ONE of the oldest athletics clubs in the region is preparing to celebrate its 125th anniversary.

Darlington Harriers launched in 1891 and has since produced two Olympic athletes - George Butterfield, who competed in London in 1908, and Joy Grieveson, who represented Great Britain in Tokyo in 1964.

The club is the oldest athletics club in Darlington and currently has around 250 members who have gone on to compete at national, regional, county, town and school levels in track and field competitions, as well as in fell and cross country races.

The club's youngest members are seven-years-old, with their oldest member, Ian Barnes, a sprightly 80-year-old who recently broke the 800m and 1,500m record for his age category at the North-East Masters Athletics Association, in Jarrow.

Club president and coach, Robin Rutherford, said: “The success of the club is down to pure hard work. Hard work by all the athletes of the club who turn out in all weathers to train and compete, and hard work by all the volunteers who make the club work.

“We have a strong group of dedicated coaches who willingly give up their time to nurture the next Usain Bolt or Mo Farah, and we have an army of mums and dads who help out with catering, marshalling and the organisation behind the scenes.

“Above all, the reason the club is so successful is because its members love athletics, whether or not it is cross country during the dark, damp winter months, or track and field during the balmy days of summer, or running the roads throughout the year.”

To mark their milestone anniversary, which takes place next year, the Harriers are planning a day of celebrations at their base in Eastbourne Sports Complex, in Darlington, on Saturday, June 11, 2016.

The event will take place from 11am to 9pm and will feature family entertainment, music, refreshments and a number of races, as well as an attempt to break the four minute mile for the first time in Darlington.

Organisers are looking for acoustic musicians to play at the event and for local businesses who would like to get involved on the day.

They are also appealing for past members to get in touch and share their memories and photographs, and take part on the day.

Anyone who can help is asked to email Paul Cook at paul.cook@ee.co.uk

Darlington Harriers meet at Eastbourne Sports Complex on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6.15pm.

For more information visit darlingtonharriers.co.uk