Durham City Harriers & Athletics Club, or DCH as we’re usually known, is a long-established, friendly athletics club located in the historic university city of Durham, North East England. Our members – whose ages can range from 8 to 80 – take part in track & field athletics (including multi-events) as well as road, cross-country, trail, ultra and fell running. Many are also enthusiastic participants and volunteers in the Parkrun community.
Training & Coaching
We offer senior and junior training groups for all abilities, each run by volunteer coaches who are UK Athletics (UKA) qualified. At the introductory level there are the Foundation/Introduction to Running groups for senior runners (typically Couch to 5K) and juniors. For those who enjoy competition or just want to improve their fitness there are the Development/Performance Groups (senior training and junior training). We also offer a Transition Group to help Couch to 5K graduates gain confidence in running with a senior training group.
Competition (Internal)
As a change from normal training, and to help with motivation, we offer informal opportunities to compete against your own clubmates throughout the year. Some are one-off races while the following are regular features:
Monthly Club Handicap
Typically, on the second Tuesday of the month, we offer an informal 5-kilometre time-trial both as a low-key competition and to help you assess your progress. There is a Summer and Winter series with a different course for each though roughly of the same length. Runners start at different times according to their handicap calculated which is from their previous finishing time (new runners give an estimated time). Points are awarded depending on position. The overall winner – the runner with the most points – receives a prize a the end of the series.
Grand Prix
Mackay Mile
The club runs an annual track event for members, called the Mackay Mile, a one-mile race for Seniors, U17 and U15 Juniors and an 800m race for U13 Juniors. Usually held in May, the event celebrates the contribution to the club of three individuals: Brian Mackay, Andy Billett and John Hampson.
Competition (External)
The tangerine-orange vests of Durham City Harriers have long been a distinctive presence at external athletics meetings and running races across the North of England and beyond. Competitive sport is in our DNA.
Track & Field
The club participates in Senior, Masters and Junior athletics leagues within the North East and is always looking for new athletes. It’s quite usual for athletes to compete in multiple events to help the club’s overall meeting score. If you’ve only ever seen yourself as a runner, it’s a great opportunity to try jumps and throws, or a running distance that’s not your specialism. The club also encourages members (and parents of juniors) to volunteer and train for technical official roles, which not only supports the events themselves but also adds to the club’s points for each meeting.
Cross-Country
The North Eastern Harrier League (NEHL) is the local cross-country league for the region. Participating in league events is a great way to meet clubmates during the autumn and winter months, for which the club covers ALL entry costs. You’ll receive a single race number which you retain throughout the season – don’t lose it though; a replacement will cost YOU a fiver!
All races count towards league points for the club apart from the annual Sherman Cup/Davison Shield event. This is a championship event in the league for which the scoring is slightly different. League races are based on a handicap system with slow, medium and fast packs.
In addition are the championship events outside the league itself, for which the club also pays your entry fee. These include:
- Northern Athletics XC Relay Championships
- National XC Relay Championships
- North Eastern Championships
- Northern Championships
- NEMAA Championships
- National Championships
- BMAF Championships
Event dates, age group start times and rules are available on the league’s website while day-to-day information is available on the NEHL Facebook page. Seniors can register for league and championship events via their respective cross-country captain while juniors would contact their coach.
Road Races
The club typically runs a Grand Prix competition in summer and winter to encourage participation in road races. Certain races are selected as championship races for which trophies are awarded in Senior and Veteran categories by gender.