Special tribute to the late veteran athlete champion - Professor Anthony (Tony) Crocker - RIP.

By Don Hale


 *This is a photo of Tony Crocker taken by Roger Garland, proudly wearing his “GB Veterans” tracksuit top, having just secured the European M75 High Jump title at Ancona in Italy in 2016.

Special tribute to the late veteran athletic champion - Professor Anthony (Tony) Crocker - RIP.


Report by Roger Garland.

 

It is with sadness that I am writing to inform you of the recent death of Tony Crocker. 

Tony was an exceptional “Vet” athlete for many years as a member of the Droitwich Club and MMAC, still holding no less than eight MVTFL records across four disciplines and several different age categories.

He was also very successful at Regional, National, European, and World Championship level, winning a hatful of gold medals whilst setting records within Great Britain and overseas.   

Although the start of his athletics career pre-dated Power of 10, the amazing performances later in his career are very well documented.   

We owe a lot to Tony, as almost 50 years ago he was heavily involved in helping to organise some of the first T&F athletics competitions for veterans, comprising clubs at Stourport, Worcester, Cardiff and Dartford.   

This eventually led to veteran athletics leagues being formed in South Wales, the Midlands (MVTFL) and South-East England.

 

*A service to celebrate Tony’s life will be held at the Church of St Kenelm, in the Worcestershire village of Upton Snodsbury on Thursday 5th December from 1.30pm.




Don Hale is a former award winning investigative journalist and now a best-selling author who has created a very popular blog post linked to numerous social media sites. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025.

Comments

Post a Comment

Your comments are welcomed

Most recent posts

New Llandrillo-yn-Rhos parkrun celebrated an amazing launch event with over 500 athletes from across the UK

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above and below - hundreds of runners listen intently to the instructions given by run director Richard Peevor at the launch of the new Llandrillo-yn-Rhos parkrun New Llandrillo-yn-Rhos parkrun celebrated an amazing launch event...with over 500 athletes from across the UK. Exclusive report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk What a fantastic turn-out for the very first Llandrillo-yn-Rhos (Y Promenade) parkrun last Saturday, as over 500 mixed ability athletes travelled from near and far to help create and enjoy a spectacular occasion. Run directors  Richard Peevor, Sharon Hughes, Dougie Graham,  and Chris Spillane , together with their hard working support team of new volunteers and marshals, worked their socks off to produce an excellent event on a near perfect day - weatherwise - after recent storms had deposited a load of sand along the promenade course at Rhos on Sea.     *Above left - Run director Richard Peevor...
Read more

Rhos parkrun launch and North Wales parkrun results round-up

By Don Hale
Image
Llandrillo-yn-Rhos parkrun launch and North Wales parkrun results round-up.. Report by Don Hale https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   What a fantastic turn-out for the very first Llandrillo-yn-Rhos (Y Promenade) parkrun last Saturday, as over 500 mixed ability athletes travelled from near and far to help create and enjoy a spectacular occasion. Run directors  Richard Peevor, Sharon Hughes, Dougie Graham,  and Chris Spillane , together with their hard working support team of new volunteers and marshals, worked their socks off to produce an excellent event on a near perfect day - weatherwise - after recent storms had deposited a load of sand along the promenade course at Rhos on Sea. *Pictured above - three of the four new Llandrillo-yn-Rhos parkrun run directors (l-r): Dougie Graham Sharon Hughes and Richard Peevor, and (*below) some members from the 5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer Group at the start of the parkrun. The parkrun also welcomed m...
Read more

Clutch of prestigious silver medals for Road Running trio at the Inter-Counties cross country champs at Newtown.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - the delighted NW trio of Cheryl Frost, Kay Hatton and Karen Butler at the Inter-Counties XC at Newtown. Clutch of prestigious silver medals for Road Running trio at the Inter-Counties cross country champs at Newtown. Report by Don Hale. C omment  from Bernie Jones, and action photo by Andy Davies. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com Three top female veteran athletes from North Wales Road Runners exchanged their trainers for spikes on Sunday and competed in the Inter-Regional Cross Country championships at Newtown, and celebrated by winning a clutch of prestigious medals. The trio all performed well and enjoyed their runs on a very muddy but relatively flat course, and between them they collected several championships medals with  Cheryl Frost and Kay Hatton  winning team silver medals in the W55 event; and  Karen Butler  winning a team silver in the W65 event, plus an individual silver medal in her race. Their results were:  Cheryl Frost 29.5...
Read more

Mental Elf 2k and 5k races proved a huge success at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay, last Sunday.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above and below - some of the fun runners at the Mental Elf events. Mental Elf 2k and 5k races proved a huge success at Eirias Park, Colwy Bay last Sunday... Report by Don Hale. Pictures by Caitlin Faye Photography. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 John Hatton, who was one of the charity event organisers at last weekend’s Mental Elf races at Eirias Park, was delighted by the fun frolics and the great public response, plus the generous funds raised for such a worthy cause. Sponsored by Jennings , participants were told that they could either walk, jog, skip or run whilst soaking up the festive spirit, and whilst supporting Conwy and the Vale of Clwyd Minds, with a Mini Elf 2k fun run, and 5k event. After the event, John confirmed:  “A massive thank you to all the volunteers last Sunday at the Mental Elf 2k & 5k, held at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay.  What a day, and it began at 8am setting up the course. It was white everywhere, and a hailstorm was incredible. “The weathe...
Read more

Full marks for new parkrun following a successful trial event...plus other results...

By Don Hale
Image
  *Pictured above - runners and officials receive instructions before the test event, and (*below), Steven Owen (GOG Triathlon), was the first finisher overall at the trial run. Full marks for new parkrun following a very successful trial event...plus other  results... Report by Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 A brand-new parkrun is set begin this Saturday at  Llandrillo-yn-Rhos,  which will offer keen  parkrunners  another exciting and varied choice of  events throughout North Wales.   This venue is one of several new parkrun initiatives and additional locations planned over the coming months in this region that could help further support this popular activity and  will also help to spread the number of entrants  amongst  many other current locations.   A very successful test run was organised last Saturday by run director Richard Peevor,  and his hard working team of volunteers and marshals , with invited runners ...
Read more

What being a teacher is really like: YEAH, BUT YOU GET LOADS OF HOLIDAYS THOUGH: By Bill Simon.

By Don Hale
Image
Coast and Country spotlight book feature:  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 What being a teacher is really like: -  YEAH, BUT YOU GET LOADS OF HOLIDAYS THOUGH:  By Bill Simon. Now available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4pS1PP0 Synopsis:  As children we are oblivious to the inner workings of teaching and school life. Leaving the impression that teaching is easy, with short hour days, high pay, no pressure and all the holidays you could ever want. What really happens in the safety of the staff room? When stepping into the job you are met with a barrage of challenge, responsibility, accountability, reward, politics, abusive children, delightful children, stress, and anxiety. All of which you had no recollection of from your own school days, and never fully anticipated when posing in your cap and gown upon completing teacher training. Yeah but you get loads of holidays though, is a record of the typical highs and lows of being a teacher. Exposing the frustrations of being go...
Read more

Llandudno Lions Boxing Day Sea Dip for local charities - entries now open.

By Don Hale
Image
Llandudno Lions Boxing Day Sea Dip for local charities - entries now open...all funds for deserving local charities... donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 The Lions Club of Llandudno have just announced the details about their annual Boxing Day Sea Dip in association with St George's Hotel on Friday 26th December, and entries are now open! The check in will be at 10am ready to go into the water at 11.30am (tide permitting). One of the organisers, John Chambers , suggests that suitable footwear should be worn and all the proceeds will go towards Alaw Ward (Cancer Ward) at Ysbyty Gwynedd, and local Lions Charities. John added: "This is a unique chance to raise funds for a deserving cause of your choice and to help Llandudno Lions Club. All registered swimmers will also receive a special certificate memento of the event, and prizes will also be awarded for Fancy Dress." *Entries for the Lions Club of Lland udno Boxing Day Dip are NOW OPEN. Please use link below FREE to ENTER. Plea...
Read more

Arthur Bebbington Twin Piers 10k 2026 - entries now open

By Don Hale
Image
 *Pictured above - Helen Hannam at the finish of the 2025 T win Piers 10k race Arthur Bebbington Twin Piers 10k 2026 Held under UK Athletic Rules. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 Race Headquarters:  Race Finish Near Porth Eirias towards Old Colwyn on Promenade LL29 8HH Transport to start @ 12.15pm prompt from Race HQ on Promenade for 1pm start from Llandudno Pier. Medals to all finishers CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES 10th JANUARY 2026 NO ENTRIES ACCEPTED ON THE DAY): Entries can be made via the link below: https://colwynbayac.niftyentries.com/Arthur-Bebbington-Twin-Piers-10k-2026?fbclid=IwY2xjawOMDshleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBVc0xSbkEzaDdhaVo3WHEwc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHm4CmICiaMknR3YcQonjcy7QdN20xBkZp-xnDT-ybOy8jHz6UOmgInu5szD7_aem_ySSqcdIZUuEms1tJUnsqvA#entryoptions PRIZE CATEGORIES Male - 1xU20,3xSM,3xV35,3xV40,3xV45,3xV50,3xV55,3xV60,1xV65,1xV70,1xV75,1xV80 Female- 1xU20,3xSF,3xV35,3xV40,3xV45,3xV50,3xV55,3xV60,1xV65,1xV70,1xV75,1xV80 The Tom Watson Memorial Tr...
Read more

FASCINATING NEW SEARCH FOR THE WORDS PUZZLE BOOK...by author Val Crowson.

By Don Hale
Image
Val Crowson publishes a fascinating new SEARCH FOR THE WORDS book... Coast and Country - A North Wales online magazine  promotion.  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 The author of this brand new  Search for the Words  puzzle book is Val Crowson , a retired teacher, who previously used word searches in the classroom to help promote the learning of topics and vocabulary extension.  Val lives in South Africa and she is married with three children and six grandchildren, and now retired, she has collated and created several new wordsearches with the idea of publishing them within this exciting new book.  NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON:   https://amzn.to/44IMhVl   ABOUT THE NEW SEARCH FOR THE WORDS BOOK by Val Crowson. A collection of 200 distinctive and individually created wordsearches just for you to enjoy! Words can be found horizontally, vertically or backwards, but not diagonally.  The letters that make up these words can be used more than once and can ...
Read more

AGM for Welsh Masters Athletics Ltd on 3rd December 2025.

By Don Hale
Image
AGM details for Welsh Masters Athletics via Zoom next week on 3rd December 2025. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 Rod Davies, a director from Welsh Masters Athletics Ltd, has sent some details about next week's AGM via Zoom. All relevant documents were sent to members previously by email. A link is now attached to give notification of joining the online meeting. This email is being sent to all confirmed members of Welsh Masters Athletics Limited who are on the Register of Members as at today’s date to provide the formal notice of Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held, by Zoom, on 3 December 2025 at 8:00 pm .  This is a reconvened meeting as that called on 19 November was one member short of a Quorum.  Those wishing to attend need to register in advance by emailing me before 1 December 2025 to get the system set up.  The link is:   https://us04web.zoom.us/j/75559217691?pwd=uY0w8aa3kxco74dbMcwO8FQlJaMAFi.1 I attach - Notice of Meeting, Proxy Form     ...
Read more