Why start a new club?

Tony’s running journey started in a fun and unexpected way. His company sponsored a place for the Reading Half Marathon, and he decided to give it a go. Back then, without fancy gadgets like Garmin, Tony would trace the race route in his car, using the odometer to measure the distances—old-school but effective! He quickly caught the running bug and kept at it for a few years. Meanwhile, Ann would often spot him pounding the streets and couldn’t resist shouting, “You daft eejit!” in good humor.

Fast forward a little, and fate had its fun: Ann herself took up running and “caught the bug,” too. They bumped into each other while she was out running, and that chance meeting he spoke about his idea.

At the time, there weren’t any beginner-friendly running clubs in the area, so Tony decided to create one! Ann jumped on board to help, and their shared adventure began.

He built a simple website, reached out to the council to learn proper stretching exercises, studied training plans, and spread the word. He posted flyers and a contact number at the waterpark hut and even placed an ad in the local papers. To their surprise—and excitement—the response was amazing! That’s how the Sunday Morning Runs were born, bringing together a growing community of runners with a shared love of the sport.

Chorlton Runners Launch

One morning during that first year whilst driving to Chorlton Waterpark in torrential rain and freezing winds, Ann and Tony looked at each other hoping no one would turn up, but there were over a dozen people huddled together under a bike shelter, waving and smiling, waiting for them! There was no going back.

By 2006 they had so many new members they added the midweek Tuesday Night Run, originally meeting at Chorlton Library. When that was outgrown Mark and the staff at the Bowling Green Hotel welcomed the club in 2008 and it quickly became the spiritual home of Chorlton Runners.

The Club Grows

As it expanded, club members with specific running goals and interests started running together.

The Black Sheep Hill Runners was established in 2013 while the Hill Reps group started in 2014, helping people build strength and fitness even on the small hills in Chorlton.

In 2015 Track Friday was introduced with our own coaches leading each session. The club has been competing in many XCountry leagues since October 2015. These include UNi XC Relays, Northern & National XC Championships, Northern and National Relays, and the Greater Manchester XC championships.

In 2014 the club affiliated with England Athletics meaning the members could represent the club officially.

There are dozens and dozens of people who have been instrumental in helping the club grow and without their dedication it would not be the success it is today. If we wrote a list of their names, the site would need more many more pages!

The Future

Some recent successes have been winning divisions of MACCL and UK master championships and many others.
We hope to provide support, encouragement and challenges for all members, to spur on our elites who want to find their absolute limit, to those in the club who just want to be able to jog a steady mile. And above all else, to make every member feel welcome and part of our community.

We have so many special memories from many years of training runs and races, but also of the social events, the friends made, the friends lost, and members’ marriages and babies born.

We look forward to many more years of Chorlton Runners history.

Tony and Ann