Westbury Harriers Weekly News

Hi everyone,

Such a fantastic day of running today – a sub 2 marathon, twice! Imagine running a 1:59 marathon and coming 2nd?!

Lots of Westbury representatives at London today – well done to you all!

In this week’s newsletter:

1. Club notices
2. Training this week
3. Race reports / results
4. Upcoming races

1. Club Notices

AGM – thank you

Many thanks to everyone who came to the AGM this week.

We changed the format to try and get more involvement and it seemed to work well as we had plenty of questions asked and lots of suggestions about how to make our club even better. The suggestions and points raised will be taken forward by the committee.

We have a fantastic committee which has remained largely the same following the AGM elections, but we also welcomed new members. Your committee, sub-committee and other non-committee members following the AGM is:

Many thanks for entrusting us with the running of the club.

Cotswold Way Relay 2026

The Cotswold Way relay is taking place on Sat 4th July 2026. There are 10 stages varying in distance from 7 to 13 miles and the route follows the Cotswold Way from Chipping Camden to Bath. Westbury Harriers have been successful in entering two teams this year. Entrants must be aged 18 or over.

Please let Eithne Noonan know if you are interested in taking part by email by Wed 28th April. If numbers exceed available places, then a draw will take place on Thursday 30th April. The entry fee is subsidized by the club, the cost per individual will be £10.

For more information: www.cotswoldwayrelay.co.uk

Opening the Clubhouse during Blaise Parkrun 

We would like to be able to open up the Clubhouse on a Saturday morning during the Blaise parkrun. This would allow us to offer an opportunity for those Club members who take part in parkrun to meet up over coffee and biscuits after their run.
It is also a great opportunity to showcase the club as welcoming to runners of all abilities who would be welcome to join us after their run and see what the club has to offer.
The Club is run by volunteers and those currently involved simply don’t have the capacity to take on this task. So we are looking for a group of about 4 volunteers to form a team to take the project forward.

What does this involve?
People can bring their own ideas as to what is needed and what is achievable, but in simple terms, opening up the clubhouse, putting the kettle on and making some drinks, being welcoming to anyone who wants to pop in and making sure the clubhouse is tidy and locked up when you leave.

We did try this out a few years ago and found that people were keen to stop for a coffee and chat but then had other things to get on with and we were finished before 10:30am.

The club has a number of key holders already, we can add new people and explain the opening up and locking up procedures with you. So if you are a regular park runner this could be your opportunity to help in the operation and promotion of your club, whilst adding to the enjoyment of a parkrun at Blaise for yourself and others.

We are hoping to start with opening the Clubhouse once every three months but with a hope that a more regular schedule (monthly?) might be possible if we have sufficient volunteers and the events are successful.
If you might be interested in becoming part of this new team please contact Mark Andrews and we can discuss things in more detail.

Volunteers needed for Blaise Blazer.

In order to put this event on, we need nearly 50 volunteers spread across marshalling the course, registration, setup etc.

Marshalls will be need to arrive at 18:30, and people on setup / registration 17:30.

All information regarding volunteer positions, timings and the information pack will be sent the week before the event.

Don’t forget, volunteers who have participated in at least one Club Championship race will receive 10 Club Championship Points for volunteering at each of the three events that we host each year!

If you are able to volunteer, please let me know at volunteers@westburyharriers.co.uk

MONDAY SENIOR TRAINING LOCATION – RETURN TO BLAISE DELAYED UNTIL 11 MAY

We had planned to return to Blaise Castle on Monday, April 20^th but, following the break-in, the clubhouse isn’t currently available. The work on the door should be completed in the next couple of weeks. Whilst it’s disappointing we can’t yet go back to Blaise, it’s easy to get into Blaise to run from Coombe Dingle and it’s only two additional Mondays that we’ll run from Coombe Dingle as Monday, May 4^th is a bank holiday. This applies to all groups who would have expected to return to Blaise Castle – seniors, juniors and academy.

CLUB SUPPER – THURSDAY 30TH APRIL

I am organising a club supper at Coombe Dingle Sports Ground on Thursday 30 April at 7:50/8:00pm, straight after training. Lasagne and garlic bread, only £6:60 per head. My bank details are below

We have about 25 people signed up which is great but could do with another 10-15 more!!  Please help support this evening. 😉 Many thanks Sarah Andrews

BOAT TRIP – ALL ABOARD!

We are trying to organise an upriver boat trip on Saturday 20th June 19:00 – 22:00 on Bristol Packets ‘The Bagheera. We need to pay the deposit to secure the boat asap. We are asking for a non-refundable deposit of £10 per head. We need at least 22 people to make this work, but can go up to 50.

The approximate cost of the trip is about £24 ph + about £13:75 for onboard fish & chip. This cost of the trip will depend on numbers, could be under £20 + F&C if we get 50 people!

Please do think about signing up as we need more people and it’s great that there will be a club social event. The photos below give you a sense of what it was like last time.

Please pay the deposit to Sarah.

THURSDAY INTERVALS DURING APRIL – PLEASE READ

Thursday Interval Training for the Seniors continues at Coombe Dingle throughout the summer.

With lots of summer activities going on we do have to move around the site, so won’t always be on the field we use during the winter.

• On Thursday 30th April we will hold a Bring A Friend session. A formal opportunity to invite a friend, neighbour or work colleague along to the session.

Booking for all sessions on Run Together in the usual way

DID YOU JOIN WESTBURY HARRIERS OVER 5YRS AGO? – MEMBERSHIP START DATE IS NEEDED

We are trying to update our records around some of our longer standing members. Our membership system came in long after some of our members joined. If you know the date you joined Westbury Harriers and have been here over 5 years please contact manager.women@westburyharriers.co.uk and let them know. We can then add this to your membership record. This supports us in some of award categories (vice presidents and life members).

BRING A FRIEND TO INTERVALS – THURSDAY 30TH APRIL

With the lighter evenings and sunshine improving, this is a great time for people to experience what spring/summer training can look like at Westbury Harriers. We are encouraging people to bring a friend to senior intervals on Thursday 30^th April. They can book on via RunTogether or just come along (details and emergency contact information will be obtained if not booked on via RunTogether, so please arrive a little bit earlier so we have time to obtain this). Session suitable for all abilities.

YATE AC – TRACK RACING

As the sun comes out and we move into the spring/summer you may fancy giving the track a go. As a Westbury Harrier member you can join our sister club Yate AC for free. As Westbury is registered for road and cross country disciplines only, for track we compete for Yate AC who are only registered for the track discipline.

• To do this join Yate as Westbury associate member.
• Complete the other discipline form. Attached to this email. This needs to be signed by a WH committee member/team manager and then sent to both Westbury and Yate membership secretaires (membership@westburyharriers.co.uk and yatemembership@outlook.com). You only need to complete this form once.
• Once registered you may want to check your power of 10 profile updates to show Westbury and Yate so your results show. Any issues email power of 10

BLAISE BLAZER – ENTRIES OPEN

Entries are now open for this year’s Blaise Blazer. Entry only £10/£12. Monday 1st June 2026.

Scenic/hilly 6k through Blaise Estate. Friendly event, all abilities are welcome. Plenty of individual, team & spot prizes and lots of free cake after.

https://westburyharriers.co.uk/events/blaise-blazer/

WESTBURY HARRIERS BLUEBELL SOCIAL RUN MONDAY 4TH MAY

It’s coming up for that time of year again for the annual Bluebell Social Run from Portbury on Bank Holiday Monday morning

Meeting at the Priory in Portbury at 10am, there are two options: a 7 mile chatty pace run and a more relaxed 5 miles and then all back to the Priory by 12 o’clock for optional refreshments.

For both options use the same run together booking link:
https://clubspark.englandathletics.org/Book/e75bd792-248c-456e-864f-5240f443112d?venue=WestburyHarriersRunningClub

We will probably stay outside this year for refreshments, rather than booking a meal inside.

Family and friends are welcome  as this is a social event.

***Please consider car sharing for this event *

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.

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: 6:15PM.

Coombe Dingle.

3 sets of 4 x 90 secs (45 secs recovery)
2 mins recovery between sets

3. RACE RESULTS/REPORTS

THE LONDON MARATHON

by Emma Bailey:

I was very camera shy so no pictures I’m afraid but very pleased to run 3:10:57 with amazing crowds (and to be behind history being made!!). Also managed to be the fastest of the four Emma Baileys— always fun to top a leaderboard 🙂

by Rachel Liston:

Wow, that was hard. I learned the hard way not to switch gels halfway through training! Plagued with stomach cramps from halfway, I don’t recall ever having to dig deeper, there were ugly tears at the finish line!

Just about a pb with a sprint finish for the line.

1^st time I’ve seen celebs on route, I’ll share my photo (one for the younger audience!) – I’m intrigued – photo to follow!

MORE LONDON STORIES TO FOLLOW WHEN EDITOR SORTS TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES!

4. 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/
And club champ races here: Club Championship – Westbury Harriers

Club Championship races:

Tuesday 12th May: Rose Inn 4 mile – Chepstow Harriers
Friday 29th May: Towpath 10k Mob Match – Towpath Series – Great Western Runners
Wednesday 3rd June: Bitton 5k – Bitton Road Runners – RaceNation
Tuesday 9th June: Clevedon Midsummer 10k – Midsummer 10K Race – online entry now open! – Clevedon Athletic Club
Thursday 18th June: Thornbury 10k – Thornbury Running Club
Wednesday 8^th July: Brean Banger – Brean Banger | Burnham on Sea Harriers
Thursday 16^th July: Purdown Pursuit – SiEntries – Purdown Pursuit

Other club races:

Monday 1st June – Blaise Blazer

Other local races:

Saturday 2nd May: Gravel & Grit Bristol Backyard event, NOW SOLD OUT (Use code WESTBURY15 for 15% discount)  – https://www.gravelandgritevents.com/
Tuesday 9th June: Clevedon Midsummer 10k – https://clevedonac.co.uk/our-races/midsummer-10k-race/
Friday 26th June: Beer and Banger 10k – https://www.stuweb.co.uk/race/3yS

Please send anything you might want to see in the newsletter to: communication@westburyharriers.co.uk

Editor: Sophie Westmacott