Dudley and Stourbridge Harriers


Dudley and Stourbridge Harriers is an athletics club founded in 1924. Originally established as Dudley Harriers, it took on its current name through the amalgamation with Stourbridge, Wordsley and District Harriers.
The Dell Stadium has been the home of training and competition for the club since its opening in 1964.

History

The history of many athletics clubs within the Midlands can trace their history back to Birchfield Harriers. Prior to 1924 athletics clubs could have multiple branches across a region.
On 24 September 1910, at the Annual General Meeting of the Birchfield Harriers Tipton branch, the Tipton Harriers decided to become independent. As the Tipton Harriers membership grew, club branches were founded at Wolverhampton, Dudley, Wednesbury and Cradley Heath. However, in 1924 the M.C.A.A.A banned the practice of having club branches and subsequently the Dudley branch dissociated themselves from the Tipton Harriers and formed the Dudley Harriers and A C.
The newly formed club set up headquarters at the Gipsies Tent Inn, Steppingstone Street. A representative of Dudley Harriers attended the April 1925 meeting to form the Birmingham & District Invitation Cross Country League.
Meanwhile a club known as the Stourbridge, Wordsley and District Harriers were invited to join the Birmingham Cross Country League on 21 September 1931.
In 1963 the two clubs, Dudley Harriers and Stourbridge, Wordsley and District Harriers agreed to amalgamate into the present club in 1963.
DASH was a founding member of the Youth Athletics Cross Country League in 1975.