In 1894, Crispin Harriers
was formed by a group of men interested in running. Soon after a connection was
formed with the local church, in Kettering, and the club was renamed The Church
Institute Harriers. This
club, for some unknown reason, changed its name to Kettering Cross Keys
Harriers.
In the 1901 Annual General Meeting, the twenty six members approved of the name change to Kettering Town Harriers , and with the population of the town in creasing the subsequent interest in running, the future of the club looked set in a sport , at the time described as “ A sport of love, with no personal gain, the purest sport there is and one that brings lasting benefit to the competitors”. The club was based at the Angel Hotel yard, in Carrington Street, Kettering.
With one hundred and twenty members recorded in 1903, the club were winning many local events, including a win over Thrapston and District Harriers on January 29th 1904.
Club member William "Buff" Coles represented England in the Olympic Games in 1908, winning an individual bronze medal and a team gold in the three mile event. He also represented his country in Cross Country internationals.
H.Lewin was awarded the Championship Cup at the club’s annual dinner in 1912.
The Great War, 1914-1918 intervened and little is recorded of the club’s activities during this period. By 1924 the membership numbered seventy, with George Thompson as President and C.Mandeville as Secretary. H (Sandy)Lewin who by this time had been a member for sixteen years, won the Wright Cup outright.
Although being seriously wounded in the head during the First World War, he dominated local athletics, winning title after title with fellow members A.Parberry, J.Bond, F.Sulch and G.Thompson. They received the Usher Cup after beating the then famous Highgate Harriers in a mile team race.
During this period, Alan Page, a local journalist , who later became Chairman, wrote in his diary…” a good sports meeting at Thrapston, where Willie Coales and Fred Hibbins belonged and members of the Harriers looked upon a great day out. Other athletes from a distance thought so too. We had a good runner in Tom West, one of those lads always taking precautions against catching cold. He was a great believer in the value of whisky as a cold preventative and always had a small flask of it to rub on him outwardly! It cost less than thirty-five shillings a bottle then.”
Training took place at the Town cricket ground and the Institute ground with the trainer Harry Bates taking charge. The Club captain at the time was Charlie Palmer.
In 1926 the Kettering Town Harriers “Merit Badge” was initiated By Mr.C.Dawson. It was awarded in recognition of services to the Club – among early recipients of this award were Ernie Sharpe I and Ernie Boyfield.
In April of the same year
the Northamptonshire AAA was founded, the Committee of the Harriers being
instrumental in its formation. The County Championship Trophy was awarded to the
Club at Raunds by Lord Burghley, the then reigning Olympic 400m Hurdles
Champion.
The Club promoted the Jubilee National Cross Country Championships at Wicksteed Park on March 14th 1931, which attracted some 3000 spectators and 340 runners. Harrier Wally Howard came second in a time of 57 minutes 42 seconds for the 10 mile race. He went on to represent England on six occasions, . Later that year a team of Harriers won the County Championships title in the inaugural year,and received the Ernest Thompson Trophy, the team consisting of G.Denny, T.Reeves, F.Parkinson, P.Dixon, P.Goodman and E.Boyfield.
On the 11th.September 1931 Club President Arthur Nicholson, made the following statement to the Club
“ The memberships of the Club is well up to the average, but with the starting of a new Club in the County, it is necessary for every member to do all he can to influence new members to join, and when they have joined, make them feel at home, so that they really enjoy their runs. If only the members co-operate with the Officials in this way, I am quite certain that the future of the Club is assured”
Arthur Nicholson, in 1934, donated to the town, to recognise high achievers within the Borough, the Arthur Nicholson Trophy.
In 1935, Cub member B.E.Beeby, took the Youths Cross Country title in the Midlands Counties Championships, whilst the Hon. Secretary, Les Field, reported a loss of £5.2s.0d in the year, also recorded was that 17 men applied to join and were elected as members. Harrier J.A.Smith is the fist member to receive the Arthur Nicholson Trophy. Following the retirement of Les Field in 1937, Arthur Taylor was elected Secretary at the age of 26.
Political rumblings and troubles in Europe dominated this period and subsequently the Second World War started in 1939. All championships were abandoned during the war years until 1946, when the Club regrouped with training now at Wicksteed Park. Amongst new members was Geoff Munn, an all round competitor, in both sprints and cross country.
Club member, Ernie Boyfiled, was elected Hon. Secretary in 1949, the same year that Tom Hall and Colin Fairy were amongst the first to pass the newly introduced AAA Coaching Scheme thus becoming one of the first qualified coaches in Britain.
By 1952 the club had grown
in strength and stature with the forming of a Ladies Section and the hosting of
the Midland 7 mille Championships at Wicksteed Park on the 9th
February.
The following year Alf Gale won the same Championships at Coventry whilst the Junior team took fourth place in the Bedford – St. Neots Relay on Boxing Day in a time of 1 hour. 7 mins. 37 secs. and receives the Arthur Nicholson Trophy in recognition of his achievements
The ladies section were recorded as having achieved honours in 1954 with Betty Loakes, coached by Tom Hall, being selected to represent England v France.and for the next five years represented Great Britain. During this period she competed i in Moscow and the European Championships in Stockholm. Other ladies mentioned are P.Brown, D.Reed, M.Thurlow, M.Green, V.Prescott and J.Hall. At the WAA Championships in 1957, Marlene Swailes won the Inter Ladies title for the 880yards, a performance she repeated the following year. In 1958 the team of Beryl Webb, Marlene Swailes and Betty Loakes took third position in the 880 yards Senior Relay at Wolverhampton. On July 13th the same year P.Oram won the Birstall Trophy. An addition to the coaching staff was Geoff Munn, having retired from competition through injury, took up sprint coaching for the benefit of the ever increasing interest in track and field athletics within the Club.
Honours were awarded to Officers of the club , when in 1961 C.Mandeville was made Life Vice President Of the Midland Counties Cross Country Association. Billy McKim at 19 years of age , won the County Cross Country title – for his success, he was awarded the Arthur Nicholson Trophy. Come 1964 he won the Inter Counties One Mile Championship, which led to his selection to represent Great Britain in the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The
club continued to thrive in the Sixties and in 1962 the North Midlands
Cross Country League was formed and the Committee at the time opted to join in
answer to poor local competition.
1965 saw the change of the Club headquarters from the Angel Hotel, after sixty nine years, to Wicksted Park where the open space proved to be most beneficial for training and competition.
The year of the seventy fifth anniversary was full of activity, including a 1 x 75 mile relay. President George Thompson, had completed sixty four years with the Club and at the age of ninety two attended a special anniversary dinner, where the Mayor of Kettering, Councillor R.FLiggins said of the Club “ You have always acquitted yourselves in all competitions and there is no reason why you should not provide more internationals by the time of the Centenary – Sadly George Thompson passed away in September the following year.
The minutes of the AGM in 1972 reported good progress in the Club, with the Track section gaining promotion to Division 1 of the Midland Mens League, whilst the Club hosted the Midland Counties Cross Country Championships. .Pat Gilsenan is awarded the Arthur Nicholson Trophy, an accolade he receives the following year, for his representing Ireland in the World Cross Country Championships.
Following in the footsteps of previous officers, Ernie Boyfield, Hon. Secretary since 1949, was elected Life Member of the Midland Counties Cross Country Association in 1974. Member Tony Kearnes is awarded the Arthur Nicholson Trophy for his endeavours in marathon running in 1976 and again in 1979.
Geoff Munn, now living in Corby, helps to form Corby Athletic Club, and transfers his coaching to that organisation.
In the early 1980’s the Club went through a very difficult period despite winning the County Cross Country titles for Senior Men, Youths and Junior Ladies. The Harriers failed to retain the senior mens team title
In 1982 in the County Cross Country Championships after holding the title for 28 years. The annual Charity Cup Races attracted 800 entries and Ernie Boyfield was elected Life President after 60 years in athletics. At the age of 72 he finally retired as Secretary, the position being being filled by Ted Barton, following an election at the AGM the same year.
In
1983,
the Club were asked to move from Wicksteed Park, and the officers at the time,
placed the relocation problem firmly with Kettering Borough Council. The Leisure
Officer at the time, John Pemble offered the use of the pavilion tat Ise Valley
Park, where it was becoming obvious that this would be an ideal location for
promoting Cross Country events. Later the same year the Club received the first
indications of a permanent athletics facility in the town.
By 1987 much had happened and the fortunes of the Club gradually improved. A further relocation was announced by the Council to Pytchley Lodge Playing Fields, where more suitable training and changing facilities were available. Then Sir Robert McAlpine kindly donated a building, which was totally refurbished by the members and officially opened on the 12th August 1986. In hosting the WAAA Inter Counties Championships at Ise Valley Park in January 1987, helped put the Club again onto the National map.
Due to development requirements at Pytchley Road, agreement was made by the Club with Kettering Borough Council to be relocated to Northampton Road Recreation Ground in 1988. This was well negotiated by the Club’s officers, for the condition to move was made on the understanding of a track facility being available within the same area for use by the membership.
Notwithstanding all the difficulties the Club continued to compete in Cross Country in the North Midlands League and the Icknield League travelling far and wide to such places as Nottingham, Derby, Thetford, Cambridge, Peterborough and Huntingdon. Regular competitors in these events were members Barry Marshall, Bob Hicks, Norman Reynolds, Dave Hanwell, Jim Malpas, Alan Toseland, John Sanders, Mike Hager, Natalie Curtis, Ian Barton, Charlie Smith, Mark Busby, Martyn Winstone, Nigel Doyle, Mark Fox,, Jez Taylor, Les Taylor, Mick Freeman, Pam Lynch, Mary Waters, Frances Woods and Linda Jaquest.
Mike Hager represented England , as a veteran , in the Home Counties Veterans Cross Country Championships in Aberdeen in 1991 and in the same year was awarded the Arthur Nicholson Throphy.
By 1992, some ten members were selected to represent Northamptonshire in the Inter Counties Cross Country Championships, whilst June saw the first Mufti Event for Disabled Athletes organised by Mike Buxton. The same year Colin Fairey was presented with an engraved tankard to commemorate his sixty years as a Club Member.
The following year the club moved to the purpose built Club Headquarters Building adjacent to the new track facility in Thurston Drive, Kettering. In a formal ceremony the keys were handed to the Life President with the pavilion complex being named “ The Ernest Borfield Pavilion” Juliette Oldfield and Simone Hardy lifted the Midland Counties Cross Country Championship titles, with Juliette also winning the English Schools 1500m event.
With the arrival of 1994, the Centenary Year, a special Centenary flag was raised on January 1st in the presence of members, ex members, and invited guests, with the Rector of Kettering Rev.Canon Frank Pearce blessing the flag.
Come February Simone Hardy, Elizabeth Waters, Michelle Dunkley, Lisa Howkins and Kelly Hoyle all received medals for their efforts in the Midland Counties under 20 Indoor Championships, followed by Alex Oldfield winning the champions medal at the |National Cross Country Championships, in the youths event. He was selected to represent England at a meeting in Scotland.
The cubs under 11’s won the “Chairmans Cup, an interclub match for County Clubs, instigated by the then Chairman of the County Association Ted Barton. Nicola Mackay became the English Schools and AAA under 17 Champion for the Javelin and was selected to represent England in the Home Internationals in Scotland. To commemorate the Centenary Year, the Presidents Insignia was evolved and presented to Kettering Town Harriers by the Life President Ernie Boyfield and Life Vice President Ted Barton.
A celebration dinner took place at the Royal Hotel, Kettering with invited guest including, members, ex members and representatives from the Northamptonshire Athletic Asociation, Midland Counties, Kettering Cycling Clubs and the English Cross Country Union.
A one hundred mile relay took place
at the track with members, ex members and guests completing the distance in 12
hours 22 minutes 19 seconds.
Colin Fairey, at the age of 80 achieved the British Record for the Veterans over 80 100metres, which he achieved at Exeter, with a time of 15.79 secs.
In the late 1990’s, with an average membership of all age groups of 200, continued to compete in the Midland Mens league, the Midlands Womens , League, Eastern Young Athletes league and the Golden League for Track and Field athletics, as well as the County Championships giving plenty of competition for the membership and achieving numerous honours on the way, notably Simone Hardy and Sally Oldfield. Michelle Dunkley , coached by Bob Mills, achieved honours and represented Great Britain in the High Jump.
In 1999 Sally Oldfield is awarded the Arthur Nicholson Trophy.
Delegates from the Club continued their roles within the County Association, who signed up to a partnership with Northamptonshire Sport, who were to become responsible for overall governance for Sport in the County.
With the lease signed and the new Club headquarters now well established, the club entered a partnership with Kettering Borough Council and Kettering Community Leisure Ltd, which enabled the virtual management of the facility, with monitoring and equipment requisition in the hands of the Club.
The promoting of the popular Multi event for young athletes, a disabled event, organised by Mike Buxton, the Charity Cup Cross Country races, as well as hosting of numerous County and league fixtures, put the Club in an imposing position in the County.
Informal talks were taking place with Corby Athletic Club with a view to a possible merger, thus creating a club for North Northamptonshire with huge potential. At an AGM, the members of Kettering Town Harriers rejected a formal proposal and the matter was dropped.
With the arrival of the Millennium, the Club was approached by the Cransley Hospice to organise a Road Race. It was agreed that we would jointly proceed with promoting a 10K and Half Marathon , an event that was destined to continue annually for a number of years.
In 2000, Ted Barton indicated his intention to retire as Hon. Secretary, having completed some twenty odd years in the post. At the same time Life President Ernie Boyfield celebrated his 90th birthday, being the then oldest surviving member of the Club. Member Jonathon Lingham is awarded the Arthur Nicholson Trophy.
Geoff Munn, in 2002, returns to Kettering, with a contingent of other coaches and members from Corby AC, who all join the Harriers, thus boosting the membership to over 220 . Mainly all sprinters, of varying age groups, the competitive edge for the club is immediately improved, with promotion aspects in the Midland Mens and Midland Womens Track and Field Leagues enhanced.
The ladies endurance squad, coached by Neville Marshall, dominate County, Midland and National Championships, with Nicole Roberts, Haley Munn, Sian Edwards and Rebecaa Hallall giving notable performances, both as individuals and teams.
In January 2003 Ernie Boyfield,, Life President, aged 93 passed away, followed in February the passing away of Colin Fairey at the age of 86.
Then, suddenly, in March of the same year, Geoff Munn died, which marked the end of an era within Kettering Town Harriers.
With changes taking place within athletics nationally, sweeping changes are to be made to the structure of athletics which affects all clubs including Kettering Town Harriers.
Development Plans are to be produced, coaching restructured and new membership registration. A new area is established by England Athletics ( formerly AAA of England) with the County now joining Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire as part of the new East Midlands region.
In 2005 Sian Edwards is awarded the Arthur Nicholson Trophy, an event that was to be repeated in 2006, for her International Honours in the World Cross Country Championships. Ted Bartonreceives an award from Northamptonshire Sport, for Contribution to Sport
The club is striving to receive CLUBMARK accreditation which is a requirement under the new regime.
With acknowledgement to Ted Barton, E. Boyfield, P. Oram, Terry Bleasdale, M. Waters and many others.