History
The Tunbridge Wells Harriers, going strong since 1982, has over 250 adult members with a full range of abilities. Some have completed marathon majors, others represented Kent or their country, and all enjoy the camaraderie that a thriving running club has to offer.
So how did it all start?
Although a club called Tunbridge Wells Harriers was founded in the late 19th century and existed until the 1930s, the origins of our club go back to the early 1980s.
Tunbridge Wells Runners was formed by a small group of individuals who had trained together for the first London Marathon in 1981. After the marathon, they continued with their training runs and officially formed a club in June 1982.
Having used various locations around Tunbridge Wells to meet up for training, in 1985, the club moved to its first club base, the Tunbridge Wells Borderers Sports Club at St Marks Recreation Ground on the Frant Road.
As the club grew, cross country, track and field, and triathlon were added to its original road running.
In 1997 members voted to change the club’s name from Tunbridge Wells Runners to Tunbridge Wells Harriers. The club’s colours also changed from gold vests and blue shorts to the ‘deckchair’ vests of blue and yellow vertical stripes we still use today.
In 2006, the club moved to its current base at the Nevill Ground off Warwick Park, sharing the pavilion and grounds with Tunbridge Wells Cricket and Hockey clubs.
Since its inception, the club has supported and promoted running in the local community and staged its first half marathon in January 1983, with 53 runners using a variation on the current course with a start near the Wellington Hotel in Mount Ephraim.
Over the years, the half marathon has grown to become a fixture within the local community and has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for local charities.
The race in 2023 saw several participants from the original race return to support the 40th anniversary event, which continues to use an almost identical route to the original race, although now with runner numbers in the thousands.
The club also has an excellent record hosting of cross-country events, promoting club events, league meetings, county championships and the British Veterans Championships.
Each September the club organises The Eridge Park 10 Trail Challenge, a favourite off-road run through an historic deer park and ancient woodland. The scenic and challenging race came first the Runner’s World UK’s Best 50 Races of 2009 listing and in 2010 was honoured to be hailed as the ‘Best Race in the World’ by the Observer newspaper.
With a focus now mainly on road, cross country and trail running the Club continues to flourish. Its members successfully take part in races at all distances, including being regular winners of the Kent Grand Prix Series for road running, the Kent Cross Country League and the historic South of the Thames Cross Country Races, as well as numerous area and national events.
The club offers a full calendar of training, racing and social activities. Its members have access to track, road and trail training and the club also hosts an annual handicap series and as well as club road and cross-country championships. There are also social runs, like the Bluebell Run and regular off-road ‘hashes’ in the summer.
