Westbury Harriers Weekly News
Evening all,
Just a quick reminder that there is no training tomorrow (Monday 6th) for anyone as the Westbury Wipeout is happening instead at Blaise. Thanks to everyone in the club who will be volunteering tomorrow and good luck to all the academy members and juniors who will be running! This weekend also saw the annual running of the Cotswold Way Relay. Westbury had two teams out – results are still being finalised but well done to all the WH runners who took part for the club.
Have a great week everyone and good luck to those running the next Club Champs race, the Brean Banger, this Wednesday.
In this week’s newsletter:
- Club notices
- Training this week
- Race reports / results
- Upcoming races
1. CLUB NOTICES
NO MONDAY TRAINING: As above, no training on Monday 6th July for any groups as the Westbury Wipeout is happening instead.
MEMBER OF THE MONTH
Senior: Rachel Liston – “She’s been amazing at coordinating academy volunteers, volunteering and also motivating others to get through the LiRF qualification. She’s a runner inside and out!”
Junior: Sam Kiff – “Sam did very well in the Avon Schools and was picked to run the 1500m for South West Schools on the track.”
Academy: Idris – “Congratulations to Idris, our Academy Runner of the Month! A regular park runner, Idris smashed his PB at Kings Weston Junior Parkrun with an incredible time of 8:52 and an outstanding 73% age grading. Having only joined the Academy at Easter and only recently turned 8, he has made a fantastic start to his running journey. Keep up the amazing work Idris!”
Well done Rachel, Sam and Idris!
YATE AC – TRACK RACING
As a Westbury Harrier member you can join our sister club Yate AC for free. As Westbury is registered for road and cross country disciplines only, for track we compete for Yate AC who are only registered for the track discipline.
To do this join Yate as Westbury associate member.
Complete the other discipline form. This needs to be signed by a WH committee member/team manager and then sent to both Westbury and Yate membership secretaires (membership@westburyharriers.co.uk and yatemembership@outlook.com). You only need to complete this form once.
You will then receive email communications about the athletic leagues Yate participate in – YDL, UDL, Avon T&F, Midland League and National Athletic League.
Once registered you may want to check your power of 10 profile updates to show Westbury and Yate so your results show. Any issues email power of 10
AVON ROAD RELAYS. SUNDAY 30TH AUGUST – Avon 5km Road Relays Championships 2026
10am start (Please note new start time of 10am and it is Bank Holiday Sunday)
Location: Cleeve, Bristol BS49 4PP
3 person teams: U20 men/women (must be 16 or over), senior women, V35/V45/V55/V65/V75 women, V50/V60/V70 men
4 person teams: senior men & V40 men
Cost: Free. This is a championship event so no charge, club pays the entry.
Teams: People will try to be accommodated into their age appropriate team but with relays we may need to move people about to ensure we have complete teams. Please sign up on RunTogether as early as possible so we know who we have as organising relay teams is always interesting (a slight headache!)
Suitable for: Everyone (16 years and over)
Team Managers for this event Women: Tamsin Men: Mike Mewse
This is an Avon championship road relay. Each person in a team runs a 5km circular route on local country lanes and paths. Westbury always have loads of teams at this event, so do come along and get involved it is always a fun and social morning. It is a great event local event, enjoyable and suitable for everyone. Held at the cricket club, where there is small children’s playground and plenty of space if you are bringing the family. We look to ensure everyone is included. From putting out competitive teams, welcoming new club members into a relay event and a great starting point for those who may not have run in a relay before. Don’t worry if you will have just come off holiday or won’t have done much running over the summer, it will be the same for everyone. It is good season starter. The organiser has put a team limit this year of 70 teams in total as the event is getting so popular, so early sign up again would be appreciated.
Reserve Runners: Always needed and welcomed, let the team manager know.
How to get involved: Sign up on RunTogether
Men’s Team
https://clubspark.englandathletics.org/WestburyHarriersRunningClub/Coaching/Summary/c3a2b594-f88a-4311-ac47-b16837243a13
Women’s Team
https://clubspark.englandathletics.org/WestburyHarriersRunningClub/Coaching/Summary/b17a0c9c-2944-4a33-b895-4f9fc24069c6
Any questions talk to a team manager at training or drop them a message.
2. TRAINING THIS WEEK
MONDAY:
No Monday training this week due to Westbury Wipeout.
TUESDAY – Track Session
Yate
WEDNESDAY – HILL SESSION:
Adults, all abilities. Meet every Wednesday at 12pm, corner of Saville Road by the Downs. Sign up on RunTogether App.
THURSDAY – Interval Session:
7pm at Coombe Dingle Sports Complex.
1min – 2min – 3min – 4min – 3min – 2min – 1min (1min recoveries)
*Option to drop 4mins to 3mins
1 & 2mins @ 5k pace/effort or quicker
3 & 4mins @5k pace/effort or slightly slower
3. RACE RESULTS/REPORTS
Avon AA Masters Open Track competition
Sunday saw the Avon AA Masters Open track competition at Yate which included the Avon Masters Championships, Welsh Masters Championships and the South West Veterans championships. The masters events are open to anyone aged 35 or older with medals handed out in five year increments. There was a good showing from Westbury with some track veterans along with newcomers to the track. All the races are graded based on your predicted finish time to allow “proper” racing.
The day started for our athletes with the 1500M races with Raul Santos Rodriguez, Geraint Torrington, Phil Hayward, Sandy Masters and Tamsin Chick turning out for the club.
Going in the A race were Raul and Tamsin. Tamsin’s warm-up consisted of a run down the back straight where she was officiating in the hurdles and had just enough time to get the spikes on before the gun went. Raul finished in a time of 5:04.55 with Tamsin in 5:25.43. Both won gold medals in their respective age categories.
The B race saw Sandy, Geraint and Phil take on the 3 ¾ laps with Sandy first over the line in 5:54.92, Geraint in 6:11.62 (will he ever break 6 minutes?) and Phil taking around 10 sends of his previous best to break 7 minutes for the first time in 6:55.28. Sandy and Geraint picked up Avon gold with an additional Welsh Masters gold for Geraint and Phil picked up Avon bronze.
Geraint was just getting his breath back from the 1500M as the 100M races were getting underway. Thankfully Geraint is slow and was in the final heat. A season’s best of 15.93 saw him pick up Avon gold and Welsh Masters bronze.
Raul was up next in the 400M where a 1:08.53 secured Avon gold.
The distance crept up a bit to 3000M (7 ½ laps) with Julianne Kirkpatrick debuting on the track and finishing in 14:45.29. Track stalwart Anne Dockery finished in 15:26.84 to claim Avon gold.
The two lap 800M sprint was next with Geraint, Phil, Tamsin and Anne taking on the challenge. Geraint finished in 3:05.78 with Phil setting his second PB of the day in 3:35.02. Tamsin brough home Avon gold with a time of 2:45.37 and Anne finished in 3:51.47.
A great day for the club and if you’re over 35 and unsure about racing on the track, this is the event for you.
4. UPCOMING RACES / CLUB CHAMPS
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/
And club champ races here: Club Championship – Westbury Harriers
Other local races:
Wednesday 8th July: Brean Banger – Club Champs Brean Banger | Burnham on Sea Harriers
Friday 10th July: GWR Towpath 10k – race 3/4
Thursday 16th July: Purdown Pursuit (TACH) – Club Champs https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?event_id=17733
Sunday 19th July: Lightning Bolt 10k – https://www.icompete.co.uk/events/lightningbolt10k2026race3
Sunday 27th September: Black Nore 10k https://www.fullonsport.com/event/black-nore-10km-2026/profile
15% discount for Westbury Harriers at the Gravel & Grit Backyard Ultra May 1st 2027
https://www.gravelandgritevents.com/
Please send anything you might want to see in the newsletter to: communication@westburyharriers.co.uk
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If anyone is on Instagram, we would love for you to tag us, so we can share your posts/stories taking part in club events or other races!
Editor: Hannah Large
