World Record Holder - Jane Horder Insight

11 February 2022

Name an athlete with 9 World Records, 9 European Records and 11 British Record. Now think of an athlete with 41 British Championship Gold Medals, 11 European Championships Golds and 11 World Championship Golds. Surely an athlete of this calibre would be known to us all, celebrated across the country and rightfully so! 

Yet training hard, week on week, year on year Jane Horder goes by largely unnoticed, keeping her head down and setting an example to everyone who is lucky enough to know her achievements. These aren’t easy records to beat too, her most recent World Indoor Record in the W65 60m hurdles beat a 15 year old mark.  So I thought it was my job to let you all know just how much she has accomplished so you too could draw inspiration.

(Photo: Jane Horder with Michael Gardiner competing for the Great Britain Masters Team)

Beginning athletics at 12 years old for Cheltenham Harriers, Jane recalls travelling to competitions in a van, bundled in with the rest of the small but close knit team. Jane's talent was evident from the start, qualifying for 5 English Schools Championships, two as a flat sprinter, before discovering a love of hurdling and competing in three as a hurdler, with a best result of 5th in the final. Swapping to Bristol Athletics Club when leaving school enabled Jane to compete all across the country in British, Midland and Southern League events. The longer hurdle races (400/300m), only became an idea after missing a season due to the removal of her appendix. The event brought much success which continues to the present where Jane is the W60 World Record holder for 300m hurdles. Unfortunately, despite all the success a back injury forced a halt to her progress with doctors advising if she didn’t give up hurdling she would be in a wheelchair by the time she was 40. 

Therefore, despite much talent and determination Jane knew she had to put her health first and for a number of years kept herself fit running 10k races and half marathons for Almost Athletes. Although he enjoyed these, the track was calling…

It was her two children that eventually lured Jane back to the track and back to Cheltenham Harriers. When her son, Jamie, was 12 he became interested in athletics and with many of the same faces at the club from when she was young, it wasn’t too long before Tony Lancaster persuaded her to start hurdling again. Following from this fellow athlete Joyce Barrus then introduced her to the wide, competitive and under-appreciated world of Masters athletics. Jane also competed for the club in Midland League fixtures up until the age of 59 often out doing all her younger rivals. 

The sport was now a family affair for the Horders, Jane states that ‘My daughter Sara was also involved in athletics and the best year I can remember was when we all competed in the Midland league - sara sprinting, and Jamie and I doing the 400 hurdles and we all participated on relays too.’

(Photo: Jane not only competed for the Cheltenham Harriers team she also led them for many years as the Team Manager)

Of course with such a profile and list of achievements behind her I had to ask what motivates her each year, and although Jane admits it’s harder as she has gotten older she just focuses on being the best she can always be and now makes sure her training includes quality over quantity, but ultimately her motivation continues to remain to enjoy it! 

When asked what advice she has for other athletes Jane said ‘work hard and enjoy it - they are the best times going off to meetings and being in the ‘team’ supporting each other whether it be for the club or the school - I still have close friends that I made during my teenage years in athletics - in fact some of them are Masters Athletes as well and we have our own local group training together but doing our different disciplines.’

Jane has a big year ahead in 2022 aiming to win Gold in the European Masters Indoor Championships later this month, reduce her world record, and play a pivotal role in the relay team. In the summer Jane aims to break the 80m hurdle and 300m hurdle outdoor records and hopes to win Gold in the World Masters Championships in Finland. 

It will be exciting to follow her progress throughout the year and we wish her all the best of luck!!