This year sees the 50th anniversary of the Empire (now Commonwealth Games) being held in Wales. To mark the occasion, all surviving Welsh team members and officials from the 1958 Games are to be invited to attend this year’s Welsh Athletics Annual Awards and Hall of Fame dinner on 19th September.
Mike Delaney, Britain’s men’s team manager at the last two Olympics, and one of the organisers commented: “We just couldn’t let the occasion pass without recognising this very important milestone.”
Those 1958 Games saw the future world and Olympic 1,500m champion Herb Elliott of Australia win both 880 yards and mile titles and Jamaican Keith Gardener take both 100 yards and 120 yards hurdles gold’s. Australia’s Dave Power also took double gold in the 6 miles and marathon. In the former event he narrowly beat the Welsh athletics hero of the Games, the late John Merriman. There were also world records from South Africa’s Gert Potgieter (440 yards hurdles); Anna Pazera of Australia in the women’s javelin and England’s women’s sprint relay squad.
“The athletics events were held on the hallowed rugby turf of Cardiff Arms Park and the Games really captured the imagination of everyone in Wales”, Delaney, a former Welsh 400m champion continued.
Welsh Athletics is in touch with many of the Welsh officials and athletes who took part 50 years ago, but in particular they are trying to locate those who have not been in recent contact. So any 1958 Welsh team members and Welsh officials who have lost contact with Welsh Athletics should call Karlijn Asveld at the Welsh Athletics office on 02920 644870 to receive an invitation.
The dinner, to be held at the prestigious 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 Wales’ first individual Olympic medallist, John Disley.
Last year’s dinner was by invitation only but was still a sell-out. However, this year’s event will be open to everyone and those wishing to attend should log-on to the Welsh Athletics website to get ticket details.
“We anticipate a huge demand for tickets” said Welsh Athletics CEO, Matt Newman. “I advise anyone wishing to attend to get their requests for tickets in without delay, as I believe that they will sell like hot cakes”
Newman continued: “All of the awards normally made by Welsh Athletics throughout the year to officials, clubs, coaches and athletes will be made at the dinner, making the occasion even more important. It really will be the event of the year”
Further details from Clive Williams
07974 176229/ clivewill@aol.com
