Westbury 2nd in Bridge Inn 5k

The first ever Bridge Inn Mob Match was dominated by the host club who had 8 in the top 10 in a record field of 208 starters. Only 205 finished, and of the three that didn't one of whom was Westbury's Robin Phillips who was tripped and injured in an overcrowded start. Sadly I think the course is not suited to many more than 100 competitors due to the narrow cycle way.

It was a 1-2-3 for Bristol and West as Phil Wylie won in a time of 15.13, followed by Owain Jones and Steve McGuigan. For Westbury, Matt Ellis was the top performer, finishing 4th in a time of 15.43, then it was Emma D'Alton 2nd lady and 18th overall in 17.19, just 12 seconds off of Imogen Ainsworth of Bristol and West. Gregg Ward ran 17.36, Terry Jewell-Davies 18.08, Steve Hawes 18.09, Jullian Bailey-Gard Jnr 18.11, Colin Johnson 18.16, Paul Fletcher 18.37, Alex Miller 18.43, Lizzy Smith 18.53, Graham Clark 19.04, Phil Court 19.20, David George 19.22, Tony Jefferies 20.02, Clive Attwood 20.09, Evita Gonzalez 20.48, Richard Hughes 20.49, James Noott 21.19, Kelly Winstone 21.20, Mike Harris 21.36, Hayley Johnson 22.16, Debbie Fletcher 22.24, Julian Wilson 23.19, Caroline Potter 23.50, Sandra Price 24.11, Sarah Tucker 24.58, Jane Thornton 25.40, Rachel Nowak 26.28, and Eithne Noonan 27.16! Phewww!!! Well done all!!!

Felix climbs heights with an awesome performance in World Mountain Running Champs

Westbury's Felix McGrath put in an outstanding display in the recent World Mountain Running Championships finishing in a great 18th place over a tough course in the East European state of Slovenia. McGrath who has come on leaps and bounds in the past two years under the watchful high of coach Neil Miller, can rightly be proud of a great achievement. A credit to the club!

Avon 5k Mob Match tomorrow

Come on all you Westbury Harriers - tomorrow is the Avon 5k mob match and it would be great to see as many of you out there as possible. Given that other clubs are doubtless also making rallying cries, parking maybe a bit trickier than usual at the Bridge Inn, so please allow extra time to get set up and enter the race.

On Vacation!

As you might have figured out from the lack of activity I have been on holiday - blog will return with an update Sunday or Monday!!!

Ellis runs home 6th in Torbay Half

Westbury's Matt Ellis finished 6th in todays's Torbay half marathon in a time of 74.42. Top West performer was B&W's Tom Merson who finished 3rd behind two Kenyans. In the ladies race Holly Rush and Annabelle Grainger are an unconfirmed 1-2 for B&W.

More news later as we have it!

Ellis wins Avon title, Marsden takes silver in race return...

Westbury's Matt Ellis won the Avon 10k title in a time of 33.32 at last night's Clevedon 10k. Ellis finished 4th on the night, but luckily for him none of the top 3 (Tavistock's Jim Cole, Bristol and West's Steve McGuigan and Wells City Harriers' Jon James (tbc)) were eligible for the Avon champs. In the ladies race, Debbie Marsden made a return to racing following a brief injury finishing a comfortable second in 37.10.

Full details of the race as we have them!

Phillips and Smith top Harriers in Bradley Stoke 10k

Robin Phillips finished 4th overall and Lizzy Smith was 2nd lady in yesterday's Bradley Stoke 10k. Phillips clocked a time of 37.24 and Smith 40 minutes precisely in a race won by Peter Morton in 35.26.

Also in action for the Harriers we had Steve Fowley 42.11, Mike Hopkings 42.21, James Noott 44.44, Matthew Lavis 45.21, Richard Hughes 46.20, Andy Schwartz 46.52, Caroline Potter 49.39, Julian Pyrke 49.53, John Percival 54.11 and Victoria Jones 58.53.

Well done all!!

Westbury dominate at Man v. Horse

Westbury Harriers were the most well represented club at this year's Man v. Horse, with 11 competitors turned out to take on 50 horses, in what was billed the World's Largest Horse Race! Held over 22 miles of hilly and boggy Welsh countryside, near the town of Llanwrtyd Wells the 32nd running of the race once again saw a horse triumph, as wet and windy conditions put the odds well and truly in the horses favour. Beti Gordon on Next in Line Grangeway won in a time of 2.08.37, some 17 minutes ahead of the first runner Charlie Pearson in 2.25.45. It was a near record turnout for the event, as nearly 300 individuals and over 100 three-person relay teams took part in the event!

For the Harriers it was a day of great success, as Rich Collinson ran a cracking time of 2.34.06 to finish second overall! Not far behind was John Terry who finished fourth in a time of 2.36.18, only 25 seconds behind third! Completing the team, Anthony Glover ran  2.40.14 to finish seventh, as they wrapped up the team trophy for the third consecutive year!

Then it was our men's relay team, consisting of Julian Bailey-Gard, Phil Court and Alex Miller, who between them got round in 2.45.01. Then came former member Steve Adams in 2.46.19, he was some 10 min ahead of his bedfellow for the evening Colin Johnson in 2.57.15!

Wet weather, meant the runners took shelter in the pub, prior to the race!

Another former member Gareth Howard came home in a time of 3.07.00 dead, before a bit of a wait ensued, but then we had Laura Tanna and Graham Bazeley finishing together in a time of 4.09.20. Not long after Jane Goodwin was home in 4.17.28 and then Jane Thornton in a time of 4.25.05.

Collinson looking unimpressed with 2nd place

The presentation was performed by the head of the Monster Raving Loony Party - Howling Laud Hope - who did not impress a nonchalant Rich Collinson, as he received his 2nd place trophy! He soon cheered up though, as he was joined by Glover and Terry to collect the team trophy.

The victorious team collect their third consecutive trophy

With the town planning to host the alternative version of the Olympic Games next summer, man versus horse is going to be an Olympic sport for one year only! It promises to be a year not to be missed! The Wall Street Journal's take on events can be found here, full results of the race here, and video highlights of the whole event here and here. Enjoy!

Countdown to Man v Horse

It's the second weekend in June and that can mean only one thing - the legendary Man v. Horse Marathon event in Llanwrtyd Wells - Powys. Now in its 32nd year it looks like the Harriers will be out in force, with at least 6 men and 3 ladies tackling the full 22 mile course. We are hoping that our leading men will be able to bring home the team prize (for the lowest aggregate finishing positions of the top 3 counters) for the 3rd year running, following the success of Rich Collinson, Anthony Glover and John Terry in 2009 and 2010. With Collinson having run 2.46 at London, Terry having finished 2nd in the recent UK Trail Running Championships over 20 miles and Glover running well over 3k, the odds for that hat-trick look to be evens or better!

Our victorious mens team from 2010

What to expect - hills, streams and horses!!!

Good luck all!!!

England star McGrath in action in Blaise

England Junior fell runner Felix McGrath was the star for Westbury Harriers at the first Blaise Blazer finishing 2nd in a great time of 22.19. Unfortunately for Felix, Bristol and West's Matt Crane running in the colours of the Bristol Orienteering Klub scorched round in a time of 20.53, which must be close to a course record. Fellow Orienteer Matt Franklin finished 3rd in 23.08, with the Harriers' John Terry 4th in 23.21.

In the ladies race, Grace Crane was the winner in 26.21. With over 30 Harriers out in force, the full resutlts are available here.

The Harriers celebrate the end of the Blazer!

Well run everybody!

D'Alton finishes third in Poole Festival 10k

Showing no ill effects from her 11th place in the BUPA London 10k, Emma D'Alton was back in action in the Poole Festival 10k. She didn't disappoint finishing third in a new PB of 35.18 and securing £75 in the process. With £200 up for grabs for the first four ladies, this looks like a race to target for the Westbury ladies next year!

Harriers in action on the track!

Kane Lee, Tyrone James, Kelly Winstone, Anthony Glover and John Terry were all in action for Yate, as the 2nd round of the Midland League Division 2 came to Yate Outdoor Sports Complex. Kane was particularly busy running the 800,1500 and 4x400. Tyrone running in the 800, Kelly in the ladies 3k and Anthony and John in the mens 3k.

We are awaiting the final results, but are fairly confident that Anthony finished in 9.37 and John in 9.56, for 6th and 11th place respectively!

Well done guys and girl!

Voller wins 2nd Towpath run

Westbury's Sophie Voller claimed victory in the 2nd of the summer towpath runs in a time of 39.30 and was only seconds away from being Westbury's top finisher! That honour went to Graham Clark who ran 39.11 to finish 18th. In a low key race, with numbers down on usual, Mike Blackmore from Bitton Road Runners was the winner in 35.02, with Scott Campbell from Soutville Running Club 2nd in 36.17.

Also in action for the Harriers were Jullian Bailey-Gard Jr, who finished just behind Voller in 39.32, Paul Fletcher 40.14, Alex Miller 41.15, Andrew Yuill 43.19, Richard Hughes 44.16, Rebecca Lee 44.35, Georgie MacArthur 45.07, Debbie Fletcher 48.12, Roger Long 51.14, Julian Pyrke 52.22, Anneke Bull 53.13 and Paul Mooney 55.31.

Well done all!