Cardiff Amateur Athletic Club
Encyclopedia
Cardiff Amateur Athletic Club (Cardiff AAC) (formed 1882 as Roath (Cardiff) Harriers) is an athletics club
based at the Cardiff International Sports Stadium, Cardiff
. The club began as a cross country
club, the first athletics only club in Wales. Roath Harriers runners became (individual and team) champions of the first Welsh Cross Country Championships, held on 7th March 1894. Roath Harriers shared Maindy Stadium
with Birchgrove Harriers from its opening in 1951 and the two clubs amalgamated to form Cardiff Amateur Athletic Club in 1968. Cardiff were British Athletics League champions in 1973, 1974 and 1975 and remain one of the top twelve clubs in Britain.
The club comprises five sections, each specialising in a separate sport: track and field
; road running
; cross country
; mountain running; and road walking.
Cardiff AAC athletes have won a total of 122 medals at major international championships—Olympic and Paralympic Games, World and European Championships, Commonwealth Games and the World University Games.
Former and current Cardiff AAC athletes include:
Sports club
A sports club or sport club, sometimes athletics club or sports association is a club for the purpose of playing one or more sports...
based at the Cardiff International Sports Stadium, Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
. The club began as a cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
club, the first athletics only club in Wales. Roath Harriers runners became (individual and team) champions of the first Welsh Cross Country Championships, held on 7th March 1894. Roath Harriers shared Maindy Stadium
Maindy Stadium
Maindy Centre , which was formerly known as Maindy Stadium, now also known as Maindy Pool and Cycle Track, includes a cycle track and indoor swimming pool facility in the Maindy area of Cardiff, Wales...
with Birchgrove Harriers from its opening in 1951 and the two clubs amalgamated to form Cardiff Amateur Athletic Club in 1968. Cardiff were British Athletics League champions in 1973, 1974 and 1975 and remain one of the top twelve clubs in Britain.
The club comprises five sections, each specialising in a separate sport: track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
; road running
Road running
Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road . These events would be classified as long distance according to athletics terminology, with distances typically ranging from 5 kilometers to 42.2 kilometers in the marathon. They may involve large numbers of runners...
; cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
; mountain running; and road walking.
Cardiff AAC athletes have won a total of 122 medals at major international championships—Olympic and Paralympic Games, World and European Championships, Commonwealth Games and the World University Games.
Former and current Cardiff AAC athletes include:
- Jim AlfordJames AlfordJames Alford was a Welsh track athlete. He was born in Cardiff, Wales. In 1938 Alford won the Mile Empire Games gold medal in Sydney, becoming the first athlete in a Welsh vest to strike gold in the Empire Games. He was also a member of the British 4 x 1500 metre team that broke the world record...
(1938 British Empire Games1938 British Empire GamesThe 1938 British Empire Games was the third British Empire Games, the Commonwealth Games being the modern-day equivalent. Held in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia from February 5–12, 1938, they were timed to coincide with Sydney's sesqui-centenary...
gold medalist) - Lynn Davies (Lynn the Leap)Lynn DaviesLynn Davies CBE was a member of the Cardiff Amateur Athletic Club and captain of the British Olympic long jump team in 1964....
(1966 and 1970 Commonwealth Games gold medalist) - Clive Longe (1966 Commonwealth Games silver medalist)
- Berwyn PriceBerwyn PriceBerwyn Price is a former Welsh international athlete. Price was born in Tredegar, Monmouthshire, and studied at Lewis School, Pengam and the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth....
(1974 silver and 1978 Commonwealth Games1978 Commonwealth GamesThe 1978 Commonwealth Games were held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, from 3 to 12 August 1978, two years after the 1976 Summer Olympics were held in Montreal, Quebec...
gold medalist) - Steve BarrySteve BarrySteven John Barry is a retired Welsh race walker, born in Cardiff.A member of the Cardiff Amateur Athletic Club and Roath Walking Club, Barry won the gold medal in the 30 km road walk at the 1982 Commonwealth Games representing Wales.Barry represented Great Britain at the 1984 Los Angeles...
(1982 Commonwealth Games1982 Commonwealth GamesThe 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from 30 September–9 October 1982. The Opening Ceremony was held at the QEII Stadium , in the Brisbane suburb of Nathan. The QEII Stadium was also the venue which was used for the athletics and archery competitions during the...
gold medalist) - Colin JacksonColin JacksonColin Ray Jackson CBE is a British former sprint and hurdling athlete who specialised in the 110 metres hurdles. Over his career representing Great Britain and Wales he won an Olympic silver medal, became world champion three times, went undefeated at the European Championships for 12 years and...
(1986 Commonwealth Games1986 Commonwealth GamesThe 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second time. The Games were held from 24 July-2 August 1986.-Organisation and Controversy:...
and 1988 Olympic Games1988 Summer OlympicsThe 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
silver medalist) - Venissa HeadVenissa HeadVenissa Anne Head is a former international track and field athlete from Wales.A member of the Cardiff Athletic Club she was part of the British Olympic team for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where she took sixth place in the shot put final and seventh place in the discus final.Head...
(1986 Commonwealth Games1986 Commonwealth GamesThe 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second time. The Games were held from 24 July-2 August 1986.-Organisation and Controversy:...
silver medalist) - Angela Tooby (1986 Commonwealth Games1986 Commonwealth GamesThe 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second time. The Games were held from 24 July-2 August 1986.-Organisation and Controversy:...
bronze medalist) - Helen Miles (1986 Commonwealth Games1986 Commonwealth GamesThe 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second time. The Games were held from 24 July-2 August 1986.-Organisation and Controversy:...
bronze medalist) - Carmen Smart (1986 Commonwealth Games1986 Commonwealth GamesThe 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second time. The Games were held from 24 July-2 August 1986.-Organisation and Controversy:...
bronze medalist) - Kay MorleyKay Morley-BrownKay Morley-Brown is a retired Welsh athlete and former 100 metre hurdles Commonwealth Games champion, born in Swinton, Yorkshire....
(1990 Commonwealth Games1990 Commonwealth GamesThe 1990 Commonwealth Games were held in Auckland, New Zealand from 24 January-3 February 1990. It was the 14th Commonwealth Games, and part of New Zealand's 1990 sesquicentennial celebrations. Participants competed in ten sports: athletics, aquatics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, judo,...
gold medalist) - Tanni Grey-ThompsonTanni Grey-ThompsonCarys Davina "Tanni" Grey-Thompson, Baroness Grey-Thompson, DBE is a Welsh athlete and TV presenter.Grey-Thompson was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair. She is considered to be one of the most successful disabled athletes in the UK...
(winner of 11 Olympic gold medals) - Tracey Hinton (double 19921992 Summer OlympicsThe 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
and 2000 Olympic Games silver medalist and 1992 Olympic Games bronze medalist) - Paul Gray (19941994 Commonwealth GamesThe 1994 Commonwealth Games were held in Victoria, in the province of British Columbia in Canada, from 18 August to 28 August 1994.The XV Commonwealth Games marked South Africa's return to the Commonwealth Games following the apartheid era, and over 30 years since the country last competed in the...
and 1998 Commonwealth Games1998 Commonwealth GamesThe 1998 XVI Commonwealth Games were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 11 September to 21 September 1998 making it the first Asian country to act as host and the last Commonwealth Games for the 20th century. A record 70 nations supplied 3638 athletes...
bronze medalist) - Doug TurnerDoug TurnerDouglas William Turner was a Republican candidate for the New Mexico gubernatorial election, 2010. Turner was defeated in the June 1, 2010 primary election by Susana Martinez...
(1998 Commonwealth Games1998 Commonwealth GamesThe 1998 XVI Commonwealth Games were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 11 September to 21 September 1998 making it the first Asian country to act as host and the last Commonwealth Games for the 20th century. A record 70 nations supplied 3638 athletes...
bronze medalist) - Nigel WalkerNigel WalkerNigel Walker is a former Welsh athlete and Wales international rugby union player. He is currently National Director at the . He was born in Cardiff....
- Jamie BaulchJamie BaulchJames Steven Baulch , but raised by foster parents in Risca, near Newport, is a British sprint athlete and television presenter. He won the 400 metres gold medal at the 1999 World Indoor Championships. As a member of British 4 x 400 metres relay teams, he won a gold medal at the 1997 World...
(1996 Olympic Games and 2002 Commonwealth Games2002 Commonwealth GamesThe 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in the UK, eclipsing London's 1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating.After the 1996 Manchester...
silver medalist and 1998 Commonwealth Games1998 Commonwealth GamesThe 1998 XVI Commonwealth Games were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 11 September to 21 September 1998 making it the first Asian country to act as host and the last Commonwealth Games for the 20th century. A record 70 nations supplied 3638 athletes...
bronze medalist) - Christian MalcolmChristian MalcolmChristian Sean Malcolm is a Welsh athlete, specialising in the 200m.Malcolm was born in Cardiff and resides in Newport, Wales. He won the title of World Junior Athlete of the Year in 1998 and in the 1998 World Junior Championships, he won the 200m in 20.44 seconds...
(1998 Commonwealth Games1998 Commonwealth GamesThe 1998 XVI Commonwealth Games were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 11 September to 21 September 1998 making it the first Asian country to act as host and the last Commonwealth Games for the 20th century. A record 70 nations supplied 3638 athletes...
silver medalist) - Stephen HerbertStephen HerbertStephen Herbert is a paralympic athlete from Great Britain competing mainly in category T37 sprint events.Stephen competed in the 100m and 200m at the 2000 Summer Paralympics he also competed as part of the silver medal winning British T38 4x100m relay team.-References:...
(2000 Olympic Games2000 Summer ParalympicsThe 2000 Paralympic Games were held in Sydney, Australia, from 18 October to 29 October. The eleventh Summer Paralympic Games, an estimated 3800 athletes took part in the Sydney programme. They commenced with the opening ceremony on 18 October 2000...
silver medalist) - Matthew EliasMatthew EliasMatthew John Elias is a Welsh athlete who specialises in the 400 metres sprint and represents Great Britain. In 2003 he won a gold medal at the European Championships and at the Olympic Games in Athens he finished 5th in the 4x400m relayHe won the European Under23 Championships for the 400m...
(1998 Commonwealth Games1998 Commonwealth GamesThe 1998 XVI Commonwealth Games were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 11 September to 21 September 1998 making it the first Asian country to act as host and the last Commonwealth Games for the 20th century. A record 70 nations supplied 3638 athletes...
bronze medalist and 2002 Commonwealth Games2002 Commonwealth GamesThe 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in the UK, eclipsing London's 1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating.After the 1996 Manchester...
silver medalist) - Gable GarenamotseGable GarenamotseGable Garenamotse is a Botswana long jumper who has won two silver medals at the Commonwealth Games....
(20022002 Commonwealth GamesThe 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in the UK, eclipsing London's 1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating.After the 1996 Manchester...
and 2006 Commonwealth Games2006 Commonwealth GamesThe 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
silver medalist) - Tim BenjaminTim BenjaminTim Benjamin is an English composer. Educated at Christ's Hospital school, he later studied with Anthony Gilbert at the Royal Northern College of Music, Steve Martland, and with Robert Saxton at Oxford University...
(2002 Commonwealth Games2002 Commonwealth GamesThe 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in the UK, eclipsing London's 1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating.After the 1996 Manchester...
silver medalist).