Salford Harriers


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/Ref
Alfred Tysoe800m, 5000m team1900
Arthur Astley400m, 800m1908
Harry Barker3200m steeplechase1908
Alex Duncanmarathon1908
Billy Grantham3200m steeplechase1908
Sam Hurdsfield200m1908
Henry Pankhurst100m, 200m, 1,600m relay1908
William Shee1500m, 5 miles1908
Josh Smith1500m1908
William Yates10km walk1912
George Gray110m Hurdles, 400m hurdles1920
Walter Rangeley100m, 200m, 4x100m relay1924, 1928, 1936
George Bailey3000m steeplechase, 5000m1932
Tom Evenson3000/3200m steeplechase1932, 1936
William Eaton10,000m1936
Frank Handley800m1936
Bill Roberts400m, 4x400m relay1936, 1948
Dorothy Shirleyhigh jump1960, 1968