Queen's Park Harriers
| Nickname(s) | The Hoopsters, The Hoops, The Park | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1887 | |
| Colors | Red and White Hooped Vest (Danebury hoops) | |
| Home ground | Willesden Sports Centre Willesden Green London | |
| Personnel | ||
| Members | Approx. 170 (June 2024) | |
| Website | www | |
| ||
Queen's Park Harriers are a track and cross country running club based in Willesden Green[1] in London, United Kingdom with a current focus on long distance running competitions.
Having been founded in 1887[2] the club has been in continual existence for over 100 years.
The club are one of 9 London clubs that compete in the annual Summer League, an event that takes place across several London parks over the course of the summer months[3] as well as several cross country championships in North London and Middlesex.
It also organises the annual Liddiard Trophy Cross Country event.
History
[edit]The roots of Queen's Park Harriers can be traced back to a group of students from St. Judes Institute, Queen's Park who formed a sports club including both athletics and football in 1884. In 1886, the sports club merged with Christchurch Rangers to form Queens Park Rangers F.C., and in the following year "Queen's Park Harriers" was formed from those original members who wished to focus on athletics.[4]
Founded in 1887, the Queen's Park Harriers commenced its activities from the St Jude's Institute, Queens Park. The club is the result of a division of the members of the Institute, one half forming themselves into the Harriers, whilst the remainder formed a football section which has since evolved into the now famous Queen's Park Rangers F.C.[2]
The club run in red and white horizontally stripped vests, known as "The Danebury Hoops", named after the racing colours of jockey and horse trainer Tom Cannon Sr.[5][6] In 1889, the club amalgamated with another local athletics club, West London Harriers,[7] before merging with North London Harriers in 1897.
Amalgamation of the North London and Queen's Park Harriers
The above popular cross-country packs have amalgamated, and in future will be known as the Queen's Park Harriers. The colours will be changed for Tom Cannon's "Danebury Hoops" (red and white).[8]
From formation, as well as being an athletics club, Q.P.H. would also organise social events for its members including "Smoking Concerts".[9]
After the death of Mr E. J. Liddiard in 1946, the longest serving founding member of the club,[2] the annual Liddiard Trophy Cross Country race was inaugurated on March 20, 1948[10] and continues to be run by club members at the local Fryent Country Park.[11]
In 2021, the club was commended by England Athletics for their role in helping members of the local community stay active during the Covid pandemic lockdown stating:
Queen's Park Harriers, based in north west London, have been a shining example over the last 12-months of harnessing the sport's strong community spirit, particularly during this challenging time.[12]
As of the 2024 event, long standing member William (Bill) O'Connor is one of only 6 remaining London Marathon 'Ever Presents', having run in all 44 events, starting with the 1981 event in a time of 02:35:52, at the age of 35.[13][14]
Leagues / Events
[edit]The club members compete in events throughout the year, focusing on road and track events in the spring and summer months, and cross country in the winter.
The events include, but are not limited to:
- Summer League [15]
- Chiltern Cross Country League [16]
- North London Cross Country Championships
- SEAA Masters Cross Country Championships
- Middlesex County Cross Country Championships [17]
- Middlesex County Veterans Cross Country Championships [17]
- Southern Counties Cross Country Championships [17]
Associated Clubs
[edit]Queen's Park Harriers also includes a club for junior athletes (ages 7 to 16).[18]
The junior club competes in the following leagues:
- North West London Young Athletes Cross Country League
- Middlesex Young Athletes League
Notable Athletes
[edit]- Bert Ives - Won the 1500m Olympic trials to represent Great Britain for the 1912 Summer Olympics, but was unable to compete in the event due to lack of financial backing.[19]
- Fred Carter - Represented Great Britain in the 10 miles walk at the 1908 Summer Olympics.[20]
- Charles Dowson - Represented Great Britain in the 3 km walk and the 10 km walk events at the 1920 Summer Olympics.[21]
- Eddie Toms - Bronze medalist at the 1924 Summer Olympics in 4 x 400m Relay.[22][23]
- Mike Lindsay - Represented Great Britain at Shot Put and Discus at the 1960 Summer Olympics and in the 1964 Summer Olympics.[24]
- Chris Lindsay - Brother of Mike Lindsay, who represented Great Britain as a 440 yards runner.
- Norman Futter - Represented Great Britain in the 4 x 400m Relay during the GB vs USA Meet on July 21 / 22nd 1961, becoming the Commonwealth and European Record Holder,
- Tony Cunnew - Discus thrower with a personal record of 50.83m in 1962.[25]
- Alan Lerwill - Represented Great Britain at Long Jump at the 1968 Summer Olympics and the 1972 Summer Olympics.[26]
- Derek Cole - Long Jumper with a personal record of 7.70m in 1972.[27]
- Pete Tancred - Represented Great Britain at Discus at the 1976 Summer Olympics,[28] and England at Discus at the 1978 Commonwealth Games and 1982 Commonwealth Games.
- Rupert Charles - High Jumper with a personal record of 2.18m in 1982.[29]
- Diane Smith - World U17s 200m Champion in 1990.[30]
- William (Bill) O'Connor - One of only 6 London Marathon 'Ever Presents' as of the 2024 event, having competed in all 44 races.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ "Who We Are & When We Run". QPH. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
- ^ a b c "Queen's Park Harriers". West London Observer. 22 October 1926. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
- ^ "Summer League - History". www.thesummerleague.uk. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
- ^ "The Formation of Queen's Park Old Boys by 'Old Johnny' Wrightson and his naming of the 'Rangers' – Independent Rs". www.indyrs.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
- ^ "Queen's Park Harriers". Sporting Life. 17 November 1897. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ "The Queen's Park Harriers. H.F.Darby gains additional laurels for Grove House". Sporting Life. 22 January 1900. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ "West London and Queens Park Harriers, Evening Meeting". Sporting Life. 17 July 1889. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
- ^ "Amalgamation of The North London and Queen's Park Harriers". Sporting Life. 22 September 1897. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ "Queen's Park Harriers. One Mile Walking Handicap". Sporting Life. 8 May 1889. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ "Honours for Q.P.H." Uxbridge and West Drayton Gazette. 12 March 1948. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ "Liddiard Trophy". QPH. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
- ^ "Queen's Park Harriers inspire running community during pandemic". Clubs & Facilities. 2021-05-12. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
- ^ a b "Ever Present Home Page". www.everpresent.org.uk. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
- ^ "Ever Present Performances". Ever Present. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ "Summer League - Clubs". www.thesummerleague.uk. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
- ^ "Athletic clubs competing in the Chiltern Cross Country League". Chiltern Cross Country League. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
- ^ a b c "Clubs – Middlesex County AA". Retrieved 2024-06-26.
- ^ "Juniors". QPH. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
- ^ "Papers of Bert Ives - Archives Hub". archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
- ^ "Olympedia – Fred Carter". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
- ^ "Olympedia – Charles Dowson". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
- ^ "Great Britain Athletics at the 1924 Paris Summer Games | Olympics at Sports-Reference.com". 2020-04-17. Archived from the original on 2020-04-17. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
- ^ "Olympedia – Edward Toms". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
- ^ "Olympedia – Mike Lindsay". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
- ^ "UK All-Time Lists: Men - Throws". www.gbrathletics.com. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
- ^ "Olympedia – Alan Lerwill". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
- ^ "UK All-Time Lists: Men - Jumps". www.gbrathletics.com. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
- ^ "Olympedia – Peter Tancred". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
- ^ "UK All-Time Lists: Men - Jumps". www.gbrathletics.com. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
- ^ "Athlete Profile". www.thepowerof10.info. Retrieved 2022-10-16.