Should the Harriers be satisfied?

Now that the dust has settled on the weekend's races,  should Westbury be happy with what their senior men and women achieved at the weekend? Having seen B&Ws take on events:

http://www.bristolandwestac.org/athletics-blog/2011/1/29/midland-championships-a-mix-of-well-dones-what-ifs-and-what.html

It really got me thinking about whether the club is right to be happy with what it has achieved? I mean what if Matt Ellis didn't go out with Robyn Golding and hadn't caught a cold off her two days before the event? What if Gregg Ward had started his marathon training in July instead of January? What if Anthony Glover didn't have 3 children and a full time job and was able to train all the time? What if John Terry did have a full time job and was unable to knacker himself out on a training camp in Lanzarote in the week before the race? What if Rich Collinson had had his lunch 3 hours before the race instead of 2? What if Colin Johnson was 15 years younger? What if Dan Studley and Will Massey were 3 years older? And what about those that didn't run? What if John Collier had decided to train to be a dustman in Bristol, rather than train to be a doctor in Southampton? What if Sam Dalgleish didn't hurt his ankle every time he set sight on a blade of grass? What if Simon Everington didn't have child-care issues on a Saturday?

You know what - it probably would've made bugger all difference - as we finished 335 points behind 4th place, so maybe we should just be happy...

Harriers 3rd and 5th teams at the midlands XC champs

Both the senior men and womens teams did the club proud at this weekend's midlands XC championships at Newbold Comyn in Leamington Spa. The ladies team of Debbie Marsden, Emma D'Alton, Robyn Golding and Sophie Voller secured bronze medals - one of the best ladies team performances in years. Marsden secured 12th place despite twice walking through a water feature, which must've cost her at least 20 or 30 seconds, but provided the baying crowd with much amusement! She was closely followed by D'Alton in 21st, Golding 23rd and Voller sprinting past two rivals to finish in 28th. Also in action were Tamsin Chick in 45th place, Zoe Dixon in 66th place, Kelly Winstone in 74th, Vicky Jones in 79th and Linda O'Shaugnessy in 159th.

In the mens race, Matt Ellis was first home for the Harriers finishing strongly in 32nd place,despite suffering the effects of a cold. Gregg Ward had a storming run to finish 68th, Anthony Glover in 80th, Rich Collinson 89th, John Terry 91st and completing the team, Colin Johnson in 130th. Following closely behind Colin was Robin Phillips in 136th. The men doing enough to finish 5th behind the powerhouse teams of Notts, Tipton, Cov Godiva and Bristol & West.

awesome running from all!!

Park run gets launch date, but will it take off?

The long awaited Bristol Parkrun is set to commence on Saturday march 26th, with Ashton court the chosen venue. It's been clear for a long time that Bristol needs it's own Parkrun - an organisation that has helped inspire thousands to take up running - but will this one succeed in the way many others have? The proposed route, which will start at the bottom of the park and climb continuously for over 100m to the turn point before the equally sharp descent, is not likely to inspire newcomers to our sport, who will most likely be put off by what is without doubt the toughest 5k route in the area. Experienced runners will also be discouraged from a course that offers little chance of a pb, and a heightened risk of injury as a consequence of fast running on a descent that reaches 6-7% in places.

Hopefully the organisers will review the route, perhaps considering a two loop option either predominately at the top or bottom, which would keep the climbing to a minimum. Two loops are used at a number of park runs and although runners would need to make two additional 180 turns, this would be preferable to a 5% climb for over 1.5 miles!

D'Alton races to win at the Bridge Inn

Westbury's Emma D'Alton comfortably won the women's race at the latest Bridge Inn, clocking a time of 17.46, which I believe is close to a PB! Robyn Golding made it a 1-2 for the ladies with a time of 18.15. Menawhile in the men's race, Matt Ellis finished 2nd, clocking a PB of 15.16, but was outsprinted at the end by Angus McLean, who continues his return to fitness with a time of 15.10. A great time for Matt and surely he can only improve further, with a sub 15 5k on a flatter course an inevitability!

More when full results available!

Racing update!

Hello everyone! Sorry for radio silence, but I have been abroad and so not been able to update the blog! Lots has been going on in my absence and a quick summation of what I can recall... Matt Ellis - winner of the Riverbank Rollick and then yesterday the Morland 10k. Great running there! John Collier won the Eastleigh Parkrun in 15.57 (a great time on a multi-terrain course) and followed it up with third place in the Romsey 5m in a time of 25.48 - cracking running there - Ellis beware!!! Sophie Voller running just outside her PB to win the most recent Weston Prom run, with Simon Everington running a fine fourth place in the low 27s and Gregg Ward up there too in the low 28s. Both Mens and Ladies teams winning prizes at the Riverbank Rollick!

Great running there!

Just a reminder this weekend see the Midland XC championships and there are plenty of Harriers in action!

Stone wins South West XC champs

Kairn Stone followed up his win in the first chance 10k with a win in the south west XC champs, holding off a concerted challenge from Bristol and West's Rob Bugden. For Westbury, Matt Ellis was 10th in a time of 27.53, Gregg Ward 30.09 for 34th. John Terry was 38th in 30.18. Colin Johnson was 53rd in 31.55, just ahead of team mate Karl Dunn in 32.09.

Westbury were 3rd team in the south west competition, behind Bristol and West and Wells City Harriers. Avon were also 3rd county, although the make up of the team was unclear!

More on the ladies and other results later!

Studley and Johnson the latest to shine over Christmas

Dan Studley and Colin Johnson were two other harriers who shone out over the Christmas period. Dan finished a very credible 14th (and 2nd Junior) in the Nos Galan "5k" in a time of 14.54. Unfortunately the race suffered from what is becoming a somewhat frequent and unwelcome occurrence in Wales of being short, this time due to a cone being misplaced, and apparently resulting in a course of 3 miles rather than 5k. Still a highly competitive time from Dan and undoubtedly his 5k PB will be shattered in the not too distant future.

Colin meanwhile strode out over the country at the Turnershill 5m, where he finished 7th overall and 3rd vet in a time of 30.03.

Well done to both!

Ellis and Marsden shine at the First Chance

The meteoric rise of Matt Ellis shows no signs of slowing, as he cruised to another astonishing PB of 31.10 in the First Chance 10k organized by South West Road Runners in Exeter. Ellis finished 2nd overall, just 10 seconds behind Kairn Stone, in a sell out field of 600 runners.

In the ladies race Debbie Marsden ran a new PB of 36.08, as she won the race with club mate Robyn Golding securing 3rd place and first vet lady. Jo Meek of Tavistock AC was 2nd, some way behind Marsden.

More later!

Glover and Collinson strike early form!

More racing action from the Harriers on New Year's Day! Anthony Glover headed to Gloucester where he managed 27.45 for a five mile race that was rescheduled following the early Christmas snow! Meanwhile in London Rich Collinson ran 34.04 for a highly competitive time in the Serpentine New Year's Day 10k!

As two thirds of the club's successful Man v. Horse team this bodes well as they are planning a hat-trick of victories this year! Well done to both!!!

Collier claims 3rd in the Hangover 10k!

John Collier made a strong start to the new year securing 3rd place in Weston ACs Hangover 10k. The race was won in a new course record time of 31.04 by recent B&W signing Mike Johnson. Unattached runner Chris Carre was second in 33.00. The ladies race was won by Southville's Lucy Richens in 40.32.

Also in action for the Harriers were Adam Kula-Przewanski in 38.56, Robin Phillips 38.59, Graham Clark 40.22, Alex Miller 41.52, Hayley Johnson 47.34, Andrew Gibbons 48.45, Linda O'Shaughnessy 51.54, Emma Powell 53.08, Aidan Naughton 55.49 and Graham Bazley 55.49 as well!

Great start to the year guys!