The Easy Runner Blog

THE under 20 men’s race at the Midland Counties Cross Country Championships looks like being a battle royal among local runners tomorrow.
In the one corner you have the strong Bristol & West AC squad led by tripartite champion Charlie MacLean, who only flew back from Kenya this week while in the other Bristol-based brothers Gregg and Brett Halliwell turn out for defending champions Stroud & District AC.
At his best Maclean could have a chance of making the individual podium- and so could Gregg Halliwell - and will also be hoping to lead his colleagues Dan Studley, Nathan Young, Luke Grenfell-Shaw and Rhys Park to a team medal.
But I know Stroud are up for the battle and while they have lost Tom Purnell the Gloucestershire club has Rob Galt – like the Halliwells another ex-Westbury Harrier – and Ben Coldray in support.
In 2011 Stroud won with just 24 points thanks to winner Tom Curr, Gregg Halliwell (6th), Matt Withey (8th) and Joe Dalgleish (9th) while Bristol missed out on the medals in fourth
On paper the two clubs should be battling for gold but where it will end up? We’ll let you know.

TWELVE months ago Bristol & West and Westbury won silver and bronze respectively in the senior women’s race at Nottingham – but don’t hold your breath for a repeat of that tomorrow.
Well, at least not for Bristol & West as I’m told their team has been decimated by injuries and unavailability. Steph Barnes has pulled out having been lured away – somewhat understandably – with the chance of some warm-weather training in Portugal while Kate Goodhead, third in 2011, is also not running as she is not happy with her form.
With Charlie Coffey having switched to the North of England Championships following her move to Leeds only Rebekah Randell, who was fourth last year, is likel to make the start line.
On paper the Westbury quarter of Lizzy Smith, Debbie Marsden, Emma D’Alton and Sophie Voller looks solid and if Marsden can opt aside her dislike of the country – and remember she was 121th in a mudbath last year – then you never know as the women’s prizes are often wide open.

ROBBIE Bugden and Tom Russell are both chasing the top ten in the senior men’s race tomorrow. Following good performances in the South West Championships and the McCain Challenge at Cardiff Bugden is racing himself into form and is likely to lead the Bristol & West challenge while Russell is probably behind him in fitness.
But with Phil Wylie and Jon Wills missing from the squad that finished fourth last year, trailing Tipton by a single point, the chances of making the top three look slim .
As for Westbury team boss John Terry has high hopes having seen his squad rise to the challenge in already winning the tripartite county team title and South West Club’s award this winter.
“But we’ll be hoping to match last year’s performance of 5th team overall and score less than 500 points,” said Terry, who will be joined by Matt Ellis, John Collier, Gregg Ward, Charlie Jones, Karl Dunn, Ken Ham and Robin Phillips.

ON Sunday (11am) entries will be taken on the day for the latest race in the Bath Skyline 10k multi terrain series with registration at Bath University. For further information see the website at: www.relishrunningraces.com

* In contrast the Slaughterford 9 from Leafy Lane Playing Fields, Rudloe, near Corsham on Sunday (9.50am) is a 350-sell out so no entries will be taken on the day. Race details are available at: www.chippenhamharriers.co.uk

* Likewise entries are closed for the Hestercombe Humdinger 9.5 miles road race near Taunton but there is still capacity in the Hurtle 5k but check before travelling on the website at: www.hestercombehumdinger.co.uk

* On the road anyone fancying a 10 miles race could head to north Devon for Alby’s Memorial Braunton event on Sunday (11am) and for further details see the website at: www.northdevonroadrunners.com

* The next race in the Bridge Inn 5k Winter Series, Shortwood, will be held on Tuesday with entries taken on the night from 6.30pm for the 7.30pm start.

FORMER Easy Runner athlete of the month winner Lucy Bryan is in the England team for the Celtic Cup Indoor meeting in Cardiff on Sunday. The 16-year-old Bristol & West AC pole vaulter opened her season with 3.83m to finish fifth in the Vault Manchester event a couple of weeks ago.
Clubmate Bethan Wakefield and Bristol University student Olly Jefferies are in the Wales team.

STEVE Mitchell and Mike Wilsmore had plenty to celebrate over the weekend as they both won major 1500m titles.
Mitchell raced to victory in the Welsh indoor Championships held in Cardiff, clocking a time of 3mins 50.76secs to finish almost two seconds clear of Stroud junior Tom Purnell.
The 23-year-old already boasts a season’s best of 3:43.65, putting him third on the 2012 UK Rankings.
Wilsmore, who is based in Plymouth, made the long trip to the Lee Valley Stadium, in London, for the South of England Championships and was rewarded with his first regional title in a time of 3:53.22, having earlier won his heat in 3:52.98.

YATE & District AC youngster Emily Wright set a new championships record of 5.30m to win the under 15 girls’ long jump at the Welsh Indoor Championships.
The 13-year-old, who is coached by Dean Garrett, added six centimetres to her lifetime best to lift her first major national title.
Wright and Mike Wilsmore (Senior men’s 1500m) were the only local gold medal winners in Cardiff but there was also a bronze medal for Bristol & West AC sprinter Scott Bajere in the senior 200m.Bajere was also fourth in the 60m.
There was also a bronze for North Somerset AC’s Sara Flower in the under 13 girls’ 800m, in which she also smashed her PB by six seconds with 2:40.01 in the heats.

Senior women – 60: 2 Kylie Russell 7.67; 6 Abi Davies (TBAC, U20 2nd) 7.99 (hts 7.97); 8 Bethan Wakefield (B&W, U20 4th0 8.01; hts: Hannah Williams (B&W) 8.09; 400: 2 Laura Maddox (TBAC) 56.62 (hts 56.48); hts: Laura Smith (TBAC, U20) 60.74; 800: 3 Julia Cooke (Chelt) 2:17.28; PV: 3 Hannah Grubb (TBAC, U20 1st) 3.54; LJ: 3 Rebecca Chapman (Ex) 5.80.
Under 15 girls – 60: 3 Emily Wright (Yate) 8.21; 800: 4 Angharad Flower (NSAC) 2:34.10; LJ: 1 Wright 5.30 (CBP cf 5.29m by Cleddau AC’s Ceri Jenkins 1972); SP: 3 Lauren Richards (Sev) 9.28.
Under 13 girls 800: 3 Sara Flower (NSAC) 2:41.85 (hts 2:40.01).

Senior men – 60: 4 Scott Bajere (B&W) 6.96 (hts 6.93); hts: Elliott Prendergast (B&W, U20) 7.21; 200: 3 Bajere 22.99 (hts 22.71); 400 hts: John Brierly (B&W) 52.81; Alex Fields (B&W) 52.03; 800 hts: Kristian Stanley (B&W) 2:05.55; Martin Flook (B&W) 1:57.56; 1500: 1 Steve Mitchell (B&W) 3:50.76; 2 Tom Purnell (Stroud, U20) 3:52.18; TJ: 5 Max Nethercott (Yate) 11.79.
Under 17 men – 800: 5 Dominic Tutton (Glos) 2:10.73 (hts 2:07.66).

PETE Woodward of Bristol & West AC finished 21st in the Gloucester Marathon in a time of 3hrs 03mins 36secs, well outside his PB of 2:53.10 set in the 2008 London race.

BRISTOL & West AC newcomer Will Christofi, who lives in east Bristol, won the senior boys’ race at the Wiltshire Schools’ Cross Country Championships held at Grittleton House on Saturday.
Team Bath’s Alex Carter cruised to victory in the inter boys’ race while clubmate Loren Bleaken won the combined senior and inter girls’ event.

ON Sunday Yeovil-based GB international marathon runner Adrian Marriott made his ultramarathon debut at the Gloucester 50km race.
On a blustery day with winds gusting over 25mph Marriott, who runs for Wells City Harriers, tackled the undulating course with his traditional front running commitment.
Breaking clear of the field in the second mile he continued to build his lead during the first 2 hours of the race as he pursued the holy grail of ultrarunning - a sub 3 hour clocking for the 50km distance.
With fellow marathon international Steve Way leading the chase there was no opportunity to relax the pace, even into the strong winds and on the steepest hills of the 4 lap course.
Despite slowing slightly in the closing miles, as the fast early pace took its toll Marriott ran strongly to the finish, crossing the line in a time of 3 hours and 47 seconds to break the course record and secure qualification for the IAU World Trophy Final in Italy on 20th October. It was also the seventh fastest time ever by a British runner over the 50k distance.