Alf Watson
Encyclopedia
Alfred "Alf" Joseph Watson (26 May 1907 – 23 August 1992) was an Australia
n athlete who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics
and in the 1936 Summer Olympics
.
His eldest brother, Russell Henry Watson (1893–1941), was an Australian amateur middle distance champion, who held titles in the mile, half-mile, and 440 hurdles. Both Alf and his older brother, Edward, attended Caulfield Grammar School
from 1917 to 1919. Alf then attended Ivanhoe Grammar School
, for whom he sprinted and also competed in the high jump.
In 1928 he was eliminated in the first round of the 110 metre hurdles event as well as of the 400 metre hurdles competition.
Eight years later he was again eliminated in the first round of both the 110 metre hurdles contest and the 400 metre hurdles event.
At the 1938 Empire Games he was a member of the Australian relay team which won the bronze medal in the 4×110 yards competition. In the 440 yards hurdles contest he finished fourth.
He announced his retirement from competitive athletics in November 1938.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n athlete who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
and in the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
.
His eldest brother, Russell Henry Watson (1893–1941), was an Australian amateur middle distance champion, who held titles in the mile, half-mile, and 440 hurdles. Both Alf and his older brother, Edward, attended Caulfield Grammar School
Caulfield Grammar School
Caulfield Grammar School is an independent, co-educational, Anglican, day and boarding school, located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1881 as a boys' school, Caulfield began admitting girls exactly one hundred years later...
from 1917 to 1919. Alf then attended Ivanhoe Grammar School
Ivanhoe Grammar School
Ivanhoe Grammar School is an independent, co-educational, day school, located in Ivanhoe and Mernda , both located in the north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
, for whom he sprinted and also competed in the high jump.
In 1928 he was eliminated in the first round of the 110 metre hurdles event as well as of the 400 metre hurdles competition.
Eight years later he was again eliminated in the first round of both the 110 metre hurdles contest and the 400 metre hurdles event.
At the 1938 Empire Games he was a member of the Australian relay team which won the bronze medal in the 4×110 yards competition. In the 440 yards hurdles contest he finished fourth.
He announced his retirement from competitive athletics in November 1938.
External links
- sports-reference.com
- Taylor, P., "These Days of Sport: Master of Style", The Argus, (Saturday, 7 March 1936), p.26.
- Hillhouse, A., "Story of Alf Watson: Brilliant Athlete for Twenty Years, The Junior Argus, (Thursday, 26 March 1936), p.7.
- Australia's Champions: A.J. Watson, The Sydney Morning Herald, (Friday, 27 March 1936), p.15.
- Olympic Hurdler's Success, The Argus, (Monday, 23 November 1936), p.7. and Yates's Good Time for 100 Yards Run, The Argus, (Monday, 23 November 1936), p.7.
- Sports Flashes from Many Fields: Hurdles Champion, The Canberra Times, (Monday, 13 September 1937), p.3.