News
Announcement of the passing of John Lister
08/05/2023 00:00, In Blog /
Welsh Athletics is sad to report that Cardiff’s John Lister, one of the architects of the structure of modern-day athletics in the UK died on May 6 after a long illness aged 81. More to follow.
John first gained recognition for his achievements as an athlete in the1960s, winning 12 Welsh titles in the sprint hurdles, high jump and decathlon. His first Welsh title, in the 1960 high jump, came while he was still a teenager.
And in 1968, while still in his 20s, he helped broker the amalgamation of two local clubs to form Cardiff AAC and they remain one of the powerhouses of British athletics.
John then went on to hold many administrative positions in British domestic athletics for the next 30 years, especially in the area of finance - he was the treasurer of the national governing body of British athletics for 13 years - and he was instrumental in the creation of the British Athletics Federation in 1991, which modernised the structures of the sport in Great Britain and Norther Ireland.