There was some great running by the large band of Wells City Harrier juniors at the Somerset Schools cross country championships held last Saturday February 5^th at Millfield School. Many, if not all, were familiar with the large field circuit, as it is often used by the Harriers based at the Milfield track for training on Monday and Tuesday evenings in spring and summer.

Those who join with us from Yeovil Olympiads may have been at a slight disadvantage! Well done both groups. The course offered a good challenge for the athletes drawn from across the County representing the 4 School areas. There were Wells City Harrier winners in a number of the age groups and in many cases they helped their area school teams to victory as well.

Congratulations especially to Lucy Baldwin who won the Minor Girls race for Year 7s; to our national schools Champion Emily Smith who won the Inter-Girls race for Years 10 &11; to Lizzie Hart who won the Senior Girls race; and to Oliver Fox who dominated in the Junior Boys race for Year 8&9. There were in excess of 30 juniors running in the different races from the Harriers.

Whether they were first or near the back of the respective fields all of the athletes should be proud of their efforts. The races were, as usual, very well organised by the Somerset Schools Association and this year hosted by Millfield School. Those who finished in the top ten are in the frame for the team selected to compete for the County Schools at the prestigious South West Schools Championships on Saturday 12^th Feb to be held at Ilton. (reserve positions11-15)

In the Minor Girls our County Gold medallist Lucy Baldwin was 1^st in a time of 7.18 and she had team-mate Amy Darcy 3^rd in 7.39. There was a good effort too by Phoebe Cavender, 14^th in 8.22 and Jessica Pate 34^th in 9.29. In the Junior Girls race first home for the Harriers was Jemma Jones in 3^rd with 12.31, followed by 5^th Abi Gibbons 12.55; 6^th Amy Cavender 12.57, 15^th Georgiana Hoff in 13.32 and 40th Megan Rusca 15.01. Abi, Amy & Megan are three of our regular training squad on a Monday eve at Millfield track and all have improved and are still improving. Well done.

For the Inter Girls, Emily Smith dominated the race and ran out a winner by over 40 seconds from the second placed runner finishing in 14.16. Not too far behind was team-mate Rebecca Carver in 3^rd with 15.13, followed by 6^th Lilly Hawkins 15.58; 11^th Esme Sheridan 17.05; and 19^th Ellie Kirwan 18.58. The Senior girls race saw Lizzie Hart triumph in 14.44 with team mate Jess Potter  7^th in 17.02. It was good to see Jess back racing as she has been missed from the Gwent League and Club championship races this year.

In the Minor Boys race James Bridge was a fantastic 4^th in 9.40 and then came Johnny Ellis, 24^th in 10.26. In the Junior Boys, Oliver Fox ran out clear winner in 13.13 but was chased all the way by team-mate Charlie Martin, 2^nd in13.35 with Sam Sommerville back in 3^rd, but a year younger, in 13.52. Luke Prior was next in14^th with 14.47. Jake Harris completed the Harrier runners with his 35^th place 16.32 in this race which is great given the short time he has trained with the joint Club at the Yeovil facility.

The Inter Boys race saw Matt Dickinson finish 3^rd in 19.50. Matt is gradually recovering form after a great 2010 season on the track whilst team-mate Sam Bedford was 5^th in 20.11 as he does some endurance work as part of his preparation for next season’s 800m. In 7^th was the Harrier’s County footballer Curtis Stevens with 20.34 and then in 9^th was Phillip Bridge in 20.49. Sam Harding  was 12^th with 21.13 - Sam has improved considerably over the 15 months he has trained with the Harriers. He was chased in by Ben Baldwin 13^th in 21.19, and Tom Baldwin 14^th in 21.23 who are also improving month by month from the Tuesday evening training programme. Meanwhile one of our strong Rugby playing athletes, Ben Armstead, ran well for 21^st place in 23.23.

In the Senior Boys race George Harris was a very competitive 2^nd leading the field for most of the way and taking the strain into the wind on the multi-lap circuits. His time was 25.05, whilst in 4^th place was new Harrier member Zac Stephenson with 25.10. Cameron Rafferty was next in from the Harrier trained athletes,13^th in 28.19, and in 21^st was Austen Thorne with 30.27.

This coming Saturday whilst the bulk of the Harrier juniors will be busy at the SW Schools Championships, the Harriers will be attempting to field their strongest team possible given the circumstances, at the Gwent XC League match in Brecon. The Senior men go into the match leading Division One from some of the strong Welsh Clubs.  Details of the Club’s Startrack: Running Jumping & Throwing training day for juniors at Easter (April 18^th) is now on the Club website. Early booking is encouraged.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE HARRIERS AT THE SOUTH WEST SCHOOLS!