Thames Valley Harriers (TVH) is an athletics club founded in 1887. It is based at the Linford Christie Stadium, in West London, England, which is named after member and Olympic 100 metres gold medallist Linford Christie.
In track and field, TVH competes in the Premiership Division of the National Athletics League (NAL) as well as the Division 1 of the Southern Athletics League. The club has won all of its matches in the NAL since its inception in 2021 and is the sole winner of the Premiership trophy.
The club also competes in road running and cross country at national, regional and county level. In recognition of the club's recent success - and TVH's record of strong contribution to its local community - England Athletics voted Thames Valley Harriers the top London Club for 2015.
History
Thames Valley Harriers is one of the UK's longest-established and most successful athletics clubs. It was founded in 1887 by seven aspiring cross-country runners who used the 'Peels' coffee house in Richmond Road, West London as a base for their training runs. Christened the East Twickenham Harriers, the club flourished and to reflect its widening horizons took the name Thames Valley Harriers on 14 November 1890.
TVH became a force both on the track and in endurance races. The 1908 Olympics at nearby White City Stadium increased the club's profile and a first Olympian was secured in 1936 when George Traynor competed in the long jump alongside Jesse Owens.
Other standout performers included Ken Norris who finished second in the 1954 world cross country championships and Ron Hopcroft who set world records for both the 50 and 100 miles. TVH was also the club where middle-distance coach Frank Horwill first developed his methods, including the creation of the British Milers Club in 1963.
TVH was a founding member of the British Athletics League in 1969 and enjoyed great success over the next two decades, winning the title three times and finishing in the top three on a total of 14 occasions, as well as achieving multiple wins in the Southern road relays and cross country championships.
This success provided the momentum for the club to build a new clubhouse at the West London Stadium by Wormwood Scrubs, which was completed in 1979. From this platform emerged TVH's greatest ever athlete – Linford Christie - who claimed a haul of international sprint medals including 1992 Olympic 100m gold in Barcelona. The West London Stadium was renamed the Linford Christie Stadium in his honour and he still serves as the Club President.
2021 saw the launch of a new National Athletics League, combining the former British Athletics League (BAL) for men and UK Women's Athletics League (UKWAL) into one competition. Thames Valley Harriers won all four of the club's matches to win the title.
Honours
National Athletics League
Premiership Trophy
- Winners: 2021, 2022
British Athletics League (senior men)
- First Place: 1970, 1971, 1994
- Second Place: 1972, 1973, 1975, 1995, 1997
- Third Place: 1969, 1974, 1976, 1979, 1991, 1996
UK Women's Athletic League (senior women)
- First Place: 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
- Second Place: 2016
- Third Place: 2014
European Club Champions Cup
- First Place: 2016
Notable athletes
Olympians
| Athlete | Country | Events | Olympics | Medals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Traynor |  |
long jump | 1936 | |
| Alec Olney | |
5000 metres | 1948 | |
| Michael Denley | |
javelin throw | 1952 | |
| Ken Norris | |
10000 metres | 1956 | |
| David Segal | |
100 metres, 200 metres, 4x100 metres relay | 1956, 1960 | .svg){kind=icon}
|
| Jimmy Omagbemi |  |
200 metres4x100 metres relay | 1960, 1964 | |
| Mike Wiggs | |
1500 metres | 1960, 1964 | |
| Alf Meakin | |
100 metres | 1960 | |
| Dick Steane | |
200 metres | 1964 | |
| Martin Reynolds | |
400 metres4x400 metres relay | 1972 | .svg){kind=icon}
|
| Steve Green | |
4x100 metres relay | 1980 | |
| Rod Milne | |
4x400 metres relay | 1980 | |
| Clifford Mamba |  |
100 metres, 200 metres | 1984 | |
| Linford Christie | |
100 metres, 4x100 metres relay | 1988, 1992, 1996 |
|
| Julian Golley | |
triple jump | 1992 | |
| Sanusi Turay |  |
100 metres, 4x100 metres relay | 1992, 1996 | |
| Ambwene Simukonda |  |
400 metres | 2012 | |
| Lorraine Ugen | |
long jump | 2016, 2020 | |
| Zoey Clark | |
4x400 metres relay | 2020 | |
| Ricardo dos Santos |  |
400 metres | 2020 |
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References
- "Thames Valley Harriers History". Thames Valley Harriers. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
- "Inaugural NAL title sealed by TVH at Eton". www.nationalathleticsleague.org.uk.
- David Segal at Power of 10
- Mike Wiggs at Power of 10
- Alf Meakin at Power of 10
- Dick Steane at Power of 10
- Martin Reynolds at Power of 10