Howard and Court prosper in inaugural Dartmoor Mountain Marathon

Westbury Harrier pair Gareth Howard and Phil Court put in an awesome effort in the inaugural Dartmoor Mountain Marathon, finishing 12th overall and 8th team, in the linear C class event. The pair were hampered, by Howard's decision to use a 5 year old pair of nu balance fell shoes, which promptly fell to pieces following their first encounter with the notorious Dartmoor tussock grass. Meanwhile fellow Harrier John Terry, partnered friend and former running buddy Simon Ward, and the pair finished 35th overall and 18th team. Ward suffered a nasty knee injury early on, which curtailed any prospects of a competitive finish for the pair.

Big mention to TACHs Rob Hicks, who finished part of the 2nd team in the Medium Score class event!

To get a feel for the event check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYqjtGb3POE

Emma aims high as she looks to a record breaking 6th consecutive victory!

Emma D'Alton swept away the competition in Saturday's Gloucester 1/2 marathon - as she smashed her PB and broke the 80 minute barrier for the first time into the bargain! Her winning time of 79.57, secured her 7th place overall! Meanwhile in the mens race, Matt Ellis ran the race of his life, as he led the race until mile 11, when the old stager Mike Smith (of Bourton RR) came past and despite Matt's best efforts, sneaked to an eight second victory. Matt can take heart though from a new PB of 74.11.

Also in action for the Harriers were Declan McManus 1.39.01, Sandra Price 1.48.57, Andrew Gibbons 1.49.31, Matt Jackson 1.50.30, Graham Bazley 1.50.57, Julian Pyke 1.52.32, Adrian Breen 1.52.51, Clair Cusack 1.53.06, Andrew Russell 1.55,40, Jane Goddwin 1.55.57, David Taylor 2.02.35, Jane Thornton 2.02.53 and Emma Powell 2.04.23.

Well done all!

Harriers lose grip on Mob Match Trophy

The latest Avon Inter-Club Mob Match took place last Friday, on the Towpath course and a record turn-out saw Clevedon AC regain the title they last won 2 years ago. Westbury - the defending champions - turned out a strong team, but it was not enough to get near the winners, who fielded all 28 counters in the top 100.

For the Harriers, Chris Palmer had a great run, finishing 13th in a time of 35.17, holding off Anthony Glover, one place back in 35.32. Gregg Ward ran 36.08, with David Hobbs 31st in 37.09. Colin Johnson ran 37.51, Ewan Kilgour 38.11, Bob Pringle 39.02, Ray Hooper 39.09, Alex Miller 39.38 and Jane Khan 39.56. Tony Jeffries ran 40.15, Ian Ruck 40.29, Tamsin Chick 41.47, Geraint Torrington 41.52, Mike Harris 43.40, Jullian Bailey-Gard Snr 43.58, Sian Jones 45.15 and Rod Naughalty 45.41. Next home we had Richard Hughes in 46.19, Zoe Wildgoose 48.08, Roger Long 48.54 and Hayley Johnson in 49.04. Anneka Bull ran 50.08, John Percival 51.18, Kay Ridgwell 55.18, Jill Anagnostakis 55.42, Paul Mooney 56.50 and Eithne Noonan 56.57.

Great running everyone!

Good luck to the Mobsters and to the Mountain Marathoners

Just a word of good luck to all the Harriers who are running in the Mob Match this Friday - 7.30pm start at Greville Smyth Park. With some Harriers taking on the all new Dartmoor Mountain Marathon this weekend and others in action at the Gloucester Half on Saturday evening, it promises to be a great weekend of action!

Westbury dominate the Sri Chinmoy Series

The final event of this Summer's Sri Chinmoy series, was a 3x1m relay and there were lots of Westbury participants in action. Leading home the race in a time of 15.17 was the mens team of Gregg Ward (5.09), John Terry (5.11) and Matt Ellis (4.57) who were comfortably clear of the mixed team of Ray Hooper, Robyn Golding and Shane Goodman in 17.04. "Last minute Mix" saw Craig Tolfree, Evita Gonzales and Mike Harris in action and they finished 5th in 19.35. Then two more mixed team for the Harriers in 6th and 7th: Jane Thornton, Lynne Rogers and Chris Palmer came home in 19.37 and Emma Powell, Laura Tanna and Phil Court came home in 20.08!

A great effort from everyone!

D'Alton takes winning streak to 4!

Following victories in the Bridge Inn 5k, the Blaise Blazer and the Towpath 10k, Emma D'Alton found herself with a fourth consecutive win at the Frampton 10k. Renowned for being a fast course, Emma raced around to finish in 36.36 (just a second off her PB). She was given a run for her money by Westbury team mate Debbie Marsden who finished in 37.00, with Robyn Golding competing a hattrick for the laides with 3rd place in a time of 37.31. Also running for the Harriers was James Fox who completed the course in 1.00.31!

Well done everyone!

D'Alton claims another Towpath victory

Emma D'Alton made it three out of three in the latest instalment of the GWR towpath series. Defying another hot and humid evening, Emma finished 8th overall in a time of 37.22 , nearly 30s clear of Robyn Golding, who finished 2nd. The host club's Aileen Brown took 3rd place overall.

For the men Gregg Ward was fastest, clocking 36.04 for 5th place, with Graham Clark 21st in 38.54, Alex Miller 23rd in 39.14 and Bob Pringle 25th in 39.48. Andrew Yuill clocked 43.10, Richard Hughes 46.40, James Bardwell 47.15, Roger Long 48.49, Andrew Gibbons 49.14 and David Taylor 53.53.

For the ladies Lisa Fehilly clocked 47.49, Kay Ridgwell 58.18 and Tracey Bain 1.04.11.

Well done all!

Thornbury Carnival sees 2nd place for Chick

Tamsin Chick continued her good recent form with a 2nd place in the Thornbury Carinval 10k at Sundayshill. The Westbury Harrier clocked a time of 41.58, as she just held off the challenge of Chepstow's Lou Summers in 42.06. The women's race was won by Marianne Gittoes (also of Chepstow Harriers). The men's race was won by the home club's Paul Horsfail in 35.04, from Bitton's Mike Blackmore in 35.26.

Also in action for the Harriers were Mike Harris running 43.14, Andrew Gibbons in 49.55 and Eirian Thornton 55.01.

Great running guys!

TACH sees record breaking performances from Harriers

Westbury Harriers dominated the latest TACH race, a 9km fell run from Burrington Coombe to the Beacon and back. Their men peppered the top 10, securing 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th and it would have been even more had Matt Ellis, who had a commanding lead at the time, not take a wrong turn with just 400m of the race left. In the end it was left to Anthony Glover to lead the Harriers home, as he clocked a course record time of 34.40, to finish nearly a minute clear of John Terry in 35.36. 3rd home and 1st V.40 was Colin Johnson in 37.19, who finished some 30s clear of Steve Adams. Gareth Howard finished 6th in a time of 38.20.

Also in action for the Harriers were Graham Bazley, Clive Attwood, Wendy Tippett (1st female V.x0), Jane Goodwin and Jane Thornton.

Full results to follow when available!

Harriers 1-2-3 at the July Blazer

A strong showing from Westbury Harriers in the 2nd of the summer's Blaise Blazer, as their runners secured all of the top 3 positions. The rapidly improving Felix McGrath won the race in a time of 23.01 from John Terry in 23.18 and Robin Nash 3rd in 23.38. A battle royal between the flat pace of John and Felix's strength on the hills as the lead swapped three times, before Felix pulled away on the final slog up to the castle. In the ladies race, Emma D'Alton was in a class of her own (J2) winning in a rapid time of 24.44.

Full report and results when available!

Matt secures third at Bovey Tracey as GWRs Ben Morley wins

To commemorate the 750th anniversary of its town charter, the residents of Bovey Tracey decided to do something a bit different. Rather then go for a Henry III lookalike competition or announce a new town cryer, they instead opted to organize a hilly half marathon and 3 mile "Charter Fun Run". Being practically a local (well from the same county originally), Westbury's Matt Ellis went down to participate and ran excellent over a testing course to finish 3rd in just over 80 minutes. The winner of the men's race was Ben Morley from GWR in a time of 74 something, as he beat two-time Man v. Horse Marathon winner, John McFarlane (of Thames Hare and Hounds), by nearly 4 minutes.

Charmouth proves a challenge for Westbury Harriers

An intrepid band of 5 Westbury Harriers headed down to the South Coast to take part in "Britain's Most Southerly Fell Race" - an 8 mile trek to the summit of Golden Cap and back from the seaside village of Charmouth (near Lyme Regis). The race began with a "flat" half mile road section through the town, before commencing on a 20% climb for the next half mile and then flattening into a much steadier climb for a further mile out onto the cliff tops! John Terry took the early pace for the Harriers and was as high as 3rd place come the top of the first summit. Unfortunately the early pace quickly took its toll and he went backwards through the field for the remainder of the race. Anthony Glover, who took the first hill much more sensibly, worked his way solidly through the field, finishing 6th overall in a time of 58.24. John finishing 13th in 1.00.43 and Gregg Ward 15th in 1.01.21. Slightly further down the field, Martin Thomson finished 46th in a time of 1.08.43. Did I mention 5 Harriers going down? Well yes, Gareth Howard (whose idea the race was in the first place) didn't allow enough time to get there and so had to run "unofficially" getting round in a time of 1.24.30 (or something similar).

Well done everyone!