Challenge Cup History. After the formation of the club in 1887, at a meeting in October 1888, it was decided to hold a championship which could be confined to club members. The championship was to be run "over 10 miles on public roads" - in the first event from Tickhill. The race was to be a handicap event held on Boxing day. The Rotherham Advertiser pre-race feature stated " The Rotherham Harriers 10 mile championships promises to be a rather important affair with 29 contestants. The limit men with a substantial start of 9 minutes from their less fortunate, or more accomplished opponents will leave Tickhill at 11am prompt and make the best of their way to the Three Tuns Inn Wellgate".  "Frost will not materially effect the runners, it is to be hoped however that snow will not put in an unwelcome appearance, should we be so bewintered, slow times will have to be recorded". The winner would receive the silver Challenge cup.
So to the race: The newspaper report at the time read,  "There was much excitement and cheering as the runners left - not at Tickhill but at Rotherham- as they boarded the wagonette to travel to the start at Tickhill. 14 runners faced the starter (A 50% reduction from the entries) The first runners went off promptly at 11 o'clock ( as they have ever since). At Maltby 3 of the runners cried enough and were picked up by the wagonette, shortly to be joined by a fourth runner. The scratch man - F P Hague - was running splendidly and passing his men one by one. The first to arrive at the Three Tuns Inn Wellgate was J Linton, followed by W Copley 2nd, and F P Hague 3rd. Several thousand people watched the finish. A splendid repast was provided by Mr Talbot - the landlord of the Three Tuns Inn, and after suitable speeches M Whitaker presented the prizes. Songs and selections were rendered by members of the club, and a most enjoyable evening was spent". The Challenge Cup which was silver and stood 12" high, with a figure of a harrier in full costume on top, was purchased for 12 guineas with money donated by the Harriers own sports loving townsmen.
It seems the idea of running from Tickhill only lasted one year - the costs of the wagonette transport being too high. Subsequently the events started in Rotherham, always from a public house, and ran out and back for a 10 mile course. Sometimes Bramley and back, sometimes the Hill Top Inn Conisborough and back. Many of the races were to Chapeltown and back via Thorpe Common, and this route was considered the most arduous, as the course included one and a half miles of uphill to the old toll bar on the way out, and on the return leg Coley Hill a 500 yards long 1 in 5 hill. The best time recorded on this course was 53 mins 54 secs , set by Frank Wildsmith in 1932.pictured below. In 1889 there was no declared winner. The race took place, and was won by W Copley. It transpired that he had raced for cash prizes and had been declared a professional by the Northern Counties AA. As Mr Copley declined to revert to amateur status the race was declared invalid. The committee set about trying to recover the Challenge cup - which had been awarded.
There have been many notable winners of the Challenge Cup over the years:- The 1913 winner was William Chambers (The link takes you to an article submitted by Hedley Frost -a local historian) The 1915 winner was Fred Smith.  He is in the photo below -right- collecting his prize. Some years later, his great nephew, one Peter Elliott, would win prizes at the highest level. Only one person has ever won the Cup 3 times - W (Billy) Burns , his first win was in 1931, with wins in 1939 and 1953. In 1937 the race was reduced to 6 miles in distance, and was moved to Christmas Day.
The race remained a male preserve until 1976 when Mary Rhodes was the first female competitor. Since then there have been 3 women victors; Sharon Burton (Nixon) in 1991, Wendy Roberts in 1999 and Gill Taylor in 2005.   Throughout the 1970's and 1980's the race remained  a popular event. In 1978 there were 52 finishers, with S Roe winning the race, and Mick Hague running the fastest time of 33:58. In 1982 there were 50 runners, with Peter Neal winning the race & running the fastest time of 32:32. In 1983 there were 30 runners; Mark Ruddleston won the race, Janice Carrier was first lady, and Peter Neal again ran the fastest time - an impressive 31:40. Due to increased volumes of traffic, with the higher risk of injury to competitors, in 2000 the race was reduced to 5 miles , the new - virtually traffic free- course around the Herringthorpe playing fields has proved popular with both athletes and spectators. (Although spectator numbers are somewhat down on the thousands that watched the first challenge cup race).  The course involves 3 laps of the field, one clockwise, one anti-clockwise - with runners turning round at the start, and the final one clockwise to preserve the original finish. This reversing of direction allows the faster runners to see the gaps to athletes in front. This has the advantage of offering either encouragement ie the gaps are closable, or complete disbelief that the gap can ever be closed!
List of All Challenge Cup Winners