Ranelagh Harriers

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The Ranelagh Harriers is a road running and cross-country club based in Richmond, south-west London, UK, catering to runners of all ages and standards. The club is based at its clubhouse behind the Dysart Arms pub and right next to Richmond Park, allowing plenty of opportunity for off-road running. Ranelagh athletes compete in many events from the 5k to ultramarathons on a variety of terrains, and in the Surrey Road League and Surrey Cross Country League. In the 2005/6 season, the men's team won division two and the women's team successfully defended their division one title.

1 The early days
- 1.1 Post-war
2 Competitions
3 Honours
- 3.1 2006
- 3.2 2005
4 External links

[edit] The early days

Ranelagh Harriers was founded in 1881, and so is one of the oldest athletics clubs in the United Kingdom. It was one of the founder members of the English Cross Country Union, in 1883, and is now one of only eleven of those founder members still in existence. The club's first home was at the Green Man on Putney Heath, and the earliest recorded runs were out to the Windmill on Wimbledon Common and back.

Redevelopment forced the club to look for a new home during the mid-1930s, and a suitable site was found in an old pavilion at the back of the Dysart Arms, right on the edge of Richmond Park. New courses were quickly devised in the park and the club settled in, only for activities to be interrupted by the Second World War, when even those still at home were unable to use the park, which was closed for the duration of the war.

[edit] Post-war

The end of hostilities brought a period of struggle for survival for Ranelagh, but by the mid-1950s things were on the upturn again, and the club started to look at improving its accommodation at the Dysart. In 1967, a new pre-fabricated dressing room was erected, though the old ramshackle bath-house was still in use. After further years of fund-raising, the new purpose-built clubhouse was finally opened in 1988 and the process was completed in 1995 with the purchase of the land on which the clubhouse stands - giving Ranelagh security of tenure in perpetuity.

[edit] Competitions

Ranelagh Harriers hosts two events as part of the Surrey Road League, the Dysart Dash 10k and the Richmond Half Marathon. In 2006 the Dysart Dash senior men's winner was Stuart Major of South London Harriers and the senior women's winner was Naomi Warner of Thames Hare and Hounds. The Richmond Half Marathon senior men's winner was Ranelagh Harrier Phil Killingly and Angela Howe of London Heathside won the Senior Women's title. Phil winning in a new course record time of 70.30.

Members of Ranelagh Harriers help to organise the Bushy Park Time Trial held every Saturday near Teddington, Middlesex. This one lap 5k race is the only regular Time Trial event in the UK. The event has featured many internationally renown athletes including Craig Mottram, Mo Farah, Sonia O'Sullivan, James McIlroy and Phil Sly.

[edit] Honours

[edit] 2006

Surrey Men's County Representative
- Phil Killingly

Surrey Ladies County Representatives
- Anna McLaughlin
- Jo Ronaldson
- Marie Synott-Wells

Team Honours
- Ladies Surrey Road League Champions
- Ladies Surrey County Cross Country Champions
- Ladies Surrey Cross Country League Division One Champions
- Men's Surrey Cross Country League Division Two Champions
- Men's Surrey Cross Country Vets Champions

Individual Honours
- Richmond Half Marathon - Phil Killingly
- Men's Surrey Vets Cross Country Champion - Paul Doyle

[edit] 2005

Team Honours
- Ladies Surrey Road League Champions
- Ladies Surrey Cross Country League Division One Champions
- Ladies Surrey Road Relays Champions
- Ladies South of Thames 5 miles Champions
- Ladies South of Thames 7 miles Champions

Individual Honours
- Anna McLaughlin, Ladies Surrey Road League Champion
- Jo Ronaldson, Ladies South of Thames 7 Mile Champion
- Marie Synott-Wells, Ladies South of Thames 5 Mile Champion
- Paul Doyle, Men's Surrey Road League Champion