03/06/2026
Blaise Blazer 2026
Monday 1st June, Blaise Castle Estate.
After all the recent sunshine it was a shame that the rain came down for the 2026 Up & Running Blaise Blazer, but it didn’t diminish the effort that everyone put in, and we had a fantastic night of racing with 205 runners completing the course.
Whilst the overall course records remained intact two age group marks fell with Hannah Large (Westbury Harriers) lowering the Masters 35 time to 25:41 and Jaqueline Wynds (Forest of Dean AC) lowering the Masters 70 time to 41:33 – well done both.
The men’s race was won by Bristol & West AC’s Daniel Shepherd (22:37) followed closely by Westbury Harriers’ Magnus Gordon (22:50) and Bristol & West AC’s Thomas Dunford (22:57) rounding off the podium.
The women’s race was won by Westbury Harriers’ Hannah Large (25:41) who kept Miranda King (25:45) of Bristol & West AC just behind her with Katy Sutcliffe of GWR taking the final podium place.
The category wins went to the following:
U23 – Samuel Dechars (28:03) & Zoe Hunt (35:09) Westbury Harriers
M35 – Andrew Grigg (24:21) Bristol & West AC & Elaina Gard (26:42) Bristol & West AC
M45 – Henry Sly (25:04) Bristol & West AC & Alice Doggrell (30:20) GWR
M55 – Richard Noble (28:09) Bristol & West AC & Mary Gainsborough (35:41) Purbeck Runners
M65 – Nicholas Allen (33:57) Severn AC
M70 – Wilf Burke (34:45) & Jaqueline Wynds (41:33) Forest of Dean AC
Full race results can be found on the DB Max Sports Timing & Events website.
There’s also a team event where the first three male and first three women for a team crossing the line count. This year we had complete teams from Bristol & West AC, Westbury Harriers, GWR, Southville Running Club and Chippenham Harriers. Standing on the finish line it was clear that Bristol & West AC would be the team winners with all 6 of their athletes finishing in the top 25 overall. They were followed by home club Westbury Harriers who just managed to edge out GWR. Full team results are on the results website.
The race wouldn’t happen without the full support of the club where we have an organising team setting things up for the night and then close to 50 volunteers on the night making sure the course is well marshalled. And of course we have the cakes! What a lovely arrangement of homemade cakes we had which made up a little bit for the damp conditions.
Next year’s race will be on Monday, June 7th 2027 – we look forward to seeing you then.
The Blaise Blazer Organising Team
https://dbmaxresults.co.uk/results.aspx?CId=16421&RId=6465