Harriers overcome the Charmouth Challenge

Charmouth to Golden Cap Race & Fun Run July 5^th 2008

Not until you’ve actually run at this race can you quite appreciate what it is all about….it’s tough! It’s hard! But it’s also scenic and takes you to the highest point on the South coast. It’s also a very friendly event tied in with raising funds for Charmouth Primary school and run alongside the school fete on a Saturday afternoon.

Well done to Kayley Kennedy (age 13) who finished 13^th in the 2.5 mile fun run in a time of 20.23, and her brother Danny (age 10) who finished in 19^th place. That was a great effort by both. This Fun run is actually a daunting race even for grown adults! 223 competitors took part.

So, given that the kids did so well …the assembled mass of Wells Harriers also had to try their best in the full event of 7.8 miles (or thereabouts). Hail to Ed Willingham, one of our junior coaches for his great 18^th place in 60.27. He was followed in by our King of the Mountains Chris Kelsey in 45^th place (I’d always put my money on Chris winning if there was a complete pea-souper and everyone had to navigate their way round!). Chris’s time was 65.55. Then came Geoff Cole, one of the Yeovil junior coaches who helps team manage with our combined teams, in a time of 68.32 (64^th) and not too far behind was Nick Edwards, who probably fitted this run in before going on to tug-of-war training. Nick did 73.09. Fellow tug-of-war man Martin Collins was also up for the Challenge and he ran 80.25, whilst Helen Kelsey came home in 87.29.

Ed, Chris, Geoff and Nick finished as 6^th team overall with the team prize going to local club Axe Valley Runners. First man home by the way was Tom Fisher in a nippy 52.52.