Salford Harriers is a British athletics club based in the North of England. Today they are primarily a cross country and road running club and are based at various locations around Manchester, including SportCity at the Manchester Regional Arena, the Bluebell on Moston Lane and Heaton Park, the Cleavley Athletics Track and Duncan Mathieson Playing Fields Track.
History
Founded in 1884 the Harriers are one of the oldest athletics clubs in England and have a history of producing Olympic athletes and national champions. Originally the club was founded as a cross–country club at the Grapes Hotel in Cross-lane.
From 1888 to 1898 the club won the English National Cross Country Championships six times and with two of the club's athletes Edward W Parry and George Crossland winning the individual title.
The first significant athlete to run in the club colours was Alfred Tysoe who won two gold medals in the 800 metres and the 5000 metres team race at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris.
The club established itself over the following decades and by the 1908 Summer Olympics had a major influence, organising Olympic Trials and having seven athletes selected for the Olympic Games.
Notable athletes Olympians
AthleteEventsGamesMedals/RefAlfred Tysoe800m, 5000m team1900 Arthur Astley 400m, 800m 1908 Harry Barker3200m steeplechase1908Alex Duncanmarathon1908Billy Grantham3200m steeplechase1908Sam Hurdsfield200m1908Henry Pankhurst100m, 200m, 1,600m relay1908William Shee1500m, 5 miles1908Josh Smith1500m 1908William Yates10km walk1912George Gray110m Hurdles, 400m hurdles1920Walter Rangeley100m, 200m, 4x100m relay1924, 1928, 1936George Bailey 3000m steeplechase, 5000m1932Tom Evenson3000/3200m steeplechase1932, 1936William Eaton10,000m1936Frank Handley800m1936Bill Roberts400m, 4x400m relay1936, 1948Dorothy Shirleyhigh jump1960, 1968
References