Reading Athletic Club
British athletic club
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Reading Athletic Club, is an athletics club based in Reading, Berkshire, England. The club officially formed in November 1881; however records show that it was one of the inaugural clubs that formed the governing body of athletics at that time, the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) in 1880.[1] There are also references dating back to the late 1860s, making the club one of the oldest and longest established athletic clubs in the United Kingdom.[2]
| |
| Founded | 1881 |
|---|---|
| Ground | Palmer Park Stadium |
| Location | Wokingham Rd, Earley, Reading RG6 1LF |
| Coordinates | 51°27′07″N 0°56′13″W |
| Website | official website |
History
Reading Athletic Club's earliest Olympian was Billy Leach who qualified for the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm for the long jump and standing long jump after finishing second in the Olympic trial at Stamford Bridge but did not start the event.[3]
In 1964 Ann Packer became Britain's first female Olympic gold medalist, winning the 800 metres event at the 1964 Summer Olympics.[4]
Notable athletes
Olympians
| Athlete | Events | Games | Medals/Pos, Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Leach | Long jump | 1912 | [3] |
| Henry Oliver | 3000 m steeplechase | 1928 | [5] |
| Harry Whittle | 400 m hurdles, long jump | 1948, 1952 | [6] |
| Ann Packer | 400 m, 800 m | 1964 | .svg){kind=icon} .svg){kind=icon} [7] |
| Bev Goddard-Callender | 200 m, 4×100 m, 4×400 m | 1976, 1980, 1984 | .svg){kind=icon} [8] |
| Kathy Smallwood-Cook | 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 4×100 m | 1980, 1984 | [9] |
| Simmone Jacobs | 100 m, 200 m, 4×100 m | 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996 | [10] |
Commonwealth Games
| Athlete | Events | Games | Medals/Pos, Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Chivers | 3 miles | 1950 | |
| Nigel Spratley | Shot put | 1994 |