebrate afterwards, with a drink or two and something eat.
There’s also a Mob Match. Local running clubs compete against each other with the first 20 runners counting for the club and perhaps even a trophy!
Details of the series, and how to enter are below. https://www.greatwesternrunners.org.uk/towpath-series/
Yate Track Sessions and Thursday Intervals
First week of the month meaning next Tuesday we start with shorter intervals…the 200’s. Session will start with walking dynamic stretches and 3 social laps. Then the intervals, 10x200m (100m jog recovery), 400m float, followed by 6x400m (100m jog rec). 2 cool down laps and finally stretches.
Can I also ask all attendees for January make their payments direct to Yate as it is the end of the month. £2 per session payable to:
Yate and District AC, 09-01-51, 68948303. Please also put your surname in the reference.
And as I type this Vicky has just messaged me to say the Thursday intervals session will be back on the grass at Coombe Dingle, therefore bring your off road shoes and lights if you have them. The session:
Plan for Thursday is 4mins, 2 x 3mins, 3 x 2mins, 4 x 1mins, final 4mins. Recovery will be 90secs after the 4mins then 1min recoveries for the rest of the session. Option to drop the 4mins down to 3mins
XC Practice at Blaise
Tomorrow (Sunday 30th) Geraint Torrington will be heading over to Blaise at 10am for a short practise XC session in preparation for the next Gwent League. If you would like to join him he’ll be starting from the club house. Tea and biscuits in the club house afterwards.
Westbury Harriers Snowdonia Trail Running Weekend – 30th September to 2nd October 2022.
Many thanks to all those that have shown interest. Dan has requested that deposits of £100 are now paid no later than 31st January 2022 (payment instructions in the link below). There are places still available so if you’re interested please take a look at last week’s newsletter for more details, link below. https://westburyharriers.co.uk/westbury-harriers-snowdonia-trail-running-weekend/
Volunteers for Gwent Cross-Country
Please make a note that the Gwent Cross-Country will be hosted by Westbury Harriers and held at Blaise Castle on Saturday 19th February. Not only will the club be looking forward to seeing many of you competing but we will also need willing volunteers to help manage the event. Volunteers can be friends, family, parents, etc, the more helpers we have the better.
If you could inform Kay Ridgwell (kay.ridgwell@btinternet.com) of your interest to volunteer, that would be very helpful. Perhaps also say if there’s a a specific role you would like and what times you’re available on the day.
Blaise Gwent Cross-Country, Saturday 19th February
We are really looking forward to hosting the next Gwent fixture on Saturday 19th February.
We have a great turn out so far, but on home ground this is really our chance to push ourselves forward in all our team points. Everyone scores for the Westbury Harriers team, so we need as many people as we can get.
I know those that can’t make some of the further fixtures are planning to run and I am hoping to have our biggest Westbury turn out ever. We have welcomed lots of new people to the club and I hope you guys will be able to come and join us. Do chat to us at training if you want to know more. It’s always a fantastic and supportive atmosphere and a great way to feel part of a running team.
It is suitable for all ages and abilities. Whatever group you run with the club you will be fine at the Gwent League. You will need to wear your Westbury vest and spikes/trail shoes are advisable.
And the best bit, no more scrabbling around, raiding the kids money boxes or down the sofa to try and find £4. To sign up and pay for the race please do so via RunTogether. https://groups.runtogether.co.uk/WestburyHarriersRunningClub
(Just to make you aware the club takes a fee on every transaction on RunTogether 25p plus a %, this season the club is happy to absorb this fee but in the future if we continue to use RunTogether for Gwent payments we may need to add the transaction fee which would be approx 38p – the feedback I have had is that people would be happy with this)
Please note parking for this event is difficult and we need to leave as much available parking as we can for travelling clubs. Where possible please plan to walk, cycle or get dropped off at the course.
Avon Schools Cross Country
Congratulations to the senior boys competing at Avon Schools. It was a beautiful frosty morning at Failand and the boys took advantage of the flat fast course. With a cautious start they wound up the pace over the 7km course to create a sizable lead over the chasing pack with Artie finishing 1st and Finn 2nd. Strong runs also from Alexander and new recruit Sulamin who dropped a few places due to an unfortunate wrong turn but dug in to catch the pack.
1st Artie Savage-Swaine (No.33), 2nd Finn Goodhew (No. 23), 7th Alexander Wilson, 10th Sulamin Aslam.
Race report by Oli Beale
Speedway 10k, Beachley, near Chepstow. Sunday 23rd January
Dull, damp, cool and no wind – really good conditions for high class racing on this flat course. A small (but quick !) group of Westbury Harriers headed over the bridge to join 200+ others chasing the prize money and PBs in this elite race.
There were super runs from all our runners, with Oli Beale back to great form and Catherine Treble continuing her excellent run of performances. Good to see our Vet 45 internationals Katie Hughes (England) and Anthony Glover (Northern Ireland) in good form with Alex Hamblin producing another PB run.
The race was won by Phil Norman (Woodford Green) in 29.11 with Joshua Griffiths (Swansea Harriers) 2nd in 29.14 and Jonathan Cornish (Hercules Wimbledon) 3rd in 29.23. Alex Ekelbosch (Derby AC) was first lady in 33.31.
Westbury Harriers results – Oli Beale (V40) 76th 33.06, Alex Hamblin (SM) 106th 33.55, Anthony Glover (V45) 34.03. Catherine Treble (FV35) 37.04, Katie Hughes (FV45) 38.31 , David Vincent 38.53 Elliott Chard (Yate AC) 36.29.
Race report by Mike Mewse
South West XC Success for Catherine Treble
A slightly embarrassed Catherine Treble being made to pose with her medals (pictured) in Ashton court car park (such a glamorous award presentation!) But an impressive haul at the South West XC. Gold for the Avon County team, silver for Westbury Harriers ladies team and bronze for V35. Well done Catherine.
The Doynton Hard Half Marathon
Well done to all the Westbury runners at the ‘Hard Half’ last weekend. Alan Uren, Alastair Blackwood, Becky Lee, Helen Sawyer, Chris Hartley, Seema Srivastava, Tim Carr and Paul Gladding all had some fantastic results.
A special mention must go to Trish Robson for her 1st place category win. A bottle of alcohol free wine as a prize? No chance, a proper trophy that can have pride of place in the trophy cabinet. Well done Trish!
Strava Segment of the Week
Well done to Chris Driscoll on his run with buggy. 11km of running up, around the Downs and back to Westbury on Trym. A couple of personal records on route, including Strava segment NO CYCLING northbound in 1:19 and stoke lane reverse-towards comb lane in 4:02.
Diary Dates
Saturday 29th January Midland Cross Country at Berry Hill, Mansfield
11th February 7:30pm Beechenhurst Lodge FoD Night Race. A beginners course totally on forest trails with no mud. Road shoes may be suitable (depending on weather conditions in the days leading up to the event). This is a fast course with a ‘hard- pack’ gravel surface throughout.
Saturday 19th February Gwent League Cross Country, Blaise Castle.
Sunday 20th February Castle Coombe Chilly 10k and Chilly Spring Duathlon. DB Max Events.
Sunday 20th February Ironwood Challenge 2022 Off road 10k trail race. https://tinyurl.com/2p8atcez
Saturday 19th March Gwent League Cross Country, Singleton Park, Swansea
Saturday 19th March 20 & 1/2 Fission ,fast flat 20 miler starting at Berkeley Power Station. Half marathon option too. Now in its 7th year, this event has sold out every year.
Sunday 20th March Forest of Dean Spring Half Marathon. https://www.rotary-rfod.org.uk/events.php
Sunday 3rd April at 6:45pm Annual General Meeting via Zoom
Saturday 9th April Family festival of running. Active soul are holding at Pomphrey hill- It would be awesome to see some members of the club and their families at this event. https://wishy.org.uk/runforfun
Saturday 7th May. Provisional date for Annual Awards Night. Venue TBC
Friday 20th May Race 1 Towpath Series (including Mob Match)
Monday 30th May Hogweed Trot 10k 19:00 Yate. https://tinyurl.com/yckkn3wu
Saturday and Sunday 11 and 12 June. Cheddar Challenge by Relish Running
Friday 17th June Race 2 Towpath Series
Sunday 26th June. Lacock Road Races, Half and 10k by Relish Running.
Thursday 7th July Tintern Trot, 10k trail run along the Wye Valley. Group discount if we have more than 10 interested.
Friday 22nd July Race 3 Towpath Series
Saturday 30th July Magor 10K, fast, flat and furious.
Friday 19th August Race 4 (5K) Towpath Series
Saturday 17th September Relish Running Cheddar Gorge Downhill 10K. https://tinyurl.com/2p9yrsvk
Saturday 24th September, Uphill to Wells Relay. An off-road relay race starting at Uphill beach and finishing at Wells Cathedral. The route is 90% off-road and follows the West Mendip Way along footpaths and bridleways. The race is a ‘hand-over’ relay, run without marshals, water stations or other assistance. Teams are responsible for their own safety and for researching the route although their progress will be monitored at check-points at the end of every leg. https://www.uphilltowells.com/default.aspx
Sunday 25th September Forest of Dean Autumn Half Marathon. https://www.rotary-rfod.org.uk/events.php
Editor this Week
Ian Gawinowski is Westbury Harriers Communications Officer and can be contacted via communication@westburyharriers.co.uk
