As well as certificates Banbury Harriers gave out medals and trophies to their club champions. In March 1907 a medal was given to J. Anthistle by the club President W. Hefford for Gymnastics and a photo is shown here. We also know of one that was given to Joseph Parish by the President W.H.P. Jenkins, again for gymnastics on the 21st of April 1891. We also have an engraved plaque which would have been attached to a trophy. This was given by President W.H.P. Jenkins to W. Nelson as first prize for the seven mile steeplechase on the 19th April 1884.  If you know of any other medals in existence we would love to hear from you.

Between 1900 and 1905 the Hon. Sec was Mr C E Turner and a pocket watch was presented to him from the club members on his leaving, as shown on the right. thanks to Mr Matt Turner for the photos. (his great, great grandson)

 One of the first events put on by the new club was a 13 mile cross country taking place on Saturday 27th September 1879. Starting at the cross and taking in North Newington, Shutford, Broughton, Bloxham and Bodicotte mill. This race continued to be staged until at least 1922.

 The photo on the right goes back to 1907 Well that's what it says on

Thank you to Christopher Jeggo for providing a program for the Banbury Harriers 39th annual sports day in 1923. HERE. his grandfather was AN Hammer who was entered in the 220 yards flat race heat 2. The president at the time was was Lord North.  

We would like to thank the British history web site for allowing us to use the following article and it is their copyright.

Banbury Harriers and Athletic Club was formed in 1881 (now known to be 1879) and took a leading part in sporting activities in the town at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries. The club had a gymnasium at the Corn Exchange, but in 1902 moved to Crouch Street British school. The club ran a Whit Monday sports meeting which was attended by champion walkers, runners, and cyclists from all over the county; German bands, Italians with organs and monkeys, and keepers of dancing bears added to the entertainment on those occasions. (fn. 217) Swimming-pools and public parks and recreation grounds were, from the late 19th century, provided and administered by the corporation. 

From: 'Banbury: Introduction', A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 10: Banbury hundred (1972), pp. 5-18. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=63788&strquery=harriers Date accessed: 19 April 2010.

Banbury Harriers was also involved in cricket having both mens and womens teams.The mens team is known to have existed in 1923 and the Womens from 1928 until the outbreak of world war 2

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The club badge to the right has 1879 on it and this is the true formation date. It was designed by John Rolland in 1979, the club's centenary.

In March 1922 the club borrowed sufficient money to purchase the land known as Harriers Ground for £850. In around 1936 and due to the death of two of the three guarantors funds ran out and the bank had to be paid off and the club had to sell the land to the education authority. The clubs fortunes rose and fell until 1966 when it folded. It was revived again in 1970 and in 1978 the membership consisted of Fergus Gillies, Geoff Doyly, Dave Hornsby, Clive Rutland, John Padbury, Andrew Hutton (secretary), Nigel Braggins, Gerrard Sullivan (chairman), Pete Wright, Dave ???, Marie Phillips, Ilene Phillips, Kim Harber, Bernadette Byrne, Ian Hammond, Tracey O'Carroll and Martin Reed. Membership increased to 180 by 1981 and has been going well up to the present day.