Wally Beckwith

Beckwith was a professional sprinter who competed under the Victorian Athletic League (VAL) from 1909–1934. As both a flat-runner and a hurdler he was most successful during his early years which included a third-place in the 1915 Stawell Gift and a win in the Sprint Handicap (75 yards) at the same meeting. He had won the latter event in 1913 and could have won three in a row had he not submitted an incomplete entry for in 1914.^[1] Other wins of note included the 1918 Shepparton Gift and a Wangaratta Gift.^[2][3] He was winning races as late as 1930 when he won the Lancefield Gift.^[4]

In 1938 Beckwith was appointed one of the handicappers for the Stawell meeting^[5] and later that same year was appointed as a handicapper for the VAL.^[6] Having filled further roles as VAL steward and committee member he was elected president in 1947 and served until 1950.^[7] He became an honorary life member of the VAL in 1951 and of the Stawell Athletic Club in 1962.^[1][8]

Beckwith played his early football at Clifton Hill and West Melbourne CYMS in the CYMS Football Association. He made his only league appearance in the second round of the 1918 VFL season, when he played in Fitzroy's 40-point loss to eventual premiers South Melbourne at Brunswick Street Oval.

His son John had a much more successful career, playing in five premiership teams at Melbourne.