Westbury Harriers Weekly News
Hello,
I hope everyone is enjoying their Bank Holiday weekend. Some of you will be heading out on the annual Bluebell Run tomorrow organised by Richard Hughes, whilst others will be recovering from some recent international and Marathon/Ultra races. Next week is the AJ Bell Great Bristol Run 10k/Half and we have 52 Westbury Harriers signed up!! Amazing. I won’t be racing as I have a race in Wales the week after, but I’ll be on the side line trying to spot you all in the club vest cheering as loud as I can. Good Luck all!
We have two important reminders not to miss on the newsletter – Charity Run & Cake Sale has been moved to Monday 19th May and Volunteers are needed for Blaise Blazer on Monday 2nd June. Please read the information.
RACE REPORTS
ANGLO CELTIC PLATE 100K – SATURDAY 3rd MAY
By Dan Summers
The Anglo Celtic Plate Ultra-Distance Association was formed in February 2021 and is affiliated to Welsh Athletics. It aims to support ultra-distance running athletes to represent their National Federation in the Anglo Celtic Plate 100K International Team and Individual Race or any other ultra-race between England and the Celtic Countries. England hosted this year’s event for the first time in several years at Mallory Park, Leicester, utilising the motor racing circuit. The runners will run just over 20 laps of an approximate 5 km circuit. Dan Summers, qualified for the team after featuring in last year’s 100k Championships with an epic time of 7:06:23. An incredible opportunity to compete at international level. Team England won Silver, despite Dan not having the race he’d hoped for it’s a “weekend I’ll remebmber forever”. Full report to follow from Dan. Massive congrats!
HOWUM 30 (PEGASUS ULTRA RUNNUNG SLAM)
By GEORGE GRIFFTHS
Yesterday’s race No.2 of the 6 in 6 months Pegasus Ultra Running Slam was ticked off. A beautiful 30 miles in the Heartlands of Wales. George has certainly caught the ultra running bug!
TROFEO OPITERGIUM UNDER 20 RACE, 1ST MAY
By Freya Bradley
The European Under 20 Road Race at the annual Trofeo Opitergium provides high quality road competition for England best under 20 athletes. The selected England Teams (5km for women, 10km for men) will compete against other international teams from across Europe. Our Freya Bradley was selected to represent the England team along with Lucy Wilkinson (Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow AC, Shireen Higgins), Isla Porter (Lincioln Wellington AC, Marc Thorpe) and Charlotte Dillon (Houghton Harriers and AC, Lynn Cooper).
Trofeo Opitergium in Italy, 5K road race on tight twisting course in the town of Oderzo in 27 degrees heat. It was slightly over 5K and I was just 8 secs off my 5K PB from Bristol Track. Was such a great opportunity to meet all different athletes from Czech Republic, France, Italy, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Sweden.
Women’s England Team came 2nd, and Freya had a great run finishing 4th place in 0:16:35 (missing 3rd place by 3 secs!). Well done Freya!
LONDON MARATHON 2025
By Becky Lee
What a weekend! London Marathon 2025 you were amazing! The weather was warm, but it seemed to bring out the crowds and the atmosphere was electric. There is nothing like crossing Tower Bridge with its funnel of sound.
Thank you for the support Mike Clarke, and it was great to see Westbury Harriers supporters on the way round. Well done to everyone that ran. Thank you for the company at the start when I was very nervous Helen Owen.
I was home by 17:45 to Jack who claimed my medal, and back to work feeling tired and stiff today, but great memories, and a big PB of 3:13. Awesome Becky!
BLUEBELL BLUNDER, SUNDAY 27th APRIL
By Kay Ridgewell
I was the lucky winner of one of the club centenary raffle prizes – a place in Rogue Run’s Bluebell Blunder which took place in beautiful weather on Sunday 27th April. While others were running the London and a selection of other races I was the only Westbury Harrier taking part in a field of only 150 ‘Blunderers’ . I would definitely recommend this run for next year if you can get a place before they sell out!
The Blunder is a chip timed 4-ish mile off road event through the Wye valley bluebell woods around a section of Offa’s Dyke, starting (and finishing) near Bigsweir Bridge, so only a half hour drive from Bristol. The run starts on about a mile of steep uphill which meant a good walking warmup admiring the bluebells for me and many others (no idea how the front runners tackled it, they were long gone!), then it’s up and down through the woods, a small section of country lane and a field of cows (stick waving cow marshal thoughtfully provided!) before a lovely downhill section to the finish and a cup of tea and cake.
There were lots of prizes for overall, age category and team winners – sadly but not unexpectedly none for me (excuse – spent too much time admiring the views and attempting to take photos, although my phone wouldn’t play due to sweaty hands!). Thanks to the Rogues for a well organised event in a beautiful location and for the donation of the raffle prize. Well done Kay!
CLUB NEWS AND REMINDERS
* MASTERS ROAD RELAYS – SATURDAY 3rd MAY 2025 *
Unfortunately we did not have any teams compete in this event. Lots of people were unavailable due to it being held on a bank holiday weekend. Unfortunately people had injuries in the teams who were planning to compete, so we did not enter in the end. We have fed back to the organisers that we are keen to take participate and could they consider the event not being held on a bank holiday. We look forward instead to the Avon 5km Road Relays Championships on Sunday 24th August (another bank holiday), but we usually get a really good turnout for this event.
* CHARITY RUN AND CAKE SALE – UPDATE *
We are moving the charity run & cake sale from bank holiday Monday 5th May to Monday 19th May, so there is no clash with the Bluebell Run to ensure we get good numbers to be able to fundraise successfully.
A full email has been sent out to all club members with information. The charity run is for all sections of the club academy, junior and seniors.
It will not be a hash run and all groups will be training at their usual times. Please wear club kit and come prepared with donations of cake (baked or bought). The cake sale will be afterwards. Please book on or register for your session in the usual way.
We are this year raising money for St Peter’s Hospice – Donations can be made in cash or card on the night or at anytime via our justgiving page – https://www.justgiving.com/page/westburyharriers?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=016
* VOLUNTEERS FOR BLAISE BLAZER – HELP NEEDED *
The Blaise Blazer is on Monday 2nd June 2025.
The first of three events put on by Westbury Harriers each year is next month!
In order to put this event on, we need nearly 50 volunteers spread across marshalling the course, registration, setup etc to put on this fantastic event.
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.
This year sees the return of 10 Club Championship Points to all volunteers 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
If you have a specific place that you want to Marshal, do let me know.
More information can be found at the volunteering page (only found through this link) Blaise Blazer Volunteering – Westbury Harriers (www.westburyharriers.co.uk/blaise-blazer-volunteering)
* CLAIRE CALLAGHAN – CHARTERED PHYSIO *
Claire Callaghan specialises in women’s physical health, wellbeing and sports performance, she did a couple of talks for Westbury Harriers during the Covid lockdown period, and treats some of our club members.
Message from Claire: I do regular Masterclasses for active women and I’m doing one on Friday 16th May at 1pm. It’s online and recorded, so those who register can catch up or view it again afterwards. The topic is Perimenopause and Running – what women need to know. The link for it is here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/perimenopause-and-running-what-women-need-to-know-tickets-1333089559759
To make this more accessible for Westbury Harriers Runners, I’m happy to offer a 20% off code. I’ll be discussing how perimenopause affects joints, muscles, bones and running performance, and offering top practical tips around female specific, running specific strengthening at this stage of life, managing fatigue and injury.
TRAINING THIS WEEK
MONDAY – Tempo Runs
Blaise Castle 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.
TUESDAY – Track
Track session at Yate 7pm – Seniors book on via RunTogether.
WEDNESDAY – Hill Session
Adults, all abilities. Meet every Wednesday at 12pm in front of the Downs Cafe, NOT at the Saville Road junction. Book on via RunTogether. Coffee in the Downs Café at 1pm for anyone that wants to come along.
THURSDAY – Interval Session
19:00, Coombe Dingle Sports Complex
3 sets of:
4 x 90 Seconds (45 seconds recovery)
2mins recovery between sets
Aim for 3k – 5k pace
Option to drop number of reps per set from 4 to 3
Note: You can sign up to all sessions via the RunTogether App.
UPCOMING RACES / EVENTS
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/
Club Championship info and rules on this link: https://westburyharriers.co.uk/events/club-championship/
- Monday 5th May: Charity Hash Run and Cake Sale – Blaise Castle at 6pm
- Club champs – Tuesday 6th May: Sri Chinmoy 2 miler – https://uk.srichinmoyraces.org/races/bristol
- Sunday 11th May: Bristol 10k/Half
- Club champs – Tuesday 13th May: Rose Inn 4 miles – https://sites.google.com/…/cheps…/open-races/rose-inn…
- Club champs – Friday 23rd May: Towpath 10k (MOB MATCH) – https://www.greatwesternrunners.org.uk/towpath-series/
- Club champs – Sunday 8th June: Cheddar Trail (10k) – https://www.relishrunningraces.com/cheddar-gorge-10km.php
- Club Champs – Fridy 27th June: Nailsea Beer n banger. (NOW WITH CHIPS!) https://www.stuweb.co.uk/race/3tM
- Saturday 5th July: Cotswold Way Relay – Eithne has been in touch with those involved/on the waiting list.
If there are any races or interesting events that you think should be added, please email: communication@westburyharriers.co.uk
Editor: Yvette Casallas
