There were a dozen Wells City Harriers competing at Sunday's London Marathon races.

Preceding the main event was the traditional 'Mini-marathon' for juniors from across the country selected by their regions.  Representing the South West Region the Harriers had 6, out of the 36 athletes drawn from Cornwall to Gloucester in the various age groups.

Best performance on the day over the 3 mile course finishing in Birdcage Walk was Oliver Fox in the u15 boys’ race who was 19th in a great time of 15.53.  Sam Sommerville was 61st in the same age group, though a year younger than Oliver, with his 17.03 clocking.

For the u13 boys race Oliver Dickinson ran well for 34th in 17.53, whilst his older brother competing for the u17 SW team was 25th in that age group with the fastest time of the day for the Harrier athletes with his nippy 15.18.

For the girls, Isobel Glaisher again had a great race for 20th place in the u15 girls race in a time of 18.00 dead, with Emily Smith in 30th place for the u17 women in 18.21.  All six of the junior representatives can be proud of their selection and they come off a great cross-country season for the Harriers and now start preparing for the impending track and field season.

In the main event conditions were good - cool at the start, warming up and the some rain later.  Nick Somerville was first man home this year for the Harriers with his nippy 2hrs 53mins placing him at 700th in the near on 40,000 field.  Nick was 22nd M50 home - that's a good mark.

Clare Prosser was just outside the 3 hour mark by 2 minutes, which follows on from some great running in the two previous years when she has been just under 3hours.  The first of the Club's triumvirate to gain the club's balloted marathon places was Ian Biggs with his solid 3.19 clocking, then came the Harrier's u17 XC team manager Geoff Cole who managed an excellent 3.32.  Mary Harrington and Caroline Moule were the other two recipients of Club places, and they did not disappoint with their training over the past 6 months paying off as they crossed the finish line in close proximity to one another in 5.37 and 5.40 respectively. They have deserved their rest and recovery this week.

Meanwhile at the Paris Marathon the previous week, Simon Carr managed an excellent 4.04 to improve on his previous best and is already plotting his next marathon adventure.