Our History
Ryde Harriers was founded in 1886, making us one of the oldest surviving running clubs in the country.
Harrier clubs began in the 1880s, when runners were supposed to follow the hare hunt on foot rather than on horseback. In practice, it was an excuse to run free across open country: over fields and through woods, splashing across streams and scrambling through hedges. It cost nothing and anyone could do it. Those runs became the foundation of cross-country running, and this is still reflected in our summer club runs which take us across the fields of rye and the surrounding areas. One of the earliest island reports, from November 1886, simply records that the harriers enjoyed "a splendid run" at Brighstone, and that's still the aim today - enjoy a splendid run.
The First World War brought the club to a halt, and Ryde Harriers wasn’t re-established until 1931. In 1957 we staged the first Isle of Wight Marathon, and it has been run every year since, making it the longest continuously held marathon in the UK. You can search our database for all of the historic results here.
Ryde Harrier’s history of inclusivity started in May 1964. Back then, women weren’t allowed to race marathons, but a young Scottish runner called Dale Greig wanted to try. The club let her run, starting four minutes ahead of the 67 men and followed by an ambulance in case she struggled. On that extremely warm day, 19 of the men dropped out. Dale finished in 3 hours 27 minutes and became the first woman in the world to run a marathon in under three and a half hours, a world best. The ambulance, it turned out, was needed by the men!
The athletics authorities sent the club a stern letter of complaint. Ryde Harriers has been celebrating Dale ever since!
That spirit of running for the love of it, and of making sure everyone gets their chance to run, is still at the heart of Ryde Harriers today.
