History | Thames Valley Harriers

The Club came into being in 1887 as East Twickenham Harriers, which, as it grew, became Twickenham Harriers in 1888 and Thames Valley Harriers in 1890. Steve Cotterill was the Club’s first National Cross Country Champion in 1892. The past sixty years has seen International status be attained by over one hundred Valley athletes. Olympic Honours have come to many past members, and the Club’s President, Linford Christie OBE is the former Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth 100m Champion.

The Founding Years 1887- 1900

1887: TVH was founded under the name East Twickenham Harriers, and organised its first events, a 120 yards track race and a 5 mile road race.
1890: The club changed its name to Thames Valley Harriers. Successes for TVH cross country athletes include: Steve Cottrell (who had ‘TVH’ tattooed on his chest) who came 2^nd in the Southern Championships 1893 and 1894, as well as 1^st place English National Championships 1895. Percy Tiller came 2^nd place Championships 1896, 3^rd place English National Championships 1896.

TVH’s headquarters moved several times, from the King’s Head Hotel in Twickenham to the Boileau Arms’ in Barnes to Milford Arms in Isleworth for cross country season and latterly to Tulip Tree in Richmond. TVH continued to organise ‘handicap’ meetings at Richmond and hosted its first open meetings at Isleworth.

Early Twentieth Century 1901-1939

1908: White City Stadium was built for 1908 London Olympics and TVH organised a 22 mile race in post- Olympics running boom.
1912: TVH participated in its first inter-club track meeting at Stamford Bridge, and moved headquarters again to the Coach and Horses in Isleworth.

The team rebuilt post war, and formed the Juniors section for the first time.

1922: TVH competed in the first ever Middlesex cross country championships, placing 2^nd in the team event.
1924: Charlie Smith began his long term as President of TVH.
1926: TVH won the Middlesex Championships for the first time.
1927: The club’s track and field team competed in Middlesex track league. Bert Nuti won the first of his 22 club titles on the track and country.
1928-29: The cross country team struggled until new winter headquarters were established at White Hart Hotel, Cranford.

1932: TVH’s Junior team win the Middlesex cross country.
1933: Les Phipps starts 25 years service as winter captain
1935: Athlete and coach Arthur Filkins establishes TVH’s first sprint squad
1936: First TVH Olympian, George Traynor competes in long jump alongside Jesse Owens.
1936: TVH’s Senior team win the Middlesex cross country.
1937: The club marks its 50^th anniversary with the first TVH field events championship.

During the war years, the Junior competitions continued with TVH combining with Southall AC and Finchley Harriers. Most athletes had brief athletics careers prior to national service

After World War II 1945-1969

1945: The inaugural TVH road relays were held at Cranford.
1946: TVH started using Alperton track for the summer season
1946 to 1949: Alec Olney came to prominence as distance runner, competing at the 1948 London Olympics
1949: TVH’s U17 men won the English National Cross Country Championships, led by Ken Norris.

1951: TVH’s U20 men won the English National Cross Country Championships.
1952: M. Denley competed in the Javelin at the Helskinki Olympic Games.
1954: After completing national service, Ken Norris finished second in the international (world) cross country championships
1956: Ken Norris started the year at Sao Paulo New Year’s Eve race and competed n 10,000m at Melbourne Olympics. He also won the National Cross Country Championships. D. H. Segal also competed at the Melbourne Olympics, in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m.
1957 / 58: Ron Hopcroft set the club’s 50 miles and 100 miles records
1958: Peter Clark competed in the European Championships over 5000m and the Commonwealth Games over 3 miles.

1960: Four TVH athletes competed at the Rome Olympics – Mike Ellis, Don Seagal (200m, 4x100m Bronze), JS Omagbeni (4x100m, competing for Nigeria), and Mike Wiggs (1500m).
1963: Frank Horwill founded the British Miler’s Club.
1964: TVH’s Tokyo Olympians include A. Meakin (100m) and Mike Wiggs (5000m).
1965: Mike Wiggs set the current club 5000m record of 13:33.
1968: TVH’s Mexico Olympian Dick Steane competed in the 200m
1969: The club became a founder member of the British Athletics League.

1970-1999

TVH win the inaugural British Athletics League in 1971, and follow it up with a second victory the next year. The club also won the Southern 12 Stage road relay in 1971, 1974, 1975, and 1978 and the Middlesex Cross Country Senior Men’s team race 1974 to 1979 inclusive

1972: M. E. Reynolds competed at the Munich Olympics in both the 400m and the 4x400m relay, returning with a silver medal. Malcolm Thomas also won the National Cross Country Championships.
1975: Peter Browne sets current TVH 800m record of 1:46.43 when finishing 2nd behind Steve Ovett at the AAA’s championships.
1977-79: Following the decision to build clubhouse at West London Stadium. TVH members including Tony Taylor, Dave Huffer, Ron Hopcroft and Peter Browne set about raising funds. Lease signed, building work completed.

1980: Moscow Olympians from TVH include Steve Green (4x100m) and Rob Milne (4x400m).
1982: TVH were crowned the U17 English National Cross Country Champions
1984: Los Angeles Olympians from TVH include C. Mamaba, competing for Swaziland in the 100m, 200m.
1986: Linford Christie became TVH’s first athlete to win fist international medals, including gold in the European Indoors Championships 200m, gold at the European Championships 100m, and silver at the Commonwealth Games 100m, and 4x100m
1988: Linford Christie became a double Olympic medallist at the Seoul Olympics, in both the 100m and 4x100m.

1992: Linford Christie becomes TVH’s first Olympic Champion, winning gold at the Barcelona Olympics. TVH athlete Julian Golley competed in the triple jump. Suresh Turay also competed at the Barcelona Olympic Games, representing Sierra Leone in the 100m and 4x100m.
1993: Linford Christie won gold at the World Athletics Championships, and a silver in the relay, and he was also crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The West London Stadium was renamed the Linford Christie Stadium. The TVH’s women’s team was formed.

1994: The men’s team won the British Athletics League and Cup double.

1993/94: Steve Charlton runs 10 miles in 61:31 and 10km in 36:48 aged 65 +

1996: TVH Olympians at the Atlanta Games included Linford Christie, Suresh Turay (Sierra Leone) in the 100m and 4x100m. Peter Browne was the Team GB manager.

The New Millennium 2000-2020

2004: The women’s team was promoted to the UK Women’s League.
2005: The track was re-laid, and the Linford Christie Stadium reopened
2009: TVH’s Toby Sandeman won the U23 European Championships over 200m.

A TVH team won the South of England Cross Country Relay Championships for three consecutive years (2010 and 2011 for the men, 2012 for the women).

2010: Phyllis Agbo became first female TVH athlete to compete at a Commonwealth Games. Phyllis competed in the heptathlon in Delhi.
2011: Ambwene Simukonda competed in the World Athletics Championships (400m, Malawi). Chris Smith became a GB mountain running international. Meanwhile TVH’s membership was expanded to athletes aged 9 or older.
2012: Ambwene Simukonda became TVH’s first female Olympian at the London 2012 Olympic Games, competing in the 400m for Malawi.
2013: The women’s team is promoted to the UK Women’s Athletics League Premier Division for the first time.
2014: Victor Ricardo dos Santos Soares set a new Portuguese national record for the 400m – 45.74 – competing at the European Championships. Zoey Clark competed in the Commonweath Games, representing Scotland in the 4x400m. Double victory for the Senior Men and Women for the first time at the Middlesex Cross Country Championships. This was also the inaugural county championships victory for the women’s cross country team.
2015: The women’s team are crowned champions of the UK Women’s Athletics League Premier Division.
2016: Lorraine Ugen represents Great Britain at the Olympic Games in the long jump. The women’s team win the European Champions Club Cup.
2017: Four TVH women compete at the 2017 World Championships – Tracy Barlow (GB), Zoey Clark (GB), Lorraine Ugen (GB), and Julia Ratcliffe (NZ). Zoey Clark takes silver in the 4x400m. Earlier she won gold at the British Championships. The men’s and women’s teams are both competing at premiership level, with the women winning the UK Women’s Athletics League Premier Division title. Jude Bright-Davies (U20) is ranked 1st for the triple jump in the UK for the third consecutive year.
2018: Five TVH women compete at the 2018 European Championships. Zoey Clark takes bronze in the 4x400m. Ricardo dos Santos sets a new Portuguese, and TVH, 400m record – 45.14 – on his way to the final at the 2018 European Championships. Mohamud Aadan runs 62:30 at the Cardiff Commonwealth half marathon.
2019: Chris McAlister tops the UK 400m hurdles rankings with a time of 49.18 and makes it to the semi-finals of the World Championships. The women’s team are UK Women’s Athletics League Premier Division Champions for the fourth time in five years.
2020: The coronavirus pandemic severely restricts training and competition. Amelia Strickler wins the British indoors title with a 17.97m lifetime best shot put. Tracy Barlow finishes third British athlete at the elite-only London Marathon. Mohamud Aadan and Ann Marie Mcglynn compete at world half marathon championships in Poland. Fifteen TVH athletes compete behind closed doors at the British Championships in September.
2021: At the delayed Tokyo Olympics, we had 3 athletes competing: Ricardo dos Santos in the 400m for Portugal, Lorraine Ugen in her second Olympic Long Jump competition and Zoey Clark in GB’s 4x400m relay team. First NAL title.
2022: World Championships in Oregon, USA. Amelia Strickler , Joel Clarke-Khan and Molly Caudery all came 12th in their qualification, Zoey Clark and her GB&NI mixed 4x400m relay team came 6th in their heat, Lorraine Ugen jumped into 10th position in the Long Jump final, Chris McAlister came 6th in his heat of the 400m hurdles. The Commonweath Games in Birmingham brought enjoyment among the TVH community with x athletes competing. Zoey Clark came 8th in the 400m final as well as a 4x400m women’s bronze with Team Scotland. Molly Caudery grabbed a silver in the Pole Vault final whilst Lorraine Ugen came 5th in her Long Jump final. Amelia Strickler finished 6th in the Shot Putt final. Joel Clarke-Khan came 5th in his High Jump final. Shane Hudson also came 6th in the T47 category in the 100m for Jamaica. 2nd NAL title.
2023: British Champs: Golds for: Molly Caudery, Joel Clarke-Khan, Jade Lally, Silvers for Jude Bright-Davies and Amelia Strickler, with a Hammer bronze for Kayleigh Presswell. Bianca Williams doubled up in the 100m and 200m, being awarded with a bronze and silver respectively. The World Championships in Budapest brought numerous TVH athletes home with great results. Bianca Williams finished 4th in her 200m semi-final as well as a bronze in the 4x100m relay. Molly Caudery ended up coming 5th in the Pole Vault final. Victor-Ricardo dos Santos-Soares ran a leg of the heat for Portugal’s 4x400m team. 3 NAL titles in a row.
2024: British Indoor Championships gave great success for TVH athletes with 4 golds in: Lily Hulland, Archie Yeo, Amelia Campbell and Molly Caudery with a fantastic World Lead. Bianca Williams achieved silver in the 60m and bronze for Molly Palmer in the Long Jump. World Indoors in Glasgow was led by Molly Caudery bringing the show to a home crowd with an incredible win pole vaulting over 4.80m in the Emirates Arena. On the road, TVH Women won the National 6-stage road relays in Sutton Park with a team of: Yvette Lock, Katie Olding, Hana Blake, Emily Carroll, India Weir and Charlotte Buckley. The British Outdoor Champs were dominated by our TVH ladies with 2 golds coming from Molly Caudery and Amelia Campbell as well as Jess Tappin, Molly Palmer, Lily Hulland, Jade Lally and Sarah-Anne de Kremer all picking up bronze medals, with 29 athletes competing at the champs. TVH had 3 athletes competing at the Olympics in Paris: Muhamad Kounta was starting off both 4x400m relays infront of a home crowd for France, Molly Caudery failed to qualify for the final of her Pole Vault but she’ll be back to win this title soon. Finally Bianca Williams ran incredibly with a 10th placing in the 200m and getting a 4x100m silver with her amazing GB&NI team. Laurensa Britane also won the world V35 Javelin tiltle in Sweden. 4 NAL titles in a row.
2025: We had 11 amazing athletes at the British Indoor Championships with Bianca Williams and Nemiah Munir winning titles as well as a Club Record and silver medal for Emma Nwofor in the hurdles. Bianca Williams was a semi-finalist at the European Indoors and Molly Caudery came 4th at the World Indoors in Nanjing. 44 Thames Valley athletes competed at the British Championships with 9 medals : Gold for Molly Caudery and Archie Yeo’s Triple Jump to add to his Long Jump Silver. India Weir, Jack Paget and Jude Bright-Davies also picked up silver medals. Bronze went to Felicia Miloro, Thomas Walley and Women’s team captain; Sophie Mace in the discus. At the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo there were x athletes competing. Molly Caudery came out injured during warm-up for the Pole Vault qualification. Muhammad Kounta and Ricardo dos Santos both competed in the men’s 4x400m relay for Portugal and France, respectively. Muhammad’s team came 7th in their heat whilst Ricardo anchored Portugal’s team soon after dropping the baton to finish 9th in the final. TVH came a close second in the NAL, runners-up to Harrow AC. The Men claimed gold in the 4x100m at the National Relays, with bronze medals in the mens and womens 4x400m.
2026: In the cross country season, Luis da Silva won the treble (Nationals, Inter-Counties and English Schools) as well as picking up his first internatioanl vest of many. Molly Caudery grabbed back her world indoor title before suffering from a season-ending back injury. There were 8 TVH athletes competing at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. England had Emma Nwofor who competed in the 100m hurdles and made the semi-final, Molly Palmer qualified for the long jump final and finished 7th overall, Louise Evans’ late call-up for the relay teams and finished 5th overall in the 4x100m. For Scotland, Angela McAuslan-Kelly came 11th in the Hammer final in horrendous conditions as well as Kaya Slater breaking the scottish native record in the 4x100m finishing 7th overall. Thomas Walley came 5th in the Pole Vault final for Wales. Regan Corrin competed for the Isle of Man in both the Long and High Jump finishing 10th in both finals. Finally, Lucy Woodward became Jersey’s first heptathlete finishing in 12th with 5530 points as well as 4 PB’s. At the European Championships in Birmingham TVH had 6 incredible athletes running and jumping. Archie Yeo came 12th in the Long Jump final with Molly Palmer jumping a PB to come 9th. Coming through the Thames Valley youth rankings, India Weir finished 16th in the 5000m. Emma Nwofor qualified for the semi-finals in the 100m hurdles and Joel Clarke-Khan added to his incredible season of both indoor and outdoor british championship titles with a 5th in the High Jump. Muhammad Kounta incredibly took the silver in the 400m in a club record time of 44.40 for France. Getting our NAL title back for our 5th crown. Another successful year at the National Relays brought gold for the mens and womens 4×100’s as well as bronze in: U20 4×100, U20 mixed 4×400 and mens 4x400m.