A Brief History of North Herts Road Runners
In the Beginning
North Herts Road Runners has come a long way since
it's humble beginnings. It boasts a large membership of over 100 runners, has
had great success in the cross country league, and enjoys a reputation of being
one of the friendliest clubs around. But how did it all begin?...
It all started back in October 1986 with an advert in the Comet. John Atkinson made an
appeal to runners in the Letchworth and Baldock areas to join him in forming a
new club.
John received a very positive response, and by Christmas the
club totalled 14 members. Many decisions had to be made about how the new club
would operate, where would it be based, what the club colours were going to be,
and what it would be called! John was joined by Phil & Simon Gilby, Sue
Pavey and Norman Leslie amongst others to help make the decisions.
Choosing a Home, Name and Logo
The club's first meeting point was North Herts Leisure Centre. A cue was taken from
the leisure centre in naming the club North Herts Road Runners, rather than
Letchworth Running Club, to appeal to a wider audience.
A logo was chosen and club colours were selected to match - a red diagonal on a white background.
Red shorts were mandatory to complete the kit!
The club's first AGM took place on 7 Jan 1987 where the committee was formerly elected. Phil Gilby took on
the role of Chairman, John Atkinson the Club Secretary, Sue Pavey became
Treasurer and Lynne Hammond took on Publicity. Membership fees were set at the
heady rate of £5!
As the club grew a newsletter was produced to keep members up to date on races, training days, social activities and spread the
Club Philosophy - "To run and socialise, and not become a 'serious' club."
By April 1987 the club had grown to 45, made up of 33 men and 12 ladies.
By August it was up to 57, and by Feb 1988 it had reached 65. It was high time
that the club started organising it's own races.
The First Standalone
Spearheaded by Phil Gilby, the club organised the first Standalone 10K on 16th October 1988,
sponsored by Novatek Windows. The race was a great success with 330 entries, and
the race was won in a time of 32:30, with the last competitor crossing the line
in 77:47.
By mid '88 everybody was getting fed up at the jokes about the
'Japanese' club, from people who had ignorantly confused the club's rising sun
logo with the flag of Japan! This prompted a redesign, and thanks to Celia
Osborne the Black Squirrel logo was born.
A few years later the club received support from the Heritage Foundation to buy new kit and so the club
vest was redesigned in the foundation colours, including black shorts
(mandatory!).
Moving Home!
Nothing seems to have changed more than the club's venue. After being thrown out of the Leisure Centre for being too rowdy the club took
up residence at Fearnhill school, using the Two Chimneys for socialising. A
great opportunity arose to use the ICL club at Whitethorn Lane so the club
switched again, only to be moved on again due to refurbishment. During this time
the appropriately named Muddly Lane was the club's home, before returning to a
Whitethorn Lane smelling of fresh paint and renamed Letchworth Corner Sports
Club. Since then, the NHRR has relocated to Letchworth Sports and Tennis Club.
There was tragic news when, in 1994, it was announced that Phil Gilby had died suddenly whilst in
South Africa on business. Phil had been the first chairman and race director,
responsible for the Standalone 10K, the Gilby Gallop and the Plinston Plod. The
club owes a great deal to the commitment and enthusiasm of this great man.
We still remember Phil through our fancy dress cross country fun run - the Gilby Gallop.
The club reached its pinnacle of success in 1996 when it went to Ashby-de-la-Zouch and came back winners of the
Cross Country Final. A far cry from the far off days of 1992 when we came 6th in
the league, Bedford Harriers won it, there was no Wootton, but there was a club
called Stanbridge Strollers (who came last).
Recently...
In 2010, NHRR became Three Counties Cross country champions and the logo was spruced up incorporating the green, yellow and blue of the Letchworth Heritage Foundation.
In 2011 the club celebrates its 25th anniversary and the club is as popular as ever. The club now hosts 3 races - the longstanding Standalone 10k, the Greenway Challenge and the Norton Common First Saturday of the Month.
The club newsletter continues and the 25th Anniversary Letter can be read here. (Note: file is 22MB).
These are of course just a few of the many highlights of the club's history
over the past 25 years.