Wells City Harriers

The eighth race in the 2005 Somerset race series took place last Wednesday [3rd August] at Haselbury Plucknett , near Crewkerne, organised by the local Running Club. A record entry of 134 runners contested the 10km trail race across the local fields and streams and through the local orchards. There was also an accompanying 5km junior race. Eight senior Harriers and one junior Harrier contested the races.

U’17 woman Kyra Hawkins was 2nd female and 4th overall in the 5km race. This follows on from Kyra’s recent role at the Millfield Race for Life event where on behalf of the Club she helped act as pacemaker for the large field of 2,000 plus runners.

Leading the way for Wells Harriers in the longer race was overall winner was Pete Belcher of the Royal Marines, a Harrier who trains with the Senior Harrier group on a Tuesday at Millfield when his job permits. Pete ran away with the race in 38.14. Next in line for the Harriers was Dickie Wythe, who finished in 6th place overall, 1st M40, in a time of 41.09.

In third position amongst the Harriers was Bruton’s Tim Hamblin in 20th equal place in a time of 45.23. Tim’s run consolidates his position near the top of the Somerset Series rankings, where he now finds himself in 2nd place overall, behind Yeovil’s Mike Harvey. Going one better was Sue Hamblin, finishing in 76th place overall with a time of 56.51, and in doing so leaping to the top of the Women’s rankings for the Series.

Also in the Series rankings from the Harriers are Baltonsborough’s Kay Franklin, 7th overall 1st F55, and Shepton’s Sue Cook, in 10th place for the women. For the men, there are three others in the top 20, with Paul Chadwick (15th) , Nick Edwards (16th) and Paul Knight (20th) all competing well over the year to date. The Series now has 6 races left with the next at the end of the month at Langport (Aug 28th).

Other results from Haselbury:
27th Paul Knight 46.57; 41st Nick Edwards 49.39; 70th Martin Collins 54.45; 98th Kay Franklin 63.54; 119th Corinne Hawkins 78.01.

Meanwhile on the track, both young and older Harriers have been competing well for the Club in partnership with the Yeovil Olympiads, or at the Inter-Counties match. At the final National Young Athletes League match at Bath, pick of the Harrier performances came from Mazeie Phillips who won the U’13 Girl’s Long Jump with a new personal best of 4.40m. Mazeie has steadily improved throughout the season. Also competing well was Joe Mullins in the 100 and 200m events, with his best being 27.6 for 5th place in the longer distance. We await confirmation of where the team finished overall at the match and for the season.

In the Southern Men’s League Division One match at Dartford, the combined YOAC/Wells team was 1st and as a result have consolidated their place as 2nd team out of 25 from across the region. There remains one final match, at Parliament Hill track in London on August 20th where another solid performance should see the team qualify once again for the end of season ‘play-off’ for a position in the lowest rung of the British League, Division Four.

At the South West Inter-Counties match, held at Exeter, three Harriers helped the Somerset County team. Tom Hockedy ran 50.2 for 1st pace in the U’20’s 400m Hurdle event, whilst his younger brother, Robert, was 2nd in the U’15s 80m Hurdles in a time of 12.3. Olivia Steward was 3rd in the U’17 women’s Triple Jump with a 9.45 mark.

Club members should note that the Harriers have been requested to assist marshal at the forthcoming international Ironman Triathlon event centred on Sherborne Castle to be held on Sunday August 21st. this event will see contestants swim 1.5m, cycle 112 miles and finish off with a full 26.2 mile marathon run. Any Club member able to assist the event should contact the organisers.