19 February 2013
NSW track and field championships history and the early years
In 2013 the 116th NSW Open Track and Field Championships will be held at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre.
The championships hold a long and prestigious history. Grand Prix style events have become popular in recent years, but history will record the state champion as the best athlete that year.
The championships have only been missed on a few occasions, since the inaugural
championships in 1888. Championships were not held in 1891 and 1894, and then continued until two, four year suspensions due to World Wars as follows: World War I 1917 to 1920, World War II 1941-1944.
First Men’s Championships
After the NSW Amateur Athletics Association was formed in 1887, the first NSW Track and Field Championship were held on the Saturday 8th September 1888.
Conducted at the ninth annual Ashfield Amateur Athletics Club Annual Sports meeting just one championship event was held - the men’s 100 yards. The meet, held on the Recreation Ground in Ashfield, included a number of other track events: half-mile Ashfield Club Championship, one mile open walk handicap, 200 yards ladies bracelet handicap, 150 yards maiden race, 120 yards hurdles, 130 yards handicap, 400 yards steeplechase, 400 yards handicap, one mile walk handicap, 200 yards All Schools and one mile handicap.
There were four competitors in the 100 yards championship of NSW, won by William (Billy Mac) Macpherson (Ashfield Amateur Athletic Club) in a time of 10.4 seconds (equal to about 11.3 for 100m). Second was G. Maiden junior (Ashfield AAC), third H. Schwartzkoff (Eastern Suburbs AAC) and fourth C.T. Morath (ES AAC). The race was conducted on a newly laid cinders track.
First Women’s Championships
The women’s Association was formed in 1932 however the men’s association conducted a few women’s state championships, commencing on Saturday 13th March 1926. Held in conjunction with the men’s championships at Manly Oval, three events were held: 75 yards, 100 yards and 440 yards relay. The 100 yards received 23 entries and five heats were conducted. The winner was Australia’s first female Olympian, Edie Robinson, who clocked 12.3 (equal to about 13.3 for 100 metres). In this era, the women competed for companies, those included: Vice Regal Club, David Jones, Hordernian, D & W Murray and Swords Club.
The 1911 Championships
Over the first 20 years of NSW championships, most current day events were conducted, but there was inconsistency and during the season 1910/11, there just six events held: 100 yards, 220 yards, 440 yards, 1 mile, 3 mile and 120 yards hurdles. The championships were also conducted at various carnivals and festivals: Highland Gathering, St Patrick’s Day Sports, University Sports, Druids’ Gala and 8-hours Day Sports.
1968 NSW Champs (L to R - X, Ian English, X, Ian Wilson, Peter Morton, Brian Carrigan)
1935 Jan 12 – NSW Championships - William Plummer (Botany) 1st Shot 13.86m. He won 10 NSW shot titles.
David Tarbotton and Ron Bendall for Athletics NSW