Elise Thorner running to another PB at the Diamond League
Wells City Harrier Elise Thorner made an impressive Diamond League debut on 12th June, finishing 7th in the 3000m steeplechase at Oslo’s Bislett Games with a personal best of 9:15.06 – placing her 13th in the 2025 world rankings and 2nd on the UK all-time list. Elsewhere, Harriers were out in force at the Yeovilton 5K, where warm and windy conditions didn’t stop a string of personal bests. Paul Chadwick completed his sixth Oke Croak Fell Race on Dartmoor, and Hannah Blundy was first female at the Martock 10K. Meanwhile, junior Harriers shone at the Somerset Schools Championships with several podium finishes and new PBs across track and field events.
Diamond League
[Report by Al Thorner]
On Thursday 12th June Wells City Harriers senior international Elise Thorner lined up in her first Diamond League race at the world famous Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway in the 3000m steeplechase. This was arguably the 24 year old New Balance sponsored athlete's biggest race of her life as she starred alongside 16 athletes of which 11 competed at the Paris Olympics including the Olympic gold medallist.
Elise taking the hurdle
Watched by a worldwide TV audience of around 20 million people and a packed stadium, she made a cautious start but worked her way through the field to finish in a very creditable 7th place in a new personal best time of 9 mins 15.06 seconds. This time currently ranks Elise 13th in the 2025 world rankings and moves her up to 2nd on the UK All Time list. After the race she said "I'm really happy. I came here to compete and I had to be patient but I wanted to belong with these amazing athletes that I have so much respect for". Elise's next race is in Finland at the Paavo Nurmi Games on Tuesday 17th June.
Yeovilton 5K (Race 3)
There was a huge turn out of Harriers for race 3 of the Yeovilton 5K. The warm weather and blustery conditions didn’t put a stop to a number of PBs on the evening.
The Harriers Post Race
Harrier Results
4th – Alexander Coombs – 16:04
20th – Addie Butcher – 17:08 (PB)
21st – Jamie Williams – 17:08
22nd – Tim Ingle – 17:08 (PB)
26th – Matthew Lusby – 17:22
27th – Sophie Nicholls – 17:25
29th – David Hirst – 17:31
30th – Casper Rawbone – 17:32 (PB)
34th – Jeremy Linter – 17:48
37th – James Hodges – 18:02
41st – Dan Williams – 18:12
48th – Jon James – 18:28
51st – Jack French – 18:32
52nd – Phoebe Aspinall – 18:33 (PB)
54th – Benjamin Thomas – 18:36 (PB)
56th – Dan Bryant – 18:51 (PB)
66th – Graham Goldsmid – 19:22
72nd – Jonathan Williams – 19:41
80th – Andrew Piper – 20:02
81st – Phil Paddick – 20:04
85th – Evie Horsfall – 20:17
94th – Harriet Scott – 20:40
97th – Ruby Shaw – 20:43 (PB)
100th – Paul Knight – 20:50
106th – Amy Reakes – 21:02
108th – Mike Bosley – 21:11
109th – Rosie Park – 21:13
113th – Eleanor Constable – 21:20 (PB)
116th – Joanne Tibbatts – 21:34
122nd – James Shaw – 21:57
129th – Robert Moore – 22:29
132nd – Melissa Aspinall – 22:42
139th – Mark Pople – 22:53
140th – Stuart Nash – 22:54
141st – Stephen Nicholls – 22:54
152nd – Emma Woodcock – 24:11 (PB)
154th – Tim Sanders – 24:12
186th – Karen Shears – 29:47
191st – Jason Woodcock – 32:04
Rosie Park sprinting to the finish
Oke Croak
Oke Croak Fell Race, Dartmoor - Sunday 8th June
This classic Dartmoor race attracts a hardy bunch for its course of 10.7 miles with 2,060 feet of climb.
First organised and run in the 1990’s, it starts in Okehampton with runners setting off to the checkpoints at Oke Tor and then Yes Tor, and back to Okehampton by whatever they determine to be the best route. In good weather it’s easier to see the route choice of those in front, whilst in bad weather you’ve got to be good with a compass…and try to avoid the boggy sections.
This edition saw excellent weather and glorious views from the top and just the one Harrier competing in what was his 6th running of this particular event.
Paul Chadwick 26th 2:09
Paul making a decent on Dartmoor
Somerset County Schools AA Championships
Yeovil, Saturday 14 June
Junior Girls (School Years 8 & 9)
100m Poppy Shaw 3rd 13.85 (& 13.70 PB in heat)
300m Elspeth Perkins 1st 44.94 PB
Javelin Elspeth Perkins 2nd 25.31
Junior Boys
800m Oskar Beck 1st 2.03
1500m Jamie Williams 3rd 4.42 PB
Jamie Dawson 4th 4.43
Inter Girls (School Years 10 & 11)
800m Vienna Townsend 3rd 2.34
1500m Florence Tibbatts 4th 5.28
Inter Boys
1500m Harry Dawson 2nd 4.34
Senior Girls (Years 12 & 13)
800m 1st Gemma Tolputt 2.17
1500m 2nd Amelie Cook 5.52
Martock 10K
Sunday 14th June 2025
The single-lap route followed quiet country roads and featured a mostly flat profile, offering strong potential for a personal best.
Hannah Blundy was the first female finisher
Harrier Results
5th Hannah BLUNDY 36:22.7
14th Jeremy LINTER 37:41.0
47th Graham GOLDSMID 40:56.6
93rd Mike BOSLEY 44:12.9
156th Scarlett WELLS 48:47.3
158th Mark POPLE 49:00.8
292nd Aime Louise BISS 55:31.3
461st Megan BENN 1:05:22.4
A group of Harriers with their medals
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)
June 2025
(SS) Wednesday 18th June 2025 - Brean Banger
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)
Thursday 26th June 2025 - YOAC Evening Open (Meet 2)
Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th June 2025 - U20/Senior SEAA Track and Field Outdoor Championships (Venue TBC)
Sunday 29th June 2025 - Heron Half
July 2025
Saturday 5th July 2025 - Cotswold Way Relay
(SS) Sunday 6th July 2025 - Quantock Beast
Tuesday 8th July 2025 - Westbury 5K
Wednesday 9th July 2025 - Yeovilton 5K (Race 4)
(SS) Sunday 13th July 2025 - Piddle Wood Plod
Sunday 13th July 2025 - Blackmore Vale Half Marathon
Wednesday 30th July 2025 - Club pub run (venue TBC)
August 2025
(SS) Wednesday 6th August 2025 - Haslebury Trail
Tuesday August 12th 2025 - Westbury 5K
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)
Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th September 2025 - SEAA Fell Running Championships
(SS) Sunday 14th September 2025 - Burnham Half
Sunday 21st September 2025 - BHAM! Trail
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)