Victoria Ryan on her leg in the Uphill to Wells relay.
Next week the Street 5K returns. Read on to find out more information and how to enter. We also have a race report from the Uphill to Wells relay, information about the upcoming Gwent League fixture at Pembrey, details on our annual Christmas evening and a Tuesday training reminder.
Clive and Angela Thomas Street 5K Series
5K race
The Street 5K series returns this October with race 204. Each race, in the 6 event series, occurs on the evening of the second Wednesday of the month; between October and March. To be eligible for the series awards, you must complete five out of the six races.
The entry cost is £5 for EA members and £7 for unaffiliated runners.
The dates for the 2024/25 series are:
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9th October 2024 (Race 204)
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13th November 2024 (Race 205)
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11th December 2024 (Race 206)
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8th January 2025 (Race 207)
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12th February 2025 (Race 208)
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12th March 2025 (Race 209)
For more information about the Street 5K, click here.
To enter, click here. Entries are also available on the evening. Junior entries are only available on the evening.
If you're not racing, please consider volunteering to help ensure the event can go ahead smoothly.
Junior 1K and 2K races
Uphill to Wells Relay
The Mendip Hash organisers clearly intended the pun on Uphill to Wells because four of the five legs of this fun relay across the Mendips to Wells’ Cathedral Green was well and truly uphill!!! Harriers were represented by two teams; Team “Henry Sage and Ollie Frost” ran the whole 30.3 miles with 4,662 feet of elevation gain in a time of just 5 hours 21 minutes, and Wells City Harriers Ultra Elite (B team) came 5th in 4 hours 28 minutes.
Ollie and Henry enjoying the full course.
Ollie and Henry are both used to running much longer distances, so this Saturday afternoon stroll was no big deal, though just 20 miles in, Ollie did get cramp in a calf muscle which led to a dramatic fall over an electric wire fence. On the bright side, the 7000-volt shock seemed to cure the cramp, and they finished in third place in the whole route category.
Mike started the first leg at Uphill beach.
Mike Rusca got the team off to a great start at Uphill beach and ran the western Mendip ridge to Loxton where he handed over to Harry Allen to storm all 1,211 feet of the 5.6-mile second leg to Shipham in just 49 minutes. Victoria Ryan on the 3rd leg mastered the technique of running fast uphill on trails whilst not taking her eyes off the GPX map on her Garmin for fear of getting lost on the slightly longer leg of 6.7 miles of Mendip trails. No such worries for Jon Williams running 1,140 feet up from Cheddar and past his home in Priddy where wife Kath and daughter Emily hosted the rest of the runners and crew with tea and cakes, before Alex Williams brought the team home to Cathedral Green with a lightning descent down through Ebbor Gorge in just over 48 minutes. Alex also won the team a 20-minute bonus for taking two selfies at strategic selfie spots to prove that no short cuts had been taken.
The Mendip Hash organised tea and cakes on the green and the weather was surprisingly good so everyone left with a healthy glow (particularly Ollie). This event is strongly recommended and maybe Harriers can field a few more teams next year.
Jonathan Williams taking the baton.
For more photos of the day, visit our Instagram page.
Gwent League
The Gwent league returns on Saturday 12th October 2024 at Pembrey Country Park. If you would like to be registered, please contact club secretary Alex Coombs (
Annual Christmas Meal
Wells Golf Club will be hosting our annual Christmas meal again, on Friday 6th December. The two course meal will be followed by a raffle, the club London Marathon ballot* draw, the prestigious Bog Seat Award and a Ceilidh. The cost for the evening is £20 per person / £15 for juniors (subsidised by the club), and tickets are available online. You must be a club member to attend the evening (partners welcome). If you are not a member, find out how to become a member here.
If you would like to be considered for the London Marathon Ballot you must follow the below criteria.
To be eligible for the Club place(s) you need to
(a) Have been a Club member when you applied in the main London ballot;
(b) Have an England Athletics registration;
(c) Have been rejected in the main London ballot and provided evidence of the rejection;
(d) not to have had a Club place in the previous 3 years.
If you think you're eligible, and have not yet sent through evidence of your London ballot rejection, please contact the Secretary (
We will let you know how to purchase your Christmas meal ticket soon. Don’t forget to send in your Bog Seat Award nominations!
*Please note we are still awaiting confirmation from England Athletics regarding the number of places allocated to our club.
Tuesday Training Update
Just a reminder that we’ve entered a new quarter, which means the next set of training fees are now due. If you'd like to pay for the full quarter, please bring £20 or your card to the next training session. This will cover your fees until the end of December. Alternatively, you can pay £2.50 per session as you attend.
As our training sessions now take place in the dark, please note that while the track is floodlit and we have spotlights for the field, you may still want to bring a head torch for running through darker areas.
Club Shop
Are you looking to get kitted up, ready for the winter? Don’t forget to check out our club shop for club vests, coats, t-shirts and beanie hats. Click here to view or contact kit manager, Graham Goldsmid, if you would like to make a purchase.
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)
October 2024
(SS) Sunday 6th October 2024 - BHAM Trail 10K
Sunday 6th October 2024 - Mother Tuckers 10K
Sunday 6th October - Wessex XC League (Race 1 - Learoyd Road)
Wednesday 9th October 2024 - Street 5K (Race 1)
(SS) Sunday 13th October 2024 - Burnham Half Marathon
(SS) Sunday 20th October 2024 - The Mendip Muddle
Wednesday 30th October 2024 - Club pub run (venue TBC)
November 2024
Sunday 3rd November 2024 - Wessex XC League (Race 2 - Bryanston School)
(SS) Sunday 3rd November 2024 - Herepath Half
Wednesday 13th November 2024 - Street 5K (Race 2)
(SS) Sunday 24th November 2024 - Brent Knoll MT
Wednesday 27th November 2024- Club pub run (venue TBC)
December 2024
Friday 6th December 2024 - Wells City Harriers Annual Christmas Meal (Wells Golf Club)
Wednesday 11th December 2024 - Street 5K (Race 3)
Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th December 2024 - Indoor Combined Events Championships
Sunday 15th December 2024 - Telford 10K
Sunday 15th December 2024 - Wessex XC League (Race 3 - Canford School)
Sunday 22nd December - Baltonsborough Christmas Pudding Race
Monday 16th December 2024 - Final Monday evening training of the year
Tuesday 17th December 2024 - Final Tuesday evening training of the year
Tuesday 17th December 2024 - Club Paarlauf (Millfield Athletics Track)
Tuesday 17th December 2024 - Club Christmas curry (venue TBC)
January 2025
(SS) Wednesday 1st January 2025 - Chard Flyer
Wednesday 8th January 2025 - Street 5K (Race 3)
Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th January 2025 - U13/U15 & U17 Individual Championships
Wednesday 29th January 2025 - Club pub run (venue TBC)
February 2025
Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd February 2025 - Individual Indoor Championships
Wednesday 12th February 2025 - Street 5K (Race 4)
Wednesday 26th February 2025 - Club pub run (venue TBC)