Ellis and Terry hit form at just the right time!

Following a torrid couple of weeks, Matt Ellis and John Terry both hit form at just the right time, with this weekend's deciding Gwent League only a few days away, Ellis finished 2nd in Tuesday night's Bridge Inn, clocking a time of 15.26, to finish just 10 seconds off his PB, whilst Terry went even better, clocking his first sub 17 time of 16.59. Lucy Richens also scored a big PB with 17.40, to finish 2nd in the ladies race. Karl Dunn and Robin Phillips both ran excellent times of 17.39 and 17.49 respectively!

Also in action Robyn Golding ran 19.03, Richard Hughes 19.45, David George 19.49, Kelly Winstone 19.59, Tony Jefferies 20.11, Matt Lavis 20.25, Ross Chick 20.53, Chris Palmer 21.23, Sarah Thorne 21.42, Valerie Hughes 22.21 and Tim Carr 23.12 - well done to you all!!

Bailey-Gard Jnr impresses in challenge

Jullian Bailey-Gard Jnr produced one of his best ever runs to finish 6th in this weekend's Ironwood Challenge. The 36 year old Westbury Harrier, ran an excellent race to finish in 49.54 and over a minute clear of Terry Jewell-Davies. Also in action were Nick Kerry who finished 27th in 55.07, Jullian Bailey-Gard Snr 31st in 55.52, Richard Hughes 33rd in 56.03, Josh Howlett 45th in 58.55 and Clive Shepherd 47th in 59.14. Then we had Debbie Cleary 64th in 1.01.58, Jane Goodwin, Tim Carr and Victoria Howlett 81st-83rd respectively in times of 1.05.14, 1.05.19 and 1.05.29, Linda O'Shaugnessy 91st in 1.07.35, Roger Long and Jane Thornton 113th and 114th both in 1.16.34 and Sandra Bailey-Gard 129th in 1.31.03.

Well done to all!

Terry and Palmer survive the National

A glorious day for racing at London's Parliament Hill, for the 125th running of the Senior Mens National XC Championships. The jinx that had cost the club so many runners in the build up to the race, struck during the race as Scott Campbell suffered a recurrence of an ankle problem and was forced to drop out shortly after 2miles. Fortunately for the club - with the deciding Gwent League rapidly approaching - John Terry showed a return to form to finish 320th in a time of 43.16 for the challenging 12km course, whilst Chris Palmer finished in 44.52 for 451st place.

It seems that Westbury were not the only club affected by the jinx as our colleagues over the way, B&W also suffered, losing Robbie Bugden to an injury suffered during the race and Mike Jacobs collapsed just before the finish, but in a herculean effort, picked himself up and struggled across the line. Earlier on in the day Nathan Young also pulled out, which cost the Junior men a chance of a medal!

Let's hope we can get a much better turn out next year at what has to be the ultimate racing experience. Anyone who has stood at the side of, or better still stood in the middle of, can attest to the truly awing experience of having 1500+ feet simultaneously pounding off up a hill at the start of a race. The ground shakes, yet it's eerily quiet. The National. There's nothing quite like it!

Glover hot foots it to a cracking time in the Chilly 10k

Westbury's Anthony Glover took the opportunity to return to the roads, with a cracking 4th place in a time of 34.40 in today's Castle Combe Chilly 10k. Glover who has been nursing an ageing groin over the past few months, felt the flat tarmac of Castle Combe would be a good indicator of current form. I'd say he's warming up nicely for next weekend's Gwent League!

Also in action, Tim Synge who clocked a time of 42.51, to follow on from yesterday's 26 minutes in the Ashton Court Park Run - well done too to Tim!

Nationals jinx as Harriers team decimated!

It seems that there is a jinx affected Westbury Harriers' athletes, as injuries and illness have robbed them of several athletes. With John Collier, Anthony Glover, Colin Johnson, Rich Collinson, Gregg Ward, Sam Dalgleish and Simone Everington all unavailable, the men's flag will be only flying half mast with Scott Campbell, Chris Palmer and John Terry racing. The girls have had it just as bad, with Sophie Voller, Vicky Tester and Debbie Marsden all out, it has meant a collapse in the ladies team as well.

Thoughts now turn to Blaise Castle and hopes for a rapid recovery from the Harriers athletes, whose number will be boosted through the likes of Dan Summers, Will Massey and Felix McGrath for the deciding Gwent League fixture on March 3rd.

Richens scores 2nd in the tough ten!

Westbury's Lucy Richens finished 2nd lady, just a minute or so off the race winner B&Ws Annabel Granger in this weekend's tough ten. Lucy who has come on leaps and bounds in the past few months, must be feeling confident that next season will be her time to win what she describes as her favourite race!

Well done Lucy!

Ellis canters, Voller gallops and Jones charges at Weston

Westbury Harrier's Matt Ellis cruised to victory in last night's Weston Prom. Ellis led from gun to tape and a solo performance of 25.44 on a relatively calm evening set the tone for some fast performances throughout. Such was his dominance, that he had established a lead of over a minute by half way and cantered through the second half, talking with marshalls and joking with the locals as he eased down to a 1.40 victory from B&Ws Ben Robinson.

In the ladies race, Sophie Voller cruised to a new PB and her first ever sub 30, in 29.55, whilst performance of the night for me came from Charlie Jones, who smashed his PB with a time of 28.17! It looks like all the hard training sessions are paying dividends for this group!

Full results to follow!

Gwent League Results

With the scores on the doors counted, the Harriers take a 43 point lead into the final race of the season, following their 2nd place behind Les Croupiers yesterday. The strength is depth of the current senior men could be no better illustrated by the fact that our B team finished 6th team on the day and with 3654 points would be holding their own in Division 1 along with the A team.

A glorious performance from our SM this season and what better venue for the league to be decided than the Blaise Castle Estate.

Our ladies are still in the hunt, currently lying 2nd overall, but realistically they may have to settle for silver. Whichever way it goes, there's going to be some serious celebrations come Saturday March 3rd!!!

Sunday Round up!

Good news from Reading, where Robyn Golding continues her recovery from injury with a comfortable victory in the Reading 5m. The course was subject to last minute alterations due to snow and ice, but that didn't stop Golding clocking a time of 29.42, to finish 10th overall!

Also today, the Dursley dozen attracted a few runners from Westbury including Graham Bazley , whilst down in Exeter Tim Synge competed in the new Exeter 1/2 marathon in 1.34!

Well done all!

Voller stars as ladies look set to seal second.

Sophie Voller led the way for the Westbury ladies in today's Gwent, finishing in a cracking 5th place as they look set to secure at least silver going into the final race of the season. Backed up by the returning Vicky Tester in 14th, Kelly Winstone 35th, Sarah Thorne 59th and Jenni Cummins 64th the A team were hoping to limit the lead of Les Croupiers. Next home we had Hayley Johnson in 70th, Victoria Howlett in 77th, team manager Tamsin Chick making a welcome return in 78th and Lindsay Hall in 129th.

Well done ladies!

Top Gwent finish for Ellis, but Harriers face nail biting climax!

Les Croupiers emerged victorious from round four of the Gwent League at Brecon, but Westbury Harriers remain in first place with the title to be decided at the Blaise Castle Estate in 3 weeks time.

For the Harriers, Matt Ellis ran his best ever Gwent race, and despite going over on his ankle heavily, he managed 5th place, and only seconds off of 4th. John Collier ran a cracking race too for 10th, with Anthony Glover 3rd home in 20th. Then we had Gregg Ward in 33rd and Charlie Jones in 38th to complete the A team.

Karl Dunn led home the B team in 41st, with new boy Ed Boyles in 49th, Ken Ham 54th, Chris Palmer 55th and Robin Phillips 60th a great showing.

We also had a complete C team as Bob Pringle finished 105th, Ian Ruck 108th, Jullian Bailey-Gard Snr 134, Mike Hopkins 145th and Tony Jefferies 153rd.

Les Croupiers packed the top of the field, finishing 6th, 7th, 17th, 22nd, 23rd and 24th - however there was some doubts as to whether their first counter would actually count for the team, having only recently joined. So whilst we await the official results, the Harriers will take a lead of either 26 or 44 points into the final round. Either way it's going to be a nail biting finish to the season, but with the likes of Simon Everington, Felix McGrath, Dan Summers, John Terry,  Sam Dalgleish and Will Massey waiting in the wings, the Harriers will be hoping to have sufficient firepower to see off Les Croups on home soil and win their first title for many years!

Harriers seek to strengthen grip on title

Westbury Harriers senior men's team will be looking to increase their lead at the top of the Gwent League as the 4th round takes place in Brecon this weekend. Following on from securing top spot in the 3rd round at Singleton Park, Swansea in December, the Harriers look set to field a strong squad that on paper will be tough to overcome. They will be led by Matt Ellis and John Collier, with Anthony Glover, John Terry, Charlie Jones, Karl Dunn, Gregg Ward and Chris Palmer all looking to make up the A team. With new boys Scott Campbell and Ed Boyles set to make their Harriers debut and Robin Phillips, Ken Ham, Jullian Bailey-Gard Jnr and Bob Pringle competing as well, it would be a strong side indeed that was able to put much of a dent into the Harriers 50+ point lead.

The ladies will be seeking to close the gap on the leaders Les Croupiers and hope to field Sophie Voller and Vicky Tester to strengthen the side that finished 3rd in the race at Swansea last year.

Good luck everyone!

Ellis and Johnson star at the Chichester 10k

Well done to Matt Ellis and Hayley Johnson, who defied precarious conditions to make it to the start line of the Chichester Priory 10k. Ellis clocked a new road PB of 31.24 as he finished 16th in a highly competitive field, led home by Benedict Whitby in a scorching 29.37. Hayley meanwhile clocked 45.26 as she moves ever closer to a sub 45 time!!!

Also in action at the Blackmore Vale 1/2 marathon - Andrew Gibbons who clocked a time of 1:53:14.

Well done all!

Palmer is back!

Chris Palmer showed he is fast returning to his best form, after clocking a cracking time of 17.14 in January's Bridge Inn. He was kept company by several other Harriers, including Dan Summers and Karl Dunn who clocked 17.35 and 17.38 respectively. New boy Ed Boyles clocked 17.55, just ahead of Robin Phillips in 17.56, who in turn was just ahead of the winning lady, our own Emma D'Alton in 17.57!

The we had Jullian Bailey-Gard Jnr in 18.12, Sophie Voller in 18.26, Malc White in 19.15, Ray Hooper 19.56, Richard Hughes 20.04, Tony Jefferies 20.15, Mike Mews 22.02, Mike Harris 22.11, Sarah Thorne 22.17, Valerie Hughes 22.23, Tim Carr 24.00 and Sandra Bailey-Gard in 32.22

The race itself was won by Bristol & West's Andrew Woods and there were 138 finishers!

Well done to all runners!