Kimberworth Striders celebrate 40 years of Rotherham running
Following on from our very first race we’ve been involved in hosting over 150 races
Happy 40th Birthday Kimberworth Striders - 1986-2026
The birth of our local running community was born out of the running boom of the early 1980’s when following the 1981 marathon & half marathon in London & Newcastle respectively what might be coined everyday athletes were empowered to get out on the streets & run.
The consequence of this was the arrival on the running scene of the ‘Running- Social’ Clubs, up to then the only option being the traditional historic ‘Athletic Clubs’ which will always have their place but for our small & local run group who enjoyed racing, training but also socialising we needed a different approach.
In 1985 we organised our very first event, a six mile road race (no kilometres back then!) that ran from the ‘Travs’ pub in Kimberworth to Thorpe Hesley & back, an event we have continued to host annually albeit the pub & course has changed over time.
The following year a decision was made to become an official affiliated running club, over several pints a club name & club colours were decided, an application made to the, what was then, the Amateur Athletic Association & in September 1986 the club, Kimberworth Striders was official & the ‘Yellow & Black’ String Vests burst onto the running scene & have been a constant ever since.
Club membership in 1986 was around 60, with the majority local to Kimberworth & about 90% men, thankfully that ratio has changed & 40 years later our membership is creeping towards 200 & it’s now approximately 50/50 between the sexes with members now spread throughout South Yorkshire.
Following on from our very first race we’ve been involved in hosting over 150 races, our post race Buffets being a thing of legend, & thousands of pounds have been raised for local charities in that time.
Currently we are part of a triumvirate of clubs, along with our friends at Rotherham Harriers & Maltby Running Club that form the KMR series each hosting four low cost events across our region.
As a club we are involved in road, trail & cross country events & have a Club Championship & parkrun competition that’s been running for many years, plus our annual ‘walk to run’ programme & all this is brought about by the wonderful hardworking Committee the club has in place that do so much work behind the scenes, it has been & always will be a ‘Team Effort’ & will continue to do so for the years to come.
Our ethos hasn’t changed since 1986 although I’ve witnessed so many changes on the running scene; we continue to be that friendly, making everyone welcome & I’ll use that adjective ‘Inclusivity’ because we’ve been applying it many years before it made its way into popular jargon.
Our club motto ‘In Omnia Paratus’ translates from the Latin to ‘Prepared for Anything’ which sums the club up nicely.
So finally, many thanks to all our current & past Kimberworth Striders, far too many to mention & to everyone involved with Kimberworth Striders, here’s to the next forty years.
PS If you fancy a run with us please come along to a club night - Tuesday & Thursday - 6.15pm - Droppingwell Pub, Kimberworth - you will be made very welcome.
Rooney
President - Kimberworth Striders