This report covers the events of the Wells Festival of Running. It was a great morning with a new course record on the 5K route, and plenty of happy runners with great support, especially on the finishing straight. The report also covers our annual club award winners, the AJ Bell Great Bristol Run and The Town Tree Trail.
Wells Festival of Running 10K Race Winner Christian Green
Wells Festival of Running
Today over 400 runners flocked to Wells to participate in the Wells Festival of Running, with a 1.2K junior race as well as 5K and 10K races. The 10K race was also race seven in the Somerset Series. The races started in the beautiful Market Place under the gaze of two medieval gateways - the Penniless Porch and the Bishop’s Eye, and finished along the Bishop’s Palace moat where there was super crowd support for the runners. The Mayor of Wells, Councillor Jasmine Browne, was also at the finish line supporting the runners in the three events. We had sunshine for the majority of the races, with a huge downpour catching the tail end of the 10K race, but the racers persevered to the finish.
To see the results for the three races click here.
Visit our Instagram page to see photos and videos of the race day.
To find your race day photo, visit Charles Whitton Photography here.
The start of the 1.2K race.
The 1.2K junior race saw a close finish between the top four racers. Wells City Harrier, Toby Hirst, crossed the line first with Harrier Ruby Shaw hot on his heels. A big sprint finish saw Harrier Rowan Kelly take third spot just ahead of Adair Thomas.
The category winners were as follows:
1st Boy: Toby Hirst
2nd Boy: Rowan Kelly
3rd Boy: Adair Thomas
1st Girl: Ruby Shaw
2nd Girl: Leila Chatard
3rd Girl: Roxy Lear
Aged 8 Boy: Logan Wills
Aged 8 Girl: Arlia Spencer
Aged 9 Boy: Alexander Williams
Aged 9 Girl: Aneri Tanna
Aged 10 Boy: Alfie Beck
Aged 10 Girl: Zoe Frost
Aged 11 Boy: William McAslan
Aged 11 Girl: Emily Calliford
Aged 12 Boy: Jack Case
Aged 12 Girl: Loralie Frost
The start of the 5K race
There were some fast paced runners out there in the 5K race. A new course record was broken with two runners going sub 16:00 minutes. Neil Golding of Mendip Triathlon & Running Club had an impressive performance, finishing first and taking the new course record in a personal best time. He had to work hard for his victory with Adam Tango Holland close behind. Sophie Nicholls of Wells City Harriers was the first female home, managing to pull away from second female Chole Moss.
The category winners were as follows:
1st Male: Neil Golding
2nd Male: Adam Tango Holland
3rd Male: Zak Hurrell
1st Female: Sophie Nicholls
2nd Female: Chole Moss
3rd Female: Amelie Cook
1st Male Senior: William Pannell
1st Senior Female: Alexia Grant
1st Male 35: Shawn Rothwell
1st Female 35: Sadie Bosworth
1st Male 45: Archie Thomas
1st Female 45: Anna Holbrook
1st Male 55: David Keogh
1st Female 55: Helen Ellison
1st Male 65: Pete Wright
The start of the 10K.
The final race of the day and most popular was the 10K. Over 240 runners participated in the Somerset Series race. Christian Green made it back to back wins finishing in a time of 33:06. Lester James of Team Bath gave him a run for his money, leading early in the race. Holly Stables of Black Trail Runners finished ahead of Jessie Sanzo of Bristol and West AC, who were the first and second females home. A shout out to Adam Tango Holland who finished fourth after finishing second an hour earlier in the 5K race.
The category winners were as follows:
1st Male: Christian Green
2nd Male: Lester James
3rd Male: James Bellward
1st Female: Holly Stables
2nd Female: Jessie Sanzo
3rd Female: Olivia Ambrosini
1st Male Senior: Rupert Baverstock
1st Senior Female: Phoebe Aspinall
1st Male 35: Adam Tango Holland
1st Female 35: Rosie Frapwell
1st Male 45: Peter Trask
1st Female 45: Kathleen Hoyle
1st Male 55: Nick Faubel
1st Female 55: Cheralyn Perry
1st Male 65: John Shapland
1st Female 65: Teresa Lovern
1st Male 75: Norman Spencer
A big thank you to Waitrose Wells who donated the fruit for our 10K finishers. Thank you to our race day sponsors Bowleys Garage and Tincknell Fuels. The race couldn’t have also happened without all the amazing volunteers and marshalls.
If you enjoyed running today, but are not part of a running club, why not join Wells City Harriers? We have runners aged 8 - 80, across all abilities. Visit our membership page and training pages to find out more. Don’t forget to follow us on social media. The links can be found at the top of the page.
Well done to all the Harriers running today!
Harrier Results:
1.2K
1st Toby Hirst 4:30
2nd Ruby Shaw 4:34
3rd Rowan Kelly 4:51
5th William McAslan 4:57
11th Jonah Barrington 5:13
13th Zoe Frost 5:16
14th Alfie Beck 5:21
15th Aneri Tanna 5:23
16th Milo Cook 5:24
39th Florence Hirst 6:18
49th Poppy Broughton 6:58
5K:
3rd Zak Hurrell 16:08
5th Sophie Nicholls 17:24
7th Gabriel Chatard 18:28
8th Oskar Beck 18:49
9th Laurence Badman 18:55
11th Addie Butcher 20:32
31st Dominic Cook 24:00
32nd Amelie Cook 24:00
59th Alex Ho 28:54
62nd Jane Morgan 29:09
66th Noah Foley 29:41
67th Pete Wright 29:45
72nd Jeanie Fullman 30:28
96th Emma Conroy 34:24
108th Sheila Patterson 36:18
111th Jules Collins 36:56
10K
1st Christian Green 33:06
5th Matthew Lusby 35:29
9th David Hirst 37:28
16th Stuart Nash 39:11
19th Jeremy Linter 39:34
22nd Harry Allen 40:00
30th Stephen Nicholls 40:52
31st Graham Goldsmid 41:25
34th Oliver Frost 41:41
35th Phoebe Aspinall 41:50
41st Steve Masters 43:21
71st Mike Bosley 46:33
73rd Robert Moore 46:51
82nd Louisa Saunders 47:46
86th Paul Knight 48:18
100th Melissa Aspinall 49:35
102nd Fergus Crawford 49:56
106th Ethan Harvey 50:28
117th Carol Buckland 51:36
121st Emma Woodcock 51:49
161st Gary Tubridy 56:17
166th Kim Clark 56:53
210th Chris Clark 1:04:56
225th Jason Woodcock 1:08:09
Wells City Harriers AGM
There were over 30 Harriers who attended this year’s Annual General Meeting. Chairman Ed Tickner gave a round-up of the different events and successes from the past year. The meeting concluded with the presentation of our annual club awards. Congratulations to our winners:
Junior Male: Oskar Beck
Junior Female: Iris Courtney
Senior Male: Matthew Lusby
Senior Female: Rosie Park
Marathon Award: Stephen Nicholls
Club Member of the Year: Daniel Williams
Special Award for Service to Athletics: Geoff Cole
Graham Goldsmid and Paul Chadwick were also recognised for their commitment and service to the club, receiving honorary lifetime membership.
Annual Award Winners
Thank you to all that attended.
AJ Bell Great Bristol Run
More than 15000 people ran on Sunday 19th May at the AJ Bell Great Bristol Run. The event hosted a half-marathon and a 10km run, along with a race specifically for runners who are visually impaired, a wheelchair event and a one-mile family race.
Tom Webb running a PB in the 10K
The weather was a shock to many, with the heat and sun being uncharacteristic compared to recent weeks. Many runners were happy to finish and soon forgot about prerace target times. Tom Webb continued to impress in his second ever 10K finishing third in a PB time of 31:59, breaking the sub 32 minute mark. There were ten other Harriers who participated across the 10k and half marathon events.
Robert Moore enjoying the sunshine.
Harrier Results:
10K
3rd Tom Webb 31:59
220th Sarah Massey 41:46
2782nd Jane Morgan 58:40
4137th Alex Ho 1:04:23
5065th Sharon Bowles 1:09:08
6539th Lynne Elstob 1:21:48
Rosie Park crossing Redcliffe Lift Bridge
Half Marathon
19th Alexander Coombs 1:17:08
53rd Adam Sutton 1:22:18
228th Harry Allen 1:29:03
855th Rosie Park 1:39:33
2256th Robert Moore 1:52:03
Alexander Coombs running under the Clifton Suspension Bridge
Town Tree 10K
On Wednesday 22nd May, Yeovil Town Road Running Club hosted the Town Tree 10K, race number six in the Somerset Series. Despite the downpour throughout the day, the conditions were perfect. The race started at Kingsbury Recreation Ground in Kingsbury Episcopi and followed a fairly flat, off-road route terrain course around Town Tree nature garden.
Harriers prerace
There was a Wells City Harrier domination across the winning categories. First home was Matt Lusby taking the race victory and the first female finisher was Phoebe Aspinall. Andrew Piper and Nick Stevens won the V50 and V60 male age category, with Kim Clark winning the V65 female category. Alexander Coombs finished close behind Matt, in second, contributing to the winning male team prize for the fastest four finishers (Matt, Alex, Nick and Andrew). There was also great running from lots of other Harriers.
Click here to see photographs of the Harriers receiving their prizes.
Full Harrier Results:
1st Matt Lusby 36:02
2nd Alexander Coombs 36:19
6th Nick Stevens 42:50
10th Andrew Piper 43:31
11th Phoebe Aspinall 43:38
12th Tim Hindle 44:00
40th Ethan Harvey 48:38
68th Melissa Aspinall 52:01
90th Carol Buckland 55:21
101st Kim Clark 57:06
141st Karen Shears 1:03:40
142nd Chris Clark 1:03:47
Dates For Your Diary
Here is a list of upcoming races, including WCH supported races, Somerset Series races, road relays, athletics league fixtures and other notable events. Contact club secretary Alexander Coombs if there is an event you would like adding. (SS = Somerset Series race)
May 2024
Thursday 30th May 2024 - Yeovil Evening Open 1
June 2024
Saturday 1st June 2024 - BMC PB Classic (Millfield School)
Sunday 2nd June 2024 - Oke Croak!
Sunday 2nd June 2024 - South West Athletics League (Match 2) Contact
Sunday 2nd June 2024 - Tarrant Valley 10K
(SS) Sunday 9th June 2024 - Crewkerne 10K
Sunday 9th June 2024 - Poole Festival of Running Relays (x4 in a team)
Wednesday 12th June 2024 - Yeovilton 5K (Race 3)
(SS) Wednesday 26th June 2024 - Forde Abbey 10K
Thursday 27th June 2024 - Yeovil Evening Open 2
Sunday 30th June 2024 - The Heron Half
Sunday 30th June 2024 - South West Athletics League (Match 2) Contact
July 2024
Saturday 6th July 2024 - Charmouth Challenge
Saturday 6th July 2024 - Brecon Fans Races (Pen y Fan)
Sunday 7th July 2024 - Brecon Fans Races (Fan y Big)
(SS) Sunday 7th July 2024 - The Quantock Beast
Wednesday 10th July 2024 - Yeovilton 5K (Race 4)
(SS) Wednesday 17th July 2024 - The Pawlett Plod 10K MT
Thursday 25th July 2024 - Yeovil Evening Open 3
Sunday 28th July 2024 - South West Inter Counties Championships
August 2024
(SS) Wednesday 7th August 2024 - Haselbury Trail Race
Wednesday 14th August 2024 - Yeovilton 5K (Race 5)
(SS) Monday 26th August 2024 - Baltonsborough 5 Mile
Thursday 29th August 2024 - Yeovil Evening Open 4
September 2024
Sunday 1st September 2024 - South West Athletics League (Match 2) Contact
Wednesday 11th September 2024 - Yeovilton 5K (Race 6)
(SS) Sunday 22nd September 2024 - Glastonbury Levels 10 Mile
October 2024
(SS) Sunday 6th October 2024 - BHAM Trail 10K
Wednesday 9th October 2024 - Street 5K (Race 1)
(SS) Sunday 13th October 2024 - Mells Scenic
(SS) Sunday 13th October 2024 - Burnham Half Marathon
(SS) Sunday 20th October 2024 - The Mendip Muddle
November 2024
Wednesday 13th November 2024 - Street 5K (Race 2)
(SS) Sunday 3rd November 2024 - Herepath Half
(SS) Sunday 24th November 2024 - Brent Knoll MT
December 2024
Wednesday 11th December 2024 - Street 5K (Race 3)
Sunday TBC - Baltonsborough Christmas Pudding Race