Athletics: New book celebrates Holmfirth club’s centenary
Jan 6 2009 by Emma Davison, Huddersfield Daily Examiner
In the 1970s prominent figures included Edward Crossland and Andy Styan, who became British fell champion in 1979.
Graham Ellis made a reputation for himself in the late 70s and early 80s in cross country and road running events and went on to compete in the AAA Championships at Crystal Palace.
Carol Haigh rose to prominence in the 1980s, representing the club and Great Britain in road, cross country and track running.
She was the club’s leading female runner and one of the club’s greatest ever athletes.
A look at the club’s history, however, reveals that its future wasn’t always so bright.
During his research, Graham said that he found there were periods where the future of the club was under threat as membership figures dwindled and it struggled to attract new blood.
Graham explains: “During the 1950s the club was in dire straits and almost folded, but the late Norman Haigh and others refused to disband and saved it.
“Things started to pick up again in the 1970s when membership increased. The club then became very successful from 1986, which is when it took off due to Norman Berry becoming president.
“Then the new pavilion was built, which made a very big difference to the club and I think was a real turning point.”
When the club first formed members had no real base, meeting at places like back doors and pubs and then later at Neiley Playing Fields’ changing rooms, but things changed when in the late 1980s a working group was formed to encourage more young people into the club and improve facilities.
This new vision for how the club should develop turned around its fortunes, leading to a hugely increased membership, more junior members and the creation of a formalised coaching structure.
And the club’s former cold and damp headquarters at Honley High School was replaced by a purpose-built clubhouse, called Neiley Pavilion, which opened in September 1998.
Since these changes Holmfirth Harriers has gone from strength to strength, attracting new generations of talented young athletes.
Recent victories include the Harriers’ Under-13 boys gaining a national win, coming first in the 2006 English Cross Country Relay Championships.
Last year the senior men’s team won a gold medal at the Yorkshire Road Relay Championships, where the senior women and under-13 girls took home bronze medals.
The club was voted ‘Club of the Year for innovation’ by UK Athletics in 2005 and this led to a nomination for the Central Council of Physical Recreation's 'Club of the Year' award, which the Harriers then won.
