HISTORY OF THE HEREFORD COURIERS 5K SERIES

tHE STORY OF 2022
Congratulations to all of our winners of the Couriers 5k Series 2022!

The men’s race series was won by Western Tempo Running Club runner Charlie Jones with Alastair Cambell of Stroud & District Athletic Club in 2nd & Western Tempo’s Eliot Taylor finishing in 3rd.

In the female’s race it was Forest of Dean Athletic Club runner Samantha Harris who took overall series first place followed by Western Tempo’s Rachel Underhill & a 3rd place finish for Croft Ambrey Running Club runner Charlotte Broadhurst.The team awards were picked up by the Hereford Couriers Men & the Croft Ambrey Ladies Well done to all the category winners some fantastic running across the series by you all. Juniors


U13 F – Olivia Hayman Shrewsbury Athletic Club
U15 F – Isobel Watt Cheltenham & County Harriers
U20 F – Charlotte Broadhurst Croft Ambrey Running Club
U13 M – Fred Tyler Hereford & County Athletics Club
U15 M – Henry White Halo Sport Foundation
U20 M – Louie Lambeth Wolverhampton & Bilston Athletics ClubFemales
SF – Rachel Underhill Western Tempo Running Club
V35 F – Sarah Morris Black Pear Joggers
V40 F – Samantha Harris Forest of Dean Athletic Club
V45 F – Joanna Eddy Hereford Couriers Running Club
V50 F – Cherry Fowler Chepstow Harriers Information
V55 F – Niki Morgan Chepstow Harriers
V60 F – Lorna Shaw Wye Valley Runners
V70 F – Carole Clarke Worcester Athletics Club
V75 F – Margaret Crosswell Worcester Athletics ClubMale
SM – Charlie Jones Western Tempo
V40 M – Kristan McKenna
V45 M – Sean Taylor Torfaen Runners
V50 M – Huw Evans Parc Bryn Bach Running Club
V55 M – Richie Richards Hereford Couriers
V60 M – Paul Dodd Chepstow Harriers
V65 M – Stephen Owen Chepstow Harriers
V70 M – Steve Herington Hereford Couriers
V80 M – Bryan Markham Croft Ambrey.The full results can be found here: https://www.readysetgotiming.co.uk/2022results

A big thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s series another huge success.A special mention to all the volunteers for giving up the time to marshall through the series – you are amazing!These races take an awful amount of time to organise from initial plans, through to entries, licences & then on the night coordination for each of the 3 races, a huge thank you to Jon & Ben for all of your time and efforts.Thanks to our race partners Ready Set Go, Hereford Racecourse, Point To Point Services, Advanced Laser Works along with this year’s race sponsors HR Smith Group of companies www.hr-smith.com & AMP Driver Training.See you all soon!

tHE sTORY OF 2021

ROBINSON AND MORRIS TAKE SERIES TITLES

The results are in!

Congratulations to Ben Robinson Gloucester Athletic Club and Donna Morris of Builth & District Running Club who were crowned overall 5k series winner 2021 

In the men’s race Western Tempo Running Club duo Henry James and Charlie Jones picked up 2nd & 3rd place in the series.

Rachel Underhill of Western Tempo finished 2nd female with Claire Thomas of Ludlow Runners finishing in 3rd.

All categories winners and team prize winners can be found below, all the series results can be found at 

A special mention to our volunteers, our race partners AVtiming, Bluewood Creative & Point To Point Services for all of your support during the series.

2020 – tHE VIRTUAL 5K SERIES

TAYLOR & SYNGE-CURTIS TAKE SERIES WINS

LOCAL RUNNERS Eliot Taylor and Katie Synge-Curtis came out on top in the 3-race Couriers Virtual 5k Series.

The race was a first for the Hereford Couriers who had to change their plans due to Covid-19 and change their popular 5k-series to a virtual run with races taking part in July, August & September. 

Over 290 runners took part in the Virtual series from all across the UK, competing virtually by creating their own course and tracking their run while maintaining the government’s social distancing guidelines.

In the men’s race, Cheltenham Harrier member Taylor was the fastest recording a times of 15:58, 16:05 & 15:53 to take the series win

He was chased virtually all the way by Presetigne Pacers Runner Sam Butler who recorded 3 consecutive Personal Best performances to take 2nd place, with Hereford Ghost Runners’ youngster Henry White picking up 3rd place.

Quickest female over the 3 races was Hereford Couriers’ own Synge-Curtis who finished in first position in all 3 races recording times of 18:35, 18:27 & 17:57.

Hot on Katie’s tail was Ludlow Runners’ Claire Thomas who recorded 3 second place finishes closely followed by Samantha Harris of Forest of Dean AC who took 3rd place overall. 

The age categories were hotly contested with a number of runners going into the final race in contention, it was great to see so many runners involved representing a whole host of clubs from across the county and beyond

Men’s first placed category winners: 

Senior Eliot Taylor Cheltenham and County Harriers; Junior Henry White, Hereford Ghost Runners; V40 James Rose, Severn AC; V45 David Bannister, Ledbury & District Harriers ; V50 Paul Mammatt, Hereford Triathlon Club; V55 Martin Carter, Hay Hotfooters; V60 Alan Whitby, Tewkesbury Running Club; V65 Alan Robertson, Forest of Dean AC; V70 Steve Herington , Hereford Couriers; V80 Bryan Markham, Croft Ambrey RC.

Female first placed category winners: 

Senior Katie Synge-Curtis, Hereford Couriers; Junior Charlotte Broadhurst, Kidderminster and Stourport; FV35 Claire Thomas, Ludlow Runners; V40 Samantha Harris, Forest of Dean AC; V45 Bronwen Tyler-Jones, Hereford Couriers; V50 Linda White; V55 Suzanne Powell, Croft Ambrey RC; V60 Kathy Ratcliffe; V70 Margaret Crosswell, Worcester AC, Wheelchair Julie Lawrenson.

In the team events both the male and female prizes headed to the Couriers, The Couriers men’s team of Ryan Knight, Andy Tyler, Darren Broady, Will Maul & Ben Skinner helped the Couriers take first place ahead of Hereford Couriers B team (2nd) and Forest of Dean AC (3rd).  

The female Couriers team of Katie Synge-Curtis, Izzy Axford, Clare Mallender, Amy Smith & Kate Morris held off the challenge of Croft Ambrey AC (2nd) and Wye Valley Runners (3rd)

Next up for the Couriers is a welcomed return to racing with the Jon Ward 5k on the 4th October, entries are going fast so don’t delay sign up today, full details can be found here: https://herefordcouriers.com/club-races/jonward5k/

2018

It was series wins for Stuart Hawkes & Alice Taylor as the annual Hereford Couriers 5k series came to a close on Wednesday evening. The Tipton Harriers athlete Hawkes won all 3 races of the series clocking up impressive times of 15:25, 15:17 & 15:25 with Alex Lee (Cheltenham Harriers) coming runner up with Eliot Taylor (Cheltenham Harriers) in 3rd. In the women’s race it was a great set of runs for Taylor who runs for Cheltenham Harriers winning all 3 races 18:00, 17:43 & 18:01, Chloe Wheeler (Forest of Dean) came in 2nd place with Kelly Bowen (Croft Ambrey) picking up 3rd place.

Stuart Hawkes overall Male series winner
Alice Taylor overall Female series winner

Stuart tweeted saying “Finished the #Hereford5k series with a win last night. A fast course and a strong field of runners, perfect sharpener for my summer race targets. Thank you @HfdCouriersRC”

Alice who was pleased with the series win said “I enjoy the Hereford 5km series as its a quick, local course that seems to attract some good athletes, predominately in the men’s field. It is always well coordinated with supportive and helpful marshals and race organisers. It’s always a pleasure to race there and hopefully see you again next year!”

Congratulations to all the age category winners check out the full series results below; 

MALE
AGE CATPLACENAMECLUB
Overall1stStuart HawkesTipton Harriers
2ndAlex LeeCheltenham Harriers
3rdEliot TaylorCheltenham Harriers
JM U151stScott JonesCroft Ambrey
 2ndMatthew BrunnockHereford & County AC
JM U171stAlec HarperCroft Ambrey
 2ndJason SmithKidderminster & Stourport
JM U201stRoss CameronHereford Couriers
M401stMark ThomasCroft Ambrey
M451stPaul JonesHereford Couriers
M501stLeonardo TaggioWorcester AC
M551stIan SmithForest of Dean
M601stMichael StrangeForest of Dean
M651stAshley RobinsonCroft Ambrey
M701stPete SmithWye Valley Runners
M751stBrian SymondsWye Valley Runners
 
FEMALE
AGE CATPLACENAMECLUB
Overall1stAlice TaylorCheltenham Harriers
2ndChloe WheelerForest of Dean
3rdKelly BowenCroft Ambrey
JF U151stCharlotte BroadhurstKidderminster & Stourport
F351stLisa RuckHereford Couriers
F401stClare MallenderHereford Couriers
F451stBronwen Tyler-JonesHereford & County AC
F501stLynne ComptonWye Valley Runners
F551stLynne ParkForest of Dean
F601stBeryl SampsonGloucester AC
 
TEAM AWARDS 
1st Male TeamCheltenham Harriers
1st Female TeamForest of Dean

See the full series results here; 

2017

1st Male                    CHARLIE JONES Cheltenham Harriers
2nd Male                  DAN KING WVR
3rd male                   PETER WOODWARD Forest of Dean A.C.

1st Female                ALICE TAYLOR Spirit of Monmouth
2nd Female              EMMA ROBERTSON Worcester A.C.
3rd female               ROXANNE JONES Hereford Couriers

M vet 40                   MARK JONES  Cheltenham Harriers
M vet 45                   LEYTON FLEET Forest of Dean A.C.
M vet 50                   RUSS JAMES Hereford Couriers
M vet 55                   GLYN SANSOM San Domenico
M vet 60                   TONY CHAMPKEN WVR
M vet 65                   SANDY ROSS Ludlow Runners
M vet 70                   BRIAN SYMONDS WVR

Male under 20        ROSS CAMERON   Hereford Couriers
Male under 17        SCOTT JONES  Croft Ambrey A.C.
Male under15         ALEC HARPER Croft Ambrey A.C.

F vet 35                    JOANNA EDDY U/A
F vet 40                    STEPH MAIN Croft Ambrey A.C.
F vet 45                    SHERRYL HALL Forest of Dean A.C.
F vet 50                    SUE DAVIES Croft Ambrey A.C.
F vet 55                    LYNNE PARK Forest of Dean A.C.

Female under 15    SHANA STEWARDSON  Bridgnorth A.C.

Male TEAM                   CHELTENHAM HARRIERS
Female TEAM               WVR

Wheelchair female      JULIE LAWRENSON   Hereford Ghost Runners
Wheelchair male         ELIOT EVANS   U/A

2016

Series results.

Male

1, STEFAN SIMMS (MMRT)
2. CHARLIE JONES (HEREFORD COURIERS)
3. STEVE FLOWERS (WVR)

JM15 OLIVER RENNISON (FOD)
JM15 2. JORDAN DAVIES (GHOSTS)

JM17 ROSS CAMERON (GHOSTS)

M40 ADRIAN TAYLOR (PRESTEIGNE)

M45 JULIAN BOON (FOD)

M50 GLYN SANSOM (SAN DOMENICO)

M55 MICHAEL STRANGE (FOD)

M60 ALAN ROBERTSON (FOD)

M65 GEOFF ASTON (WORCESTER)

M70 DAVE SPACKMAN (GLOUCESTER)

Female

1. CLARA EVANS (PONTYPRIDD RODENTS)
2. EMMA WYATT (WVR)
3. VANESSA BALL (MONROSS)

JF15 JAZMINE O’LEARY (GHOSTS)

JF17 SHANNON O’LEARY (GHOSTS)

F35 JULIET MOXON (GHOSTS)

F40 VANESSA PEGLER (FOD)

F45 SHERRYL HALL (FOD)

F50 TRACY MILES (HEREFORD COURIERS)

F55 MARGARET POWLES (FOD)

F60 JAN EDWARDS (WVR)

F65 and 1st Wheelchair racer JAN WILLIAMS (GHOSTS)

1ST TEAM (2 men, 2 women to score)……..WYE VALLEY RUNNERS

2015
2014

HEREFORD COURIERS 5K SERIES 2014 RESULTS

MALE

1. Jon Barnes [Cheltenham Harriers]

2. Dan King [WVR]

3. Scott Kennedy [WVR]

M40 Stacy Morgan [Croft Ambrey]

M45 Nick Hitchings [Worcester AC]

M50 Glyn Sansom [San Domenico RC]

M55 Alan Robertson [FOD]

M60 Chris Moore [FOD]

M65 Geoff Aston [Worcester AC]

M70 Brian Symonds [WVR]

FEMALE

1.Christie Jones [WVR]

2. Maria Miles [F35 WVR]

3. Kate Pitman [Hereford Tri]

F35 Laura Tootell [WVR]

F40 Lorna Shaw [F50 WVR]

2nd F40 Sian Champken [WVR]

F45 Lynne Park [F50 FOD]

F50 Jan Edwards [F55 WVR]

F 55 Jackie Green [FOD]

I need to apologise to both Sian, for moving her from 1st to 2nd V40 and to Lorna who, most unfortunately, I left off the results altogether. This was particularly regrettable given the fine Series she had, improving each race from

21.59 to 21.40 to 21.13. She will receive a richly deserved award but I am very sorry she missed her moment of glory at the presentation.