Birchfield Harriers is an athletics club, founded in 1877. Its home is at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium, England.
As well as allowing 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
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, until its demolition in October 2025, still carried their badge, a running stag, rendered in this case in Art Deco style, carved in 1929 and attributed to William Bloye.Public Sculpture of Birmingham, George T. Noszlopy, Liverpool University Press, 1998, 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 AthleteEventsGamesMedals/RefDaphne Arden 100m, 200m, 4x100m 1964 Meghan Beesley 400m hurdles 2020Ainsley Bennett 200m, 4x400m 1976Joe Blewitt 5000m, 3,000m team, 3000m steeplechase 1920, 1928Robbie Brightwell400m, 4x100m, 4x400m 1960, 1964Audrey Brown 100m, 4x100m1936 Godfrey Brown 400m, 4x100m, 4x400m1936 Phil Brown400m, 4x400m 1984, 1988Daniel Caines 400m, 4x400m2000, 2004 Geoff Capes shot put1972, 1976, 1980 Gladys Clarke javelin 1948Charles Clibbon5000m, 10,000m1920, 1924 John Cooper400m hurdles, 4x400m 1964, 1968 Clova Court heptathlon1992 Dave Cropper 800m1968, 1972Sidney Cross triple jump 1948Jock Dalrymple javelin1924 Samantha Davies200m, 4x100m 2000 Zoe Derham hammer throw2008 Cyril Dugmoretriple jump 1928Cyril Ellis1500m 1924, 1928 Sally Ellismarathon 1992 Mike Farrell 800m1956 Stewart Faulknerlong jump 1988 Joel Fearonbobsleigh 2014, 2018Walter Freeman cross country1920 Helen Frost 4x400m2000Elliot Giles800m 2016, 2020 Billy Green 400m1928 Jack Hambidge 200m1928 John Hanlon 400m1928 Lorraine Hanson400m1992 Louise Hazelheptathlon 2012Julie Hollmanheptathlon 2008 Harry Houghton800m 1924, 1928 Matt Hudson-Smith400m, 4x400m 2016Fred Hulford 800m, 1500m1912 David Jenkins400m, 4x400m 1972, 1976, 1980 Pat Jones80m hurdles 1968Winnie Jordan 100m1948 Helen Karagounis 4x400m 2004Karl Keska 10,000m 2000 Du'aine Ladejo 400m, 4x400m 1992, 1996Mark Lewis-Francis100m, 4x100m 2004 Denise Lewislong jump, heptathlon 1996, 2000, 2004Fred Light5,000m team 1928Judy Livermore-Simpson pentathlon, heptathlon1980, 1984, 1988 Vincent Loney1500m 1908 Pat Lowe-Cropper 800m 1968, 1972Bertram Macdonald3000m team 1924Ruth Martin-Joneslong jump 1972 Germaine Mason high jump2008 Eric McCallatriple jump 1984 Katharine Merry200m, 400m, 4x100m, 4x400m 1996, 2000 Aston Moore triple jump 1976Mica Moorebobsleigh 2018John Morbey long jump 1964Brett Morse discus throw 2012 Adam Nelsonshot put 2000, 2004, 2008 Sidney Newey3000m steeplechase 1924 Tom Parsonshigh jump 2008Howard Payne hammer throw1964, 1968, 1972 Shara Proctor long jump 2012, 2016Carole Quinton 80m hurdles, 4x100m 1956, 1960Peter Radford100m, 200m, 4x100m 1960, 1964Mike Rawson 800m 1956 Derek Redmond 400m1988, 1992 Sarah Reilly 100m, 200m 2000 Jean Roberts discus throw1968 Arthur Robertson5 miles, 3 miles team, 3,200m steeplechase 1908 Michael Rosswess200m 1988 John Salisbury 400m1956Sue Scott-Reevepentathlon, long jump 1968, 1976, 1980 John Sherwood 400m hurdles, 4x400m1964, 1968, 1972 Donald Slack pentathlon, decathlon 1964Ray Smedley1500m 1972Glen Smithdiscus throw 1996, 2000Kelly Sothertonheptathlon, 4 x 400m 2004, 2008 Ian Stewart500m 1972, 1976 Mary Stewart 1500m1976 Stuart Storey 110m hurdles 1968Danny Talbot 200m, 4 x 100m2012, 2016 Bill Tancreddiscus throw 1968, 1972Eddie Webster10,000m, cross country 1924Bob Weir discus throw, hammer throw1984, 1996, 2000 Nick Whitehead 4 x100m 1960 Malcolm Yardley 400m, 4x400m1960
Other
Bibliography
References
External links
Walter Freeman interview Recorded 1980 with a former Harrier