Happy New Year!

The temptation of mince pies, chocolates and mulled wine hasn’t stopped all of you from getting out during the festive period to train and take part in the final races of 2024. As we draw an end to 2024, this is also a time to reflect on the success of our club and also our individual achievements. This year was a special year, celebrating our centenary and marking an epic year filled with events, awards, social runs and reunions and being featured on ITV News. It’s been a fantastic year and we have a lot of people to thank, as you all played a vital role in making this club what it is today. The volunteers, coaches, runners and the commitee; this club survives and thrives thanks to all of you. You are all an inspriation and it’s been wonderful to see your running journey progress and take up new challenges. Looking into 2025, we want to do better and make positive changes and improvements. So let’s get ready to kick start the new year with a bang and look forward to seeing what 2025 brings! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERONE!

RACE REPORTS

VALE OF AYLESBURY BOXING DAY 5K – BY BEN WOOD

A 5km road race taking in two laps of the old market town.

I was spending Christmas at my brothers’ house in Buckinghamshire and decided I wanted to do a boxing day race. I knew of this race, as I had actually raced it last year, but had to pull out after 700m as I had a calf injury. So it was a bit of unfinished business.

There were 250 runners in the town square at the start line. A quick look around and I could see a good amount of young hungry runners in the front. I started a few places back from the start and let the speedsters go. It was a blistering pace running downhill, the pavement was quite wet, so I was glad to stay on my feet after the first corner. The route was quite twisty, with a mixture of uphill, down hill and even a bit of cobbles. We were warned this was not a pb course, and to try to keep on our feet.

After 4km I hung on for dear life, pushed the last km to finish in 19.15. I was 38^th and 4^th in my age group.

It was a good race, nice organisation, and has been running since 1939! I’m glad I could support it and it certainly burnt a few mince pies off!

CLEVEDON BOXING DAY RACE – BECKY LEE

After the excesses of Christmas Day a good number of Westbury Harriers headed to Clevedon for the annual Boxing Day 4 mile Road Race.

If you haven’t taken part before, then I highly recommend this fun, and hugely popular event. It attracts some very fast runners, but also many take part in fancy dress.

The civilised post Christmas 11am start time was delayed by a record turnout, with entries on the day causing the organisers to run out of race numbers and having to write numbers on entrants hands so no one was disappointed!. In the end well over 1000 runners set off shortly after 11am, heading along the high street, and up Holly Lane before heading back into town via the Seafront. Virtually the whole course was lined with supportive spectators, much appreciated on the hills, and the event is clearly a big tradition for the town. This year it even got a feature on the local news which some of you may have caught.

There were strong runs from Westbury Harriers (see results table), with many congratulations to Freya Bradley who was Second Lady in the incredible time of 22:23. The men’s race was won in 18:58 by Felix McGrath, who many will remember as a Westbury Junior, now running for Bristol and West.

CLUB NOTICES

FINAL REMINDER – DO YOU HAVE EXPENSES TO SUBMIT? 

Please can you submit any expense claims as soon as possible so that they can get processed before the year end. Your new treasurer from 1 January will be Mark Canwell.  All claims from this date should be sent to treasurer@westburyharriers.co.uk

WESTBURY HARRIERS CENTENARY LUNCH – SAVE THE DATES & BOOK NOW!! BOOKINGS CLOSES FRIDAY 3rd JANUARY. 

If you haven’t booked, please book as soon as you can, so that we can finalise numbers and submit the catering order.

Payments must also be made by this date – 3rd January.

An email has been sent today with a reminder and all the information.

DATE: Sunday 19th January 2025
TIME: 12-4pm

Please book now and join us for a wonderful club celebration. Don’t miss it  .….  the next one isn’t for 100 years !

Programme for the Day

– Welcome Hour. Guests are welcome from 12pm and will be met by our reception team.
– 12pm to 1pm: Social time to mingle with friends old and new.The bar will be open and nibbles provided.
– 1pm  to 2pm: Welcome &  Buffet Lunch
– 2pm to 4pm: Video / photo displays  * Free Draw*  Social Time

Including : Display of club memorabilia, Short videos of Mountain and Trail Running, Triathlon, Visually Impaired running, Video of Centenary Challenge.
(Tea/coffee/cake will be served from 3pm)

Cost (inc buffet lunch)  £5 per adult. Children £3 (4 to 16 yrs) 

To book just follow the booking stages:

Email: centenary@westburyharriers.co.uk with your name and telephone number.

(Add the names of any additional members of your group – with ages for under 16 year olds)

Confirmation: You will then get a reply confirming your booking with details of how to pay.

This informal social event will bring together current and former members, partners, families and friends to celebrate 100 years of Westbury Harriers.
Our brilliant Communications Team will be updating with further information via email and Facebook posts.

REMINDER – LONDON MARATHON RACE SPOTS

We have 2 club places allocated for the TCS London Marathon on Sunday 27th April 2025 and they need to be registered by the deadline of 16:00 on Thursday 27th February 2025.

In line with the committee, this year current Members must show that they had entered the ballot and they must also have been a member at the time that they were rejected. If you are a primary yate member, then you should apply through Yate as they will also have club TCS London Marathon places.

Please register your interest in entering the Draw by e-mailing secretary@westburyharriers.co.uk with the proof you have entered and been rejected from the ballot, and confirmation that you were a member at the time (which will be checked) by Midnight Tuesday 31 December 2024. 

 CHRISTMAS TRAINING DATES

• Week commencing Monday 6^th January – All training sessions resumes

Chris Elson (endurance coach) is facilitating some senior training sessions on Stoke Lodge over the Christmas break and said any Westbury Harriers members are welcome along. Details below, suitable for all abilities.

Monday 30th December, Stoke Lodge playing fields with Chris. Park in West Dene (off Coombe Lane opposite entrance of Bristol University playing fields) BS9 2BQ. 11am warm up for 11.15am efforts start Mixed ability there and back session to the whistle of 5 mins recovery jog back to start, 2 sets of (10 X 50secs with 25 secs recovery) with jog round lower field recovery between sets.

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/

Saturday 4^th January: South West XC http://www.avon-aa.org.uk/
Saturday 8th or Sunday 9th February: Margam Park (TBC), Gwent League XC
Saturday 1st March: Venue TBC, Gwent League XC

Club Championship info and rules on this link: https://westburyharriers.co.uk/events/club-championship/
The final three races for the 2024/2025 Club Championship Season are as follows:

January: Wyedean Night Race – https://www.rogueruns.co.uk/home/our-events/night-runs
February: Ironwood Challenge – https://nailsea.fullonsport.com/…/ironwood…/profile
March: Gwent League #5 (Gwent League details to be released closer to the time)

Editor: Yvette Casallas