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History of Kent County Athletics Association

Last amended at 03-01-23

The Association was formed in September 1990 by the amalgamation of the Kent County Women's Athletic Association and the Kent County Amateur Athletic Association.

The history of the Women's Association started with its formation in 1946 with Bill Hitchen the first Secretary. The first Championships were held at Aylesford Paper Mills, backed by Col. Sheldon. The 1948 Championships were held at Ravensbourne, Lee, and were a financial disaster but Col. Sheldon paid off all the debts "in recognition of the lady athletes performance at the 1948 Olympic Games held at Wembley". After organisational problems in 1963 a Championship Committee was formed, consisting of Percy Davies, Faraday Coomber and Alan Luckett. Alan Luckett was to become Association Chairman in 1968 and President in 1973, both posts which he held to the 1990 amalgamation.

The Men's Association was formed in 1920 by a nucleus of clubs who had existed in the County from Victorian times. The oldest of these were Blackheath Harriers founded in 1869, and Cambridge Harriers in 1890 both still members. Following the First World War the Amateur Athletic Association recommended that County associations be formed and on 6th May 1920 a meeting was held at the Town Hall, Maidstone, at the invitation of the Mayor and under the chairmanship of the Marquis Camden, Lord Lieutenant of Kent, with a view to forming such a Kent Association. Unfortunately the meeting was poorly attended and considered not to be fully representative so a further meeting was held in the London offices of the Amateur Athletic Association on 26th May 1920. As a consequence the Kent County A.A.A. was formed with T. Crafter of Blackheath Harriers and Charles Otway of Herne Hill Harriers as the first Chairman and Secretary respectively. The first Championships were held on 7th August 1920 at the Woolwich Polytechnic Ground, Eltham, and the first Cross Country Championships on the 5th March 1921 from the Ravensbourne Club Ground in Lee from where it was possible to run in Mottingham, Eltham Green, Well Hall and Kidbrooke. From then, with the exception of the period of the Second World War, these Championships have been held annually around the County, though since 1967 the Track and Field Championships were nearly all held at Crystal Palace and from 1976 as a single event with the Ladies Championships.

The County has been fortunate to be helped from the beginning by many long-serving men and women who have given freely of their time and effort so that Kent is one of the leading Athletic Counties. From the earliest days when Charles  Otway was Secretary of the A. A. A. from 1914 to 1929 and C. W. Pearce of Herne Hill, who had been President of the English Cross Country Union 1914 to 1919, took over as Treasurer of that organisation from Jack Cottrell of Cambridge Harriers through to Alan Brent of Blackheath Harriers recently President of the English Cross Country Union and Eric Nash of Cambridge Harriers until 1998 Secretary of the South of England Athletic Association where he followed Len Smith of Medway Athletic Club.

Athletically, too, the County has had a continuing succession of high performers with regular representation for Great Britain at Olympic Games and European Championships and for England at the Commonwealth Games and the International Cross Country Championships.

Individually the greatest performances must be the World Records obtained by Sydney Wooderson and Steve Backley while the consistency and fine performance of Frank Sando in the International Cross Country Championships, competing every year from 1952 until 1960 and the winner in 1955 and 1957 is unlikely to be surpassed. During most of her long and active career Judy Oakes threw for Kent and most recently Dame Kelly Holmes has become a leading British competitor winning Gold at the Olympic Games.


Past Presidents & Honorary Life Members (HLM) of KCAA

Denis Foxley (HLM) (1994-1995)
Graham Holder (HLM) (2015 -2018)
Louise Knight (HLM) (2011 - 2015)
David Maynard (HLM) (1999-2000)

2023 Present   President Andrew Scoones
2018 2022   President Claire Capon
2015 2018   President Graham Holder
2011 2015   President Louise Knight
2010 2011   President Barry Royden
2009 2010   President David Ralph
2008 2009   President Derek Garrard
2007 2008   President Marjorie Sawyer
2006 2007   President Ken Gilbert
2005 2006   President Mike Rowbottom
2004 2005   President Ian F Smith
2003 2004   President Neil C P Smith
2002 2003   President Frank D Sando
2001 2002   President Ron Hale
2000 2001   President Eric Nash
1999 2000   President David Maynard
1998 1999   President F Len Murphy
1997 1998   President Ron P Sawyer
1996 1997   President Chris Newman
1995 1996   President Mick Paul
1994 1995   President Dennis Foxley
1993 1994   President Mrs Daphne M Reed
1992 1993   President Jack G Alston
1991 1992   President Alan J Brent
1990 1991   President Alan W Luckett
           
KCAA formed 30 September 1990 from KCWAAA & KCAAA

 

Below is information supplied by Brian Boulton

Kent County Amateur Athletic Association - Officers 1920-1990      
           
Year President Secretary Treasurer Chairman Vice Chairman Notes
           
1920 Marquess Camden C Otway T W.Higgs T Crafter    
  Herne Hill H W P A C Blackheath H    
           
1921 Marquess Camden C Otway T W Higgs T Crafter    
  Herne Hill H W P A C Blackheath H    
           
1922 Marquess Camden C Otway F H Hulford T K Grant    
  Herne Hill H Herne Hill H. Blackheath H    
           
1923 Marquess Camden C Otway F H Hulford T K Grant   AGM 2nd March 1923
  Herne Hill H   Blackheath H    
           
1924 Marquess Camden C Otway F H Hulford T K Grant   AGM 27th February 1924
  Herne Hill H   Blackheath H    
           
1925 Marquess Camden C Otway H G Brockman T K Grant   AGM 9th February 1925
  Herne Hill H Herne Hill H Blackheath H    
           
1926 Marquess Camden C Otway H G Brockman T K Grant   C Otway died on 7th October
  Herne Hill H Herne Hill H Blackheath H   1934. AGM 24th February 1926
           
1927 Marquess Camden A E Waldegrave H G Brockman T W Higgs    
    Herne Hill H      
           
1928 Marquess Camden A E Waldegrave H G Brockman T W Higgs    
    Herne Hill H      
           
1929 Marquess Camden A E Waldegrave H G Brockman T W Higgs    
    Herne Hill H      
           
1930 Marquess Camden A E Waldegrave H G Brockman T W Higgs J H Williams (Pt)  
    Herne Hill H   Blackheath H.  
           
1931 Marquess Camden A E Waldegrave H G Brockman T W Higgs J H Williams  
    Herne Hill H   Blackheath H.  
           
1932 Marquess Camden A E Waldegrave A D Thwaites T W Higgs J H Williams  
    Blackheath H   Blackheath H.  
           
1933 Marquess Camden A E Waldegrave A D Thwaites T W Higgs * J H Williams * Deceased 25 April 1935
    Blackheath H   Blackheath H.  
           
1934 Marquess Camden A E Waldegrave A D Thwaites J H Williams C W F Pearce  
    Blackheath H  Blackheath H. Herne Hill H  
           
1935 Marquess Camden A E Waldegrave A D Thwaites J H Williams C W F Pearce  
    Blackheath H Blackheath H. Herne Hill H  
           
1936 Marquess Camden A E Waldegrave A D Thwaites J H Williams C W F Pearce  
    Blackheath H Blackheath H. Herne Hill H  
           
1937 Marquess Camden A E Waldegrave A D Thwaites J H Williams C W F Pearce  
    Blackheath H Blackheath H. Herne Hill H  
           
1938 Lt. Col. C D Sheldon A E Waldegrave * A D Thwaites J H Williams H W E Sercombe * Resigned 7 December 1938
  (resigned 7/12/38) Blackheath H Blackheath H. Blackheath H. L Hammill Asst Sec 13/10/38
           
1939 Lt. Col. C D Sheldon L E Hammill A D Thwaites W C A Findlay H W E Sercombe  
  Blackheath H Blackheath H Herne Hill H. Blackheath H.  
           
1940 Lt. Col. C D Sheldon L E Hammill A D Thwaites W C A Findlay W J Western  
  Blackheath H  Blackheath H Herne Hill H. Dartford H  
           
  from 3rd July 1942        
  W J Western         
  acting Hon Sec        
           
1943 Lt. Col. C D Sheldon W J Western A D Thwaites Chairman elected for    
  Dartford H Blackheath H each meeting    
           
1944 Lt. Col. C D Sheldon W J Western A D Thwaites W C A Findlay    
  Dartford H Blackheath H Herne Hill H.    
           
1945 Lt. Col. C D Sheldon W J Western A D Thwaites W C A Findlay    
  Dartford H Blackheath H Herne Hill H.    
           
1946 Lt. Col. C D Sheldon W J Western E A Holland W C A Findlay    
  Dartford H Cambridge H Herne Hill H    
           
1947 Lt. Col. C D Sheldon A Howard E A Holland W C A Findlay W J Western  
  Aylesford P M Cambridge H. Herne Hill H. Dartford H.  
           
1948 Lt. Col. C D Sheldon A Howard E A Holland W C A Findlay W J Western  
  Aylesford P M Cambridge H. Herne Hill H. Dartford H.  
           
1949 Lt. Col. C D Sheldon A Howard E A Holland W C A Findlay W J Western  
  Aylesford P M Cambridge H. Herne Hill H. Dartford H.  
           
1950 Lt. Col. C D Sheldon A Howard E A Holland W C A Findlay W J Western  
  Aylesford P M Cambridge H. Herne Hill H. Dartford H.  
           
1951 Lt. Col. C D Sheldon A Howard E A Holland W C A Findlay W J Western  
  Aylesford P M Cambridge H. Herne Hill H. Dartford H.  
           
1952 Sir A. Ralph Reed * A Howard E A Holland W C A Findlay W J Western * Family connection with 
  Aylesford P M Cambridge H. Herne Hill H. Dartford H. Albert E Reed & Co.
           
1953 Sir A. Ralph Reed A Howard E A Holland W C A Findlay W J Western  
  Aylesford P M Cambridge H. Herne Hill H. Dartford H.  
           
1954 Sir A. Ralph Reed A Howard E A Holland W C A Findlay W J Western  
  Aylesford P M Cambridge H. Herne Hill H. Dartford H.  
           
1955 Sir A. Ralph Reed F R Tregunno E A Holland W C A Findlay W J Western  
  Kent A C Cambridge H. Herne Hill H. Dartford H.  
           
1956 Sir A . Ralph Reed F R Tregunno * E A Holland W C A Findlay W J Western * Resigned Hon Sec 5/9/56
  Kent A C Cambridge H. Herne Hill H. Dartford H. A Howard took over again
           
1957 Sir A. Ralph Reed V W W Beardon E A Holland W C A Findlay W J Western  
  Blackheath H. Cambridge H. Herne Hill H. Dartford H.  
           
1958 Sir A. Ralph Reed * V W W Beardon E A Holland W C A Findlay #  W J Western # Deceased 26th April 1958
  Blackheath H. Cambridge H. Herne Hill H. Dartford H. * Deceased June/ July 1958
           
1959 S W Barrow * H C Rogers E A Holland A Howard W R J Clarke * Thought to have been a 
  Cambridge H. Cambridge H. Aylesford P M Blackheath H. Director of Aylesford P Mills
           
1960 S W Barrow H C Rogers E A Holland * A Howard W R J Clarke * Resigned Hon Treas 6/7/60 
  Cambridge H. Cambridge H. Aylesford P M Blackheath H. R McCracken acting to AGM
           
1961 S W Barrow H C Rogers D J Hennessy A Howard W R J Clarke  
  Cambridge H.   Aylesford P M Blackheath H.  
           
1962 S W Barrow H C Rogers D J Hennessy A Howard * W R J Clarke * Deceased 22nd January 1963
  Cambridge H.   Aylesford P M Blackheath H. Obituary AW 26th January 1963
           
1963 S W Barrow H C Rogers D J Hennessy W R J Clarke * E A Holland * Moved to Sussex Oct. 63
  Cambridge H.   Blackheath H. Cambridge H. Appears to have resigned
           
1964 S W Barrow H C Rogers D J Hennessy E A Holland A Beech  
  Cambridge H.   Cambridge H. Cambridge H.  
           
1965 S W Barrow D F Millgate D J Hennessy E A Holland J G Alston  
  Kent AC   Cambridge H.    
           
1966 E A Holland* D F Millgate W J Traer J G Alston L E Hammill First Annual President
Cambridge H Kent AC Blackheath H.   Blackheath H. * Arthur Holland
           
1967 A W Spalding* D F Millgate W J Traer J G Alston   * Alec Spalding
Cambridge H Kent AC Blackheath H      
           
1968 W J Western* D F Millgate W J Traer J G Alston   * Bill Western
Dartford H Kent AC Blackheath H      
           
1969 L E Hammill* D F Millgate W J Traer J G Alston   * Laurie Hammill
Blackheath H Kent AC Blackheath H      
           
1970 H C Rogers* D F Millgate W J Traer J G Alston L E Hammill * Bert Rogers
Cambridge H Kent AC Blackheath H   Blackheath H  
           
1971 J Hennessey* D F Millgate W J Traer J G Alston   * Jim Hennessey
  Kent AC Blackheath H      
           
1972 V G Wood*  D F Millgate   J G Alston   * Vic Wood
  Kent AC        
           
1973 H F Rainbird* D F Millgate W H Alexander J G Alston   * Harold Rainbird
Cambridge H Kent AC        
           
1974 A W Luckett* D F Millgate W H Alexander J G Alston   * Alan Luckett
  Kent AC        
           
1975 N M Lewis* L A Smith W H Alexander J G Alston L E Hammill * Norman Lewis
  Medway AC     Blackheath H  
           
1976 J G Alston* L A Smith W H Alexander J G Alston   * Jack Alston
  Medway AC        
           
1977 P W Green* L A Smith W H Alexander J G Alston   * Jimmy Green
Medway AC Medway AC        
           
1978 A Nye* D F Millgate W H Alexander J G Alston   * Arthur Nye
Blackheath H Kent AC Elliott Reed A C      
           
1979 A J Brent*1 D F Millgate W H Alexander J G Alston L E Hammill *1 Alan Brent
Blackheath H Kent AC *2 Elliott A C   Blackheath H. *2 Joined Blackheath H 6/8/79
           
1980 F D Sando*1 D F Millgate F D Sando J G Alston   *1 Frank Sando
Elliott A C Blackheath H. ? *2 Elliott A C     *2 Unclear if resigned Kent A C
           
1981 S T Fry* D F Millgate F D Sando J G Alston L E Hammill * "Ticker" Fry
Medway AC Blackheath H.  Elliott A C   Blackheath H  
           
1982 N C P Smith* D F Millgate F D Sando J G Alston S T Fry * Neil Smith
Sevenoaks AC Blackheath H.  Elliott A C   Medway  A C  
           
1983 D F Millgate* D F Millgate F D Sando J G Alston S T Fry * Dennis Millgate
Blackheath H.  Blackheath H. Elliott A C   Medway A C  
           
1984 W H Alexander* D F Millgate F D Sando J G Alston A W Luckett * Bill Alexander
Elliott A C Blackheath H. Elliott A C      
           
1985 P Stedall* D F Millgate F D Sando J G Alston A W Luckett * Peter Stedall
Medway A C Blackheath H. GEC Avionics AC      
           
1986 R Hale* D Foxley F D Sando J G Alston A W Luckett * Ron Hale
Kent AC Medway AC GEC Avionics AC      
           
1987 I F Smith* D Foxley F D Sando J G Alston   * Iain Smith
Blackheath H Medway AC GEC Avionics AC      
           
1988 V W W Beardon* D Foxley F D Sando J G Alston A W Luckett? * Victor Beardon
Blackheath H Medway AC GEC Avionics AC      
           
1989 D Foxley* D Foxley F D Sando J G Alston A W Luckett * Dennis Foxley
Medway AC Medway AC GEC Avionics AC      
           
1990 B E Boulton* D Foxley  F D Sando J G Alston AW Luckett ? * Brian Boulton
Cambridge H Medway AC GEC Avionics AC     KCAAA amalgamated with
          KCWAAA from 30th September
          1990
           

 


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