Club History (revised 2008)

Although founded in 1910, Blackburn Harriers & Athletic Club really started to develop in the years immediately after the Second World War. At that time they had the use of a 330 yards grass track at Pleckgate and the services of a group of enthusiastic teachers. They were lead by George Kirby, the present Club President, who coached their pupils there and fed them into the Harriers team. Highlight of the year was a trip to Barnoldswick for a North East Lancashire Track League meeting. Then came the opening of the new track at Witton Park in 1958 and soon it was realised that it was a fast one.

To popularise it, a series of invitation meetings, sponsored by Blackburn Borough Council, were staged there. Crowds flocked to watch the stars and their favourite was Derek Ibbotson who had set a world mile record in 1957. The track's fame attracted members to the Harriers who, by the mid 1960's were becoming a club to be reckoned with.

The first member to earn international selection was Chris Fay, who represented Great Britain in the six miles in the match against France at Rennes in 1966. Soon after the Club captain and multi eventer Barry Sanderson gained a number of Great Britain vests in the javelin. In 1970 Malcolm Yardley ran for Great Britain and for England in the 4 X 400 metres at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. The club 400m squad included Peter Beavan European Junior Champion and international Derek Price. In the late 1990s Jason Lobo represented England and Great Britain at 800m in the Commonwealth Games and the World Championships as well as becoming AAAs champion.

By 1971 the senior men's team was strong enough to earn a place in the British Athletics League, putting them in the top 24 clubs in the country. They stayed there for two seasons and returned again to the British League in 1979 for three seasons. The senior team now competes in the top Northern League Division 1 and in 2008 for the first time in club history became Northern League Champions.

Our women’s track and field team has produced international Rebecca White and currently GB junior stars Alison Leonard and Sophie Hitchon whilst in the endurance events the club has had internationals Judith Croasdale and recently Pauline Powell and Sarah Willimott.

The young athletes team campaign, following promotion in 2005, in the Northern Premier Division of the National Young Athletes League. In recent years the club has had junior track internationals and AAAs champions in Chris Hart and Matt Wood.

Achievements have not only been in track and field. In 1979 Michael Morton won the World Junior Cross-Country Championship after taking the national title by the biggest margin in post war years. Our fell runners won the Three Peaks team title in 1973, 1975 and 1977 and the Club has had two individual "King of the Peaks" John Calvert in 1976 and 1977 and Harry Walker in 1978, 1979 and 1981.

On the road the Club had top class performers in Bob Shorrock in the 1980's and Peter Banks in the 1990's. In 2000 Evan Cook became British Veterans Marathon Champion with current GB international Michael Green smashing the club record for the marathon at London in 2004 with 2hrs 18mins.

Please email Tony Wood if you can add to the Club history with information, articles, photos etc.