Simon Langley 2.0

Worksop College is most fortunate in that over the last 100 years or so athletics performances have been recorded very diligently. As a result, not only are athletics records available, but also previous records.

W.B. Thompson (Mountgarret 1949-1954) was the first National calibre athlete from Worksop, he won the College’s first National title (over 200 yards low hurdles in 1954), closely followed by P.R. Brunyee (Talbot 1952-1956) winning two All England Schools titles in 1955 and 1956 both over the high hurdles. In 1975 M.P. Hay (Mountgarret 1968-1973) became the College’s first full international when he represented GB at the decathlon. The Buckner brothers still remain the College’s only Olympians, Jack represented GB at Seoul and Barcelona over 5000m and Tom at the 3000m steeplechase in Barcelona. Other internationals include S.D. Heggie (Portland 1989-1994), S.T. Lewis (Shirley 1988-1993) and B.Foster (Portland 1970-1975). Most recently M.Lambley (Shirley) has become a real force to be reckoned with on the British hammer throwing scene - his 2009 best of 68.98m was good enough to ensure selection for the European Under 23 Championships.

1993 is certainly a stand-out year. A school athletics team that can boast a B-string 100m/200m runner at 10.70/21.95 is quite mind boggling, Mr Alex Simpson is very unfortunate not to hold a College records in the 100m/200m/long jump! Some other names that warrant a mention:

• P.S. Southcott’s 1948 100y time of 10s that was never bettered until we went metric in 1973.
• J.S. Pinkney whom set 3 x College records at the 1937 Sports (10.2 - 100y, 23 - 220y & 53.8 - 440y), his long jump record (set earlier in the season) lasted until 1980. Pinkney also played rugby for England and was regarded as one of England’s best schoolboy centres/wings of the late 30s.
• J.D. Bray - won the England Public Schools 100m/long jump (10.88/6.70) in 1986 and only recently lost his long jump record to D. Dykes (6.80)
• J.K. Gibson - half an inch off 6ft for the high jump in 1961 when in the lower VIth. Was also close to Pinkney’s long jump record (“and what a good record that is”).
• M.R. Woodcock, D.M.W. Griffiths, D.J. Reason - from the highly successful athletics teams of the late 50s and early 60s. All members of the Rosslyn Park sevens team that finished runners-up to Edinburgh Academy in 1960. Woodcock ran 50.30/1:56 for the 440y/880y, Griffiths 4:23/1:58 for the mile/880y and Reason 22.6 for the 220y. The latter played England Public Schools rugby.
• R.E. Randle - sadly killed in a road accident in the early 60s, Randle at the same match in 1963 missed the 100y and 220y records by a tenth each (10.1/22.7). Also held the College decathlon record pre-metric. Played England Public Schools rugby.