Hello and welcome to another action-packed, informative and inspirational Westbury harriers newsletter. We answer the questions you want to know, who’s leading the club championships? What races are coming up? And has Gerraint taken his (1500m Gold Welsh championship) medal off yet? (Answer: no).
Well, let us begin…
RACE REPORTS.
Summer is in full swing now, and that means A LOT of racing. First up lets catch up with the club championship.
The GWR Towpath 10k Race 3 of 2024
by Mark Andrews
A great Friday night out on the towpath! This was a Club Championship race and the group of Friday night regulars were joined by those chasing championship points.
The superb Matt Ellis was the first Westbury Harrier to cross the finish line in an impressive 4th place and 1st MV40. Jack Derrick putting the Purdown pursuit behind him finished in 8th place to consolidate his position at the top of the Club Championship table.
Vicky Tester was the 6th lady’s finisher and 1st FV40. Heidi Andrews was the 1st FV50. Judy Knights celebrated her recent big birthday by finishing 1st FV60.
There were lots of great performances on a warm sunny evening. Well done to everyone that raced.
It was also great to have a large group celebrating in the Nova Scotia afterwards!
Magor 10k
by Katie Hughes
The Magor 10k – like many Chepstow Harriers events it was billed as “flat and fast”. It delivered on the flat front and it was blisteringly quick at the front end with the overall winner Jacob Tasker finishing in 30.57. First female was Alaw Evans in an equally impressive 35.38.
The course was the same as The Rose Inn series except we had the pleasure of a third lap. Overall the event was super well organised and friendly and unusually for Wales the weather was,if anything, too warm and sunny! There were also lots of vet prizes up for grabs with 1st prize trophies and vouchers in 5 year age categories from V40 to V70.
A handful of Harriers made the trip across The Bridge to compete
Ian Gawinowski led us home in 39.00 followed by Katie Hughes 39.45 (1st v 50), Mark Tooski 40.27 (3rd v60), Sandy Masters 44.14 (1st v 65), Kate Hoffen 48.26 (4th V55) and Kate Goldie 52.37.
Fabulous running by everyone – personally looking forward to a lazy rest of the weekend and some Olympics action!!
Photo of Sandy and me with our lovely wooden trophies still looking rather warm!!
Individual mentions….
We have had some great race reports from Westbury runners who have been venturing far afield. We love to hear your stories and reports so please keep them coming!
Tenacious ten challenge!
First up Seema was back on the trails and tackled the Tenacious ten challenge!
Today I had a go at the Tenacious Ten challenge with Limitless Trails in the Black Mountains. You do as many laps of the 4.3 mile course as you can in 10 hours – each lap has 500m of elevation and is run over technical terrain. I had to be back in Bristol before 6pm so had to do as many as I could in 8 hours. Happy with my 5 laps. Even happier to get a PB on “It’s a hard start”. If any of you run to Table Mountain above Crickhowell, you’ll know how flipping tough that start is!
Helvellyn Sky Ultra….
Next up the ever-impressive Dan Summers ran the Helvellyn Sky Ultra
All summer I had been building up to race my first European alpine ultra – it was the 76k (with 5300m of climbing) X-Traversee in Verbier, Switzerland. I was ready to go, rested, in the Alps and munching my way through every type of bread I could lay my hands on in the local boulangeries! 36hrs before the start I got the dreaded email that I knew was coming – race cancelled. There was loads of serious flooding in the area and more rain due – totally the right decision by the organisers but still gutting for me. My head was spinning…. I changed my flight to the following evening to get home. I got up early the next day and had a great adventure in the local mountains before coming home – it wasn’t the race I wanted but still a great day out.
Fast forward 2 weeks and I was on the start line of the Helvellyn Sky Ultra – I managed to arrange things at home and training wise so I could still race a mountain ultra this summer. For those that don’t know, a “sky” race is a combination of running and scrambling on very rough terrain in the mountains. In Europe the races have to go over 2,000m, we obviously don’t have that option in the UK but we’ve developed our own style of sky running which is no less technical and exciting. The race was stacked with talented runners, two previous winners of the Dragon’s Back, a sub-2:20 marathon runner, lots of Lake District locals and Inov8 athlete Damian Hall.
It’s a wild race, it climbs steeply for the first hour up Helvellyn, you run along the Helvellyn ridges (the course goes right over the top on the ridge) and up and down some more really wild and rough terrain through the Eastern Fells. My training had paid off and half way through the race I was running with Damian and a Scottish fell runner called Tim (in 5th, 6th and 7th places). We were steaming down a descent into Haweswater (I was slightly wired after we’d just added a mile or two to the race following a problem with the course marking). We all started the final climb out of Haweswater and I bonked, hard…. My legs were cramping and I couldn’t move faster than snails pace up the climb. Tim and Damian were gone, off in the distance. I then realised, I hadn’t eaten properly for the last hour – SO STUPID! I shoved a load of gels down and 20 mins later I was back. I was now in 8th but feeling great again. I worked really hard on the final descent (10k of descending) to make up 2 places and finished with a sprint finish to keep 6th place. I also picked up the V40 prize. I was left both happy with my run and how I felt but also so frustrated about the two mistakes that had cost me. When you try to race longer distances as fast as you can, small mistakes can cause big problems – hopefully each race you learn a bit more about how to avoid them!!
The Helvellyn Sky Ultra has a number of other events during the weekend which are a bit shorter and less technical – I’d massively recommend anyone that is interested to check them out. Do ask me if you’ve got any questions about them!
Finally well done to Greg Hayward, he had a great result in the BMC races at Aberdare. Greg recorded a 3.58.68 PB in the fast 1500m A race. Great result Greg !
Club Admin.
English National Cross Country Champs
In February we were all lined up to take our biggest team for many years to the English National Cross Country Champs – only for it to be cancelled at late notice.
We now have a second chance – entries are now open for the re-arranged English National Cross Country to be held at Weston Park, Telford on Saturday 14th September,
We would really like you in the Westbury Harriers team so please say Yes and let Mike (men) or Tamsin (women) know if you can make it.
Dear men,
Westbury Harriers will be entering teams in the Under 17 (under 17 on 31st August 2023), Junior Men (Under 20 on 31st Aug 23) and Senior Men (over 20 on 1st September 23) categories *** in the English National Cross Country.
*** Note : these are ages as of last cross country season – when the original event was cancelled due to flooding.
As well as individual and age group performances we are targeting the Aggregate (Persil) Trophy for the English National Cross Country Championships.
This is for combined scores of U17, Under 20 and Senior Men’s teams.
It may be tough to win it but we could get a top 10 result – and that’s like being Premier League !
Travel is being arranged and we plan to offer transport from Bristol and Yate.
Exact travel arrangements will follow but the aim is to go up early to enjoy the whole day of racing.
We plan to stop off at motorway services for a meal on way back.
If you’re coming from somewhere other than Yate or Bristol we can help with your travel costs.
You can do your own entry (see SportSoft (race results) link below) and the club will reimburse you.
https://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2024/natxc24e.php
If you do this please let me know you’ve entered by email – include your name and tel no.
Alternately, just email or text me with your name and contact tel no and I can do the entry for you.
We will also be entering the Under 17 and Senior Men’s categories at the Midland 6 Stage Relay on the following Saturday 21st September.
We aim to have three Senior Men’s teams in the Midland 6 Stage Road Relays at Sutton Park on Saturday 21st September and will be aiming for a top 20 place.
Look on Run Together – Westbury Harriers Midland Road Relays (or Midlands AA website) for further information.
I’m happy to do the entries for both events but please check that you are available before committing.
Mike Mewse
Team Manager
Dear Ladies,
In February we were all set to take a team to the English National Cross Country Champs – only for it to be cancelled at late notice due to flooding. We now have a second chance – entries are now open for the re-arranged English National Cross Country to be held at Weston Park, Telford on Saturday 14th September.
If you would like to race please enter yourself details below. Please note I assume the 2025 event will go ahead as usual which would be the last Saturday in February. I have heard it is Parliament Hill in London.
Contribution to travel costs are available through our expenses policies.
You can do your own entry (see SportSoft (race results) link below) and the club will reimburse you.
https://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2024/natxc24e.php
If you do this please let me know you’ve entered by email.
Anyone can enter the National – it is like a Gwent league on a grand scale, all ages all abilities. You get to run against some of the top names in what is always a well organised an exciting day. It is like a big festival or running.
It will be interesting in September, as will be very different with potentially good solid ground. The National is usually a slog! I am really sorry I will not be able to attend myself as my husband is away that weekend. But do speak to me if you are thinking of going as can let you know who else is interested.
Avon Road Relays – Sunday 26th August at Cleeve cricket Club (5km each leg)
Please also remember we are putting teams together for this event – please sign up sooner rather than later. All age groups teams, all abilities. A great fun, local event. No cost, club pays the entry fee.
https://groups.runtogether.co.uk/WestburyHarriersRunningClub/Runs/Summary/4cf13315-d971-493d-aa14-d6c59f13c553
And the Midland Road Relays – 4 stage – Saturday 21st September 2024 Sutton Park
https://groups.runtogether.co.uk/WestburyHarriersRunningClub/Runs/Summary/7671e95e-e66a-4884-8317-64b34e64b121
Any questions please get in touch.
Kind Regards
Tamsin
THIS WEEK’S TRAINING
Monday
Group tempo runs from Blaise 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 Intervals
Juniors 6pm, Adults 7pm at Coombe Dingle
Senior session this week – 4 mins (@ 5-10k pace), 4 x 1min (@ 3-5k pace), 4 mins, 4 x 1min
*option to drop 4mins to 3mins
**Options are suitable for those coming back from injury/time out, but remember as well it would be more beneficial to sometimes take the reduced option and run quicker, than to complete the full session and run at the same speed as previous training blocks.
EVENTS CALENDER / UPCOMING RACES
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/
Sunday 4th August 2024 The Westonbirt House Summer 10k – Westonbirt House Summer 10k, 4th August 2024 — icompete Club Championship #10
The issue with the club declaration on entry for this race has now been resolved.
Wednesday 7th August – Bitton 5k Series
Wednesday 14th August – Crook Peak Fell Race, Club championship #11
Monday 19th August – Annual charity hash run and cake sale @Blaise Castle
Sunday 25th August – Avon 5km Road Relay Championships: Cleeve Cricket Club
Saturday 14th September – The rearranged English National Cross Country Championships. Weston Park, Staffordshire. Team managers will send out details in due course. Club pays entry fee. Target team race. ADD THE DATE IN YOUR DIARY.
Saturday 21st September – Midland 6/4 stage Road Relays – Sutton Park. Target team race.
Track fixtures
Here are the current Track fixtures for August;
August 3rd – National Athletics League – Bedford Yate National League Facebook page & Natonal League website
August 11th Avon track and field League – Yate – Avon Track & Field League website
August 17th – Midland Athletics League – Rugby – Yate Midland League Facebook page & Midland League website
August 27th – Avon AA Open Meeting – Filton – Avon AA Open Meetings
Midland League at Yate – endurance runners needed.
Check out Yate Midland League FB group https://www.facebook.com/groups/735921887780553
A great website for races within an hour of Bristol is https://www.runfinder.co.uk/find-your-next-run
As a Westbury member you get free membership to Yate AC – so join up to find out what goes on https://yateac.co.uk/yate-district-ac-membership/
If we have missed any race events that you think should be listed or would like to send a race update that you participated in, please contact – communication@westburyharriers.co.uk
This week’s editor: Ben Wood
