Men maintain position in Gwent League

Westbury's men team overcame tough conditions to stay in contention in the 2nd round of the Gwent League at Bath University. Leading the way was Matt Ellis who finished 10th, John Collier was 25th (showing no ill effects from the previous days 10k!) , Anthony Glover 44th, Simon Everington 45th and Gregg Ward 50th.

For the B team Ken Ham was 80th, Karl Dunn 81st, Robin Phillips 94th, Jullian Bailey-Gard Jnr was 113th and Dean Gardner 154th.

Sadly our C team was incomplete, but that didn't stop Tony Jefferies finishing 164th, Jullian Bailey-Gard Snr 168th and Mike Harris 212.

Well done all. Full results when we have them through!!!

Westbury flying high in the mens and womens Gwent League

In the opening round of this season's Gwent League, Westbury put in a strong showing across both the men's and women's league. For the ladies Debbie Marsden finished a strong 4th place, behind winner Rebekah Randall of Bristol and West. Vicky Tester put in an outstanding run to finish 10th, one place ahead of team mate Sophie Voller. Lizzy Smith completed the ladies A team in 27th.

For the men, Matt Ellis ran a steady pace throughout to finish 18th, John Collier 27th, Simon Everington 40th, Anthony Glover 48th and John Terry completed the A team in 52nd. For the B team, Gregg Ward was 65th, Colin Johnson 101st, Robin Phillips 102nd, Ken Ham 119th and Jullian Bailey-Gard Jnr 134th.

Then we had a guest - Andy Buck - finishing 174th, just ahead of Tim Westmacott in 178th, Mike Hokins was 196th, Tony Jefferies 208th, Jullian Bailey-Gard Snr 216th and Mike Harris 273rd.

We also had two other guests Andreas Lomvardos and Dean Gardner turn out for the club in a strong first showing.

In the U.20s former Harrier Dan Studley, now running as an individual for B&W, finished 2nd behind Blair Brown of Taunton!

I'll put a more detailed report, completing the ladies squad and details of the juniors as we have them!

Studley, Dalgleish and Everington in 3,4,5!

Well done to our three Harriers men at the White Horse 5k, all of whom clocked cracking times to finish 3rd, 4th and 5th! Leading the way was Dan Studley in 15.35, ahead of Sam Dalgelish in 15.59 and Si Everington in 16.12! Bristol and West's Charlie McLean finished 2nd and broke the 15 minute barrier for the first time!!!

Wind rules at Millfield meet

The BMC "PB Classic" meet at Millfield school sadly failed to live up to its billing, as a ferocious wind blowing from the east, put paid to any ideas of fast times at the track classic! Westbury had a number of competitors in action, running under the guise of their track running counterparts Yate AC. In the 800m B race, Kane Lee ran a fine 2.02 to finish In the 1500m mens B race, Dan Studley also finished 4th in the mens 1500m B race in 4.09. In the 3k, Sam Dalgleish ran 9.17 and Simon Everington 9.47 completing the action for our guys!! Well done all for braving those conditions!!!

Men foiled at the final hurdle!

With the final race of the season now completed, it looks like Westbury's senior men will finish an agonising 4th place in Division 1, having finished pretty much neck and neck with Neath Harriers in the final race of the season. Needing to overhaul a lead of 31 points was always a big ask, and when Anthony Glover had to pull out injured, the challenge got tougher still. It looked promising for the men when Dan Studley finished 9th, Sam Dalgleish 16th, Simon Everington 23rd and John Terry 33rd, with only Neath's first three in in 14th, 15th and 30th, but then agonisingly Neath packed in 3 in 36th, 38th and a mid 40s to ensure that they would take 3rd place, as Colin Johnson completed the scoring counters in 54th - another cracking run from him. Also running were Mike Hopkins in 113th, Jullian Bailey Gard Snr 133rd, Matthew Barber136th, and Tony Jeffries (who claimed 2nd overall male V65) in 153rd.

We also had confirmation of the ladies winning the Division 1 prize and Debbie Marsden and Tamsin Chick taking 2nd and 3rd Senior respectively. A full report on the ladies will appear in due course!!! There was also considerable junior success both individually and teams!

Well done all!

Harriers prepare for Gwent League decider

Westbury Harriers have their sights set on medals in both mens and womens competition as the Gwent League reaches its climax in the final race of the season at Singleton Park in Swansea. The ladies are overwhelming favourites to win Division 1, as they have a commanding lead of 130 points over Les Croupiers and in Debbie Marsden have the leading senior lady competing for them. The men will be hoping to overhaul Neath Harriers and claim bronze medals for the first time in 6 years, and are waiting on Anthony Glover passing a late fitness test, otherwise an SoS to Gregg Ward, who is currently planning to run the Gloucester 20, maybe required! That said with Dan Studley, Sam Dalgleish, Simon Everington, Colin Johnson and John Terry all running they may already have enough ammunition to overturn the narrow 31 point gap!

Men storm to Gwent League success!!!

Westbury's men put in another strong showing at the latest instalment of the Gwent League at the Penlan Leisure Centre in Brecon on Saturday. Led home by Simon Everington in 12th place, he was pushed all the way by Anthony Glover in 14th and Gregg Ward who eventually placed 15th. A minute further back, John Terry finished 35th and Colin Johnson completed the scorers in an excellent 48th - a first top 50 showing for Colin. With Robin Phillips chasing him hard in 52nd, Geraint Torrington making a welcome return to racing in 117th, Rob Williams in 119th, Tony Jefferies in 126th and Mike Hopikins in 131st an excellent showing for the men.

With Dan Studley and Sam Dalgleish threatening to put in an appearance for the final race at Swansea, and maybe even Matt Ellis could be roused from a stag weekend induced slumber, the men look a decent prospect for a medal for the first time in several seasons in one of Britain's toughest XC leagues.

The mens A team squad L to R - Colin Johnson, Anthony Glover, Gregg Ward (c), Simon Everington, John Terry and Robin Phillips

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!

Everington returns to Westbury colours

Within 24 hours of handing in his membership forms, Simon Everington was out in Westbury colours (well name only!) and taking part in the first of the winter series Bridge Inn. After a 3 year hiatus, he finished 13th in a time of 17.21, just behind Kane Lee in 17.16 and Anthony Glover 17.10. First over the line was once again Matt Ellis - only this time he was there from the start, helping out with the finish times! The race itself was won by Team Bath's Allister Sheffield, with B&Ws Phil Parry close behind in 2nd.

In the ladies race it was a clean sweep for the home club, with Rebekah Randell winning in 17.14, Imogen Ainsworth 2nd in 17.16 and Hannah Alderson 3rd in 17.29. For Westbury, Emma D'Alton was first home in 17.47, Debbie Marsden was next in 18.11 and Robyn Golding 3rd in 18.21.

Also out for the club were Jullian Bailey-Gard Jnr - who just failed to break the 18 minute barrier, Colin Johnson in 18.06, Tyrone James in 18.19, Alex Miller in 18.37, David George in 19.42, Tony Jeffries 19.47, Tamsin Chick 19.52, Dave Chandler 20.32, Shona Mackie 20.36, James Noott 21.53, Richard Hughes 22.36, Jane Goodwin 23.16, Roger Long 24.20, Linda O'Shaugnessy 24.52, Jane Thornton 25.54 and Sandra Bailey-Gard 32.16.

Well done to you all!!!

Everington secures victory at Bitton

Former Harrier Simon Everington raced to victory in the 2nd of the Summer Bitton 5k Series. Showing no ill effects from a 5x1k session the day before, Everington fought a close battle with Paul Davis, winning by a single second in a time of 16.27. In action for the Harriers were Bob Pringle, who finished 13th in 18.28, Hayley Johnson who ran 23.16 and Roger Long who ran 23.56.

Full results are here.