Sunday 6th August
Westbury Harriers – Weekly News
Editors Piece
It’s too late to enter the Masters Track and Field events at Yate on Saturday 12th August but it’s a local competition so why not go along and spectate? I know we have a few from the club competing including Fliss, Sarah and Sandy (any more?) and I’m sure they would appreciate the support. https://tinyurl.com/syejruns
Tuesday Running Session at Yate Track and Thursday Intervals
For both the Tuesday and Thursday sessions I can promise you there will be a lot of running around in circles. What I can’t do is give you details, which will be posted on facebook nearer the time.
Bitton 5k Summer Series Race 4 Wednesday 2nd August
Race 4, the last in the Bitton 5km Summer Race Series, took place last Wednesday. As it was the last event the series winners were also announced, with your best of 3 counting towards the results.
The unstoppable Sandy Masters was 1st place V60 (and also had the highest score for all the women’s age groups). Her fastest time for the series was 21:01.
Kate Hoffen took first place for the V50 category and her fastest series time was 22:52.
For the men in the V50 age group, Trevor Fitsall took second place and his fastest series time was 21:34. Mark was only a few points behind taking 3rd with a fastest time of 21:43.
A full race report will hopefully appear in Tuesday’s Bristol Post.
Club Championship – Rose Inn 4 Miler
The next race in the series is the Rose Inn 4 miler on Tuesday 8th August. Plenty of time to get your online entry in for that, just go to the Fabian4 website for details.
Race 4 GWR Towpath Series
Club Championship – New Races!
Judy is pleased to announce a further two races being included in the Club Championships. The first is the Forest of Dean Autumn Half Marathon taking place on Sunday 24th September. The second event is the Portishead Black Nore 10k on Sunday 8th October. Details of both events are in the links below.
https://www.forestofdean-halfmarathon.co.uk/autumn/index.php
https://portisheadrunningclub.com/
Club Birthday
Happy birthday to Heidi Andrews who celebrated the big ‘five O’ on Saturday. And what better way to honour the day than with a wet and windy Saturday morning Water-tower run. Have a great weekend Heidi and enjoy running in your new age category.
Blaise Parkrun, Saturday 12 August and Saturday 9 September 2023
In June we opened up the Clubhouse one Saturday morning during the Blaise Parkrun.
It was a good opportunity for Club members to get together after the run over coffee and biscuits, and also to promote Westbury Harriers to other runners taking part. We are going to repeat this again on the above dates.
Lots of you are regulars at the event already, hopefully those of you who like to vary your Parkrun venues can schedule these dates into your calendar!
It maybe a good opportunity for those who don’t do Parkrun to give it a try, or even for those who like a different type of run on a Saturday morning to run from Blaise and join us for a chat afterwards!
We are hoping to be able to open the Clubhouse on a regular basis, but this will only be possible if we have people who are able to help open up, put the kettle on, or tidy up afterwards. If you are able to help out on either day then please comment below or message me!
If would be great if anyone running could wear Club Colours as having a Parkrun on our doorstep is such a wonderful opportunity to promote the club!
The Montane Lakeland 50 and 100, July 28th-30th
Well done to Yvette Casallas who ran the Montane Lakeland ultra, described as one of the UK’s premier trail races. It is a spectacular long distance trail race with a circular route encompassing the whole of the Lakeland fells. With over 6,000m of climbing and predominately on footpaths and bridleways it’s a challenging course. If fact, for the 100 mile course close to 50% drop out and running 50 miles is no easy option either.
There were 1,264 runners that completed the 50 mile route with first place going to Neil MacNicol in 08:03:58 and first female (6th overall) was Katie Kaars Sijpesteijn in 08:23:08.
The 100 mile route had 380 runners and first place male was Andy Berry in 20:03:11. First place female (11th overall) was Sabrina Verjee in 23:00:06
Now, it’s over to Yvette as she describes her experience of running the 50 mile option.
‘Can I get a yeehaw! Lakeland Race had its 16th edition last weekend, and this year’s theme was “cowboys”. So the finish medal was a chunky silver buckle, the size of my hand! I got into the ballot first time (better chances than the London Marathon!!!) and figured this event would be another perfect training race before the UTMB TDS that I have coming up in a few weeks.
The Lakeland50/80km race starts at Dalemain and ends at Coniston. It started off dry and sunny, eventually the weather turned a bit grim, wet and blowing a gale. One minute humid and warm, the next you’re layering up. Every aid station had a brilliant vibe, marshals were awesome. Running through Ambleside was electric, with crowds lining the streets cheering you on as you approached the CP.
Amazing community of trail runners and locals, some have returned to race this event countless times, because it’s such a great race to do. Cut-offs are generous, you can hike it. Some have completed the 100mile race 5 times!! For those 500 miler legends, you’re awarded a special slate trophy.
Happy to have earned a buckle with a time of 12hr48. I would recommend this race, it’s fun, full of energy and you get to experience the views and lesser known parts of the Lake District. Next stop….Chamonix end of August’.
Lakeland50_100 Race – Maybe some of you will be tempted to enter the ballot, which opens 1st Sept at 9am: https://lakeland100.com/
Race report by Yvette Casallas
Strava Segment of the Week
Well done to Stu Bennett on a his negative split run in the rain. Stu achieved a PR on Strava segment Henfield High Path in 3:38.
Diary Dates
Tuesday 8th August Race 4 Rose Inn Series, Chepstow Harriers and Club Championship Race
Saturday 12th August WH River Cruise
Saturday 12th August Masters Track and Field Event at Yate Track
Wednesday 16th August Crook Peak Fell Race – Club Championship Race
Saturday 17th August Chepstow Racecourse 5k, 10k, and Half
Friday 18th August GWR towpath race 4
Saturday 19th August Race the Train, trail event and you chase the choo choo
Sunday 20th August Bath Two Tunnels Railway Races from 5k to Ultra
Monday 21st August Club Charity Hash and Cake Sale
Sunday 27th August Severn Bridge Half Marathon and 10k
Sunday 3rd September Bridgwater Half Marathon and 10k
Saturday 16th September Relish Running Cheddar Road Race
Sunday 17th September Copenhagen Half Marathon (part of the Super Half Series)
Sunday 17th September Oldbury 10 miler Thornbury Running Club
Saturday 23rd September Uphill to Wells Relay
Saturday 23rd September –Midland 6 and 4 stage Road Relays – Sutton Park
Sunday 24th September Forest of Dean Autumn Half Marathon
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 1st October Cardiff Half Marathon (part of the Super Half Series)
Sunday 8th October ‘Black Nore’ 10k Portishead
Saturday 14th October Pembrey Park Gwent Cross Country
Saturday 11th November Cardiff Cross and Gwent Cross Country
Sunday 19th November British Masters Road Relays, Mallory Park
Saturday 2nd December Blaise Castle Gwent Cross Country.
Editor this Week
Ian Gawinowski is Westbury Harriers Communications Officer and can be contacted via communication@westburyharriers.co.uk
