Birchfield Harriers

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

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

File:Alexander Stadium.jpg

The Alexander Stadium

File:Arthur Robertson 1908.jpg

Arthur Robertson, the club first Olympic gold medal winner

Founded in 1877, the Harriers were named after the Birchfield district of Birmingham.

In 1908 Archie Robertson was Birchfield's first Olympic gold medallist.

From 1929 to 1977, the Harriers were based), at nearby Perry Barr, was Alexander Sports Ground, which still carries their badge, a running stag, rendered in this case in Art Deco style, carved in 1929 and attributed to William Bloye. Both venues were named for members of the Alexander family, who were prominent members of the club.

Pat Cropper was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her running achievements in the 1974 Birthday Honours. In 1993, Peter Radford served as Chairman of UK Athletics.

In the 2000 New Year Honours, heptathlete Denise Lewis was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). In 2010, coach Norma Blaine was made an MBE in the New Years Honours announced on 31 December 2010, for her services to athletics.

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

Honours

• British Athletics League, champions 1969, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
• UK Women's Athletic League, champions 2011, 2012, 2016

Notable athletes

Olympians

Athlete	Events	Games	Medals/Ref
Daphne Arden	100m, 200m, 4x100m	1964	File:Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg
Meghan Beesley	400m hurdles	2020
Ainsley Bennett	200m, 4x400m	1976
Joe Blewitt	5000m, 3,000m team, 3000m steeplechase	1920, 1928	File:Silver medal icon (S initial).svg
Robbie Brightwell	400m, 4x100m, 4x400m	1960, 1964	File:Silver medal icon (S initial).svg
Audrey Brown	100m, 4x100m	1936	File:Silver medal icon (S initial).svg
Godfrey Brown	400m, 4x100m, 4x400m	1936	File:Gold medal icon (G initial).svg
Phil Brown	400m, 4x400m	1984, 1988	File:Silver medal icon (S initial).svg
Daniel Caines	400m, 4x400m	2000, 2004
Geoff Capes	shot put	1972, 1976, 1980
Gladys Clarke	javelin	1948
Charles Clibbon	5000m, 10,000m	1920, 1924
John Cooper	400m hurdles, 4x400m	1964, 1968	File:Silver medal icon (S initial).svgFile:Silver medal icon (S initial).svg
Clova Court	heptathlon	1992
Dave Cropper	800m	1968, 1972
Sidney Cross	triple jump	1948
Jock Dalrymple	javelin	1924
Samantha Davies	200m, 4x100m	2000
Zoe Derham	hammer throw	2008
Cyril Dugmore	triple jump	1928
Cyril Ellis	1500m	1924, 1928
Sally Ellis	marathon	1992
Mike Farrell	800m	1956
Stewart Faulkner	long jump	1988
Joel Fearon	bobsleigh	2014, 2018	File:Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg
Walter Freeman	cross country	1920	File:Silver medal icon (S initial).svg
Helen Frost	4x400m	2000
Elliot Giles	800m	2016, 2020
Billy Green	400m	1928
Jack Hambidge	200m	1928
John Hanlon	400m	1928
Lorraine Hanson	400m	1992
Louise Hazel	heptathlon	2012
Julie Hollman	heptathlon	2008
Harry Houghton	800m	1924, 1928
Matt Hudson-Smith	400m, 4x400m	2016
Fred Hulford	800m, 1500m	1912
David Jenkins	400m, 4x400m	1972, 1976, 1980	File:Silver medal icon (S initial).svg
Pat Jones	80m hurdles	1968
Winnie Jordan	100m	1948
Helen Karagounis	4x400m	2004
Karl Keska	10,000m	2000
Du'aine Ladejo	400m, 4x400m	1992, 1996
Mark Lewis-Francis	100m, 4x100m	2004	File:Gold medal icon (G initial).svg
Denise Lewis	long jump, heptathlon	1996, 2000, 2004	File:Gold medal icon (G initial).svgFile:Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg
Fred Light	5,000m team	1928
Judy Livermore-Simpson	pentathlon, heptathlon	1980, 1984, 1988
Vincent Loney	1500m	1908
Pat Lowe-Cropper	800m	1968, 1972
Bertram Macdonald	3000m team	1924	File:Silver medal icon (S initial).svg
Ruth Martin-Jones	long jump	1972
Germaine Mason	high jump	2008	File:Silver medal icon (S initial).svg
Eric McCalla	triple jump	1984
Katharine Merry	200m, 400m, 4x100m, 4x400m	1996, 2000	File:Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg
Aston Moore	triple jump	1976
Mica Moore	bobsleigh	2018
John Morbey	long jump	1964
Brett Morse	discus throw	2012
Template:Flagicon Adam Nelson	shot put	2000, 2004, 2008	File:Gold medal icon (G initial).svg
Sidney Newey	3000m steeplechase	1924
Tom Parsons	high jump	2008
Howard Payne	hammer throw	1964, 1968, 1972
Shara Proctor	long jump	2012, 2016
Carole Quinton	80m hurdles, 4x100m	1956, 1960	File:Silver medal icon (S initial).svg
Peter Radford	100m, 200m, 4x100m	1960, 1964	File:Bronze medal icon (B initial).svgFile:Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg
Mike Rawson	800m	1956
Derek Redmond	400m	1988, 1992
Template:Flagicon Sarah Reilly	100m, 200m	2000
Template:Flagicon Jean Roberts	discus throw	1968
Arthur Robertson	5 miles, 3 miles team, 3,200m steeplechase	1908	File:Gold medal icon (G initial).svgFile:Silver medal icon (S initial).svg
Michael Rosswess	200m	1988
John Salisbury	400m	1956	File:Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg
Sue Scott-Reeve	pentathlon, long jump	1968, 1976, 1980
John Sherwood	400m hurdles, 4x400m	1964, 1968, 1972	File:Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg
Donald Slack	pentathlon, decathlon	1964
Ray Smedley	1500m	1972
Glen Smith	discus throw	1996, 2000
Kelly Sotherton	heptathlon, 4 x 400m	2004, 2008	File:Bronze medal icon (B initial).svgFile:Bronze medal icon (B initial).svgFile:Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg
Ian Stewart	500m	1972, 1976	File:Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg
Mary Stewart	1500m	1976
Stuart Storey	110m hurdles	1968
Danny Talbot	200m, 4 x 100m	2012, 2016
Bill Tancred	discus throw	1968, 1972
Eddie Webster	10,000m, cross country	1924
Bob Weir	discus throw, hammer throw	1984, 1996, 2000
Nick Whitehead	4 x100m	1960	File:Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg
Malcolm Yardley	400m, 4x400m	1960

External links

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