WESTBURY HARRIERS WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Lots of racing again this weekend, well done to everyone. There are some race reports below and more to follow next week. Please get in touch if there is anything you would like to see included. There are also a few reminders about some important events coming up, please read the information further down.
This week’s editor: Sophie Voller
RACE REPORTS
Newport Marathon/half/10k
Well done to the Westbury Harriers at Newport Marathon, half and 10k today – some really good performances
Written by Alec Sampson
Marathon number eight. The previous seven (over many years) were complete disasters for me, resulting in having to walk at various points in all of them. Newport was different, great weather, fast flat course and most importantly, a great training block! It felt so comfortable…. until it didn’t! Then it was about heart and mind!. I’m so pleased with my 2’49:29 PB, now for Athens Marathon in November!
Marathon
Alexander Sampson – 2:49:29
Becky Lee – 3:23:38
Barry Crabb – 3:29:24
Steph Cummins – 3:29:07
Andrew McCarthy – 3:44:13
Juliet Milne – 4:12:53
Half Marathon
Debbie Hunt – 1:43:38
10k
Paul Gardiner – 33:40
David Vincent – 36:12
Mark Tooski – 41:22
Kathryn Allen – 43:53
Berkeley 10k – Club championship event – no horses!
Written by Heather Griffin
Having said I wouldn’t get caught up in the Club Championships, I’m off the mark. Lovely morning, with a PB to boot! Well done to everyone! X
Well done on your PB Heather!!
Written by Richard Hughes
Well done everyone at the Berkeley 10K this morning, a Club Championship event, especially the prize winners David Tonkin, Sophie Voller and Kate Hoffen. Each prize winner also got to get 3 beers!
11th; David Tonkin 35:35
17th; Jack Derrick 36:42
30th; Ian Gawinowski 38:45
53rd; Sophie Voller 41:37
54th; Ben Wood 41:43
61st; Alastair Blackwood 43:06
70th; Dominic Hurford 43:55
83rd; Trevor Fitsall 45:30
107th; Kate Hoffen 46:54
112th; William Baker 47:39
126th; Mark Canwell 48:43
127th; Richard Hughes 48:44
129th; Helen Kirkwood 48:54
179th; Heather Griffin 55:57
Mark Canwell – I didn’t take into account the chip times in my finish calculations! Well done!
Butcombe Trail Trail 50
Written by Alex Smith:
It was a cold damp start but a warm welcome from TACH at the event centre in The Swan Inn, Jonny from the club kindly gave me a lift out, a few familiar friendly faces at the start, course was still generally firm under foot with some muddy sections, great aid stations with plenty on offer and lots of friendly TACH volunteers. The sun came out for a while but the wind kept the temperatures down compared to last year. I kept running towards the end but certainly walked more of the hills over the second half. A very welcoming finish line and a hot chilli meal for all race finishes back at the Swan. Finished 4th male, 8hrs 53mins. I also ran with Jonny for a bit and he came in 7mins behind me finishing 5th.
Gloucester Open
Written by Elliot Chard:
Elliott Chard opened his track season today at the Gloucester AC Spring Open at the Blackbridge Athletics Track, aiming for a mark in the sand after a solid winter base. He ran a 3s PB finishing in 4:08 in the 1500m closely behind team mate Kane Lee (Yate AC) 4:05.
*** If you want to share any news, race stories or results, then please email: communication@westburyharriers.co.uk or you can post on the WH Facebook Group Page. We love to hear about everyone’s achievements and adventures ***
CLUB NOTICES
AGM
Thank-you to those that attended the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday. AGM minutes will be sent out to all members in due course.
At the AGM Monday night training for seniors was discussed. It was agreed to hold further conversations on this matter so people could share their views and opinions and some fuller explanations could be given around current issues raised. The committee meets on Friday 3rd May and we can share some next steps after this.
BRISTOL RUNNING SHOW – 28TH APRIL –
Written by Mark Andrews
A big thank you to everyone who came along help at the Club Stand today. It was great to have you all there supporting the club and lovely to see other club members who popped over for a chat during the day.
I thought I had managed to get a photo of everyone but Pat and Sandra seem to have missed out, thanks to you too ladies!
** REMINDER ** CENTENARY DINNER – SATURDAY 18TH MAY 7PM – The Bristol Hotel, Prince St, Bristol BS1 4QF
https://westburyharriers.co.uk/westbury-harriers-centenary-dinner/
Westbury Harriers will be holding a slap-up Centenary Dinner at The Bristol Hotel on Saturday 18th May. There may be one or two short speeches (or ‘presentations’ as Geraint calls them), but the main object is to meet friends old and new, and it should be a great occasion. No dancing, but we’re organising a live harpist to quietly serenade in the background.
Link above for full details to purchase tickets and submit your meal choices. It would be lovely to see many of you there. Partners/friends welcome. Past members encouraged to come along and catch up. Booking deadline of the end of April, so that we can get numbers and meal choices off to the hotel.
BLAISE BLAZER
Blaise Blazer entries are now open. As people have noticed, unfortunately this year our event clashes with the Hogweed Trot 10km which they have had to move forward a week due to the race HQ they use. This means we really do need people to support the Blaise Blazer both my volunteering to marshal (information has been put up as a Facebook post) or by taking part in the race. For people new to the club this is a 4 mile (approx.) route around the Blaise estate, a few big hills thrown in for fun, all abilities welcome and lots of cups of tea and cake at the end.
https://race-nation.co.uk/register/westbury-harriers/blaise-blazer
Price is £7 affiliated, £9 unaffiliated
Information here: https://westburyharriers.co.uk/events/blaise-blazer/
Please to spread the word to friends, family, work colleagues and other runners.
BRITISH MASTERS ROAD RELAYS – SATURDAY 25TH MAY 2024: MALLORY PARK, LEICESTERSHIRE
Please get signed up for this event if you are available. This is a really good event with each leg being about 5k around the motor racing circuit. The club pays the entry fee, we can share lifts and the club will contribute towards travel costs. We would like to put out some competitive teams but also give an opportunity to anyone who would like to enjoy taking part. Representing the club as part of a team is great fun, we hope to have a good day out as well as giving it our best in the race!
For the women, we are hoping to enter a V35 team of 4 and FV45, FV55 and FV65 teams of 3. If you would like to take part in this race, then please get in touch: manager.vet.women@westburyharriers.co.uk
Sign up on RunTogether and let you team manager know you want to take part.
Men – Chris Palmer/Mark Andrews: mark.andrews65@me.com
Women – Eithne Noonan manager.vet.women@westburyharriers.co.uk
CLUB TSHIRTS
If anyone would like to purchase a Westbury Harriers t-shirt, please contact Tamsin as she is putting in an order. T-Shirts are custom ordered to individuals – cost £22 adults, £18 juniors. These are ‘official’ so you can race in them. If you need a vest, we keep stock so these are available then you want – £18.50 adults, £15 juniors. We also have crop tops at £20 (it’s got to warm up soon!) Let Tamsin know if you’d like to place an order.
CLUB TRAINING THIS WEEK
MONDAY TEMPO SESSION
Remember that Senior Training is back at Blaise Clubhouse 6.30pm start.
TUESDAY TRACK SESSION
This week the session is:
Goal: More distance at 5k pace and quicker
2x800m (@5k pace), 200m jog recovery
4 x 200m (quicker than 5k pace), 100m jog recovery
2x800m (@5k pace), 200m jog recovery
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
4 Mins (2 mins recovery)
4 x 1 min (1 min recovery)
4 mins (2 mins recovery)
4 x 1 min (1 mins recovery)
4 mins
Aim for 10k pace/effort on the 4 mins and quicker than 5k pace/effort for the 1 mins
*option to drop the 4 mins to 3 mins
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/
Saturday 11th – 12th May – Avon track and field championships, Yate. More information can be found here
Tuesday 14th May – Rose Inn (#1) Club Championship #3
Wednesday 22nd May – Lightening Bolt 10k Club Championship #4
Saturday 25th May – British Masters Road Relays
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
Thursday 18th July – Purdown Pursuit Club Championship #8
Friday 26th July – Towpath Series 10k Race 3 Club Championship #9
Note from the Club Championship Committee –
For the Lightning Bolt 10k… there is a 10% discount code for WH members when they sign up. Code is Westbury2024.
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 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
If we have missed any race events that you think should be listed, please contact – communication@westburyharriers.co.uk
