There were some sparkling performances by Wells City Harriers this past Bank Holiday weekend on the track and on the road. 30 Harriers were competing at the Somerset County Track & Field Championships held at the Yeovil Arena, whilst a further 30 or so were out competing on the road at the Wells Fun Run and one of the Club’s senior TeamGB athletes took on Mo Farah at the London 10k race.

Frank Tickner, who ran for TeamGB, at what was his 3^rd World XC Championships back in March, lined up against Mo Farah and over 10,000 other runners to race along the Embankment and finish in Westminster over the 10km race distance at London. Frank came through the 5km mark in 14.59 and finished in 30.35 for 6^th place overall with Mo taking the plaudits in 29.13.

At the County Track & Field Championships the Club had numerous Gold medallists in all age ranges. Championship Best performances were recorded by two of the Club’s u20 athletes when Emily Smith ran the 1500m steeplechase in a new record time of 5.15. This time is well inside the qualifying mark for the English Schools Championships, of 5.28. Also setting a new Championship best record was u20 male Matt Dickinson in the 2000m Steeplechase with a new record time of 6.32. Both of these great times were recorded on the Sunday. Also winning Gold on that day was u17 Oliver Fox with his 4.09 for the 1500m

On the Saturday, u20 Sam Bedford ran an excellent 49.18 for the 400m. This mark is also faster than the English Schools Qualifying mark. On the same day, for the u13 girls age group Harriet Fox came away with two gold medals from her 800m winning performance, timed at 2.34, and her 70m Hurdles victory in 13.55. Elise Thorner won the 1500m race in 5.25 and also took silver in the 800min 2.36. Victoria McCabe won the Long jump with her 4.10m jump, was 2^nd in the 100m with 14.66, and also gained 3^rd in the 800m with 2.43. All three of the girls are regulars at the Harrier’s Monday evening training session.

For the u13 boys there was also a phalanx of good results for club members with Ollie Thorner winning the 800m in a closely fought 2.24, with Dylan Dukes 3^rd in 2.35 and Luke Macpherson finishing 4^th in the same race in 2.37. Ollie also gained silver in the High jump with his 1.42m jump. Luke gained two silvers in the 100m and 200m in 14.07 and 29.65 respectively. That’s not bad for someone who is still in Year 6 and competing against boys at least a year older. Archie Heath gained silver in the shot put and was also 4^th in the 100m with 14.87.

In the u15 age group, Dan Lawton won the Long Jump with a 4.97m leap and also a silver in the 100m sprints with 12.93 before finishing 4^th in the 200m. Jack Burnett was 3rd in the same 100m race in 13.71 and also took silver in the Shot Put with his 8.88m in a tightly fought event. Ollie Dickinson was 2^nd in the 3000m in a time of 10.04, whilst Lucy Baldwin likewise gained silver in the girls’ equivalent with her time of 11.24. Kirsty Jenkins also gained silver over 800m with her 2.39.  Joe Heath gained a sliver in the High Jump with a 1.30m clearance and also contested the 800m for 6^th.In the same age group, Imogen Brookes ran 30.69  for 200m and was 4th in the 300m with 49.83. Olivia Humphries also competed well with 14.83 in the 100m.James Forrester was 5th in the u15 boys 100m in a time of 13.99 and 5th again in the 200m in 28.78.

In the u17 age group Luke Prior won his 3000m race in 9.36 and there was a whole host of Harrier sprinters out competing with Sols Chadwick gaining bronze for the 200m and Alex Bloodworth and Alexi Hampson also running well in the sprints. Alex was also 5th in the shot put. u'20 athlete Charlotte Sullivan had a busy Saturday with her victory in the 400m in 64.01 backed up with a bronze over 200m in 28.17 and a 4th in the 100m. Sam Harding won bronze in the u20s 800m race with a new pb of 2.00.

Katrina Prior won gold for her 5000m run with a sub-20 minute effort which was great given how warm it was. Simon Prior won the 800m race for seniors with his 2.25 and also picked up two bronzes for his efforts at javelin and shot put. .

Of course the Wells Harrier athletes competed as part of the combined Yeovil & Wells team at the County Championships and those who were there would also have witnessed some great athletic performances by their team mates who train at the Yeovil training sessions, and are part of the Harrier cross-country team in the autumn/winter. Well done to Sam Sommerville, Lilly Hawkins, Amy D'Arcy, James Bridge and a whole host of others for a great all round-team performance.Full results from the County Championships are now available here:http://www.somerset-athletics.co.uk/trackandfieldmainpage.htm

Any athlete still to pay their entry fees should give the money to Al, Graham or Paul at the track next Monday or Tuesday

At the Wells Fun Run on the Sunday some of the same athletes featured again with Dylan Dukes following up his Saturday exertions to win the 1km junior race with team-mate Luke MacPherson, a year younger, in 2^nd place just seconds behind. For the girls Gemma Phillips had a great race. In the main events, Harriers featured high up with Gary Sheridan finishing 3^rd male (1^st v40) in the 3mile race and his daughter. Esme, 2^nd woman home. Wells City Harriers were the first team in the 3m race with Gary, Esme and Darcie Cook making up the team of three.Pete Hughes was an excellent 1st V70 in the same race and can collect his special prize from the Chairman.

In the ‘Not quite 10k’ race, covering two laps, Paul Maskell; was 3^rd in 35.08 with Eddie Richards 7^th and Tom Dukes 8^th in 36.06 and 36.07, to win the team prize. Rebecca Carver for the Club was 3^rd woman home in 44.20. Steve Masters was 1^st V50 in 10th place and Colin Williams was 1st V60 in 45.44. Over 30 Harriers took part in all of the races which, as usual, were well organised and supported by Harrier members.Well done to Mike Brown, Elly Miln, Andrew Deamer, Kay Franklin and a host of others for putting on such a great set of races in fantastic settings. Full results elsewhere on the website..