No.672 / Vol.130 Reports & News Winter 2019/20 PP Bill Foster at the Celebratory Dinner, House of Commons proposing a toast to the various guests attending A Club well worth backing From the Editor Thanks to our sponsors: So the long awaited milestone year of our club’s 150th Biggin Hill Airport, Anniversary year continues as we cover part two of the Jack Petchey Foundation, story. We have more anniversary material in particular So Clean for those interested some items relating to the club’s and to many other generous individuals illustrious history from the multi-sported activities of its who offered backing and assistance. first incarnation as Peckham Hare and Hounds to the club we recognise today with its now long associations with the Hayes and Bromley area. CONTENTS As far as competitive activity is concerned there has been Club News plenty and despite the growing threat of the Coved 19 virus 3. This year’s President – Nick Corry in the early months of this year it has been possible to stage nearly all of the fixtures 7. Your New Vice Presidents in the winter calendar, and after the work done on the Norman Park track it has been Athletics Reports 2019/20 possible to continue some of the Leader Board meetings although as we’ve come to the end of the anniversary year this competition is still in progress. 8. Senior Men’s Winter Season 15. National Cross Country Before the pandemic had brought an end to athletic activity for the season we’d Championships seen another busy and successful program of raves from the Senior Men, some fine 18. The U20s Men and Women individual performances by the Junior Men along with strong turnouts in some key 20. The young athletes in the Kent races, medals of all colours being won by young athletes of all age groups in the Cross Country League Kent League, and the emergence of a rising star in the High Jump by the name of 24. Kent County AA Cross Country Kelechi Aguocha at Indoor track and field Championships both at home and abroad. Championships Finally another flagship performance by Dina Asher Smith as she continues her 26. National Cross Country Relays distinguished international career by becoming the first British athlete to win three 27. English Schools Cross Country medals in the World Championships. Championships The arrival of the Coved 19 (or Corona Virus) pandemic has effectively stalled any 28. South of England Championships athletic activity for this summer and although the management have been able to 30. The Indoor Track Season allow the re-opening of the clubhouse grounds for Wednesday nights to function 33. 150th Anniversary in a socially restricted manner, the onset of a second wave of a virus may see the Leader Board Challenge cancellation of the winter cross country season. 34. Masters Cross Country The anniversary celebrations continued principally with the Anniversary Dinner at 36. The Bennett Cup Season the House of Commons Dining Room on 7th November last autumn, an occasion for 39. World Championships at Doha the club to put out its finest plumage to the outside world with so many posh frocks Features and different styles of dinner jackets, lounge suits and club ties in view. As the front 42. The Origins of Blackheath Harriers over will show there were many faces present, past and present members and guests 46. Ian Wilson – My early experiences from many walks of life, and many tributes paid to the club. If you’d been there you with Blackheath would have felt a strong sense of togetherness and fraternity. Club News Equal thanks go yet again to my erstwhile layout editor Ozzie Adams who has once 49. 150th Anniversary Dinner at the again been available to step in to assist in producing this issue,and maintaining the House of Commons splendid standards of design which readers have appreciated over recent years. 60. Dina Re-opens Refurbished Track Wilf Orton, December 2020 at Norman Park 62. The Club AGM Before signing off I wish to offer grateful thanks to the following for willingly 65. Norman Park Development Update providing articles and reports for this issue: President Nick Corry, PP Julian Golding, 66. Letters to the editor Paul Austridge VP, Ross Braden, PP Nick Brooks, Steve Pairman VP, PP Chris Haines, Obituaries PP Ian Wilson, Tim Ayres VP, PP Steve Hollingdale, Richard Johnson, Helen Johnson 67. David Ralph Johnson The next issue covering the Summer 2020 is in preparation but due to the total 70. Joseph Anthony Clare suspension of competition for the season it is envisaged that this particular issue 71. Derek Hogg and the subsequent Winter 2020/21 issue will, if all competition is continued to be 74. Club Officials suspended, be amalgamated to form a Year 2020/21 Issue. Any copy or contributions to be in by the latter half of 2021. Club News 3 This year’s President Profile on Nick Corry, President 2020/21 Most newly succeeding club In that time Nick Corry new president remotely since presidents have come to that has taken on the role of the AGM had to be cancelled. office following many years team manager for different The following Interview with of membership and service age groups and in 2017 in Gazette Editor Wilf Orton to our club, and even if they recognition of his services he took place also remotely soon may have spent time away was awarded a vice presidency afterwards on 3rd April 2020. from it prior to assuming the by PP Bill Foster. Of him presidency, they have been the outgoing president said NC: Hi Wilf, great to be able to long considered as integral to “Nick … has, an underlying catch up with you. the club and it’s continued passion for Athlete Wellbeing success. By contrast however and in particular mental WO: Good evening Mr outgoing President Julian health and is proud that the President, thank you for Golding had decided to choose club is leading the way in club giving me your time (both as his successor someone whose athletics, with its focus on laugh – time appears to be association with the club is of Athlete Wellbeing”. aplenty in the new lockdown). a relatively recent one, having Last year he also took on the joined it only some seven years WO: We like to introduce the ago in the role of encouraging responsibilities of Chairman incoming President to the parent. of The Committee and has in club, and place a Q&A, if you a short period of time moved like, in the Gazette. I have to become very much the some questions for you. Is heart and soul of the club, that OK? being more than just a runner, but a champion of the whole NC: Of course Wilf fire away. person and encourager of all aspects of club life. Given the WO: Great, well my first impact of the corona virus question is how did you arrive on club activities he was at Blackheath & Bromley introduced to the club as its Harriers AC? 4 Continued NC: Right Wilf, that’s a great WO: Crikey, I hadn’t realised question, it’s a long answer. Our that! I was still running then! family moved to the area in 2003 NC: Yes. I really enjoyed it. I from Wapping in London, and spent most of the race running knew very little about Bromley. In with John Fenwick, each of us fact shortly after, we all relocated politely allowing the other to to Hong Kong in the summer of go over stiles first, and through 2004. It was just after the SARS narrow gaps. It’s funny the outbreak had subsided so Hong things that impress on you, but I Kong was in recovery mode. We really warmed to his gentlemanly returned in 2008, and it wasn’t sporting conduct. Afterwards in until 5 years later that Coleman’s the club house bar, I got talking to mum Emma found the track at Wednesday-Nighters, particularly Norman Park, and from that Iain Swatton who gave me the I thought I would just ask about BBHAC. encouragement to join. it. I was pointed in the direction of PP Mike Davies, who when I By 2013, Coleman was doing well enquired so forcefully press ganged in sports at school, he was beating WO: So your start was in Cross Country? I tend to me I realised as soon as I opened everyone at running by a country associate you with the track my mouth, I was the new team mile, and we wanted to try and and team management. manager! take that further. I remember taking him to the track, and him NC: Yes it was in Cross Country, WO: I have heard he tends and I re-found and renewed a love having his first training session. to be like that! Are you still a for that. It was something I was He looked absolutely mediocre. team manager? It was really pleasing. Some real good at, at school, but I never had competition for him. the opportunity of joining a club. I NC: Yes I am, although I have was one of 5 brothers and we were moved up to the Upper Age Within a few weeks cross country all good at running, my younger Group, looking after the U20 and started and he started improving. brother was also a very good U17 boys, while Tim Soutar looks Through this I renewed my love for high jumper. My eldest brothers after the girls. Rod Harrington running.