Sunday 13th November
Westbury Harriers – Weekly News
Editors Piece
Only a couple of weeks until the Bristol Running Show at Ashton Court Mansion on the 26th November. This will be a great event with guided runs, numerous guest speakers, stands displaying the latest running gear and of course Westbury Harriers.
Well worth a visit and if you would like to help on the Westbury Harrier stand please let me know and I’ll pass your details onto Mark.
Thursday Intervals- Hills
Hills: Location depending on numbers
Hillsdon, Falcondale, Stoke Park, or Lyndale (group 1 & 2 completed this month).
Aim to complete a different hill loop or more reps than last month.
Senior Training over Christmas
It seems a bit early to be thinking about Christmas, but the Wednesday gangs first Christmas lights photograph has reminded me that it is time to confirm the Christmas timetable.
The Seniors will train as normal up to and including Thursday 22 December, subject to the following alterations:
Monday 12 December. All Groups will meet at their usual times, but run to the Brailsford Christmas lights display in Brentry. Christmas fancy dress is encouraged. Who will be the best dressed Group this year? A quick drink at the Black Swan, Stoke lane, afterwards for anyone that is interested.
Thursday 15 December. There will be no Thursday training as many of us will be heading to Weston Super Mare for the 5 mile Prom Race followed by the Club Christmas meal. This is always an enjoyable evening, the race is suitable for all abilities and there is always a good contingent of Westbury Harriers there. The meal is organised by Sandra Bailey Guard, and is a lovely opportunity to meet up over a meal and a drink afterwards. There are Facebook posts about the meal, Sandra needs Food choices and money by 24 November. You don’t have to race and eat! If you want to do one but not the other it would be great to see you!
Formal training will finish on 22 December when we will go to the Falcondale hill loop and finish with a festive treat of Eithne’s amazing home made Gingerbread men in full Westbury kit!
We will start again on Thursday 5 January.
Some of you will be looking forward to a well deserved break from running, but for those of us who want to keep going there will be some informal runs going on, keep an eye on the Club Facebook page for details!
Bristol Running Show, Saturday 26th November 2022
The club is going to have a table at the above event with a view to promoting ourselves to potential new members.
The event is at Ashton Court and runs from 9:00am to 6:00pm. We need volunteers to help us cover the day, it would be really great to have a range of club members representing the club and everything that it has to offer.
The show has plenty going on including Guest Speakers, Guided Runs around the Ashton Court Estate (one of which the club will lead) and various running related Stands.
We would like people to volunteer to cover 2 hour slots (more than one of you want to!). Perhaps you might like to spend a few hours enjoying the event and a couple of hours helping promote the club!
We will need to set up and tidy away, so slots from 8:30, 10:30, 12:30, 2:30 and 4:30. Please comment below if you can help, or message me if you would like a bit more information. A link to the event is below. https://bristolrunningshow.com/
Special General Meeting
A Special General Meeting will take place at 7 p.m. on 30th November 2022 to agree Membership issues ahead of our AGM in the spring. You will have already been e-mailed the SGM Motion on the 6th November in readiness for our Special General Meeting. This meeting is being held remotely via Zoom to allow as many members as possible to attend (details were provided in the same message). If you don’t have the details, let me know.
Please could we ask that any questions be submitted by e-mail to membership@westburyharriers.co.uk by 4 pm 23rd November 2022.
Blaise Parkrun Donation
Club members may have heard that a new parkrun will be coming to Blaise Castle. As part of every parkrun they need funds to set-up the run initially and the club committee were approached to see if they’d be interested in helping with the funding.
The committee decided to make a payment of £500 so that the parkrun could be established. We hope that club members and parkrunners alike can enjoy the fantastic Blaise Castle estate when the run starts. It is also envisaged that some of the park runners at Blaise can be encouraged to become Westbury club members too!
To date, a start date for this new parkrun hasn’t been published, but they now have the funding required, so it shouldn’t be long.
Club Expenses
If any club member has any expenses to submit, please get them to club treasurer Judy as soon as possible so that the accounts for the year can be worked on. Link to expenses form provided below.
https://westburyharriers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Westbury-Harriers-Expense-Form.pdf
Member of the Month Winners
Senior – Ben Wood. Ben is a fairly recent joiner and has been an active participant in the club. He raced in his first Gwent League in Cardiff after racing back from London where he saw aging 80s group Roxy Music! To finish the weekend off he had a little hilly run in the Mendip Muddle. Pictured below, Ben Wood with fellow club member Yvette at the York Parkrun.
Junior – Elizabeth Hutchins. Elizabeth is an academy member who ran her first cross country race for the club in the Cardiff Gwent League. How did she do? well she won the Under 11 girls race!
Up and Running vouchers will be on the way to you both soon.
Club Supper
Time again to celebrate all things great about our Club. The last CLUB SUPPER for this year! Shaking it up a little. MONDAY 21st NOVEMBER. 8:15. Chilli & Rice. £8 per person. Black Swan Stoke Lane.
Deadline for payment to secure your place by Tuesday 15th November. If you don’t pay you will not be included.
Monzo account details are below. Please pay Sarah Andrews. Many thanks
Sort Code 04-00-04, Account No. 18850214
Training Fee Increase
From January 1st 2023 the training night fees will increase to £1.50 for adults and juniors. Training night fees for the academy and track sessions at Yate will remain the same as they are now. The current £1 fee has been around since at least 2004 for adults and for a number of years for juniors. If you wish to learn more about the club’s assets and income please attend the Special General Meeting this month.
Blaise Gwent XC Championships
Well done to everybody who ran and volunteered yesterday. We had an impressive turn out from the women and men but it was the women that won the Challenge Trophy with 50 runners. Team Manager Tamsin was awaited the trophy from the Men’s Team Captain, Chris Palmer.
Race results are still being collated but I hope to be able to publish them in next week’s newsletter.
Club Christmas Meal and Weston Prom – Thursday 15th December
Sandra Bailey-Gard is kindly organising the Christmas meal after the Weston Prom 5 mile race on Thursday 15th Dec. The Weston prom is suitable for all abilities. A fun and relaxed event. A great way to finish for the Christmas break and put that training to use, with a reward at the end!
Please get money and menu choices to Sandra (or Jullian, who can be found training most Monday’s and Thursday’s) by 24th Nov. All welcome.
Details of the Weston prom. https://westonac.co.uk/weston-prom-run/
Bath Hilly Half
Well done to Alex Smith, running in the Bath Hilly Half, a trail event that finishes on the Bath horse racing course. An impressive run form Alex who came home in 6th place.
Strava Segment of the Week
Well done to Ben Rawlins running the Sodbury Slog today. Ben achieved a Personal Record on Strava Segment, Meet my friend PAIN! in a time of 1:11
Diary Dates
Thursday 17th November Weston Prom Race 3 by Weston AC
Saturday 26th November Run Fest at Ashton Court
Sunday 27th November Chepstow Racecourse Half Marathon (Club Championship)
Sunday 27th November Tri Counties Cross Country Bath University.
Sunday 27 November AVR Wiltshire Half Marathon (10 year Anniversary Special!) BA13 4NT. http://www.avrwiltshirehalfmarathon.org
Saturday 3rd December Gwent League Pembrey
Sunday 4th December Weston Christmas Cracker (and Club Championship event)
Monday 12th December Brailsford Christmas Lights Run
Thursday 15th December Weston Prom Race 4 by Weston AC
Friday 16th December Night Race 1, Beechenhurst Lodge, by Rogue Runs
Saturday 17th December Skirrid Fell Race, via Fabian 4 site
Thursday 22nd December Last formal training session.
Thursday 5th January Formal training resumes
Thursday 12th January Night Race 2 Wye Valley and Piercefield Park
Sunday 15th January Riverbank Rollick (Club Championship event)
Sunday 5th February Doynton Hard Half, a horrible cross country hosted by Emersons Green Running Club
Saturday 11th or Sunday 12th February Gwent League TBD (and Club Championship event)
Saturday 4th or Sunday 4th March Gwent League TBD
Sunday 12th March Lisbon Half Marathon, part of the Super Half Series
Saturday 18th March 20 and 1/2 Fission. Road event, good tester for an upcoming marathon
Friday 31st March Severn Bridge Twilight 5 (and Club Championship event)
Editor this Week
Ian Gawinowski is Westbury Harriers Communications Officer and can be contacted via communication@westburyharriers.co.uk
