Following on from the major efforts at the recent Wells Fun Run where many of the Club athletes either helped organise the event; or actually ran the event and in many instances came away with prizes, there has been action involving Club members at a variety of track & field, road, multi-terrain and fell races all over the UK.

One of the Club’s Team GB internationals and the Club’s senior athlete of 2010, Ben Tickner was 7^th in the prestigious London 10k event on the Bank Holiday Monday behind Mo Farrah. Ben’s time of 29.53 was just 30 seconds shy of his personal best for the distance and 40 seconds down on Mo’s time on the day.

Congratulations to the Club’s Pete Grist for his excellent 2^nd place at the Wells 10k just 16 seconds behind Bitton Road Runner Robert Farley. Also to one of the Club’s many Honorary Life members Amber Gascoigne who made a welcome return to Wells and carried off the 1^st ladies prize with her great time of 37.58, and was just ahead of Club stalwart Steve Masters competing for the first time as a V50 on his return to racing after a long lay off due to injury. Steve’s time was 38.44 which show he has lost none of his speed. The club’s marathon person of the year 2010, Clare Prosser, was 2^nd woman home in 39.30.

Amongst the juniors in the accompanying 3 mile race at Wells there were some excellent Harrier performances. 14 year old Oliver Fox was 2^nd overall in 18.11, whilst Curtis Stevens was just behind in 3^rd with a nippy 18.14. Esme Sheridan won for the girls in 23.22 and Megan Rusca was 2^nd girl home in 25.05. In the Wells 1km race, Ollie Thorner was 1^st age 10 boy home , in 3^rd  place overall in 4.32 and his twin sister was not to be outdone by being 1st age 10 girl home in 4.38, with Mica Clarke just a whisker behind in 4.46. Finlay Clarke had a good run for 5.07 and Louise Rusca was home in the same time as 1^st age 11 girl. All of the juniors train on a Monday or Tuesday with the Harrier coaches.

Meanwhile, Harrier athletes continue to bolster the joint Yeovil and Wells teams on the track and this past weekend (June 4th & 5th) we had athletes out competing at Glasgow, Bath and Abingdon. For the British Athletics League Division Three match at Glasgow, Team manager Bruce Pointer managed to assemble a worthy squad that managed to hold its own against the other teams and we finished 5^th out of the 8 teams, with good contributions from all team members including Pete Darton who gained valuable team points at Steeplechase and 5000m. He was still able to train on Tuesday 7th despite those great efforts.

In the National Young Athletes League Div 2 match at University of Bath on Sunday the joint team won the fixture with some excellent performances by Harriers. Our 2010 Junior athlete of the year u17w Emily Smith was 1^st 800m in 2.26, & 1^st in HJ in 1.30m, and 2^nd in 300m Hurdles in 50.9. That was a busy afternoon, and she still looked full of energy when helping out at the junior track session on Monday!

U13b Oliver Dickinson  was 1^st 800m in 2.31, & 2^nd in the High Jump gaining valuable points for the team. U17m Sam Harding smashed his personal best for the 800m when he finished 3^rd in the 800m in a great 2.07 & also had the speed for 3rd in the 100m with 12.8. Sam has really improved this past 12 months and it is all down to his hard work in training.

 U17m Matt Dickinson eased himself back into competition after some recent injury problems and was 4^th in 200m in 27.8, & 2^nd in 400m in 62.00, & 2^nd in discus. U13b Josh Thorne was 1^st in 1500m in a brilliant 5.29, & 3^rd in shot putt in 4.31m for more good points.U15b Luke Prior was 2^nd in 1500m in 5.06 & 5^th in Javelin.

The Southern Men’s League team now stand at 6^th out of 15 teams in the table after the second fixture at Abingdon. They weren’t able to emulate the victory from the first victory and finished 2^nd on the day on Saturday. The SW Athletics League Div 1 team stands in 4^th place out of 8 after the recent 2^nd match in that League where one of our Monday juniors Freddie Gummer amongst others posted some good performances.

In perhaps the toughest race of the past weekend involving Club members there were 4 Harriers contesting the Welsh 1000m fell race. The race starts on the beach at Conway Bay and finishes on the summit of Snowdonia (3560 ft) - covering an arduous 32km and total of 8,000 feet of ascent. Clare Prosser finished just ahead of partner Dave Bonstow with 6hr 22 and 6h 23 finishes for 82nd and 83rd places; whilst Laurie and Aiden Phippard also used the running together tactic and finished in 101st and 102nd places in 6hr 55. That's some great effort. All four are part of the two Harrier teams entered for the Costwold Way relay at the end of June - a mere stroll by comparison. All keen fell runners should also remember that the Beacon Batch race is coming up soon - see Events & Results.

Also in competition this past Sunday were several Harriers amongst the field of 209 runners at the Run in the Wild multi-terrain 10k, held at Cricket St Thomas.  Jenny Moore was yet again 1^st lady home, 19^th overall, in 48.22 for the hilly multi-terrain race. Other Harriers putting in the effort were: Graham Goldsmid 32^nd in 50.44; 42^nd Rebecca Carver 1^st in the junior lady category in 52.23.; 83^rd Tracey Halliday 58.03; 109^th Cath Goldsmid 61.48; 157^th Hayley Carver 70.41; 178^th Kay Franklin 75.07. That was some good running by all.

We wish all the Harrier Juniors competing at the County Schools Track & Field Championships this week the very best in their endeavours and to ask them to let us know how you get on so that we can celebrate on Monday or Tuesday training next week. Monday Juniors are reminded that it is competition evening again on Monday June 13th.