Now following the end of their centenary year, the Harriers – founded in October 1907 – have produced a magnificent tome, one which puts your average brochure in the shade.

We are talking here about a serious work, of years of effort, unending research, and an unbending refusal to compromise standards; a story which relates the evolution of a successful, professionally-run organisation now heavily involved in encouraging young people to take up running.

There are 667 pages and over 400 illustrations in a hard-backed production which cost £13,500, £4,500 of which came from club funds, to bring to fruition.

The 300 copies will be sold at £35 each – and that figure includes a £10 per book subsidy from the club.

This is not just the history of an athletics club; it is a cultural and sporting record of the last 100 years of the Holme Valley, beginning in days when there were 20 running clubs in the Huddersfield area, only of two of which – Holmfirth and Longwood Harriers – exist in their original form today.

Holmfirth have concentrated throughout their history on cross-country, road-racing and fell running and one of their leading athletes of recent years, England international Graham Ellis, took on the task of going back through mounds of minutes, articles in newspapers and results from days long forgotten to cover the period from the start of the Harriers in 1907 through to 1986.

"I foolishly volunteered," he said, proud of his work and relieved it has all come to a successful conclusion.

The torch was then taken up by Norman Berry, a life member and past president of the club, whose researches covered the years between 1986 and 1998 and included one particular success.

The Harriers' oldest race and one which for many years was used to identify the club champion is the Tinker Cup, named in honour of a founder member. The 100th running of the event, which takes in over 60 walls and fences, a sunken road and a helter-skelter charge from Honley to Holmfirth and back, was completed on the Saturday before Christmas.

Mr Berry made it his mission to fill in gap in the club's archive: no photograph existed of Mr Tinker. Dogged determination looked like going unrewarded until, out of the blue, he was contacted by a New Zealander who was doing research into the Tinker family history.

Through that connection it was discovered that Mr Tinker's daughter was living in the south west of Ireland so off went Mr Berry and the task was completed. The book carries an illustration of that notable founding father.

Foundation itself came when 10 young men, wearing the black shorts and vests with a white "H" on their chests for which Holmfirth Harriers would soon become famous, competed in a race which started and finished at the Elephant and Castle Inn at Holmfirth.

They wore black, it appears, because then the all-enveloping soot from the mill chimneys of the Holme Valley would not discolour the clothing when it was hung out on washing lines.

It has not been success all the way and Graham Ellis insists that had not Mr Berry and others involved in running the club given Holmfirth a new perspective in the Eighties, the club would not have become the success story it is today with its most notable accolade being named national Sports Club of the Year in 2005.

"We would have become a collection of old men reminiscing in the pub," he said.

Instead, Holmfirth Harriers began a series of races for school children. In the beginning, 20 years ago, the Holme Valley Junior Schools' race attracted 200 boys and girls. This year the total of runners from years three/four and five-six topped 800. Harriers' membership has risen to approaching 700 and the club's finances would be the envy of any similar organisation.

They are proud of their excellent facilities at the Neiley Pavilion in Honley, largely financed by grant aid following plans for development drawn up by the club's committee when Mr Berry was chairman. "Our changing rooms had broken windows and were cold and unwelcoming," said Mr Berry.

The first development was made thanks to a grant of £45,000 from the Foundation for Sport and the Arts, then Prime Minster John Major demanded that some of the profits from the National Lottery should be diverted to sport.

Holmfirth's diligence in preparing their case for further expansion resulted in the allocation of £245,395 from the lottery and their 10-year project to build new headquarters became reality.

Their success in recent years forms the third and final part of their history, covering 1999 to the present. It was written by John Buckingham, one of the senior coaches at the club.

Holmfirth Harriers are already looking forward to their second century.

See How They Run is published by Northern Heritage Productions. To order a copy contact Norman Berry on 01484 602922 or Norma n.Berry @burtonsafes.co.uk

The three authors will sign copies of See How They Run at the Rock Inn, New Mill Road, Brockholes, on Wednesday January 21 at 7.0pm.