Noah Chapman racing 3K at the Bristol Track Club Race Day
Wells City Harriers athletes enjoyed a busy and successful spell of racing across road, track, and fell events throughout April, highlighted by strong performances at the Bristol Track Club 5K. Standout results included a second-place finish for junior Heath Hughes Davies in the U12 3K, and an excellent sub-17-minute run from veteran Jon James, setting the fastest V60 5K time of the season so far. Elsewhere, club members took on challenging courses at the Wardle Skyline Fell Race and the Big Cheese, tackled the hills of the Penselwood 10K, and competed in the Somerset Series at Ilminster. Harriers also represented the club on the international stage at the Boston Marathon, alongside strong showings at Brighton, Manchester, and Newport, while junior success continued with a race win for Jonah Barrington in the Weston Prom Series, rounding off an impressive and varied period of competition for the club.
Bristol Track Club
Saturday 18th April 2026
The BTC 5K is an annual event held at Odd Down Cycle Circuit in the spring. First held in May 2021, elite runners were invited to come along, run fast, and compete for some prize money. Since then, the same race has been held each year with the same idea of inviting elite runners to come and compete hard for some cash and prizes, while hosting open events on the same day for runners of all levels to lay down an early season 5k PB, plus a junior 3km race on the same course.
Heath claimed 2nd place in the U12 3K
The standout performances came in the 3K Wave 1 race, where junior Heath Hughes Davies narrowly missed out on victory after leading for most of the race, only to be outsprinted in the final straight.
In the 5K Wave 2 race, veteran Jon James delivered the performance of the day, breaking 17 minutes and setting the fastest V60 5K time of the season so far.
Harrier Results:
3K Wave 1
2nd Heath Hughes Davies 10:36.7
5th Jonah Barrington 10:53.7
3K Wave 2
9th Noah Chapman 10:12.7
28th Elodie Burdett 12:17.7
31st Ruby Shaw 13:18.7
Elodie Burdett
5K Wave 2
11th Jamie Williams 16:10.6
12th Addie Butcher 16:11.9
55th Jon James 16:54.4 (1st V60)
5K Wave 3
67th Christian Green 15:45.7
75th Peter Grist 15:56.4
76th Alexander Coombs 15:56.9
97th Oskar Beck 16:30.4
Addie Butcher
Full results here.
Watch the races back here.
More photos here.
Wardle Skyline Fell Race
Saturday 11th April
[Report by Paul Chadwick]
Paul Chadwick
This fell race covers 11.3km (7 miles) with 381m (1250ft) of ascent and takes the runners from the start at Wardle, north of Rochdale, up onto some glorious ridge running across the Pennine moors.
It was blowing a gale with squally showers with a touch of hailstones when just over 90 runners set out. The route was marked on the initial ascent and final descent, but visibility was good, so navigation was straight forward.
67th Paul Chadwick 78.26
Penselwood 10k & 5k Road Race
Sunday 12th April
[Report by Alice Knight]
Alice Knight
Harriers enjoyed the very hilly course at the Penselwood Road race on Sunday with Andrew (Pate) and myself trying to chase our times from last year; whilst Will Pate was making his debut trying to chase his sister Jessica’s first place position from 2022.
It was a good turnout from the Pate family - Will 42.32, Fergus 43.59, Alice 60.10, Andrew 64.15 and grandson Reuben running 25.32 in the 5k.
After the finish
The Big Cheese
Evelyn Wigley
Starting and finishing in Cheddar, the Big Cheese is a challenging 15-mile off-road fell race across the Mendip Hills, featuring over 2,000 feet of climbing. As the fourth race in the 2026 Somerset Series, it draws a strong field of local runners alongside competitors from further afield, all keen to test themselves on this classic fell course.
Harrier Results:
16 - Henry Sage - 01:58:04
72 - Andrew Piper - 02:17:01
181 - Evelyn Wigley - 02:52:45
182 - Matthew Wigley - 02:52:47
204 - Kim Clark - 02:59:40
261 - Chris Clark - 03:35:40
Full results here.
More photos here.
Andrew Piper
Ilminster 10K
Sunday 19th April 2026
Race five in the Somerset Series. The next race is The Badrat Bolt on 17th May.
Harrier Results:
4th - Tim Ingle - 37:38.2
24th - Jonathan Williams - 42:13.4
45th - Tim Sanders - 46:02.0
50th - Mike Bosley - 46:50.4
Full results here.
Jonathan Williams
Spring Marathons:
We have had a host of Harriers run marathons this spring. Read on to find out how they got on:
Boston (USA) - 130th Edition
Monday 20th April 2026
[Report by David Hirst]
A PB for David at Boston
Perfect running weather conditions awaited me as I travelled to Boston to take part in the world’s oldest annual marathon, dating back to 1897.
Over the weekend and through to race day on the Monday, Boston turns into a runner’s mecca with many events and running pop-up shops to visit. On the Saturday, I enjoyed a gentle warm-up at the Jamaica Pond Parkrun with a few hundred other runners.
The marathon is an interesting course, starting in the small town of Hopkinton, heading in an almost straight direction into the city, finishing on Boylston Street. A net downhill course, Boston is known for its four hills in the Newton area, with the last being named Heartbreak Hill. Living in the Mendips, the hills are not that steep, but the difficulty is that they are between miles 16 to 21 of the route. I thoroughly enjoyed Boston and the race, leaving enough energy after Heartbreak Hill to speed up and finish in 2:48:00 (a small PB).
Boston is a race I would recommend to anyone thinking about entering in future years.
Brighton Marathon
Sunday 12th April 2026
575th - Joe Nelson - 3:14:20
Joe Nelson
Boston (UK) Marathon
Sunday 12th April 2026
361st - Joshua White - 3:31:11
Josh White
Manchester Marathon
Sunday 19th April 2026
814th - James Fisher - 2:56:28
2054th - Richard Madden - 3:09:36
9912th - Susan Williams - 3:55:13
[Report by James Fisher]
So, one year on from the Shakespeare Marathon and it was time for a 2nd attempt at a sub-3 hour marathon.
Training had gone well and despite a nasty case of maranoia in the days leading up to the race I was ready. The weather was perfect this time and the course was flat. Huge crowds lined the streets and waves of runners were ready to go.
I was in Red wave at 9.10 and settled into pace well, despite congestion at the start. This eased after a few miles and wide roads were welcome.
I went through Stretford at 10k feeling good and I saw my family at 8 miles in Sale still going strong. At halfway, we hit the crowds at Altrincham with an electric atmosphere. Still going well here, I knew I felt better than I did at this point last year. The miles ticked by and I saw my family again back in Sale at 18 miles. Feeling tougher now, but this gave me a real lift.
I focused on getting to 20 miles and telling myself just 10k to go. I still had a few doubts niggling in my mind, and I wondered whether I could do this. 48 minutes to run a 10km. Surely, I could do it this time?
A bit further towards the finish. I’m really digging now. The form has gone and the pain is rising. 2 miles to go, and I need to do 10 minute miles. It’s at this point that I think I can get it done.
The crowds lifted me again, as well as incredible other runners dragging me on. I get over the line in 2 hours 56 minutes and 28 seconds. Absolutely delighted. Absolutely exhausted.
This was something I never thought I’d do, when I only really started running at 35, and never even considered this challenge, until I was nearly 40. Now, just short of my 41st birthday and after working towards it for nearly 18 months it’s complete. I’m so happy it’s done, and so is my wife!
James Fisher
Newport Marathon
Sunday 19th April 2026
Henry Sage - 2:56:05
Bailey Clark - 2:56:40
Stephen Nicholls - 3:13:30
Bailey Clark (right)
London Marathon
More than ten Harriers will be taking on the London Marathon on Sunday 26 April 2026, an incredible achievement. We’ll be sharing a full report in the coming weeks to update you on how everyone got on. Best of luck to all our runners!
We’re also proud to have several junior athletes representing the South West at the Mini Marathon. Congratulations to those selected, it’s a fantastic honour.
Weston Prom Series
Thursday 9th April 2026
In the April mile race, junior Harrier Jonah Barrington raced to victory, setting a new primary school record for the course. He finished as the first primary-aged runner in an impressive time of 5:30, placing 13th overall. Outstanding achievement, well done Jonah! There is one final race in the series taking place on 21st May.
Jonah with his award
Gwent League Meal
It was great to catch up with some of the Harriers who participated in the 2025/26 Gwent League series. We had the opportunity to celebrate the amazing achievement of the Women winning the Division 3 title. Want to read back on the series? Click here.
Celebrations
Club Welfare
Wells City Harriers has two club welfare officers, Sarah Massey and Jon James. They are available to support any concerns athletes, parents or coaches raise or would like to discuss in relation to safety and wellbeing, and to help the club implement welfare policies and procedures. All officials and coaches have DBS clearance and have received training related to safeguarding and health and safety.
Further details can be found on the WCH website safeguarding page: Safeguarding: including links to forms where incidents and concerns can be logged.
Please do contact us if you have questions:
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, SRC = Somerset Road Championships)
April 2026
Sunday 26th April 2026 - TCS London Marathon
May 2026
Saturday 2nd May 2026 - Midsomer Norton Town Park Community Run
Sunday 3rd May 2026 - Senior Inter-Counties Mountain Race
Sunday 3rd May 2026 - Runaway Train
Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th May 2026 - Somerset County AA T&F Championship
Sunday 10th May 2026 - Great Bristol Run (Half Marathon and 10K)
Wednesday 13th May 2026 - Yeovilton 5K (Race 2)
Saturday 16th May 2026 - Millfield BMC Classic
Saturday 16th May 2026 - Compton Challenge (Marathon & 16 Mile)
Saturday 16th May 2026 - The Bolt at Badminton (5K & 10K)
[SS] Sunday 17th May 2026 - The Badrat Bolt
Wednesday 20th May 2026 - South West PB 5K Series (Race 1)
Thursday 21st May 2026 - Dave Jones Weston Prom Series (Race 9)
Saturday 23rd May 2026 - National Athletics League Division 1 West (Fixture 1 - Yate)
[SS] [SRC] Sunday 24th May 2026 - Wells Festival of Running
Wednesday 27th May 2026 - Wells City Harriers AGM (19:30 - Wells Rugby Club)
Thursday 28th May - YOAC Evening Open 1
June 2026
Saturday 6th June 2026 - Midsomer Norton Town Park Community Run
Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th June 2026 - U20/Senior Track & Field Outdoor Championships (Bedford)
Wednesday 10th June 2026 - Yeovilton 5K (Race 3)
Wednesday 10th June 2026 - South West PB 5K Series (Race 2)
[SS] Saturday 13th June 2026 - Neroche 10K
[SS] Wednesday 24th June 2026 - The Forde Abbey 10K
Thursday 25th June 2026 - YOAC Evening Open 2
Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th June 2026 - U14/U16/U18 Track & Field Outdoor Championships (Chelmsford)
Sunday 28th June 2026 - The Heron Half-Marathon
July 2026
Saturday 4th July 2026 - Midsomer Norton Town Park Community Run
Wednesday 8th July 2026 - Yeovilton 5K (Race 4)
Wednesday 8th July 2026 - South West PB 5K Series (Race 3)
Saturday 11th July 2026 - National Athletics League Division 1 West (Fixture 2 - Bournemouth)
Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th July 2026 - Combined Events Track & Field Outdoor Championships (Horspath)
Thursday 30th July 2026 - YOAC Evening Open 3
August 2026
Saturday 1st August 2026 - Midsomer Norton Town Park Community Run
Wednesday 12th August 2026 - Yeovilton 5K (Race 5)
Saturday 22nd August 2026 - National Athletics League Division 1 West (Fixture 3 - Yeovil)
Thursday 27th August 2026 - YOAC Evening Open 4
[SS] [SRC] Monday 31st August 2026 - Baltonsborough 5 Mile
September 2026
Saturday 5th September 2026 - Midsomer Norton Town Park Community Run
Wednesday 9th September 2026 - Yeovilton 5K (Race 6)
Saturday 12th/Sunday 13th September 2026 - The Isle of Wight Fell Running Championship Series
Saturday 12th September 2026 - National Athletics League Promotion Playoff (Oxford) TBC
Saturday 12th September 2026 - U20/Senior Inter Counties Track & Field Outdoor Championships (Kingston)
Sunday 13th September 2026 - U16/U18 Inter Counties Track & Field Outdoor Championships
[SS] [SRC] Sunday 13th September 2026 - Burnham Half Marathon
Sunday 20th September 2026 - Swansea Bay 10K
Sunday 27th September 2025 - The Black Nore 10K
October 2026
Saturday 3rd October 2026 - Midsomer Norton Town Park Community Run
Wednesday 14th October 2026 - Street 5K (Race 1)
[SS] Sunday 25th October 2026 - Herepath Half
November 2026
Saturday 7th November 2026 - Midsomer Norton Town Park Community Run
Wednesday 11th November 2026 - Street 5K (Race 2)
[SS] Sunday 22nd November 2026 - Brent Knoll MT
December 2026
Saturday 5th December 2026 - Midsomer Norton Town Park Community Run
Wednesday 9th December 2026 - Street 5K (Race 3)