Derek Clarke (athlete)
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Born | 11 May 1937 Ipswich, England |
| Died | 7 June 1997 (aged 60) Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, England |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Event | decathlon |
| Club | Notts AC |
Derek Stanley Clarke (11 May 1937 – 7 June 1997), was a male athlete who competed for England.
Biography
[edit]He was born and grew up in Ipswich, England. In 1962 he was a corporal technician in the RAF, working with guided missiles[1] By July 1966 he was a sergeant.[2] He left the RAF in early 1968.[3][4] and was also a Methodist preacher.[5]
Clarke was selected by England to represent his country in Athletics events. He was a two times National champion.[6]
On Friday 24 July 1964 in Nottingham, he broke the UK record of George McLachlan by 68 points with 6252.[7] Just one month later on 7 and 8 August 1964 Clarke became the British decathlon champion after winning the British AAA Championships title at the 1964 AAA Championships in Loughborough.[8]
Clarke regained the AAA title at the 1966 AAA Championships.[9] Shortly afterwards he represented England in the decathlon, at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica.[10][11][12] He also competed in the 1966 European Athletics Championships – Men's decathlon.
Personal life
[edit]He lived on Welbeck Road, Radcliffe-on-Trent.[13] With wife Joyce, he had four children, including son Tim.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ Nottingham Evening Post Monday 13 August 1962, page 8
- ^ Nottingham Evening Post Monday 4 July 1966, page 10
- ^ Nottingham Evening Post Thursday 1 February 1968, page 11
- ^ Nottingham Evening Post Tuesday 19 July 1966, page 12
- ^ Newark Advertiser Wednesday 1 May 1963, page 1
- ^ "AAA CHAMPIONSHIPS (MEN)". GBR Athletics.
- ^ Nottingham Evening Post Saturday 25 July 1964, page 12
- ^ "AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists". National Union of Track Statisticians. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ "AAA Championships (men)". GBR Athletics. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ "1966 Athletes". Team England.
- ^ "Kingston, Jamaica, 1966 Team". Team England.
- ^ "Athletes and results". Commonwealth Games Federation.
- ^ Newark Advertiser Saturday 27 May 1967, page 23
- ^ Nottingham Guardian Wednesday 7 December 1966, page 12
- 1937 births
- 1997 deaths
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
- Commonwealth Games competitors for England
- English male athletes
- English male decathletes
- English Methodist ministers
- People from Radcliffe-on-Trent
- Royal Air Force airmen
- Sportspeople from Ipswich
- 20th-century English sportsmen