Taken from New Marske History . Looking Back.

New Marske Harriers and its conception 1986.

This was kindly sent to me years ago by Peter Boulton.

New Marske Harriers.

How it all began.

A short history Of the club and the man responsible for its Beginning.

Written by Graham Kennedy, Footnote by Peter Boulton.

Peter Boulton had been working as a youth leader in Redcar. He noticed that a lot of youngsters were running around the streets of New Marske. He did some research and found that the nearest athletics club was in Middlesbrough, Peter decided to try and get something up and running (excuse the pun) in the village.

An add was placed in the local free newspaper (at that time it was called the Clarion) to see if there would be any interest. Peter was contacted by another gentleman in the village Stan Martin who said he would like to be involved as his daughter was a runner and having something local would be ideal. So then there were two The question now, was where do we start.

Peter found that there were quite a few runners in the village who had to go to Middlesbrough to train. More notices were put out inviting anyone interested to a meeting in the sports club. (Prior to this Peter had spoken to Harry Thompson whom he knew was a runner and asked him if he would like to be involved, Harry at that time was a member of Middlesbrough and Cleveland harriers and declined.

However he put Peter in touch with his coach Tom Farrell. Tom told Peter he would love to help out, and so Peter had something for the agenda of the first (committee???? meeting).

The first meeting I think Peter and Stan were a little disappointed at the turn out for that first meeting, there were six including them. The six were Peter,Stan,Councillor Norah Cooney,Liz Grimwood,Kate Boal and Graham Kennedy.

It became clear at this meeting that an athletics club in the village could take off and it was now down to getting things arranged and setting up the procedures needed for Peter’s dream to have a facility in the village for local people. This is where Tom and his vast experience of athletics and athletics coaching came into its own. Peter is aware that without the input from Tom the setting up of the club would have been much more difficult.

The dream was now turning to reality. Meeting number two . Now we had six at the meeting Peter had invited Tom along to give us an insight as to what we all needed to do to make Peters dream come true. I thought at the time there is a lot of work to be done and obstacles to climb before we could even think about getting the club going. So for the birth of New Marske Harriers funding was going to be a major problem. Training facilities etc! etc!.

This was late 1985 so it was all hands to the deck Peter and Stan working hard to find a suitable venue to hold our first training session. We had a lot of help from the committee of the Jubilee hall (old school building) and were given the use of the hall at a low rate hire for which we will always be grateful. Peter dealt mainly with Vic Severs who at that time was the Chairman of the committee and a great help in allowing the use of the hall and facilities.

We needed to see the amount of interest and whether or not we could actually get the club going. I cannot quite remember the actual date of the first session but I know it was some time in late 1985 in the Jubilee hall.

Peter had advertised the session in the local press, shop windows etc! And it was a case of wait and see who and how many turned up. It was amazing the local community really rallied round, and at that first session we had 20 to 30 present.

Tom is a senior coach in athletics and his knowledge of training is vast. I will always be grateful to Tom for mentoring me and setting me on the road to gain my coaching badges. When I needed help Tom was always at hand to help me develop in my role as a coach and his enthusiasm and guidance are priceless to me. I have personally had so much fun and made so many friends (and enemies I might add) being involved with athletics and it certainly changed my life style.

Numbers kept on growing and growing it was unbelievable just how popular the club was becoming. It became quite clear that our group would need to join an official athletics organisation. An application was made to become members of the AAA`s (Amateur athletics association) (Now ukathletics.)

Tom and his wife Sue attended a meeting with the committee of the Northern AAA`s I know there was some opposition to us starting a new club in the northern region, but they put forward such a case as to the need for a club in the area that thankfully we received the good news that we had achieved affiliation.

That was how the club was formed, and to have been part of the foundation gave me immense pride.

The folk of New Marske really supported us in what we were trying to achieve there are far to many to mention who donated to the fund raising efforts, Thank you ALL so very much for your help.

Peter is very grateful to the people who attended that first meeting and the committee was as follows Chairman, Stan Martin, Secretary, Peter Boulton, Treasurer Liz Grimwood, Fundraiser, Kate Boal Coaching, Tom Farrell (senior coach)Graham Kennedy(assistant coach),

Sadly Stan passed away very shortly after the club started but we know how proud he was of being part of something that would benefit the local community. Thank you Stan. Tom took on the role of Chairman.

A meeting in New Marske sports club attended by six turned into a dream come true for PETER. Thank you. Graham Kennedy Peter Boulton.

The club was officially formed in April 1986 with a membership of around 30 people of all ages young and not so young.

We joined the North Yorkshire and South Durham cross country league and the then McDonalds young athletes league. The Senior members ran in many road races and we had some wonderful trips and days out. Great North run London Marathon, York, Leeds, Barnsley, the list goes on and on. A friendly family orientated club that was supported by the community.

I can still remember our first win in the nysd cross country at Stewarts park Middlesbrough. It was in our colt’s age group (under 13) it was Brian Scott coming home first for New Marske harriers. Sadly Brian lost his life at an early age.

Other clubs were now taking notice and it became obvious that we were becoming a force to be reckoned with. We have won many awards since then, our senior men won the Yorkshire half marathon Championship, our Ladies the York half marathon.

These are just to of the outstanding memories that I have. More up to date. Two of our ladies competed in the Olympics for Great Britain, Johanna Jackson (a former member) in (road walking) and Katy Livingston in (the modern pentathlon.) I know the club will go on to greater achievements with the likes of Ricky Stevenson and his coach Steve Shaw. Ricky is certainly one to look out for in the future.

We are producing some fine athletes for the future and I am very proud that all the hard work at the start is coming to fruition. I would like to thank Tom, Liz, Kate, Graham and Stan for being there at the start because without them there would not be a club.

I know like me they are very proud that we got the club and the village on the map and wish the club every success for the future.

We are very lucky to be in a village like New Marske, people have given time and money to the club. Baking bread, making cakes, and selling them, tombola’s jumble sales, race nights, hand made dolls raffles etc etc, again I could go on all day.

All the fund raising swelled our funds and allowed us to compete and pay subscriptions to leagues etc. And for that I will always be grateful to the people of New Marske and it is greatly appreciated.

To conclude I am very proud of what I have achieved and would like to thank all the people who have made this possible. Yours in sport Peter Boulton.

New Marske Harriers , Goathland Gallop Late 1980’s

New Marske Harrier’s here photographed at the Goathland Gallop in the late 1980’s.

From L-R,

(37)Jim Barr,(43)Bernard Foulkes,(62)Alan Stead,(60)John Sugden,(40)Peter Boulton,Harry Gamble Thompson,(46)Di Hannan.

Photo kindly submitted by Joan Foulkes, additional information kindly provided by Graham Hall & Graham Kennedy. 

New Marske Harriers , London 1989.

Photo taken of some members of the New Marske Harrier’s in 1989.

Here assembled for the camera, they were there to take part in the London Marathon.

From L-R

?, Peter Boulton, Bernard Foulkes, Di Hannan, Margaret Levy, Peter Callahan.

Photo and information kindly submitted by Joan Foulkes.