Bristol runners plan to make an impact in Exeter

With less than 48 hours to go before the South West's first big 10k of the year, it is looking possible for a Bristol winner in both the mens and ladies races. For the ladies, Robyn Golding and Debbie Marsden and are both in action, there are few runners in the area capable of living with Marsden when in top form, as she will look to dip under 36 minutes on a pancake flat course. For the men, Kairn Stone will start off as favourite, but don't be surprised to see Matt Ellis right up there. Ellis has not taken part in a competitive 10k in the past few months and his current PB is in no way indicative of the shape he is currently in. Expect him to be well up there!

A number of other Westbury runners will be running in the very first race of the year - the Hangover 10k, organized by Weston AC tomorrow!

Happy new year!

Ellis finishes 6th in the Boxing Day sprint

Westbury's Matt Ellis seemed to be recovered from an unpleasant bout of food poisoning as he secured 6th place in the Clevedon Boxing Day race. With a distance of around 3.7 miles due to the adverse weather conditions, Ellis clocked 19.18 in a race won by David Bishop of B&W AC in a time of 18.11, 6 seconds clear of fellow B&W runner Mike Johnson. Ben Noad of Highgate Harriers was 3rd in 18.36. In the ladies race the winner was Adershot Farnham and District's Emma Pallant in 20.37, with Laura Parker 2nd in 21.27, and Annabel Granger 3rd in 21.41. Westbury's Robyn Golding was 8th in 22.25.

Also in action for the Harriers were Felix McGrath 21.38, Adam Kula-Przezwanski 22.25, Sophie Voller 22.26, David George in 23.25, Terry Jewell-Davies 23.44, Alex Miller 24.04, Tamsin Chick 24.08, Clive Attwood 24.25, Sandra Price 28.07, Hayley Johnson 28.09, Sarah Tucker 31.10, Gill Anagnostakis 32.18, Dave Francis 32.18, Rob Hawkins 34.03, Helen Kula-Przezwanski 36.20, James Fox 36.48, Victoria Jones 37.02, William Hurley 37.33 and Sandra Bailey-Gard 39.01.

Well done all!!!

Christmas time!

Well everyone I am taking a few days well earned break! Don't forget that weather permitting there are some god events over the Christmas period including the Clevedon Boxing Day 4m, the Hangover 10k on New Year's Day and the 1st chance 10k on January 2nd. Also the rearranged Mike Down handicap will also take place on January 2nd.

I hope to be back with a report on the Clevedon Boxing Day race soon!

Marsden makes it to Brussels (eventually) and finishes 35th!

Debbie Marsden had a less than ideal preparation for the Iris Lotto CrossCup event in Brussels, as a combination of snow, ice, cancelled ferries and the French police meant a journey that was scheduled to take 9 hours, ended up taking 16!

Despite only getting 7 hours sleep, she still ran excellently to finish 35th on her international debut in a time of 24.19. Juliet Potter finished 19th and Frances Briscoe 25th as the Midlands team put in a strong showing on a hilly and snowy course in the Belgian capital Brussels.

Weekend races cancelled

The weather has taken its toll on the local racing action, with the Gloucester Christmas 5m cancelled and the Downs Fitness Christmas Challenge also off. Organizer Mike Down took the decision based on the current conditions and the forecasted drop in temperature, making the roads around the Clifton Downs treacherous. All is not lost, as both races are to be rescheduled in the new year. Down as decided that Sunday 2nd January will be the new date, although some athletes may well be taking part in the 1st Chance 10k down in Exeter!

Ellis finishes with a new PB, as Voller wins at Weston

The final Prom Run of 2010 saw Matt Ellis secure yet another PB, as he ran 25.47 on a windy evening in Weston to finish 2nd overall, behind Angus MacLean. GWRs Ben Morley was 3rd some 20 seconds back. In the ladies race Westbury's Sophie Voller won in a time of 31.01, with Tamsin Chick finishing an excellent 3rd in 33.12!

Also running Gregg Ward 29.04, Robin Phillips 30.52, Jullian Bailey-Gard Jr 30.57, Alex Miller 32.02, Terry Jewell-Davie 32.06, Graham Clark 32.14, David George 32.33, Phil Court 33.07, Dean Thornton 35.12, Jullian Bailey-Gard Snr 35.29, Sandra Price 37.48, Andrew Gibbons 38.36, Jane Goodwin 38.55, Jane Thornton 41.50, Eirian Thornton 42.55, Gill Anagonstakis 42.57, Roger Long 42.57, Kay Ridgwell 43.39 and Sandra Bailey-Gard 53.11.

Well done all!!!

Weekend running round up

It was the Avon / Somerset / Wiltshire combined XC championships this weekend, which took place at the venue more commonly associated with the Bath Gwent League. It seems that the cattle which posed a problem last time had been swiftly dealt with, enabling a packed programme of XC from U11 through to senior to take place.

In the Senior Men's race, Bristol and West's Steve Mitchell won the overall race and consequently the Avon XC crown. Our own John Collier finished 11th overall and 6th for Avon in 34:23. Also running for the Harriers were Jullian Bailey-Gard Jnr who finished 32nd, Andrew Maggs in 34th and Tony Jefferies who finished 51st.

In the senior women's race, Robyn Golding finished 6th overall and 4th counter for Avon, with Sophie Voller one place further back. Tamsin Chick finished 11th, Kelly Winstone 15th, Vicky Jones 18th, Melanie Trickett 21st, Kristi Robertson 28th, Laura Tanna 29th, Marilyn Palmer 37th, Jane Thornton 38th, Eithne Noonan 40th and Sandra Bailey-Gard 43rd.

In the junior races, there were notable performances from James Skelton who took the U15 crown for Westbury, Jake Bevan who scored bronze in the U13 boys, Emma Jones and Ellie Leather secured silver and bronze in the U13 girls and James Robinson and Jenna Kelly who scored gold in the U11 boys and girls respectively.

Great effort from everyone!

Great performances from the Harriers make Gwent medals a possibility

With the results in and collated, it's apparent that both the Senior Mens and Senior Ladies teams are contenders for medals, with the Senior Ladies potential gold medalists - if their top runners can be persuaded to turn out for the last two meetings! The ladies were led home by Debbie Marsden in 3rd place and with three others in the top 50, they lie second after two events, but over 100 points adrift of Bath University. That said with the likes of Emma D'Alton, Robyn Golding, Vicky Plume and Sophie Voller yet to make an appearance that sort of lead could quickly disintegrate!

The men meanwhile had 5 in the top 50 as they finished 3rd overall and currently lie in 5th place, some 80 points adrift of 3rd, but with two more performances like the last one, they must also be medal prospects!

Ladies Division 1


1. Bath University 1361
2. Westbury Harriers 1249
3. Les Croupiers 1186
4. Cardiff AAC 1095
5. TROTS 958

Mens Division 1


1. Wells & Yeovil 2463
2. Les Croupiers 2434
3. Cardiff AAC 2341
4. Neath 2311
5. Westbury Harriers 2257

The juniors were not to be outdone either as the U13 girls had 4 in the top 8 - Emma Jones, Ellie Leather, Alana Sherman and Emma Taylor. Novice girls had 3 in the top 10 - Jenna Kelley, Alex Hayhuest and Steph Cummins. In the novice boys Ellie's brother Joe put in a great performance to finish 5th! Well done everyone!

Marsden receives Midlands Call up

Westbury's Debbie Marsden has been called up to represent the Midlands in an inter-territorial match, as part of the next round of the Iris Lotto Cross Cup held in Brussels on December 19th. Marsden who has been in excellent form both on her preferred road surface, and more recently showing considerable improvement on the country, where she has secured two 3rd places in the Gwent League this winter. She will be joined by Charnwood ACs Jane Potter, Telford's Claire Martin and Coventry Godiva's Frances Briscoe as they will aim to bring home team glory, at one of Europe's most prestigious XC events.

Congratulations to Debbie!

Ellis produces a cracker!

Matt Ellis followed up his solid 8th place in yesterday's Gwent League, with an outstanding run to win this year's Wyvern Christmas Cracker. The every improving member of Westbury Harriers dominated the race, leading from start to finish in a time of 32.29 - nearly 2 minutes clear of Peter Monaghan of Torbay who finished in 34.28. In the ladies race, Rebekah Randell of Bristol and West won with a time of 36.19, Westbury's Robyn Golding was 2nd in a time of 37.41.

Other Harriers out in action were Matthew Lee-Charnock in 40.57, Tamsin Chick in 41.32, Jane Pemble 43.12, James Noott 47.28, Linda O'Shaugnessy 49.24, Hayley Johnson 49.29, Gill Jones in 51.29, Andrew White in 52.02, Richard Hughes in 56.26, Diane Heys in 59.37 and Kirsty Burns 1.19.42.

Well done all!!!

Harriers smash the Gwent League

A great effort from all the Harriers young and old today on a miserable, cold day at Blaise Castle! In the ladies race, Debbie Marsden finished a fine 3rd place behind A. Beynon-Thomas of Carmathen and Holly Rush of Team Bath. In the men's race the Harriers scored 5 in the top 50, with Matt Ellis in 8th, John Collier 20th, Simon Everington 25th, John Terry 41st and Anthony Glover 49th! With solid back up from Karl Dunn, Colin Johnson and Robin Phillips, this gave them one of their strongest placings for some time!

Full details to follow later!

Gwent League is go...

and that's not the only reason Westbury Harriers have to be optimistic. With their ladies' team spearheaded by Debbie Marsden, who finished 3rd in the opening race at Bridgeend and the men's team promising to be the strongest for some time, with Matt Ellis, John Collier, Sam Dalgleish and Simon Everington all running, it promises to be a great weekend's cross country actions at Blaise. Race 1 starts at 11.45, with the ladies at 12.35 and then men at 2pm.

Good luck everyone!