SEVERAL of Swindon Harriers’ successful English Schools’ participants were on hand for the official opening of the club’s new clubhouse last Sunday.

The facility is part of the club’s long-term plan to add to its track facilities for its members and the local community.

After two years of groundwork and eventual building, the clubhouse, funded predominantly by members of the volunteer-run athletics club, was opened by Swindon Town’s Academy manager Alan McLoughlin on Sunday.

Harriers chairman Bryan Clinton said: “Harriers is growing from strength to strength in member numbers over the past few years, and we are now regularly producing a selections of athletes that compete regionally and nationally as well as offer sessions for those who want to do athletics for fitness and fun."

The clubhouse was finished in June but McLoughlin performed opening duties, along with Harriers’ English Schools’ participants, including Harry Cunningham, Harry Ricketts, Josh Ricketts and Teresa Iannetelli, who competed in Birmingham for Wiltshire, along with Gloucestershire’s Ben McIntyre and Will Crisp.

Younger Harriers competitors subsequently took part in a Wessex League event at the track, with another one to follow this Saturday, where Swindon are looking to gain promotion in the Youth Development League after narrowly missing out last year.

Visit www.swindonharriers.com for more information about the club. Find them on Twitter @SwindonHarriers or on Facebook.