There was some terrific racing by Harriers at all sorts of events this past week – from local to international. Top billing goes to Adrian Marriott who competed for Team England at the Jungfrau Marathon in the Swiss Alps, whilst another 50 or so Club members were in competitive action more locally or at the South of England Fell Running Championships.

Adrian was part of a 4 man England team taking part in the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships in Switzerland. The race covers the traditional 26.2 mile distance but also includes some 5,900 foot of ascent. Adrian who has a marathon personal best of 2.18, came home in 3.19 at Jungfrau and finished 1^st for the England team in 32^nd position overall out of over 6,000 competitors. He was looking pretty well recovered the day after when he came to talk to the Club’s junior athletes at the traditional Monday night training session to inspire them for the Club’s forthcoming road relay and cross-country season.

On the Wednersday, we saw the final Yeovilton 5k race of the season and a number of the Harriers came away with personal bests. Philip Bridge, George Harris and Paul Allen were all home in the top ten within seconds of each other in 16.39, 16.43 and 16.44 respectively whilst the outright winner was visiting Ethiopian runner Berihu Tesfay in a very nippy 14.46. Tim Hawkins was next home for the Harriers in 17.22 with Tom Dukes next in 17.58. Clive Harwood was 1^st M60 in 18.27, then Ben Kelsey in 18.38 and James Williams smashing his pb with a 18.55 clocking. Graham Goldsmid was just behind James, running sub-19 once again. Then 14 year old Charlotte Baker was the first Harrier female home, again in a great pb of 19.18.

Other Harrier finishers at the Yeovilton 5km : Chris Kelsey 19.20; Ed Tickner 19.29;Paul Chadwick 20.18; Gary Tubridy 20.57;Carol Buckland 22.01; Esme Sheridan 22.04; Gary Sheridan 22.05;Mike Rusca 24.16; Megan Rusca 24.16; Mary Harrington 26.26; Jacqui Rusca 26.26;Mike Brown 27.20;Sharon Bowles 28.24. In the junior races on grass the overall Series awards were presented with Harriers Luke Baker and Luke Macpherson finishing 1-2 in the longer race Series, with Harrier Kathleen Cox-Thompson 1^st for the girls. In the shorter race series Holly Paine was outright winner with Monday Harrier William Carr in 2^nd overall place and his younger brother James Carr 3^rd.

Next up for some of the Harrier veterans was the South of England Fell Running Championships on the Isle of Wight. Three races over the weekend covered all distances with proceedings starting on the Saturday morning with a short sharp 3.8km race with 235m of ascent; before an afternoon race over 12km with 443m of ascent; and a final race of 21km over 487m of ascent on the Sunday morning. In a total field of just over 180, Paul Chadwick managed to just outsprint his team-mates Rex Whitcombe and Pete Wright dropping off the fells in the first race with times of 23.40, 24.04 and 24.07 respectively. Paul was 48^th with Rex and Pete 50^th & 51^st in the entire field. This was a new v60 course record by Pete for this race and he automatically went into the lead in the Southern Championships for his age category.

In the afternoon race, as temperatures climbed along with the runners, there was a bit of wilting but Rex Whitcombe had a great race for 52nd place, opening up a gap of almost 2 minutes on Paul who was 53^rd and with Pete back in 58^th a further few minutes back. Pete’s 2^nd place for V60 left him in silver medal position going into the final race on Sunday, whilst Rex & Paul vied for 6^th & 7^th V50 positions. The long Sunday run saw some withdrawals before the race but also some fresh runners enter the fray. Conditions were good for running but it was disastrous for Pete who failed to complete owing to a bad ankle and therefore must go again next year to try and claim a medal at these championships where all three races have to be completed to count. Rex did just enough to stay out in front of Paul, finishing 1 position and 40 seconds up at the end.

Also on Sunday at the Great North Run there were some great team performances. In the junior races with 11 year old Victoria Prior finishing in 23^rd against athletes a year or more older. 14 year old Luke Prior was 3rd in the age 13-14 race with year younger Oliver Dickinson 12^th. In the older age group 16 year old Matt Dickinson was an excellent 2^nd. Steve Dickinson ran an excellent half-marathon in the main event in 1 hour 44mins, whilst Simon Prior also toughed it out  to finish despite a bad calf strain.

The club has well over 60 athletes and 17 teams entered for this coming weekend’s South of England Road Relays at Aldershot with high hopes for a number of the junior teams once again in an event where the Harriers quite often prove themselves to be the best of the south-west Clubs. Final team details to be published later this week or contact Paul for all information if you've not had the team e-mail. All wanting to get the monthly e-mail for cross-country should also get in touch with him. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.