Welsh Athletics Annual Awards and Hall of Fame Dinner on 19th September 2008
Olympic Champion Dame Mary Peters to attend
This year’s dinner will be another star studded affair with Britain’s and Wales’ two greatest 400m runners, Iwan Thomas and Jamie Baulch both in attendance. 34 year-old Thomas, who won the Commonwealth and European 400m titles in 1998, still holds the UK record (44.36secs) has returned to training and said: “I am training for fun at the moment but going quite well. I will take one race at a time, but need to steer clear of injuries. I am really looking forward to this year’s dinner.” Baulch, the world indoor 400m champion in 1999 has definitely retired though. He said: “I attended last year’s inaugural dinner, and can’t wait for this year’s event.”
It has also just been announced that 1972 Olympic Champion Dame Mary Peters is to be the guest of honour at the dinner.
Said Mary who competed for Northern Ireland in the 1958 Cardiff Empire & Commonwealth Games: “I am looking forward to seeing many old friends again. I have fond memories of the Cardiff Games. They were the first major Games I competed in. I was only 18 years old, and was made to feel very welcome by everyone in Cardiff.”
To mark the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Commonwealth Games being held in Wales, all surviving members of the Welsh athletics team are being invited. So far 15 team members have indicated that they will attend, including former world sprint relay record holder Ron Jones and 1952 Olympic 3,000m steeplechase bronze medallist John Disley.
Ron, who ran in the 100 yards in those Games 50 years ago on the old Cardiff Arms Park said: “They were unbelievable and really put Cardiff and Wales on the map. They were the first of my four appearances in the Commonwealth Games, and they remain the best organised. I am looking forward to seeing some of my old team mates, many of whom I have not seen since the Games” Ron went on to captain the British Olympic team in 1968 and also did a stint as Managing Director of Cardiff City.
The dinner, to be held at the Vale Hotel Golf and Spa Resort, Hensol, near Cardiff will also honour the second wave of inductees into the Welsh Athletics Hall of Fame. The first inductees last year were 1964 Olympic long jump champion Lynn Davies, former world 110m hurdles record holder Colin Jackson, Britain’s finest Paralympian Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, former world marathon record holder Steve Jones and Disley.
Matt Newman, the CEO of Welsh Athletics said: “This year’s event will have even more significance as all of the annual awards for Welsh Athletics will be presented, so we will see the stars of today rubbing shoulders with the all-time greats of the sport in Wales.
Newman was being tight-lipped about the names of the Hall of Fame inductees this year, but amongst those rumoured to be in consideration for induction are triple Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kirsty Wade and Thomas, who has held the UK 400m record for an incredible 11 years.
Tickets are available through the Welsh Athletics website at www.welshathletics.org
Further details from Clive Williams
07974 176229/ clivewill@aol.com
