Harrier Brent Knoll Report & Somerset Series round up

On Sunday Nov 25^th the winners of the year-long Somerset Series of races were presented with their trophies after the final race at Brent Knoll. Harriers again swept the top positions with Jon Gilling running out overall winner, Jenny Moore triumphing for the third year in succession in the Women’s standings and Kay Franklin, Les and Tom Lock winning age categories. Also in the top ten overall were James Hardy and Rod Appleby.

The Somerset Series consists of 16 races with all competitors having to record positions in 8 races to qualify for the series awards. The Brent Knoll race over 5.5 miles represents a tough challenge at the end of the Series, especially for those athletes looking to record their 8^th mark. Competitors start from the Burnham sports Club ground and run alongside the rynes to the village of Brent Knoll before the ascent of the hill, a quick circuit of the old fortifications, and a lung-bursting descent back down to the finish. Jon Gilling has been sidelined for much of the past month through injury but resumed training this week and had enough in the tank to finish 2^nd in the race behind Carl Plumpton of Portsmouth. Jon’s time was 38.08.

Next home for the Harriers was Les Lock, fresh from his England masters debut last weekend in 6^th place. 39.38, some 2 minutes quicker than last year, and Les was 1^st V50. Completing the first ten home was James Hardy in 9^th, 40.07, with a bit of a gap to 1^st junior home Tom Lock, 10^th, in 41.32. Running at Brent Knoll for the first time were a number of Harriers with Paul De st Paer being the quickest in 45.35, Mike Scadding not far back in 47.19, and mother and son combo Judy and Jake Baynes in 66.56 and 56.26 respectively. Also back running after a long lay off was Alan Hunter in 55^th place with 51.03.

Other Harrier positions and times at Brent Knoll:

23 Paul Chadwick 45.03; 52 Nick Edwards 49.49; 78 Martin Collins55.10; 93 Jon Forsyth 58.00.

At the post race Series awards overseen by Harrier Chairman Paul Chadwick, Jenny Moore, despite not being able to compete at Brent knoll, was crowned Somerset champion for the third successive year. Jenny won 5 of the 8 races she contested and was runner up at three others. Kay Franklin joined Jenny in the table of the top 5 women, and Kay was also 1^st F55.

For Jon Gilling it was his first crack at the Series and his overall victory was based on his never being out of the first five at any of the 8 races he contested. Les Lock was thus deposed at the men’s Series Champion, but retained his V50 title and was 4^th overall, with his son in 7^th place overall in the Series. James Hardy was 6^th overall and Rod Appleby was 9^th, to give the Harriers five of the top ten men’s placings. Mike Scadding was the only other Harrier to feature in the men’s rankings in 14^th place and this was despite him losing a few months racing during the late summer due to an operation.

Well done to all, and we now look forward to the 2008 Series which commences with the Hestercombe Humdinger on Feb 17^th. The 2008 series leaflet will be out in the new year and available on this website.