Members’ Zone
Training
By clicking the link below you can see our Training Schedule which is made up of different coloured sessions. Each session is designed with a goal in mind. We have sessions for beginners, experienced runners and those looking to improve their PBs.
In addition, you can also click here to see what the idea behind each session is and understand approximate mileage for effort sessions.
An old version of our training plan can be seen here for reference.
Running Terms Explained!
- Intervals – a type of training that involves a series of low to high intensity bursts, with rests/recoveries in between.
- Effort session – a sustained period of time or distance at a pace that is more intense than your steady run pace.
- Steady run – a run over a set distance and sometimes pace, run at a constant (depending on conditions/route) pace with minimal re-groups/stops.
- Hill session – exactly what you would expect! Running up and down hills of various gradients and at varying speeds.
- Fartlek – a Swedish term that means “speed play,” is a form of interval or speed training that can be effective in improving your running speed and endurance. Fartlek running involves varying your pace throughout your run, alternating between fast segments and slower jogs.
- Long runs – slightly different to a steady run as the distance is set but the pace is personal choice.
Coaches
Meet the Littledown Harriers coaching team! All coaches have as a minimum the Leader in Running Fitness (LiRF) qualification from England Athletics.
- Head Coach – Paul Turle
- Deputy Head Coach – Laurence Stevenson
- Coaches: Simon Davies, Paolo De Luca, Kevin Dowsett, Luke Dowsett, Janet Hooper, Mike Kibble, Tracey Lander, Gerry Lucas, Mike Neal, Gary Worsley, Caroline Morgan, Danielle Dixon, James Davies, Dily Ruffer, Mark Everett, Heidi Snook, Chris Lane, Rachel Smith-Harrison, Suzanne Janes, Gary Taylor.
Paul Turle
Laurence Stevenson
Simon Davies
Paolo De Luca
Kevin Dowsett
Luke Dowsett
Janet Hooper
Mike Kibble
Tracey Lander
Gerry Lucas
Mike Neal
Gary Worsley
Caroline Morgan
Dani Dixon
James Davies
Dily Ruffer
Mark Everett
Heidi Snook
Chris Lane
Rachel Smith-Harrison
Suzanne Janes
Gary Taylor
Steve Williams
Rachel Smith-Harrison
Mark Everett
Louise Austin
Club Captains
The club races in the Dorset Road Race League and also has its own Club Championships events, therefore to have teams, we need captains. We have a Male and Female Captain and Vice Captain. The role of these Captains is to mostly motivate the members to sign up to the races and represent the club whenever we can. Also the captains produce a monthly report of all the races that have taken place over the last month. You can see the latest reports below in the DRRL section.
- The Men’s Captain is Steve Williams assisted by Vice Captain Mark Everett
- The Female Captain is Rachel Smith-Harrison assisted by Vice Captain Louise Austin
Committee Members
Our running club is organised and run (pun entirely intended) by voluntary committee members – we have a Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Male and Female team Captains, Male and Female Welfare officers, Head Coach and many other standing Committee members. We meet every two months to discuss matters arising within the club and endeavour to make the club as great as it possibly can be. Below you can see who these people are and what they do.
- Chairperson : Greg Hawkins
- Secretary: Suzanne Janes
- Treasurer: James Sturman
- Membership Secretary: Ken Ballam
- Male Team Captain: Steve Williams
- Female Team Captain: Rachel Smith-Harrison
- Male Welfare Officer: Gary Worsley
- Female Welfare Officer: Dily Ruffer
- Head Coach: Paul Turle
- Committee Members: Luke Dowsett, Barry Telling, Janet Hooper, Kevin Dowsett, Mark Goodwin
Greg Hawkins
Suzanne Janes
James Sturman
Ken Ballam
Steve Williams
Rachel Smith-Harrison
Gary Worsley
Dily Ruffer
Paul Turle
Luke Dowsett
Barry Telling
Janet Hooper
Kevin Dowsett
Mark Goodwin
Awards
Littledown Harriers have three award categories:
- Runner of the Quarter (RotQ) / Harrier of the Quarter – Awarded for performance, input into the club, encouragement and/or overcoming adversity. Presented every 3 months following member’s nominations, input from coaches and a committee vote. Year starts after the AGM.
- Members’ Runner of the Year / Harrier of the Year – (RotY) – Voted for entirely by members in recognition of another member’s input, improvement and/or club spirit etc over last 12 months and awarded at the AGM.
- Bush/Forman Trophy – Decided by the Committee for work done by a member over the last 12 months for the benefit of the club and/or local community.
To view a list of all our awards winners, please click on the link below!
Award Winners
Welfare
Should any member wish to discuss a welfare concern, please contact either Gary Worsley welfareofficer@littledownharriers.co.uk or Dily Ruffer welfareofficer2@littledownharriers.co.uk in confidence.
Renew Membership
Existing members will be sent a reminder email when yearly April membership is due with details of costs and how to renew.
Racing
Littledown Harriers Club Championship
Each year the club chooses 15 local races of varying distances which make up our Club Championship (CC).
To qualify for a ranking in the CC you need to complete 8 of these races. Alternative ways of achieving 8 races are to either: complete 6 of the named races plus a marathon and a parkrun OR complete 7 races and a marathon or a parkrun.
Most of these races will fill up quickly so enter early. Awards are given overall and by age category. There is also a trophy for completing all 15 races.
The CC is divided into male and female. The first male and female Harriers home in each race get 100 points each, the second get 99 and so on. At the end of the Championship, the best 8 scores for each participant are added together and the winners are crowned! Awards are given at our awards night held in January each year.
If you have any questions about the Club Championship, speak to the organisers for 2022 Steve O’Connell, Steve Williams or Rachel Smith-Harrison.
CC Races And Dates 2022
| Club Champs 2022 | Date |
| Broadstone 1/4 | Saturday 1st January 2022 |
| Blackmore Vale | Sunday 6th February 2022 |
| Larmer 10 | Saturday 5th March 2022 |
| Marnhull 12k | Sunday 3rd April 2022 |
| Lymington 10k | May |
| Durberville Dash | Sunday 15th May 2022 |
| Purbeck 10k | Friday 17th June 2022 |
| Charmouth Challenge | Saturday 2nd July 2022 |
| Stur Half | Sunday 7th August 2022 |
| The Beast | Sunday 4th September 2022 |
| Hoburne 5 | Sunday 25th September 2022 |
| Gold Hill 10k | Sunday 9th October 2022 |
| The Stickler | Oct |
| Wimborne 10 | Sunday 20th November 2022 |
| Boscombe 10k | Sunday 27th November 2022 |
CC Rules
Dorset Road Race League (DRRL)
The Dorset Road Race League (DRRL) is a long established road running league in which competitors can race in up to 12 events of varying distance, spread over Dorset to win individual and team prizes each year. Competitors must be first claim members of clubs affiliated to the Dorset County Athletic Association (DCAA) and registered to England Athletics to be counted. For both individual and team competitions, the best 7 results will score towards the League. For Under 17s the best 3 of 4 and for Under 21s the best 6 of 11 will count. Some league races also incorporate DCAA championships open to those of Dorset eligibility with separate prizes to go to seniors and veterans over 40 years old.
2019 Results
2019 (the last year there was a DRRL championship!) was a great year of racing for the Harriers, the Ladies team came 2nd in the League, with the Men coming in 4th place in the same positions as 2018. Both teams secured a place in Division 1 for the 2020 season, which was sadly cancelled due to Covid. We also had a few age category winners and fidelity runners again over the 2019 season, so great running all round!!
The DRRL races for 2022 can be found below – keep scrolling!
- Race reports: Men – read the latest race report here
- Race reports: Women – read the latest race report here
- DRRL rules can be found here
DRRL Races & Dates 2022
| DRRL Event | Date |
| Broadstone 1/4 | Saturday 1st January 2022 |
| Blackmore Vale Half | Sunday 6th February 2022 |
| Lytchett 10 | Sunday 13th February 2022 |
| Marnhull 12k | Sunday 3rd April 2022 |
| North Dorset Village Marathon | Sunday 1st May 2022 |
| The May 5 | Sunday 22nd May 2022 |
| Puddletown Plod Half | Sunday 12th June 2022 |
| Purbeck 10k | Friday 17th June 2022 |
| Portland 10 | Sunday 3rd July 2022 |
| Hoburne 5 | Sunday 25th September 2022 |
| Gold Hill 10k | Sunday 9th October 2022 |
| Wimborne 10 | Sunday 20th November 2022 |
Social
Weekly 30 – how far can you run in 30 minutes?
Register and join the official EA Littledown team NOW for free by CLICKING HERE! Then run 30 mins on Saturday or Sunday each week and upload your distance.
Week 1 results HERE Week 2 results HERE Week 3 results HERE Week 4 results HERE Week 5 results HERE
Week 6 results HERE Week 7 results HERE Week 8 results HERE Week 9 results HERE Week 10 results HERE