WAA e-bulletin 1202

The Wiltshire Race League is hotting up after seven races and what was a two horse race between Avon Valley Runners and Chippenham Harriers is now set to become a three horse race with Team Bath closing the gap following the gaining maximum points at the Bath Hilly 10 and at the TBAS 10K at Castle Combe. Castle Combe also hosted the Wiltshire county championships for the distance with visiting Kenyan athlete John Kales leading home the 200+ field but it was second placed Simon Plummer of Salisbury A&RC who claimed the county title for the second year running and Ruth Barnes of Avon Valley Runners claiming her first county title.

The next race in the Wiltshire Race League is the Foxtrot 5 which takes place at Broughton Gifford on Sunday 26^th August and then a few weeks later on the 16^th September is the Melksham 10 which will also be hosting the county championships for the distance as will the Cricklade Half Marathon taking place on a flat fast course around the Cotswold Water Park on Sunday 7^th October. Details of the League standings and remaining fixtures can be found at https://www.wiltshire-athletics.org.uk/index.php?page=League-Fixtures

The Half Marathon Training Day held at Christie Miller Sports Centre in Melksham on Saturday 18^th August proved to be a great success with Thirty two runners attending (representing ten running clubs). Neil Perry of Chippenham Harriers and Aly Sloane of Salisbury ARC bagged the free entries into the Melksham 10 donated by Stampede Sports for the event being held on Sunday 16^th September; Karen Warwick of Slinn Allstars claimed the free entry into the Cricklade Half Marathon being held on Sunday 7^th October; Stuart Henderson or Corsham Running Club and Becky Wells of Slinn Allstars took the free places into the Malmesbury Half Marathon donated by DB Max for the race being held on Sunday 23^rd September; Caroline Palmer and Kevin Garner both of Devizes Running Club captured free places into the AVR Wiltshire Half Marathon donated by Avon Valley Runners for the race being staged on Sunday 9^th December at Edington near Westbury.

The rest of us enjoyed a 9-mile run around Melksham, Semington, Whaddon & Hilperton interspersed with Kenyan Hills, Intervals and Tempo running  in the company of GB Marathon runner Holly Rush. Followed by talks presented by National Coach Mentor Martin Rush of England Athletics and Melanie Nicholls of Freedom Fitness.  

On Sunday November 11^th Wiltshire Athletic Association will be once again hosting the Wiltshire Road Relays at Castle Comber circuit.  The relays will see teams of four men each covering 6K, teams of three ladies each covering 6K and teams of four juniors or novices (having competed in not more than three races) each covering 3K. Details and entry forms are available from https://www.wiltshire-athletics.org.uk/index.php?page=WAA-relay

Some other forthcoming events that may be of interest to your members….

• Sunday 26^th August – The Foxtrot 5 @Broughton Gifford (Race #8 of the Wiltshire Race League)
• Sunday 16^th September – The Melksham 10, including Wiltshire county championships (Race #9 of the Wiltshire Race League)
• Sunday 23^rd September – The Malmesbury Half Marathon
• Sunday 7^th October – The Cricklade Half Marathon, including Wiltshire county championships + 10K (Race #10 of the Wiltshire Race League)
• Sunday 14^th October – The Swindon Half Marathon
• Sunday 21^st October – The Devizes Half Marathon
• Sunday 28^th October – The Clock Change Challenge 10K @Calne (Race #11 of the Wiltshire Race League)

I would also like to remind you that Wiltshire Athletic Association now has a presence on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_171015222961600 and is proving a lively place at times for the discussion of forthcoming events in the county.

If you would like to promote any events in the county or have any news that may be of interest then please e-Mail road@wilshire-athletics.org.uk and it can be included in future e-Bulletins.