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06/11/2020 00:00, In Blog / History /

Welsh Athletics is sad to learn of the deaths of two former members of Roath Harriers – the club that merged with Birchgrove Harriers to form Cardiff AAC in 1968.

George Holland was 80 and Peter Mason, 85, and both died last week.

Peter, who had been ill for some time, was a high class 880 yards runner with a best time close to 1:57 (c1:56 800) which he achieved on the loose cinder and grass tracks of the mid 1950’s. No fancy all-weather tracks on those days. He won several Glamorgan titles.

Stalwart Roath Harrier and South Wales Echo journalist, Brian Lee knew him well and said: “Peter was a leading member of the club and will be sorely missed.”

Peter supported both the Welsh Schools and Cardiff AAC with generous sponsorship. When the Welsh Schools struggled for funding some years ago, after the ending of TSB sponsorship, Peter donated a significant sum of money which proved invaluable to the association. In return, the 2006 championships were called “PDM Property National Track & Field Championships”.

George Holland was an important member of Roath’s cross country and road running teams in the late 1950’s and 1960’s and died in Penarth after a long illness.

Former team mate Tony Callaghan said: "On one famous occasion when competing in his club's Cross-Country Handicap, George took full advantage of his handicap mark and beat the legendary Welsh International athlete and 1958 Empire Games runner Norman Horrell in an exciting finish.''

As a veteran road runner, George took part in the London Marathon on several occasions and finished 267^th in the 1982 Western Mail Marathon out of a field of more than 3,000 runners in a respectable 3 hours 13 minutes.

Our condolences go to both their families.

With thanks to Peter Morris, Brian Lee and Graham Webb.