Harrier news July 3rd 2005
Harriers of all ages have been excelling at track and field
over the past few weeks. Bruton’s Frank Tickner ran well at the National U’23 Championships
at Alexander Stadium to finish 2nd in the 3000m Steeplechase in a time of 9.02, just
behind his close rival Mark Buckingham. The race doubled up as the selection race
for the forthcoming European U’23 Championships, with selection dependent upon finishing
in the first two places and achieving the qualifying time in the past season of 8.43.
Unfortunately for Frank his season’s best, achieved elsewhere, is only 8.50 so he
has missed out this time, and will have to wait for another opportunity to emulate
his older brother who gained a GB vest during the XC season.
The Club’s Veteran Team Manager Dickie Wythe meanwhile has
been competing for the GB Veterans team at the international match against Belgium
and France at Ashford, Kent. Dickie finished 7th in the top quality V40 field, and
was the 3rd British runner home with a time of 10.40 in the blustery conditions.
He also went on to help the GB team by being a late replacement in the 3000m race
where he achieved a new pb of 9.46.
At last weekend’s South West League Division One match the Harriers
again helped to strengthen the Yeovil Olympiads team. For the Seniors former England
international Ann Taswell gained valuable team points with an excellent 2nd place
in the 3,000m in a time of 10.54. Ann steadily closed down the early leader and almost
stole the victory. In the earlier 800m she also gained an excellent 5th place in
2.28. Dickie Wythe ran a pb 4.35 in the 1500m, not too far behind team-mate Sam Weale
who is a member of the GB modern pentathlon squad, and brother of Chris Weale, Yeovil
Town goalkeeper.
Amongst the juniors, a number of Harriers again achieved personal bests on their
appearances in the match. Joe Mullins ran an excellent 65.2 for 5th place in the
U’15 Boys 400m. Louis Curtis ran out of his skin to knock over 40 seconds off his
previous best at 1500m, finishing in 12th place with 5.46. His younger brother, Isaac
Curtis, making his debut in team colours did likewise with his 6.35 clocking in the
same event before going on to record a very good sequence in the U’13 Boys Long Jump.
Tom Hockedy stepped up an age group when he won the Senior Men’s 400m race in 49.6
as he prepares for this coming weekend’s Schools Championships. Likewise Laura Parker
prepared for the same Championships with her 2nd place in the U’17 women’s’ 300m
Hurdles, in 48.5, a 3rd place in the 200m, with 28.1, and 2nd place in the Triple
Jump with 9.81m. Her younger sister Natalie Parker also helped to gain good team
points in the U’15 High Jump.
Away from the track, the sixth race in the year-long Somerset
Race Series was held on the Quantocks on Sunday. 7 Harriers toed the start line of
the 5.7mile Quantock Beast, amongst a field of almost 150. Conditions were hot, and
a little muddy under foot as the race set off from Fyne Court at Broomfield. First
home for the Harriers was Bruton’s Tim Hamblin in 21st place with a time of 42.58.
He did just enough to hold off Baltonsborough’s Paul Knight (23rd, 43.12) and Lamyatt’s
Paul Chadwick (24th ,43.21). Nick Edwards (30th, 44.21) used the race as training
for his forthcoming involvement as part of one of Britain’s successful tug-of-war
team. Life Member Colin Turner also ran an excellent race in the V70 category with
his 63.57 time.
Other Harrier positions:
Viv Fursland 76th 52.42; Sue Hammer 107th,57.27;
In the Series rankings, Tim Hamblin is now in overall 4th place, whilst Sue Hammer
leads the women’s standings. We wish Sue and Tim all the best for their wedding tomorrow,
Friday. Next race in the Series is on Sunday at the Wellington Ten Mile road race,
and believe it or not Tim and Sue will be honeymooning there!
Juniors are reminded that Monday training has now switched to Millfield Prep School
starting at 6.00pm.