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Centenary of that ‘real human being’…
the greatest Heathern
In a year dominated by such London Empire Games in Britain at the Berlin Games
sporting events as the World 1934 but missed the Sydney in 1936. Unfortunately he
Empire games in 1938 as he had injured himself while out
Cup, the Commonwealth was taking his law exams. He walking just before the Games
Games and the Ryder Cup set World records in 1937, and so did himself no justice,
it is not altogether surprising 1938 and 1939 at the Mile, not even finishing in his heat.
that many people even in Half Mile (and 800m) and He had to wait until he was
the world of athletics might also at the Three Quarters of over 85 for his MBE, the
overlook the fact that 100 a Mile. 4.06.4, 1.48.4 (1.49.2 result of a lengthy campaign
years ago on 30 August 1914, for 880), and 2.59.5 were his by his friends.
one of Britain’s greatest ever World record marks and in
1945 he improved his mile He decided not to run in the
athletes was born. time to 4.04.2 in Stockholm. 1948 Olympic Games as he
Maybe his greatest Athletic took the view that he could
In his lifetime he was very achievement was winning the only properly prepare for either
much a legend and his exploits ‘National’ at Sheffield in 1948 the ‘National’ or the Olympics
during his active athletic leading Blackheath to their first and he chose an event that had
career were well documented ever National team medals, massive significance at the time.
and keenly followed, but in something the club would Whether, by effectively turning
later years having retired not achieve again until 1986. his back on the Olympics, he
from active athletics he would From photos taken at this race lost the opportunity to light the
watch as new generations of you can see just how much he flame is open to conjecture. He
athletes threatened to banish wanted this victory, what he was our greatest ever athlete
his achievements to obscurity. put himself through and his and deliberately choosing not
However, here at Blackheath absolute determination to win. to participate in the Olympics
and Bromley Harriers, the name probably lost him some support.
of Sydney Wooderson could One obvious achievement
never be forgotten especially is however conspicuous by Unlike some modern
when in 2007 the clubhouse was its absence and the ultimate athletes for whom the lure of
renamed the Sydney Wooderson question asked about him international fame and wealth
Centre an act which took place will always be what he made them forget their loyalty
after the Memorial Service in might have achieved in the to the grass roots of club level
his honour. Here his portrait Olympics if fate had been Sydney remained committed
and many other artifacts remain more discriminating. But for to the club as an athlete and
on display for present and the Second World War, it’s as an official. He was twice
future members to be reminded very likely he would have won President of Blackheath
of who he was and what he Olympic Gold in the 1940 Harriers, the second time
achieved. and 1944 Games which of during their centenary year in
course never took place. But
His achievements during for that war, Sydney might
his Athletics career were even have been the first to
impressive enough. He won break 4 minutes for the mile.
Gold at the Paris Europeans Nonetheless, Sydney was an
in 1938 at 1500m and also in Olympian, representing Great
1946 at 5000m in Oslo. Sydney
won silver in the Mile at the
