Barrie Harrison Kelly (born 2 August 1940) is a former sprinter from
Bury
Bury may refer to:
*The burial of human remains
*-bury, a suffix in English placenames
Places England
* Bury, Cambridgeshire, a village
* Bury, Greater Manchester, a town, historically in Lancashire
** Bury (UK Parliament constituency) (1832–19 ...
,
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
. He was a member of Bury and Radcliffe Athletic Club.
Athletics career
Between 1965 and 1973 he won 2 gold, 5 silver and 1 bronze medal in the AAA indoor 60 metres/60 yards, missing out on the medals only in 1970. In the 100 yards at the AAA championships, he won a gold, silver, and two bronzes between 1965 and 1968. His biggest success was in winning the 60 metres at the
1966 European Indoor Games
The 1966 European Indoor Games were the first edition of what later became the European Athletics Indoor Championships. These games took place on 27 March 1966 at Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, a city of West Germany. It was the only edition held on a s ...
, setting the inaugural world record in the semi-final with 6.6, and equaling this time in the final.
He also competed and two European championships,
1966 in Budapest and
1969 in Athens as well as the
Mexico Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1968), officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XIX Olimpiada) and commonly known as Mexico 1968 ( es, México 1968), were an international multi-sport eve ...
.
He represented
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
in the 100 yards and 110 yards relay, at the
1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Kingston, Jamaica, from 4 to 13 August 1966. This was the first time that the Games had been held outside the so-called White Dominions. They were followed by the 1966 Commonwealth P ...
in
Kingston
Kingston may refer to:
Places
* List of places called Kingston, including the five most populated:
** Kingston, Jamaica
** Kingston upon Hull, England
** City of Kingston, Victoria, Australia
** Kingston, Ontario, Canada
** Kingston upon Thames, ...
,
Jamaica
Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...
.
Personal life
He suffered from
asthma
Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, cou ...
and didn't take up athletics till he was 22. He never told the British Amateur Athletic Board of his Asthma, afraid he would miss being selected for the Mexico Olympic Games, and other overseas trips. He went on to represent Great Britain on 33 occasions, which was a record for a sprinter at that time. He also captained the British Men's Team on several occasions.
He had a very successful career in the brewing industry, retiring at the age of 65.
Kelly has always had an interest in photography, and after his retirement, his passion is wildlife. He has a keenness for British wildlife, he has however travelled to many countries, such as Kenya, Botswana, Tanzania, Namibia, India, Canada, the USA, and across Europe.
References
Thiislancashire.co.ukgbrathletics
1940 births
Living people
Sportspeople from Bury, Greater Manchester
English male sprinters
Athletes (track and field) at the 1968 Summer Olympics
Olympic athletes of Great Britain
Athletes (track and field) at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games competitors for England
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