Westbury Club Awards

Last Monday saw the Westbury Harriers annual Club Awards evening, for prizes in the 2009-10 season. There are prizes over a range of categories, from 'Best Newcomer', 'Most Improved', through individual categories (juniors and seniors) through to the overall male and female athlete of the year. The overall men's winner was Sam Dalgleish who has performed very consistently for the club over the past 12 months, including a great 18.37 at the National 6 stage relay, which got us off to a great start (well 50 something, which at the nationals is a great start!) as well as a very recently ran 32.14 over 10k in Eastleigh!

The overall female prize went to Debbie Marsden - a throughly deserved award (even though I am biased!) - for a series of great performances throughout the year: Avon 10k champion and winner of the Clevedon 10k, winner of the Bridge Inn 5k series (including a PB of 17.40). A time of just over an hour for 10 miles at Bramley and 2nd place in the Tunbridge Wells 1/2 marathon in a PB of 81.53.

The senior men's prize went to Anthony Glover for a series of strong performances, including race wins at the Dundry TACH race, the Hogweed Muggles event, his 78 min half at Stratford and finishing 5th in the Man v. Horse marathon, an event in which Westbury claimed the team prize.




The senior ladies prize went to Emma D'Alton for a series of strong performances, particularly over the half marathon distance, where she set a PB of 1.21.25 at Stroud last October, and also set course records at the Blackmore Vale 1/2 and the Hogweed Hilly 1/2 - the latter breaking the record by over 3 minutes!

The best newcomer awards went to Emma Jones, for a series of fine performances in the Gwent League and to Karl Dunn, for taking to running like a duck to water and running a sub 40 10k and a sub 6 minute mile 5k. The most improved runner awards went to Abigail Johnston (girls), who was prolific in the XCs throughout the winter and to Kane Lee (boys), for a series of great performances in the Bridge Inn 5ks, ducking below 17.30! For the seniors Siana Jones won the most improved female for consistent improvement throughout the year, culminating in a 33rd at the final Gwent League. For the men, "working his way through the ranks" Jullian Bailey-Gard Jnr. Jullian put in a number of sub 18 5ks, as well as breaking 90 minutes for the half this year.

The club also had lots to celebrate from the Gwent League - for the girls, U.11 Ellie Leather was individual champion and the team were also champions. At U.13s Poppy Thompson was individual champion and the team finished 3rd overall. U.15s were the team champions, U.17s Zoe Barber was 3rd overall and the team were champions. In the ladies the team were 2nd overall and the ladies B team won the reserve division. At vet level, the W.35 were 3rd overall, the W.45s were 3rd overall, with Wendy Tippett 3rd lady and Marilyn Palmer was 1st at the V.55 level, with the team finishing 2nd.

The men weren't quite as strong - but the U.17s had 3rd placed team, and Felix McGrath (known to many of us for his antics in the Blaise Blazers) was 3rd individual. The mens team were 6th in the top flight and Rick Wallis was 2nd V.50 overall and Tony Jefferies was top V.60, as the men's V.60 team finished 2nd!

Well done everybody!