Sunday 28th May
Westbury Harriers – Weekly News
Editors Piece
Don’t forget we’ve got another bank holiday this Monday, how many more can there be? There won’t be the usual Monday night training, although do check facebook as somebody may plan something more ad-hoc and social.
I’ve seen from Strava that a few of you have already been getting in some off road training and recce’s in for the forthcoming Blaise Blazer. It’s a tough event, very hilly but at only 4 miles long and with some stunning scenery still very much worth doing. If you’ve not yet run the circuit I recommend taking a look and I’ve provided a route map below.
There’s also still time to enter as entries close on 3rd June and a link has also be provided.
Tuesday Running Session at Yate Track and Thursday Intervals
It’s a reverse pyramid session for us all at Coombe Dingle this Thursday evening, with slightly longer intervals aiming at 10k pace.
3mins (1min rec), 2mins (1min rec), 1min (1min rec), 1min (1min rec), 2mins (1min rec) , 3mins (1min rec) , 4mins (1min rec)
The Tuesday track session at Yate will be published on facebook nearer the time.
Club Supper – Black Swan, Thursday 8th June
Club supper numbers need to be confirmed this Thursday. If interested in attending please make your £8 payment to Sarah’s Mono account, details are on facebook.
Tracker Taster Session, Yate Outdoor Sports Complex, Friday 23rd June
We are holding a track evening at Yate Outdoor Sports Complex, Broad Lane (Behind Brimsham Green School) Yate, BS37 7LB on Friday 23 June, the track is booked from 7:30pm. We plan to hold a series of races for club members covering all abilities. The evening is targeted particularly at those of us who don’t usually run on the track.
We held a similar event a couple of years ago, several of us had never run on a track before and it was a great experience to be able to do so in a friendly and supportive environment.
The clubhouse and bar will be open, so hopefully a social evening as well as some fun on the track!
Full details and a timetable of races to follow soon.
Hogweed Trot and Avon County 10k Championships, Yate. Monday 22nd May. Race report and photos by Mike Mewse.
Warm, dry but humid conditions for the Avon Champs / Hogweed 10K held in Yate. We had a good turnout of Westbury runners, including several who ran on Friday evening in the Tow Path 10K.
Our runners were in good form in an event that is traditionally one of our most successful. Again Westbury runners were amongst the championship medals.
Many Congratulations to Oli Beale (33.53) who was the outright winner, becoming Avon County 10K Champion and also the top V40. Anthony Glover (34.50) was 3rd and 1st V45 in the County Champs, with Alec Sampson following up his fine run in the Tow Path 10K with 8th / 3rd V40, Jack Derrick 13th (37.10), David Vincent 15th (37.19) , Ian Gawinowski recording a PB in 39.41, Dominic Hurford V45 42.16, Martin Clayton 43.56, Trevor Fitsall V50 46.49, Geraint Torrington V50 48.00, Jonathan Swithinbank 51.58 and Tim Carr 57.58.
Top Westbury lady was prolific racer Kate Hoffen (49.27) 2nd FV55. Nicola Derrick FV50 63.17.
Avon League Track and Field
Congratulations to Lucy (pictured below) who was representing Yate and District Athletic Club in last week’s Avon League at Yate. Lucy was competing in the Quad Kids event, consisting of a 60m sprint, a throwing event, standing long jump and finally a 600m run. Justin Swift-Smith thoroughly recommends it to anyone with children in the academy and says it can be as competitive as you want and a great first experience of track and field athletics.
For more information speak to a club coach, or take a look at the Yate AC website. I’ve also linked the fixtures list showing all the main track and field events until September.
Key Upcoming Dates
Sunday 27 August 11am – The Avon 5km road relay championships. Do plan your bank holiday around it! We had a fantastic day last years with lots of teams/age groups team – very much the more the merrier. The team managers will do the entries for this. As it is championship event (not to be confused with our own club championship but a championship in the sense of an area i.e this is an Avon Championships) the club pays the entries. Open to all abilities and we will sort teams on who we get wanting to run.
Saturday 23rd September – Midland 4/6 stage road relays (ladies 4 stage, mens 6 stage) – really keen to have a strong turn out at this as the ladies didn’t manage to put a team out for The Midland 6 stage in March. They introduced a master section to this last year – it is not age group masters but one age masters team (so anyone over aged 35) and then seniors as usual. Makes entries a little tricky as we have some speedy masters – but good to have as many people as we can get. We would target the Midland 4/6 stage, rather than the National 4/6 stage which comes a few weeks later, as we would do better in the Midlands than the Nationals. This is a regional championship event so the team managers organise the entries, the club pays the entry fees and there is support towards petrol costs. This senior event is more suitable for those that run in groups 1-3. The master teams are suitable for all abilities.
No date yet for the rescheduled Masters road relays – still saying Autumn so will keep you posted. Suitable to all abilities.
Club Championship, the next events in the series include the Clevedon Midsummer 10k on Tuesday 13th June, the Sri Chimney 2miler on Tuesday 27th June and finally the Age Grader on Sunday 23rd July.
Gwent League 2023/2024 – will circulate fixture dates as soon as published but they do tend to keep to the same weekends as this year. Whether they are Saturday/Sundays depends on the host club. Most seem to be Saturdays now.
V65 Gwent league Team Award, by Eithne Noonan.
Eithne Noonan (in the centre of the picture, alongside Jim and Ann Lovell) says ‘thank you to Westbury Harriers for choosing the V65 Gwent League team as team of the year 2023. Take heed everyone – YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD in Westbury Harriers.
I feel privileged to be the custodian of this cup as it turns 100 years this week. It was originally presented by the directors of J.S Fry and Sons Ltd on May 26th 1923. It was won outright by E Pearce following wins in 1927, 1928 and 1929. It was presented to Westbury Harriers in 1997.
I am looking forward to learning more about the history of the club during the centenary year in 2024’.
Awards Night, Saturday 20th May
Well done to Tamsin, pictured below, who received her Richard Bloss Personality of the Year and Peter Griffin awards at last week’s interval session as she was unable to attend the award evening.
More pictures form the awards night, held at Shirehampton Golf Club, can be found using the link below. A full listing of all the winners will be reported separately. https://tinyurl.com/ynnmpnb3
Chester Half Marathon
Congratulations to Anne Dockery who says she was very proud to represent England at the Chester Half Marathon. Anne won the 75-9 age group with an impressive time of 1:55:36. Well done.
Blaise Blazer Trail Race and Volunteering Opportunities.
It’s really not long until the Blaise Blazer on the evening of Monday 5th June. For such a great event to take place not only do we need people to compete but also a good turnout of volunteers. If you, friends or family can help out please complete the volunteering form for Alastair. Don’t forget to bake some cakes too and bring them along on the night. https://tinyurl.com/mtux5r2z
River Cruise Social – Saturday 12th August.
People have expressed an interest in the river cruise (no stops) to Beeses planned for Saturday 12th August. Departing by the SS Great Britain at 18:00 and returning 21:00. The last part of the trip will be drinks on the boat in the Harbour as they need to get back through Netham Lock by 20:30. The boat (Bagheera) has a fully licensed bar and WC facilities.
We need a minimum of 30 for this to happen and interested individuals will need to pay a £10 non-refundable deposit to Sarah’s Monzo Account. Costing varies because it is dependent on the numbers attending but to hire the boat for up to 45 people maximum is a flat rate of £700. Therefore, with a minimum of 30 it is £36 per head and £28 for a maximum of 45.
Strava Segment of the Week
Well done to Nick Faye taking on some of Tockington’s hilliest terrain with over 2 hours of running. On route Nick achieved a personal record on 4:57 on Strava segment Olveston to Tockington.
Diary Dates
Monday 5th June Blaise Blazer Trail Race
Wednesday 7th June Bitton 5k Race 2
Thursday 8th June Rowberry Romp, by TACH
Saturday 10th June Man V Horse
Sunday 11th June Bradley Stock 10k
Tuesday 13th June Race 2 Rose Inn Series, Chepstow Harriers
Tuesday 13th June Clevedon Mid summer 10k (Club Championship)
Friday 16th June GWR Towpath Race 2
Saturday 24th June Maverick Adidas Terrex FoD Trail race, various distances
Tuesday 27th June Sri Chimnoy 2 mile (Club Championship)
Thursday 29th June 19:30 Thornbury 10k Road Race, Thornbury Running Club
Friday 30th June 19:00 Beer and Banger 10K, Nailsea Running Club
Wednesday 5th July Bitton 5k Race 3
Thursday 6th July Tintern Trot Trail Race, Chepstow Harriers
Friday 7th July GWR Towpath Race 3
Saturday 8th to Sunday 9th July Brecon Fans Race Weekend. Horseshoe 10 miler and Pen y Fan
Tuesday 11th July Race 3 Rose Inn Series, Chepstow Harriers
Sunday 23rd July 5 mile Age Grader road race (Club Championship) Rogueruns
Saturday 29th July Magor 10k Road Race massive PB potential on a mega flat route
Wednesday 2nd August Bitton 5k Race 4
Tuesday 8th August Race 4 Rose Inn Series, Chepstow Harriers
Friday 18th August GWR towpath race 4
Saturday 19th August Race the Train, trail event and you chase the choo choo
Monday 21st August Club Charity Hash and Cake Sale
Sunday 27th August Severn Bridge Half Marathon and 10k
Saturday 16th September Relish Running Cheddar Road Race
Friday 29th September – Sunday 1st October. Trail running weekend, Peak District.
Saturday 30 September – Sunday 1st October World Athletics Road Running Champs Riga 1 mile, 5km and half marathon
Sunday 17th September Copenhagen Half Marathon (part of the Super Half Series)
Sunday 17th September Oldbury 10 miler Thornbury Running Club
Sunday 24th September Forest of Dean Autumn Half Marathon
Sunday 1st October Cardiff Half Marathon (part of the Super Half Series)
Editor this Week
Ian Gawinowski is Westbury Harriers Communications Officer and can be contacted via communication@westburyharriers.co.uk
