Club History
HISTORY
Hillingdon A.C. was founded on 1st.October 1966 from an amalgamation of Finchley Harriers (1877) & Ruislip & Northwood A.C. (1951)
FINCHLEY HARRIERS
Founded by a group called “The Gentlemen of Hampstead” at The North Star Pub , Finchley Road, in 1877.
Due to urban development removing the cross country facilities required for a Harriers club, they moved several times, before settling in Ruislip and building the original clubhouse in Bury Street in 1949.
MAJOR ACHEIVEMENTS
National Cross Country Champions 1900
Southern Cross Country Champions 1887 ’88 ’91 ’92 ’95 ’96 ‘97
North of the Thames Cross Country Champions 1922 & 1948
Middlesex Cross Country Champions 1947 1948 1952
NOTABLE INDIVIDUALS
Charles Bennett . First Britain to win an Olympic Gold Medal. 1st.1500m 4.06.2 (World Record) Paris 1900 1st.5000m Team Race 15.29.2 2nd.4000m Steeplechase 12.58.6
Fred Randall Marathon Olympic Games 1900
London to Brighton Record Holder 1899 in 6hrs.58mins.18secs.
Fred Ashford 800m Olympic Games 1908
M. Chapman 100m Olympic Games 1908
Eric Shirley 3000m Steeplechase Olympic Games 1956 & 1960
Frank Salvat 5000m Olympic Games 1960
In 1946 at age 17, Roger Bannister was a member of Finchley Harriers for less than one year, before joining Achilles A.C., the club at Oxford University.
RUISLIP & NORTHWOOD
Founded at Kings College Track, Ruislip in 1951.
Originally a 5 laps to the mile, grass track situated on the opposite side of the road to the current track.Despite only existing for 15 years they produced 6 internationals.
Frances Slaap High Jump Olympic Games 1960 & 1964
Gwenda Matthews (Hurst) High Jump Olympic Games 1964
Pat Pryce Sprint Hurdles. Olympic Games 1960, 1964 & 1968
Barry King Decathlon Olympic Games 1972
Len Carter Sprints
Mike Campbell High Jump
The careers of Olympians David Hemery and Mark Naylor, started with Ruislip & Northwood, although they did not achieve international status until members of Hillingdon A.C.
Ruislip & Northwood A.C. also had 2 international coaches.
Vic Sealy Discus
Fred Housden Sprints & Hurdles. (He coached both Pat Pryce and David Hemery to Olympic standard)
HILLINGDON A.C.
Founded 1966 (amalgamation of Finchley Harriers and Ruislip & Northwood A.C.)
Original members of The National Track & Field League (now The British League),from 1969 to 1978.
Highest placing in National Cross Country 5th.Team 1973.
NOTABLE INDIVIDUALS
David Hemery Olympic Gold Medalist 400m Hurdles 1968,Mexico,World
Record,48.12
Olympic Bronze Medalist 1972 Munich 400mHurdles
Olympic Silver Medalist 1972 Munich 4 x 400m Relay
Mark Naylor High Jump, British Record Holder. Competed in 1980 & 1984 Olympic Games.
Julia Bleasdale 5000m & 10,000m 2012 Olympic Games. 5000m 2012 European Champs
Other Internationals
John Hillier Discus
John Brown 10000m
Paul Dickenson Hammer
Peter Gabbett Decathlon
John Adey 400m
Graham Gower 110m Hurdles
Keith Purves 110m Hurdles
Peter Griffiths 3000m Steeplechase
Hillingdon A.C. continues to promote the Finchley 20 mile road race. Started in 1933 by The Finchley Harriers, which apart from The Polytechnic Harriers Marathon, is the oldest long distance race in the country.
In 1970 Hayes & Harlington A.C. (Founded 1954) amalgamated with HAC.
In 1976 the current clubhouse in Bury Street, Ruislip, was opened.
In 1990 Uxbridge & District Ladies Club amalgamated with HAC.
In 2006 Brunel Juniors amalgamated with HAC.
In 2006 Hillingdon Athletics Stadium opened by the Queen.
