The 1965 British West Indies Championships was the sixth and final edition of the track and field competition between British colony nations in the Caribbean. It was held in Bridgetown, Barbados in late July. The dissolution of the West Indies Federation, and the broader sports co-operation it had engendered, left the competition without the support to continue. A total of 28 events were contested, eighteen by men and ten by women. The men's half marathon, pole vault and relay races were all revived for this final edition, although the 3000 metres steeplechase was dropped. Jamaica was the most successful nation, taking seventeen of the titles on offer – it was Jamaica's fourth win at the competition and the only time a host nation did not top the medal table.British West Indies Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2015-03-21.
Wellesley Clayton was the only male athlete to defend his title from the 1964 championships, winning the long jump for a second time. On the women's side Carmen Smith retained her 100 metres title and Una Morris finished undefeated in the 400 metres. Joan Gordon won both the shot put and discus throw for a second time running, while Beverley Welsh was again victorious in the long jump. Billy Montague was the last man to win two individual gold medals at the same championships, scoring a hurdles double. Two sons of then-Chief Minister of Antigua Vere Bird (Ivor and Lester) won medals at the tournament.Kaufman, Michael (1999-06-30). Vere Bird, 89, Who Led Antigua to Freedom. New York Times. Retrieved on 2015-03-22.
Despite this being the final edition, the standard of performances was comparatively high, with thirteen championship records being equalled or bettered. The men's 100 metres winner Lennox Miller went on to claim Olympic silver three years later.Lennox Miller. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2015-03-22. Long-time participants George Kerr and Harry Prowell both returned to the podium and claimed their eighth career medal of the championships, while Clifton Bertrand (the inaugural 200 m champion) won his sixth individual sprint medal here.
After the end of the British West Indies championships, athletics competition between Caribbean nations continued in the form of the long-standing quadrennial Central American and Caribbean Games.Central American and Caribbean Games. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2015-03-22. In addition, a new venue for such contests followed soon after the dissolution of the championships: the biennial Central American and Caribbean Championships in Athletics was launched in 1967.Central American and Caribbean Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2015-03-22.
Medal summary
Men 100 metres 10.6 10.7 10.9200 metres 20.8 20.9 21.3400 metres 46.7 = 46.8 47.4800 metres 1:51.1 1:51.1 1:52.51500 metres 4:03.4 4:04.0 4:05.65000 metres 15:30.5 ??? 16:00.8110 m hurdles 14.8 15.0 15.0400 m hurdles 54.0 54.1 ???4 × 100 m relay 41.0 41.2 41.44 × 400 m relay 3:11.5 3:13.8 3:16.2Half marathon 1:12:38 1:14:06 1:17:04High jump 2.00 m 2.00 m ??? mPole vault 3.81 m 3.50 m ??? mLong jump 7.26 m 6.86 m ??? mTriple jump 15.03 m 14.88 m 14.37 mShot put 14.22 m 14.15 m 14.08 mDiscus throw 46.48 m ??? m 40.74 mJavelin throw 58.03 m ??? m ??? m
Women 100 metres 11.9 12.0 12.1200 metres 24.2 25.0 ???400 metres 57.3 57.9 ???80 m hurdles 11.4 = 11.5 11.64 × 100 m relay 46.3 49.0 ???High jump 1.67 m 1.65 mUnknown athlete ??? mLong jump 5.73 m ??? m ??? mShot put 11.88 m ??? mUnknown athlete ??? mDiscus throw 36.09 m ??? m ??? mJavelin throw 36.70 m ??? m ??? m
References
Medallists British West Indies Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2015-03-21.