WESTBURY HARRIERS WEEKLY NEWSLETTER – 19 / 05 / 24
It’s hot. A fact that I don’t suppose went unnoticed at the Bristol 10k & half marathon this morning. In fact I know it didn’t, as I was there cheering, and it was too hot even for that! You think running 21km is hard in this heat, try clapping and cheering whilst taking photos…. I feel I should get a medal. Anyway, full race report coming up, plus all the usual gubbins that we like to share each week.
Ben
RACE REPORTS
The Bristol 10k & Half marathon
The Bristol 10k and half were both running on the same day (I preferred it when they were two stand alone events so you could run both but hey-ho), so the Harriers were split between the two races. 33 running the 10k and 24 the half.
It was a beautiful morning, with blue skies and a gentle breeze. However, the temperature started climbing pretty quickly after 9am. A great showing from Westbury in the 10k. David Tonkin was first over the line in 35:29, followed by Chris Palmer in 36:43 and Dan Summers in 37:23. First home for the ladies was Lucy Richens in 39:11, followed by Sophie Voller in 40:39 and third lady was Vicky Tester 42:13.
Special mention to Louise Pretty who was running with her son, and well done to everyone who took part. Was a joy to watch.
24 brave souls lined up for a later (and hotter) start line in the half marathon. Great seeing you all run, and the half marathoners seemed a lot less camera shy (probably due to the pace difference).
First three across the line for the men were Murray Pearson in 01:24, Joseph Addison in 01:27 and David Stellar in 01:29.
First three ladies were Stephanie Cummins in 01:40, Alison Brown in 01:42 and Rachel Liston in 01:43.
Special mention to Stephanie Cummins who was also the 01:40 pacer, so was running with a flag pole and a huge blue tooth speaker on her back! Also spot prize to Rachel for being the most enthusiastic Harrier!
Condolences to Will Massey who was running with the lead pack, unfortunately it wasn’t his day and he had to retire near the end of the course. It was so hot today and the race was run to the sound of sirens. I counted 7 ambulances making trips to the finish line to treat runners with heat stroke in the 30 minutes I was there.
Well done to all runners for running today, it was a tough day at the office for many.
Half marathon results:
10K results:
Rose Inn 4 Mile Race Series
Words by Mike Mewse
Organised by Chepstow Harriers at Redwick, near Newport.
Race 1 – Tuesday 14th May 7.30 p.m.
Well done to all who raced. A good turnout from Westbury Harriers as it was a Club Championship Race – a good choice by the Championship committee. It’s a flat, fast course and conditions were good for fast racing.
Ben Rawlins (20.29) led the race nearly all the way but was just pipped to 1st place in the last 200 metres by North Somerset’s Tom Gostelow. Matt Cant followed up his Bull Run win with a solid run in 13th place in 21.55, with Jack Derrick next in for Westbury in 22.48 for 24th place. Alastair Blackwood made up the 4th member of the Senior Men’s team who claimed 3rd team place.
Hannah Batchelor was our first lady home in 27.56 just ahead of Sarah Andrews who was 2nd FV55.
Felicity Russell showed her England form is returning with a win in the FV65 category.
Full results are online https://drive.google.com/…/1w83ZgcSS4CAH3acI3DdWpo…/view
Well done to our two family teams – Team Derrick (Nicola, Ian and Jack) and Team Andrews (Sarah, Mark and Catherine).
Well done to Ben and Matt who both raced triathlons at the weekend ( Ben in Llanelli Super Series and Matt who won the Stonehenge Triathlon) and decided to cycle over from Yate to this race !! Look out for the extra photos of Jack, Ben and Matt from an earlier race !!
Thanks to Gary Dickens who cycled – from Newport ! – to cheer on his fellow club members. We look forward to seeing you racing again soon Gary !
Weston Prom
Well done to everyone racing the Weston Prom last week. I don’t have a race report for this although I do know Katie Hughes finished 3rd female. Bravo.
CLUB NOTICES
Blaise Blazer
** Volunteer Appeal for the Blaise Blazer **
As recently published, with entries opened recently, we need to start putting together a fairly large team of volunteers to help out and marshal around the course. We need in excess of 30(!) volunteers. This is even more challenging with the Hogweed Trot 10k being a week earlier and clashing with the Blaise Blazer!
If you are able to volunteer (or help encourage others to volunteer) on the night that would be fantastic. Please let Alastair Blackwood, who is co-ordinating the volunteers know.
Be aware of ticks!
Now that the weather is warming up, it’s a good idea to check yourself for ticks after running off-road in areas like Blaise. More guidance available here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/
CLUB TRAINING THIS WEEK
MONDAY TEMPO RUN
Meet at Blaise clubhouse for a 6.30pm start. Sign up on RunTogether.
TUESDAY TRACK SESSION
This week the session is as follows;
3 x (4 x 400m)
200m jog recovery between sets.
If you run regularly at Yate or plan to give track races a go this season. Do make sure you have taken advantage of our partnership with Yate AC and join Yate for free as an associate Westbury Harriers member: https://westburyharriers.co.uk/membership/yate-partnership/
WEDNESDAY HILLS SESSIONS
Meet every Wednesday at 12pm at the traffic lights by Saville Road on the Downs. Book on via RunTogether HERE.
THURSDAY INTERVALS
7pm at Coombe Dingle
5 x 90s (60s recovery)
5 x 60s (60s recovery)
5 x 30s (30s recovery)
Aim to increase pace as distance decreases.
*If running the mob match Friday drop down a group or two and use as a leg stretch.
EVENTS CALENDER
A reminder that we have an events calendar on our website where you can keep track of dates for training, events and races. (Thanks, Vicky, for keeping this updated). https://westburyharriers.co.uk/events/events-calendar/.
If you are free this Friday it is the GWR mob match. We need at least 20 runners to be in with a chance of winning. It’s a good bit of fun and a great race.
THE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
Is a competition within Westbury Harriers, based on the position you come in a wide selection of races selected by the Club Championship Committee. The higher position that you place, the more points that you score – across a limit of ten counting races.
Points start at thirty for first, 29 for second, 28 for third and so on until 10 points, where everyone positioned below this will receive 10 points.
The rules can be found on the Club Championship Webpage: Club Championship – Westbury Harriers (www.westburyharriers.co.uk/events/club-championship), as well as all the released races.
The key points are as follows:
Each entrant must be a registered member of Westbury Harriers at the time of the race.
Westbury Harriers must be your declared club on your entry, shown on the results (unless the race results do not facilitate this).
Race Diary
Wednesday 22nd May – Lightning Bolt 10k Club Championship #4
Friday 24th May – GWR towpath mob match
Saturday 25th May – British Masters Road Relays
Monday 3rd June – Blaise Blazer
Tuesday 4th June – Sri Chinmoy 2 Mile Club Championship #5
Friday 28th June – Beer n Banger 10k Club Championship #6
Thursday 4th July – Tintern Trot Club Championship #7
Saturday 6th July – Cotswold way relay (Eithne Noonan)
Saturday 13th July – Maverick/Adidas Cotswolds 7/15/23km
Thursday 18th July – Purdown Pursuit Club Championship #8
Friday 26th July – Towpath Series 10k Race 3 Club Championship #9
TRACK RACES: Yate National Athletics League match availability
Below is an email from Graham Howell, the team manager for the National Athletics League. He’s looking for people’s availability for the season, you can get in contact with Graham directly here gratimhow@aol.com or join the facebook group below
Any questions please get in touch.
Athletes,
I’m now calling for your availability for the first 3 matches (Swansea Sat 1st June, Yate Sat 22nd June, Basingstoke Sun 7th July). Give me your preferred event(s) and events you may be prepared to do. A Yes/No/Not sure availability response is useful. The event timetable is attached. Responses by Sunday 5th May please.
If you haven’t yet renewed your 2024 membership I won’t be able to select you for NAL competition.
Team admin is mostly handled through the Yate NAL Facebook group, if you are not connected yet you can request to join here Yate Athletic Club National Athletic League Facebook Group
Graham
For a slightly different type of running…
If you’re not running the Lightning Bolt 10k on Wednesday 22nd May and fancy a slightly different sort of challenge, we (Iain, Hannah and Jude Large) are organising an urban orienteering event that evening. All courses start at Stoke Bishop Primary School and take in Sea Mills and Coombe Dingle – mainly on roads and paths but you may also need to venture into some of the wooded areas around the Trym Valley and edge of Blaise. There will be long (8.7km), medium (6.9km) and short (3.3km) courses available, as well as a special junior sprint course (1.2km) around the school site and surrounding residential areas suitable for young children and their grown ups! No prior experience or equipment is needed. Entries are £3 for children and £8 for adults but if this is your first time orienteering, you can enter for free if you email publicity@bristolorienteering.org.uk. Enter online via the BOK website up to 15th May: https://www.bristolorienteering.org.uk/events/bok-urban-series-5-sea-mills-wed-22nd-may-2024 The start and finish for all courses is on the school site and you can start your run any time between 5.00 and 7.30pm. If you like the sound of ‘urban orienteering’, BOK have various other events coming up in the Bristol area this spring/summer.
If we have missed any race events that you think should be listed, please contact – communication@westburyharriers.co.uk
This week’s editor: Ben Wood
