May 24, 2024

The Harriers are pleased to announce their Summer Challenge for 2024 – Parks Run.

The basic idea is to run in as many parks as you can during the challenge period.  With many accessible urban parks as well as lots of rural and wilderness parks this caters to all.  So get out there, explore the wealth and variety of our parks, discover some new ones, and have fun!

The primary metric for the challenge will be the number of different "parks" you "run" in at least once during the challenge period.  There may be rewards for certain score levels, special prizes for overall top score, most in a day or a run, best photos or stories, etc.  These may be awarded at a celebration in late September.  ...

Monday, May 23, 2022

The second annual Douglas Street Mile took place today ahead of the Victoria Day Parade and attracted 51 finishers.  The event raised over $20,000.00 for Parkinson Wellness projects.  The race champions were Harriers Bertrand Bozek in 5:37.4 and Victoria's Elizabeth Vranjkovic in 6:38.5.  Several Harriers were involved with Cathy Noel as Race Director, Bob Reid managing the finish line and preparing the results, Lucy Smith as Lead Cyclist and Randy Jones, Alana Jones, Martha McNeeley and Mark Seebaran working the finish line, Joseph Camilleri producing the photo album, Christine Thate managing race package pick-up and Gary Duncan measuring and marking the course.  Gary also ran a great race finishing fourth overall and he was first in the 60 and over Senior Division in 6:16.4.  Three of the first four finishers were club members including Bertrand (1st), Samson Haire (2nd) and Gary (4th).  Other Harriers placing well in their age divisions were Marcia Stromsmoe (third female), Laura Lanchbery, Jane McDonald and Christine Thate.

Results by Bob Reid pdf xlsx

Photos by Joseph Camilleri

Message to Prairie Inn Harriers members:

Please note that due to a disastrous flood at the Cedar Hill Golf Club, the location of our awards night has been moved to the Gorge Vale Golf Club, 1005 Craigflower Road. We are very appreciative that Gorge Vale was able to fit our event in at such short notice.  The new location is central, modern, very scenic and they have a large parking area.  The dinner/awards ceremony will be on the same date, Friday, January 31, and at the same arrival time of 5:30 pm.

Gorge Vale requires that we pre-order the burger selection, so you will now be asked to choose from the following selections: Beef, Chicken, Salmon or Veggie. You can also request a gluten free option, and let us know if you have any allergies that the caterer needs to be aware of.  For the 75 people that have already registered for the dinner, you can add your selection if you click on Tickets that you received in your order confirmation. This will take you back to the Eventbrite website. To add your meal choice, follow these instructions:

1. Go to Tickets.
2. Select your order.
3. Select "Edit".
4. Save your changes.

If you have any problems, you can also simply email your burger selection to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Thanks for your understanding, Dawn Wilson, Dinner Coordinator.

I am honoured to pay tribute to Maurice on his 90^th birthday celebration; he is the only active 90 year-old club member of the 1,200 plus runners who have been part of our club over the past 43 years. Maurice Tarrant is simply the best!

Maurice's 90th Celebration Photo Album - Compliments of Joseph Camilleri

GLORIOUS sunshine greeted Greater Victoria racers for the 40th Annual Harriers Pioneer 8K in North Saanich this past weekend with Rio Olympian and Canadian women's 10,000 metre record holder Natasha Wodak starring with another dazzling display.

Wodak, also a member of Canada's IAAF World Cross Country team which competes in Denmark next month, warmed up for her tilt at the Canadian women's half-marathon record in Houston on January 20 with a majestic performance today.

by John Atkinson, December 1st, 2018

FOR the 35th annual running of the Gunner Shaw Vancouver XC, PIH sent a crew of seven to do battle with Gunner's alter-ego club LGRR and enjoy the terrific multi-terrainic elements that the Jericho Park course offers. And the day was action-packed!

Fun 'n' games began early as the 7am ferry sprang a surprise—filling up fast (with contestants for a robotics competition most conspicuous) and catching out Joe Camilleri, Gary Duncan and Bill Leuze, as dawn broke (not THAT Dawn—she's unbreakable) on what would be a day of glorious sunshine.

The trio's ferry narrow (10 car) miss meant making it for the 11am GS gun-shot start was now out—unless they chartered a chopper. But the boys bravely stuck to their guns, jumping on the 9am ferry and resolving to start the race 20 minutes late, so they could still play a part on the day and for Team PIH.

Eleventh Annual Harriers Hounds 40 Metre Sand Sprint

Two-year-old Katie beat her sister and last year's champion, Maisie, in a spirited sprint on the beach of Thetis Lake Park today to claim first place honours and the coveted Molly Reid Top Dog trophy for 2018.

 

Past winners, Molly and Bebe, pose on their "Tattersall Chair" resting up for the first Harriers Hounds Race in 2008.

Eleventh Annual Harriers Hounds 40 Metre Sand Sprint

Thetis Lake Park – October 13, 2018

2018 Official Race Results

Link to Joseph Camilleri's terrific photo album is shown below including a Harriers Group shot before the run:

2018 Harriers Hounds 40 Metre Sand Sprint Photo Album

When Right is Wrong, then Left is what's Left.

Bob explained the simple rules of the game to the simple runners assembled at the main beach.  Some had their race faces on, others were there to celebrate Labour Day with a fun run, while others were just happy to get out of the house.

We all started together, with the 5K runners turning off at Trillium and the 10K runners taking the long way around.  I was following Lara and Doug, but started lagging further and further behind.  However, my "strategy" paid off because as I ...

by Wendy Davies — September 6, 2018
Photos by Joseph Camilleri — Full Photo Album

The Hare(less) Report & Results

Thanks to all the club members who participated in the 2018 edition of Harriers Hare 'n Hounds race, from those who've only been members a few months to those who joined almost at the beginning 40 years ago.

The weather on the day was awesome, sunny but cooler than the high heats of the previous weeks and no smoke!

By all accounts everyone enjoyed the course, or at least what they ran of it.  Unfortunately after the first few participants went by some !#!@^ removed ...

What:  Harriers Hare 'n Hounds Adventure Run, a free running event for all club members.

Where:  Meet at Thetis Lake Park, Main Parking Lot.  Bring a loonie or a toonie for parking.

When:  Monday, September 3 (Labour Day) gathering at 9:00 am.  We will wait 5 minutes for everyone, but 6 minutes for no one!

Why:  To wrap up Event #6 of the six 40th Anniversary Celebrations including our Awards Ceremony in March, Easter Egg Hunt in April, Pilgrimage Run in June, Family Day in July and Summer BBQ/Club Reunion in August.

Description:  Runners cover a flagged course of approximately 10 kilometres with decisions to be made at every fork in the trail and the one who makes the least mistakes of selecting the correct route is the winner as he or she gets to the Hare first at the surprise finish line with the balance of the Hounds following behind!  The trails will be marked with flagging and when you reach a trail junction there will be a blue flag which indicates a decision is to be made.  If you go left and reach a red flag, you have gone the wrong way and you must return to the blue flag and go to the other where you will reach a yellow flag indicating the correct route.  The correct course will also be marked with bread crumbs along the way.  It's not necessarily the swiftest runner that wins this race, it's the one who makes the fewest mistakes.  A big advantage may go to a slower runner that sees a faster runner coming back towards them as they can immediately turn back before reaching the red flag that forced the fastee return.

Hares:  Gary Duncan, designing and flagging the route, and Bob Reid laying out the bread crumbs.

Hounds:  All Harriers who show up for this adventure run on the trails followed by an optional swim.

Dogs:  Real hounds are welcome to join their masters at this event to celebrate their PIH Canine membership.

Prizes:  Awards will be presented to the Top Dog (first male finisher), Top Bitch (first female finisher), Top Old Dog (first male master 40+) and Top Old Bitch (first female master 40+).

Social Gathering:  Following the run and swim, join us for lunch and a few laughs at the Six Mile House.

Harriers History Repeats:  The inaugural Harriers Hare 'n Hounds Adventure Run was held in September, 1978 and the event is hosted once every 10 years.  The inaugural 1978 Hares were Alex Marshall, Gunner Shaw and Bob Reid.  The Top Dog at the first run was Jack Farrell and the Top Bitch was Marion Kirby; there were 26 hounds.  This is the fifth running of the "H 'n H" and previous winners include Dave Campbell, Andre Gerard, Dick Palfrey, Ray Baillie, John McKay, Dan Harlow, Christopher Kelsall, Shane Ruljancich, Cynthia Reid, Pam Smith, Marg Melvin, Laura Leno, Sandy Auburn, Merell Harlow, Susan Reid and Catherine Shaw.

When: Sunday, August 12, 2018

Where: Meet at Bob Reid's lakefront home on McKenzie Lake, 2600 Herbate Road at the north end of Thetis Lake Park (Call 250-384-1520 for details)

Why: To enjoy a social run, hike or ride followed by a BBQ, potluck lunch, swimming and stories from the past

When to Arrive: Meet just before 11:00 am and we will run, hike or mountain bike on the northern trails of Thetis Lake Park from Westoby Road.  Everyone will be back for a BBQ and picnic starting at 12:30 pm.  Individual leaders will be provided for fast, moderate and slow run groups and for a hiking group.  All runners and hikers will summit Scafe Hill and Stewart Mountain using some new trails recently constructed.  Water will be available at the summit of Scafe Hill which includes beautiful views.

40^th Reunion Celebration: Club members, past and present, are encouraged to bring memorabilia (old race shirts, uniforms, newspaper clippings, pictures, etc.) to display on tables. An “Open Mic” session is available for you to share a humorous or serious running story from the past while the barbequing is taking place. A group picture is planned for 2:00 pm with a surprise for all participants and children.

What to Bring:  Your kids – This is a PIH family event.  Include some old memorabilia for display.  Your own liquid refreshment (Beer, wine, juice, pop, water, energy drink).  A potluck dish – salad, appetizer or dessert.  A swimsuit and towel if you want to swim in McKenzie Lake.  Running shoes and your mountain bike if you plan to ride on Bellamy Trail and other easily manageable cycling trails.

                Bob will Supply:     Barbeques, tables, chairs, dishes, tents, serving platters, cups, cutlery, canoe, kayak, row boat, paddle boards, lawn games. No need to bring a lawn chair.

Club will Supply:    Burgers, dogs, buns, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, condiments, drinking water.

Information: For more information and directions to Bob’s home, see the map on the Picnic/BBQ Poster distributed by email blast to our membership. Parking is limited and there will be attendants to assist you in parking your vehicle.  If you aren't running or hiking, please try to arrive before noon and park on the roadway to allow vehicles bringing food and supplies to use the driveway for deliveries.  You will notice a new house and family on the right side of the driveway which we share.  Please allow the new family access in and out from their home.  Thanks! 

Printable Poster:  BBQ/Reunion Poster

A Harriers Family Fun Day is planned for TODAY, meeting at 10:00 am at Matheson Lake, off Rocky Point Road in Metchosin.  Enjoy swimming and paddle boarding on the lake and running or hiking around the beautiful Matheson Lake trails towards Roche Cove.  The club will supply cold plates of fresh fruit and vegetables as well as drinking water.  Participants are encouraged to bring swim suits, water toys and their personal drinks.  This is Event #4 of six 40th Harriers Anniversary Celebrations available in 2018. 

Event #1 of the Anniversary Celebrations, the Harriers Annual Awards Dinner, was held in March followed by the Harriers Easter Egg Hunt at Thetis Lake in April and the Pilgrimage Run from Thetis Lake Park to the Prairie Inn Pub in June.  Following this Harriers Family Fun next week, celebrations continue with the Harriers 40-Year Reunion, BBQ/Picnic at Bob's house at McKenzie Lake on August 12 and the final event is the Hare 'n Hounds Mystery Adventure Run at Thetis Lake Park on September 3 (Labour Day).  Join us as we enjoy family, friendships, fitness, fun and food!

Pilgrimage Run - 2018

The Pilgrimage Run from Thetis Lake Park to the Prairie Inn Pub, event #3 of six Harriers 40th Anniversary Celebrations, was held on June 3 and featured 13 participants including 6 completing the full 12 Mile distance, 3 doing parts, 2 doing the 4 Mile Walk and 2 dogs.  Gary led the 12 Mile team which included Binder Kelsall, John Atkinson, Andrew Pape-Salmon, Jeff Beddoes and Yuki Otsubo.  In a family tag team Kathleen Birney joined them for the first 6 miles, and Paul Birney for the final 2 miles.  Marcia Stromsmoe completed the 6 Mile route from West Saanich Road to the Prairie Inn solo while John McKay and Bob Reid did the 4 Mile Walk to and from Keating Cross Road with their 4-legged companions, Digger and Bebe.  Bob also left for the others a giant arrow crafted from fallen branch pieces to a traditional short cut path off White Road.  Part of the route along Oldfield was full with cyclists doing the half-iron.  Encouragements were exchanged.  Chris Kelsall assisted with transportation and joined the group for lunch at the P.I. Pub.

Event #1 of the Anniversary Celebrations, the Harriers Annual Awards Dinner, was held in March followed by the Harriers Easter Egg Hunt at Thetis Lake in April.  Next up is the Harriers Family Fun Day at Matheson Lake on July 15, the Harriers 40-Year Reunion, BBQ/Picnic at McKenzie Lake on August 12 and the final event is the Hare 'n Hounds Run at Thetis Lake on September 3 (Labour Day).