Diamond League Steeplechase, NAL roundup, Bath Two Tunnels, Frome Festival of Running and Baltonsborough 5 Miler

Details: Written by: Alexander Coombs; Created: 27 August 2025; Last Updated: 27 August 2025; Hits: 580

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All smiles before the start of a hot Baltonsborough 5 Miler

Wells City Harrier Elise Thorner has been selected for the GB & NI team at the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, following a breakthrough season that has seen her claim a UK title, make her Diamond League debut, and post a personal best in the 3000m steeplechase. Elsewhere, Yeovil Olympiads battled in the National Athletics League Playoff, Stellan Corp impressed at the Bath Two Tunnels 5K, Harriers celebrated podium finishes at the Frome Running Festival, and local runners shone in the hotly contested Baltonsborough 5 Miler, rounding off a busy week of racing and club success. Don't forget to get in touch if you want to participate in the upcoming Southern Road Relays. Details below.

Diamond League Lausanne

[Report by Al Thorner]

Elise running in the Drake Relays meet at Des Moins, Iowa, USA back in April

Wednesday August 26th saw the announcement of the GB & NI team for the forthcoming World Athletics Championships being held in the Japanese capital Tokyo in September with Wells City Harrier's Elise Thorner being named as part of a 76 strong team in the 3000m steeplechase. The 24 year old has excelled in her first year as a New Balance sponsored professional athlete, gaining her first senior medal in the European XC Championships in December and winning a domestic UK Championship title on 2nd August in Birmingham, also in the 3000m steeplechase.

Thorner broke through onto the international track stage by lining up for her debut in the Diamond League at the Bislett Games, Oslo in June with a 7th place and personal best time of 9 mins 15 seconds over her favoured event. She then backed it up with an excellent 4th place finish in the rain soaked Lausanne Diamond League, Switzerland on 20th August. Coached by Helen Clitheroe, Thorner has spent the last month at a UK Athletics altitude training camp in St Moritz before shortly flying out to Japan with her heat at the World Championships scheduled for Monday 15th September 2025 at 9.15 am local time.

Watch Elise’s Lausanne Diamond League race on BBC iPlayer (28 minutes).

National Athletics League Playoff

Matt Yeovil Olympiads

Matt Lusby racing in Oxford.

Yeovil Olympiads competed in the National Athletics League Playoff match for the first time, where the top two teams secured promotion to the Premiership. It was always going to be a tough challenge, particularly with limited numbers available for the fixture, and the Olympiads finished 8th overall. Tonbridge AC claimed victory, with Championship West rivals Swansea Harriers taking second place – both earning promotion for next season.

Ever present Matt Lusby had a strong race in a competitive field in the 3000m steeplechase. He finished 6th in a time of 10:06.

A big well done to all the Olympiads and Harriers who competed throughout the season. We’d love to see even more members involved next year to build on the fantastic progress the club is making.

Combined Points:

1st – Tonbridge AC – 583

2nd – Swansea Harriers – 555.50

3rd – Chelmsford AC – 502

4th – Sale Harriers Manchester – 483.50

5th – City of York AC – 435

6th – Crawley AC – 405

7th – Herts Phoenix AC – 348

8th – Yeovil Olympiads AC – 205

Women’s Points:

1st – Swansea Harriers – 257.50

2nd – Tonbridge AC – 233

3rd – Sale Harriers Manchester – 210.50

4th – Crawley AC – 208

5th – City of York AC – 207

6th – Chelmsford AC – 204

7th – Herts Phoenix AC – 152

8th – Yeovil Olympiads AC – 72

Men’s Points:

1st – Tonbridge AC – 300

2nd – Chelmsford AC – 248

2nd – Swansea Harriers – 248

4th – Sale Harriers Manchester – 243

5th – City of York AC – 203

6th – Crawley AC – 147

7th – Herts Phoenix AC – 146

8th – Yeovil Olympiads AC – 83

Bath Two Tunnels 5K

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Stellan Corp racing in Bath

Monday night junior Stellan Corp had an impressive run at Relish Running’s Two Tunnel 5K. He finished in a time of 18:54 narrowly missing out on a PB set at the Wells Festival of Running earlier this year. He achieved first male junior (U20) finishing 5th overall.

Full results here.

Frome Running Festival

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Pete Grist finishing first in the 5K

There was podium success at the Frome Festival of running. The Run Through event took place on Sunday 17th August, with the option of racing the 5K, 10K or Half Marathon. Frome, known for its hills, meant the routes were far from easy. The 5K and 10K wind their way around the roads of Frome, where the half marathon takes you to the surrounding villages of Nunney and Whatley with a return up the infamous Egford Hill.

In the 5K Peter Grist and Joseph Whelan made it a Harriers one two with Pete retaining his title from 2024, whilst in the half marathon Alex Coombs came third for a second successive year.

Full results here.

Harrier Results:

1st Peter Grist - 16:47

2nd Joseph Whelan - 17:49

Half Marathon

3rd Alexander Coombs - 79:10

Baltonsborough 5 Miles

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The juniors and fun runners setting off on the 1.5 mile course.

It was a very warm morning for the Baltonsborough 5 Mile and 1.5K junior race. Another well organised event saw 172 finishers in the 5 Mile race. Wayne Loveridge of Chard was first to finish, with Harrier Phoebe Aspinall taking first in the women’s race. There were also a flurry of other Harrier winners. Victoria Ryan was second female whilst Alex Coombs came third overall. Melissa Aspinall was first FV45, David Hirst was first MV40, and David Hall was first MV60. In the junior race Toby Hirst and Zoe Frost made it a Harrier one two finish. After the race the celebrations continued into the playing field where the annual Baltonsborough Village show was taking place.

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Local resident Paul Knight knows the course well.

Full results can be found here.

5 Mile Harrier Results:

3rd Alexander Coombs 28:17

6th David Hirst 29:49 (1st MV40)

8th Tim Ingle 30:01

12th Phoebe Aspinall 30:38 (1st Female)

21st Robbie Hawkins 32:39

23rd Jonathan Williams 32:49

24th David Hall 33:13 (1st MV60)

30th Victoria Ryan 33:57 (2nd Female)

34th Andrew Piper 34:54

43rd Paul Knight 36:11

56th Matthew Wigley 37:43

58th Amy Reakes 38:32

60th Mark Pople 39:05

66th Melissa Aspinall 39:59 (1st FV45)

78th Emma Woodcock 41:13

101st Michael Coombs 45:04

118th Pete Write 47:56

142nd Karen Shears 53:04

143rd Jason Woodcock 53:11

1.5K Junior Harrier Results:

1st Toby Hirst 9:44

2nd Zoe Frost 10:59

David Hall

David Hall was fastest V60

See more photos of the Harriers racing here.

See our prize winners here.

Southern Road Relays

We have had a lot of interest in this year’s Southern Road Relays and are looking to enter multiple junior, senior and vets teams for both male and female. Some teams are just one member short, so if you’re interested please get in touch! The club will cover the cost of the entry fee. The closing date is 4th September so we need names as soon as possible to finalise the teams. Details can be found here.

Membership Feedback Review

Thank you to everyone who completed our membership feedback survey in April. We’ve been working hard to respond to your comments, and we hope you’ve already noticed many of the changes in action. You can now read a summary of the feedback and the steps we’ve taken at the link here.

Please feel free to send in any further comments or feedback that you may have.

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, SRC = Somerset Road Championships)

August 2025

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

September 2025

Monday 8th September 2025 - Junior training resumes

Wednesday 10th September 2025 - Yeovilton 5K (Race 6)

Saturday 13th September 2025 - Yeovil Games

Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th September 2025 - SEAA Fell Running Championships

(SS) (SRC) Sunday 14th September 2025 - Burnham Half

Saturday 20th September 2025 - SEAA Road Relays

(SS) Sunday 21st September 2025 - Mells Scenic

Sunday 28th September 2025 - Black Nore 10K

October 2025