Helen Clitheroe (Athlete)

Born 1974. Clitheroe (born Pattinson) went to Broughton High School and later competed in the 1500 m at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and in the 3000 m steeplechase at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She represented England in the 1,500 metres event, at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Four years later she was the 1500 m bronze medallist at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

At the 2008 Olympic Games she finished sixth in her heat of the 3000m steeplechase and did not advance to the next round of competition, despite beating her own national record with a time of 9:29.14. At the 2008 IAAF World Athletics Final, in Stuttgart, Clitheroe placed 9th in the 3000 m steeplechase in a time of 9:39.72.

Clitheroe completed a spell of high-altitude training in Kenya and then came close to a 3000m lifetime best in 2011, finishing with a stadium record run.

Clitheroe won gold in the European indoor 3000m. The May 2011 Great Manchester Run saw her produce a career best for the 10000m as she completed a dominant performance to win the race in a time of 31:45 minutes. She set herself a similar target at the European Cup 10000m in June 2011, but suffered in hot conditions and finished in fourth with a time of 32:11.29 minutes.

Clitheroe then became a coach and led on England Athletics’ targeted event initiative work for the steeplechase in providing opportunities for athletes and coaches to develop and progress in the event.

(Ref: Wikipedia, England Athletics)