UK Athletics Champs, South West Athletics League, Yeovil Open, Scottish Orienteering Champs and enter the Baltonsborough 5 Mile

Details: Written by: Alexander Coombs; Created: 05 August 2025; Last Updated: 05 August 2025; Hits: 596

Milo

Milo Cook getting a PB in the 1500m at the Yeovil Open

Wells City Harriers athletes have been in action across a busy schedule of competitions, with highlights including Elise Thorner’s championship record-breaking victory in the 3000m steeplechase at the Novuna UK Track & Field Championships, earning her selection for the World Championships in Tokyo. Harry Barton also delivered a strong performance in the 400m heats at the same event. Further afield, Zoe Frost claimed overall victory in her age group at the Scottish 6 Days Orienteering competition. Back on the track, numerous Harriers recorded personal bests at both the South West League fixture in Exeter and the Yeovil Open. The club now turns its attention to upcoming fixtures, including the SEAA Road Relays and NAL Playoff fixture. Please get in touch if you can participate. Finally, don’t forget to enter the Baltonsborough 5 Mile Road Race at the end of August.

Novuna UK Track & Field Championships

Thorner UK Champ

Elise Thorner in steeplechase action at the UK Champs

[Photo from British Athletics]

Wells City Harriers GB International athlete Elise Thorner travelled to Birmingham on Saturday to contest the Novuna UK Track & Field Championships in the 3000m steeplechase. The 24 year old ex Millfield School pupil entered the race as the current UK No 1 and in great form having recently secured the automatic qualifying standard for the forthcoming World Championships in Tokyo in September. Leading the race from the second lap she was being tracked all the way by UK ranked No 2, Sarah Tait but kept her cool to pull away with 200m to go and cross the line smashing the championship record by 7 seconds in 9 mins 22 seconds. This performance guaranteed the New Balance sponsored athlete selection for Tokyo and gain her third full senior international vest. Next up for Elise is the Diamond League in Lausanne, Switzerland on the 20th August before flying out to the Team GB holding camp in Japan.

Thorner Medal UK Champ

Elise with her winner’s medal

Harry Barton was also racing at the championships in the 400m. He finished third in Heat 2 in a time of 47.69, missing out on automatic qualification. Unfortunately, after a fast Heat 1, he already knew he wasn’t going to qualify for the final as one of the three fastest runners up.

Harry B 400m

Harry Barton finishing 3rd in the 400m heats

South West Athletics League - Fixture 3

Exeter, Sunday 27th July

Following this third of four SW League fixtures the joint team with Yeovil Olympiads lies in overall 3rd position, out of the 12 teams contesting the League. Well ahead are Exeter Harriers, with Armada of Plymouth 2nd. Taunton Harriers are in 4th, close behind the YOAC team.

There’s just the one fixture left on Sunday 7th September so Harriers of all ages are asked to let the team managers know if they are available for selection.

Amongst the YOAC team there were some good performances by Harrier members on 27th July with a number of personal bests:

U13 boys

100m Milk Cook 15.70

200m Milo Cook 32.35

U15 boys

1500m

1st Oskar Beck 4.17 pb

20th Jack Barker 5.05 pb

21st Dominic Cook 5.35 pb

Shot

3rd Oskar Beck 8.76m pb

U20s/Seniors

100m Lara Cook 14.02

1500m s/ch 2nd Amelie Cook 5.55

200m Jack French 25.54

400m Jack French 56.05

Javelin Jack French 16.83m pb

Yeovil Open Meeting - Thursday 31st July

There were more PBs recorded at the recent Yeovil Open by Harriers.

U11

75m 1st Rowan Kelly 11.14

600m 2nd Jonah Barrington 1:55.85

600m 6th Rowan Kelly 2.08.28

U13

100m 4th Alfie Beck 15.04 pb

1500m Milo Cook 6.06.26 pb

U15

100m Harrison Skuse 13.17 pb

200m Harrison Skuse 27.55 pb

200m Ava Mitchard 33.72 pb

1500m Dominic Cook 5.39.71

1500m Steeplechase

1st Oskar Beck 4.46.02

2nd Jamie Williams 5.04.24 pb

U20

1500m Sophie Nicholls 4.50.32

1500m Amelie Cook 5.20.37

Seniors

100m Melissa Aspinall 16.85 pb

200m Melissa Aspinall 35.19

1500m

Peter Grist 4.24.14

Christian Green 4.30.60

Phoebe Aspinall 4.58.47 pb

Melissa Aspinall 6.12.83 pb

1500m Steeplechase

Phoebe Aspinall 5.35.01 pb

The final end of month Thursday Open is on 28th August at the Yeovil Arena.

Scottish Orienteering Champs

Zoe map

A map used by Zoe Frost during the Scottish Orienteering Champs

Junior Harriers member Zoe Frost travelled to Scotland last week to take part in the biannual Scottish 6 days Orienteering competition. This year it was held in Royal Deeside. The competition had around 2500 entries entered from under 10s to over 85s age classes. Zoe was in the under 12s. The event consists of a different race location on each of the 6 days and covers varied terrain from forest tracks, open moorland, pine forest, and even an urban event on the streets and of Ballater. The aim of the competition is to navigate between points (controls) from a map given at the start of your time allocated run. The controls are shown with an orange and white kite and an electronic dibber that records your route that you download at the finish. The winner being the fastest person to complete your particular course while punching all the controls in the right order. It is up to the competitor to choose their route between points based on information on the map; i.e contours, vegetation density, marshy ground or using paths. The technical difficulty of the navigation is linked to the age class. Orienteering is a great way to occupy the mind while being active and giving young people self reliance.

For Zoe each run's length varied between 1.7 and 3.7km. For the week Zoe had four 1st places, one 2nd place and one 5th place. This gave Zoe overall winner in her age class for the week.

Harrier Chris Kelsey was also in Scotland for the week, finishing 55th out of 98 competitors in the M65 class.

Zoe Podium

Zoe on the podium after the 6 day event

SEAA Road Relays

Saturday 20th September 2025.

We are currently seeking athletes interested in representing the Well City Harriers at this year’s SEAA Road Relays in Aldershot.

In recent years, we have successfully fielded a strong men’s team; however, we have encountered challenges in assembling complete junior and women’s teams. We are eager to increase participation across all categories and would welcome expressions of interest from any eligible runners.

Please note that there is no upper limit to the number of teams we can enter—should interest permit, we would be pleased to submit additional teams, including ‘B’ teams where appropriate.

If you are available and would like to take part, please get in touch.

Baltonsborough 5 Mile Road Race

Somerset's annual Baltonsborough Five Mile Road Race will next take place at 11 a.m. on Monday 25 August 2025 (Bank Holiday Monday).

Immediately after the main five mile race has started, the annual combined 1.5 mile fun run and 1.5 mile junior race will be held at 11.10 a.m. on Monday 25 August 2025.

After the races, the annual Baltonsborough Show takes place. This will include a children's "Rainbow Run" at 4 p.m., during which participants will be showered with powder paint at various points along the course.

The five mile race is also part of the "Somerset Series" and Somerset County Athletic Association's County Championship.

To enter or for more information, click here.

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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to be featured in the next report.

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)

August 2025

(SS) Wednesday 6th August 2025 - Haslebury Trail

Wednesday 6th August 2025 - The Hilly Helmet Challenge

Thursday 7th August 2025 - Wells group run moving to a Thursday evening

Tuesday August 12th 2025 - Westbury 5K

Wednesday 13th August 2025 - Crook Peak Cake Race

Wednesday 13th August 2025 - Yeovilton 5K (Race 5)

Saturday 16th August 2025 - National Athletics League Playoff

(SS) Monday 25th August 2025 - Baltonsborough 5 Mile

Thursday 28th August 2025 - YOAC Evening Open (Meet 4)

September 2025

Monday 8th September 2025 - Junior training resumes