Orion Harriers
Running Since 1911
Orion Harriers is lucky to have a rich history of running since1911 when the club was officially formed. Four years before this formation though two members of the Orion Gymnastics Club in Hackney, Joe Spicer and Frankie Harriss, were running with a group around the streets of Chingford.
The running club we know today held its first gathering on 6th September 1911, and records show it was originally formed with 20 members running on a monthly basis. By the start of the first world war the club had quickly grown to around a hundred members running. The club now regularly met on Saturday afternoons to run 5 or 6 mile courses, with runners being put into groups, or ‘packs’ as they called them.
EARLY 1900s
‘Mob matches’ became a fixture of Orion Harriers in 1920. The format of these mob matches has barely changed, with it being a friendly race between two clubs in which all members, across all abilities, are requested to partake.
‘The Mercury’ race is one of Orion’s most prominent club-run races held as a club championship race. Records show this was first held in 1913 as a 10 mile local run against The London Rifle Brigade and has since proven to be a popular run on the annual fixture list for our members.
EARLY 2000s
In 2011, Walthamstow Athletics Club (AC) members joined Orion Harriers following a close connection between the two clubs. Walthamstow AC was established in 1901, prior to Orion, but member numbers started to dwindle making it unsustainable. The decision to join Orion was then made.
The club continues to thrive with nearly 400 active members.
WE ARE AN INCLUSIVE RUNNING CLUB
SUPPORTING EVERYONE TO RUN