Everything you wanted to know about cross-country but didn't know who to ask...

Keep checking back here as we will have more information on team managers in September

The Club's Cross country season gets underway in October when the first of five Gwent League fuxtures takes place on Sunday October  9th at Bridgend. These races are suitable for talented Year 5s in the Novices race and those age 11 upwards in Years 6 & 7 making up the u13 team. There are age groups all the way up - u15s; u17s; u20s through to seniors. We sometimes have more than 50 Harriers competing across the age groups. In 2010/11 we won the u13 boys team and senior mens team League titles!

There is also usually 50 youngsters from all of the competing Clubs in each race and we find that it suits our youngsters to be competing in such big fields against runners from far away - it really does them good in preparation for the various Championship events that come later in the season.

The usual arrangements are for a minibus (or two) to travel from Millfield School (main car park) at about 8.00am; and another minibus to travel from Yeovil Track at about the same time. We need volunteers - preferably non-competing parents to volunteer to drive these minibuses. All athletes whether they are from the Harriers section, or the YOAC section, compete in the Royal Blue & yellow vest of the Harriers. Please make sure you have bought your vest in advance or have requested one 2 weeks before the fixture from one of the kit managers. (see contact list elsewhere on the Harrier website).

The team is always found with the Wells City Harrier Club tent at the venue - set up at about 10.30am/11.00am

The full list of Gwent League fixtures are as shown on the Gwent website as somtimes the venue or day changes due to unforseen circumstances:

http://www.gwent-league.org.uk/

Most of the Gwent fixtures, if not all three of them, before Christmas (one a month) will be held on a Sunday. After Christmas, two of them, are likely to be held on a Saturday.

The Championship races start on Sunday December 11th at the University of Bath with the Somerset County Championships. (For those qualified for another County, such as Dorset, the Championships may be on a different date). These Championships at Bath are held along with the Avon, and Wiltshire Championships and again attract good fields of 30 or so runners par age group. Entry to the Championships is required in advance by December 4th and so athletes should let team managers know no later than that date.. The entry list will be shown on the County website a few days before the race so you can see who your opponents are.The first three home for Somerset will be awarded medals by Paul immediately on finishing. If you miss the closing date for the Championships you can run as a 'guest' by entering on the day.

For the South west of England XC Championship and the Southern XC Championships we have to go further afield. To Bicton College. Devon, on Sunday January 8th for the SW version and to Brighton on Saturday January 28th for the Southerns. For both of these Championship the athlete needs to let team managers know by early December if they want to be entered. The club sends off a team entry. There will be coach transport to Brighton entailing an early morning departure - pick up at Millfield School at about 7.00am and Poddimore services at 7.20am arriving at about 10.00am in Brighton. Parents are encouraged to join their athletes! Cost will be about £10 per coach seat. This is a great day out and will be the biggest event that most of the youngsters have ever competed in (200-300 in each age group)

For those juniors that can finish in the top ten at the Southerns we will encourage them to compete at the National XC Championships, but we do not send teams as we are conscious that there are many schools events in February when the Nationals take place. 

SCHOOLS

There is of course also School Cross Country fixtures. In the Mendip District the Harriers sponsor a Secondary Schools League for Years 7,8 & 9 and the League has 4 fixtures on the following dates:
Sept 20th; Sept 29th, Oct 11th & Nov 10th. For juniors at primary school there are also fixtures in different areas for them. Training at the Harrier's Monday night will be geared up to help youngsters with these events. 

In December or early January it will be the area Schools trials for the team to represent the school District (Mendip area; Yeovil area; Sedgemoor area; Taunton & west Som area) at the County Schools Championships.

Schools dates for your diary:

• Somerset Schools XC Championships Sat Feb 4th 2012 at Millfield (same course as 2011)
• SW Schools Xc Championships Sat Feb 25th 2012 in Devon
• English Schools XC Championships Sat March 17th at RNAS Merrifield, near Ilminster - last year the Harriers provided a number of volunteer marshals. please let Paul know by March 1st if you can help in 2012.

Go to  the Somerset Schools website for more information