Tom Webb breaking the finisher's tape, crossing the line first in the U17 London Mini Marathon
Wells City Harriers had a strong presence across multiple events this month, with standout performances including Tom Webb’s stunning win in the U17 London Mini Marathon, joining an elite list of past winners. The club was well-represented in both the Mini and full London Marathons, with several athletes achieving personal bests in challenging conditions. Meanwhile, Ollie and Elise Thorner impressed in their early-season track and field campaigns in the US, with Elise currently ranked 7th in the world for the 3000m steeplechase. Locally, Harriers performed strongly at the Easter Bunny 10K, Shapwick Bunny Hop, Spring Open at Yeovil, and the Shakespeare and Manchester Marathons. We also are reminding you to renew your membership for the 2025/26 year if you haven’t already, and if you’ve not yet completed our Membership Survey, please take a few minutes to share your feedback—it really helps us improve your experience at the club.
London Mini Marathon
Wells City Harriers had three representatives in total running for the South West region at the London Mini Marathon held on the Saturday before the main event. Two members from the Harrier side of the Club and one from the Yeovil side of the Club - well done all! (If we’ve missed anyone from this report let us know).
The set of age group races cover a distance of 2.6km and finish at the main Marathon finish line.
Junior athlete Tom Webb delivered a superb performance, building on his 4th place finish in 2024 to take a brilliant victory on The Mall, right outside Buckingham Palace. In doing so, Tom joins an illustrious list of past winners that notably includes star athletes such as Sir Mo Farah and Charlotte Purdue. Everyone at the club sends their warmest congratulations to Tom on this remarkable achievement – a proud moment for both him and Wells City Harriers!
To see Tom crossing the line click here or to watch his interview with Athletics Weekly, click here.
Tom and his winner trophy
British Athletics Road Championships, 2.6km
U15 boys Oskar Beck 45th 8.09
U17 men Tom Webb 1st 7.19
& from the Yeovil side of the Club:
U17 women Daisy Abernethy 55th 9.19
Oskar beck representing the South West in London
London Marathon
We had a strong turnout in London, with over ten Harriers taking part in this year’s marathon. Despite the tough and unusually warm conditions, a few of our runners still managed to achieve personal bests.
Keep an eye on our website for a full London Marathon report coming soon!
Thorner Update
Ollie Thorner throwing the javelin in Los Angeles.
[Report by Al Thorner]
Wells City Harriers GB international athlete twins have opened up their track and field seasons in the US in the past month. Ollie Thorner who is currently in his final semester as a student at UCLA in Los Angeles has been competing at local meets throughout April in preparation for his first decathlon at Eugene, Oregon in the middle of May. Preparation has been solid for the 24 year old with early season marks of 52m 26cm in the Javelin, a Discus throw just shy of 41m and a PB equalling put of 13m 50cm in the Shot Put. In the jumps he has cleared 1m 95 in the High Jump, equalled his Long Jump personal best with a leap of 7m 11cm and cleared 4m 53cm in the Pole Vault. In the running events he has shaved a second off of his 800m PB with a fine 2nd place finish in 1 min 53.8 seconds, ran the 110m hurdles in 15.33 seconds and posted a fine 400m relay split of 46.8 seconds for the one lap event. Meanwhile his twin sister Elise travelled from her base at the New Balance house in Manchester to compete at the prestigious Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa opening her season in the 3000m steeplechase. In a talented field of 11 athletes from 6 different nations including a Paris 2024 Olympian she led the race for 6 of the 7.5 laps only to be narrowly beaten into 2nd place down the home straight achieving a time of 9 mins 30 seconds to rank 7th on the current world rankings. Elise moves on to Flagstaff, Arizona for a month of altitude training before her next race in Los Angeles.
Elise Thorner leading the way and making a splash in Iowa.
Easter Bunny 10K
Tom Webb starting strong
Held on Bank Holiday Monday, 21st April, the Easter Bunny 10K followed a flat course through the villages of West Camel, with the second half of the race incorporating the familiar 5K loop used for the Yeovilton 5K.
Harrier Results:
1st Tom Webb – 30:55 – Male Junior
4th Peter Grist – 33:49 – Male 40
6th Hannah Blundy – 35:53 – Female Senior
17th James Hodges – 39:04 – Male Senior
25th Julian Mclean – 40:03 – Male Senior
59th Mike Bosley – 44:07 – Male 50
220th Berni Mundy – 1:02:40 – Male 70+
231st Karen Shears – 1:04:30 – Female 65+
Shapwick Bunny Hop 10K
Evelyn Wigley racing towards the line
The Shapwick Bunny Hop took place on Monday 21st April. Now organised by Street Striders, the event followed a 7.5-mile loop around Shapwick, starting at Vicarage Lane. The route crossed the Shapwick Heath Nature Reserve, taking in a mix of roads and farm tracks. The course was gently downhill in the first half before climbing steadily in the second.
Catherine Goldsmid making a strong push for the finish
Wells City Harriers had the following runners in the Shapwick Bunny Hop:
14th – Jonathan Williams – 55:52 (3rd MV50)
21st – Paul Knight – 58:39 (2nd MV60)
30th – Evelyn Wigley – 60:28 (2nd Female)
52nd – Mark Pople – 65:14
60th – Catherine Goldsmid – 67:30 (1st FV60)
70th – Kim Clark – 72:08 (2nd FV60)
110th – Chris Clark – 91:58
Kim Clark with another award for her running
Spring Open Yeovil Track
Oskar, Casper, Harry and Jamie after the 1500m
Saturday 19th April 2025
800m
U15 Oskar Beck 2.02pb
V35 Matt Lusby 2.03
U20 Lucy Acott 2.28
U15 Jack Barker 2.31
U15 Dominic Cook 2.58
U13 Milo Cook 3.09
1500m steeplechase
U20 Amelie Cook 5.57
3000m steeplechase
V35 Matt Lusby 9:58pb
Monday 21st April 2025
1500m
U15 Oskar Beck 4.18pb
U17 Addie Butcher 4.30pb
U17 Harry Dawson 4.38pb
U17 Casper Rawbone 4.50pb
U15 Jamie Dawson 4.50pb
U15 Reuben Frith 4.54pb
U20 Lucy Acott 5.12pb
U17 Florence Tibbatts 5.17pb
U20 Amelie Cook 5.19
U15 Dominic Cook 5.43
100m
U17 Oskar Guynan 12.08
U15 Harrison Skuse 13.60pb
U20 Lara Cook 13.68
U15 Elspeth Perkins 13.81
U15 Annalisa Roper 15.22pb
U13 Milo Cook 15.77pb
75m
U11 Rowan Kelly 11.14pb
600m
U11 Rowan Kelly 1.52pb
800m
U17 Addie Butcher 2.15pb
U15 Toby Hirst 2.30
U20 Amelie Cook 2.35
U15 Annalisa Roper 3.08pb
200m
U20 Lara Cook 28.65
U15 Elspeth Perkins 28.77
U15 Harrison Skuse 29.60pb
3000m
V35 Matt Lusby 9.02pb
If you’re looking to participate in any track races this summer, remember to wear your YOAC vest. If you need a vest, Graham Goldsmid has a few available for purchase from the club shop. Alternatively, please speak to Yeovil Olympiads to arrange buying one.
Addie and Oskar heading for PBs in the 1500m
Shakespeare Marathon
James Fisher taking on the gravel, running the Shakespeare Marathon.
[Report by James Fisher]
Sunday 27th April wasn't just about all the amazing London marathon runners. After missing out on a London marathon place like many others I searched for another marathon around the same time to coincide with my training and join my fellow Wells City Harriers on their marathon training long runs. Those long runs were almost something to look forward to on Sundays with our brilliant friendly club and camaraderie...almost! With Manchester also full, the Shakespeare marathon in Stratford upon Avon was another great option in a beautiful part of the world.
The Saturday saw perfect running weather come and go. Sunday morning came around and although the weather was stunning, it was going to be a hot day to contend with. The race was a 2-lap course out into rural Warwickshire taking in picturesque villages and the beautiful Stratford Greenway. Despite the heat, I set off at the race pace I had trained for. I was going to leave it all out there. Setting off I felt great and was cheered on by many supporters around the centre. Before I knew it the first half was almost done and all felt okay. I'd even got up and over the rather large hill I'd been dreading still at the target pace. However, as us runners know, you never want to be too comfortable. Running is hard and it can come back to bite you at any moment. And so it proved. I finished the first lap coming off the Stratford Greenway and I knew the heat and gravel track was catching up with me fast. Even a big cheer at halfway from my amazing family who'd come to support couldn't stop the quickly impending struggle. I went into the 2nd lap dropping off my target pace knowing I needed to manage my expectations. Undulating through the rural villages again didn't feel so easy this time with the temperature still rising. That dreaded hill had to be climbed again and at that point it was all about digging in and just getting it done. Turning onto the Stratford Greenway felt like a turn towards home and it lifted my pace slightly albeit still with 10k to go. Drink stations were a welcome opportunity to pour water over my head and get some fluid in and as we returned to Stratford the crowds picked up again and cheered us to the finish.
I completed the marathon in 3 hours 12 minutes. Not the sub 3 hours I was aiming for but still a personal best by 10 minutes and given the course and the heat I didn't come away feeling like I could've done anymore. Onto the next one and that elusive sub 3 hours still to chase in my quickly approaching 40s!
One more step before the finish!
Manchester Marathon
On Sunday the 27th March, Father and Daughter, Matthew and Evelyn Wigley, took on the Manchester Marathon. They crossed the line together in 5 hours and 31 seconds, just shy of the sub 5 hours mark. Tim Sanders was also in Manchester, clocking a time of 3 hours and 47 minutes.
Membership Survey
Our membership survey is closing soon. We are committed to making your experience at the club the best it can be, and your feedback plays a vital role in helping us grow. By sharing your thoughts, you will help us recognise what we are doing well and identify areas where we can improve. The survey only takes a few minutes to complete, and every response makes a real difference.Thank you to those that have already completed the survey.
Complete the survey here.
Membership Renewal (April 2025 - March 2026)
We are now one month into the new membership year – thank you to everyone who has already renewed!
We currently have over 70 members with outstanding fees. If you haven’t yet paid, please do so as soon as possible to avoid any disruption to your membership. If you are experiencing any difficulties with payment, please get in touch and we will help to resolve the problem.
If you have decided not to renew your membership, kindly let us know by emailing
In addition to renewing, please log in to the England Athletics MyAthletics Portal to:
- Check that your contact and medical details are up to date
- Read and accept the latest EA Code of Conduct (you’ll be prompted to do this when you next log in) -This is a requirement as part of your membership.
If you have forgotten your England Athletics URN, click here to find it.
Thank you for helping us keep everything up to date and in line with requirements. Also, a big thank you to Paul Chadwick for his hard work behind the scenes sorting out the membership renewals.
Tuesday Training
The new train schedule for May and June is now available to view. Click here to see. Many thanks to Jon James for generously giving his time to create the training plans.
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)
May 2025
Sunday 4th May 2025 - Runaway Train Trail Race
Saturday 10th May 2025 - Somerset AA Track & Field Championships (Day 1)
Sunday 11th May 2025 - Somerset AA Track & Field Championships (Day 2)
Sunday 11th May 2025 - Great Bristol Half Marathon and 10K
Wednesday 14th May 2025 - Yeovilton 5K (Race 2)
Sunday 18th May 2025 - BMC PB Classic, Millfield School
(SS) Wednesday 21st May 2025 - Town Tree Trail
(SS) Sunday 25th May - Wells Festival of Running (5K / (SS)10K)
Sunday 25th May 2025 - Halstead and Essex Marathon
Wednesday 28th May 2025 - Club pub run (venue TBC)
June 2025
(SS) Sunday 1st June 2025 - Crewkerne 10K
Sunday 1st June 2025 - Tarrant Valley 10K
Wednesday 4th June - Club AGM (Venue TBC)
Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th June 2025 - U13/15/17 SEAA Track and Field Outdoor Championships (Venue TBC)
Sunday 8th June 2025 - Oke Croak!
Wednesday 11th June 2025 - - Yeovilton 5K (Race 3)
(SS) Wednesday 18th June 2025 - Brean Down Race
Sunday 22nd June 2025 - Longest Day 10K, Run the Ruins (Glastonbury Abbey)
(SS) Wednesday 25th June - Forde 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)
July 2025
Saturday 5th July 2025 - Cotswold Way Relay
(SS) Sunday 6th July 2025 - Quantock Beast
Wednesday 9th July 2025 - - Yeovilton 5K (Race 4)
(SS) Sunday 13th July 2025 - Piddle Wood Plod
Wednesday 30th July 2025 - Club pub run (venue TBC)
August 2025
(SS) Wednesday 6th August 2025 - Haslebury Trail
Wednesday 13th August 2025 - - Yeovilton 5K (Race 5)
(SS) Monday 25th August 2025 - Baltonsborough 5 Mile
Wednesday 27th August 2025 - Club pub run (venue TBC)
September 2025
Wednesday 10th September 2025 - - Yeovilton 5K (Race 6)
(SS) Sunday 14th September 2025 - Burnham Half
Wednesday 24th September 2025 - Club pub run (venue TBC)
Sunday 28th September 2025 - Black Nore 10K
October 2025
(SS) Sunday 5th October 2025 - Mother Tucker
Wednesday 8th October 2025 - Street 5K (Race 1)
(SS) Sunday 19th October 2025 - Herepath Half
(SS) Sunday 26th October 2025 - Mendip Muddle
Wednesday 29th October 2025 - Club pub run (venue TBC)
November 2025
Wednesday 12th November 2025 - Street 5K (Race 2)
(SS) Sunday 23rd November 2025 - Brent Knoll
Wednesday 26th November 2025 - Club pub run (venue TBC)
December 2025
Wednesday 10th December 2025 - Street 5K (Race 3)