Westbury Harriers Weekly Newsletter 01/09/2024
How is it September already! I’m hoping this newsletter goes out and works ok as I’m currently Glamping in a rainy Sidmouth – sat outside under cover with a coffee. Hopefully some sunshine later!
Sorry if I miss any reports but I’ll do my best to capture all the fantastic Westbury running this week.
RACE AND EVENT REPORTS
World Masters Championships Gothenburg
by Anne Dockery
I have been so blessed to spend an amazing 2 weeks with wonderful athletes and friends at this event. If you can find a way of attending one of them do give it a go as it is exhilarating (and if you think you are not up to it please check out the photo of Colin Spivey 89 by Alex Rotas and read his amazing story …you have no excuse!) .
I ran against, well, behind, the amazing Jeannie Rice 76 from USA in my events. She holds the WR for them all and was, I think, hoping to improve on some of her times at this event. However the wind was strong and the track not the fastest so she set no new WR’s.
I came home with a nice haul of silver medals. 5000 23:35 PB / 800 3:19.55 / 10k 50.08 on a fairly hilly course…so grateful for Wednesday hill training sessions! / X country 6k 31:41…on a very tame course when compared with the Gwent league. We also won team Gold for this event so got to stand together on the podium as the national anthem played…goosebump time. My last event was the 1500 6:41.63 I was disappointed with this time but it was pretty windy. Jeannie hit 6:28.39 , her WR being 6:14.88. She had run the half marathon the day before🤩Just Wow!
It is so uplifting to be wearing the GB kit and to hear everyone shouting for you as you come along the last bend on the track, and I could certainly hear Pat Gallagher who gave me tremendous support, along with Dot and the gang.
Thanks to you all for your support and encouragement particularly Coach Keith Brackstone who worked so hard to help me prepare for this event. I am one very lucky lady.
And did I mention Gothenburg is beautiful, the trams and buses all run on time and there are wonderful wide cycle lanes with separate pedestrian walking paths. So few cars . BLISS. We had a couple of days without competition, one spent checking out the 10k course and the other a relaxing trip with Alex Rotas to explore a wonderful island .
Next Worlds 2026 is in Daegu but Europeans next year is in Madeira…so how about getting a few WH ers and Yate members out there for the fun??? Are you ready to give it a go? Remember no qualification required!
Cleeve Road Relays 2024
A really enjoyable day out at the relays today, lots of great performances but particular congratulations to our medal winners:
FV35: Rebecca Lee, Vicky Tester and Catherine Treble won their age category but were third ladies team overall so won that award instead!
Fv45: Tamsin Elson Chick, Robyn Ellis and Katie Hughes are Avon County Champions
FV55: Sarah Andrews, Kate Hoffen and Helen Sawyer are Avon County Champions
FV65: Eithne Noonan, Ann Lovell and Felicity Russell are Avon County Champions.
There was an award for the fastest individual leg in each age group, Westbury wins for Matt Ellis (MV40), Thomas Darton (U20) and Felicity Russell (FV65).
Finally congratulations to Olivia Zeltner for winning the award for performance of the day for a speedy run in the 33rd week of her pregnancy!
Thank you to Andrew McCarthy and William Baker for forming a great MV50 B Team with me! We encouraged each other to 3 good runs. Hope to see you back racing for the club again soon!
CLUB NEWS AND ADMIN
ANNUAL CLUB HASH AND CAKE SALE
Our final total was £438.67 – huge thank you to all that donated.
Penny Brohn are very grateful for our support.
Club Supper
Don’t forget to sign up for Club supper at the Black Swan on Thursday 12th sept at 8:15pm
Chicken or vegetable curry, rice, poppadoms and chutney – see Sarah Andrews facebook post for details.
ACADEMY NOTICES
As we are entering the fourth week of August, we are rapidly heading towards the Academy resuming training on 9th September.
It is now possible to renew your child’s membership for the Academy Term 1. The cost has remained static at £20. To rejoin, please use this link https://westburyharriers.co.uk/membership/how-to-join/ . You will then need to select Academy 24/25 – Term 1. As an existing Academy athlete, your child has priority membership for the coming year. Further places have been released on Friday 16th August. So if you have not signed your child up for the new term by Thursday 15th August, we will not be able to guarantee that a place will be available for them.
Secondly, the Academy is entirely reliant upon volunteers and parents to continue. Unless we have more volunteers, the future of the Academy could be at risk. We very much want to be able to continue nurturing the next generation of Olympians. This means that we need everyone to help where they can. You are not being asked to help every week, or even every fortnight. However we do need a core group of adult helpers who are enthusiastic and can support the running of the Academy on a fairly regular basis (say, twice or three times a term). Please – can you help?
If you can offer support, please email me with your phone number (and name) and I will call you to have a chat! (Lizzy)
THIS WEEK’S TRAINING
Please note the change of venue for Mondays run – we are back to Coombe Dingle
Monday:
Group tempo runs from Coombe Dingle at 6.30pm, with Wellbeing run at 7.15pm
Tuesday: Track session at Yate 7pm
Seniors book on via RunTogether. Check the FB page for session details.
Wednesday: Hill Session
Adults, all abilities. Meet every Wednesday at 12pm at the traffic lights by Saville Road on the Downs. Book on via RunTogether. Coffee in the Downs Café at 1pm for anyone that wants to come along.
Thursday 15th: Intervals
Coombe Dingle at 7pm.
Warm up & running drills then;
3 sets of:
3 mins (90 secs recovery), 2 mins (1 min recovery), 1 min (1 min recovery)
3 min – 5k pace
2 mins and 1 min quicker than 5km pace
option to maintain 5-10k pace throughout
UPCOMING RACES AND TRACK FIXTURES
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/
Club Championship info and rules on this link: https://westburyharriers.co.uk/events/club-championship/
RACES
Thursday 12th September – first Weston Prom of the series – https://westonac.co.uk/races-2/weston-prom-run/
Saturday 14th September: The rearranged English National Cross Country Championships. Weston Park, Staffordshire.
Team managers have sent out details via email. Club pays entry fee. Target team race. ADD THE DATE IN YOUR DIARY.
Sunday 15th September – 10,000m under the edge – Wottonlions.org/10k
Saturday 21st September: Midland 6/4 stage Road Relays – Sutton Park. Target team race.
Sunday 29th September: Forest of Dean Autumn Half Marathon, Club Championship #12
Saturday 12th October: Pembrey Park, Gwent League XC
Saturday 9th November: Cardiff Cross Challenge, including second Gwent League fixture
Saturday 30th November: Blaise Castle, Gwent League XC
8th or 9th February: Margam Park (TBC), Gwent League XC
Saturday 1st March: Venue TBC, Gwent League XC
TRACK FIXTURES
Midland League at Yate – Endurance runners needed.
Check out Yate Midland League FB group https://www.facebook.com/groups/735921887780553
This weeks editor: Sophie Voller
