Wakefield Harriers who have gained International HonoursHarriers Gaining International Honours in 20073rd/4th Mar, Martyn Bernard - European Indoor Championships High Jump. 20th May, Emily Freeman - Loughborough International 400m. 23rd Jun, Emily Freeman - European Cup 4 x 100m. 27th-29th Aug, Martyn Bernard - World Championships in Japan High Jump. 29th Aug-1st Sep, Emily Freeman - World Championships in Japan 200m & 4 x 100m. Harriers Gaining International Honours in 200621st May, Zara Hohn - Loughborough International U20 100mH. 7th Jul, Zara Hohn - Mannheim International U20 100mH. 13th Aug, Emily Freeman - European Champs in Sweden 4 x 100m. 18th Aug, Zara Hohn - World Junior Championships in China U20 100mH. 20th Aug, Emily Freeman - Match against USA, Russia & China at Birmingham 200m & 4 x 100m. 16th Sep, Emily Freeman - Competed for Europe in World Cup Final 4 x 100m. 10th Dec, Aine Hoban - European U23 Cross Country Championships in Italy. Harriers Gaining International Honours in 200522nd May, Charlene Snelgrove - Loughborough International 800m. 22nd Jul, Zara Hohn - European Junior Championships in Lithuania U20 100m Hurdles. 12th Aug, Emily Freeman - World Athletics Championships in Finland 4x100m. Senior Internationals
U20 & U23 Internationals
Below are brief descriptions of some of these Wakefield stars, with more to follow soon. For a more complete description of their exploits obtain your copy of the Club History. Roland Walker 1911 - 1990
Wakefield's first international athlete, who after gaining his first major title success in 1929 was set
to dominate the local athletics scene for the next twenty years over the 4, 6 and 10 mile distances.
Gained international status in 1935 after being selected for the England team to contest "The International" in Paris. Roland was selected to represent Great Britain at the 1936 Berlin Olympics but was unfortunately not able to compete owing to an injury. He finally retired from athletics in 1956. John Newsome
A formidable marathon runner who during his long and distinguished racing career won many top honours,
including the Yorkshire marathon title no fewer than 7 times! He also won the Northern marathon title
before gaining his first Great Britain vest in the Ultava International in Czechoslovakia in 1968.
He went on to win this race for 4 consecutive years.
Amongst his many titles were 4 Yorkshire 20 Mile championships and the London to Brighton race. He also recorded some excellent long distance times on the track, and his marathon best of 2hrs 16min 7 secs set in Prague in 1970 remains the club record. John has remained a stalwart of the club and is currently the Club Chairman. Stephen Hollings
Yorkshire Schools U17 Steeplechase title winner in 1964, he went on to win the English Schools 2000m
Steeplechase at Derby in 1966.
Steve was called on to represent Great Britain on many occasions between 1970 - 1974 including Great Britain v France in Paris 1972, and the 1972 Munich Olympics 3000m Steeplechase. His Steeplechase club record of 8 min 27.8 was set whilst competing for Great Britain in the Europa Cup at Oslo in 1973. In 1976 Steve emigrated to New Zealand, and in 1982 it was announced that he had been appointed coach for the New Zealand Commonwealth Games team for the Brisbane Games in October that year. Richard Hollings
Younger brother of Stephen Hollings, he was the winner of the English Schools U20 1500m title in 1969
in what Athletics Weekly described as "An all time classic". He set a then championship best time of
3 min 46.5 which lasted until Steve Cram's time. Richard went on to complete the season by
gaining 3rd place in the 1500m in the U20 international against France.
In 1970 he was selected for the 1500m in the Great Britain Junior team in the match against West Germany Juniors at Hereford where he finished 2nd. After more than 30 years he still holds all the clubs U20 records on the track from 1000m to 5000m. Alan BellAlan subsequently gained many international vests at 400m, and his best year was in 1980. At the UK Championships he won the semi-final in 45.65, which then was 3rd on the UK all-time list, and remains the club record. He then finished second in the final to book his place at the Moscow Olympics. At the Olympics he reached the semi-final stage, but a stomach bug hindered his progress to the final, and meant he couldn't run in the 4x400 relay. Alan won several championships and gained further international honours over the next couple of years before embarking on his medical career. Still holds club records at 200m with 21.36 and 400m with 45.65. Alan Slack
Probably the most talented all round athlete ever seen in a Wakefield Harriers vest, winning championship
medals in Yorkshire, Northern and National Championships at all distances from 50m indoors to 800m, and
also in the long, high and triple jump.
In 1983 Alan gained the UK 400m title, and in 1984 was selected for the Olympic 4x400m squad in Los Angeles. He was also in the 4x400m squad for the 1986 Commonwealth games. His 400m pb of 46.03 was set at the Oslo Bislett Games in 1985. He is the former UK U17 record holder at the Long Jump, and is still the club record holder at the Long Jump with 7.52m and at 800 metres with 1 min 49.5. |
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