Harriers race to the front at Aldon Hill and Somerset Series final coming up at Brent Knoll

There was a great turnout of 29 Wells City Harriers at the latest of the Wessex League Cross country matches last Sunday. They made the short journey to Aldon Park in Yeovil for the 3^rd fixture in the League and came away with some excellent performances and five First place finishes. Meanwhile a number of Harriers are getting ready for the Brent Knoll Fell race on Sunday which will be the final race in the Somerset race series sponsored by Yeovil Glass.

Neil Biss reports on the cross-country:

“The Aldon Park course offered a great location with plenty of hills and turns for the runners especially one that seemed to keep going up, but also fantastic viewing for spectators who could see the races unfold from start to finish and support the runners at several points of the race. The weather was fine as the first race got underway with the SM,SW,U17B,U17G all going off together but running a different number of laps.

The senior men’s race saw Nathan Young take a healthy lead to finish in 1^st place 27.53 followed by the tumbling Tim Hawkins 5^th 31.46,Neil Biss 14^th 33.44,Nathan Baker 18^th 35.59,Simon Arnold 22^nd 37.16,Geoff Cole 33^rd 39.41,Simon Carr 34^th 39.49. In the senior’s woman’s race Deborah Glover ran a great race to take 1^st place for the third time in as many races in a time of 38.35

The U17 men’s race saw Sam Sommerville leading the way but for nearly taking a wrong turn to still finish in 1^st place in 14.44 followed by, James Bridge 3^rd 16.10, Michael Biss 4^th 16.11, George Mallinson 7^th 17.31.For the U17 Women Charlotte Baker was first home for the Harriers in 5^th place 18.37, Annabel Arnold 6^th 19.09, Amy D’Arcy 9^th 20.11, and Natasha Jones 10^th 20.32

The U11 girls were next up with a medium loop but still with some tough hills to encounter, Kai Snell had super race taking 1^st place in 7.55 closely followed by Hannah Blundy 4^th 8.28 and Shaina-Rose Verrall 5^th 8.34. In the U11 boy’s race we saw the fast improving Bradley Glover finish in a fantastic 4^th position 8.01.

Running two small and a medium loop next were the U13 girls with Ella-Mae Wright running well to finish 3^rd 11.51 followed by team mate Holly Paine 9^th 12.26. Luke Macpherson was flying the flag for the Harriers in the U13 boys coming home in great 2^nd place 11.04. The U15 boys race saw some great performances with Ben Lloyd battling it out at the top end to finish in 2^nd place 13.53 followed by Kameron Ridler 7^th 15.07, Bradley Seager 9^th 15.13, George Biss 14^th 18.59. Catlin Carnegie finished the day off well for the Harriers with the fifth first place finish of the day in the U15 girls in 15.16 followed by Katie Lloyd in 5^th 17.06.

Well done to all that ran  -Next  Wessex fixture Sunday 14^th December Canford School combined with the Dorset XC champs”. (Somerset qualified athletes will probably be running at the Somerset Championships at the University of Bath the same day – see below)

Harriers are reminded that entries to the various Cross-country Championships need to be made in the next week or so The Somerset County Cross Country Championships is held at the University of Bath on Sunday December 14^th and entries need to be made on line by December 11^th. (see detail on fixture calendar to left).

This coming weekend is the final race in the year-long Somerset Race Series with Harriers amongst the contenders for awards to be made immediately after the Brent Knoll Fell race. Kieran Young is looking to finish in the top two for the men, whilst Paul Chadwick looks likely to carry off top V50, and Justin Thomas will also finish top ten for the men. Rebecca Carver looks likely to be in the top three for the women with Carol Buckland once again gaining an award. The 2015 Race Series will be the 20^th year of the Series established by Paul with the help of other clubs back in 1996.  FULL LIST FOR 2015 BELOW

SOMERSET SERIES 2015                  

Sponsored by Yeovil Glass & Somerset Clubs

10 RACES FROM 20 to Count

1. Jan 1^st              Chard flyer www.chardrunningclub.btck.co.uk
2. Feb 8^th                   Humdinger      half marathon road www.thehumdinger.co.uk
3. Feb 22^nd                Babcary      7 road                  www.wellscityharriers.org.uk

4. Mar 8^8th                The      Big Cheese trail race MT www.cheddarrunningclub.co.uk

5. Mar 22^nd                   Butleigh      7 MT                     www.wellscityharriers.org.uk

6. Apr 6^th                   Easter      Bunny 10k road   www.yeoviltownrrc.com

7. May 3^rd                          Glastonbury 10k road     www.glastonburyroadrun.info

8. May 17^th               Wambrook      Waddle MT www.chardrunningclub.btck.co.uk

9. May 24^th                        Wells 10k MT                      www.wellscityharriers.org.uk

10. June 7^th                Crewkerne 10k road www.crewkernerc.btck.co.uk

11. June 24^th             TinTinTen      MT     www.tintinten.btck.co.uk

12. July 5^th                           Quantocks Beast MT        www.quantockharriers.co.uk

13. Aug 5^th                            Haselbury 10k MT www.Haselburytrail.btck.co.uk

14. Aug 30^th                          Battle of Sedgemoor 10k road www.langportrunners.co.uk

15. Sept 6^th                           Ash Excellent 8 MT www.ashexcellenteight.com

16. Sept 27^th                        Mells Scenic 7 MT www.fromerunningclub.org.uk

17. Oct 4^th                             Burnham Half Marathon Road www.burnham-on-sea-harriers.com

18. Oct 18^th                 Exmoor      Stagger/Stumble either/or – both can count.

www.mineheadrunningclub.co.uk

19. Oct 25^th                 Herepath half MT www.herepathhalf.org

20. Nov 29^th                         Brent Knoll MT www.burnham-on-sea-harriers.com

This is the 20^th anniversary year of the Series started in 1996. More details from the website www.somersetseries.co.uk or from Paul Chadwick or Brian Beale.