Harold Malcolm Yardley (23 December 1940 – 17 March 2020) was a British sprinter. He competed in the men's 400 metres at the

1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad ( it, Giochi della XVII Olimpiade) and commonly known as Rome 1960 ( it, Roma 1960), were an international multi-sport event held ...

Biography

Yardley was born in Oldham in 1940 and was raised in Coventry. During World War II, his house was destroyed during the Blitz, with his family moving to

Leicester Leicester ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city, Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest settlement in the East Midlands. The city l ...

. At school, he played cricket, football and rugby, but excelled at athletics. In 1959, at the age of 18, Yardley made his international debut for Great Britain. At the

in Rome, Yardley competed in two events. He was part of the British team that finished fifth in the men's 4 × 400 metres relay, and the men's 400 metres, where he reached the quarter-finals. The following year, along with Adrian Metcalfe, Barry Jackson and Robbie Brightwell, Yardley was part of the number-one ranked 4x400 quartet in the world. However, he missed out on competing at the

1964 Summer Olympics The , officially the and commonly known as Tokyo 1964 ( ja, 東京1964), were an international multi-sport event held from 10 to 24 October 1964 in Tokyo, Japan. Tokyo had been awarded the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this ho ...

in Tokyo and the

1968 Summer 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 ...

in Mexico City due to injury. Yardley was part of the Birchfield Harriers, before moving to the Blackburn Harriers, and gaining selection to compete at the

1970 British Commonwealth Games The 1970 British Commonwealth Games (Scottish Gaelic: Geamannan a 'Cho-fhlaitheis Bhreatainn 1970) were held in Edinburgh, Scotland, from 16 to 25 July 1970. This was the first time the name British Commonwealth Games was adopted, the first tim ...

in Edinburgh. He competed in the men's 400 metres but did not get out of the heats. Outside of athletics, Yardley was also the captain and manager of Lowerhouse Cricket Club in Burnley. He had training programmes with several local clubs in the North West of England, including Rochdale, Bury and

Blackpool Blackpool is a seaside resort in Lancashire, England. Located on the North West England, northwest coast of England, it is the main settlement within the Borough of Blackpool, borough also called Blackpool. The town is by the Irish Sea, betw ...

. In the late 1960s, Yardley also set up a sports shop in Burnley, with players from the football team coming along. Yardley died in March 2020 at the age of 79, following a short illness. At the time of his death, he still held the Blackburn Harriers' records in the 100, 200 and 400 metres. Yardley was remembered at the In Memoriam section of the

2020 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award The BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2020 took place on 20 December 2020 at the dock10 studios in Salford. The event was broadcast live on BBC One and hosted by Gary Lineker, Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott. Nominees The nominees ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Yardley, Malcolm 1940 births 2020 deaths Athletes (track and field) at the 1960 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games British male sprinters Olympic athletes of Great Britain Sportspeople from Oldham Commonwealth Games competitors for England