Reading Athletic Club, is an athletics club based in Reading, Berkshire, England. The club officially formed in November 1881; however records show that it was one of the inaugural clubs that formed the governing body of athletics at that time, the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) in 1880. There are also references dating back to the late 1860s, making the club one of the oldest and longest established athletic clubs in the United Kingdom.
History
Reading Athletic Club's earliest Olympian was Billy Leach who qualified for the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm for the long jump and standing long jump after finishing second in the Olympic trial at Stamford Bridge but did not start the event.
In 1964 Ann Packer became Britain's first female Olympic gold medalist, winning the 800 metres event at the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Notable athletes
Olympians AthleteEventsGamesMedals/Pos, RefBilly Leach Long jump1912Henry Oliver 3000 m steeplechase 1928Harry Whittle 400 m hurdles, long jump 1948, 1952Ann Packer 400 m, 800 m 1964Bev Goddard-Callender200 m, 4×100 m, 4×400 m1976, 1980, 1984Kathy Smallwood-Cook 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 4×100 m 1980, 1984Simmone Jacobs 100 m, 200 m, 4×100 m1984, 1988, 1992, 1996
Commonwealth Games AthleteEventsGamesMedals/Pos, RefAnthony Chivers 3 miles1950 Nigel Spratley Shot put 1994
References