Dudley and Stourbridge Harriers would like to pay tribute to our much loved and respected friend Eric Horwill who passed away peacefully at his home on 11th October 2025.

Eric was a founder member of the club alongside his wife Pam. In 1963 the club they both belonged to at the time, Stourbridge and Wordsley District Harriers, was invited to base themselves at the newly opened Dell and form an alliance with Dudley Harriers to became Dudley and Stourbridge Harriers.

Eric was there at the official opening of the Dell athletics track in 1963 where he took part in a 24-hour race to promote the club. He recalled how they ran round the track like a relay, running an hour or so and then taking a rest. That day they ran a total of 247 miles in 24 hours to make a gesture to the local Council that the club would put the track to good use. Eric made sure they honoured that pledge and a successful club was established.

Dudley and Stourbridge Harriers Athletics Club (DASH) is greatly indebted to Eric for the hugely significant role he played in the club which has continued to use the Dell as their home for over sixty years.

In the early days, both Eric and his wife Pam, became the first officially qualified coaches the club had ever had. They both gained their coaching qualifications at Lilleshall (one of the National Sports Centres) in all disciplines except hurdles.

They worked hard to convince people that the club needed to be broadly based and competing in and coaching in all athletic events. As a consequence, the club went on to dispense with the separate men’s and ladies’ section and formed one united club with a new constitution.

Among their many accomplishments at DASH, Eric and Pam were instrumental in starting the Invitation Cross Country League for girls which was the forerunner for the Midland Counties Women’s Cross Country League. They also helped to establish the Triangular League.

They encouraged parents to get involved in the club and helped form a really active committee.

Eric’s commitment to the club was never in question, which showed when he walked from Dudley to Breman in Germany to support the sports exchange the club was involved in in the early 1970s.

For the last 20 or so years at DASH, Eric concentrated his efforts on training the academy age group and was also instrumental in reviving the Triangular League for young competitors. Eric was coaching right into his 80s and still advising athletes down at the track into his 90s.

During the time Eric was a member of DASH, he took on many roles including club secretary, club president, race-walking co-ordinator and secretary of the men’s section. He played an active part in the club for 60 years until he retired in 2023.

In 1991, in order to acknowledge Eric and Pam’s commitment to athletics at DASH, they were awarded life-long membership of the club, an honour they greatly deserved. We owe both of them a huge debt of gratitude for all the work they put into the club.

Eric, alongside his wife Pam also became recipients of the British Athletics Unsung Heroes Award. They wrote that volunteers like Eric and Pam were the heartbeat of athletics and the sport wouldn’t survive without them.

As well as Eric’s commitment to DASH, he continued to achieve many personal successes in athletics.

Eric’s passion for race walking started when he was a member of Stourbridge, Wordsley and District Harriers. His first open walking race was in 1960 with his friends Bobby Whittle and Jim Skidmore. It was a 7 mile walk that took place in Market Bosworth. Eric said they trained for the race by walking to Bridgnorth and back. He said they all did better than expected and created a bit of a stir at the time.

In 1966 Eric became Centurian number 390 which is an award given to athletes who walk 100 miles within 24 hours. He completed the 100 mile walk from Leicester to Skegness in a time of 21 hours, 51 minutes and 9 seconds.

In 2017 he was instrumental in successfully campaigning for the Centurions becoming affiliated to England Athletics.

He was also selected to represent Great Britain in the 2004 Roubaix 28-hour race and at 64 years old is believed to be the oldest athlete to début as a GB international.

In 1973 he joined the Midland Veterans AC and competed in International Veteran’s Masters Events at both European and International level.

In New Zealand in 2004, he was a gold medal winner in the 50km race in the World Championships and in 2013 in San Sebastian, he won gold in in the indoor 3km as well as gold in the outdoor 5km.

In 2014 he was elected president of the Race-Walking Association, also became a member of the Midland Area Race Walking Association Committee and a member and coach at Lancashire Walking Club.

Eric gave so much to support athletics throughout his life. He was awarded the honour of becoming a life member of Staffordshire Counties AAA, Midland Counties AAA and the Race-Walking Association, and an honorary member of the Midland Masters Athletics Club.

There will be so many different memories of Eric and the impact he had on athletics for the many generations of families who had the privilege of knowing Eric through their time spent at DASH and from the volunteers who worked alongside him at the club.

He was a true gentleman, a strong advocate for athletics and an exemplary ambassador for the club. He will be greatly missed.

Our hearts go out to Eric’s wife Pam and their daughter Catherine.

Dudley and Stourbridge Harriers are indebted to Eric Horwill and will carry his memory with us.

Many congratulations to Freya Oakes for being awarded with a silver medal in the Girls Quadrathlon event, at the Mike Lambert Open, on the Aug Bank Holiday meeting, in Kidderminster.

Although it was a very warm day it was also a very windy day. Despite this Freya achieved second place in both the Long Jump and the 75m.

Freya admitted to being very nervous before the event started. She was particularly worried about the 600m, one of the 4 events in the Quadrathalon. However, Freya did well to finish in 3rd place in her heat of 600m.

This was Freya’s first ‘open’ event and we DASH AC hope this will be the start of a great athletics career for her.

Dave Ratcliffe will be running in this years London Marathon, he has kindly agreed to help the club raise funds for the club. These funds will help the club buy new equipment which will help ensure we can keep delivering for our future athletes.

A just giving page has been set up in order to take any and all donations which can be found here.

We thank Dave and wish him the best in his effort!

Update

A note from Dave following his experience at the London Marathon.

What an incredible experience at the London Marathon! While the heat on the day meant my goal time wasn't achievable, the atmosphere was absolutely electric and truly made the race unforgettable.
I'm so grateful to our club for providing me with one of their allocated places; it meant the world to be out there representing everyone.
Despite the challenging conditions, every step was worth it thanks to the roaring crowds and the camaraderie of fellow runners. It was a privilege to be part of such an iconic event, and I'm already looking forward to what's next!

Dudley and Stourbridge Harriers would like to share the news of the passing of a much loved and respected life-long member of the club - Jim Skidmore. Jim passed away on 30th March 2025 aged 90 years old.

Athletics had been a huge part of his life from the early age of 13 when he joined Stourbridge, Wordsley and District Harriers, competing in many events across the country, including racing at Parliament Hill in London.

Jim was one of the founder members of Dudley and Stourbridge Harriers when in 1963, Dudley Harriers and Stourbridge, Wordsley and District Harriers amalgamated to form a new club based at the Dell. Although injury stopped him running, the club became a big part of Jim's journey in athletics.

Among his many achievements in athletics were:
Years spent at club committee meetings helping to form Dudley and Stourbridge Harriers.
1964: Centurian (C367) an award given to athletes who walk for 100 miles within 24 hours - a competition held under the Race Walking Association.
1978: Grade 1 Timekeeper - taking him to meetings all over the country.
1980-1981: President of the Birmingham and District Cross Country League.
2002: Official Timekeeper at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
1978-2023: President of Dudley and Stourbridge Harriers.

In 1991, in order to acknowledge his commitment to athletics at Dudley and Stourbridge Harriers, Jim was awarded a life-long membership of the club.

Our sincere condolences go out to Jim's family.

Dudley and Stourbridge Harriers are indebted to Jim Skidmore and will carry his memory with us.

Dudley and Stourbridge Harriers are celebrating our centenary in 2024, in July we will be holding an open at our home stadium in Brierley Hill. The events we will be holding are as follows:
Track

• 70m Hurdles
• 75m Hurdles
• 80m Hurdles
• 100m Hurdles
• 110m Hurdles
• 75m
• 100m
• 200m
• 400m
• 600m
• 800m
• 1200m
• 1500m
• 3000m

Field

• Long Jump
• Shot Putt
• High Jump
• Javelin

Entries can be made via entry4sports

Dudley and Stourbridge Harriers Middle Distance Fest will be returning on Wednesday 17th April 2024. The events this year will be 600m, 800m, 3000m and the Brian Shephard Mile.

Entries can be made via entry4sports

In 2024 Dudley and Stourbridge Harriers will be celebrating our 100 years anniversary. We would like to gather information, articles, pictures or anything else that anyone may have to put together a picture of our history.

If you have anything you would like to share please drop us an email at info@dashac.co.uk

Dudley and Stourbridge Harriers will be holding a graded open on Wednesday 27th September 2023 for three sprint events, 75m, 100m and 200m.
Entries can be made via entry4sports

Dudley and Stourbridge Harriers will be holding a graded open on Wednesday 13th September 2023 for three middle distance events, 600m, 800m and the Brian Shephard Mile.
Entries can be made via entry4sports

After 37 years serving as our Club secretary Barbara feels it is time to step down from her role. She will leave her role in September 2022 but has kindly said she will support anyone willing to take up the role. The Club will new be looking for someone or a small group of volunteers to fill these large shoes. If you would like to help in the running of the club please see one of the committee members.

News items that were published on the club website before September 2022 can be found here