Birchfield Harriers

Birchfield Harriers is an athletics club, founded in 1877. Its home is at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium, England.

Birchfield Harriers' badge on Perry Barr Stadium

As well as welcoming recreational runners they cater for all levels of experience up to and including Olympic athletes whether able-bodied or wheelchair-using athletes.

The Club's motto is Fleet and Free.

History

The Harriers were named after the Birchfield district of Birmingham.[1] Their previous home (from 1929-77[1]), at nearby Perry Barr, was Alexander Sports Ground.[1] It still carries their badge, a running stag, rendered in this case in Art Deco style, carved in 1929 and attributed to William Bloye.[2] Both venues were named for members of the Alexander family, who were prominent members of the club.[1]

Tom McCook, a former athlete and club chairman, was the club's President from 2001 until standing down at the end of 2013.[3]

Honours

• 800m and relay runner Pat Cropper was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her running achievements.[1]
• In the 2000 New Year Honours, heptathlete Denise Lewis was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).[4]
• Coach Norma Blaine was made an MBE in the New Years Honours announced on 31 December 2010, for her services to athletics.[5]

Members

The Alexander Stadium

• Ainsley Bennett
• Louise Butterworth
• Daniel Caines
• Stewart Faulkner
• Helen Frost
• Ashia Hansen
• Louise Hazel
• Helen Karagounis
• Du'aine Ladejo
• Diane Leather[6]
• Denise Lewis
• Mark Lewis-Francis
• Gladys Lunn
• Doris Nelson Neal OBE
• Joel Fearon
• Katharine Merry
• Peter Radford[7] - subsequently Chairman of UK Athletics and Professor of Sport at Brunel University.
• Mike Rawson
• Scott Rider[8]
• Archie Robertson - Birchfield's first Olympic gold medallist (1908).[9]
• Beryl Randle - world record race walker
• William Snook, athlete (1861–1916). After he died in a workhouse hospital, his funeral was paid for by the club.[10]
• Kelly Sotherton
• Ian Stewart
• Bob Weir
• Patrick Makau
• Phil Brown

Bibliography

• Alexander, William O; Morgan, Wilfred (1988). The History of Birchfield Harriers 1877-1988. Birchfield Harriers. ISBN 0-9514082-0-8.
• Rogers, Gareth; Morgan, Wilfred; McCook, Tom (2005). Fleet and Free — A History of Birchfield Harriers Athletic Club. Tempus. ISBN 0-7524-3523-X.

References

1. Alexander, William O; Morgan, Wilfred (1988). The History of Birchfield Harriers 1877-1988. Birchfield Harriers. ISBN 0-9514082-0-8.
2. Public Sculpture of Birmingham, George T. Noszlopy, Liverpool University Press, 1998, ISBN 0-85323-682-8
3. "Devoted to his sport and club for 45 years". Great Barr Observer. 2013-01-04. p. 4.
4. "No. 56070". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 July 2008. pp. 9–12.
5. Savvas, Christina (2010-12-31). "Birchfield Harriers coach Norma Blaine receives an MBE for her services to athletics". Birmingham Mail. MIN. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
6. Stuart, Julia (20 April 2004). "Athletics: 50 years ago, Roger Bannister became a sporting legend with his four-minute mile. Why is his female equivalent just seen as an also-ran?". The Independent. London.
7. "Peter Radford". Hall of Fame. UK Athletics. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
8. "Scott Rider". European Athletic Association. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
9. Philpotts, Chris (8 October 2010). "Pub runs with hero's reputation for unexpected triumphs". Great Barr Observer. Birmingham: Central Independent News & Media Ltd. pp. 4–5.
10. Andrews, Harry (2008). The Follies of a Victorian Athlete (William Snook 1861-1916). Leonie Press (Anne Loader Publications). ISBN 978-1-901253-56-6.

External links

• Official website
• Walter Freeman interview Recorded 1980 with a former Harrier