Westbury Harriers Weekly News
Hello,
I hope everyone is running well and adapting to the end of summer/start of Autumn. I actually much prefer the cooler weather to run in, and am excited for another season of cross country. We had the mens race report from Margam park last week, and we have the women’s to read this week. We also have a race report from the European masters athletics championships from Lyn Jenkins, who, with Anne Dockery, competed in Madeira. It is a very motivating report and well worth your time. Plus all the usual admin, training and upcoming races.
Ben.
In this week’s newsletter:
1. Club notices
2. Training this week
3. Race reports / results
4. Upcoming races
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CLUB NOTICES
The club vision and values were discussed at a recent committee meeting. They are as follows;
Our club vision: A friendly and inclusive running club that supports and enables all members to achieve their goals and encourages runners of all ages and abilities to participate in local, regional, and national
competitions
Our club values:
Inclusive: We welcome runners of all ages and abilities
Enthusiastic: We are passionate about our sport
Positive: We create an enjoyable environment for participation, training, and competition
Team Spirit: We value teamwork and unity
Active: We support our members’ development
Club vest purchases via e-mail
So people know I am the kit person (Tamsin Chick – manager.women@westburyharriers.co.uk). Apologies as I missed a few vest purchases from people in September. These people have now been contacted and vests distributed to them. If you have purchased a vest and not received it, please do get in touch. There is sometimes an issues with my Westbury email, so if I don’t reply please WhatsApp me. Thanks Tamsin.
GWENT LEAGUE – Saturday 8th November 2025 at Landaff Fields
Seniors please get signing up for the next fixture via RunTogether. Both men and women’s teams have started out really well so we need another good turnout. Lift shares will be arranged.
Don’t forget if you also plan to run the Cross Challenge as well (this applies to our performance athletes), you need to enter that separately entries close 30/10/25.
https://cardiffcrosschallenge.co.uk/
Second hand vests needed (on behalf of Catherine Treble)
We have almost 20 Academy members signed up for the first Gwent which is fantastic but very few have their own vests and the club stash is a little low at the moment. Please get in touch if you can help and have spares club vests (preferably smaller sizes) – either here, one of the Academy volunteers, team managers or via Facebook, thank you!
2. TRAINING THIS WEEK
MONDAY – Tempo Session:
Group runs from Coombe Dingle sports complex at 6.30pm. These are perfect sessions for a Tempo pace run. Equally there are plenty of groups available if you want a recovery or social run. Book via RunTogether.
TUESDAY – Track Session:
Track session at Yate 7pm – Seniors book on via RunTogether App.
WEDNESDAY – Hill Session:
Adults, all abilities. Meet every Wednesday at 12pm, corner of Saville Road by the Downs. Sign up on RunTogether App.
THURSDAY – Interval Session:
Coombe Dingle Sports Complex, meet at 7pm.
Hills – location to be decided closer to the time
depending on numbers
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RACE REPORTS/RESULTS
Well done to Sophie Westmacott who came 2nd at the Weston half today!
Snr Ladies XC, Margam Park.
Well done to our senior and masters women’s squad at the first Gwent League fixture of the 2025/2026 season at Margam Park. There was an instant and enthusiastic take up this year. Having Margam Park as the first fixture, which it hasn’t been in the past, meant the ground was as good as it was going to get. A welcome break from the mud of years ago. With warm weather and a fabulous all round club turn out, it was a lovely day. Margam Park is a beautiful, but tough cross country course. Long tufty grass and some definite hills (which Sandra, “Well you can’t tell them everything else they won’t come,” had failed to mention to Judy). Each year the women’s Gwent numbers seem to rise, 358 ladies took part and 94 teams, 4 more than last year.
Freya led the team home in an impressive 2nd place (1st U23) in her first senior outing. Katie.H only a few years age wise ahead of Freya showed her fine form of late in 20th and 2nd V45. Hannah, a few places behind in 22nd, juggling 3 children beforehand and straight off to breastfeed her youngest as her race recovery. Busy Mum’s with reduced sleep must aid running as Olivia had one of her best ever Gwent League runs in 34th. Elizabeth in her Westbury debut ran a great race to complete the A team in 64th, fabulous to have you on board.
We welcomed Laurie, Kez, Louisa, Eve, Kat and Elizabeth to the women’s team. Great to have you along and well run all. Debbie managed to fall over 5 times, trying to compete with Sandra for some kind of Westbury record, we hope you are OK and glad it was a soft landing. Some super strong finishes from Eve, Kez and Nicola showing interval and track sessions paying off. Eithne who was considering retirement from cross county thankfully came along to ensure we had a complete V65 team with Fliss as other V65s are away at the European Masters track championships. Congratulations to Katie.H, Hannah, Olivia and Monica for being in the top 10% of their age groups, don’t forget to pick up your complimentary T-Shirt at the next Gwent.
A team (Freya Bradley U23 2, Katie Hughes V50 20, Hannah Large V35 22, Olivia Zeltner SL 34, Elizabeth Spence SL 64). B team (Tamsin Chick V45 90, Debbie Cleary V35 116, Rachel Liston V40 125, Monica Warnock V60 140, Katie Ramsden U23 162). C team (Helen Sawyer V55 170, Laurie Anderson V35 172, Keziah Sheppard SL 193, Lucie McNair V35 199, Judy Knight V60 215). D team (Sandra Sforza V60 219, Emma-Jane Orchard V50 225, Louisa Chowns SL 255, Eve Blackmore V40 256, Felicity Russell V65 262). E team (Sophie Rimmell V45 286, Kat Darke V55 298, Nicola Derrick V55 323, Eithne Noonan V65 337)
A big thanks to everyone who came and ran. All our teams and age group teams have started out well. Next fixture is Saturday 8th November at Cardiff. This is a good course for any newbies or people who don’t like hills/mud and is not to travel over to. You also will get to see some fantastic talent as this event combines the Cross Challenge which attracts some elite level athletes and yes you can watch it all back on YouTube.
Senior team A team 4th on the day B team 18th, C team 38th, D team 48th, E team 74th (highest placing E team on the day). 94 teams on the day (4 more than last year).
Division 1 – 4th
Reserve Division – B team 5th in reserve division
Age groups
U23 – 4th
V35 – 2nd
V45 – 1st
V55 – 1st
V65 – 2nd
European Masters Athletics Championships – Madeira 2025
by Lyn Jenkins (and Anne Dockery)
Earlier this year I was persuaded by another member of the Harriers to enter
for the European Masters Athletics Championships which were going to be held
in Madeira in October. My initial reaction was “I’m not good enough”, but after
further persuasion I agreed to go along for the experience, being relatively new
to running and open to challenges.
Well, what an experience. In 4 days I ran 400m heats and finals, 6k cross
country, 1500m and 5000m, then after 2 days rest a 10k road race! Who knew I
could do so much when I normally limit my running to 3 x week for fear of
injury!
The cross country race was 1200m up in the mountains. We arrived at the
course early in the morning, after a 45 minute taxi journey in darkness, and
when the sun came up we had amazing views both to the top of the mountain
and back down towards the sea, before the clouds descended slightly. We just
had time to walk the 1k route before it was time to enter the call room, drop
our bags, and then 195 men and women aged 70+ set off to scramble round
the circuit 6 times. With some sharp drops and inclines, heavy dew on the grass
and no spikes (we were told they weren’t necessary) there were some fallers,
and the thinner air certainly made breathing more difficult, but Anne and I
crossed the finish line together. Gwent league will seem easy now! Then it was
a quick taxi ride down to the coast and a bus ride to the stadium to compete in
the 1500m race.
The 5000m race was the following afternoon in temperatures in the low 30s,
partly due to the large concrete wall encompassing one end of the stadium,
which radiated the heat, They even put out a table of water on the course to
keep us hydrated!
The 10k road race was at 8pm and set as a double loop 5k course around
Funchal city. Initial thoughts were that the temperature wasn’t too bad, but
humidity of 85% and running in semidarkness over different terrains including
cobbles made for a hard race, especially as the water stop expected at the 5k
marker did not materialise. Sprinting for the finish line, most of us came
unstuck, as we then found there was another 400m to go before returning to
the finish line from the opposite direction!
Standing on the podium for the medal ceremonies was a truly unexpected (for
me) and emotional experience and our final total of medals was: –
Anne Dockery: cross country – bronze and team gold, 1500m – bronze, 10k –
team gold.
Lyn Jenkins: cross country – team bronze, 1500m – bronze
It was an amazing experience, something I could never have seen myself doing
even a year ago, and very memorable for all sorts of reasons. We helped GB get
to the top of the medal table, and watching some of our older athletes (80+)
sprinting and running and jumping and throwing was life affirming and awe
inspiring. I would urge anyone age 35+ to have a go. There are no qualifying
races, you just have to enter!!
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UPCOMING RACES / CLUB CHAMPS
A reminder that we have an events calendar on our website where you can keep track of dates for training, events and races.
https://westburyharriers.co.uk/events/events-calendar/
20% Off Bath Skyline club champ race – The November Club Championship race is the Bath Skyline 10k. See email for discount code.
Best to try to enter wave 2 if you wish to run with other Westburys… as this still has lots of spaces…
REMINDER OF GWENT LEAGUE DATES
This is our main cross-country team event. Suitable for all club members, all ages, all abilities. We have people running from groups 2-6 regularly. We do well as we turn out on mass. Everyone scores for the team, individually and for their age group. We want FULL teams in each age group. Cost is £5 + admin fee per race, payable via RunTogether. If you think running around a field in a slightly soggy part of Wales is not fun, think again! It is fabulous fun! Running can be quite an individual sport, but this is really where it comes together as a team and a club with a great atmosphere. The first event usually eases us in gently as the weather is usually kind. Do come and give a Gwent League a go, whether you can do one race in the season, or all five, whatever your contribution it really does help.
Gwent League dates 2025/2026 season
Saturday, November 8th 2025 Cardiff in conjunction with Cross Challenge
Saturday, December 6th 2025 Blaise Castle
Saturday, February 7th 2026 Chepstow Race Course
Saturday, February 28th 2026 Parc Bryn Bach
Avon Cross Country Championships
Sunday 14th December 2025 Bath University
Held in conjunction with the Gloucestershire Cross Country league fixture. Suitable for all. Has age category prizes.
South West Cross Country Championships
Date not yet available – usually first weekend in January (2026)
More suitable for those who run in groups 1-3.
English National Cross Country Championships
Saturday 21st February 206 – East Park, Sedgefield, County Durham.
Suitable for all ages and abilities. It is a mass celebration of running – fantastic fun and always a true cross-country course (slightly challenging but totally doable!) The Club has in previous years organised coach transport for runners taking part but the distances involved means coach travel on the day is not a realistic option this time. This remains a prestigious National event and whilst recognising that the length of the journey and the lack of an organised travel option will put off some runners, we still hope that some of you will take part. The club will contribute towards the travel expenses of runners in accordance with our Expenses policy as set out on the Website.
Midland 6/12 stage Spring Road relays
March 2026 date not yet available
2026 British Masters Road Relay Championships
date not yet confirmed
Other local races:
Sunday 26th October – Mendip Muddle (Club Champs Race) Mendip Muddle – Weston Athletic Club
Thursday 6th November: Severn Bridge 5mile Night Race, RogueRuns – https://sites.google.com/site/roguerunsevents/home/our-events/sb-night-runs
Sunday 16th November: Bath Skyline 10km at 11am (Club Champs Race) – https://www.relishrunningraces.com/bath-skyline-10km.php
Saturday 29th November: Machen 21km & 42km trail races, Ridge Runners – https://www.ridgerunners.co.uk/machen-races
Saturday 6th December: Limitless Trails, Secret Santa Series – https://www.limitlesstrails.co.uk/secret-santa-12k-half
Saturday 13th December: The 12k’s of Xmas at 9:30am (Club Champs Race) – https://www.gertlushevents.co.uk/12ks-of-christmas
Sunday 14th December: Weston AC Christmas Cracker – https://westonac.co.uk/races-2/christmas-cracker/
If there are any races or interesting events that you think should be added, please email: communication@westburyharriers.co.ukEditor: Ben Wood
