Geoff Saunders

Last updated
Geoff Saunders
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing Flag of England.svg  England
International Cross Country Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1951 Caerleon Senior race

Geoffrey Boothby "Geoff" Saunders (born 25 January 1929) is an English former cross country runner. He represented England four times at the International Cross Country Championships from 1949 to 1952 and was the winner of the race in 1951, leading England to the team gold. He shared in the minor team medals in his other three outings. [1] [2]

He grew up around the Lake District, having moved the due to wartime evacuation. He took up cross country running there and attended Repton School. He ran for Derby & County Athletic Club before moving to Bolton at the age of seventeen, as his father began working as a doctor there, and joined Bolton Harriers. He joined the army, rising to lieutenant, and he won army running titles on the track and in cross country. He retired from the sport in 1953 at the age of 24 as his job at a chemists required him to work weekends. [3]

Geoffery Saunders died late 2019 (December) in a Carehome in Rochford. At the International Cross Country Championships he was England's top finisher in fifth in 1949, leading the English men (including Frank Aaron and Len Eyre) to second in the team rankings behind France. [4] He dropped to 14th the following year, with Aaron replacing him as England's leader. The bronze medal-winning team also included Alec Olney and Eyre. [5] Aaron and Olney were in the International champion team of 1951, as was Walter Hesketh – a regional rival of Saunders'. [6] On his last outing in 1952 he ended the race in 13th. The English team were second to the French – Hesketh led the team in fourth and the emerging Frank Sando (himself later an individual champion) was in ninth. The remaining member of the team that year were Frederick Norris and Jim Peters. [7]

International competitions

YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
1949 International Cross Country Championships Dublin, Ireland5thSenior race48:14
2ndSenior team90 pts
1950 International Cross Country Championships Brussels, Belgium14thSenior race47:09
3rdSenior team82 pts
1951 International Cross Country Championships Caerleon, Wales1stSenior race54:07
1stSenior team47 pts
1952 International Cross Country Championships Hamilton, United Kingdom13thSenior race50:11
2ndSenior team64 pts

Related Research Articles

The 1996 IAAF World Cross Country Championships was held in Stellenbosch, South Africa, at the Danie Craven Stadium on March 23, 1996. A preview on the event was given in the Herald, and a report in The New York Times.

The 1995 IAAF World Cross Country Championships was held in Durham, United Kingdom, at the University of Durham on 25 March 1995. A report on the event was given in The New York Times and in the Herald.

The 1994 IAAF World Cross Country Championships was held in Budapest, Hungary, at the Kincsem Park on March 26, 1994. A preview on the event was given in the Herald, and a report in The New York Times.

The 1992 IAAF World Cross Country Championships was held in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, at the Franklin Park on March 21, 1992. A report on the event was given in The New York Times.

The 1991 IAAF World Cross Country Championships was held in Antwerpen, Belgium, at the Linkeroever Racecourse on March 24, 1991. A report on the event was given in The New York Times.

The 1990 IAAF World Cross Country Championships was held in Aix-les-Bains, France, at the Hippodrome de Marlioz on March 25, 1990. A report on the event was given in the Glasgow Herald.

The 1988 IAAF World Cross Country Championships was held in Auckland, New Zealand, at the Ellerslie Racecourse on March 26, 1988. A report on the event was given in the Glasgow Herald.

The 1986 IAAF World Cross Country Championships was held in Colombier, Neuchâtel, Switzerland, at the Planeyse Colombier on March 23, 1986. A report on the event was given in the Glasgow Herald and in the Evening Times.

The 1981 IAAF World Cross Country Championships was held in Madrid, Spain, at the Hipodromo de la Zarzuela on March 28, 1981. A report on the event was given in the Glasgow Herald.

The 1973 IAAF World Cross Country Championships was held in Waregem, Belgium, at the Hippodroom Waregem on March 17, 1973. A report on the event was given in the Glasgow Herald.

The 1974 IAAF World Cross Country Championships was held in Monza, Italy, at the Mirabello Racecourse on March 16, 1974. A report on the event was given in the Glasgow Herald.

The 1976 IAAF World Cross Country Championships was held in Chepstow, Wales, at the Chepstow Racecourse on 28 February 1976. A report on the event was given in the Glasgow Herald.

The 1962 International Cross Country Championships was held in Sheffield, England, at the Graves Park on 24 March 1962. A report on the event was given in the Glasgow Herald.

The 1964 International Cross Country Championships was held in Dublin, Ireland, at the Leopardstown Racecourse on March 21, 1964. A report on the men's event was given in the Glasgow Herald.

The 1967 International Cross Country Championships was held in Barry, Wales, on 18 March 1967. For the first time, an official women's competition was held. A report on the event was given in the Glasgow Herald.

The 1968 International Cross Country Championships was held in Tunis, Tunisia, at the Hippodrome de Kassar-Said on March 17, 1968. The women's championship was held one week later in Blackburn, England at the Witton Country Park on March 23, 1968. A report on the men's event as well as on the women's event was given in the Glasgow Herald.

The 1969 International Cross Country Championships was held in Clydebank, Scotland, at the Dalmuir Park on 22 March 1969. A report on the men's event was given in the Glasgow Herald.

The 1970 International Cross Country Championships was held in Vichy, France, on March 22, 1970. An alternate women's championship was held one day earlier in Frederick, Maryland, United States at the VFW Country Club, on March 21, 1970. A report on the Vichy event as well as on the Frederick event was given in the Glasgow Herald.

The 1971 International Cross Country Championships was held in San Sebastián, Spain, at the Lasarte Hippodrome on March 20, 1971. A report on the event was given in the Glasgow Herald.

The 1972 International Cross Country Championships was held in Cambridge, England, at the Coldhams Common on 18 March 1972. A report on the men's event was given in the Glasgow Herald. This was the last competition organized by the International Cross Country Union (ICCU). The organization of the event was transferred to the IAAF as recommended as a result of the meeting of the IAAF cross-country committee that year in London. It was continued as IAAF World Cross Country Championships. From then on, the event was open for all IAAF members whereas before, non-ICCU members were only allowed to compete after special invitation.

References

  1. ↑ Geoff Saunders (1929.01.25). AthChamps (archived). Retrieved on 2016-04-28.
  2. ↑ International Cross Country Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2016-04-28.
  3. ↑ “Think it over and put it right”: the races of Geoff Saunders. Track Stats. Retrieved on 2016-04-28.
  4. ↑ Magnusson, Tomas (March 24, 2007), INTERNATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS - 14.5km CC Men - Dublin Baldoyle Racecourse Date: Saturday, March 26, 1949, Athchamps (archived), archived from the original on August 7, 2007, retrieved October 1, 2013CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  5. ↑ Magnusson, Tomas (March 24, 2007), INTERNATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS - 14.5km CC Men - Bruxelles Hippodrome de Boitsfort Date: Saturday, March 25, 1950, Athchamps (archived), archived from the original on August 6, 2007, retrieved October 1, 2013CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  6. ↑ Magnusson, Tomas (March 24, 2007), INTERNATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS - 14.9km CC Men - Newport Caerleon Racecourse Date: Saturday, March 31, 1951, Athchamps (archived), archived from the original on July 19, 2007, retrieved October 1, 2013CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  7. ↑ Magnusson, Tomas (March 24, 2007), INTERNATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS - 14.5km CC Men - Glasgow Hamilton Park Date: Saturday, March 22, 1952, Athchamps (archived), archived from the original on June 9, 2007, retrieved October 1, 2013CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
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