Sunday 15th January
Westbury Harriers – Weekly News
Editors Piece
I’m absolutely shattered so don’t expect great prose or insightful comments this week! A very busy week at work, coupled with a Night Race on Thursday and the Riverbank Rollick today means I’m ‘cream cracker’. I’ll be keeping it very short and sweet!
Tuesday Running at Yate Track and Thursday Intervals
Keep an eye on facebook for the suggested running sessions at Yate Track. There may be an option for half and marathon runners , similar to last week.
For Thursday we’ll be on the hills (exact location will be decided nearer the time depending on numbers). Please wear bright/reflective clothing and bring road shoes.
The English National Cross Country Championships, Bolesworth Castle, near Chester, Saturday 25th February.
This is the running equivalent of the football Cup Final but the difference is that everyone can take part. Everyone should run it at least once in their running career and Westbury Harriers can pay entry fees and contribute towards travel costs.
As it’s a long way to travel in a day so I’ve heard a few are planning to stay in a Premier Inn the night before.
If you’re interested, do let me know and I’ll pass on your details to Mike Mewse, he can then forward you more information.
The John H Collins Gwent Cross Country League
Don’t forget the next two races in the Gwent league are coming up fast. The first is on Saturday 11th February at Margam Park, Port Talbot. The second and final race in the series is at Pont-y-Pwl Park (Pontypool) on Saturday 4th March.
Course maps and timetables will become available on the Gwent League website soon. https://www.gwent-league.org.uk/fixtures.html
Club Championship
There’s only two events left in the calendar so if you’re short of points well worth doing. The next event is the Gwent League on Saturday 11th February and the final event of the series is the Severn Bridge Twilight 5 on Friday 31st March. Good luck! https://sites.google.com/site/roguerunsevents/home/our-events/sb-night-runs
Plain Crazy
Well done to Alec Sampson and Alex Hamblin (pictured below) who did well in the Plain Crazy Race on Friday 29th December. Alec – 1st V40 (3rd overall and Alex – 2nd overall)
Club Supper
The next club supper is on Thursday 2nd February at the Black Swan from 8:15pm. Numbers need to be known by Friday 27th January. If interested coming please respond to the facebook posting dated 12th January and pay £8 to Sarah Andrew’s Monzo account 18850214, 04-00-04
Race at Piercefield Park, Chepstow by Rogue Runs
Last Thursday evening a few Westbury runners headed over to Chepstow for the Piercefield Park/Wye Valley night race.
The night series, organised by Rogue Runs, are really worth trying, especially if you enjoy technical trail running. Add into the mix running at night and you’ll be doing something completely different!
It was a very well organised event, the route is clearly marked with reflective markers and marshalls at all the key points. We also enjoyed having the Chepstow Racecourse bar area available for drinks, cakes and awards afterwards. Great running by Rob, Tim Carr and Carolyn Dent and myself, (pictured below)
The next night race is 17th February at Beechenhurst Lodge, FoD and worth entering. https://tinyurl.com/4azh7xsx
Photo’s above thanks to Tosh K Simpkin
Riverbank Rollick, by Thornbury Running Club
Today was the Riverbank Rollick, probably one of the most challenging off-road 10 milers you can do. Most of the course is off-road, across fields, in woodland, and through lot’s and lot’s of mud. It’s the mud that makes it such hard work, sapping all your energy and concentration.
It does help to have plenty of encouragement from the marshals along the route, including Mr Blobby shouting ‘blobby, blobby, blobby’ which always makes me smile. It was also great to see our official club photograph, Mike Mewse out on the course taking some photos. No doubt these will be downloaded to facebook soon.
This year it was part of the club championship series so we had a good turn out from the club. In 6th place was Chris Palmer 01.07:33, 23rd Ian Gawinowski 01:14:21, Tim Clothier 42nd in 01:20:43 and Alistair Blackwood 53rd 01:22:53.
Claiming maximum championship points for the women was Debbie Cleary, 91st 01:30:36 with Trevor Fitsall 107th 01:33:37 only a few mixtures behind. It was nice to see Mike Harris coming home in 151st 01:40:34 and Kate Hoffen was only a minute behind in 145th 01:41:09. Heather Griffin was 247th 01:56:31, Tim Carr 283rd 02:04:43, Eithne Noonan, 312th 02:12:06 and close behind Kay Ridgwell in 317th in 02:13:38.
Unfortunately Richard Hughes had to abandon due to an injury. Hopefully, after a few days rest he’ll be out running again soon.
Thanks to Tim Carr for the picture of Mr Blobby and friend.
Strava Segment of the Week
Well done to Matt Ellis on an afternoon run around Nailsea. Matt achieved a 3rd fastest time on Strava segment Backwell Bow Hill in a time of 1:50.
Diary Dates
Saturday 21st January Kymin Winter Race, see Fabian4 for details.
Sunday 5th February Doynton Hard Half, a horrible cross country hosted by Emersons Green Running Club
Saturday 11th February Margam Park Gwent League (Club Championship event)
Thursday 16th February Weston Prom
Saturday 25th February English National Cross Country
Sunday 26th February Ironwood Challenge
Sunday 23rd April Offa’s Orror 10k and 10k trail run, Chepstow Harriers
Saturday 4th March Pont-y-pŵl Park Gwent League
Sunday 12th March Lisbon Half Marathon, part of the Super Half Series
Thursday 16th March Weston Prom
Saturday 18th March 20 and 1/2 Fission. Road event, good tester for an upcoming marathon
Sunday 26th March Club AGM via Zoom
Friday 31st March Severn Bridge Twilight 5 (and Club Championship event)
Sunday 2nd April Forest of Dean Spring Half Marathon
Sunday 16th April Frenchay 10k, it’s hilly!
Thursday 27th April Weston Prom
Saturday 29th April Butcombe Trail Ultramarathon 50 or 56 miler
Tuesday 9th May Race 1 Rose Inn Series, Chepstow Harriers
Sunday 14th May AJ Bell Great Bristol Run 10k and HM
Thursday 25th May Weston Prom
Saturday 10th June Man V Horse
Tuesday 13th June Race 2 Rose Inn Series, Chepstow Harriers
Thursday 29th June 19:30 Thornbury 10k Road Race, Thornbury Running Club
Thursday 6th July Tintern Trot Trail Race, Chepstow Harriers
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
Saturday 29th July Magor 10k Road Race massive PB potential on a mega flat route
Tuesday 8th August Race 4 Rose Inn Series, Chepstow Harriers
Saturday 19th August Race the Train, trail event and you chase the choo choo
Sunday 27th August Severn Bridge Half Marathon and 10k
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
