Centenary race is on
Historic Tipton Harriers running club is celebrating its 100th birthday next year, with members trawling the archives to research the history of the group.
Historic Tipton Harriers running club is celebrating its 100th birthday next year, with members trawling the archives to research the history of the group.
The running club was set up in September 1910 when the Tipton branch of Birchfield Harriers became independent.
Members Keith Atkins, Peter Griffiths and Chris Holloway are now collecting photographs and memorabilia for the Tipton Harriers Centenary Project.
Mr Atkins, of Shenley Avenue, Woodsetton, Dudley, said today: "This is really a three-year project which we are trying to do in 12 months. We started by doing some basic research. I have covered the period from 1910-20 and Peter from 1920-30.
"He has now reached 1939 and I am looking at 1940-50.
"Chris has found a lot of photographs and single-handedly plodded through the minute books of the club to find relevant events and map out what happened in meetings.
"We are also looking at the headquarters from when the harriers was set up right to the present day.
"All the information is on a log that is more than 600 pages long."
Arguably the most famous Tipton Harrier was Jack Holden, who won four consecutive national titles in the marathon from 1947.
Born in Bilston but raised in Tipton, Holden also took part in the 1948 Olympics in London.
His running shoes are just some of the mementoes the groups has to put on display next.
The date for completion of the Centenary Project was originally set as September 2010, but the group says it will be two to three years before the finished article is completed and ready to be published.
Mr Atkins added: "We want to publish a polished book – a decent history of the club which will take us longer than anticipated.
"We want to create an electronic archive to be presented to the borough archivists, and display some of the memorabilia we have collected in an exhibition in Tipton library during the centenary year.
"This would include Jack Holden's spikes and some of the early badges.
"We also plan to ask older members for their reminiscences."
The three men are appealing for items for the archive, such as photographs, results, scrapbooks, magazines, badges, programmes and newspaper cuttings. Call Mr Atkins on 01902 674335.
