{{Short description|British middle- and long-distance runner}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}} {{Use British English|date=May 2015}} {{Infobox sportsperson |name = Helen Clitheroe (née Pattinson) |image = | nationality = British (English) |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|01|02|df=yes}} |birth_place = Preston, Lancashire, England | sport = Athletics | event = middle-distance |club = Preston Harriers |height = {{height|m=1.68|precision=0}} |weight = {{convert|57|kg|lb st|abbr=on}} |pb = 1500 m: 4:01.10 <br> 3000 m: 8:51.02 <br> 3000 m steeplechase: 9:29.14 <br> 5000 m: 15:06.75 <br> 10000 m: 31:45<ref>{{cite web|title=Great North Run 2011|url=http://www.greatrun.org/Results/default.aspx|access-date=2011-05-15|archive-date=16 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516075905/http://greatrun.org/Results/Default.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> |medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport | Women's athletics}} {{Medal|Country| {{GBR2}} }} {{Medal|Competition|European Indoor Championships}} {{Medal|Gold|2011 Paris|3000 m}} {{Medal|Competition|Commonwealth Games}} {{Medal|Bronze|2002 Manchester|1500 m}} }}
'''Helen Teresa Clitheroe''' (née '''Pattinson''') (born 2 January 1974 in Preston, England) is a former British middle and long-distance runner.<ref>{{cite web |title=Team GB > Beijing 2008 > Athlete profile > Helen Clitheroe |publisher=Website of the BOA |url=http://www.olympics.org.uk/beijing2008/AthleteProfile.aspx?id=836 |access-date=2008-09-20 |archive-date=16 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216150121/http://www.olympics.org.uk/beijing2008/AthleteProfile.aspx?id=836 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Athletics career== She competed in the 1500 m at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and in the 3000 m steeplechase at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.<ref>{{cite web |title= Athlete Biography - Clitheroe, Helen |publisher=The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games |url=http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/2/224932.shtml |access-date=2008-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080903115115/http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/2/224932.shtml|archive-date=2008-09-03}}</ref>
She represented England in the 1,500 metres event, at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/kuala-lumpur-1998/athletes|title=1998 Athletes|website=Team England}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://thecgf.com/results/games/3044/19/all|title=England team in 1998|website=Commonwealth Games Federation|access-date=19 January 2020|archive-date=30 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330125318/https://thecgf.com/results/games/3044/19/all|url-status=dead}}</ref> Four years later she was the 1500 m bronze medallist at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thecgf.com/results/athletes/40303|title=Athletes and results|website=Commonwealth Games Federation|access-date=19 January 2020|archive-date=31 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731000229/https://thecgf.com/results/athletes/40303|url-status=dead}}</ref>
She achieved the Olympic A qualifying standard for the 3000 m steeplechase at the Meeting Iberoamericano, in Huelva on 13 June 2008, where she finished eighth in a time of 9:43.56.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tim Abeyie wins in Rabat, Helen Clitheroe attains Olympic standard in Huelva |publisher=Athletics Weekly |date=2008-06-15 |url=http://www.athletics-weekly.com/newsarticle.php?id=568 |access-date=2008-09-20 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080802133409/http://www.athletics-weekly.com/newsarticle.php?id=568 |archive-date = 2008-08-02}}</ref> Her place in the British team for the Games was confirmed when she won the British trials in a new national record time of 9:36.98.<ref>{{cite web |title=Clitheroe qualifies for Beijing |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-07-14 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/7505640.stm |access-date=2008-09-20}}</ref> At the Games she finished sixth in her heat and did not advance to the next round of competition, despite beating her own national record with a time of 9:29.14.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ukathletics.net/media/news/august-2008/15-08-08-day-1-pm-report/ |title=Olympics 2008 - Day 1 Evening Session Report |access-date=2008-09-20 |publisher=UK Athletics |date=2008-08-15 |archive-date=22 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822052055/http://www.ukathletics.net/media/news/august-2008/15-08-08-day-1-pm-report/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> At the 2008 IAAF World Athletics Final, in Stuttgart, Clitheroe placed 9th in the 3000 m steeplechase in a time of 9:39.72.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ohuruogu ready for Richards|publisher=sportinglife.com |url=http://www.sportinglife.com/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=others/08/09/13/ATHLETICS_Stuttgart_Nightlead.html |access-date=2008-09-20}}</ref>
She completed a spell of high-altitude training in Iten, Kenya and then came close to a 3000 m lifetime best at the Aviva International Match in January 2011, finishing with a stadium record run.<ref>Brown, Matthew (2011-01-29). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=59168.html Ennis sparkles in Glasgow]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-01-30.</ref><ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/9379397.stm Jessica Ennis starts season with hurdles win in Glasgow ]. BBC Sport (2011-01-29). Retrieved on 2011-01-30.</ref> The May 2011 Great Manchester Run saw her produce a career best for the 10K as she completed a dominant performance to win the race in a time of 31:45 minutes.<ref>Wenig, Jorg (2011-05-15). [http://www.iaaf.org/LRR11/news/newsid=60030.html Gebrselassie takes fourth Manchester 10Km victory, Clitheroe surprises]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-05-27.</ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.european-athletics.org/15th-european-cup-10-000m/portugal-double-victory-at-the-european-cup-10000m.html Portugal double victory at the European Cup 10000m] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608025107/http://www.european-athletics.org/15th-european-cup-10-000m/portugal-double-victory-at-the-european-cup-10000m.html |date=8 June 2011 }}. European Athletics (2011-06-04). Retrieved on 2011-06-05.</ref>
Domestically, she was three-times the British 1500 metres champion after winning the British AAA Championships title in 2001, 2005 and 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=4 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/waaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (women) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=4 April 2025 }}</ref>
She continued working in the Industry as a coach, and during 2022 was coaching with the New Balance team at Manchester, working as personal coach to Ciara Mageean during her very successful 2022 season.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{World Athletics}}
{{Footer European Champions Indoor 3000m Women}} {{British Athletics Championships women's steeplechase champions}} {{British Indoor Athletics Championships women's 1500 metres champions}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clitheroe, Helen Teresa Pattinson}} Category:1974 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Preston, Lancashire Category:English women long-distance runners Category:British women long-distance runners Category:English women middle-distance runners Category:British women middle-distance runners Category:British women steeplechase runners Category:English women steeplechase runners Category:Olympic women middle-distance runners Category:Olympic women steeplechase runners Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2008 Summer Olympics Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for England Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1998 Commonwealth Games Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2002 Commonwealth Games Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2006 Commonwealth Games Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2010 Commonwealth Games Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2014 Commonwealth Games Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for Great Britain Category:European Athletics Indoor Championships winners Category:British Athletics Championships winners Category:AAA Championships winners Category:Medallists at the 2002 Commonwealth Games Category:21st-century English sportswomen Category:20th-century English sportswomen Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in athletics