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Town and Country Harriers (TACH)

Off-road running and good company in and around Bristol

Town and Country Harriers (TACH) is an off-road running club for people who love trail running and exploring the varied countryside in and around Bristol. We also organise local races. We aspire to be an inclusive running club where everyone feels encouraged and is given the confidence to run trails.

Upcoming Runs

Town and Country Harriers (TACH)

If you love running through fields and woodlands rather than pounding the pavements then TACH will welcome you as a member. Our regular Thursday runs start and finish at a pub, usually within a thirty-minute drive of the centre of Bristol, led by a volunteer member and offer a variety of run lengths and routes. You won't have to keep up with the faster runners - or even the moderately fast ones - they return to the back of the group frequently. The runs usually include hills but it's OK to slow down or walk up the steep ones, especially as this gives the faster runners the chance to run up them twice.

You probably won't finish the run with clean shoes but we are convinced that running off-road is kinder to our joints than pounding pavements. There is also something truly special about being off-road under a starlit sky, splashing through the mud, or running through a grassy field or a shady woodland path on a summer's evening. And we mix it up with town-based runs when the views or history makes it worthwhile. Either way, whether it's town or country, everyone is invited to join for a well-deserved drink and a chat in the pub before heading home.

Please note that in Winter we continue to run off-road using head torches whatever the weather. Due to the distance, the terrain, and the night-time running, our runs are not suitable for complete beginners; if you can run 4-5 miles fairly comfortably on the flat and have tried some daylight trail running, you'll be fine.

JOIN TACH

The runs posted on this page are open to non-members to try one or two runs before deciding whether to join the club. Please get in touch with our Membership Secretary if you would like to come along, just so we know to expect you and can answer any questions you may have.

We hope you can join us and look forward to seeing you on the trail sometime soon!

TACH Races

For many years, TACH has hosted a popular series of off road races. We keep the price of our races as low as possible and we have partnered with Into Ultra to ensure that affordability is not a barrier to taking part. We do not have cut off times for our shorter races; we know that strict cut-off times can put people off, particularly women who often feel less confident (even when they aren’t any slower). We ensure that there is a friendly and welcoming atmosphere at our races and this shows in the feedback that we get: "The marshals were so encouraging and helpful", "such a friendly and well-organised event", "lovely warm and welcoming marshals". Forthcoming races are:

Previous results can be found in the race results archive. And some of our former races can be found in the routes section.

Our Club

Town and Country Harriers (TACH) are committed to ensuring that all members and their guests can participate in club activities in an enjoyable and safe environment. TACH was founded in 1995 by a group of runners who loved the trails and the countryside. Today, we're still running and still enjoying it.

We aspire to be an inclusive running club where all runners feel encouraged and are given the confidence to run trails. We have regular runners in their 20s to 80s and women make up half our Committee and over 40% of our wider membership. We are continually looking for ways to make trail-running more inclusive. We encourage liftshare groups (if you are comfortable to share your contact details) so you don't need a car in order to join us.

We are open to new members. Our annual membership fee is just £10 (plus admin fee). For this you get an organised run every Thursday night, regular TACH socials, and many more ad-hoc weeknight and weekend runs organised by our enthusiastic members. Everyone is encouraged to do their bit and to lead runs. It's great fun introducing people to your favourite route (and pub). If you need more information, chat to the RunMeister or some recent run leaders in the pub, and take a look at this guide.

Our membership also gives you:

The TACH Championship recognises those that lead runs, help at events, and write articles for Rough Running News. There will be prizes given out quarterly and obviously the big prize, given out on the Twelfth Night awards and party evening, for the most points in a year.

You can show your allegiance to our great club when out and about with our TACH branded kit. We currently have technical short-sleeved t-shirts, long-sleeved t-shirts, and vests. And TACH hoodies which are a post-run pub favourite. Please email the KitMeister who will arrange to bring an appropriate selection for you to try on on a Thursday night.

Our current Club Committee is:

Some of our useful and important documents are: Club Constitution (2025); Code of Conduct (Nov 2023); ARC Membership and Liability Insurance; and TACH club runs Risk Assessment (v1.0).

JOIN TACH

Routes

Some of TACH's favourite routes and previous races:

Award Winners

YearChampionship AwardGreen Man AwardGraham Bazley Award
2025Andy GrantDave BignellChris Smart
2024Sarah SmithFran PrattEmily Griffiths
2023Fran PrattTom HuntTerry Rogers
2022Jane BennettAndy FaggSharon Jones
2019Andy LittleJonny RileyLiz Little
2018Matt Claydon--- 
2017Graham Bazley--- 
2016Catherine Fagg--- 
2015Helen King--- 
2014Sam Edwards--- 
2013Lucien Campbell-Kemp & Sam Edwards--- 
2012Chris Smart--- 
2011Helen King--- 
2010Andy Fagg--- 
2009Chris Smart--- 
2008------ 
2007------ 
2006John McDonough--- 
2005Robert Hicks--- 
2004------ 
2003Steve Bell--- 
2002Richard Dempster--- 
2001Chris Bloor--- 
2000John McDonough--- 
1999Tony Fletcher--- 
1998Richard Dempster--- 
 
 Lifetime Members (for outstanding contributions to the Club)
 Chris Bloor
 Libby Bloor
 Jim Plunkett-Cole
 Simon Whittle

Race Results

YearButcombe Trail UltraRowberrow RompPurdown PursuitKeynsham Dandy
2026Results---Results 
2025Results---ResultsSolo | Canicross
2024Results---ResultsResults 
2023ResultsResults---Results
2022Results------Overall | Canicross
2021---------Overall | Canicross
2020Virtual Results---------
2019ResultsPosition | CategoryOverall | CategoryCategory | Canicross
2018ResultsResultsResultsOverall | Category
2017Results---Results---
2016Results---Results---