WSFRL How it started

The idea of the League was that of David Bridges who at the time was recreation officer for Horsham District Council and also that there was a need for a similar league in Sussex for joggers and fun runners without the serious intensity of road and cross-country racing under AAA's rules.

David Bridges called a meeting at his home, via the local press and "Jogging Magazine" (now "Running Magazine") which took place on 22nd October 1982.  Such was the interest that it was standing room only.  Representatives at that original meeting were:

League Representative               David Bridges

Sponsor's Representative          Oliver Sellars (Infopress Ltd)

Arunners                Norman Crook (formerly Littlehampton Glasshouse Crops Research Institute)

Horsham Joggers                        Carol Clift & John Otway

Portslade Hedgehoppers           Norman Collingbourne

Worthing & District Harriers        Peter Long

Appleyard Amblers                       John Taylor & Mike Simmons

Barns Green                                  Keith Hotchkiss

Crawley Joggers                           Jack Shelton

Distillers CO2 Runners               Martin Jones

Lodsworth Village                         Margaret King

A race calendar for 1983 was agreed and ProNutro, a breakfast cereal company, agreed to act as initial sponsors until June 1983.  The Barns Green half-marathon arose out of this meeting and, although no longer part of the League's race calendar, continues successfully today.  The first race calendar was as follows:

January                   Worthing 2 miles

February                 Horsham Joggers Valentine 3 miles

March                      Worthing Harriers Cissbury Ring 2¾ miles

April                         Tortington 10 km

May                          Portslade Hedgehoppers 5½ miles

June                        Distillers C02, Reigate  5 miles

August                    Arundel 7 miles

September            Washington Village, Chanctonbury Ring 4 miles

October                  Barns Green ½ Marathon

November              Appleyard Amblers. Warninglid

December              Lodsworth Village

Interested parties not at the meeting but subsequently involved in the League's creation were:

Arena 80 AC                          Ron Grover

Holmwood Hounds             John & Pam Chiverton

A scoring system reflecting participation, as well as winning, the award of spot prizes and the key principle that events should be cheap to enter (£1 per runner), with the net proceeds ideally being donated to charity, were all agreed.  The League's constitution and method of scoring are detailed later.

From Past To Present

Since that initial meeting a number of changes to the scoring system have been made, the last fundamental change being made in 1989, but the general ethos of the League has remained, namely to encourage jogging for those of all ages and abilities.  Today 17 clubs comprise the League as follows:

Club (current league members in bold)              Vest Colours

 Appleyards Amblers    

 Arunners (formerly Littlehampton                         Purple & White                                        Glasshouse Crops Research Inst.)   

  Barns Green

  Crawley Joggers

  Distillers C02 Runners

  Horsham Joggers                                                   White, Maroon & Grey

  Lodsworth Village 

  Arena 80 AC                                                              Blue & Red Letting

  Holmwood Hounds

  Portslade Hedgehoppers                                      White, Orange & Blue

  Worthing & District Harriers                                Green, with red/white diagonal stripe

  Cranleigh Runners

  Surrey Stragglers

  Trumpton Trotters

  Brighton Hash House Harriers

  Saints & Sinners                                                  Yellow & Black

  Chichester Runners                                             White with green band

  Fittleworth Flyers                                                  Gold & Emerald

  Lewes AC                                                               Red & Gold

  Southwick Strollers                                             Red & Yellow

  Lancing Eagles                                                     Blue & Yellow

  Henfield Joggers                                                  Green & Black

  Steyning AC                                                            White with 2 black diagonal stripes

  Haywards Heath Harriers                                    Maroon & White

  Shoreham College Shufflers      

  Burgess Hill Runners                                            Light & Dark Blue Quarters

  Worthing Striders                                                  Orange & Black

Separate events for juniors are now organised by many clubs and an advice sheet for juniors and their parents is available.

Public liability insurance up to £10 million is paid by the League covering all events included in the League's race calendar.

To celebrate the League's 10th Anniversary a relay event was held in 1993 in the grounds of Christ's Hospital School with individual trophies presented to all participants.  This relay was subsequently held in Hove Park until 1997, with the proceeds being used to finance the League's expenses. The relay was held again in 2003 and 2004 organised by Portslade Hedgehoppers.  A team trophy was donated by Arena 80.