Newyddion

22/09/2025 00:00, I Mewn Blog /

Former Welsh 440 yards champion David Pulsford dies

The Welsh athletics fraternity will be sad to learn of the death of David Pulsford aged 89.

He was one of that great band of Welsh athletes who also excelled at rugby, and came close to winning a Welsh cap as an outstanding winger.

He was the best British and Welsh sprinter for his age in the mid-1950s, taking the AAA (UK) junior 220 yards title in 1953 as well as winning the Welsh junior title that year. In 1954, as well as winning the 220 again, he also took the Welsh junior 440 yards crown, but could only manage second in the AAA Championships in the latter. He also won the Welsh schools 220 yards titles in 1953 and 1954.

In 1954, whilst still at Rhymney Grammar School he finished third in the Welsh senior 100 yards in the same time as all-time athletics and rugby great Ken Jones who won an Olympic sprint relay medal in the 1948 London Games.

He took the Welsh senior 440 yards title in 1957 whilst studying at Caerleon Training College, and was one of the possibles for the Welsh team at the 1958 Cardiff Empire Games (now Commonwealth) but an injury got in the way which prevented selection.

But rugby was his first love and he was once described as probably the best uncapped winger in Wales. Of the four wingers on display at a WRU trial in Pontypool in 1961, he was the only one to remain uncapped. He was a phenomenal try scorer and goal kicker for all the clubs he played for which included Rhymney, Pontypool and Newport. 

David Pulsford article: David Pulsford – the Superstar Rhymney Sprinter/Rugby Player

Clive Williams