Elise Thorner collecting her bronze medal at the European Cross Country Championships.
This week we report on Elise Thorner, representing Team GB at the European Cross Country Championships in Turkey, who ran the third leg of the 4x1500m mixed relay, helping the team secure a bronze medal. The Harriers also gathered for their annual Christmas Meal, celebrating achievements, awarding the humorous "Bog Seat Award" to Jon James, and selecting Alex Williams for the 2025 London Marathon entry. Meanwhile, Nick Stevens shared his experience at the Buffalo YMCA Turkey Trot in the U.S., where he won the V60 category. The club's final training session for the year, a fun paarlauf and curry night, is set for December 17th. Lastly, the Baltonsborough Christmas Pudding Race returns on December 22nd, raising funds for Rowan Romania, a charity supporting adults with special needs in Romania. Don’t forget to enter. Read on to find out more.
European Cross Country Championships
[Report by Al Thorner]
New Balance athlete Elise Thorner warming up.
"Wells City Harrier's honorary life member Elise Thorner travelled to Turkey on Thursday 5th December with the Great Britain team for the European Cross Country Championships. This was the New Balance sponsored athletes first senior vest on the grass as part of the mixed 4 x 1500m relay event. The championships were being held at Antalya on Turkey's southern coast for the first time in its history over the weekend on a flat, purpose made course that contained a few hurdles and short climbs that ideally suited the steeplechase specialist. Despite some rain over the previous few days the competition began with temperatures of 16 degrees and light winds with slippery terrain under foot.
Elise taking on the hurdles.
Elise was running the third leg of four and held on strongly to finish just behind two 1500m specialists from this year's Paris Olympics, handing on the baton with a great chance for the team’s final leg runner to get on the podium. A thrilling sprint finish saw all three leading teams clock the same time with GB just edged out into the bronze medal position by winners Italy and second placed France. Elise finished with the third fastest time of any woman running the equally distanced second and third legs and earned her first senior medal for Team GB. Elise next heads off to Flagstaff, Arizona in January for a month of altitude training with the New Balance team culminating with an indoor race in Boston at the end of the month."
Team GB came third in the Mixed Relay.
Christmas Meal
On Friday, 6th December, 56 Harriers gathered at Wells Golf Club for our annual Christmas Meal. The evening was filled with good food, great company, and plenty of festive cheer. The event began with a warm welcome from Chairman Ed Tickner, who invited everyone to take a moment of silence in remembrance of those no longer with us.
Ed going through this year’s highlights.
After enjoying a delicious two-course meal with coffee, Ed provided a brief round-up of the year's highlights. Special recognition was given to the achievements of our junior runners, Somerset Series participants, and cross-country teams, all of whom have made the club proud.
Dan Williams in full flow.
The next event on the agenda was the eagerly awaited Bog Seat Award. As usual, Dan Williams took center stage, entertaining the crowd with his humorous recap of the year's most memorable blunders. After handing out a few spot prizes, the winner of the award was revealed. This year’s winner was Jon James, who earned the honor for his infamous mishap involving misplaced car keys. After an extensive search with the help of his fellow Harriers on the track and field, the keys were eventually discovered—inside his car all along!
Jon James, the proud owner of this year’s Bog Seat Award.
With the Bog Seat Award concluded, attention turned to the raffle draw, followed by the evening’s most anticipated moment — the draw for the club’s London Marathon spot. Unfortunately, the club was allocated just one entry this year. From the pool of eight hopefuls, it was Alex Williams who was drawn to represent the club in the 2025 London Marathon. Congratulations, Alex!
Mark Pople and Stephen Nicholls, part of the 2023/24 V55 Gwent League winning team.
Chris Green collecting his V35 2nd place Gwent League individual trophy.
The evening also provided an opportunity to distribute a few additional awards that had been collected over the past few weeks.
Alex Coombs collecting his Somerset Series winners trophy.
To round off the night, the dance floor came alive with a lively ceilidh. The music, energy, and laughter filled the room, with many quickly realising that their talents might be better suited to running than dancing!
Enjoying the ceilidh.
It was a night to remember, full of fun and festive celebration. Here's to another successful year ahead for the Harriers!
Buffalo YMCA Turkey Trot, NY, USA
Thanksgiving Day, 2024
[Report by Nick Stevens]
Dan, my eldest son, lives in Buffalo, USA, and has recently returned to running after a 15-year break. I joined him in entering the 128th Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot which is a 5-mile dash down closed roads through central Buffalo with over 14,000 runners - making it very similar to a UK large city road race …. You might think!??
There were in fact some interesting and enjoyable differences; whilst the entry price
was a reasonable $50 (£38), for the ticket price there was free beer for all runners after the race, served at the enormous downtown indoor conference centre arena where a majority of the 14,000 runners flocked (it was pretty cold outside!), free soft drinks and coffee, and plentiful free energy and protein bars, bananas etc. After the award ceremony for the age group and overall winners there was raucous applause for the sponsors (who had bought the beer) and then a live non-politically correct rock band called Hit & Run (they must play Boxing events, too) appeared and played some good high tempo soft rock. Two hours after the race there were still about 6 or 7,000 people there … maybe hoping to avoid Turkey dinner preparation at home? Maybe just enjoying the party.
The cold weather didn’t stop Nick.
After doing a few sessions with Dan’s local running club, including a bizarre intervals
sessions dashing between the parking lots at a Buffalo Bills football game taking one
beer and one hot dog at each site, I think the local running scene in the US is much
more based on the social than the competitive vibe. That might explain why I came 1st veteran 60 out of 268 vet 60s with a time of 30:32 in a race with 14,000 runners, and yet just a few weeks ago, only 3rd vet 60 at a Radstock Parkrun with just 150 odd runners...!!!! Dan was second in the V35 category with a time of 27:50.
Nick with his V60 winners trophy and his name in lights.
Club Paarlauf and Curry Night
The final training session of the year will be held on Tuesday, 17th December, before we take a break for Christmas and resume in January. As is tradition, we’ll finish the year with a club paarlauf session, where members will pair up to see who can cover the greatest distance within the allocated time. This fun and inclusive session is open to all members—don’t miss out!
After training, the festivities continue with a curry night at The King Alfred in Street, following the same format as last year. The cost is £15.95 per person, including a variety of curries (with vegetarian options) and all the usual accompaniments.
To join the curry night, please add your name to the sign-up sheet, available at Tuesday training sessions throughout December. If you’re unable to attend training but would still like to join, email Alex Coombs at
We look forward to celebrating the end of the year with you—make sure to join the fun!
Baltonsborough Christmas Pudding Race
The Baltonsborough Christmas Pudding race is back for another year. It is to be held on Sunday December 22nd. The five mile route starts at the race HQ from the village hall, Ham Street. The race will start at 11:00am. All finishers will receive
a Christmas pudding. Christmas fancy dress is encouraged but not essential. All profits raised from this race will go to the charity Rowan Romania. This is a UK charity that was founded by a group of Baltonsborough villagers in 2004, and is still run and primarily supported by Baltonsborough villagers. The charity is committed to supporting adults with special needs in a long-stay psychiatric hospital in Zarnesti, Romania. This hospital has around 150 patients, and is severely overcrowded and under-funded. Further details about the charity can be found at: www.rowanromania.com.
To enter the race, click here.
For more information about the race, visit the race website: www.baltonsboroughrace.com.
News Reports
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this week’s report. If you’ve raced recently, please remember that we can only include your results if you send us a race report or photos to let us know about it. Send your race details and photos to
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)
December 2024
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)
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 (The King Alfred, Street)
Sunday 22nd December 2024 - Baltonsborough Christmas Pudding Race
January 2025
(SS) Wednesday 1st January 2025 - Chard Flyer
Saturday 4th January 2025 - South West Cross Country Championships
Wednesday 8th January 2025 - Street 5K (Race 4)
Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th January 2025 - U13/U15 & U17 Individual Championships
Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th January 2025 - The National Running Show (NEC Birmingham)
Wednesday 29th January 2025 - Club pub run (venue TBC)
February 2025
Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd February 2025 - Individual Indoor Championships
Saturday 8th February 2025 - Gwent League XC (Race 4 - Margam Park, Port Talbot)
Wednesday 12th February 2025 - Street 5K (Race 5)
Wednesday 26th February 2025 - Club pub run (venue TBC)
March 2025
Saturday 1st March 2025 - Gwent League XC (Race 5 - Venue TBC)
Wednesday 12th March 2025 - Street 5K (Race 6)
Wednesday 26th March 2025 - Club pub run (venue TBC)
April 2025
Wednesday 30th April 2025 - Club pub run (venue TBC)
May 2025
Sunday 11th May 2025 - Great Bristol Half Marathon and 10K
Sunday 25th May 2025 - Halstead and Essex Marathon
Wednesday 28th May 2025 - Club pub run (venue TBC)
June 2025
Sunday 1st June 2025 - Tarrant Valley 10K
Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th June 2025 - U13/15/17 SEAA Track and Field Outdoor Championships (Venue TBC)
Sunday 22nd June 2025 - Longest Day 10K, Run the Ruins (Glastonbury Abbey)
Wednesday 25th June 2025 - Club pub run (venue TBC)
Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th June 2025 - U20/Senior SEAA Track and Field Outdoor Championships (Venue TBC)