After a sixty year delay Gloucestershire’s fastest ever sprinter Noel Fontyn(88) has been presented with a county AAA badge. ” I’ve always wanted one to go with my county badges for hockey, indoor and outdoor bowls which I got after retiring from track and field.”
Now living in retirement at Stonehouse, Noel represented the RAF and the AAA internationally and nationally at all the top events from ‘mid 1950’s to early 1960’s. Scoring with many other top sportsman at RAF Innsworth.
He broke the British Native All-Comers record for 100 yards in 1957 running on a brand new track at RAF Dhekelia Cyprus, his time of 9.6 seconds wasn’t accepted as it had to be done on a British track. Later he equalled the existing 9.8 seconds in the UK, but was a yard and a half behind Peter Radford who ran 9.6 seconds. Radford ran 20.9 seconds to finish fourth at the 200 metres semi-final in the 1960 Rome Olympics.
Noel was in the England 4 X 100 yards squad at the 1958 Cardiff Empire Games, missing selection by one place after run offs.
At Innsworth he was prominent in the North Gloucestershire Track and Field League where the 100 yards featured a dozen sub 10 second 100 yard dash men. His best 220 yards of 21.3 seconds ranked him in the UK top ten but he was disappointed not to get under 21 seconds.
County secretary Mick Morris said “The County is delighted to present Noel with it’s badge to honour his achievments. Noel’s times are the best ever by a county athlete.”
Severn A.C.’s virtual 10 mile Road Time Trial on December 6th will be run over an out and back course starting 34 metres from Sellars Bridge Hardwicke. Full details and instructions for social distancing at severnac .com
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