FOR Ballarat Harriers, it all officially began on June 15, 1891.Harriers had already informally had a “paper chase” or “hares and hound” race almost a month earlier.Melbourne Harriers competed on the invitation of the Ballarat Gymnastic Association in the test event.With it being a resounding success, Ballarat Harriers was formed, and paper chases became a weekly occurrence.Their first race, on June 26, attracted just four runners.They were the only ones willing to brave conditions described in a newspaper report of the day as “tempestuous”.The 15-mile course took the competitors through several creeks and ploughed fields, and over fences.Owing to confusion in the concluding stages, no winner was declared.From these humble beginnings, the club did not take long to establish itself as Victoria’s premier cross-country entity.Harriers took out the 10-mile team championship in 1896, 1898 and 1899.For being the first to win the title three times, Harriers were presented with the prestigious Coldham-Cohen Shield.The grand shield still holds pride of place for Ballarat Harriers, which today launches its 120th anniversary celebrations.The club’s founders and special achievers will be remembered over three days.The celebrations begin with a get-together at the Mallow Bar tonight and continue tomorrow with the President’s Handicap from the their Young Street clubrooms, followed by a formal dinner at Mercure Ballarat.The weekend will be rounded off with a hare and hounds, then a barbecue lunch on Sunday.Ballarat Harriers have boasted many champions in its membership, going right back to the legendary Charles Suffren, Charles Herbert and Charles Bennett in the 1890s and first decade of the 1900s.This trio combined to win five Victorian 10 mile championships – Herbert in 1894, 1896 and 1899; Bennett in 1898; and Suffren in 1908.Suffren, Graeme Nicholls, Willi Sawall and Lee Troop have been national champions, with Sawall an Olympic racewalker.In another special moment, Len Sprague raced to victory in the 1939 Stawell Gift.Open state champions: George and Alex Richardson, Stan Nicholls, Brian Lewry, Lee Troop, Paul Burge, Kelly Ruddick.Under-age state champions: Angus Greenfield, Peter Donaldson, Graeme Nicholls, David Farquhar, Paul Burge, Aaron Sawall, Heath Gillett, Daniel Carman.Paralympian: Jodi Willis-Roberts.Commowealth Games: Stan Nicholls, Willi Sawall, Lisa Bruty, Lee Troop.This is a line-up any athletics club would be proud of.