It has been a memorable year for some of Carlisle-based Border Harriers’ athletes.

A number of members of the Carlisle Club have enjoyed individual success in 2017.

Nick Miller blazed the trail as he produced a best-ever performance by a British athlete in the hammer at the World Athletics Championships in London, coming sixth. Fellow Olympian Tom Farrell is another of the club’s higher-profile names, although he has endured a challenging year.

Young prospects at the club, led by the likes of Oliver Dustin and Olivia Mason, have competed with distinction at national and international junior level, despite the Harriers being hit with the loss of training and competition facilities at the Sheepmount. But plans to open the stadium early next year are said to be on schedule.

Middle-distance runner Oliver, of Workington, has won School Games and England Athletics Championships gold, alongside Schools International Athletic Board silver.

Olivia also has impressed over the last 12 months. She featured at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas, coming 12th, as well as earning plenty of titles in the UK, while field athlete Abigail Thompson earned bronze at the Scottish Championships.

Border Harriers, whose senior men and women’s team compete in Division Three of the Northern League, are led by senior coach John Clementson and juniors’ coach and team manager Mike Smith.

Richard Claydon says: “John’s given immense service to the club in several areas.

“We’re grateful to local athletics coaches and now former teachers John Little, Lenny Miller [Nick’s father], and the late Jack Harper-Tarr, who have all willingly given many, many hours of their time to help coach our field event athletes.”

The Harriers enjoyed a recent team triumph, too, as they regained the men’s team prize at the Brampton to Carlisle 10-mile race, organised by the Border Harriers.

At the historic event which has been won by household names such as 1970 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ron Hill and 1984 Olympic silver medallist Steve Cram, the Harriers side was led by James Douglas, who came second behind Wesham’s Robert Danson. Also representing Harriers were 15th-placed Bob Hodgson and John Mason who finished 17th at the event which took place on November 19.

“I couldn’t have been more pleased with the way it went, with a quality field running in perfect conditions,” says race secretary Claydon, who was also a time-keeper at the Carlisle Santa dash.

“Many compliments were received. The sole disappointment was an unexpected drop in entries to 519 finishers, compared with 677 last year.

“I’ve subsequently found out that for the first time two established major events in the North East, the North East Harriers Cross Country League and the Town Moor Marathon/Half Marathon, were held at the same weekend, with well over a thousand participants when combined.

“I plan to contact the organisers in the hope clashes can be avoided next year so athletes have choice as previously.”

Another winner at the Brampton to Carlisle 10-mile event was Border Harriers’ Mike Scott who came first in the Over-50s, clocking a time of 57:54.

He helped Harriers finish third in the veterans (Over-40s) team event, with Steve Angus – running his 20th consecutive Brampton to Carlisle – finishing 52nd overall in 59:18, while Kevin Hull came through in 62:12.

Back in 1986, the club was represented at the Commonwealth Games by Tom’s mother Jennifer in the high jump, while fellow Border Harrier Caroline White competed in the javelin for Wales.

Then, in the 1990s, when the club had marked success in the top Division of the British League, Olympic decathlete Alex Kruger was a valuable team member.

The inaugural meeting of Border Harriers was held in 1948.