|
On the 7th October 1905 the Southend Harriers set out on their first cross-country run. It was the first activity of what was to become our SOUTHEND-ON-SEA ATHLETIC CLUB This was the name given to the amalgamation in 1937 of the Southend and County Harriers (founded in 1905) and the Leigh-on-Sea Harriers (founded in 1912). It seems that the idea of starting the Southend Harriers (as it was originally known) occurred to G. H. Hogsflesh and T.H.Dainty in 1904, as a result of their sporting association at the Grocers’ School, London. The two friends ran together in the annual school sports and their friendship and interest in athletics continued after they had both moved to Southend. They trained together at Roots Hall field. Throughout 1905 a few enthusiasts got together at George Hogsflesh’s house in Westcliff to discuss what could be done about forming an athletic club. The outcome of these meetings was the Southend Harriers, with headquarters at the “Blue Boar” Prittlewell. The licensee, Mr Oliver Trigg became a Vice President of the Club, and the original founders were G.H. Hogsflesh, T.N. Dainty, A. Whybrow, P. D. Platt, E. S Chalk, E. B. Nethercot and A. Bonbernard. Having got off to a successful start the Club began to promote organised athletic meetings. On 29th May 1906, the Southend Observer reported: “One of the most enjoyable athletic meetings held in the town took place on Wednesday at West Street, Prittlewell. The sports were organised by the Southend Harriers, and it must be at once admitted that all concerned have every reason to congratulate themselves on the immense success attained. The attendance was good, considering the overcast weather, quite 300 being present on the ground.” Later it rained (as it so often does), “much to the consternation of the fair sex,” who apparently were not as tough then as they are now! But despite the rain the management, with the help of the Town Band, kept things going. “The Hon. Secretary (G.H. Hogsflesh) who was here, there and everywhere, turned out and ran from scratch in the 80 yards, but he was far too anxious about the success of the meeting to run up to form.” Mr Sparks, of the AAA had come down from London especially to encourage the Club. Judging by references in the sporting press, by 1913 Southend Harriers had become “one of England’s leading athletic clubs”. Reporting the first monthly handicap, Sporting Life of 21st October mentioned that “G.H.Hogsflesh was, of course, re-elected Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, and in the latter connection it is to be hoped that he will be able during the ensuing year to report better recognition of the Club's activities in London's seaside suburb. A club like the Harriers which carries the name of the town at every important meeting in the country, and was instrumental in bringing the Essex County meeting, still the Ascot of athletics, to Southend is surely an asset to the town.” In 1994 SAC moved to the brand new athletics track (from which now is on the grounds of Southend Tennis and Leisure Centre). The move was made as the track facilities were much better. To this very day we are based there, from which now as well as the athletics track there is Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre. The track also goes by the name Garons or The Francis Sports Ground. Throughout the history of the club, as well as the vest changing, the clubs logo has changed from time to time. Below you can find the Southend-on-Sea Athletic Club current logo. Southend AC compete in: Essex County Cross Country League Veterans Eastern Track and Field League South of England Amateur Athletics Association Eastern Young Athletes League (McDonalds Leagues)
The club vest The club vest is only available to fully paid members, from which can only be brought on Tuesday and Thursday nights at training. MORE DETAILS COMING SOON
The Southend-on-Sea Athletic Club current vest
|
|
About us |
|
COULD YOU HELP MIKE AND WRITE A COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR THE PIER EVENT? The production of results following the Pier Race can take quite a considerable amount of time to finalise due to the complexity of the event, i.e. a Handicap race. Mike Seaman would like to know if there are any programmers in the Club who might be willing to write a program to run on a laptop, which can sort out the results of the Boxing Day handicap race. This is highly desirable since the local paper often likes to have our report by mid-afternoon on the day. Unfortunately the need to keep registration procedures on the day as simple as practicable does not help the manual processing of the results. Mike would like to hear from anybody who is willing to help in this matter - if you think you have the answer then either tell Mike down at the track, or email the webmaster, from who will pass it on to Mike.
|