Belgrave Harriers
TypeAthletic club
FoundedOctober 1887; 136 years ago (1887-10)
LocationWimbledon, London &
Battersea Park, Wandsworth
ActivitiesRoad running
Cross country running
Track and field
Racewalking
Websitewww.belgraveharriers.com

Belgrave Harriers, founded in October 1887, is an athletics club in Britain, with headquarters located in Wimbledon, close to Wimbledon Common. As of February 2013, they had the most successful record in the history of the British Athletics League, with 11 titles.[1]

In the early days, the clubs's administrative headquarters were at the Kings Arms public house in Belgravia, central London, and races were held along the Embankment of the River Thames and also over the common lands south of London, particularly on Wimbledon Common. These days, Belgrave's home track is located at the Millennium Arena, Battersea Park and club members, known as 'Belgravians', train there on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Belgrave Harriers compete in track and field, road running, racewalking and cross country events, and have traditionally drawn their members from South London and Surrey, but in recent decades have athletes from all over the United Kingdom and overseas.

Belgrave Harriers' most successful period lasted from the 1920s to the 1950s, but the 21st century saw a resurgence, and they have won 29 national championships in this period on the road, in cross-country and on the track. In 2013, however, they announced their withdrawal from the British Athletics League due to a shortage of necessary volunteer officials.[1]

The club's membership contains several of Britain's leading athletes, including Olympic silver medallist and World Champion Phillips Idowu, Goldie Sayers, Dwain Chambers, William Sharman and Chicago Marathon winner Paul Evans.

Team honours

Track and field

Men

Women

Cross Country

Men

Road racing

Men

Women

Racewalking

Men

Notable athletes

Olympians

Athlete Country Events Olympics Medals
Tommy Green United Kingdom 50km walk 1932
Harry Churcher United Kingdom 10km walk 1948
Bill Lucas United Kingdom 5000 metres 1948
Étienne Gailly Belgium marathon 1948
Eric Hall United Kingdom 20km walk,50km walk 1956, 1960
John Bicourt United Kingdom 3000 metres steeplechase 1972, 1976
Paul Evans United Kingdom 10000 metres 1992, 1996
Brendan Reilly United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland high jump 1992, 2000
Nick Sweeney Republic of Ireland discus throw 1992, 1996, 2000
Paskar Owor Uganda 800 metres 2000, 2004
Dwain Chambers United Kingdom 100 metres, 4x100 metres relay 2000, 2012
Phillips Idowu United Kingdom triple jump 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012
Chris Lambert United Kingdom 200 metres 2004
Goldie Sayers United Kingdom javelin throw 2004, 2008, 2012

References

  1. ^ a b Hart, Simon (4 February 2013). "Belgrave Harriers' men's team to bow out of British Athletics League due to lack of volunteers". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 October 2013.