I have been a member of Kingston and Polytechnic Harriers for almost seven years; I now partake in weekly training and coach younger athletes at Kingsmeadow. The club was set up in 1883, and now, over a century later is a thriving club with around 400 members.

This week I spoke to Richard Holt; Head Coach of Kingston and Polytechnic Harriers, founder of Momentum sports and joint co-ordinator of Kestrels, as well as a successful 400m hurdler, about his first steps in to the athletics world, the club and all the benefits of this diverse sport:

When did your love for athletics begin?

Well, I began athletics when I was thirteen, and have competed ever since, excluding a gap for illness at the peak of my career. In all honesty, my love for athletics really started at the age of eight after watching the likes of Coe, Ovett and Cram in the Moscow Olympics; my parents wanted me to wait until I was older, to ensure that I was still keen. I have been coaching since I was 20.

I went on to ask him about his role in the club:

In 2000, I set up Momentum sports; a company which caters for runners of all ages and is based within the K&P club. Kestrels was set up twenty- five years ago by another coach, but after a few years it stopped. I re-started Kestrels in 2009 along with another fellow coach, and I now I co-run it.

I could see the group had prospered when he told me at his first session only two children turned up, but now it is thriving with over 80 children involved. We then discussed the benefits of athletics for younger and older athletes:

For the younger athletes, athletics provides a range of fundamental skills and disciplines relevant to many other sports such as football and hockey, and so it is a great place to begin. It is a highly organised sport which can be accessed from a young age. Yet there are also members of the club in their seventies and even eighties, taking part in a variety of aspects.

What opportunities are provided other than training?

Upon reaching sixteen, the opportunity to coach is available, which allows young athletes a platform for work experience and a job which they can enjoy. It also inspires the children to continue with athletics as they see older athletes succeeding. For older members, officiating and more advanced coaching are some of the opportunities Kingston offers, as well as the social and community feeling of being part of the club.

Finally, we discussed the successes of Kingston and Polytechnic Harriers:

The club has developed some great, talented athletes, who have gone on to compete in national and international competitions. Our recent success was the promotion of the men’s British League. In all honesty, every athlete who loves the sport in this club is a major success for us.

Eleanor McDonnell, Towlorth Girls' School