Headlines were made by two Harriers who won their races, whilst three others were 2nd in their respective races, and a further ten secured top ten finishes. That’s a good tally from the 56 Harriers of all ages competing at the University of Bath venue on Sunday Nov 14th. We will have some great team positions to be confirmed when all results are computed and may turn out to be top overall team on the day out of the 40+ Clubs that contest this tough Cross-country League.
Welcome to all those making their debut in the Harrier vest at cross-country, including the u11 novices: Rachel Packard, Elise & Ollie Thorner; also Laura Coppard for the u17 women; and Julia Dukes for the senior women; not forgetting the senior men giving it a go for the first time: Chris Moore, Steve Dickinson and Dave Fussell. That was some effort by all. Well done to all team managers for such a good turn out, and to parents for supporting.
Proceedings got underway with the u11s Boys race for School Year 5 and 6s where 50 or so lined up, and the three Harrier Boys all came home in top ten positions. Luke Baker, who has been making a habit of winning the races on the field at the summer Yeovilton races, and on the road at the Street 1km races, swept to 2nd place with Ollie Thorner not far behind in his first outing at this level of XC. Chris Ellis finished off the trio with 9th place with his steady running for a great set of early team results.
In the u11 girls race we had two girls making their debut. Elise Thorner showed great composure and experience here to open up a big gap over the 3rd placed runner when taking 2nd place. Rachel Packard, a Year 5 pupil, also had a great run given that she was giving away a year on many competitors and finished 21st.
The pattern was set by those two early races and the supporting Harrier parents and athletes were cheering again when in the u13 boys race James Bridge came home in 7th, Johnny Ellis in 18th and Joe Heath in 32nd.In the u13 girls race over the same 2.8km course, Amy Darcy used all her experience from the past 15 months or so to pace herself to 16th position, with Harriet Fox running well for 24th, Jessica Pate home in 37th and Louise Rusca stepping up to the mark with her 42nd position finish. That was a really good set of places given the course and the opposition.
The u15 boy’s race saw 5 of the Harrier's top juniors lining up and we weren’t to be disappointed by all 5. Over the two-lap circuit, covering 3.9km, Oliver Fox established an early lead that he was to stretch out by the end to over 200m on the chasing runner. Oliver was 6th in the English Schools XC Championships last March 2011 and has gone through some injury problems this summer but is once again looking incredibly light and nimble on his feet. Sam Somerville, a year younger than Oliver, was next home in an excellent 5th place with Mark Bailey close behind in 6th and Luke Prior a great 8th. Jonathan Greenwood was back racing with us again and it was good to see the way he sensibly paced himself round the course for a mid-field finish of 25th. (note: Mark was crowned 1st Year 9 boy after winning the 4 race Mendip schools League last Thusday. Report to follow)
The u15 girl’s race also saw a Harrier victor, this time from the ‘Yeovil side’ of the training group when Isobel Glaisher showed a clean set of heals to all comers with her front running from line to tape. Charlotte Baker followed up her good run at the previous week’s Street 5k for her 7th place here. Rebecca Bowles was a solid 17th and there was good team support from Abigail Gibbons, 20th, and Megan Rusca, 29th, with Megan being just old enough for this age group by 1 day, giving away up to two years to the older competitors.
In the u17 women’s race which was combined with the u20s, Lilly Hawkins was first home for the Harriers moving well clear in to 3rd place on the 2nd of the two laps over the 4.7km distance. Here she was given good support by Laura Coppard making her debut and finishing in 25th place. The u17 men’s race also had a good showing by the team with Matthew Dickinson 6th in the combined u17/u20 field, and then Harry Lane, 16th, Phillip Bridge 23rd, Ben Baldwin 34th and Tom Baldwin 35th.George Harris was 27th in the same race for the u20s.
The Senior women’s team was also bolstered this time out with one athlete that was making their debut for the Harriers - Julia Dukes- and a number that hadn’t raced cross-country for some time. Katrina Prior was first home in 31st place over the 5.9km course, with Tracey Halliday 75th on her ‘home’ turf and Sam Baker 78th. Claire Thomas made a return to racing XC after a break in 91st place as did Cath Goldsmid in 110th and Julia made her debut in 153rd. The women’s team finished in 11th place out of 45 teams on the day and moved up to 19th overall after the two fixtures to date.
The Senior men’s team manager Jon Gilling was well pleased with the great turn out of 20 runners in the final event of the day over 10.3km. This was despite the fixture clash with the McCain XC Challenge being held some 8 miles down the road at Bristol's Ashton Court where two of the Club's Team GB athletes were competing (and finishing 1st & 4th there - see separate report)
Adrian Marriot finished 4th here and bolstered his overall position, after two fixtures, of 3rd. Adrian’s time was 32.41. Eddie Richards was next home in 18th, 3rd V40, followed closely by Jack Bancroft 23rd. Tim Hawkins was 35th, John Gilling was 48th with Chris Moore making his debut for the Club with his 51st position, and Rob Dennes in 59th. Nick Somerville was 74th, 3rd V50, Steve Masters was 82nd, 5th V50. Other finishers included: Simon Prior, 109th; Clive Harwood 116th, 1st V60;Pete Darton 128th; Graham Goldsmid 145th; Geoff Cole, 170th; Rex Whitcombe 187th; Paul Chadwick 189th; Adrian Bridge 221st; Andrew Pate 224th; Steve Dickinson 232nd on his debut; Dave Fussell 238th on his debut.
The Senior men’s team was 2nd on the day and moved up to 4th on cumulative positions in an effort to try and retain the Division one title that was won in 2010/11. The V40 team was also 2nd on the day, 4th after two fixtures whilst the V50 team was also 2nd, 3rd after two matches.
REMEMBER: the next fixture is at Swansea on Sunday December 4th and again we will try and get as many Harriers out competing as possible. The Swansea course is a lovely parkland setting. If there are any non-competing parents that could help by volunteering to drive a minibus that would help team managers. Please contact team managers by November 28th to confirm you want a space on the minibus (cost £5) or advise team managers by the Friday December 2nd if you are intending to compete.
Start planning now for the various XC Championships: Somerset (Dec11th); South West (Jan 8th); Southerns at Brighton (Jan 28th). Contact Team managers by closing dates of Dec 4th (Somerset) and Dec 11th for the other two.
EXTRA HILL SESSION: this Saturday Nov 19th 10.30am Street Hill. See Events & results calendar to left.
CHECK out the About Wells City Harriers tab for information on team managers 2011/12 and other useful info
FOUND: Garmin watch.Contact Simon Prior to claim
Full results from Gwent when available are here: