Race Reports

Several Harriers managed to get numbers for this year's Sizzling Sixth Cheddar Half Marathon, unlike the Club Chairman who unfortunately left it too late! Difficult for those taking part in the Somerset Series when the race became full well in advance of the event date. There were at least 4 PB's this year including our Wednesday night stalwart, Bob Powell who took approx 20 secs off his previous best time for a half marathon with a time of 1:42:04. Encouraging that you can still get PB's event as a V50! Yvonne Mears, who has only been running for a year, also secured a PB and a V35 prize. Les Lock was fastest Harrier home in 1:23 and Jenny Moore, leading the Somerset Series finished a very stron 24th overall in 1:25:59. John Russell (1:36) and Ben Cane (1:38) were possibly making their half marathon debuts wearing their Wells vests. Chris Ross, recently back from a long hot marathon in the Pyrenees, managed to complete in 1:56. Sue Cook, bettered her previous Cheddar time by 4 minutes by trying a bit harder, finishing in 1:37 and maintains her 2nd place in the Series. The event was marred by a runner in collision with a vehicle but luckily he did not suffer any serious injuries, a reminder to us all to keep our wits about us when competing on unclosed roads. Other times were as follows: James Hardy 1:23, Karl Watts 1:40, John Brown 1:57, Lucy Chard 1:57, Kay Franklin 2:05.

Vest and shorts weather for this year's warm Brent Knoll 5.5 mile race, the last event in the Somerset Series. Only 76 runners in the field, the popularity of the event unfortunately seems to have waned a little and this year's running would have been nigh impossible without studs as there were several stretches of bare mud. Many a runner slid down on their posterior, sometimes taking other runners down with them, before picking themselves up out of the slime and continuing on. The event was well marshalled and organised by Brian Beale of Burnham Harriers. Just 4 Harriers took part - father and son, or rather son, Tom followed by father, Les finishing 4th and 6th respectively, Les collecting the 1st V50 prize. Sue Cook collected the 2nd Female award and Alastair Middleton was the 4th Harrier who happened to be accompanying his son playing on the rugby fields next door and fancied the run while waiting! Times were 41:54 for Tom, 42:04 for Les, 47:28 for Alastair and 52:05 for Sue. Les won the 1st overall male prize for the Somerset Series, the first time a V50 has won the series outright and Sue picked up the 2nd overall female prize, the 3rd year she has completed the Series (8 events out of 14 to count). Jenny Moore was the 1st overall female to win the Series for the 2nd year in successsion although she was competing at Newbury on the day of the prizegiving. Sue represented club chair, Paul Chadwick, who was also at Newbury and presented the prizes. Tom Lock finished 4th overall, Tim Hamblin 9th and Kay Franklin was 5th overall female. All received engraved glasses, bottles of cider brandy, vouchers from Running Forever sportshop in Taunton. Congratulations to all who took part and to the sterling efforts of the organisers, Roy Smart, Brian Beale and our very own Paul Chadwick.