prestonharriers.co.uk

What is Preston Harriers?

Preston Harriers is an athletics club based in Preston, Lancashire. It describes itself as having around 500 members, a mix of senior and junior athletes plus coaches, officials and helpers. If you are looking for a club that covers both competition and the support roles that keep a club running, this is the type of organisation it is: a volunteer-backed athletics community rather than a commercial gym or a single-discipline squad.

H3 What it offers The club's main activity areas are:

• Road Running
• Cross Country
• Fell Running
• Track & Field
• Sportshall

That spread matters because it suits different ages and goals. A junior who wants to try sprinting or jumps can look at track and field or Sportshall, while an adult who prefers off-road racing has cross country and fell running. Road running is the broadest entry point and often the easiest way to start if you are unsure which discipline fits.

The page also mentions an Inter Club Road Race Series involving seven local athletics clubs, including Preston Harriers, Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde AC and others. This is a useful signal: the club competes as part of a local athletics network, so members who enjoy racing have a structured series to aim at rather than only training sessions.

H3 Who it is for It is best suited to people in or near Preston who want coached or club-based athletics, whether they are new juniors, returning runners or competitive athletes. Because membership includes coaches, officials and helpers, it is also relevant if you want to support athletics rather than only compete.

H3 Next step Check the club's own pages for training times, membership process and how to try a session, starting at Preston Harriers. If you are choosing between local clubs, compare the disciplines offered and the competition calendar — for example, a club with fell running and cross country may suit you better than one focused mainly on track.

How do I join Preston Harriers and what are the membership options?

Preston Harriers is a Preston, Lancashire athletics club of roughly 500 members, covering senior and junior athletes plus coaches, officials and helpers. It spans road running, cross country, fell running, track & field and Sportshall, so the main membership decision is which discipline and age group you are joining for. The site does not list its membership prices or an online signup, so treat joining as an enquiry rather than a checkout.

How to join

Start by contacting the club directly and saying what you want to do: your discipline, your age or your child's age, and your current experience. Ask for the current membership categories, fees and how they are paid, plus which training nights suit your group. If you are new to running, ask whether a trial session is possible before committing.

What to weigh up

• Discipline fit: road and cross country suit runners who want regular competition; fell running adds off-road terrain; track & field and Sportshall are more session- and event-based.
• Age group: junior and senior sections usually differ in training times, coaching ratios and competition calendars, so confirm which one you fall into.
• Commitment level: some members compete in leagues and championships; others train socially. Say which you want so you are pointed to the right group.
• Volunteering: the club includes officials and helpers, so joining is not only about running — there may be ways to contribute if competing is not your aim.

Practical next step

Check the club's own pages for contact details and any joining notes, then send a short message with your discipline, age and experience. As general advice, ask three questions before paying: what the annual fee covers, whether England Athletics registration is included, and what the trial or taster arrangement is. If you are comparing clubs in the area, the club's links to a local inter-club road race series show it competes against nearby clubs such as Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde AC Preston Harriers — useful context if you want regular local racing.

Which athletics disciplines can I train for at Preston Harriers, such as road running, cross country, fell running, track and field, or Sportshall?

You can train for five main athletics disciplines at Preston Harriers: road running, cross country, fell running, track & field, and Sportshall. These appear as the club's core activity headings, so they reflect the breadth of training on offer rather than a single specialism.

H3 What each discipline tends to involve

• Road running – training for road races and club series, typically on paths and roads around Preston. The club's Inter Club Road Race Series involves seven local clubs, so members have a competitive outlet close to home.
• Cross country – off-road racing over grass and mud in autumn and winter, usually as part of team events.
• Fell running – hill and mountain running, requiring navigation and climbing ability; suited to those who enjoy rough terrain.
• Track & field – sprinting, middle and long distance, jumps and throws on a running track, with coaching usually organised by event group.
• Sportshall – indoor athletics, often used for younger athletes, focusing on jumps, throws and relays in a sports hall setting.

H3 Choosing between them

If you are new to athletics, start with road running or cross country for simple, low-equipment sessions, or Sportshall if you are a younger athlete or prefer indoors. Fell running and track & field are more specialised: fell running demands time on hills and weather-ready kit, while track & field is best when you can commit to regular event-specific coaching.

Because the club covers seniors, juniors, coaches and officials, the practical next step is to check the club's training times and venue for the discipline you want, then contact the relevant coach before your first session to confirm whether it suits your age and experience.

How do I enter the Inter Club Road Race Series and what is the procedure for 2026?

The Inter Club Road Race Series is a competition between seven local athletics clubs, and Preston Harriers lists an entry procedure for the 2026 series on its website. The club's own page is the authoritative place to follow the exact steps, since entry is usually organised through your club rather than as an individual open race.

Preston Harriers

How entry typically works

• Enter through your club. The series is inter-club, so your club contact or team manager submits or confirms entries on your behalf. If you are a Preston Harriers member, ask the road running contact; if you belong to another participating club, ask your own club first.
• Check eligibility. You normally need to be a paid-up member of one of the competing clubs, and age or team categories may apply for certain races.
• Follow the stated procedure. The 2026 entry procedure is set out on the Preston Harriers site, so read that page before the first fixture rather than assuming you can turn up and register on the day.
• Watch the fixture dates. The series runs across multiple races, and each event may have its own closing date or entry route.

Practical next step

If you are a Preston Harriers member, contact the club's road running organiser before the first 2026 fixture and confirm: which races you are entering, what details they need, and whether there is a deadline. If you are not a member, join a participating club first — the other clubs named in the series include Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde AC, so their own sites will carry equivalent information for their members.

Does Preston Harriers offer coaching and sessions for junior athletes, and how can parents get involved?

Yes. Preston Harriers describes itself as a Preston, Lancashire athletics club of around 500 members, including senior and junior athletes alongside coaches, officials and helpers. Juniors are part of the club's core structure, and its activity spans Road Running, Cross Country, Fell Running, Track & Field and Sportshall — so a child can try different disciplines rather than commit to one straight away.

For parents, the practical route in is usually to make contact before turning up, so you know which session fits your child's age and experience and what to bring. Expect to provide emergency contact and consent details, and to stay for the first session or two if your child is young or new to training.

Ways parents can get involved

• Ask about coaching pathways. Clubs of this size typically rely on volunteer coaches; if you have an athletics or running background, say so, and ask about assistant-coach or coaching courses.
• Help at events. Cross country and road fixtures need marshals, finish-line helpers, recorders and refreshments — roles that don't require technical knowledge.
• Take an official's role. Track & field and cross country meetings depend on trained officials; clubs often fund or support the training.
• Join the committee or admin side. Membership, communications, kit and social organisation are ongoing needs.
• Support travel and team management. Junior teams need lifts, entries and someone keeping track of who is competing.

Choosing the right session

The main decision is discipline and commitment level. Track & field and Sportshall suit children who enjoy short, varied efforts and competition indoors; cross country and fell running suit those who like endurance, hills and winter racing; road running is the most accessible entry point. Ask how sessions are grouped by age and ability, and whether beginners train alongside experienced juniors or separately.

A useful first step: email the club with your child's age, current activity level and which of the five disciplines interests them, and ask to observe a junior session before joining. Compare that with other local clubs if travel time matters — for example England Athletics lists affiliated clubs by area, and British Athletics covers the sport nationally.

How can I volunteer as a coach, official, or helper with Preston Harriers?

Contact Preston Harriers through the club's own website and tell them which role interests you: coaching, officiating, or general helping. The club describes itself as around 500 members — senior and junior athletes plus coaches, officials and helpers — so volunteers are part of how it operates rather than an afterthought.

Preston Harriers

H3 What the roles actually involve

• Helper: the lowest-commitment entry point. Marshalling, registration desks, recording results, carrying kit, helping at Sportshall sessions, or assisting on race days. Good if you want to try club life before taking on a qualification.
• Coach: works with athletes over time, usually within one of the club's discipline groups — Road Running, Cross Country, Fell Running, Track & Field, or Sportshall. Expect a coaching pathway with courses and safeguarding checks rather than an immediate start.
• Official: judges, timekeepers, starters and field officials who make competitions happen. This suits people who prefer the technical side of the sport and are willing to travel to fixtures.

H3 A practical route in

1. Message the club via its website and say you are interested in volunteering, naming the discipline or role if you have a preference.
2. Ask what the next step is — most clubs will invite you along to a session or fixture to observe first.
3. Be upfront about your availability. A helper who can reliably cover Tuesday evenings is more useful than one who is vaguely free.
4. Ask about costs and checks before committing: coaching and officiating qualifications often involve course fees, and roles working with juniors require background checks.

H3 Choosing between the three

If you are unsure, start as a helper and mention that you might later be interested in officiating or coaching. Clubs find it easier to fund and arrange a qualification for someone already known to them.

For context on how other clubs structure volunteering, see England Athletics and British Athletics.