1929
23rd August.
Jim Crehan born
1980s
Inspired by his son Jim (a county runner) and daughter-in-law Susan (1988 GB Olympic Marathon runner).
Decides to take up running himself with the marathon as his first goal.
1984
St Helens Striders founded by Jim as a running and drinking club for ex-miners.
The club offered friendship, fitness, competition, and post-run pints at the local pub.
Mid 80s
Club grows from small ex-miner roots into an inclusive running community.
Jim, “Mr Strider,” leads 10-mile runs—often turning into 15–20 muddy adventures.
Known for eccentric training methods and huge endurance.
1985
The club officially recognised as St Helens Striders Running Club
The values of achievement, enjoyment, and inclusion in running are firmly established.
1980s–1990s
Jim competes in numerous marathons.
Takes up long jump, triple jump, and high jump after training at Ruskin Drive.
1990s–2000s
Creates his famous training routine at Bold Forest Park: running with bricks in each hand and his dog Judi by his side.
Breaks multiple British records in veteran long jump, triple jump, and high jump (age categories 60, 65, 70, 75).
2009 (Age 80)
At the Northern Veteran Championships in Accrington, Jim breaks more records.
Triple jump of 6.97m ranks 3rd in the world all-time list for over-80 athletes.
Today
The club has grown to around 200 members
The spirit Jim created—friendship, fun, and competition—still defines the Striders community.
Our Team.
St Helens Striders is ran by an amazing team of volunteers, without who we wouldn't be able to exist. We're super grateful to everyone that dedicates their time to help with all aspects of club life.
Our Committee.
Daniel Merrick
Chair
Jenny Appleton
Members Rep
Richard Seville
Secretary
Rachel Tickle
Treasurer
Kirstie McCaffrey
Race Coordinator
Jo Herriott
Social Rep
Mike Gittins
Digital Media
The Coaches
The Coaches are the brains behind the amazing training that the club delivers. They're an experienced bunch and come from a variety of backgrounds, giving a great blend of knowledge for members to take advantage of. They're on hand to support and guide our members in all aspects of their running. All of our Coaches hold the England Athletics 'Coach in Running Fitness' qualification.
Alex Abbott
Coach
Kylie Barlow
Coach
Rachael Fairclough
Coach
Kelly Hamilton
Coach
Run Leaders
Probably the most important part of the team, our Run Leaders are the ones that turn up week-in-week-out to deliver our training sessions. Over 30 of our members dedicate their spare time to ensure every training session is both enjoyable and effective.
Run Leaders
Gaz & Gary
Coaches
Kelly & Dan
Run Leader
Anita & Jo
Run Leader
John & Rachel
Welfare Officers
We take the wellbeing of our members very seriously and our Welfare Officers are a critical part of ensuring everyone has a positive and enjoyable experience. They're there to support members who have any concerns or troubles and will work with the Committee to seek resolution where necessary. Rachel Tickle and Kieran Allen are the current Welfare Officers.
Social Committee
The Social Committee is responsible for organising our social events, including our annual Christmas Party. They work really hard to come up with exciting things to bring us together when we're not running.