Harrier, Matt Lusby, racing the Cader Idris Fell Race, May 2022
(last updated by Paul 27th March 2025)
Members of Wells City Harriers compete across a variety of trail and fell races and team opportunities do arise to run in some very scenic spots. As with all races, prior knowledge or local knowledge of the fell or trail race course/terrain helps, and for some it definitely helps to know how to use a map and compass. Some races are flagged or way-marked whilst others depend on you keeping your wits about you and looking for the best line....
Fell races: Plan ahead & look out for the following great challenges in magnificent countryside in 2025:
Cader Idris Fell Race in May (check entry details as places go fast)
Brecon Fans races - 2 races over first weekend in July
Charmouth Challenge race - Saturday in early July
Oke Croak race on Dartmoor - mid June or July (part of a Dartmoor Series)
Snowden Fell Race - mid July
Crook Peak Cake Race - mid August
South of England Fell Running Championships on the Isle of Wight – 3 races in 2 days – Sat & Sun in first half of September Link here to website & entry details. Ask Paul if you need any information. 50% discount on the ferry for those who have entered a race or all races using a code. DEADLINE FOR ENTRY early September - dont miss it!
Mendip Muddle Fell race will be on a Sunday (3rd usually) in October (10.30am) - Details here
Drogo Ten - from NT Drogo Castle - first weekend in November
There's also a year-long Series on Dartmoor which is put together by the South West Fell runners See Series Races 2025 - South West Fell Runners
Somerset Series races link here – incudes a number of off-road and trail races as well as road races
Off-road Relay Teams
We periodically enter teams in a number of trail relay events, and we appoint team managers after discussion at the Harrier committee.
We've had teams at over 25 editions of the Cotswold Way relay (in June) ; and teams in multiple editions of the Wessex Ridgeway Relay (in May). Other off- road relays such as the Parrett Trail may or may not be resurrected. The team manager organises teams by recruiting at the training sessions and using the website/social media to encourage all paid up members to be part of the team. Contact the Chairman or Secretary to volunteer to team manage if there isn't one!.
Traditionally inclusion in these teams has been open to all - not based on speed! - as they are a social event. Of course team managers put together the faster runners in one team and runners that aren't so fast in other teams. Harrier members entry as part of the team is paid for by the Club. Only if we then have a gap will non-members be invited to join a Harrier team and are asked to pay a contribution.
Fell Running
Individual Harriers also compete in numerous fell races with occasional team opportunities arising. A Harrier team sometimes go across to contest the South of England Fell Running Championships on the Isle of Wight - 3 races in one weekend! With the help of Ryde Harriers, Paul Chadwick administers these Championships on behalf of the SEAA, contact Paul for more details.
Please keep an eye on the RunBritain website or Fell Runner Association fixture list(s) for more races.
Somerset Series
The Somerset Series gives a good offer of local races of different distances and terrains including trail races. Check out their website and make sure you enter in good time as places are limited at some races.
Members of Yeovil Olympiads compete as Wells City Harriers in trail and fell events. Please ensure your Harrier or YOAC Club membership and England Athletics membership is fully paid up in order to join a team. (If aged 10 and under, no EA membership required).
We also have members in the Club who travel further afield, especially for Fell Races and Mountain Marathons, and small groups of Harriers sometimes make a weekend of it to compete and socialise. At training sessions there will be members who know of events coming up which they are intending to compete at, and it may be possible to arrange to share transport.