Queen's Park Harriers

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Queen’s Park Harriers is a London track and cross country club based in Willesden Green. Founded in 1887, it has about 170 members (June 2024) and wears red and white hooped vests, known as the Danebury Hoops. The club’s home ground is Willesden Sports Centre in Willesden, London NW10.

History and origins
The club grew from a group of students at St. Jude’s Institute in Queen’s Park, who formed an athletics club in 1884. In 1886, that group joined with Christchurch Rangers to help form Queens Park Rangers F.C. The following year, those who wanted to focus on running created Queen’s Park Harriers. Over the years, the club merged with West London Harriers (1889) and then with North London Harriers (1897). From these unions, the current Queen’s Park Harriers emerged, keeping the red and white Danebury Hoops kit.

Activities and traditions
Originally the club also hosted social events like “Smoking Concerts.” In 1948, after the death of long-time member E. J. Liddiard, the annual Liddiard Trophy Cross Country race began and is still run at Fryent Country Park. In 2021, England Athletics praised the club for helping people stay active during the Covid lockdown.

What the club does now
Queen’s Park Harriers compete mainly in long-distance events and run year-round. They focus on road and track racing in spring and summer, and cross country in winter. They take part in London’s Summer League and various cross country championships in North London and Middlesex, and they organise the Liddiard Trophy.

Notable members
As of 2024, long-time member Bill O’Connor is one of only six people to have run all London Marathon races (the “Ever Presents”) since 1981, with his first marathon time of 2:35:52 at age 35.

Junior program
The club also runs a junior section for ages 7 to 16, giving younger runners a chance to train and compete.