Club Champions Board 2016
Collingwood Harriers Olympians Hall of Fame
1948 George KNOTT
Collingwood’s first Olympian, George was selected for the 10,000 Metres Walk. George competed for many years and was a tireless worker for the Club. George became a Collingwood City Councillor and served one term as Mayor. Our track is situated at the ‘George Knott Reserve.’
1956 Wes BALODIS
Wes represented the Club and Australia at the Melbourne Games in the Discus throw.
1964, 1968, 1972 Bob GARDINER
Still competing with the Club, Bob finished a great 5th. in the 50 Kilometre Walk in Tokyo in 1964. Selected again in 1968, Bob, like many Athletes, was affected by the altitude of Mexico City and didn’t quite match his effort of four years earlier. Although selected in 1972 for the Munich Games was unable to compete due to serious complications after ‘minor’ surgery prior to the team’s departure. Bob also won a Commonwealth Games Silver Medal in 1970. He also, at one time, held the World Record for the 20 mile walk.
1972, 1976 Ray BOYD
Ray represented the Club and his country in the spectacular Pole Vault event. Selected as Captain of the 1976 team to Montreal, Ray also won a Commonwealth Games Gold Medal in the vault in Brisbane in 1982. Ray now lives in Queensland with wife Denise, also an ex champion athlete, (Olympic & C’wealth rep in the sprints) and three children all of whom are showing great potential in athletics
Interesting Collingwood Facts
…the oldest Club Record still on our books belongs to George Knott. Set in 1948, his 10,000 metres track walk time may never be broken. The event is rarely held these days!
…when Robert Hendy set his Club Mile record of 4mins 0.01secs in 1972, the ‘other’ two watches recorded times under the magical four minutes. Unfortunately in those days of manual timing, the slowest time shown on the time pieces became the official result.
…that our Open Women’s 4×400 metres relay record is held by an under 14 team. Set in their premiership season of 2002-03 the girls improved steadily throughout the season and finally eclipsed the existing senior record in the Association Final at Doncaster. The team members were Caitlyn O’Meara, Narelle Scott, Emma Hayes and Stella Anyaogu.
…that before Magnus Michelsson finally broke Paul O’Hare’s marathon record of 2hrs. 20 mins. 20 secs. he firstly equalled it, to the very second, when he (Magnus) won the Australian title in Gold Coast Marathon.
…that Mick Pikos, holder of our under 18 an under 20 hammer records went on to represent Australia in two Olympic Games. The only problem is Mick gave up athletics and took up wrestling, the sport in which he gained selection.
… when Julian Harris broke the under 18 and under 20 3 kilometre records in November 2006, he erased the name of another athlete who went on to represent Australia in the Olympics after his time with Collingwood. Peter Robertson who set the records in 1993 has worn the green and gold in the triathlon events at the Olympic Games and in 2006 won a Bronze Medal at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Peter has also won the World Triathlon title on more than one occasion!