Harriers were busy competing at national, regional and local races once again this past weekend.  March 4^th and 5^th 2006

On Saturday the South-west Schools XC Championships were held in bright but cold conditions at Kings Park, Bournemouth. A number of Harriers were out representing Somerset Schools against the other Counties in the Region. Pick of the day for the Harriers was an excellent 4^th place by Brewham’s Justine Bowers in the Junior Girls, and a great 5^th place for Butleigh’s Alex Wiltshire in the Junior Boys.

Justine’s time of 14.10 for 4^th place in the Junior Girls signals a return to form, after interruptions earlier in the season due to illness. Close behind in 8^th place was Alice Woods in 14.51, 18^th Leighanna Chappell in 14.51 and 47^th Natalie Parker in 15.50.

Alex Wiltshire with his time of 13.39 for 4^th place paced his race really well, and was one of 3 members of the Harrier’s successful Under 15 boys squad competing. Together with Charlie Maclean in 8^th, 13.47, and Ben Venus in 16^th, 14.05, the three of them contributed to the six-man Somerset squad that won the team gold medal.

In the Minor Girls, Jessica Wood ran well for 10^th place, whilst best placed in the minor boys was Cameron Rafferty in 36^th place and Street’s Lewis Lynham just behind in 9.32. Cameron and Lewis have made a strong contribution this year to the Harrier’s Under 13 squad. In the Inter Girls, Laura Parker was first Somerset athlete home in 8^th place in 15.38, with fellow Harrier teammate Hannah Forrest, 48^th in 16.59. Tom Lock was the Harrier’s only representative in the Inter boys in 58^th place, 17.38, and he followed that up the day after with a nippy ‘training run’ at the local Butleigh race. Kyra Hawkins competed in the Senior Girls race and was disappointed with her run to finish in 35^th place in 17.22.

At a national level the main competition this past weekend for Harriers was also at the same venue in Bournemouth, but on Sunday when the British Masters XC Championships took place. 8 Harrier veterans toed the line with an excellent 10^th place for the Harrier men’s V40+ team consisting of Dickie Wythe, Steve Masters, Jon Sharp, and Dave Stanfield. Dickie’s 15^th V45 position in 27.20 for the 8km course now sets him up for his tilt at the World Masters Championships to be held in Austria next week. Steve Masters was 23^rd V45, with Jon Sharp some 40 seconds back for 46^th V40, and Dave Stanfield 53^rd V40. For the women there was an excellent top ten finish for Millfield School teacher and harrier Karen Buckley over the 6km distance, and other good runs by Tina Backwell, back from injury, Shepton’s Tracey Halliday, and new signing Chrissie Brooks.

The last Club fixture for XC is on this coming Sunday, March 12th, at Hestercombe House, Taunton (1.00pm) where the Harriers are poised for a top 3 team finishe in a number of junior and senior age groups against the 20 or so Clubs from across the Region.